Getaway review Jan 31 - Feb 7 - Cabin 9318

This was our first time on a cruise and I just want to start by saying this is my opinion of my experience. I don't need anyone to judge my opinion. My experience was different than yours and if you don't like what I have to say (write), I'm sorry, but it's just an opinion.

There were 5 of us on the ship together, myself, my husband, my 8 yo daughter, my mother-in-law, and her sister-in-law. We stayed in aft cabin 9318 and they were in balcony cabin 9244. We arrived at the port around 9:45 am in hopes of securing Vibe passes for me and my husband. The ladies didn't want one. The line up to check in wasn't bad at all, and we were through it in about 15 minutes. Had a very nice and personable lady checking us in and everything went smoothly. We got boarding group 3 though we boarded right after group 1, as all the odd numbers were in the B terminal. I do not know if this is normal or not, as it was our first time on the cruise. We then proceeded to sit down and wait until they called our group. I'm sorry, I don't recall how long it was, but it was a while. There were lots and lots of people from group 9 in line waiting right behind the group 1's and one lot of them even managed to sneak on with group 1. I know this, because we were at the front of group 3 (really second group in terminal B) and the woman was pretty upset that they got by her before their time.

We headed straight to guest services for the Vibe passes and it was deserted when we got there and we had no trouble securing the passes. We didn't want a cabana, so not sure if they were still available. We then went to O'Sheehan's for lunch and it was pretty enjoyable. Nothing spectacular, but we enjoyed it. Then off to sign our daughter into the kid's club while the two ladies went to explore the ship. There was zero wait to sign her up and it was a painless process. When we went back through the guest services area after this, it was a bloody zoo. So, get on early if you want to get your stuff done before it gets too busy.

We ended up having dinner twice because we really wanted the prime rib (we ate at O'Sheehan's again) and it was really, really good. We also had reservations for The Illusionarium and the meal there was just okay for me. I didn't like the starter, I don't like seafood, and the desserts were just meh! The steak was delicious and my family said the shrimp was really good, but their starter was just 'okay'. As for the show... my 8 year old seemed to enjoy it, as did the two ladies, but my husband and I were not impressed and kind of bored. We had good seats in the third row near the middle.

Our first day at sea was good and we enjoyed the Vibe while our daughter had fun in the kid's club. The drinks were way too strong for me (usually a non-drinker) so if you like them strong, the Vibe is the place to go. I didn't try many drinks but the strawberry margaritas were quite enjoyable when they didn't kill them with tequila. We had dinner in Teppanyaki and there was way too much food. The cook we had wasn't as good as the one we watched next to us, but it was still lots of fun. I didn't enjoy the starters, nor did the others in our group. The rice, steak, and chicken were cooked well, but all had the same seasoning, so tasted pretty much alike. I would not do this meal again considering the extra cost. We had the UBP, not the UDP, so it was not included for us.

Our stop in Jamaica was warm (too humid for my liking) and the only thing we did was go to Margaritaville for free wifi, which worked well. I really wanted some jerk chicken, but this was not the place for it. I should have ventured further, but because we left our daughter on the ship, I didn't feel good about going far. Bought a really nice bag in one of the shops, along with a Red Stripe hat for my husband, some hot sauce that I've yet to try and a shot glass for a friend. They had the exact same jerk seasoning I buy at home at an inflated price, so I passed on that. My mother-in-law and her sister-in-law went on the NCL excursion 'highlights of Ocho Rios' (I think that was what it was called) and they were both very underwhelmed with it. They said it wasn't worth the $55 price tag and saw a lot of poverty and hardship. Not exactly what you want on your holiday, but it is the reality of a lot of these small islands. :( Oh yeah, almost forgot... I had a massage and facial at the spa and although it was very enjoyable and Elizabeth was awesome, the price tag of almost $300 with tip was a little much.

Next up was Grand Cayman and we all had a fantastic day here. We took a cab to Royal Palms (I reserved a cabana - totally worth it) that cost $4 each. Since we were first in the cab, we ended up having to wait almost 20 mins for them to fill it to capacity. It was hot and I wasn't prepared to have to wait so long. I'm used to jumping in a cab, and the driver leaving! The food was really good at the Royal Palms, but after doing a little shopping across the street, I realized that the chicken place (can't recall the name) would have been better! The chicken on the rotisserie looked so bloody good, I almost had a second lunch just to try it. We headed back about 1:30 and encountered a very long line to tender back to the boat. It was really hot in the sun and tempers were flaring as a number of ignorant people jumped the line and threw up the "I don't speak English card" and would not go to the end of the line. Even after the officer tried to get them to go to the end of the line, they just ignored him and kept on going. There were a number of people around that were not happy about this. To avoid the long line up, head back a bit earlier. We ate at Taste that night and the service was just okay, but the food was good.

