Getaway! May 6-13 Trip Report & Review

[MaryBethV]

I love getting to places early before the crowds. I don't mind the crowds so much - it is just fun to see the calm before the storm. The beach area was huge and there seemed to be more loungers than could ever possibly be filled.

 

 

 

 

The water was really warm. It does get deep really fast - so if you have young kids, be careful. We swam out a little bit and it was fun to watch people zipline right overhead. However, as others have mentioned, the water isn't clear and there were quite a few little twigs floating in the water that day that would get caught in my hair... so we didn't spend much time there.

 

 

 

Now I knew from my research that the sand was not natural powdery sand... but it was hard to tell from people's description exactly what it was like. So here is a closeup for you - the larger shell pieces are about fingernail size. It isn't comfortable and it feels like tiny pebbles, instead of sand, clinging to your feet... but unless you have super sensitive feet you can walk on it barefoot (until it gets really HOT). A few feet from our clamshells there were overhead and foot showers - which were helpful.

 

[MaryBethV]

In this photo you can see the edge of our yellow clamshell on the left and the path leading to the pool.

 

 

Between our clamshells and the pool was this area on the left. Really nice!

 

 

We LOVED the pool. Even when it was 'crowded' later in the day, it wasn't like you were bumping into people.

 

 

 

 

[MaryBethV]

We ended up going back to the ship for a late lunch, so we didn't eat on the island -- but here is the menu for the main restaurant if you are interested. This was actually given to us while sitting in our clamshells - they would have brought food/drink to us. Tempting!!!

 

 

 

[MaryBethV]

There is an upper level to the Landshark Bar & Grill where there is a bar and great views all around.

 

 

 

 

 

On the ground level - attached to the Landshark Bar & Grill are bathrooms and cute shop.

 

[MaryBethV]

 

 

 

 

 

[MaryBethV]

 

 

DH and the kids wanted to see the 3D movie (Thor: Ragnarok) that was showing in the theater at 2:15, so we headed back.

 

 

 

 

After a quick late lunch in the Garden Cafe (really yummy curries and Thai rice!) - they went off to see the movie and I blissfully climbed into bed for a proper vacation NAP. Another favorite moment of mine. :D

[mysandyfeet]

Our rooms were ready! We had balcony rooms right off of the aft elevators on the starboard side - rooms 14840 (kid’s room) and 14842 (our room with an angled balcony).

 

Miami from our balcony.

 

Pros:

-great location - one floor up to the Garden Cafe and two floors up to Spice H20 and Entourage (the teen lounge) - a quick elevator ride down to Cagney’s, Moderno, Taste, Savor, and the Tropicana Room

-nicely decorated with plenty of storage

-the drop-down bunk bed in the kid’s room was really sturdy and we were able to have it left down so that our 15yo could always have a place to crash when needed.

-we loved our angled balcony!

 

Cons:

-our room (14842) must have been under a service area of the Garden Cafe or something - the scraping/moving noises we heard at all times of the day and night were more than a few chairs being moved. It wasn’t horrible by any means, but noticeable. If you are a light sleeper, it might be an issue in this room.

-Though overall the ship and room are in really great condition... small things are showing wear - such as the veneer on the closet handle had come off, and sheets, bath towels, and beach towels occasionally had noticeable stains on them. This was not the case on the Escape - though the Escape is a little bit newer.

 

 

 

 

The bathroom amenities. The shower had a shampoo/conditioner combo (I highly recommend bringing your own conditioner - so glad I did!) and body wash. At the sink there was a hand soap dispenser which was great. And these were on the shelf - a bar soap (didn't use), and lotion (used a little - was nice to have).

 

We will have the same exact 2 cabins for Thanksgiving week..Question: you mentioned noise, how badly was it in the kid's room and at what times? We will have that room my parents will have yours.

[MaryBethV]

We will have the same exact 2 cabins for Thanksgiving week..Question: you mentioned noise, how badly was it in the kid's room and at what times? We will have that room my parents will have yours.

 

The kids said they never heard anything in their room. It wasn't until they were in our room one day and heard the noises and realized that's what we were talking about. The lack of them hearing anything in their room and the fact that the moving/scraping noises were both during the day and in the middle of the night - is what lead me to guess that it is more than just generic noise from the Garden Cafe. I'm guessing there was some sort of service/prep area above our room. I could be wrong... but that is just my guess. It wasn't all the time either - just every once in a while. There are so many advantages to those rooms like the location and the angled balcony, that I would book them again - even with the noises. Hope that helps!

[Seminole1975]

I am following along. Really enjoying your beautiful pictures!

[Mimi19510]

We ARE cruising then as well!!! from ATL

Me too!!!!!! From Ky:D

Enjoying this review so much; thanks for doing it!

[sharlon]

We ARE cruising then as well!!! from ATL

 

Reading this review and saw your post. Hubby and I will be on, also from Kennesaw.

[JMB1969]

We will have the same exact 2 cabins for Thanksgiving week..Question: you mentioned noise, how badly was it in the kid's room and at what times? We will have that room my parents will have yours.

 

We are slso on the Getaway for the week of Thanksgiving! :cool: Have you joined the roll call yet for that cruise?

