Help me wow my husband: NCL, RC, Carnival or?

[aimcat]

On any of these do I pre-reserve dinners and shows? Or is that just on RC Oasis class?

[aimcat]

Once booked on if I went with Getaway, I am able to book restaurant reservations as well as shows? Can you actually pick your table and seats at shows?

[tidygirl]

Once booked on if I went with Getaway, I am able to book restaurant reservations as well as shows? Can you actually pick your table and seats at shows?

At final payment you can definitely book the shows (I just did for an upcoming May cruise) but I don't think its a choice for picking seats just getting you into the show or I didn't see anything about picking seats.

We did the Oasis and prebooked shows it just got us into the theater, at a certain time they just opened the doors for anyone that could find an empty seat.

[aimcat]

I never really got an answer but what exactly do you guys mean when you say "fresstyle" cruising?

[tidygirl]

From my understanding it's "more relaxed " you choose when and where you want to eat, whether you want to dress up or not, it's your vacation and you can do what you want is their philosophy.

[aimcat]

ok thank you. since i made this post i was going to go with celeb reflection but it wont work with our free plane tickets. norwegian now will. guys how bad are the crowds on escape? like i said my husband hates to be crowded in everywhere. are the crowds just pool and buffet or everywhere at all times? do they have any areas to avoid crowds and lay out on sea days?

[tidygirl]

I haven't been on the escape, but pretty much every ship (15) we've been on you can find a seat away from the crowds you just might have look for them or go down on the deck where the life boats are.

[purpletequila]

I responded in the X thread but my vote is the Escape, with Vibe passes, balcony room.

 

If you decide to splurge on the Haven, I'd book a balcony and then bid on the Haven if you get the option. They send an email and I think you have a good chance if you bid say $750 each but considering they sell the Haven upfront for almost 3grand each, that's the way I'd go.

Edited March 5, 2017 by purpletequila

[purpletequila]

On NCL what does the freestyle crusing mean exactly?

 

April 2017 is when I was speaking of. Budget 3000 or less for 2 total.

 

The whole "Freestyle" thing is a lie. I'm being honest. lol I see nothing freestyle about having to pre book your dinner and most entertainment options 90 days in advance. Now there are a lot of cancelations onboard for the entertainment so that is not as big a deal, but the specialty restaurants? No. They are always booked even when they technically aren't and if you have the specialty dining option, don't reserve far in advance and get locked out because you try to freestyle it and reserve the day of, there is no recourse from my understanding...you just lose it. They keep most of the reservations open for onboard booking the first day. Right now, where you're booking inside of the 90 days, odds are, you won't be able to get many reservations online. But if you are among the first to board in pursuit of those Vibe passes, you will have your choice of dining times/restuarants.

Edited March 5, 2017 by purpletequila

[purpletequila]

ok thank you. since i made this post i was going to go with celeb reflection but it wont work with our free plane tickets. norwegian now will. guys how bad are the crowds on escape? like i said my husband hates to be crowded in everywhere. are the crowds just pool and buffet or everywhere at all times? do they have any areas to avoid crowds and lay out on sea days?

 

 

I was on the Escape a few months ago. It is definitely crowded in the buffet (always), the pool area (kind of crazy) and early evening it is very busy in the area where the comedy club/casino/specialty dining is.

 

There are a couple of little hideaways on the Escape but honestly, after a couple of days, everyone is on to them and the whole place is just pretty busy.

 

If you do book the Escape or any newer NCL ship, plan to score those Vibe passes and you will be good to go. Well, well worth it if you can't swing the Haven and want no crowd. But you do have to get to port by say 9am to be in one of the first boarding groups in order to buy a pass. They go quickly. So there's some risk. But if you plan accordingly and score those and it's a no brainer in choosing the Escape.

[Crazy planning mom]

Definitely get the thermal spa pass for the Escape and the 3 specialty dinner package. I got both on the Epic and it was worth it. The spa was lovely and quiet. Get them ahead of time on your cruise planner and make dinner and show reservations 90 days out on the cruise planner.

[aimcat]

Only problem is our cruise will be mid April maybe late April.

[Crazy planning mom]

Kids are off from school here in NY until April 18th . You may want to avoid until after that.