We woke up the next day and had some breakfast since we weren't docking until around 11. We again jumped in a cab, this time he didn't wait, and paid $35 to go to Nachi Cocom. I thought this was a bit pricey, but it was quite a drive, so I didn't complain. Nachi Cocom was perfect for us as the ladies and my daughter swam all day in the pool and had a fantastic time. They enjoyed the food, but my husband and I thought it was just okay. Drinks were included but I didn't partake other than the bottled water. I had a massage there which was kind of weird, as they try and pull your bathing suit off you while you are on the beach with no real privacy. I mentioned to the lady a number of times that I just wanted a relaxing massage and to not bother with my legs or arms, just to concentrate on my back, shoulders, and neck. She didn't listen and did her own thing. I did not enjoy the encounter as it hurt and I didn't want or need my legs, arms, feet, face, or head massaged. :mad: Overall, Nachi Cocom was ideal. If you want a quiet day, this is the right place for you. I think our daughter was one of the only kids there though, but she had a great time in the pool with her Grandma and Aunt.

After leaving Mexico, we encountered some rough water and it was too windy to enjoy the Vibe. It was the first time it actually felt like we were on a ship, and though none of us got sick (throwing up sick) I did get a terrible headache and felt somewhat queasy. We ate at Savor and again enjoyed the food very much. Our drinks waiter Predrag was a very pleasant guy and became my vacation hero! He'd only been sailing for a couple weeks and still had a real smile on his face. Some of the staff were downright miserable and though I don't hold it against them as I have no idea of their circumstances, it wasn't fun being served by them. That night I kept waking up from the rough seas, and almost smashed my head into the wall getting up to go to the bathroom cause of it. Nobody's fault just bad timing getting out of bed. LOL

The last day at sea was windy as can be and a lot of things, including the Vibe were closed because of it. We still had fun and enjoyed ourselves just talking and drinking and eating. We ate at Savor again and again, the food was very good. No complaints about these two restaurants, but make reservations ahead of time, or you'll be waiting.

Our last day was spent at Great Stirrup Cay, which to me was the highlight of our cruise. The day started off cloudy, but cleared up and was pretty hot. We rented a small private cabana for the day and although it was very pricey ($419) it was worth every penny to us to just relax and not have to line up for anything other than the tender on the way back to the boat. They served us chips and homemade salsa which was very good. I used to cook professionally and consider myself a very good cook, and the salsa was as good as I make at home. We also got a plate of fruit and bottled water in our own fridge, which was very cold, so no complaints there. The cabana comes with a $50 food/drink credit and we ordered the shrimp platter and charcuterie platter which were both fantastic. We had so much food, we didn't need to go to the buffet/BBQ! The waiters were very, very attentive and we lacked for nothing all day. They came by so often, I felt almost forced to drink. LOL We had a great day and enjoyed ourselves so much. We went to the little shops and bought a few things. Again, this day was the highlight of our cruise. If you can afford it, reserve a cabana, you won't regret it. The lagoon area was fantastic and we walked the five minutes to it to swim for a bit. I am not the type to lay in the sun, so I really enjoyed the shade and peace of the cabana. Tip - book it as early as you can, cause the price goes up the closer to sailing you get. The tender line up was about 25 minutes back to the ship. There was no line up to get to the island if you went early, which we did. My husband and daughter did the kayaking tour and said it was fantastic and worth every penny. Everyone had a great day and we were sad to leave.

Our last meal was in the Tropicana room and it was really busy! Our waiter was great (can't recall his name, but he was from India and really engaged our daughter) We all had prime rib and although it was really good, it wasn't as good as the first night at O'Sheehan's only because it was a lot fattier... but tasted equally as good. We went to watch the Perfect Couple show but ended up being a part of the show. Warning... although a lot of fun, it was a bit embarrassing and not what I thought it would be. LOL We didn't win, but that's okay, we don't drink champagne, so winning it wouldn't have been a great prize. My mother-in-law and her sister-in-law were crying from laughing so hard. Every night was something different and Adam was to me, the best assistant cruise director. I liked him better than Armen (Armin?)! He was so funny and down to earth.

Our cabin was fantastic even though I felt a little confined with the space. The aft balcony was amazing and all five of us enjoyed it a few times and it was one of the best parts of the ship. We had some Haven neighbours who were a little rowdy at times, but hey, it's vacation time and the only thing that bothered me was their bad language in front of my daughter. We chatted a few times, and they were really decent people, just not so mindful of little ears. Our cabin steward, Jorge was almost non-existent and never had a smile on his face. He didn't go out of his way to do anything for us. I was hoping for a great steward and was willing to tip a lot extra, but he just didn't deserve it. Again, these are just my opinions and others could have had different experiences.

