Jeremiah1212

I have several questions and please answer any that you might know.

What's the difference between them and which is better?

Exact same concept and service, but Uber is more popular and widely used.

1. Cost from FLL to port of Miami. I know there is an estimator, I would like someone's personal experience. It varies at peak time and prime time. We would need picked up at around 11am on a Sunday, And return the next Sunday at about 10am.

http://uberestimate.com or the app can quote you a fare. It will vary depending on traffic. Every report I've read on here or elsewhere has always been under $40 for UberX, but it sounds like you will need a bigger vehicle. I have never seen anyone report surge pricing on a weekend afternoon (when fares increase substantially due to lack of available drivers).

2. We have a group of 4 with luggage( one large a piece plus a carry on each.) what kind of car do we request?

If you want everyone in the same vehicle, you will need to request UberXL. In that case bump your price up to approximately $70-$80. An XL vehicle is required to seat at least 6 people. You're most likely to get some sort of minivan but may chance into a larger SUV.

3. If we request a car to take us back to the FLL airport, how do they find us at the cruise port?

Your phone should drop the pin exactly where you're located, but the driver can text and call you to coordinate pickup if they can't find you. You will know what kind of car and license plate# to be looking for once someone picks up your ride request.

4, Is the price quoted pp or per trip?

The price is always per trip. It's not like a cab where there is an extra fee per passenger.

Hi! New to the boards and have a lot of questions about an upcoming cruise. I have never sailed out of Miami before. I am flying into FLL the day before my cruise and need help.

 

1. Is flying into Ft Lauderdale a mistake?

2. Should I stay in Ft Lauderdale or Miami that night? If Ft Lauderdale where?

3. Regardless of where I stay, what is the best way to get from Ft Lauderdale to the Miami Port?

 

A few facts. I will be traveling with my father who has mobility issues. I am limited on the number of nonstop fights, which is why I chose to fly into Ft Lauderdale because I could fly SW, therefore no additional luggage fees. Also the return flight is better for my schedule.

 

Thanks in advance!

You will be just fine flying into FLL. Many, many people do it especially with Southwest at FLL.

I must be in the minority but I do prefer a hotel closer to the cruise port. If there are no unexpected delays the trip from FLL to Miami should only take about 40 minutes. When you're taking a shared shuttle it can be a little hectic. Loading up the van like sardines then you'll may make multiple stops before you get to your hotel. Getting that part out of the way the day before and then having a very short ride to port on departure morning is a much smoother experience.

You can take a shared shuttle but that sounds like it won't fit your needs very well. A Town Car type vehicle will cost you about $100 each way, UberX will be around $35 each way, or a standard taxi would be roughly $80 each way. You can always look into a one-way rental car as some people do, but I think that's more hassle than it's worth for such a short trip.

It sounded like Happy Birthday was playing over the PA on the entire ship, film crew and staff on the bow waving.

Whoever you are Pat...Happy Birthday!

I mentioned just a few days ago that I thought the Freestyle slogan was tired and not reflective of the experience they offer. It did more so when Freestyle was first introduced years ago...but now every line has a similar structure. They need something new or more unique to differentiate themselves. I'm not sure this is it though.

That last tag line is a bit peculiar. "Feel free to follow the sun...instead of a schedule." Doesn't the need for reservations for most activities and meals on the mega ships is completely contradict that concept? :eek: Nothing about that conjures a 'freestyle' image in my mind.

A good number of the terrible to poor reviews address issues that aren't necessarily ship-specific. The concern the ship isn't kid/family friendly enough also seems to come up a lot. Yet the very next reviewers first comment was that this ship is not for adults. Perplexing. It seems the ones that feel it isn't family friendly enough would like any adult oriented activity or space on the ship should be replaced by something geared towards kids and families. Others are going to be up in arms the first time they hear a kid cry during dinner.

The rocking and motion of the ship appears a lot too. I don't really feel like this should be included in a review. Amongst other factors, I don't think there has been a single week in the Caribbean so far this season that hasn't had some sort of big storm event that is going to effect seas.

I just don't place a lot of faith in these reviews so early on. The onslaught of changes left a sour taste with many people who are going in with a negative attitude or an axe to grind. Some of the uber-cruise critics are going to berate every negative thing they can find. Others are first timers who enjoyed themselves and have no real basis for comparison.

Once we sail at the end of the month, Escape will be my 4th line and 6th ship to sail of varying sizes. I won't do a full play by play review, but I will try to provide some subjective comments and thoughts.

That's one of the balconies at the rear of the ship. Not aft-"facing" but aft-most location.

 

There are good pictures HERE and HERE that show how much larger those balconies are.

 

I think a lounger can fit in 12304.

I had an angled balcony but totally lucked into seeing 12904 (same as 12304 but starboard) open up one day and was able to grab it. It's even bigger than the same cabins on deck 11. I'll post pictures once we return. It's definetly the largest balcony of the standard balcony cabin categories.

