Catnapper7

I am just sailed the Escape and had Maneesh as our room steward. He was incredible all week. Our room was impeccable for the entire cruise. I wrote a note about him in the post cruise survey.

Yes, he is the best!

Just curious how far in advance you booked to get that kind of deal? I've booked my last two cruises 1 1/2 years in advance and never found any deal like that.

Yes, it was. Thanks.

Sorry, I can't figure out a way around it.

Hmmm. This blogger must prevent transferring the site, I guess. I can't even manually type it in.

Ok, so that copy and paste didn't work. Let me try again.

http://Http://www.******************.com/category/Harmony-of-the-seas

http://www.******************.com/category/category/harmony-of-the-seas

Try this -- there are some great pics of the slides. It may give you an idea of any obstructed view issues.

I would have to assume it will have an effect on the mass of people who stand behind the aqua theater stadium seating area on the boardwalk deck 6 to catch part of the show or rehearsals. They would have to be pretty large tubes for the dual slides. But as I remember from Oasis, there's not much of a view off the back of the ship there because of the two large screens and the diving platforms.

I've had to ask for ice on many ships with less motivated stewards. Have also had towels animals only towards the cruise week end on many. Maneesh treated us to a new "friend" every night.

Do you mind me asking if you're bed was closer to the balcony or the closet? I will be in your cabin in two weeks. :D

The bed was by the closet. You will love the balcony but use a washcloth to wipe the soot off the chairs and railing in the mornings before you enjoy your morning coffee with that view! Your cabin steward, Maneesh, is terrific.... Ice twice a day without even asking for it.

What deck were you on on the Escape?

I was in stateroom 12910. Huge aft balcony with two loungers and two chairs.

I just booked Harmony for my birthday week April 1-8, 2017. Cruising with my adult daughter. We just got off Norwegian Escape two weeks ago. We're from Florida's gulf coast. Only 456 days to go!!!

I have been in a midship balcony on Getaway and aft balcony on Escape. The motion was definitely more severe on Escape especially in our stateroom although we felt it in other areas of the ship also. In the stateroom, we literally were lurching around the room for the first two days. If I stood at the sink to wash my face, I had to brace myself or I would fall into the mirror. I don't suffer from motion sickness and never use any preventative band or patch and it was tolerable for me. Hard to tell how you will do. The motion severity did improve after the first two days.

I'm having a difficult time choosing which stateroom I want for my December 2017 Escape cruise. Can anyone who have cruised on the Escape offer some advice?

 

We booked while on the ship during our last cruise, so we kind of just chose a room randomly while looking at deck plans from the book. We wanted an Aft-Facing Mini-Suite, but both were unavailable.

 

We are currently booked in a Mid-Ship Mini-Suite on Deck 15. Is this a good location, and is the balcony large enough to have lounge chairs?

 

I am debating between the cabin I've booked now, a Mini-Suite with a Large Balcony on Deck 8, or any of the Aft-Facing Balconies.

 

Which stateroom would you choose and why?

We were in aft facing balcony 12910 and loved it. The balcony had two lounge chairs and two regular chairs. The aft balconies on deck 12 are some of the largest from my research. Two things to take note of though - the ship overall has some extra motion and we especially felt it in our aft stateroom. For the first two days, it was bad enough to lose your balance regularly. If you have any motion sickness issues, I wouldn't recommend it. Also, there is soot that collects on the balcony furniture and floor overnight. This also seemed to be worse the first couple of days. I just wiped everything down with a washcloth every morning and didn't sit out there in anything light colored. But, the view from the oversized aft balcony was well worth those two minor complaints.

The bed is by the closet, sofa by the balcony in that cabin.

This made me laugh.

 

I could also say, "I didn't see a wok station there. But I never was on the ship.

 

But of course, I wouldn't even have responded in the first place since.....I didn't know one way or the other.

 

Again, thanks for the laugh!

 

Harriet

I didn't say I wasn't ever in the buffet. I had some lunches there and also some pre show evening apps. So I did peruse the offerings to a fairly thorough degree. But I'm happy I could provide you with a laugh.....?

My daughter and I were very disappointed with Tortola. We didn't book an excursion figuring we would just check out the shops. Well, the shops are minimal, the shopkeepers seemed to have very little interest in the cruise passengers and their money. They all opened later than their posted hours despite having people gathering on the doorstep. The roads are very narrow without sidewalks and the people drive fast and crazy. Very hazardous to pedestrians.

