First time cruiser--Norwegian Getaway review 2/5/17 thru 2/12/17

What was you cabin number on deck 8?

8164

Sent from my SM-G920P using Forums mobile app

Following this. Can't wait to read the rest.

Thank you..anxious to get the rest up. It's like I'm reliving it [emoji267]

Sent from my SM-G920P using Forums mobile app

LOL, gotcha! I agree. I think this ship has something for everyone. I travelled with my kids and my parents (in their 70's). My kids enjoyed all of the children's activities. I enjoyed the bars, restaurants and casino. My parents enjoyed the adults only spaces, shows, spa, and generally just relaxing. We had a blast!

 

Quick tip for your next cruise....you don't have to use your key card in the slot in the staterooms to activate the electricity. Any card will do. We just use an old hotel key card. That way we don't have to worry about anyone forgetting their ship card in the slot or anything.

 

Thanks for the great review! I will be following along

I think that is why I enjoyed cruising so much. You could do as much or as little as you want. No kids for us so it was relaxing most of the time, but I am thrilled that there is so much to do for kids if we chose to have and bring kids in the future.

Great tip about the card for the electricity. Will definitely remember that one!

Sent from my SM-G920P using Forums mobile app

Following, leaving in 9 days Friday m Mi

 

 

Sent from my iPhone using Forums

Such a nice break from Michigan's crazy weather

Sent from my SM-G920P using Forums mobile app

Loving your review! Thank you so much for taking the time to write it and for your amazing pictures!

Well thank you! I am happy to share. We had such a great experience [emoji4]

Sent from my SM-G920P using Forums mobile app

I am really enjoying your review.

You would never guess you have not cruised before. It sounds like you really pay attention to detail.

Also photos turned out great looks like you guys had a blast.

A quick question: Do you recall what beers are on tap now I am going on the Getaway in 24 days and have not been on her in about a year and a half.

Also did you take any photos of menus all the ones I see now are the same since I have been on the ship.

8164Sent from my SM-G920P using Forums mobile app

Thank you for the reply. We cruise in less than two weeks in 8168 so your picture of the cabin and description of proximity to the waterfront have me really looking forward to being on Getaway.

I am really enjoying your review.

You would never guess you have not cruised before. It sounds like you really pay attention to detail.

Also photos turned out great looks like you guys had a blast.

A quick question: Do you recall what beers are on tap now I am going on the Getaway in 24 days and have not been on her in about a year and a half.

Also did you take any photos of menus all the ones I see now are the same since I have been on the ship.

Haha thank you, I did a lot of reading on CC before I went and it helped me so much. I wanted to do the same in return! I am not a beer drinker so I did not pay much attention. Heineken I know for sure. My BF drank Miller Lite and that came in a can...lol. I did not take pictures of menus either :(

Thank you for the reply. We cruise in less than two weeks in 8168 so your picture of the cabin and description of proximity to the waterfront have me really looking forward to being on Getaway.

It was perfect being so close. We loved the Waterfront. It was so nice to being able to walk around outside without having to be on the top decks. Sunset Bar (outside) will probably be one of your favorite spots!

Great report. We will be on the Getaway in 2 1/2 weeks with our son and extended family....so excited!

Wednesday: Harvest Caye Belize

I was nervous for this port since I had heard mixed reviews on it. We booked no excursion for HC, so we slept in and and went for breakfast. Getting off the ship was easy for all the ports. Don't bring towels from home, you take your NCL towel with you. There is $25 fee for each towel not left in your room when you get back to the US, so make sure you keep track of them! You can exchange them before you get back on the ship, on the pool deck, or your room steward can exchange them. We got off at about 10:00 and the pool area was already packed and I was nervous we wouldn't be able to find chairs. It is a long walk, but walk all the way down to the end of the beach if you want chairs. It was almost empty, even lots of umbrellas empty. I think a lot of people with kids camped out around the pool, so it was very relaxing.

Quick overview of our time on HC:

After finding chairs, we went to walk around. We found our magnets and t-shirts. Next mission: drinks. We found a daiquiri stand! $15 for a 20oz souvenir cup, and then $7 refills. Super tasty! We went to the nature observatory, not much to see yet. There were macaw parrots out, but I think that was basically it. We had lunch at Landshark. I had chicken fingers and they were fantastic. View from our table of the island!

We got refills on our drinks and headed back to our chairs. Did some relaxing, and then played in the water

If you want a beach day, this is it. Loved HC. Do not let the bad reviews prevent you from getting off the ship. It is expensive, drinks are not included, it's a lot of walking, but it was probably my favorite port! It was nice being with just NCL people, rather than other tourists and cruiselines. We swam in the ocean for over an hour probably. The water is not bright, clear blue, but still nice. The sand is kinda rough in some spots, but not horrible, you are able to walk barefoot. It was just a nice relaxing day! I did not want to get out of the water.

***SELFIE STICK: If you do not have one- get one! Who cares if you look ridiculous! So many memories captured with ours.

We went back to the ship around 3. We went up to the pool deck because we wanted to try out the waterslides. They have one that is a free fall and it is so crazy! You stand on a platform and then the platform drops- hence "free fall". It is a rush! We did it twice, then tried the other three slides that are less thrilling, but still fun. Definitely a must try. We talked about doing the ropes course and the rock climbing wall, but we didn't end up doing either. I regret not trying to walk the plank!

