dreamr

I was on the Escape in 2015 and had balcony 11730. It was a great room! Bed is by the balcony, which meant I had a great view upon waking. That room is also forward, which means there are no lifeboats below you.

I didn't pick that room myself, it had been an unexpected last minute upgrade a couple of days before the cruise, but I loved it. I honestly don't know if I could have been given a better location.  :)

My sister, niece (20 years old), and I were in a spa balcony on my last cruise. We were all given the spa access. :)

Either there are some inconsistencies or ggTexasGal is referring to the couple's spa pass that you purchase...?

Just wanted to pipe in and say that I've been on the Epic twice. It's a great ship! I was solo both times, though, so the split bathroom thing didn't bother me. From what I've seen, the Epic does tend to get less positive reviews than some of the other ships, but I don't know why. I loved it!

The entertainment has changed since I was on it a few years back, so I can't speak for the new shows. However, I've always loved the shows I've seen on each of my cruises.

All in all, I wouldn't hesitate booking the Epic for a future cruise.

Have a great cruise! :)

It was on the Escape a few years ago. I believe it was lunchtime. I love mushrooms, so I ordered the goat cheese-stuffed portobello mushrooms. So good! And that same meal, I had vanilla bean panna cotta with raspberry puree for dessert. I'm not usually a fan of raspberry, so I was just eating the panna cotta without the puree, and the waiter noticed and asked me why I wasn't eating it together, and told me that I should try it because it was really good together. He was absolutely correct! It was amazing! For the rest of the cruise, I kept hoping they would offer those things again, but they never did. 😞

45 minutes ago, FLAHAM said:

By a penalty of 100%, I assume you mean 100% of what you paid for the third and fourth passengers' fares.  From NCL's perspective, they are better off keeping those fares and selling the additional cabin to other passengers, rather than refunding the fares and selling the additional cabin to your third and fourth passenger. 

They booked during a "3rd and 4th guest free" promo period. So NCL actually isn't getting any fare for those two people, but the OP is wanting to pay for a second room...thereby giving NCL more money than they have currently received.

KrazyKs, It sounds crazy, since you'd be giving them more money to book an additional room, but I think hallux is right. Because it's so close to sailing, you're in the 100% penalty time frame. Insanity. haha

During my last Epic cruise, I was in 11520. It was great.

Enjoy your cruise! :)

Good luck! And enjoy the Epic. She's a great ship. :)

Hi! I've been in the studios on Epic twice. Granted, it's been a few years, but I'm sure their placement hasn't changed. 😛

1. Deck 11 is the deck that the lounge is on, so unless you just want to be on a different deck, I'd consider that a good thing. Both my studios were on deck 11. Intentionally.

2. Personally, I always go for a non-connecting one...unless you know the person in the connecting cabin. I've heard (in past posts on this forum) that sound travels through the connecting doors moreso than the wall in the non-connecting rooms.

3. See point 1. :)

4. Just going on reading past posts on this forum, but the only ones to avoid would be the cabins right at the hallway doors. If you're a light sleeper, you might be able to hear the hallway doors opening or closing as people come into or go out of the studio hallway. My first studio was a little far down the hallway from the lounge, so my second trip, I got a cabin a bit closer to the lounge. I was happy with both rooms. It was just a matter of having a shorter walk to the meetings each night. lol

Hope that helps! :)

I totally lucked into spa passes for my last cruise (called the old upgrade number a few days before the cruise to see if I could upgrade to a balcony for cheap, she gave me the "only balcony left"... turned out to be a spa balcony! Score!). I absolutely LOVED it! I think I went every day of the cruise. It was never completely deserted when I went, but it was never what I would consider 'crowded'. Now whether that is just because of the week I happened to be on the ship or because of the time of day I usually went to the spa, I have no clue. Just because it isn't busy during one week, doesn't mean it isn't packed during the next.

Regardless, I loved it so much that I am planning to purchase a pass for my upcoming cruise! (Assuming they don't sell out before I get there.)

