Escape Vibe - My Experience

[LrgPizza]

Tickets are $99 per person for the entire week. I've heard they no longer offer day passes. Each person that wants a pass needs to be present in line - you cannot buy for others. What other info are you looking for?

They never did sell day passes on Escape nor on Getaway. I'm pretty sure that was just a Breakaway thing, since they have some days where the winter weather out of NYC isn't conducive to an outdoor sundeck.

[Lisakauai]

Short version - loved it! If I'm able to sail on Escape again (doubtful since it's moving to NY) I'm pretty sure I would have to have passes again.

I LOVE Rommel!!! We have sailed with him a couple times on the Epic. He actually remembered our names when we walked up a year later. Then we went on the Escape and didn't know he was on the ship. So bummed!

Long version - keep reading.

I've waited a longtime to sail on Escape, and I was intrigued by Vibe. I vacillated about passes though since it sounded like such a stressful situation. Several years ago four of us bought day passes for Epic's Posh. I believe there were only two other people there when we visited and we didn't stay long. We considered it a bust, so DH was never interested in spending the money for our Escape voyage, even though I told him it should be a totally different and better experience. Somewhat fortunately I had a long time (11 months) to bring it up often and share pictures and stories of all the wonderful experiences to be had there: sun! hot tub! He's not interested in either. Exclusivity? Him - why do we need it? Oh yeah,and if the weather is bad we won't really get any use out of it. Ugh, this is gonna be a hard sell. We also usually travel with friends who probably weren't interested in Vibe. Turns out our friends were not able to join us, and we arrived early enough for Boarding Group 1!

 

I told DH it was meant to be and I'd worn him down enough that he agreed to try for passes. (It also helped that this was for our belated wedding anniversary.) I warned him some people run to Headliners for the passes and assured him I won't be running (because he never would) so if we manage to get them great, and if we don't, we don't. Yes, I was trying to not get my hopes up.

We got into the security line about 9:40. Maybe we were 25-30 people back from the front of the line. Shortly after 10:00 the line opened and we proceeded upstairs. There was barely any wait at all for check-in. Finally in the waiting area I wasn't sure which row was closest to the actual boarding line so I just sat next to the largest group thinking they must be after Vibe passes also.

I think just before 11 the staff made an announcement that they would be making another announcement soon for boarding and at that moment the 10-15 people next to us (other people had sat indifferent rows) jumped up and RAN about 20 feet over to the staging area for the line to board. It actually startled me but of course I jumped up too (but didn't run). The end of the line wasn't far from my seat so I didn't have far to go. And I thought, these people are not screwing around. I will never get a pass at this rate, as I'm sure I will get trampled before I make it to Headliners.

We watched one or two large wedding parties and Haven and Platinum and all the Priority people board. I felt like my chances kept dwindling by the second. Our line finally opened and that first group of people took off running some more. Even though DH didn't want to get the passes initially, he's great about completing a task, so he's questioning me if I'msure I know where I need to go. Yes! And if nothing else just follow everybody else that's talking about Vibe!

You enter the ship on Deck 7 so it's an easy walk down one flight of stairs to get to Headliners. There was a group of two or three young men who heard several of us talking about Vibe passes and they yelled out (as they walked in the opposite direction) "Too late! Vibe's sold out!" I was so sad but knew I had to be a big girl about it and we all kept walking anyway. Of course we want to hear it from an employee. And there we were and we snagged passes 59 and 60! Not sure what the purpose of the misdirect was. Bless their little hearts.

 

We made it up to Vibe about an hour later and Rommel, Vincent (aka Vinny, Vince, Curley) and Michael made this experience fantastic for us. They learned our names immediately, and always had my DH's beer at the ready for him. I like to vary it up and they fulfilled every request and offered up great suggestions when I needed them. They said several times if they don't have what you want at their bar they'll get it so don't be afraid to ask for whatever. And of course - Shot O' Clock!

 

The only small drawback for us having the passes was not visiting all the bars and other nooks and crannies of the ship because we spent all our free time in Vibe. And we were ok with that. There was almost no point going anywhere else when you knew the service would be so attentive and fun, not to mention visiting with other passengers we met, some of which we hope to sail with again.

Oh! On the last night everyone was saying good-byes to the guys and we got caught up in it all and DH forgot his room key in Vibe, and we didn't realize it until almost 8, long after they closed. We thought we heard that Michael would be in the Skyline Bar that night so we went there and a bartender there tracked Michael down in his room and Michael actually came up to that bar, told DH he/the guys at Vibe saw the card was left behind and somehow knew we were eating at Bayamo/Pincho Tapas that night and had sent the card there for us already! Michael then called over to Bayamo (from Skyline) and they brought they key over to us. This was so far above and beyond the call of duty! When the Skyline bartender first told us Michael was coming up (he even could have relayed the info over the phone but didn't) I left to go to our room to grab some cash to give to Michael as a thank you but it took too long for me to get back and he couldn't wait for me. I felt so bad I couldn't give him a token of our appreciation.

And yes, we did know that we could've just gotten the card replaced at Guest Services. However, the Vibe bartenders will sometimes (often?) put stickers on your card and we wanted to keep it for sentimental and souvenir purposes.

Thanks again Michael and Rommel and Vincent. You guys are the best!!

 

 

I LOVE Rommel!!! We have sailed with him a couple times on the Epic. He actually remembered our names when we walked up a year later. Then we went on the Escape and didn't know he was on the ship. So bummed!

[gbcruise]

Do you enter on Deck seven near front set of elevators or aft elevators? Is headliners on starboard or port side?

[kderoz1234]

Hello, just curious if you can smoke at the bar in the Vibe?

[sid_9169]

No smoking at all in Vibe...

Hello, just curious if you can smoke at the bar in the Vibe?

[LrgPizza]

Hello, just curious if you can smoke at the bar in the Vibe?

Depends on the ship. There was definitely smoking allowed in Vibe on Breakaway, just no cigars. I simply can't remember if there was on Escape or not.

[maryshopper]

Do you have to be book in a certain room to get vibe pass? What age do you have to be to get in vibe and is there a pool there?

[aeroo777]

Do you have to be book in a certain room to get vibe pass? What age do you have to be to get in vibe and is there a pool there?

1. No

2. 18 and over

3. No pool. Hot tub, yes

[sarlin]

OK How much are the Vibe passes? Sailing on the 7 day Escape to Bermuda this Fall-We have never even tried but since you all were successful maybe we should!

[sid_9169]

Vibe passes are currently $99 for a 7 day sailing... (Per person)

OK How much are the Vibe passes? Sailing on the 7 day Escape to Bermuda this Fall-We have never even tried but since you all were successful maybe we should!