[WanderlustJourney]

Thanks for your review, really enjoying it so far!

[MaryBethV]

Backing up for a minute... forgot a few photos.

 

When we got back to our room we had a towel animal already - I guess since she didn't get to our room the night before. How sweet is that?!

 

And this...

 

 

It was cold and we were thirsty so we popped it open then and there. I sure hope it wasn't because they (Teppanyaki) thought anything on their part was wrong the night before! Anyways - thank you - we enjoyed it. :)

 

Lunch at the Garden Cafe - I mentioned yummy curries already ... they also a good cold Thai noodle salad.

 

 

And our view of Harvest Caye from the Garden Cafe - not bad!

 

THEN movie/nap time.

[MaryBethV]

We watched sail away from our balcony and then walked around for a bit...

 

 

Looking towards the atrium on deck 6-

 

 

Walking on The Waterfront by LaCucina - the PORT side (aka the - NON smoking side).

 

And stopping you know where-

[MaryBethV]

OK - now, I know this next part borders on the ridiculous - but DH and I were "hungry" for a "snack" about 5:30. We didn't want O'Sheehans or the Garden Cafe... so we went to Taste for apps even though we had reservations for the whole family at Taste at 8:30.

 

Tonight's menu-

 

 

 

DH ordered the Peking Duck Salad (good)-

 

I ordered the Potato Leek Soup (very good) and the Escargot Cassoulet (wasn't sure what to expect and it was delicious!).

 

 

After our "snack" we walked out onto the waterfront and were playing around with the stars app on our phone... even though stars weren't out yet. We thought we were heading South - but hey, isn't Costa Maya North?! After much discussion, we went back to the room to check channel 21 (the navigation channel). We WERE heading South - back down to Roatan and then out to deeper water and North. Interesting (for us - you are all probably bored to death just reading this lol).

 

Then DH crashed - SOUND asleep. Channel 21 will put you right out, I tell ya.

 

Next, I got word from our oldest and youngest - they both weren't feeling well and might not come to dinner. This day and the next day we ALL came down with some *digestive issues*. Having two bathrooms between the 6 of us turned out to be a big plus. These *issues* continued throughout the rest of the cruise and well into our first week at home. Let's just say I was thankful I am a "what if" type of packer and packed Imodium AD. However, I didn't pack enough for the whole family for days upon days! It quickly became a rationing of who needed it most. Ugh. Apologies for the TMI.

 

DH woke up, oldest rallied, youngest stayed in bed... and the five of us headed to dinner...

[mysandyfeet]

The kids said they never heard anything in their room. It wasn't until they were in our room one day and heard the noises and realized that's what we were talking about. The lack of them hearing anything in their room and the fact that the moving/scraping noises were both during the day and in the middle of the night - is what lead me to guess that it is more than just generic noise from the Garden Cafe. I'm guessing there was some sort of service/prep area above our room. I could be wrong... but that is just my guess. It wasn't all the time either - just every once in a while. There are so many advantages to those rooms like the location and the angled balcony, that I would book them again - even with the noises. Hope that helps!

 

Yes! I was worried the noise would be constant. It happened to us on another voyage we were directly under the live music and it was every night till 1 am. Although we like to have a good time...it became exhausting by the 3rd night so we told guest services and the moved us to another cabin. It does look like a great spot especially with the elevators being right there and food a few floors away :D

[MaryBethV]

Dinner (or 2nd dinner - ha!) at Taste. Previous menus apply.

 

My Lime and Dill Shrimp app (good - like cocktail shrimp over potato salad)-

 

Oldest son's Beef Slider (he liked it)-

 

My Roast Leg of Lamb Provencal (potatoes, veggies, and sauce were delicious, lamb was OK-slightly tough to chew)-

 

Dessert Menu-

 

Youngest son and I both ordered the Warm Chocolate Lava Cake (best dessert thus far - YUM!)-

 

DH's Fruit Tartlet (very good, but I think there was a little Warm Chocolate Lava Cake envy!)-

[MaryBethV]

Back in our room, we were greeted by another cutie. The ship was once again shaking and I took this close-up of the new addition...

 

 

...the live photo of it was hilarious. Makes me smile every time I watch it! :D I converted it to a video -

.

 

 

Next up... Costa Maya!

Edited May 25, 2018 by MaryBethV

[steveweese]

Following Doing this cruise in August.

[Tim-n-Gina]

Thanks for taking the time to do this review!

 

DW and I will be on Getaway in October. First cruise, Can't wait!

[calicakes]

Thank you, silly question but do you know if the tuna salad is albacore

 

 

 

After a quick stop at Guest Services to get our cards hole-punched and grab a daily -- we headed to Savor for lunch.

 

We had a nice table by a window.

 

The menu.

 

 

 

[calicakes]

Is it just me or do the pillows look awful?

 

 

No, not just you. I always bring my own pillow

[calicakes]

What do you think was the cause of your digestion issues?

[cleanandsober88]

Most definitely not bored. Love reading about your adventure! Sorry you guys experienced digestive system problems. Will be on Getaway for second time in January. Happy New Year to me. :D