Daenerys T

Never

We were on Escape last year and got posh passes...after about the 3rd day...the guy didn't even look for our arm bands..just got used to us being there...IF our friends didnt get passes..could they just go up with us? I mean half the time after the first cruising day..there was no one up there hardly...because all the "fun" was on deck by the pool etc. Does anyone check the bands...

No, they cannot go up there with you if they have not paid for access.

We leave on Saturday, and upsells for our cruise did not start until yesterday. There isn't a set rule!

We went to Brewer's Bay, the taxi driver suggested cane garden bay first but we said we wanted more low key since we were at magen's bay in st. Thomas the day before which was crowded. We got to paddle board, kayak and stuff there the day before so we wanted more of a relaxing (as relaxing as you can get with a 2.5 year old) day in Tortola. He suggested Brewer's Bay and it was perfect! Tons of pictures in my review, link in my signature.

Do they have food and beverages there?

Never been to this island. Any recommendations? Should we purchase a shore excursion? Can we just get a taxi and go?

We are going to take a cab and go to Cane Garden Bay Beach. It has good reviews on trip advisor.

One more thing to add, I don't know what was different about Escape but it moved a lot more than any other ship we had been on. At times it was your normal easy roll but at other times it would shudder for 20 - 30 seconds, almost like the stabilizers were fighting the ship and not working properly. I heard these same observations but a lot of others I talked to

I agree. The ship does rock a lot for whatever reason.

its facebook.

 

People are paranoid -- they think you're not allowed to say facebook.

 

Facebook. Facebook. Facebook.

 

lol!!

I am traveling next month with my little sister whom I am not the legal guardian of. I've got the Parent Consent Release Form signed by my mother who is her legal guardian. I have two questions because after I asked my personal cruise consultant my second question- he's made me very nervous with his answers.

 

1) The Parent Consent Release form says both living parents must sign the form. My sister's father lives about 2,000 miles away and is not part of her life. My PCC said that it's fine with just my mom's signature and a copy of her photo ID. Is this true?

 

2) I am doing the Gem 10 Day that stops in Puerto Rico, the US Virgin Islands, St Maarten, and the British Virgin Islands. I know for PR and the Virgin Islands she does not need a passport, but what about St Maarten and the British Virgin Islands? When I asked my PCC, he said he was "not an expert with that stuff" and referred me to travel.state.gov, which is a very confusing website. I don't know why he didn't just give me the NCL Required Travel Documentation page. On the NCL website, it seems to say that for sailings that are closed loop in the Caribbean, a Birth Certificate will be fine for a child. Is that so?

 

I really appreciate any help with this. It's the first time I'm traveling with a child!

You do not need a passport for those islands, but you DO need the consent of both parents. The only exception is if your mom has sole legal custody.

Gotcha. Thank you.

I'm going to buy the internet package for our upcoming cruise, and hook up to iconcierge. Will I be able to receive text messages and/or calls from home with this? I know I have to put my phone on airplane mode to avoid data charges. Actually, can I just turn off cellular data? I'm not sure how it all works. Thanks!

I only heard there "rumors" from my roll call and now I read this thread. I went online to see what night we had booked the Million Dollar Quartet and it is no longer on our scheduled events. I never got this email. They should have at the very least sent one to me. Were on the phone with Norwegian right now. They told me we still had the show but it is not showing on our itinerary. It says that the show stops on our sailing. Looks like we out for the show as well. The gal on the phone was kind of rude to me as if I didn't know how to look at my planned events. She insisted that we still had the show I know how much they all really hate cruise critic but if it wasn't for cruise critic I would have been taken by surprise on this. Ok, back to reality for 12 more days.....

David

It is still showing on ours. I know it won't be there, but we still have it reserved.

Very happy to hear this! We are planning a Hawaii cruise tour for next year!

Disagree. It is a temporary show while the re-stage For The Record in the main theater. Can't really go from the tiny Supper Club stage to the theater overnight with a new cast.

and the folks sailing during the "temporary show" are getting the shaft. Not cool at all.

NCL is phasing out O'Sheehan's Restaurant fleet wide. Same type of place just a new name. Kevin Sheehan soon to really be a distant memory.

I'm surprised it took them this long!

The bookings for the Hawaii cruise tours currently are open through April 2017. When are they usually extended?

I'm thinking the pool from which they pull these performers must be pretty small. We got notice on boarding Escape that For the Record was cancelled for the entire week. Obviously, this was known before we set sail, plenty of time to fly in a replacement cast member, even if they had to join us in St Thomas for just a partial week of shows.

 

We caught part of a Million Dollar Quartet Q and A in the atrium one day. The guy who played Jerry Lee Lewis was there and he had been performing in the Vegas production. He has broken more than a few pianos. This was the first time he had performed on a cruise ship and his contract was very short, only a few weeks. Lucky to see him as he really stole the show, while the guy who played Elvis was very obviously new to the role.

