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Everything.. ESCAPE (live 29 Oct 2015!)

FreestyleNovice

By FreestyleNovice,
in Norwegian Cruise Line

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eroller Great Review Rare

eroller

Posted
Posted
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

 

 

Tracy if I were a betting man I would put my $$ on you. I also think Margaritaville will become a pay venue, and judging by my receipts from there it's already set up to start charging. I would say a la carte instead of a flat cover charge since my receipt showed each individual item. Of course that can always be changed with some simple programming.

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KeithJenner "Live from...." Rare

KeithJenner

Posted
Posted
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.

 

 

The only problem with that theory is that NCL do a number of transatlantics each year and I've never heard of similar shortages on those.

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NoahtheRed

NoahtheRed

Posted
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The only problem with that theory is that NCL do a number of transatlantics each year and I've never heard of similar shortages on those.

 

It could have also just been the difficult of getting certain beers in large enough quantities over there. Wasn't it primarily american brews that were running out?

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LrgPizza

LrgPizza

Posted
Posted (edited)
It could have also just been the difficult of getting certain beers in large enough quantities over there. Wasn't it primarily american brews that were running out?

 

All the Florida beers were out. I was told by a bartender something-er-other about import/export, Florida charges, etc. They purposely limited the amount of those brews they sent, since it was going to be ridiculously expensive considering they were about to head to Florida anyway where they could avoid all the costs.

 

(Now whether or not this is fact, who knows. Everyone seems to have heard something different. All I know is that after several brews, it sounded perfectly logical. :D )

Edited by LrgPizza
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SuiteCruiser

SuiteCruiser

Posted
Posted
The only problem with that theory is that NCL do a number of transatlantics each year and I've never heard of similar shortages on those.

 

Apparently the same thing happens on the way back, but the booze isn't such a factor as the food.

 

The new venues they likely underestimated, but apparently on the Breakaway TA over they ran out of lots of things too.

 

they didn't stock any Sauvignon Blanc on the way over, as we tried to order it at lunch on boarding and they had none.

 

It certainly doesn't answer all of the shortfalls, but perhaps some of them.

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NoahtheRed

NoahtheRed

Posted
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I makes sense, really. They basically just needed enough supplies to make it from the UK to florida without a passenger mutiny. I can't imagine how annoying it must be to try and sell american craft beer on a cruise ship, too. If you've got Dave's brewery in downtown Miami and you want it on your cruise ship, you have to first of course strike the marketing deal with Dave's Brewery....then get your account and logistics set up with their distributor (who also wants money)....and customs/ATF/whatever likely wants to be involved since this is international. I did some promotional work for a bourbon distiller and got to chatting about this topic (in reference to them selling it on cruise ships).....yeah, the hoops that everyone has to jump through to appease the tax man is crazy.

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KeithJenner "Live from...." Rare

KeithJenner

Posted
Posted (edited)
It could have also just been the difficult of getting certain beers in large enough quantities over there. Wasn't it primarily american brews that were running out?

 

 

I can understand the issues with some of the beers, but they were out of a lot of wines as well (ones that NCL sell on other ships in Europe).

Edited by KeithJenner
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Loonbeam

Loonbeam

Posted
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Have to wonder if a ton of people being on the UBP played havoc with their projections as well. Add in it being a new ship with new venues, etc and they basically were guessing how much they need, and with transport costs and limited storage space probably guessed conservatively.

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NoahtheRed

NoahtheRed

Posted
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I can understand the issues with some of the beers, but they were out of a lot of wines as well (ones that NCL sell on other ships in Europe).

 

Well, either way, here's hoping they get their act together. If FDR wants to make a big deal out of being a higher brow experience than NCL of years past, he needs to be sure those supply manifests are nice and fat. The biggest ship in the fleet shouldn't have shortages :P

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gddeluca

gddeluca

Posted
Posted

While I understand the possible need for fresh food to be eliminated, there was no excuse for the liquor/wine shortages. I drink Stingers, and I'd guess half the bars didn't have the needed liquors. Also, the Italian Prosecco was spotty in availability and non-existent the last three days. By the last two days, you couldn't get a glass of ANY champagne, from ANY country. By the last day you couldn't even get a glass of Sauvignon Blanc. What's the point of an UBP if you can't get the drink you want?

 

No way I can believe food regulations explain the wine shortage, that's simply shoddy planning on NCL's part.

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mbmorri

mbmorri

Posted
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OK everyone we are on the ship on the 14 November 2015.

 

I promise the minute I get back, I will post everything that is going on.

 

I know that it drives everyone a little crazy, cause it does me.

 

All of you on the TA gave us so much info, I just want to pass on what I find out to those who are sailing after me.

 

Is there anything else that someone would like to know?

 

The last time I will most likely be on is Fri AM or early PM.

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NoahtheRed

NoahtheRed

Posted
Posted
OK everyone we are on the ship on the 14 November 2015.

 

I promise the minute I get back, I will post everything that is going on.

 

I know that it drives everyone a little crazy, cause it does me.

 

All of you on the TA gave us so much info, I just want to pass on what I find out to those who are sailing after me.

 

Is there anything else that someone would like to know?

 

The last time I will most likely be on is Fri AM or early PM.

 

Status of whether Margaritaville is complimentary or cover charge.

Status of whether District is included or not included in UBP

Status of smoking onboard, particularly in reference to the casino area.

Status of the Thermal Spa (apparently parts of it are still being worked on?)

How well stocked are the bars? Are there unforseen shortages of things you shouldn't run out of?

Wait times for restaurants, both to be seated and to get your meal.

Pictures of the tap/bottle list at District

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TifffanyD

TifffanyD

Posted
Posted
OK everyone we are on the ship on the 14 November 2015.

 

I promise the minute I get back, I will post everything that is going on.

 

I know that it drives everyone a little crazy, cause it does me.

 

All of you on the TA gave us so much info, I just want to pass on what I find out to those who are sailing after me.

 

Is there anything else that someone would like to know?

 

The last time I will most likely be on is Fri AM or early PM.

 

I'd like to know the times & dates for Howl at the Moon.

 

Also, which nights have parties and/or themes.

 

Thank you!

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CUontheC

CUontheC

Posted
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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:

 

 

You are awesome with the Food Republic Menu...thank you thank you!!!!!

 

Mary

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Sfdtiller

Sfdtiller

Posted
Posted
OK everyone we are on the ship on the 14 November 2015.

 

I promise the minute I get back, I will post everything that is going on.

 

I know that it drives everyone a little crazy, cause it does me.

 

All of you on the TA gave us so much info, I just want to pass on what I find out to those who are sailing after me.

 

Is there anything else that someone would like to know?

 

The last time I will most likely be on is Fri AM or early PM.

 

Along with the other list, if you do a cabin crawl and can get pics of as many aft cabins as possible it would be great. We have on on 12 right now but really want to have the biggest possible along with everyone else!!

Thanks

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