Buttwig

I'm going to tinkle myself if JW doesn't post an installment soon but I'm sure he's busy enjoying his retirement right now! We are on the Escape at the end of May and hope to have many adventures!

Will do, tripleboom! I'm sure with the amount of time I'll be spending there that I'll have more than one opportunity to snap a pic haha. Not sure what types of beer you like, but if they have it and you get a chance, try the Due South Caramel Cream Ale, it's pretty good. I prefer stouts/IPAs mostly myself but am open to try most beers.

Thanks - great review! We are on the Escape next month and can't wait. Everything I've read negative comments about on the boards has been addressed by you and I'm sure we'll have a wonderful time as we always do on cruises.

Anyone? I really don't want to drink swill LOL. I've seen a menu that has beers from a couple FL breweries, one of which is my regular brewery so maybe I will ask them if their beer is still on the Escape.

I'm really hoping that the Dogfish Head 90 Minute IPA is on the menu!

We are on the Escape next month and I was trying to find a current beer menu from District Brew House. I haven't been able to locate anything more recent than last year. Does anyone have pics of more recent menus that they would care to share?

Thanks in advance & cheers!

I've noticed the NCL site can be wonky. I had excursions disappear and reappear on my upcoming cruise so keep checking but you should be able to book it once you board if it doesn't come back online before then.

Sounds like you have a good plan. If the room is ready, drop off your bags and if not, take them with you on the excursion if you're not comfortable with them sitting in the hallway for hours. I know I probably wouldn't be comfortable doing that but maybe you can just keep part of it with you and let the porters have your clothes? I wouldn't worry about someone swiping my skivvies from the hallway so much as valuables.

I love going to the pool and sometimes there will be quite a "show" and if it's not for me then I'll head to my balcony. When you cruise bring your good attitude, be optimistic, be polite and friendly and you'll have a great time.

This is how we do it and we've never had a bad cruise. I also research extensively before I book - these forums are a gold mine of information and differing viewpoints so if you can read between the lines a bit, you can figure out which lines/time of year/destinations might fit best with your idea of a great vacation. :)

PS - I don't have any tattoos at all :cool:

Oh, I forgot. I bid $5000pp on the garden villa. It's still cheaper than the $17000 it would have cost me outright. So, make sure your bid is higher. ;)

Some people will never get it SMH.

I agree with SeaShark's reasoning in this. However, if you don't want to be "told what to do", then by all means post your bid and sail date info and I'll be happy to outbid you by $5 if I happen to be on the same cruise with the same options...but I won't post about it here so that you can raise your bid or someone can then bid $5 more than I bid.

What about the people who have had children? People your own age with children the same ages? Are they allowed to second guess if your kids are running down the hallway knocking over elderly people? Is it ok then?

That's a pretty crappy thing to say, and pretty ignorant, as well. Do you truly believe that the use of the word "crap" correlates to kids doing whatever they want? No one is that stupid.

I'd have to respectfully disagree with that last sentence after some of the things I have seen and heard.

Also, reading these forums more often has made me wonder why I never run into such intolerant people when I'm actually on a cruise. The only passenger issue we've ever run into is a group of 150 Quiceaneras on RCCL who were woefully under supervised and I think the entire ship hated them by the end of the cruise. Takes a lot to bother me when I'm enjoying my vacation. :)

Same here. Is it me or does the NCL site have issues much more often than other sites? I've noticed all sorts of wonky stuff on NCL's site over the last couple of months.

I'm mostly with you on this, though the term "snowflake" is more appropriate for a Breitbart message board.

Sorry, my bad. Wrong board. I tried to think of a word that wasn't as offensive as "crap". Probably should have just left it blank :evilsmile:

I've been on several Carnival cruises. I am an annual pass holder at Disney World. I love children as long as they are properly cooked. <---settle down there, snowflake. No one is suggesting that this last statement is anything but a joke and if it offends you, you most likely belong on another cruise line that caters to sensitive folks who don't care for humor.

If any person, regardless of age, gender, or anything else, is creating a possibly unsafe environment for others in a shared common space, I will say something about it. I'll try not to use foul language like "CRAP" but I will say something. Would you rather I watch your toddler knock over Triptolemus's elderly mother and risk injuries to both of them? Seems like some parents might answer yes to this.

