www3traveler

Did you met any outstanding staff?

Hotel Director is Steven Jacobsen an American from Wisconsin.

Captain: Kenneth Harstrom- from Sweden, I think

Restaurant Manager: Noel Chaves from India

Food and Beverage Director: Mohammad Hasan- from Indonesia

Can not to sail once again with these people in October.

Have a great cruise.

In 2014 I was was on The Getaway for Thanksgiving. Turkey dinner and all the trimmings including green bean casserole available in the MDR's.

Big screen television in the lobby with football games all day and a free hot dog stand.

Some Thanksgiving decorations. Christmas decorating started a few days later.

The Getaway has large groups of families traveling together. Lots of kids.

Some people dressed for Thanksgiving dinner and others did not.

Enjoy. First Thanksgiving in a long time for me that I really enjoyed.

Carlos's Bake Shop is being phased out on ALL Norwegian ships.

Usually there is a "Norwegian Night Out" on the evening of the first Sea Day. There is an opportunity that evening to have your picture taken with the Captain, if you hurry. He is usually only available for pictures for about 30 minutes or so.

Is Issac (Isaac?) the guy in the video, or is he rooster man the OP was asking about? The guy in the video was the first crew member we met in the morning after our first night on board. He was awesome- so friendly and funny. I filled out one the NCL comment cards for him (forget what they're called), but didn't know his name

Issac is in the one in the video. Every morning he goes through the buffet crowing like a rooster. He is very sweet and very funny. He brightens peoples day. He is an Assistant Maitre d'.

Issac was on board over this past Christmas. He may be on vacation by now.

From what I have understood both ships have sailed over the past few weeks with very high numbers 5300 or so with The Escape and into the 4500's for The Getaway-- Spring Break. Numbers will settle a bit until the summer vacation season beginning in mid May, then they will be high again.

Thank you for such a great video.

Nice to see faces I have not seen in awhile.

Love the idea of treating staff to a special dinner.

I can answer some of of your questions:

(1) Yes, there is a corkage fee- I never wine on board, lots to drink including in the solo Lounge.

(2) Ice Bar is worth it once. Ask in the Solo Lounge, and maybe they can make special arrangements.

(3) I always travel in a Studio when I am on The Getaway. I never pre book anything. In the early evenings (6 P.M.), there are gatherings in the Solo Lounge for those traveling single and not just those who are in the Studios. Lots of events, dinners get planned that way. It is very easy to meet people.

(4) Another way to meet those on your cruise is to become active in the Roll Call for your cruise. There might be others on the Roll Call that are also traveling solo.

(5) Every evening, the Freestyle Daily will be delivered to your cabin with all the events, times and places scheduled for the next day. Pick and choose which ones you would like.

The important thing to remember is this is YOUR vacation, you can do as much or as little as you wish.

Enjoy!!!! The Getaway is a wonderful ship and with great staff. I will be heading back to Her in December.

Mandy

Anyone know if Errol Bailey is still on the Getaway?

Errol is currently on vacation.

I have stayed in Studios my last 5 cruises- never had a problem with noise from connecting cabins.

The white black spaces are probably housekeeping closets. Other than in the mornings when they are getting things out or evenings putting things away- NOT A PROBLEM at least not to me.

During your cruise at least ONCE there will be a laundry special. You put your laundry in a large bag provided, fill out the form with it and the all the laundry in the bag is done at a set price. With the length of your cruise, there might be two laundry specials. A lot of people wash in the bathroom sink and hang things in shower (look above your head) for the clothes line in your shower.

The worst for me is waiting to leave for the airport flying to whatever port city.

I was using it about 30 minutes, and it worked well for me.

From what you are saying, you would have to walk uphill from the end of the light rail to your hotel. I would just grab a cab at the airport and come on in.

The Bell Street Terminal is Pier 66 at the bottom of Bell Street on Alaskan Way.

Depending on where your hotel is, it could take more time than you would think to get to the Bell Street Terminal.

Summer weekends are prime time for highway construction projects, to say nothing of community events clogging streets.

Have a great cruise and enjoy a very special city.

Do you know who the Staff Captain is?

The 2 HOUR refers to the point of embarkation. Say for instance, that your cruise begins in New York City. You are required to be on board 2 hours prior to the posted departure time.

When you are in ports of call like Nassau, you can leave the ships as soon as the local officials "clear" the ship. Might be minutes from your scheduled arrival time. All Aboard is usually 30 minutes prior to your schedule departure time.

Times of arrival and departure for ports of call will be published in the Freestyle Daily which will be in your cabin each evening listed the next day's activities and times.

WOW ! Mandy, you really are "The Man" ! This is wonderful info and yes, I will bring a card to plug that slot ! The last thing I need is an I-Brick !

 

It will be so nice to not have to sleep in a pitch black room ! Dear God, how I love light ! I always bring a night light because I hate walking into a dark room. If only I could bring my cat with me, nighttime would be truly sweet dreams !