10 hours ago, MotownVoice said:

I'm not an idiot, you don't need to condescend.  I know the difference.  I'm talking about people who skip either.
Princess has little sinks going in to the buffet so people can actually wash their hands where others can see them demonstrating their hygiene.
If all a cruise line has is a sanitizer dispenser, then that's what you have to work with.

 

Just wanted to say, the NCL ships I've been on have had sinks near the buffet, too. I've never actually seen anyone using them, buuuut they were there. Due to their placement, though, some people might think they were just for staff use. Who knows.

And so my post is on topic...

I took this pic in Nassau a few years back. Five feet to the right of the photo is a nice covered walkway...

17 hours ago, EganFire said:

Question - for those who have traveled Solo on other ships (besides the Bliss) with Studio cabins, did you find the host organized more activities than just dinner?

 

For  those who traveled Solo on ships without the studio cabins, did you ever have a host organize more than dinners? 

 

Thanks for your time responding. 

I've gone solo on the Epic twice and the Escape once, and had fantastic hosts each time.

Fernando was the first and he was awesome. Very energetic, very friendly, very funny. He planned lots of neat things, including having the magician (Jeff Hobson) give us a private show in the studio lounge one evening.

Second was Chandra. She was very sweet, but not as high energy as Fernando (but who is? haha). She, too, planned cool things, including a backstage tour of the Cirque show.

Jesse was the third, on the Escape's 7-day inaugural cruise. Not only did he arrange for us to sit in the special Haven reserved seating at the shows (though, we ended up choosing to sit closer to the stage instead), but he also had us put our e-mail address on a list that he copied and distributed, so that we could stay in touch post cruise.

All of the above was in addition to planning group dinners and such.

Speaking of dinners, Fernando and Jesse both sat down and ate dinner with us on the last evening. :) 

Thank you for this thread.

As a past solo traveler (3 of my 4 cruises were solo!), I've always wondered about traveling solo on the ships that don't have the studio complex.

I realize that this could vary from week to week, but it makes sense that there would be more devotion to the solo traveler on the ships that have a section of the ship built specifically for solo travelers. My cruises have had really great solo coordinators and I've met some good friends that I still keep in contact with today.

This is also the reason why I've never tried any other cruise line...

I paid $300 total for the upsell (inside to spa balcony). $150pp for the first two. We booked with the "3rd and 4th sail free" promo.

Dreamr,

 

Check message #7 of this thread:

http://boards.cruisecritic.com/showthread.php?t=2052401

 

Seems like a satisfied customer.

Good to know! Thanks!

Guess I can get excited now! :D

It's a small balcony!

I'm not sure where you got that from the image you posted? But thanks for posting. :)

Congrats on the upsell ... Enjoy the balcony and the spa ... [emoji106]

Thank you! :D

You won't have any issues...you will have a full-outward view. You aren't steering the ship, so if you can't look forward, who cares! Your view will be so much better than the inside cabin you booked first...just go and enjoy!

I don't think I was complaining about the location? I'm perfectly fine with being forward. I just wanted to verify that we have an actual balcony! :P

And I agree. Hence why I accepted the upgrade without seeing the deck plan first! haha

Hello!

I was booked in an inside stateroom for my cruise on the Getaway this weekend (!!)...until this morning, when I called the upsell number to see if I could snag a balcony. The lady said the only available balcony was 14700. I was at work and couldn't look at deck plans, so I accepted.

However, once I got home and started looking at pictures, I noticed the first few balcony rooms don't seem to have an actual balcony with chairs. Of course, I start freaking out and searching every review I can find with that room number...and come up empty.

I did find a very small mention of the officers' quarters being at the front of the ship, though...

So to ease my mind, can anyone verify that the balcony under the red arrow is mine and not the balcony-less rooms forward of that?

If I'm right and we do have a standard size balcony, I'm going to be so excited! Not to mention that it's a spa balcony (which the lady didn't mention)! This is going to totally make our cruise! :D

Thanks in advance! :)

I asked my TA... here's a copy/paste from her email.