Tips: Get on the ship asap and enjoy it as much as you can, the week goes by super fast. We only played bingo on the last day for the $4500 jackpot and the free cruise, which we won neither. LOL Bingo was very stressful as they called the numbers too fast and didn't seem to care if you kept up. They sell you more tickets before the last game, but don't tell you that you won't be able to keep up if you have too many! Also, we didn't know (maybe they explained it before or was in the fine print) but the prize of $4500 is only given after so many numbers... the real prize was only $900! So many people with only one bingo card kept yelling out to call the numbers faster, which wasn't really fair to the players that ended up buying more cards. I guess they didn't care to be fair to all and I will never play bingo on a cruise ship again. If you want to do something, book it fast cause you might not get the chance to do it otherwise. One last mention, there are a number of *******es (pardon my french) who don't care about anyone but themselves and butt in the lines or cut you off or are loud and obnoxious regardless of anyone around them. These people did not spoil our time, but buyer beware, there's lots of them.

We meant to see Burn the Floor, but didn't and wish we had. Legally Blonde was amusing but a little boring, and we only saw one comedy act, which was very funny! Would have liked to have seen more, but there was just too much to do. Came very close to buying a beautiful painting by S. Ilyayev but by the time I talked to my husband about it, and he agreed I could (I would never make that kind of purchase without talking with him first, not that I needed permission LOL) there was nobody around and I left without it. My big regret of the cruise as I absolutely LOVED the painting.

The casino smoke wasn't a problem per se, but the smell was horrible and turned my stomach. My husband and I were wanting to play but couldn't because of the smell. The Glow party was fun and our daughter loved it. Neon clothes stand out way more than white does. Get there early so they can paint you with their glow paint, it really stood out.

We were sad to leave the Getaway, since we had an awesome time, but all good things must come to an end. I may end up posting pics later on if I can figure out how to do it. Hahahahaha Feel free to ask any questions and I'll try and answer them. Will post more if I think of anything I forgot. Thanks for reading and I hope you enjoyed my review.

Thanks for your review! I leave on Sunday on the Getaway and it's my first time sailing on NCL! We have almost the same itinerary as you (they swapped out GSC for Costa Maya, unfortunately - thanks Gronk) so it's super nice to read about the ports as well. So Grand Cayman was the only port where you tendered, correct? One time as a kid we were sailing with some family friends who, hilariously, hired a private boat to take us back to the ship because they didn't want to wait for a tender. Security wasn't happy but they did allow us back on hah.

Thanks for your review! I leave on Sunday on the Getaway and it's my first time sailing on NCL! We have almost the same itinerary as you (they swapped out GSC for Costa Maya, unfortunately - thanks Gronk) so it's super nice to read about the ports as well. So Grand Cayman was the only port where you tendered, correct? One time as a kid we were sailing with some family friends who, hilariously, hired a private boat to take us back to the ship because they didn't want to wait for a tender. Security wasn't happy but they did allow us back on hah.

I haven't been to Costa Maya, so can't comment, but GSC was awesome! Sorry to hear you're missing it. Grand Cayman and GSC were the only tenders, yes. Tendering was a pain in the butt, but get up and out early and at least it won't be so bad. Hope you have a great cruise! :)

Glad you had a great time and thank you for your comprehensive review.

Keith

I enjoyed your review, thanks for sharing.

Glad you had a great time and thank you for your comprehensive review.

 

Keith

I'm still trying to get used to the limited food options since we came home. What do you mean there's no starters and only one choice for dinner? :eek:

I enjoyed your review, thanks for sharing.

You're welcome. I spent months on here reading other people's reviews and thought I'd pay it forward. :)

Forgot to mention that I bought the Spa Thermal Suites pass before getting on the ship and it was the best place to be most days when I needed some peace and quiet. I'm used to going to the pool most days back home and it was a great place to just hang out in the water. The day we left Grand Cayman a group of youngish guys (early - mid 20s) were in there and they were extremely loud which kind of spoiled the ambiance for the rest of us. The signs say to be quiet, but not everyone can read! Same with the signs that stated to not leave your stuff on the chairs while you went and spent an hour using the facilities... how rude! :cool:

We were on the same sailing as you and also had an amazing time. There were a few things that were not great and we experienced a few problems with communication between reservations we had made before boarding and with our OBC but nothing huge that was going to ruin our vacation.

We stayed in aft cabin 9318 and they were in balcony cabin 9244.

What a small world. My father and step-mother were your neighbours in 9320 on the same sailing. I hope they behaved themselves. We were in 5152 in a family oceanview.

Thanks for the review! We are going on the same itinerary in just over a month. Would love to see copies of the dailies if you have them.