 

I will be eagerly awaiting your cruise reviews and I'm going to search out your previous Getaway reviews right now.

 

Ooooo, I do wonder about the ropes course ! It is the dead last thing my family would think I'd do (fear of heights), so naturally, it will be the first thing I do. Is there a time of day that's best ? What about port days ?

 

And swimming pools ! I love to swim laps, usually between 6 & 7 AM. Which one is best for that ? Are they also open at night ?

 

Thank you so much !

Kristine

(1) Ropes Course and Water Slides- lines much shorter on Port Days. Long stair climb to both.

(2) Pool is not really meant to swim laps- mostly play. Early morning would be better.

I love The Getaway. December will be my 8th, 9th and 10th cruise on Her. I do not usually write reviews except to answer people's questions like you.

Have fun and relax.

Mandy

I'm sailing February 5, 2017. Yes, it's 10+ months out but I'm still so excited ! My other 3 cruises were done with my husband and son, it's my first solo. I kind of had a midlife crisis last month on my birthday and my husband suggested I take a trip by myself. I'm sure he was thinking, "she likes trains, she'll probably ride the rails for a week, like Sheldon Cooper." LOL ! So I did what any clear thinking wife/mother/cook/laundress/CFO would do - I booked a cruise so I would turn 64 in another country ! You know the saying "if travel were free, you'd never see me again" ? I resemble that remark !

 

I keep hearing about that coffee machine ! Is it a regular machine like in the food court ? I was hoping for a Keurig-like set up, although I know I'll be heading to wherever I can get a double strong Americano. I'm one of those people who needs a cup of coffee before I have my coffee. And I will definitely use a dinner sign up sheet several times but I'm looking forward to getting away from TV. I do hope they run movies somewhere though. Watching "Gravity" under the stars in the middle of the Caribbean was glorious !! "Captain Phillips", not so much !

 

Thanks,

Kristine

Can not tell you about the coffee in the Lounge. First thing every morning 5:45 A.M., i head for the buffet and the huge coffee urns. Take my coffee to a window table and watch the sun rise, if it has not already.

I have been widow for a number of years now and will be 70 this Fall. I have celebrated several birthdays on board a Norwegian ship. Love it. Will be spending my second Christmas on board The Getaway as part of my 22 days on Her. I can not wait.

You work for NCL? :confused:

No, but I help when I can.

Yes, Norwegian knows that I am always welcoming new passengers on their behalf, whether it be Corporate, ship or both.

Mandy

Kristine,

On behalf of the Norwegian Getaway staff and the Norwegian corporate staff, WELCOME ABOARD!!!

I will tell you that I have fallen in love with cruising (only with Norwegian) and with the Getaway. I will be sailing on Her (ships are She's by the way) for 22 straight days in December and I can not wait.

Ask all the questions you want.

I will tell you one more thing I love about Studio cabins. They have a frosted glass window that lets light from the corridor shine through into the cabin. there are blinds AND shutters to make the cabin pitch black at night. I adjust both the blinds and the shutters so they allow enough light in to act as a nightlight but that no one can see in. You can only see shadows anyway.

Since this is new to you, in order to turn the lights on or the heating and air

conditioning, you need to put your room key into the slot by the door. Power does NOT work without something in the slot. You can not leave something plugged in to charge without a card of some sort in the slot (old credit card, library card).

Have a great cruise.

Mandy

This is great information ! I was wondering what that sliver of white space across from my cabin was ! It appears that it's the door to the Studio cabins. I'm planning our role call cabin crawl and I was hoping to show my studio, but not if it involved dragging people up and down those interior corridors.

 

I'd like to ask you about your experience in the Studio cabins and lounge. Do you have any tips to share ? I have read that there is a coffee machine in the Lounge. Did you see it or use it ?

 

Thank you again,

Kristine

Yes, there are lots of free goodies in the Lounge. There is coffee, juice, cookies and other goodies. The TV is usually on to a sports channel. There is also a self- service wine machine ( like candy machine). You need to use your room card for it, everything else is free. There is usually a gathering every evening in the Lounge for Studio passengers and for others who are traveling solo. There are sign-ups for dinner and shows.

I do not use the Lounge for those reasons however. I am usually just checking sport scores.

You can ask at any of the restaurants to dine with others and they will try to accommodate you.

When are you going?

Mandy

The Studio Lounge Entrance is just steps from your cabin and the lounge itself is down the stairs on level. I thin that you will have a Housekeeping closet next to your cabin.

Both Deck 10 and 11 have entrances to the Studio Cabins on both the Port and Starboard sides. You can access The Studio Lounge from both Decks 10 and 11 once you have enter The Studio Cabin area. The Lounge is not accessible from the main corridors.

I have had a number of Studios in different locations and on both Deck 10 and 11. Very quiet.

Have a great cruise.