Everything.. ESCAPE (live 29 Oct 2015!)

[happy cruzin]

To be fair....I have never gotten my food in O'Sheehans any quicker than this either. NCL food service is slow across the board.

 

6&8

 

Good point - it does not usually bother me, I'm not usually in a hurry on vacation. ;)

[sixesandeights]

There's no confirmation from NCL on any Margaritaville cover charge and website still has it listed as complimentary. Do I remember from a ways back on this thread that this info is from what someone overheard in an elevator? Is that all we're basing this on or is there something more substantial?

 

There was a post from Cruise Critic (the site) as well talking about it.

 

6&8

[FreestyleNovice]

Bon voyage to all on her first revenue sailing from Miami!

[insidecabin]

There was a post from Cruise Critic (the site) as well talking about it.

 

6&8

 

CC have a habit of regurgitation of rumours in editorials.

[hpecorari]

There's no confirmation from NCL on any Margaritaville cover charge and website still has it listed as complimentary. Do I remember from a ways back on this thread that this info is from what someone overheard in an elevator? Is that all we're basing this on or is there something more substantial?

 

A few people of heard things....on the elevator, from wait staff, etc. etc. The past has shown that all of the latest 'rumors' that have been posted here HAVE become reality.

 

So, time will tell because at SOME point.....NCL will notifiy all of us.....even if it's when we're on the ship and see for ourselves that there is a cover charge. Then, ONE DAY, they'll update the website to remove it from complimentary - but don't hold your breath as that might not happen for weeks or months after the fact. LOL

 

Harriet

[CruisinHarvey]

Excited for reports on the first 7 day cruise. It will clear up a lot of open questions on dining changes, dailies, shows, and bar entertainment, et all. Finally, get down to normal execution. At least, until they change it again.

[happy cruzin]

excited for reports on the first 7 day cruise. It will clear up a lot of open questions on dining changes, dailies, shows, and bar entertainment, et all. Finally, get down to normal execution. at least, until they change it again.

Exactly!! :eek:

[insidecabin]

To be fair....I have never gotten my food in O'Sheehans any quicker than this either. NCL food service is slow across the board.

 

6&8

 

O'sheehans delays were over an hour sometimes, early breakfast was ok before it got busy.

[eroller]

 

I remember thinking Guys burger joint would be crazy busy after it was added on Carnival ships. Once staff was comfortable, it ran smoothly with high demand... However it had a burrito place and the buffet to spread the demand out for those looking for lunch on the upper decks.

 

.

 

 

 

The big difference here is that Guys is self serve and Margaritaville is full service sit down. The other big difference is that Guys has awesome burgers that are super fresh and the best burgers I've had at sea. Margaritaville not so much. They were really no different than the buffet burgers and in fact the buffet burger probably tasted better. Everyone I was with commented the burgers looked gray. Not very appealing. Frankly I was disappointed in Margaritaville. Nothing special about it, not even the decor.

 

I can say the venue is definitely set up to become a fee-based restaurant in a moments notice should NCL decide to do so. I had to sign a check that showed all the food items I ordered but they had a zero dollar amount next to them. If it becomes a pay venue that will help with crowding and waits, but there is no way I would pay for food there. Nothing special and not worth a charge or the wait.

[LrgPizza]

I can say the venue is definitely set up to become a fee-based restaurant in a moments notice should NCL decide to do so. I had to sign a check that showed all the food items I ordered but they had a zero dollar amount next to them. If it becomes a pay venue that will help with crowding and waits, but there is no way I would pay for food there. Nothing special and not worth a charge or the wait.

 

 

That is so weird. I ate there a total of 11 times: 7 for lunch, once for an afternoon snack, and 3 for breakfast. Never once was I given a ticket to sign, other than for drinks. No food items were ever listed on a ticket any of those 11 times.

[CUontheC]

I am on the phone right now with NCL about the pricing. I have just been told that Margaritaville is free and they serve breakfast and lunch. I was surprised as I thought it would be open all day.

 

I was told Cagney's La Bistro and Cucina are all ala carte unless you order a dining package then you would not be charged anything additional.

 

So if you did not have the package Cagney's would be $25 for surf and turf and prime rib would be $20..this is the example she provided.

 

I also asked about Food Republic pricing and she could provide me with any information. She said you have to wait until you get on the ship.

 

I am very surprised that Margaritaville is only opened for breakfast and lunch. She insisted that is was not open for dinner. When I go to my cruise sight and look up dining it is not listed at all. I leave in 10 days.

 

This is what I was told today....could she be wrong...sure...could it change in a hour sure. But for now this is the info I received

[eroller]

That is so weird. I ate there a total of 11 times: 7 for lunch, once for an afternoon snack, and 3 for breakfast. Never once was I given a ticket to sign, other than for drinks. No food items were ever listed on a ticket any of those 11 times.

