kajasmin

How was Tortola? It is the one stop I have never been too.

 

Good but we went to Virgin Gorda to the Baths. It was a bit crowded but beautiful.

I will be going on my first cruise ever. After reading many reviews on the newest Escape that I will be on next week, I have prepared for the worst. Many of the negative reviews are made by newly registered members with only one review. So I don't know if these negative reviews are real or libel.

 

Some of the items that I find disturbing are these.:confused:

1. Long lines at restaurant even when the reservations are made months prior.

Not true. The problem is the hostess seats everyone...its just that, nothing else.

2. Restaurants are closed for private functions without notice. Apparently some groups are more important than me.

Not an issue for us.

3. Shows are cancelled during the entire duration of the cruise.

Million Dollar Quartet was moved from Tuesday to Friday but the booking moved too.

4. Generally, the overall service are not up to par.

Dinner was SLOW. Other than that, everything else was great!

5. Restaurant has changed to fee based rather than complimentary. (Jimmy Buffet)

Just got off, it was complimentary but an hour line.

Are these problems the norm or uncommon? Will this be the first and possibly the last cruise with NCL?

 

It wasnt bad at all.

Hi guys! I'm back from the escape.... wanted to quickly address a few issues that I had concerns over in case others wondered.

 

- Gluten free---eating in the main dining room for breakfast was good or an omelet at the buffet, lunch was a bit more difficult- but they did have chicken grilled I ate everyday--almost all of their meat was marinaded with some sort of soy. But the chefs were very knowledgeable and helped. We ate in specialty restaurants every night- dinner was good, but they would do very little in the way of changing things so I could have them. On Carnival they would change stuff a lot more, there was very very limited desert choices.

 

-UDP from January booking was honored and well worth it. We saved a ton of money.

 

-This was the rockiest boat I have ever been on (its my 6th cruise). On Thanksgiving even the hostess at Moderno was having to hold on to a bar to not fall. The boat would creak and groan and I thought it was going to fall apart. Our room had some sort of issue with the balcony framing that could not be fixed and when the waves were high we could not sleep. They did put us in another room to sleep that night. It was a hassle but better than the alternative. I did hear we were going in 77mph gusts of wind, however, I've been on a Disney boat with that strong of wind and you could barely tell... I honestly don't think I'd go on this boat again... from the time we set sail it was rocky, definitely don't go if you get motion sickness.

 

The staff and crew were excellent. Million Dollar Quartet was FABULOUS.

it is cheaper if you pay online?

I have celiac disease. I have cruised with carnival and found lunch to be very difficult to eat (buffet). On NCL I understand I can eat at MDR during lunch so I'm hoping that will be easier. Carnival I could eat an egg omelet at the buffet for breakfast and it was ok... anyone know how breakfast is for gf people on ncl? My reservation has celiac noted and I've filled out all paperwork. We leave Saturday on Escape. Tips appreciated!

I'm on Escape next week. I have the UDP from January for all 4 of us. When you say 1 meal does that mean I can only dine at the restaurant once in the 7 days? I have Moderno reserved for two different nights. Thanks.

Thank you!

I've asked this before, but now that some people are on the ship-- I booked in January when I got the Ultimate Dining package before all this ala carte nonsense... have you been able to use it as you were told? Or have you had to pay the upcharges?? Slightly worried!

Thanks! Do I need to download and purchase before going on the cruise?

Will this be available on the Escape in November?

Is lunch served everyday in the main dining rooms? Carnival is only on sea days I believe, or maybe that is breakfast. I can't remember. Which meals can I sit down for and when? I booked specialties for dinner... we are cruising on Thanksgiving and I'd love to have lunch in the MDR vs the buffet. Thanks!

Thanks. I hadn't been on the board and was just looking for Escape pictures and stumbled upon it. The terms and conditions are very very vague :( We sale on 11/21- super excited but now worried about our food! I have Celiac disease so I already worry about food much more than a normal person! lol :)

Ok, so I had no idea there were changes for the Escape. We booked our cruise in Jan 2015.... at the time we got all 4 of us free Ultimate Dining Package. I've booked our dinners and at the time, everything was covered. Now I read online that the several restaurants are ala carte and now we only get 25% off.... Frustrating that they change something after we'd already picked (I may have picked something different, ya know?)