I haven't been on an NCL ship yet but will be on Escape at the end of the month. Based on pictures alone, the -away's and Escape definitely look more confined and claustrophobic. The low ceilings and emphasis on more smaller spaces opposed to larger open area is definitely different. I'm used to the big open grand MDR's on RCL and X and the Promenade/Centrum areas. More smaller venues can make the ship feel less crowded because of the reduced number of people in one given space. In areas like the Royal Promenade on RC, there are sometimes several hundred people within your line of sight so you get the impression the ship is busy and crowded.

What I don't get at all is the "Freestyle" hype. Nearly every mainstream line has their own version of the dine anytime you want concept. Especially on Escape, reservations are encouraged at multiple venues. Sure the dress code is a little more lax but that's about it. I think eventually NCL will need to ditch the Freestyle catchphrase and market something else to separate them from the pack. Maybe so when Freestyle was introduced, but now there really isn't anything unique about their product offering.

I've read all of the Escape reports I can, but does anyone have first hand experience with what time debarkation has generally started? We will be doing self carry off and getting a private car back to the airport to save some time.

I know there are numerous variables involved but our flight back home is a little later than I would like.

I've cruised mostly on RCL. We're not necessarily die hard RCL fans but I always seem to default to RCL. I have only sailed Celebrity once but I did like it a lot. There is definitely a different feel than even an RCL ship. As others said, it is a more subdued experience, the clientele is a bit older and more upscale, and it's far less family-centric than RCL or NCL. Nightlife can be a bit lacking. We usually over do it during the day and go to bed fairly early anyway.

I would agree that even on the S class ships the interior looks dated. I'm sure it's very well kept but it does look tired. The new NCL ships are far ahead when it comes to a more modern design. Considering the first S class ship sailed in '08...the interior design was likely developed in the early/mid 00's...so it's not exactly fresh at this point.

Granted I've only had a 7 day experience with X, but I don't think the CC forum is indicative of the typical X cruiser. When I read those threads I can't help but to think the typical poster is one of the older passengers who is holding on to the idea of yesterday's cruising. I think X continues to appeal to a younger demographic who aren't looking for a super family friendly environment but don't want the party of a Carnival ship either. I have two friends in their mid 30's who cruise X almost exclusively and they say they never feel like the 'youngsters' on a Caribbean cruise. Go for a Med route or a 7+ day trip and and I'm sure the average age increases a lot.

We sail the Escape in a few weeks and I'm excited to compare to two. Already looking towards a late 2016/early 2017 cruise, unless NCL completely wins me over we will continue to look at X or maybe even Princess. The waterslides, cartoon characters, kids clubs, ropes courses etc. are things that we aren't looking for in a cruise.

A box is like 5 bottles....give or take. You're only allowed 2 of the small/regular sized bottles...not the big bottles...not boxes.

You can get boxed or tetra pak wine in way more sizes outside of a box of Franzia. My mother in law loves her boxed wine (bless her!) and frequently cruises from FLL with a box in her baggage. I'm not sure if she checks it or does carry on, but she most definitely takes it with her.

I'm really interested in the possibility of booking something on this ship! Radiance class is by far my favorite so far. but after a few trips on Freedom class and an upcoming trip on NCL Escape...the idea of going back to a small (really small!) ship excites me.

I make it a point not to read many reviews, if any. Especially when a new ship comes online, a lot of the early reviews are from people who take the critic in Cruise Critic to the extreme. The uber-cruise enthusiast. It's the same thing with all industries. There is airline website similar to this one that is filled with hundreds of people who know better than any CEO out there when it comes to all things aviation.

We've all sat next to the people at the pool, at dinner, at the casino who are self proclaimed cruise line CEO's, naval architects, meteorologists and hotel directors all in one. They know everything and have an opinion to back it up. I'm pretty confident this is where the bulk of the ratings are coming from thus far.

I did randomly read a few reviews this time. Most of the critiquing I read were things that 1, would have been known ahead of time by a seasoned cruiser like smoke in the atrium, mediocre service and tiny pool or 2, things that were just so ridiculous and petty it was laughable.

NCL's guest relations and kaleidoscope of changes lately understandably have no set well with a lot of people. Myself included. But at the end of the day, you're on vacation! Enjoy it! Step away from guest services, grab a drink and have a good time!

I had the same questions when I was arranging our SDP this morning. For Escape, Teppanyaki and Moderno show up as a $0.00 charge after you purchase the package. The a la cart options (Cagney's, La Bistro and La Cucina) do not specify one way or another. Simply listed as a la carte with no further explanation. NCL could definitely do a better job making this process a little more clear!

I wouldn't worry about it. The 10 day itenerary alone will greatly reduce the number of kids and students on board. I've even noticed on the two 8 day trips I've taken mid-winter there are very very few kids on board.

