Cruisin'cockney

Interested in this. It looks like a great resource but not if it doesn't work!

Some more random pics. I took the time to take them so thought I would share:

And some pictures of the Studio lounge:

Enjoy

Ok, so more photos. One of the better features of this ship class is the greater availability of free beverages in the Garden Cafe. Instead of the limited choice of water and iced tea on other classes BA and GA offer Lemonade (good), Mango (ok) and strawberry (weak) also. The beverage station is shown here:

Also welcome is the Wine station dispensing wine by the glass. It is shown here with prices (hope they are readable) for a "taste", "half" and "full" glasses.

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Finally some random Garden Cafe shots including full on hand washing facilities outside the venue (norovirus beware - NCL has you in it's sights). Lots of seating, food selection good, fresh and hot. Also well spread so queues are manageable:

Ok, the Freestyle Daily

Happy to recommend Legally Blond - a very pleasant surprise and one of the best shows I have seen on a cruise ship. Middle Aged guy sitting behind me " Ok, I am giving this 5 minutes and if it's no good I am out of here" - 1 and a 1/2 hours later he is still there. Say no more!

More photos - you lucky people

Entrance to the carnivores favourite twins!

The Tropicana Room

O'Sheehans and it's breakfast menu

More later (including the FS Daily)

Thanks for the photos!

Curious. I know BA and GA are based somewhat on Epic flaws or criticism. But you also mentioned BA flaws. In which areas are GA improved from BA in your opinion?

THANKS

The biggest improvement over the BA I think is the pool area where there is much more useable swimming space. Apart from that they are very similar. The advantage over the Epic has to be the bathroom which are very large and comfortable to use but those balconies are TINY!

More photos:

Ropes course and crazy course

Atrium bar, cafe and price list

The inaugural crew

Ok, some more:

Studios lounge area

Self serve wine in the Garden Cafe

Atrium with views of Le Bistro on deck 6

Inside of Taste

And Savor (spot the difference!)

More later.......

A few photos taken with my iPad. More to follow but I have over a hundred so if you want to see anything in particular, just ask!

Tiny balcony attached to room 10742

Good sized (heated) main pools and spectacular slides. This was taken at 5.30 AM!

Headliners from a Howl at the Moon piano players viewpoint!

Breakfast menu from Savor

More to follow.........

Just off the Getaway 1 night Cruise to Nowhere and thought I would post some photo's etc. I know there has been a number of similar post and photos etc but have added my thoughts as well as I know there is a thirst for information. I have around 100 'photos and I have tried to cover quite a number of different or unusual areas in the expectation that these may be of interest. I will not post them all but if anyone wants to know or see something specific I am happy to try and help.

My initial thoughts on the ship are all favourable. 2 wet winter days in Southampton do not necessarily present the ship in it's best light and it will look fantastic in the Miami sunshine. The Getaway appears to have been designed with the failings of both the Epic and the Breakaway in mind. There are still a few minor shortcomings (eg tiny balconies) but, on the whole, the ship is fantastic. I am concentrating on the ship rather than the actual voyage as I don't believe a one night Cruise to Nowhere 2 days after the ship was handed over to NCL on a ship designed for 7 night Caribbean adventures is representative. Needless to say there were some teething problems - 1 hour delay in boarding and 2 hours wait before dinner was served to us in the Tropicana being the most notable.

I will post some photos shortly..........

Just noticed that the inaugural sailings are now available to book! It's very tempting as I've always wanted to be amongst the first to get on a brand new ship? Do Latitudes members get any discounts?

I have booked 6 balcony cabins for friends and family on the 14th January one night "Cruise to Nowhere" that were offered to me as a Gold Latitudes member. A great price for this new ship when you consider I paid a little over £100 pp and for that you get 3 meals onboard (plus as many "snacks" inbetween as I can manage), free port parking, entertainment and use of all the facilities. Not sure I fancy using the Aqua Park in January though :eek:.

Regretably, I am not on this cruise so cannot post any more FSD's, spa menues etc :(. I was invited onto the ship for lunch and a tour as a day visitor in Southampton but had to disembark before it sailed. There is NOTHING sadder on earth than seeing a cruise ship sail off into the distance without you :(.

And the dining supplement:

Here is the Freestyle Daily from day 1 of the inaugural transatlantic. Enjoy!

63 days until Indy - my first RCL cruise :).

Here is the freestyle deck on the Epic

 

Now Mike, when you went up to the freestyle deck with your camera in hand, of what what were you hoping to get a picture ;)

Wow! Another gratuity debate. I think it is fair to say that UK/European/Aussie/SA cruisers will never fully agree with auto gratuities and DSC's as it so against their day to day experience. Having travelled to the US every year for the past 20 years i am familiar with the need to allow for tips in many more situations than at home. Don't like it but accept it as the cost of visiting a wonderful country. Similarly I am aware of the need to allow for tax to be added at the cash desk. In the UK and much of europe tax is included in the price and the ticket price is what you pay.

It is true that in the UK 10 or 15% is often (but not always) added to the restaurant bill as a service charge but this invariably is not a gratuity that is given to the server and is merely an acknowledgement that you are using restaurant premises to consume the food and is often retained by the restaurant. It is not added to take away food.

Finally, it shouldn't be understated that cruisers outside of the US who are sailing NCL pay considerably more for their cruise than US PAX. On a like for like basis UK cruisers will often pay 25 or 30% more for the same cruise and are prevented from booking thru' US websites. As a result, the cost including gratuities and DSC is considerably more than the same cruise to a US cruiser. Also, NCL price everything onboard in US$ and as a result everything including gratuities and DSC is variable. If you are booking 12 months ahead you can be sure what the cruise cost will be (as it is priced in £) but cannot accurately predict what your onboard costs will be. A family of 4 on 14 night cruise can easily see their DSC change by $200 just due to an adverse movement in exchange rates! :eek:

That's it from me on this subject.

You like Karaoke. I bet you're one of those drunk, untalented, chain smoking pathetic singers dying for attention.

No Mike - that's me!

thanks so much for posting a tremendous amount of info...my question is...if I want to try different foods at the specialty restaurants ie two different entrees or 2 different apps...is this possible? we didn't eat at specialty restaurants on royal carib. mediterr cruise last year, only main dining room and we chose multiples often...and enjoyed it all!!! Please let me know if this is also possible in epic's specilaty restaurants.:)

On the Gem last week we regularly ate two starters/two entrees/two desserts etc. DD didn't like the starters and therefore had two entrees on more then one ocassion (note to self: remind DD to go on a diet!). It does depend upon your server but they are all on the lookout for extra gratuities and will do whatever they can to please. :)

Well Lusitania...While you're at it....we are in 11008. Can you give me some info in this one? I understand that it is on the "bump out". Is the bed near the balcony or the entrance?

 

You're the best! And I too am curious as to how you do this!

I suggest you look at Lusitanica's post #51 in this thread. It shows you exactly where 11008 is (i.e. 2 aft of 11004). It is an "internal" balcony just behind the bridge extension. The bed is by the entrance and not the balcony.

Enjoy!

Neil

Disney have this arrangement and call them Navigator Balconies and they are in a lower catagory to the regular balconies. Many people prefer them as they offer more privacy and are quieter. In the winter months they are warmer.

Downside is the lack of visibility from a sitting position or for small children. If you have small children I would swap/upgrade.

We have Ali for our tour in September but have seen little information on him. Anyone know Ali? :confused: