Everything.. ESCAPE (live 29 Oct 2015!)

[LrgPizza]

I'm on the crossing as well and fully expect there to be ZERO fanfare or special anything oboard (from reading info from Getaway and Breakaway maiden crossings) and for it to basically be a shake-down cruise more than anything else. Still we will get the advantage of being some of the first to sail her and also the bennie of 9 days w/ no pesky ports to distract :D I'm hoping for at least 2-4 days of pool worthy weather!

We are actually on there 10 nights, not 9 days. You might want to check your schedule. I'd hate for you to try to get off early. ;):p

Edited October 22, 2015 by LrgPizza

[FreestyleNovice]

Casino:

 

[eroller]

Still we will get the advantage of being some of the first to sail her and also the bennie of 9 days w/ no pesky ports to distract :D I'm hoping for at least 2-4 days of pool worthy weather!

 

 

I agree about those pesky ports. They just get in the way of fun! LOL

 

After a long and hot summer here in South Florida I'm ready for some cooler weather. It FINALLY just started to cool down a bit the last day or two. Humidity is down and the temps are staying below 90 for a change. I do love warm weather though, so after a few days of chilly weather I'm sure I'll be ready for the warmth again. I'm also hoping for a few days of warmer weather if for nothing else than to try out all the slides and the ropes course!

 

These ships are really designed for warmer weather when you think of all the outdoor activities and The Waterfront. I wonder how crowded they feel when the weather is bad and everyone is stuck inside? The QUANTUM was probably the best ship I've sailed for bad weather. Tons of enclosed areas to be enjoyed regardless of the weather. SeaPlex Sports Complex, indoor pool, Solarium, Royal Promenade, and Two70. All great indoor areas.

[AtlantaCruiser72]

We are actually on there 10 nights, not 9 days. You might want to check your schedule. I'd hate for you to try to get off early. ;):p

 

10 nights yes, but not counting embark/debark days it's 9 gloriously uninterrupted days at sea, some of which will be 25hrs long :D

[AtlantaCruiser72]

I agree about those pesky ports. They just get in the way of fun! LOL

 

After a long and hot summer here in South Florida I'm ready for some cooler weather. It FINALLY just started to cool down a bit the last day or two. Humidity is down and the temps are staying below 90 for a change. I do love warm weather though, so after a few days of chilly weather I'm sure I'll be ready for the warmth again. I'm also hoping for a few days of warmer weather if for nothing else than to try out all the slides and the ropes course!

 

These ships are really designed for warmer weather when you think of all the outdoor activities and The Waterfront. I wonder how crowded they feel when the weather is bad and everyone is stuck inside? The QUANTUM was probably the best ship I've sailed for bad weather. Tons of enclosed areas to be enjoyed regardless of the weather. SeaPlex Sports Complex, indoor pool, Solarium, Royal Promenade, and Two70. All great indoor areas.

 

I too will be interested to so how well she handles large #s of pax on the cooler wetter days. The 411 on the "-aways: is that it is crowded, crowded, crowded with most public space being for dining and little left over for anything else. That said we are not sailing at capacity - there are still about 20% of rooms unsold and I'd expect very few 3rd/4th berths filled. Worst case you will find me in the District preventing the beer kegs from rolling overboard. I'm hoping the full selection of micro brews will be available.

[eroller]

I too will be interested to so how well she handles large #s of pax on the cooler wetter days. The 411 on the "-aways: is that it is crowded, crowded, crowded with most public space being for dining and little left over for anything else. That said we are not sailing at capacity - there are still about 20% of rooms unsold and I'd expect very few 3rd/4th berths filled. Worst case you will find me in the District preventing the beer kegs from rolling overboard. I'm hoping the full selection of micro brews will be available.

 

 

All good points! My sailing on GETAWAY was off season and in great weather, and the outer decks and pools were still packed. Interior areas did not feel crowded but I know it would be a different story with all the 3rd/4th berths filled. The public venues on these ships are pretty small. No big grand spaces but somehow I really loved GETAWAY. It somehow all worked at least on my sailing. ESCAPE adds another full deck of cabins and then some, in the same basic footprint. I'm so glad our crossing is not full and likely very few kids. It's one reason I love them so much!

 

I'm not a beer drinker but I like the looks of The District with all that glass. Hopefully they have a full bar. Hard liquor for me!

[aubreyc1988]

Was just on the Getaway in Sept and had an inside cabin and when I went to the pool deck/Spice it was SO crowded. Couldn't handle it. I went late august in 2014 and I thought it was less crowded then, but might have been because I had an aft facing balcony and spent a lot of time out there.

 

I am thinking about trying to get a Vibe pass when we go on the Escape, but it is likely I would only using it from 8am-6pm on sea days so idk if its really worth it for me

 

I wonder if the district has craft beers included with the UBP? Or if there will be many bar exclusions on this ship

[eroller]

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I am thinking about trying to get a Vibe pass when we go on the Escape, but it is likely I would only using it from 8am-6pm on sea days so idk if its really worth it for me

 

 

 

 

 

 

I had a Vibe pass on the GETAWAY and it was a life saver for me. It truly enhanced the enjoyment of the cruise. I do enjoy laying out on deck but they were just too crowded and noisy on GETAWAY. The private Vibe deck was truly my outdoor oasis amid all the chaos.

 

I'm not planning on a Vibe pass on ESCAPE as my cruise is a crossing and I don't anticipate much laying out on deck. On a Caribbean cruise I would ensure an early embarkation to score one of those passes. It was worth every penny.

[aubreyc1988]

I had a Vibe pass on the GETAWAY and it was a life saver for me. It truly enhanced the enjoyment of the cruise. I do enjoy laying out on deck but they were just too crowded and noisy on GETAWAY. The private Vibe deck was truly my outdoor oasis amid all the chaos.

 

I'm not planning on a Vibe pass on ESCAPE as my cruise is a crossing and I don't anticipate much laying out on deck. On a Caribbean cruise I would ensure an early embarkation to score one of those passes. It was worth every penny.

 

 

Off topic but what were the hours for the vibe? When was the bar open?

 

 

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[steamboats]

Is there good 4G coverage on T-Mobile on the Elbe by any chance? :)

 

Sorry, I´m on O2 so I can´t say anything about T-Mobile coverage.

 

The inaugural app is solely intended for the non-revenue preview cruises. Invited VIPs, industry folks, and media only.

 

Exactly! It´s not for the revenue cruises.

 

steamboats

[aubreyc1988]

I have t mobile and tried to use it on the escape itinerary ports and service is poor. My husband had a little better time of it, which is strange (I have an iPhone, he has android)

 

T-Mobile coverage was far better in Ensenada Mexico when I went in April

 

 

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[rerp]

That said we are not sailing at capacity - there are still about 20% of rooms unsold

 

Can I ask where you have found this? I wondered how full we were sailing on the transatlantic.

[AtlantaCruiser72]

Can I ask where you have found this? I wondered how full we were sailing on the transatlantic.

 

I have access to the travel agency booking site for NCL which theoretically shows full inventory. Allowing for several variables it is my interpretation of the open inventory. I think there may also be a good number of rooms held back for NCL staff onboard for the crossing - execs/trainers/supervisors for various departments, IT staff, construction staff to do finish work/minor punch list items, entertainment/creative staff overseeing shows etc, so ship may not have even 80% revenue paying guests. Hard to tell exactly.

Edited October 22, 2015 by AtlantaCruiser72

[steamboats]

She´s officially handed over to NCL now: Press release by Meyer Werft.

 

steamboats

[debnjoe1438]

She´s officially handed over to NCL now: Press release by Meyer Werft.

 

steamboats

 

Too cool, thanks for posting the link :)

[CapitalKyle]

happy Handover Day everyone :D I haven't checked in on this thread in awhile but it has been great fun following the construction of Escape thanks to FreestyleNovice's great photo finds.

 

Happy sailing to all.

[Newbie Cruiser 2010]

Casino:

 

Why would they build a casino that is so open to the center of the ship. I sure hope that the smell of smoke won't be noticeable otherwise I will be annoying everyone with my chronic cough. I had issues with the casino on RCCL Oasis of the Seas and it wasn't as open as this appears to be.

[Mandy412]

Why would they build a casino that is so open to the center of the ship. I sure hope that the smell of smoke won't be noticeable otherwise I will be annoying everyone with my chronic cough. I had issues with the casino on RCCL Oasis of the Seas and it wasn't as open as this appears to be.

 

Your bug got me good!

[legion3]

Why would they build a casino that is so open to the center of the ship. I sure hope that the smell of smoke won't be noticeable otherwise I will be annoying everyone with my chronic cough. I had issues with the casino on RCCL Oasis of the Seas and it wasn't as open as this appears to be.

 

some people have complained of this layout for smoke and some have not.

 

I agree with you kind of a silly design but hopefully it won't be awful.

[HaraldOslo]

 

Just arrived in Hamburg and checked into Empire Riverside with a sort of view towards the river. Unfortunately I will have to leave the room and peek out another window to see her when she arrives :-)

[Zena2005]

some people have complained of this layout for smoke and some have not.

 

I agree with you kind of a silly design but hopefully it won't be awful.

 

Understand the smoke issue, but if you really think about it the design it does make sense. Its on the middle deck of the 3-deck atrium and it is also on the same floor as the theater. They want you to gamble. Just like Vegas, you have to pass through the casino to get just about anywhere in you hotel; same thing here. If you look at the Epic (which we still love that ship), the theater, Spiegel Tent, Comedy Club and Blues Bar were al on the same level as the casino. I remember when the Epic came out and NCL was referring to it as the "Las Vegas of the sea".

[CruisinHarvey]

some people have complained of this layout for smoke and some have not.

 

I agree with you kind of a silly design but hopefully it won't be awful.

 

Been that way since the Epic and the Away ships. It's pretty much integral to the whole design. Some folks have complained that it goes through all the central areas as a result. I don't notice it outside the casino. MUCH.

[happy cruzin]

Been that way since the Epic and the Away ships. It's pretty much integral to the whole design. Some folks have complained that it goes through all the central areas as a result. I don't notice it outside the casino. MUCH.

 

Exactly - so either NCL doesn't care about the complaints OR there are fewer complaints than compliments about the location/design.

 

Yes - we have found sections of the casino to be smoky on occasion. Particularly sea days because it's open all day. But it's never been a big enough deal that we avoid the area. ;)

[Jenjer]

The design is not my favorite, I also think that the amount of smokers will effect how bad it is. Some very strong filtration system could help the issue. Don't know if NCL has that or not.

 

It could be super mild on one cruise and really bad on another. NCL can not control how many smokers they have in the casino. They have the right to smoke in the casino.

 

For me and my family we avoid it as much as possible. Smoke effects my asthma.

 

On our Epic cruise it was more of a issue than it was on our Getaway cruise. Generally we will cross the ship on high deck and go down on the other side of the casino. Bingo you have avoided the smoke, just takes a little planning.

 

As cool as the skyline bar looks it won't be a place I will "hang" out in because of the smoke. There are a lot of other options.

 

Hey it saves my DH money cause I can't go loose it in the casino.

[texangal39]

If anyone is interested you can watch the delivery ceremony on Periscope. Look under @Cruise Norwegian.

 

https://www.periscope.tv/w/aPicPDE2MTUwNzB8MWpNS2diUE9hemJ4TFG8jfeKVB4yOCl-FiWJ-HMyOkxe3OcbCKdOIMAzgzJv

Edited October 22, 2015 by texangal39