 

 

I ate there twice. Both times I received a check to sign that listed all my food items with a zero dollar amount along with any drinks I ordered which did of course have the dollar amount listed. The same is true of the friends I was with. We all commented that we felt NCL was gearing up to charge for the venue.

[KeithJenner]

Perhaps there were two different Norwegian Escapes travelling over last week.

 

The one I was on (along with LrgPizza) didn't have any food slips to sign in Margaritaville.

 

We also ate fairly regularly in o'Sheehans (late breakfast every day plus lunch, dinner or late snack a few times) and never had to wait at all. Service was always pretty standard for o'Sheehans

[NoahtheRed]

Hmmm, a disagreement over observable facts. Only one way to settle this: BATTLEDOME.

 

TWO MEN ENTER, ONE MAN LEAVES. NO MERCY! NO RECIEPTS!

Edited November 11, 2015 by NoahtheRed

[eroller]

Hmmm, a disagreement over observable facts. Only one way to settle this: BATTLEDOME.

 

TWO MEN ENTER, ONE MAN LEAVES. NO MERCY! NO RECIEPTS!

 

 

Love it!

 

I don't disagree that others may or may not have received checks with their food items listed.

 

I can only speak with certainty what I received and those I was dining with. I my case the food items were listed with zero dollar amounts.

[KeithJenner]

I am on the phone right now with NCL about the pricing. I have just been told that Margaritaville is free and they serve breakfast and lunch. I was surprised as I thought it would be open all day.

 

 

 

I was told Cagney's La Bistro and Cucina are all ala carte unless you order a dining package then you would not be charged anything additional.

 

 

 

So if you did not have the package Cagney's would be $25 for surf and turf and prime rib would be $20..this is the example she provided.

 

 

 

I also asked about Food Republic pricing and she could provide me with any information. She said you have to wait until you get on the ship.

 

 

 

I am very surprised that Margaritaville is only opened for breakfast and lunch. She insisted that is was not open for dinner. When I go to my cruise sight and look up dining it is not listed at all. I leave in 10 days.

 

 

 

This is what I was told today....could she be wrong...sure...could it change in a hour sure. But for now this is the info I received

 

 

As far as I'm aware, Margaritaville has only been scheduled to be open for breakfast and lunch. That is how it was last week (except for the days they didn't do breakfast because of the weather -I assume).

 

The info for the a la carte places was how it worked for us.

 

You don't have to wait to see Food Republic prices:

 

[KeithJenner]

I just checked my receipts for Margaritaville. I only have one, where I was charged for 4 beers, as everyone's were charged to my account so they just took one card.

 

The other time, I don't have any receipt at all. I had a drink with me when I went in and my keycard never left my pocket.

[LrgPizza]

 

The one I was on (along with LrgPizza) didn't have any food slips to sign in Margaritaville.

 

And I didn't get punched in the face! :D :D

[KeithJenner]

And I didn't get punched in the face! :D :D

 

 

It was a close run thing. :)

[LrgPizza]

It was a close run thing. :)

 

I wasn't scared. :p

[eroller]

And I didn't get punched in the face! :D :D

 

 

Guess you weren't up late in the Skyline Bar.

[bucade]

We sail out on Jan 30th, hopefully all the kinks will be worked out by then...I do find it a little entertaining that people expect everything to be perfect from the get go regardless if staff came from another ship or not. Let's not forget that this is a brand new ship and I expect for there to be issues for the first few cruises until they hit their stride. Looking forward to a relaxing vacation and if I have to pay $5 cover for the ambiance of Margaritaville, which we don't have here in Kansas...so be it. :D

[SuiteCruiser]

I ate there twice. Both times I received a check to sign that listed all my food items with a zero dollar amount along with any drinks I ordered which did of course have the dollar amount listed. The same is true of the friends I was with. We all commented that we felt NCL was gearing up to charge for the venue.

 

I ate there 4 times as well and the only time I got a check was when I ordered a margarita

[Coastalbreezes]

There was a post from Cruise Critic (the site) as well talking about it.

 

6&8

 

I was the person who first mentioned in my review that Margaritaville would no long be free beginning with the Nov 14th cruise. Was told this by two different crew members, one on the senior level. I was also told by same people that the casino -- or at least a good part of it -- will revert to smoking also beginning on the 14th. I'll be on that cruise and will report back.

 

Tracy

Edited November 11, 2015 by TracyE

[SuiteCruiser]

I had a conversation with one of the dealers about them running out of beer, wine, liquor and limes, etc. One of his best friends is a bartender on Escape and apparently once they arrived in the US every scrap of food, and in some cases beer and wine had to be destroyed along with straws and other items that need to meet with strict US guidelines. Sounds like they underprovisioned on purpose to have less waste.

 

My friend Judy that I travel with is a food scientist with the Canadian Food Inspection Agency and said that it would all have to be incinerated due to the possibility of contamination. Considering you can't bring a lemon into Florida without breaking the law, it all is starting to make sense.