We went back to the room to get ready for dinner. We had the Illusionarium booked. Ryan is a big magic fan, so he was excited. You get dinner served to you, you do not get to order what you want, so being a picky eater I was nervous. Luckily they served filet mignon and potatoes! The show was okay. Some parts were really cool, some were kind of boring. I would say try it just to say you did it, but we would probably not do it again. Since I did not eat much at dinner besides the main course, we went to O'Sheehans for drinks and appetizers. I think we went to bed fairly early. Ryan did not feel well because he got really sunburnt in Honduras. It is common sense, but wear sunscreen. The sun is much more intense, and it loved his sun deprived Michigan skin!

Nice review! I miss the Getaway and I was on her just 3 weeks ago.

We're on Getaway from 19th March so am enjoying reading your review.

I'm enjoying your review. Thanks for taking the time and effort to include the photos.

Great review. Thanks for sharing.

We're on Getaway from 19th March so am enjoying reading your review.

Me TOO! :)

Following... enjoying your review... :)

Me TOO! :)

Me THREE!!!

Poochie71 - Come join our Roll Call [emoji41][emoji41][emoji41]

Sent from my iPhone using Forums

Bringing back memories from my September getaway. Wonderful review

Following...Physically on the Getaway in less than a month!! Mentally I'm already there!!

Following...Physically on the Getaway in less than a month!! Mentally I'm already there!!

I so understand this. We leave on March 12. But mentally, I better stay here... 3 midterm papers for my MPA classes, desk full of to-dos at the office, and cubscouts camping weekend. By the time March 11 gets here when we drive over to FLL, I will be ready for a tropical drink at the Mai Kai to help ease into my "Getaway" mode.

Thank you everyone for following along and for your nice comments. I love the CC family! I definitely plan on finishing soon, but I have two midterms to take tonight, so I will return to posting hopefully later on tonight.

Sent from my SM-G920P using Forums mobile app

Great review!

Love your review! Leaving tomorrow for Getaway can you finish tonight lol

Good luck on your mid-terms.

Sent from my iPhone using Forums

Thursday: Costa Maya, Mexico

Woke up wondering how it was already Thursday?! I guess I forgot to mention that we had been going to the breakfast buffet at Margaritaville, rather than the Garden Cafe. MUCH less crowded and you get fresh air. The selection is not as wide as the main buffet, but they have the basics- eggs, potatoes, bacon, sausage, fruit, cereal, and an omelet station. Off the ship to Mexico! BF has never been out of the US before, so he was amazed by Mexico's blue water. We booked the dolphin swim through NCL. Yes it is expensive, but we had never done anything like it before, so we had to check it off the bucket list. They are such incredible animals! They did all sorts of tricks for us, we got to go for a ride across the pool, and they pushed us across the pool on a boogie board. I loved every minute of it, wished it was longer. There is a photographer to take your pictures. I knew there would be a price tag, but it will probably be the last time we did this kind of thing until we have kids and they are older, so we splurged and bought the photo package. It was $150 for a disc of all the photos, two prints, and they let you connect to their wifi to download all the photos on to your phone.

After dolphins, we walked around the port to local shops to get our souvenirs. Pretty good prices. Ryan got reeled in by a guy selling hand painted magnets. $15! It is pretty, but next time I told him to just smile and keep walking lol. The port are was much nicer than the previous ones, gorgeous architecture. There were macaws and flamingos out for people to see. We stopped to get lunch at one of the bigger restaurants. I can't remember what it is called, but it is right next to the water. My tacos were amazing! The view wasn't bad either. From this spot of the island there is free wifi. I had been good about staying off my phone the entire trip (we didn't purchase a wifi package) but it was nice to scroll through Facebook quick, of course I had to share some dolphin pictures and brag about the great time we were having!

Back to the ship for a nap! Three days of being on the go was catching up to me. We had no problems with getting back on the ship. You can't bring any beverage back on with you, so just make sure you get rid of things like that. Always have your room key ready. Don't be that person who holds up the line trying to dig through your bag. We took our nap and decided to watch the sunset from our balcony before going to dinner.

We decided to go to Tropicana for dinner because they had chicken parmesan (one of my favorite meals) on the featured menu! We loved the service in every restaurant. It is a nice change of pace having your chair pulled out and pushed in, and having someone put a napkin on your lap. At home the fanciest we get is Olive Garden haha. I got the Caesar salad to start. The menu says it comes with anchovies, I asked if I could get it without them and the waiter laughed and said almost everyone orders it like that. My chicken parm was fantastic!

We ordered desserts. I got the snickerdoodle poundcake--YUM. Icecream and cake with strawberries. Ryan got the chocolate lava cake--also YUM. So warm and gooey! We went back to room to watch Zootopia for the 3rd time, there are only a handful of movies and are rotated. It is a cute movie, so I didn't mind. We went to bed early because I knew it would be a long day in Cozumel. Kind of a low-key day, but still a day I will never forget.