Most colleges won't return until after MLK day on the 18th and even for the elementary aged kids that would return to class earlier, I doubt many parents would take their kids out for 10 days right after the long holiday break.

We've done this trip twice in conjunction with a cruise. One as first timers on our own, then a second time with friends who wanted to see the Keys, despite my resistance. Both times we were on your same timeframe staying only 1 night.

I wouldn't do it again. The drive down isn't nearly as exciting as the pictures make it seem. Sure, you'll have some pretty views here and there but that is a small portion of the drive. Both times it took us closer to 5.5+ hours to make the trip. It's two long days to kick off your vacation. Then the whole trip is blown if it happens to rain the entire time. By the time you fly in Thursday, you really have nearly 3 'travel' days with the drive down Friday and return Saturday.

In the future if we want to extend our trip I would rather go down no further than Key Largo. Don't get me wrong. I really enjoy Key West for a long weekend. But if you're like us, it's a rushed trip and you will be worn out by the time your cruise kicks off.

I hope that if they take this off the UBP it is done before my final payment date. As many stated we booked this ship for certain things and this was one of them. Most of the other items have been eliminated or now I am paying for them. I can book on Celebrity for $100 less, aft balcony and get drink package plus free gratuities. Food is so much better on Celebrity, shows are as good, pool area is so much nicer with lots of loungers actually near the pool. Only thing I lose is the craft beer and waterslides.

We only have a few days before we're at the 75 day mark for a refund. If some of these next batch of rumored changes do indeed happen, I really hope they take place on Saturday's cruise. The offers X has out there right now are much better in my opinion. We can do the X deal with all 4 promo times for less out the door than NCL. I know it's all hearsay at this point...but given NCL's track record to date and their radio silence so far I am not overly optimistic. I'm afraid we'll be half the average age of the X crowd, but I may be willing to chance it.

Slightly off topic and I can't find and answer specific to Escape. Were there irons available from your stateroom attendant? Or a price per garment to send something out to have it ironed?

January 2nd will be our first cruise with NCL, on the Escape, and I have seen nothing but price increases and unfavourable changes since we booked. This is very disconcerting as the ship hasn't even had its first official sailing yet. I have been trying to familiarize myself with the Escape and it's amenities, but its difficult to keep track when there's one modification after another. As one new to NCL to begin with, it's a little overwhelming and there's still just over a month and a half to go. I'm hoping that the prices stabilize long enough that I can figure out what's going on. Just when I think I have a handle on it, something else gets adjusted. I hope it stops soon.

We're in the exact same position. Escape in January will be our first NCL cruise. I was very excited to try a brand new ship. But I just don't like the way the company handles changes so haphazardly. It leaves a very bad taste in my mouth.

Will a $5 cover for a meal break us? No. But when I was doing my initial research several months ago I should have listened more to reviews that emphasized the same thing. You book a cruise with certain expectations in mind, but when it's time to sail there is no telling what kind of product you will receive.

We are only a few days away from being able to cancel for a full refund. If I book with X right now, I would spend about $100 more per person on base fare, far better ports, then get included grats, $300obc, drink package and free internet. And I'll know what product I'll get when it times to get on board. It kind of seems like a no brainer?

I dunno Suitecruiser...no matter what you write about now or ever in the future...or if I ever meet you in real life...I will forever wonder how your arse is doing! OMG...walking in the wrong cabin and the arse story had me laughing out loud...seriously...It is rare I tell hubby about cruise critic reviews...but I did tell him about your bum! He too wants to know how you are doing.:p

I got a kick out of this because last night over dinner my partner and I, both in the medical field, got into an in-depth conversation trying to figure out exactly why the tub would have given her cheeks such serious issues. So thanks Suitecruiser for sharing your great review and your now-famous bum!

For those who are on now, and those coming up: how crowded is TDBH? Seems like it could be a madhouse for those who love their craft beers. Just wondering how easy it will be to swing by and grab a cold one on the way to the pool, dinner, etc.

RCL has a similar pub concept with a pretty diverse beer selection and they are frequently empty. The same can be said for RCL's Vintages wine bars, which I believe are being phased out. The District and the Mondavi joints on Escape are roughly the same concept. It will be interesting to see where the crowds end up on NCL's iteration and if they are as popular as they have potential to be.

From the pictures it seems like some parts of the Escape do have a little more formal feel than even the GA/BA ships. We won't do full tuxes but I will probably bring at least one or two more casual suits to have some options. I don't feel like it would be out of place.

Yes yes yes. stayed in one of these on Getaway and Loved it. The balcony had 2 loungers, 2 chairs a small table and still tons of space.

 

They are called Large Balcony Minisuites and are located on deck 8

 

On getaway they are coded MX

 

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Nearly half of the M6's are available for our sailing date. We were contemplating changing from a standard balcony to the M6 since the price difference is marginal. My concern is the privacy issue. Did you feel like the passengers above you were staring down into your balcony?