Everything.. ESCAPE (live 29 Oct 2015!)

[bottoms up]

SO MOTLEYFAN!!!!!!!!!!!!!! If you went out today and bought a V8 vehicle and then were told next week the day before you picked it up that it was a V6 and could not get your money back, HOW WOULD YOU FEEL?

[aubreyc1988]

 

6> BTW, I am giving them a pass on the casino mess. It was obviously their clear intention to go non-smoking, so the design was not a build-time issue. It didn't work and while they could have handled the change better (seems to be a theme), there apparently was enough pressure from high rollers and their casino partners that they needed to make the switch back before they could do it properly. The eventual inclusion of a smoking area should help (if they drop that idea, I withdraw this statement entirely).

 

Can someone tell me what the current casino situation is? I was looking forward to a truly non smoking casino section. You can't simply say a "Side" of the casino is non smoking because there are no ashtrays on the machines - the smell of the smoke is EVERYWHERE and you can smell even in LeBistro and other floors on the Getaway. Was hoping the completely separate room would make things a little better.

Edited November 28, 2015 by aubreyc1988

[LoveyHowell]

I think disparity is a bit of an over reaction. That's the thing cruising is optional nobody has to go on a cruise. Just like there are different options on different ships.

 

It just means there is a difference between something. It's not an emotion, or reaction, or really even subjective. Look at A, look at B, measure the difference. that's the disparity.

 

Motley, if I advertised a free bag of popcorn with a movie ticket, and you paid for the movie ticket, and were then charged $5 for the popcorn would you pay for it, or would you say "I was told that was supposed to be included with the ticket price"?

[motleyfan]

SO MOTLEYFAN!!!!!!!!!!!!!! If you went out today and bought a V8 vehicle and then were told next week the day before you picked it up that it was a V6 and could not get your money back, HOW WOULD YOU FEEL?

 

I think is the difference between buying a car and simply going on a vacation. It's a vacation to relax have fun and please don't sweat the small stuff.

[stevehank]

Comparing the change in a restaurant to the purchase of a car? Really? One is something we do several times a month or year and the second is the second most expensive purchase you will most likely make in your life, behind a home. Let's not blow this out of proportion.

 

NCL clearly has not managed the change effectively, but the change has been made and debated to the ends of the earth. Please send an e-mail to management if you do not agree.

 

I for one am looking forward to our Escape cruise in January. Choosing to find a reason to enjoy it, rather than reasons not to...

[LoveyHowell]

I think is the difference between buying a car and simply going on a vacation. It's a vacation to relax have fun and please don't sweat the small stuff.

 

So if you pay for a spa haven suite and you get on the ship and NCL says no access to the spa unless you spend an additional $200, but you don't HAVE to, and there's no refund for the premium you paid for a "spa suite", would you think that is a fair deal and that you got what you had paid for?

 

Yes or not?

[sjnyc323]

Margaritaville now ala carte pricing as of 11/28/15

Edited November 28, 2015 by sjnyc323

[stevehank]

LoveyHowell,

 

If you did not have another spa to go to, yes, you should get a refund. There are other choices. There are other dining alternatives on the ship. You are not making an apples to apple comparison.

 

Also, there is a big difference between $20 and $200.

 

Yes, they screwed up. As popular as the Margaritavilles are on land, they should have made it ala carte from the beginning. Demand in a fixed area was easy to foresee. Their fault is in trying to make in complimentary at the outset and poorly managing expectations.

[motleyfan]

So if you pay for a spa haven suite and you get on the ship and NCL says no access to the spa unless you spend an additional $200, but you don't HAVE to, and there's no refund for the premium you paid for a "spa suite", would you think that is a fair deal and that you got what you had paid for?

 

Yes or not?

 

Now you are just pulling things out of the sky, for example I had a spa Haven suite and the spa was unavailable and they gave me a $100 onboard credit and I was happy with that. I heard some of the people mumbling and groaning about it but I said come on hey it's A extra hundred bucks

[Loonbeam]

That's not an entirely correct analogy, although I get where you are coming from.

 

NCL is obligated by contract to provide certain things. If you book a cabin where Spa access is given, Spa access is required or an acceptable substitute or compensation. It's what is known as a fixed benefit.

 

When it comes to dining, its a bit squishier. NCL is obligated to provide complimentary dining, 3 meals, but what those are is not defined in the T+C, but would be reasonably considered to be a buffet and MDR option capable of servicing all passengers. No one could argue they are not doing that.

 

The M'Ville issue is one of marketing, not obligation. The venue was marketed as complimentary. However, the T+C allows NCL to make any non-substantive (and even some substantive) changes they want without obligation or legal liability, and that certainly applies in this case. A type of cabin is substantive and cannot be changed in this manner.

 

From a marketing/custrel situation the right thing to do would be to backdate the change somehow (logistically this could be done by flagging accounts booked before a certain date and automatically backing out M'Villle charges for example - or even giving a couple of vouchers - the vast majority of people wouldn't eat there more than 3-4 times on a 7 day), but they have chosen not to do that at this point, so the reaction is warranted on an emotional level if not legal.