 

"NCL just released a new program today called “Invitation to Bid” - however NCL is only offering this to guests on October 29th or later sailings onboard the Escape or Getaway."

Thank you! I was wondering why I hadn't gotten any such e-mail and I'm getting on the Getaway next weekend (eep!). Makes sense now. :P

I'm guess those of us who will be sailing before October 29th still do it the old fashioned way (call the upsell line a few days before sail date)? That's what I'm planning to do anyway. Hope it works out. haha

11.25 days until my Getaway getaway! Eep! So excited! :D

Awwww, I love cats! I would totally bring a cat with me if I could. ...if I had one. Sad to say, I am currently cat-less, but that may be changing soon. :)

I went from a studio to a balcony for $100! *nod*

I didn't call the upsell number, believe it or not. I just randomly got the e-mail, offering me the upsell. Needless to say, I called them immediately and took it.

I LOVED my balcony!

I've also had people come up to me on the ship and say, "Which one of you is Kurt?" because Seminole1975 has been talking me up around here.

 

If anybody is curious about life on board as an entertainer, I'd be happy to answer a few questions. I don't have constant access to the Internet, but I'll answer when I can. I also have a YouTube page where I've documented some of my time on board. https://www.youtube.com/user/skywayspirit

 

I'm going to start posting more show-related content, but I have to be careful because it's a very heavily copyrighted show.

Just watched a couple of your videos. Love them! I'll be seeing you guys in a couple of weeks! :)

Mine does. Plus I have his office and cell phone numbers. In fact, he has his mobile number on his office voice mail greeting, that's how accessible he wants to be. Keeping my fingers crossed that he sticks around!

The one I have now also has that info available (including his personal mobile number), but I feel weird using that. I mean, I know I wouldn't want some random person bugging me on my personal phone during my off hours (considering that I have no idea what his office hours are...). XD

It sucks, though, because I would much rather deal with someone over e-mail than over the phone. I get really anxious about asking for things on the phone. I'm weird like that. lol

While that might be the case for the initial booking, if stuff changes (perks or prices change, another cabin you'd like opens up, a problem occurs, whatever), it's much easier imho dealing with a good PCC. And if you have random questions along the way, shoot the PCC an email and get an answer. There's much more to cruising than the initial booking. :)

PCCs actually reply to e-mails? I've sent e-mails to several different PCCs that I've had and I have yet to receive a single reply. I asked one of them on the phone about whether or not he had seen my e-mail and he seemed to have no clue that he even had an e-mail address. :/

I recently (a couple of months ago) asked for a different PCC. He sounded awesome on the phone, but again, I've sent him two e-mails and haven't heard a word.

I agree.

 

It all started when NCL announced that Margaritaville would be complimentary. The idea was that people could zip in and zip out for a quick bite/drink or sit down for a meal.

 

During the first few sailing, it was very popular. So popular that NCL decided to make it à la carte. That turned people off and now, nobody cares about Margaritaville. The place was usually empty or nearly empty when we were there.

 

My wife actually liked the food there but after the first time (with the blaring music), we ordered it as room service for the rest of the cruise.

From my experience, the bolded bit is only somewhat accurate.

I was on the first 7-day sailing of Escape back in November and Margaritaville could only be considered "popular" because there were super long waits to get in. However, the waits weren't caused by there being so many people there. In fact, most of the seats in the restaurant were empty. Apparently, the kitchen for the restaurant was "too small to keep up with too many orders", so they were only seating people in a small portion of the restaurant.

The day I went (and I only went because it was free...), it was just as empty as in the pictures at the beginning of this thread...and I had a 50 minute wait before I was seated. They gave me a little buzzer and I walked around the deck and watched the waves until it finally buzzed. Fifty minutes. And I was traveling solo. There may have been ten other tables being used. At least that day.

I thought the food was good, but nothing to write home about. Certainly nothing I would pay extra for. Maybe if there was a lively, fun atmosphere, I'd consider it...but I'm not a foodie. I'm just as happy with my free meal in the dining room than the "Margaritaville" meal. Especially with a charge.