Escape Review: 8/28-9/3

[Nola26]

First off my apologies for the first go round of this review. Had some technical issues at FLL and didn't get back to edit the review quickly enough. Hopefully this is easier to read and more useful.

 

This was a family trip: My mother and 14yo nephew were with me.

 

Pre Cruise from Ft Lauderdale airport (FLL):

Hotel - Springhill Suites, Dania Beach

1. Complimentary airport shuttle and breakfast

2 Pool, hot tub, workout room and guest laundry ($1.50 to wash or dry)

3. Condition - good, but shows wear

4. Return - Yes, for a 4th time, but will also consider nearby places

5. Location - cannot be beat for access to food, shopping and entertainment within walking distance (nail salon, Kmart, Dave and Busters, Wendy's, Chipotle, Marshall's and Burger King among many others).

 

Transportation to from FLL Hotel to Port of Miami, Terminal C

Used Jiffy Jeff for the first time. Jeff was our driver and provided a tour during the drive, very much appreciated, very personable. Communicated directly with us so we knew when he was within 5-10 of arrival we were outside awaiting his arrival. Vehicle is a shiny black Mercedes van, $15pp with a $45 minimum, cash paid at end of ride. I would use Jiffy Jeff again, round trip.

 

Embarkation

Our edocs directed us to board at Terminal C. We walked right in and found no line at the Casino at Sea check-in and were waited on immediately. Generally the terminal was devoid of long lines. Boarding had not begun when we arrived close to 11:30 so the waiting area upstairs was packed, but people were polite and I didn't see any issues.

 

Boarding

We were in Group20 (all even numbered groups) and entered directly into the Casino, a side door behind the Cashier cage, an odd entry point. It was great for taking the stairs down a flight to walk to Savor for lunch. Lunch was tasty, relaxing and offered a great start to the cruise. Rooms may have been ready as we finished lunch, luggage delivery yet to be completed.

 

Hope the sections help. I can post Dailies and photos once I figure out the system on Cruise Critic.

[Nola26]

Entourage

I registered my nephew before we left Miami. He lived there for the cruise. He had an absolutely fantastic experience both in the teen club and engaging in activities with the friends: pool party, movies, basketball, ropes course, lots of hoops, going to Glow party as a group, etc. He even volunteered to help some of the Splash Academy kids get dolled up for their parade (I think circus event?).

 

Shows

1. All Aboard - nice teaser, comedian was also on our 2015 Getaway trip

2. After Midnight - really enjoyed the energy and performances(pre booked)

3. Brat Pack - more enjoyable than expected, had a close up encounter with the teacher character, he was hilarious (pre booked)

4. O What A Night - held in the Supper club and is complimentary with dinner, we did standby and had great seats and meal, well done show

5. Scotty Cavanaugh, juggler - also in the Supper Club 9pm walk-in, great family show he's funny and a great juggler

6. Sharon Wilkins - member of the After Midnight cast solo show, fee paid with dinner, good show, but not for an extra fee

7. Manhattan Room - band and some of After Midnight cast performed Motown, very very good

8. Orly - solo guitarist/vocalist, catch him around the ship, wonderful

9. Comedy- adult only shows Lucas Bohn is make you cry funny

10. Howl at Moon - Mom loved, I didn't attend

11. Farewell show - needs variety, was a repeat of O What a Night with some crew stuff at the end, redundancy caused people to walk out early

12. Wine Lovers - we didn't attend, but the couple we sat with at O What a Night highly recommended

 

Shopping onboard

1. Sales on Tshirts on the final day 2 for $20 as well as a $10 blowout sale on a hodge podge of items, we bought things at both sales, $10 sale on both sea days

2. Photos - we didn't buy any this time

3. Jewelry - I didn't even set foot in the store this time, bought silver in Cozumel

 

Pulse, Sports Court and Mandara

1. I met my goal of two days of strength training during vacation, very nice facility and huge compared to my Getaway and Sky experiences.