 

 

 

The

So if you pay for a spa haven suite and you get on the ship and NCL says no access to the spa unless you spend an additional $200, but you don't HAVE to, and there's no refund for the premium you paid for a "spa suite", would you think that is a fair deal and that you got what you had paid for?

 

Yes or not?

[50PlusBrowns]

Does anyone have specific info on the size of the suite and the balcony for aft-facing balcony Category B1 on Decks 9 - 15?

 

I am seeing some info here that the aft-facing balconies may be larger on Deck 9 than some of the other decks above it.

 

Anyone stay in one of these aft-facing B1 balconies and can give me specific square footage for the suite and the actual balcony, please.

 

Thanks

[motleyfan]

Does anyone have specific info on the size of the suite and the balcony for aft-facing balcony Category B1 on Decks 9 - 15?

 

I am seeing some info here that the aft-facing balconies may be larger on Deck 9 than some of the other decks above it.

 

Anyone stay in one of these aft-facing B1 balconies and can give me specific square footage for the suite and the actual balcony, please.

 

Thanks

 

There's a balcony it's big you'll enjoy it.

[happy cruzin]

There's a balcony it's big you'll enjoy it.

Nevermind....deleted

Edited November 28, 2015 by happy cruzin

[aubreyc1988]

I do not know for sure, but I THINK, and someone correct me if I am wrong, some of the deck 9 aft balconies on the Getaway are larger than the other aft balconies. But this is just a guess, and I remember when I was on the Getaway the first time, I was on Deck 8, and I think I remember people telling me Deck 9s were bigger, but I haven't really looked at the deck plans in depth of the Escape and if it's a similar deck plan

Edited November 28, 2015 by aubreyc1988

[kimberja14]

Does anyone have specific info on the size of the suite and the balcony for aft-facing balcony Category B1 on Decks 9 - 15?

 

 

 

I am seeing some info here that the aft-facing balconies may be larger on Deck 9 than some of the other decks above it.

 

 

 

Anyone stay in one of these aft-facing B1 balconies and can give me specific square footage for the suite and the actual balcony, please.

 

 

 

Thanks

 

 

We just got off the Escape...room 9324 aft balcony. I don't have square footage but balcony was huge! Our room steward brought us 2 loungers and there was still plenty of room for the 2 regular chairs and small table. We loved it:-)

[Yorkvillain]

Nevermind....deleted

 

Lol. Smart move.

[hpecorari]

Does anyone have specific info on the size of the suite and the balcony for aft-facing balcony Category B1 on Decks 9 - 15?

 

I am seeing some info here that the aft-facing balconies may be larger on Deck 9 than some of the other decks above it.

 

Anyone stay in one of these aft-facing B1 balconies and can give me specific square footage for the suite and the actual balcony, please.

 

Thanks

 

Okay, not exactly sure about the Escape but on the other 'away' ships; Breakaway and Getaway the B1 Aft Balcony range from a total sq. ft of 250-343. the total inside range from 172-176 sq. ft. and the total sq. ft of the balcony ranges from 55 to 168. Deck 9 is known to be the largest. That's the best I can give you.

 

Harriet

Edited November 28, 2015 by hpecorari

[coach jim]

Does anyone know if they are going through with the smoking/non-smoking dividers in the casino? If so any announcement on when they will be up?

 

Thanks,

 

Coach Jim

[sjbdtz]

So if you pay for a spa haven suite and you get on the ship and NCL says no access to the spa unless you spend an additional $200, but you don't HAVE to, and there's no refund for the premium you paid for a "spa suite", would you think that is a fair deal and that you got what you had paid for?

 

Yes or not?

 

 

That's not what's happening here.

 

 

.

[Dave85]

Well, we ended up switching our May cruise on the Escape to the Breakaway, not really because of this Margaritaville situation, but because I just could not justify spending all of the extra money to fly, stay in a hotel before the cruise, etc., to sail on the Escape over the Breakaway. I'm just not as excited about this ship as I was when I booked her. We liked the Breakaway a lot the first time we sailed on her and she has a number of venues we would have missed on the Escape -- including Bliss, Fat Cats, Uptown, and the Noodle Bar. All of the extra for fee dining on Escape does not do much for me. Frankly, if we didn't have a future cruise certificate to use I would have been very tempted to just return to RCI in May. I expect to have another wonderful cruise on the Breakaway, but I won't be buying anymore of those certificates...

 

Thanks to all of you who have provided excellent information on the Escape. We may consider her in the future after seeing how the product shakes out.

[Yorkvillain]

Well, we ended up switching our May cruise on the Escape to the Breakaway, not really because of this Margaritaville situation, but because I just could not justify spending all of the extra money to fly, stay in a hotel before the cruise, etc., to sail on the Escape over the Breakaway. I'm just not as excited about this ship as I was when I booked her. We liked the Breakaway a lot the first time we sailed on her and she has a number of venues we would have missed on the Escape -- including Bliss, Fat Cats, Uptown, and the Noodle Bar. All of the extra for fee dining on Escape does not do much for me. Frankly, if we didn't have a future cruise certificate to use I would have been very tempted to just return to RCI in May. I expect to have another wonderful cruise on the Breakaway, but I won't be buying anymore of those certificates...