What a small world. My father and step-mother were your neighbours in 9320 on the same sailing. I hope they behaved themselves. We were in 5152 in a family oceanview.

Never heard a peep from them, and hopefully they never heard anything from us. My daughter likes to sing and did so on the balcony a few times. LOL It really is a small world at times.

Thanks for the review! We are going on the same itinerary in just over a month. Would love to see copies of the dailies if you have them.

It was a great itinerary and we loved each and every port. I would gladly share the dailies except for two problems. 1. My scanner isn't working :( and 2. I don't know how to share photos even if it was working. My sister is a whiz on these forums and I'll ask for her help when she gets back from her cruise.

Another good thing they do is offer to press your clothes for half price on the first night and then a laundry special mid-week. Make sure you get these in on time, or they might not do them. I had a lot of stuff that needed pressing and was too busy the first day to even read the freestyle daily, so would have missed out on that had I not read it on here before I got on the ship.

I also learned very quickly to use different elevators for different places. For example, if I wanted to go to the Splash Academy, Vibe, or the Spa, I just stayed in the cabin corridor all the way to the forward elevators, as it was so much easier than using the aft ones and making our way through the middle of the ship. If we wanted to go to the buffet or to the dining rooms, we stayed in the aft elevators which were much closer to our aft facing cabin. They also have different elevators for getting up to decks 15/16 if you look above the elevators. Not all of them go to deck 16 and they run independently of each other, so push buttons on either side of the elevators.

Thanks, enjoyed the review.:)

Thanks for your review. I sailed the Getaway last September with my kids and had a great time. My kids loved the Illusionarium show too. FYI for the future, on any cruise you go on you cannot start boarding until all the previous sailing passengers are off and customs clears the ship. This usually happens somewhere between 9-10am and the earliest they start boarding on any ship is right around 11 am. Just thought Id give you that tip so if you sail again you can make plans accordingly and not wait around. We usually arrive between 10:45 and 11am and 9 times out of 10 we are on the ship within 15 min.

What a small world. My father and step-mother were your neighbours in 9320 on the same sailing. I hope they behaved themselves. We were in 5152 in a family oceanview.

We are sailing in early March and we are in 9320. Do you possibly have any pictures of the room you could post? Did they enjoy the aft balcony? Were there any downsides? Tips?

Many thanks.

Great review! Lots of detail. It did make me laugh where you mentioned a port was TOO HOT lol. Now that you're home, are you missing that hot weather just a little bit? :) I agree with you on the long hot lines for the return tenders. Got to be a better way!

~Denise

Thanks for your review. I sailed the Getaway last September with my kids and had a great time. My kids loved the Illusionarium show too. FYI for the future, on any cruise you go on you cannot start boarding until all the previous sailing passengers are off and customs clears the ship. This usually happens somewhere between 9-10am and the earliest they start boarding on any ship is right around 11 am. Just thought Id give you that tip so if you sail again you can make plans accordingly and not wait around. We usually arrive between 10:45 and 11am and 9 times out of 10 we are on the ship within 15 min.

Thank you, I appreciate the advice. I wouldn't have gone so early cause I'm not the sit around and wait kinda girl, but I wanted to make sure to get Vibe passes and since they often sell out (according to many other reviews I read) I did not want to take that chance. The wait was spent chatting with my family, two of who live across the pond, so it wasn't awful. Had we not wanted Vibe passes, I wouldn't have showed up until after noon. :)

Thanks, enjoyed the review.:)

You're welcome. I will add some photos when my sister gets back from her cruise.

We are sailing in early March and we are in 9320. Do you possibly have any pictures of the room you could post? Did they enjoy the aft balcony? Were there any downsides? Tips?

 

 

Many thanks.

Our room was identical to 9320 and I will post photos soon. The aft balcony is amazing! So much room and that view was phenomenal, to say the least.

Great review! Lots of detail. It did make me laugh where you mentioned a port was TOO HOT lol. Now that you're home, are you missing that hot weather just a little bit? :) I agree with you on the long hot lines for the return tenders. Got to be a better way!

 

~Denise

I know, eh? It wasn't so much the heat as the humidity that I am just not used to here in Alberta. We have very, very dry heat here and it wasn't really a complaint, cause we had a great time.. but man we were sweating. LOL We also were very lucky to come home to temps in the mid teens and hit a record high the other day of almost 17 degrees C! That's about 66 F for my American friends. :D A previous poster mentioned renting a boat to get back... hahahahaha I wish! I can handle line ups as long as they keep moving and people respect the line and don't butt in.

Looking forward to the photos. We are in 9920 next month.

Thanks for the report .

Looking forward to the photos. We are in 9920 next month.

You are going to love that balcony! It's almost as big as the cabin. Enjoy :)