2. Also sat in on a Detox presentation, informative

3. Nephew spent hours playing basketball. Rims are sturdier than on Getaway, court is not flat, definite sloping toward the sides. Small soccer nets set up at half court in use by little kids with Dads while each end of the court had basketball games or shooting all at the same time.

4. We didn't use the spa or thermal suite this trip

 

Spice H2O and Pool

1. I set up at Spice H2O one day, rain let loose moments later, but I never returned. My mother hung out there on the final sea day, mostly in the hot tub and loved her time there.

2. No complaints from the teen on the pool or water slides

 

Casino

1. CAS discount for our cruise, drink card provided

2. Huge, but game variety is lacking, Getaway and Sky casino were both

better. Lots machines, but many of the same games on the Escape.

3. Payouts, not enough to keep you playing. I had a win due to 400 free games, but not a lot else

4. Promotion - hot seat and I think I won $25 as for the first time ever I had CAS free play pop up on my card

5. Part of the casino is open to Skyline Bar/club so easy to enjoy the music from the club while playing.

[txhomeschoolmom]

Enjoying your review... thanks much for taking time out to post 😊

 

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[Nola26]

We had the Shorex promotion and booked NCL arranged excursions in each port.

 

Roatan, Honduras: Maya Key Resort, best excursion

I chose this because it had a bit of everything and it actually is about a 5 minute boat ride from the ship. We returned on the last boat of the day:

Beach - our group was first to arrive for the day, so the NCL group grabbed prime locations, like first row on the beach with shaded spots. Water was warm, snorkel from beach or from a dock location (personal equipment or rent)

Animal Encounter - animals are rescued, confiscated or injured

1. Birds, Jaguar and several species of monkeys are caged and on display for the guests.

2. Our highlight was an in cage experience with some monkeys. The handlers described them as toddlers on lots of sugar and that description fit. They pick pocketed my nephew's sea card from the back pocket of his swim trunks! The card was on the ground and I noticed it before we left the cage!

3. Walking paths, easy place to stroll

4. Crystal blue swimming pool with a Jacuzzi built in, loved it.

5. Lunch - awesome food, especially the fried fish and rice & beans, water or unsweet tea also included, cash bar available

6. Gift shop - large store, had to use my Spanish with one of the salespeople to get help for an item, but that wasn't a big deal and she was very accommodating

 

Belize City: Bacab Jungle Park - biking

I bike at home and thought this would be a good family adventure choice

 

1. Darren the tour guide was awesome for our bus ride, really shared stories and history about his life, homeland and resort. Transportation on a motor coach with AC, nice. We were behind schedule, but NCL rep came onboard bus to assure the group that they would hold a tender for our late return.

2. biking was disappointing due to equipment, first bike I selected didn't have working brakes, one I ended up with had foot brakes, not what I'm used to for my trail rides. Bug spray needed for this part.

3. Pool was huge and really nice, includes a grotto waterfall and waterslide

4. Mom found the poolside hammock area and took a nice nap

5. Lunch wasn't as good as Maya Key

6. Excursion was a bit rough, but with more attention to detail it can easily get better as the site is nice.

 

Cozumel, Mexico: Joy of Chocolate

This was our low key and cultural excursion

1. We made chocolate and tasted 4 different varieties of locally produced product, yum.

2. Discover Mexico museum was cool, interesting and had a few particularly eye catching pieces.

3. Made some silver and gift shop purchases here.

4. Did additional shopping before walking back onboard

5. This port offered me "like US ATT wireless phone service", a welcome treat

 

Payment

I reserved each excursion prior to the trip and didn't make any changes onboard. I was charged full price and given a credit after the trips were completed.

 

Price for the listed excursions were either $55 or $75pp

 

Calypso Train, Belize

While we didn't take this trip our friends did and really raved about the ride experience and customer service. At $55 for an hour train ride I thought it was pricey, but they were really pleased.