Is this the case? Are those of us who got this in January when the conditions were different somehow "grandfathered" in? I will call but sometimes calling isn't helpful at all...

Thanks for your thoughts.

We are on the 11/21 cruise and I didnt realize this was even a thing. We got UDP free when we booked a very long time ago... does this mean we now can't eat at the places it said we could when we booked?!

I love Sea Turtles. I'd love to see them while we are in St. Thomas as its my birthday :) I've seen the NCL excursions to turtle cove, also one to St. John says you may see them--- but does anyone have any advice on excursions or even places we may go on our own to that are frequented by sea turtles?

 

Thanks!

I booked the Escape for Nov 21. When I booked (Jan 1)- I got the Dining Plan free- I was told it was for all passengers. However, I don't see anywhere on the invoice that it specifies it is for all (2 adults, 2 kids). I just did a quick look at the NCL website to see the going price of the cruise now, and saw that they have the CHOD code still but now it says only for first 2 passengers- was I told something incorrectly back in Jan or did it change now? Trying to figure it out but can't find the info anywhere on my bookings.

 

Thanks!

I LOVED the glory.......My kids well they thought it could have been better! (they want the breeze next time). NOT saying they didnt have fun they did but they thought it needed MORE kids things.

 

 

Good to know. Yah mine LOVED the waterpark on the Breeze. The Getaway looks super cool. The Getaway ports are fine but there are 6 ships in port at some of them at the same time! And its about 1000 less for the Glory. Ive never been on NCL so I dont know!

Ok, so we are Carnival people but we saw the Getaway (NCL) on our cruise and wow it looks awesome. We were booking that but then I saw the Glory would cost us a lot less and has ports we like better...but it is seriously lacking in the waterslide area...my kids are spoiled by the breeze.

 

What do you guys think? Better ship or better ports. My mom has never cruised before and we are taking her so I want to make it good!

Ive been on lots of Carnival cruises but never an NCL. Could you please help me out?

Cruising on the Getaway in Nov.

 

1- Dinner menus- I've looked online. Many have same thing every night. Do they change? We want to do the MDR nightly not upgrade as we never have had to before. Will that be okay?

 

2-Is the rope course included?

 

3-What "drinks" are free? on carnival Lemonade and tea..NCL?

 

4-If you've done the Breeze and Getaway can you tell me any big differences? Thank you!

The Breeze on June 21-29, 8 day Eastern Caribbean 3500 for 8th floor, balcony room, for 4 people.

12-2:00 on the Breeze. Go after 1pm for no lines. Only Sea Days although was open during early port day.

Ive gotten a total of 900 drops in the past few months... I just looked last night and it dropped 412, then today I found a drop for 240. But now I have to pay final payment. Once I pay final payment, I cant get anymore price drops right? I see you guys talking about OBC...

We've done both. We live in Orlando and are annual pass holders. We also have gone to California the last two years to Disneyland...I say that to show you how Disney we are.... But my kids hated the Disney cruise and don't want to go back. I did like their shows and food but the pools and such as well as childcare is better on Carnival IMO

 

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I am a celiac and went on breeze last year and go again this year. Its the best! Let me know if you have any specific questions.

 

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I recently switched to "dreaming of vacation" rate... didn't save anything but didnt have to pay til 30 days out. Just called about Kids Sail Free... originally was told couldnt do it, they couldnt switch without a 200 penalty... if they let me switch rooms i would have saved 338. So I hung up and called back, got another person who said well let me try it... she tried it and just kept me int he same room, same booking number everything the same and the price went down 208. It wasnt the 338 but 208 is better than nothing and I stayed in the better room , the 338 was a less desirable deck/room. :) So, I look at it as now parking is covered. lol.