 

Thanks to all of you who have provided excellent information on the Escape. We may consider her in the future after seeing how the product shakes out.

 

Sorry to hear this Dave although you probably made a wise move. All of your points make sense.

[Sand and Seas]

Sorry to hear this Dave although you probably made a wise move. All of your points make sense.

 

Your move from Escape to Breakaway does make sense when you look at it that way. We are too late to change our January cruise on the Escape, but are thinking differently about the next cruise we were booking after that. For us, we have to fly a long way no matter which ship we book on. Still, I think we will go back to Getaway out of Miami. We love the Flamingo Grill and are just not sure if we are as excited about the Escape anymore. I'm sure we will enjoy our January cruise, but we have loved all three of our Getaway cruises and will most likely return to her. We have really enjoyed having a casual place to eat lunch that is NOT the crowded buffet.

[eroller]

Well, we ended up switching our May cruise on the Escape to the Breakaway, not really because of this Margaritaville situation, but because I just could not justify spending all of the extra money to fly, stay in a hotel before the cruise, etc., to sail on the Escape over the Breakaway. I'm just not as excited about this ship as I was when I booked her. We liked the Breakaway a lot the first time we sailed on her and she has a number of venues we would have missed on the Escape -- including Bliss, Fat Cats, Uptown, and the Noodle Bar. All of the extra for fee dining on Escape does not do much for me. Frankly, if we didn't have a future cruise certificate to use I would have been very tempted to just return to RCI in May. I expect to have another wonderful cruise on the Breakaway, but I won't be buying anymore of those certificates...

 

Thanks to all of you who have provided excellent information on the Escape. We may consider her in the future after seeing how the product shakes out.

 

 

While I really liked and enjoyed ESCAPE, given the choice I would pick GETAWAY. I LOVED the GETAWAY. To me the color schemes and ambiance were just superior compared to ESCAPE. I missed Bliss on ESCAPE as well as the Noodle Bar, Wasabi sushi bar, and Ocean Blue on the Waterfront. Also the Sugarcane Bar on GETAWAY is far superior (it's a gift shop on ESCAPE). What is better on ESCAPE? Food Republic is awesome and the fitness center/spa and main pool are improved, but it's not enough for ESCAPE to win out IMO. I'll also take the Flamingo Grill over Margaritaville any day. Add in several hundred less passengers in essentially the same public space plus my favorite hull art, and GETAWAY is the clear winner. I would absolutely sail on ESCAPE again, but all things being equal were I made to choose it would be GETAWAY hands down.

Edited November 29, 2015 by eroller

[Dave85]

Your move from Escape to Breakaway does make sense when you look at it that way. We are too late to change our January cruise on the Escape, but are thinking differently about the next cruise we were booking after that. For us, we have to fly a long way no matter which ship we book on. Still, I think we will go back to Getaway out of Miami. We love the Flamingo Grill and are just not sure if we are as excited about the Escape anymore. I'm sure we will enjoy our January cruise, but we have loved all three of our Getaway cruises and will most likely return to her. We have really enjoyed having a casual place to eat lunch that is NOT the crowded buffet.

 

 

 

While I really liked and enjoyed ESCAPE, given the choice I would pick GETAWAY. I LOVED the GETAWAY. To me the color schemes and ambiance were just superior compared to ESCAPE. I missed Bliss on ESCAPE as well as the Noodle Bar, Wasabi sushi bar, and Ocean Blue on the Waterfront. Also the Sugarcane Bar on GETAWAY is far superior (it's a gift shop on ESCAPE). What is better on ESCAPE? Food Republic is awesome and the fitness center/spa and main pool are improved, but it's not enough for ESCAPE to win out IMO. I'll also take the Flamingo Grill over Margaritaville any day. Add in several hundred less passengers in essentially the same public space plus my favorite hull art, and GETAWAY is the clear winner. I would absolutely sail on ESCAPE again, but all things being equal were I made to choose it would be GETAWAY hands down.

 

 

Sounds like we're all thinking along the same lines. For us here in Brooklyn, we literally walk out of our house and down to the curb, hail a cab, and we're at the Breakaway ~25 minutes later. Hard to beat that!

[LadySpoilt]

Your move from Escape to Breakaway does make sense when you look at it that way. We are too late to change our January cruise on the Escape, but are thinking differently about the next cruise we were booking after that. For us, we have to fly a long way no matter which ship we book on. Still, I think we will go back to Getaway out of Miami. We love the Flamingo Grill and are just not sure if we are as excited about the Escape anymore. I'm sure we will enjoy our January cruise, but we have loved all three of our Getaway cruises and will most likely return to her. We have really enjoyed having a casual place to eat lunch that is NOT the crowded buffet.

 

We are booked on the Getaway this summer as well, however we are strongly considering cancelling it because all the "changes" in the past 6 months. We did enjoy the Flamingo Grill on the Getaway, however I suspect it may too become an ala cart venue by summer.

Edited November 29, 2015 by LadySpoilt