Oceanwench

Are there age restrictions?

Loved this!

I've sailed on Escape four times, including the 2-day inaugural/christening.

Most recent cruise was in January.

I love how informative this thread is, and your photos are fantastic!

Did you get up really early to get shots without people?

And how did you manage to get into Guppies? Security is tight!

Great photos!

Wow, how wonderful to live so close to the pier and to see the ships come and go.

Escape is a great ship - I sailed on her four times! Was sad to see her leave Miami, but she'll be back at the end of 2019.

Going to see Bliss Tuesday in Miami!

I enjoy them!

A couple years ago on Escape, my steward made a three-tiered towel birthday cake in my honor, as I was celebrating that week!

He also made a nest with little birds in it.

It's a tradition I would like to see continued.

I was just on the ship for a week, and I couldn't tell you!

Wow!

We took the tram to Tropicante and it was $3 per person. The cab ride was $2 pp on the way back.

It was a great time and we can't wait to go back. Everyone was so nice!

I have no problem with the cruise lines setting a cut-off date, usually after final payment, and releasing the cabins back into the inventory.

But people with handicaps in need of an accessible cabin (my husband is one) should not have to book a year out just to go on a cruise.

I can't tell you how many times we had to book a cruise not when we wanted to go, but when an accessible cabin was available.

Ah, to be able-bodied and be free to book any cabin on a ship.

I've also had my TA call and ask if any accessible cabins were occupied by able-bodied people who could be moved to a another cabin.

She was told time and again that ALL pax in HC cabins needed the accessible staterooms, and the cruise line does not book able-bodied people in HC cabins.

Enjoying your review! We also were on this cruise.

Fourth time on Escape for me, third for one of my daughters and her family, and second for other daughter and family.

We had a 6-month-old along too, for her first cruise!

I am very surprised Norwegian allowed you to book an accessible cabin this far out, since you are not handicapped.

There are only a handful of accessible cabins on each ship, compared to the number of standard cabins that able-bodied cruisers can book.

How did you book this? Through a TA?

Did you not look at the deck plans, which indicates it's a HC cabin?

Amen

That's short-sighted.

NCL did not do the right thing here, from either a Customer Service or even a Business POV.

Here's why: there are a lot more people who will read that article than read the defence by the shill acounts on here.

That'll cost NCLH future business.

NCLH had the opportunity to avoid this article... and did not: as a shareholder, I'm unimpressed.

 

It's like the response to United's regional carrier dragging that doctor off the plane.

The negative publicity cost the CEO of United the Chairmanship of the company.

I doubt he still thinks he made the right call on the policies in place and in how he handled the fallout.

And this is what is prompting irresponsible people to wage a war via social media to get compensated or at least revenge.

I wouldn't begin to compare the United case with this story of people not following the guidelines and having their passports in hand to check in.

Companies now have to deal with blackmail threats from disgruntled customers?

I hate to see any newspaper become complicit in that.

btw, the comments on the article are awesome! ;)

I found most of the comments were from people who have no idea about cruising!

And all the negative comments about NCL were uncalled for.

Why is it their problem to fix? Yes, it must happen at times. Maybe in those cases passengers accept responsibility for their actions and mistakes and don't turn to a newspaper for publicity.

I work for a newspaper. People call all the time wanting stories because they're mad at a restaurant, car dealer, lawyer, cable company, dentist, etc. etc.

People love to play victim, and hope the paper will solve their problems. Doesn't usually happen.

We had a wonderful day at Tropicante last week. Five adults, five kids.

We had a lot of beer, two margaritas, guac, nachos and quesadillas. Bill was less than $100.

Steve reserved us five loungers and a table and chairs. It was perfect.

The kids loved the beach and had fun digging in the sand, wading and looking for fish.

There were a lot of vendors, but none were aggressive.

The tram took us there, but does not provide rides back. We had to take taxis.

They are supposed to be $2 pp, but we thought it was $3 pp and paid that amount - PLUS tip.

We definitely will return to Tropicante if we return to Costa Maya.

Did they give a reason for the port changes mid-cruise?

Weather. Gale force winds they said.

Friday was a sea day - originally our Nassau day - and it was horrible weather all the way home.

Rough seas, rain. The ship was really rocking!

In January we went to Teppanyaki with our family, including 6 adults and 2 kids.

The youngest, age 3, ordered from the kids' menu.

It never crossed my mind that it might be something people would criticize -- but then, people can find fault with pretty much anything.

Go and enjoy!

Are you in a handicapped accessible stateroom?

What is the passenger capacity of your room?

We are booking Escape for January.

Great photos - looks like you are having a great time!

Makes no sense to merge these 2 threads.

One was a very old thread I started a long time ago - has nothing to do with retirement, but someone resurrected it recently.

The other thread is current info on Jimmy. :rolleyes:

Someone reading the thread title would get confused when reading the first pages of posts!

This link should work.

http://www.palmbeachpost.com/travel/sing-song-you-the-piano-man/FO2ULd31EKZ71IHv6utRDO/

As a friend of Jimmy's for a decade, and a member of Piano Bar Nation, I would say this news is not "shocking."

And while it may be "sad" for some, his friends are happy that he is opening a new chapter in his life with his lovely fiancée, Monique.

Jimmy will continue to entertain on the Flower Power Cruise, Malt Shop Memories and other charters that may request his talents.

There is also the possibility that he will find a piano bar on another line, or perhaps host his own Piano Bar Nation cruise. (Obviously not a full charter, but a special group arrangement.)

I would say HAL left Jimmy, and not vice versa. The new configuration of piano bars and the Billboard affiliation would stifle a man of Jimmy's talents.

I just sailed with 8 other members of Piano Bar Nation, and we spent a lot of time talking with Jimmy and Monique about their future plans. LIfe is short, and when you've found the happiness he has with his fiancée, you want to savor every moment.

It's time for a change.

But the point is, I was a suite passenger, so entitled to early boarding anyway!

We were accompanied by two people who were not suite pax, and they were given the same priority boarding.

I think it all boils down to the shoreside people. Some are very pleasant and accommodating and some are not.

We just got back from a family cruise on Escape.

Four grandsons went - ages 1, 1 1/2, 3 an 8.

The two youngest went to Guppies several times, but the older boys would not go to the kids club. :rolleyes:

They loved the juggler/comedian -- if you go, get seats up close to the stage.

The servers in the MDRs brought them their kids meals out ahead of everyone else's food. We found the servers in Taste more attentive than the ones in Savor for some reason.

In the specialty restaurants the kids were given the children's menus from the MDR to order from.

A few years ago we were in line, wearing an "S" tag.

We were taken out of the line and brought to the suite line along with my adult daughter and her boyfriend (who were in a balcony cabin).

We didn't ask for this privilege -- but we were given it.

Perhaps because DH was in a wheelchair?

Sad for us ... we sailed on the inaugural, then in winter 2016 and planning another in 2017.

Guess we will squeeze another in early next year before she departs for NYC.

Margaritaville and 5 O'clock Somewhere bar ...

http://protectingyourpocket.blog.palmbeachpost.com/2016/12/28/port-of-pb-cruise-business-purchased-by-former-norwegian-cruise-ceo/

Kevin Sheehan operates small ship out of Port of Palm Beach.