To the parents I see trying to educate their youngsters and teach them appropriate behavior, thank you!

Flame on!

OMG! The crawling on the floor during dinner, or wandering around the table, etc. THAT is my biggest pet peeve!! I always taught my son that if we can see his bottom during dinner, that means we can spank it. He needed to sit on his butt during meals so that we couldn't see it.

LOL That's great! My husband told his young son that he couldn't play under the table because of the Table Monsters.

I got them at 60 days for my upcoming cruise on the Escape.

I just found a District Brew House beer menu from early 2016 and they have Blue Moon. Last Blue Moon I drank tasted exactly like water...but then again, I like the really hoppy IPAs.

I'm looking forward to a week of fruity rum drinks possibly with little paper umbrellas on our May cruise. Even if I have to bring the little paper umbrellas myself lol.

Even the though bidding is online, because I booked with a TA who opted out, I'm still not eligible to bid. This was just confirmed a couple hours ago with NCL - I called the upsell line to inquire about it since I hadn't received any offer to bid yet - 65 days out. No banner at 80 days and still none for me on the NCL site. Your information isn't quite correct, BirdTravels.

TA's make their own choice whether or not to participate. Bidding wasn't a thing when I booked with my TA but when I found out about it here, I was looking forward to maybe having the chance to upgrade to something extra special for our 10th anniversary cruise. Just found out today by calling NCL's upsell line that my TA has opted out. Actually, I'm kind of relieved since I won't be looking for the offer now and don't have to follow threads about what bids might or might not be accepted. Obviously, I booked the cabin I wanted in the first place.

I've taken about a dozen cruises on different lines and never got an upsell call ever. Can't see why anyone would be upset that they don't have a chance to bid unless they didn't book the cabin they wanted in the first place and were hoping to get a deal through upgrade bids. That's a gamble. I think NCL should make the offer available to all pax but not sure if that is even possible. Since the program is still in the very early stages of being rolled out, maybe eventually that will happen. Right now, all I see are people worked up over whether or not their bid is accepted, frustrated that they aren't eligible to bid or happy that their bid was accepted...3 days before the cruise. Mostly the first two so far!

Maybe if the TAs hear enough complaints from their customers or actually lose business to other TAs who are participating, things will change. Right now it's all so new...

From what I understand, everyone does not get the invite.

I had read that from others as well but it was my hope that once they started offering it through the NCL site that it might be going out to all pax. Still a lot of unknowns with the program. Most of the upgrades I'd be interested in for my sailing are appearing as sold out anyway - from what I've read here, that doesn't mean much either. I'm really happy with the cabin I have but hoped to have a shot at the upgrade to surprise my DH - it's our 10th anniversary cruise. :)

I was wondering the same thing. I'm on Escape sailing 5/27 and haven't received an email or upgrade banner on the site. I didn't get it at 80 days and was hoping I still would at some point but then the banners on the NCL site seem to have disappeared for everyone. I'm wondering if I should call the upsell number now or maybe wait a bit longer for whatever issues they are having to to be fixed. Still 66 days out. YAY 66 DAYS!

Thanks for posting and ruining my Escape 10th Anniversary cruise in May, OP! However, I am really looking forward now to doing the Azipod Shimmy with my DH *wink wink nudge nudge*.

:P

I totally agree with nealjr. Everyone is different so from my perspective, the only way I'd upgrade is if I thought I'd get my (additional) money's worth from it. We are in a midship balcony on the Escape at the end of May. Haven't received access to offer any upgrades yet but I've already decided how much I'd offer on each upgrade category and which ones I'd be interested in. I love the cabin we've already selected but it's our 10th anniversary and that's the main reason I'd bid on an upgrade. It all depends on what each individual sees as getting a good value for the additional upgrade fees. Now come on, NCL, I want to at least get the opportunity to make an offer!

fishing..wow..is the fish fresh today

Very fresh if you catch it off your balcony AND if you take your fish the the MDR, they will clean and cook it to order for you! It just doesn't get any better than that. ;p