 

Really a catch 22, you get some Broadway caliber performers in these shows, but when they are not available or injured, the show does NOT go on.

He was excellent. We saw him on the inaugural sailing.

Not to start a fight or anything but I think everyone who is upset should take a breath until we see what the replacement is. So far it does not sound like NCL is downgrading anything necessarily, only making changes. I too am booked on the Escape and was looking forward to MDQ but will have to adjust plans once we see what the changes turn out to be. It is frustrating sometimes when things change after booking and paying but not all change is meant to punish the guests (although the Margaritaville one was!). I just think we all need to wait and see, maybe we will be pleasantly surprised with the replacement.

Replacing MDQ with an acapella group is definitely downgrading. We are two weeks out from sailing. We get an acapella group and After Midnight. Woopie doo.

We sail in two weeks on the Escape, Mar 5 sailing. I have not got an email stating any shows cancelled and the show are still showing as being able to book on NCL.com. Am I going to get to these shows or not? MDQ and After Midnight?

 

Greg

We are on the same sailing as you. Received the email this morning from my TA.

I dunno, I'm just feeling like the already not that impressive lineup (hello? Show with a plot to follow, please?) is watering down....right along with so many other offerings we were excited for when we booked last summer. Color me unimpressed. Completely.

 

The worst part is how guilty I feel about my inlaws. They booked the first leg of our b2b. They really enjoy shows. I just *know* they're going to miss having solid entertainment. Heck, I haven't even set foot on the ship and I already do. We will go hang out in bars, have some drinks, and enjoy. My inlaws don't drink! **sigh** I feel soooooo bad about this.

 

So, I'm thinking we'll go forward with these cruises because they're for my son and I think at least for the first sailing we are now into the penalty phase but after this....nope. It's worth it to pay more on the front end to get decent entertainment from a cruise line that's more consistent and dependable. I'm sooooo not a girl to gamble with my money. If I buy something I want what I bought. It's that simple.

 

Such craziness!

 

Are the shows any better on the smaller ships????

NCL has made a lot of changes recently, most of which do not benefit their customers. This just happens to be another. Replacing MDQ with an acapella group?? Really?! :rolleyes: I agree with you ... craziness!

I've moved into ready to slap somebody. Each of the shows advertised we were really excited for. I especially wanted to see MDQ. Not booking on Getaway again to see it. No way. I'll find a nearby city where I can catch the traveling production or take myself to NYC.

We are sailing in 2 weeks. How do you cancel shows last minute like this?! I sent a scathing email, referencing the cabins I booked as part of my group. Not that it will do any good - NCL obviously doesn't give a rat's behind about its customers.

This has just been posted in the Norwegian Escape facebook group

 

• Due to overwhelmingly popularity, For the Record on Norwegian Escape will be moving from The Supper Club as of April 9 and re-opening as complimentary show in the Escape Theater on April 16. As of April 9, The Supper Club will feature a new dinner and live entertainment experience, with more details to come.

 

• To accommodate For the Record in the Escape Theater, Million Dollar Quartet will be moving from Norwegian Escape as of the March 5 sailing and will re-open onboard Norwegian Getaway on May 15. The Escape Theater will feature "Vocal Overdrive", a contemporary acapella group, from March 5 until April 16, when For the Record begins. After Midnight will continue in The Escape Theater as regularly scheduled.

 

• To accommodate Million Dollar Quartet, Legally Blonde on Norwegian Getaway will close on April 30. The Getaway Theater will feature "Vocal Overdrive", a contemporary acapella group, from May 1 until May 15, when Million Dollar Quartet opens. Burn The Floor will continue as regularly scheduled on Norwegian Getaway.

Complete BS. I am beyond annoyed.

You really do not have to jump through hoops. Just dispute it. It is an unauthorized charge.

Early reports indicated that Internet service on the Escape was unacceptably slow, even by "cruise ship" standards (e.g. even older ships have far better internet service.). Is this still the case?

I didn't find it to be any slower or faster than any other NCL ship. Hope that helps!

Thanks for the quick reply. We would get a refund regardless of our reason to cancel the excursion ? Even if we just changed our mind, once on board?

 

Thanks

Bonnie

Once on board, You are supposed to cancel 24 hours before the excursion. If someone were sick, however, and you explained that to guest services, they would cancel without an issue.

Thank you all for your suggestions. I will call NCL in the AM. A call to the CC company confirmed that it was not a hold but an actual charge (DARN!) So when I call NCL I will try to iron it out, and if need be, then register a dispute on the charge.

 

Hopefully it won't take a million phone calls. I'll post back when I get some answers. Thanks for your help!

Dispute the charge with your CC company.