The port area is a mess because they're building a large shopping area around the dock. Once that is completed, it may be a better itinerary stop.

I didn't ever see a wok station during my week. But I never ate dinner there.

Aft balcony sizes are dramatically smaller. On the escape now in Aft PH 10314. Not enough room to walk the length of balcony without moving furniture around. Balcony is about 6' deep by about 22' long. [ATTACH]371029[/ATTACH]. But they are larger than 78' sq. soot very bad in furniture. [ATTACH]371030[/ATTACH] will give more detailed review when we return. Much to discuss on changes, but not all bad.

My aft balcony on 12 is at least 8 feet deep and 8 feet wide. Two loungers and two chairs. Plenty of room for two people. Soot this morning wasn't as bad as yesterday. It's 6am and I'm sitting here with my coffee -- Starry sky is beautiful this early morning!

My daughter and I are onboard now in a deck 12 aft balcony room. There's a lot of soot that collects on the balcony. Also, in this location, there is a lot of ship motion which isn't as noticible in other area of the ship. It's so severe that we occasionally lurch in the room. New saw The Brat Pack in the Supper Club last night. The show was awesome but the food was terrible and we didn't find much of it edible. But it's worth the money for the show anyway if that's the only way to see it.

Thanks so much for the pics of deck 12 aft balcony. That's the same bed by the closet configuration mine is supposed to be. Question: the room between that 12312 and my 12910 is a handicapped accessible room -- why do they make the balcony deck planked? It doesn't seem like that would be of any advantage to a wheelchair.

FreestyleNovice-thanks for this great shot. When enlarged on my iPad, it gives me a great view of the depth of my deck 12 aft balcony! I've never stayed in an aft before and can't wait for next Saturday!

Originally Posted by Jenjer View Post

Do you think the Haven pool will be 5' feet deep? Oh man I hope so.

Also if we brought a ball to the pool would we be allowed to use it? We would only do it at times when next to no one was there. Early early morning or evening.

The reason why I ask is my DD plays water polo and she will need to train a bit. She would rather do it in the pool than the gym.

Putting my flame resistance suit on. Yes I know its a vacation, yes I know she is just a kid (14). When you play at her level you can not take a week off without having it effect your play and she will be in the middle of her season. with a very important camp just a few weeks after we get back.

I would have to agree with other posters. I've been on several cruises and whether it be a spoken or unspoken rule, no one generally uses pool toys / equipment in the pools. The few times I've seen it happen, it prevents others from enjoying the pool which isn't really fair. Even if the pool is empty at the time, as people gather in the area, they may feel uncomfortable getting in with someone tossing around a ball. I would error on the side of being considerate of your fellow passengers.

Does not sound like many choices for lunch or Breakfast. Will they all be crowded on sea days?

I don't disagree that this is another bait and switch on the part of NCL and it leaves a bad taste.

BUT.....let's be realistic. We are only eating 7 breakfasts and 7 lunches. There are a variety of menu items / buffet offerings to choose from. Chances are, unless you are an extremely picky eater, you'll still have enjoyable dining even without the fourth complimentary restaurant.

Whether or not they're crowded depends on the time you dine. The buffet is generally crowded on port days because everyone going ashore is looking for the quickest option.

To add; the exact type is Hamilton Beach 49970 Personal Cup One Cup Pod Brewer

 

Not sure if the Personal Cup pods are larger, see pics below. Sara Lee left the North American market and I am guessing the (Senseo) pod patent is free to use now:

http://www.msl-interiors.co.uk/news/wp-content/uploads/2013/08/One-cup-pod-brewer-300x300.jpg

https://www.hamiltonbeach.com/media/products/slideshow/500/49970-inset04.jpg

 

Saw on Amazon the Hamilton being sold together with Senseo pods. And Melitta pods that fit in a Senseo coffee maker too. My guess is they are the same size?

 

It also seems there are 3rd party refillable DIY pods on the market. Didn't clicked those so no knowledge about them.

 

End of coffee thread. ;)

I think a pod is a pod is a pod pretty much. The Senseo pods from Aloha Coffee Company that I purchased from Amazon say they are compatible with numerous coffee makers including the Hamilton Beach Personal Cup.