Edited September 4, 2016 by Nola26

[Nola26]

We ate only in the complimentary venues:

 

Savor and Taste

1. We had breakfast, lunch and dinner in these venues. All meals and service were good. I think the new dinner menus are a little too fancy, especially the part of the menu that is static. There were two upcharge meal options shown, one or both included lobster.

 

O'Sheehan's

1. Since the Flamingo grill didn't exist on the Escape I decided to try O'Sheehans for breakfast and found my joy. I had breakfast here 3 times getting an omelet and twice adding the French toast. Portions are right sized and the food was good.

 

Manhattan Room

This is our favorite dinner venue because of the live entertainment. We celebrated my nephew's birthday here with an NCL provided cake. Nice touch with staff, friends and a few guests joining in on the song. The cake was tasty small enough to avoid waste.

 

Buffet

My family generally had breakfast here. We all had post excursion and late night bites here as well. I think NCL does a nice job with the buffet. Table clean up was quite fast. I had to check chairs a couple of times to make sure those were clean enough too.

 

O What A Night, Supper Club

This is a complimentary meal. Menu is set, no choice offered, though they made a suitable vegetarian/seafood meal for us.

[Clarea]

Nicely organized review!

[zencruisers]

Enjoying your review.

 

 

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[Yorkvillain]

Nice breakdown. Thanks for doing it.

[eliw23]

Looks like you and your nephew were the ones behind us lining up to meet the monkeys as well as leaving the port! Nice to "run into you" again on Cruise Critic. Great review. I'm still recuperating and finally slept in this morning. There's no buffet breakfast in my house though lol!

 

 

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[grandmarnnurse]

Great review and break down of everything. Glad to hear that NCL's complimentary venues of food were so good, as we only do complimentary, avoiding the specialties. We cruise for the first time with NCL in January on the Getaway, and cannot wait!!

 

 

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[Nola26]

Looks like you and your nephew were the ones behind us lining up to meet the monkeys as well as leaving the port! Nice to "run into you" again on Cruise Critic. Great review. I'm still recuperating and finally slept in this morning. There's no buffet breakfast in my house though lol!

 

 

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Hello Elizabeth, that was us and again in the customs line yesterday. Hope the trip home was uneventful for your beautiful family. What an awesome all around trip! Feel free to tag on your own cruise review items. Perhaps since your boys are younger you can add on about Splash Academy?

[WAHMto5]

Great review, thank you!

[Nola26]

Great review and break down of everything. Glad to hear that NCL's complimentary venues of food were so good, as we only do complimentary, avoiding the specialties. We cruise for the first time with NCL in January on the Getaway, and cannot wait!!

 

 

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Yes, the complimentary restaurants are quite good. A couple of times we ordered two appetizers. We never had more than one entrée, though that would be allowed as well.

 

O'Sheehan's is closer to a chain restaurant, so expectations should be in line with a TGIF or Chili's. The breakfast was better than Cracker Barrel or that level of restaurant. We don't eat beef so I cannot attest to the Prime Rib, but I assume that quality is probably better than a standard chain. That was the Night 1 special.

 

We had reservations for the Manhattan Room, but the Buffet had Seafood night on the first Sea Day or Night 2 on this cruise. Be sure to enjoy the singing Washy, washy boys, they are a hoot!

 

I also ordered items from the complimentary room service menu on our first morning: pastries, yogurt, milk, cereal and fruit plate. Main goal was to have some munchies in the room (milk, yogurt and cereal) for a quick snack. Obviously we ate the fruit plate immediately. I only did this once during the cruise.

[Nola26]

Balcony 12854

Just realized I never mentioned the cabin. We had a mid ship angled balcony. It is more Aft than mid. We liked being close to the aft stairs and elevator for easy access to the buffet, teen club and Spice H2O.

 

The configuration is bed by the balcony, we had the opposite configuration on the Getaway last summer, I like this set up better. We had the bunk this time so my nephew slept there which allowed us to have a sofa available at all times, very convenient.

 

Our angled balcony was set up with 3 chairs and a small table. We could have exchanged a chair for a lounger, but never made the request.

 

Ship Impressions

The Escape is a big ship and we were told there were 5,076 guest onboard. Other than the pool deck (which I only walked through) I never felt crowded. I avoided the buffet for breakfast, but the family was fine there.

 

Deck 8 felt like a ghost town compared to the lively Mojito bar on the Getaway. They've moved the performers into venues, harder to find and enjoy. I caught the guitarist at the District Brew and then at The Cellars, neither venue holds the crowd or pulls in passersby like the Sugar Cane bar.

 

I liked the Escape and would sail her again. The one thing I really liked is the Supper Club. I saw three different shows there and liked the venue. Perhaps they will add that to the Getaway once Illusionarium ends. Spice H2O felt smaller and more closed in than on the Getaway.

[TenForward]

Thanks for such a great review. Could you tell me a bit more about the Buffet's Seafood night? We were thinking of the Manhattan Room that night but then I saw JW's mention of the Seafood at the buffet in his review. I haven't really heard anything about it other than that. I believe there's another Seafood night at O'Sheehans but that it's not nearly has good/comprehensive ? Does buffet offer lots of good choices that night? Thanks in advance!

[BirdTravels]

Thanks for the review. Do you feel that 6 nights was enough? Normally the Western Carib is a 7 night cruise, but the Escape has been adding an extra day to it's Eastern Carib and cutting a day off the Western Carib.

[Nola26]

Thanks for such a great review. Could you tell me a bit more about the Buffet's Seafood night? We were thinking of the Manhattan Room that night but then I saw JW's mention of the Seafood at the buffet in his review. I haven't really heard anything about it other than that. I believe there's another Seafood night at O'Sheehans but that it's not nearly has good/comprehensive ? Does buffet offer lots of good choices that night? Thanks in advance!

 

We didn't go to the buffet on the seafood night, we were in the Manhattan room due to a pre cruise reservation. OSheehans offers a fried seafood basket that night which is all you care to eat.

[Nola26]

Thanks for the review. Do you feel that 6 nights was enough? Normally the Western Carib is a 7 night cruise, but the Escape has been adding an extra day to it's Eastern Carib and cutting a day off the Western Carib.

 

More than once during the cruise I mentioned missing a 7th day. The 6 Day was OK. We started and ended with a Sea Day, the ideal scenario for me.

 

I have the 7 Day version on the Dawn in December so I can truly compare. My ports will change with Harvest Caye rather than Belize City and Costa Maya Mexico is added.

[Sand and Seas]

Nice review! We love Maya Key excursion also and have done it 3 or 4 times now. Thanks for sharing with us:D

[soloscientist]

Thanks for such a great review. Could you tell me a bit more about the Buffet's Seafood night? We were thinking of the Manhattan Room that night but then I saw JW's mention of the Seafood at the buffet in his review. I haven't really heard anything about it other than that. I believe there's another Seafood night at O'Sheehans but that it's not nearly has good/comprehensive ? Does buffet offer lots of good choices that night? Thanks in advance!

 

I was on this cruise and while I don't know all that was served since we did this as a snack after dinner in the dining room, we did find lobster claws (used a salt shaker to crack the tough ones), shrimp cocktail, and saw grilled shrimp and a bunch other seafood dishes at the buffet on seafood night. O'Sheehans had essentially a fried seafood basket.

[TenForward]

I was on this cruise and while I don't know all that was served since we did this as a snack after dinner in the dining room, we did find lobster claws (used a salt shaker to crack the tough ones), shrimp cocktail, and saw grilled shrimp and a bunch other seafood dishes at the buffet on seafood night. O'Sheehans had essentially a fried seafood basket.

 

Thanks for the feedback!

[cincicruisers]

Review was very good. Very organized.

[riclop]

Thanks for the review.