Just back from Escape. ?'s welcome

[dna529]

Is anything open at the new pier in Tortola yet?

[iriefeeln]

Ill be on the escape in a few months. Can you please send that horseshoe or 4 leaf clover my way[emoji12]. Questions about Food Republic? Are they open for lunch or just dinner? What are some of the highlights that's a must try? Thanks in advance for info.

 

 

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Food republic is open for lunch and dinner. The times vary so make sure you check the freestyle dailies.

 

The sliders , Buffalo shrimp, Korean wings and bulgogi Korean tacos were all amazing . For dessert I had this hot banana cinnamon bun concoction that was out of this world (even when i ate at the specialty dining restaurants I still went back for this dessert on a few occasions) a chocolate/green tea mouse that was amazing as well.

[Warm-Water Diver]

Is anything open at the new pier in Tortola yet?

 

There's a few shops open in the main building. Nothing to remark about. The rest is still under construction. Funny the signs say opening 2015. There's only about a week left! They aren't going to make that date :D

 

Oh and recommendations for Food Republic. As mentioned all of the tacos are awesome including the Bulgogi tacos. My personal favorites were the Rock Shrimp Pad Thai and sliders. Out of this world! And another vote for the chocolate/green tea mousse.

 

So onto our exursions from the Escape:

 

ST THOMAS: as customary we rented a small compact from Budget for $57 with taxes (insured through our credit card and home insurance carrier). Note that they have moved from the old location which was at the end of the shops near Al Cohen market. They are now located right at the cruise terminal next to Senor Frogs (bonus - closer!). So off we went around the east end and went to our favorite snorkeling beach, Sapphire. I recommned this beach for sunbathing and/or snorkeling verus Coki for 2 reasons. 1) much safer than the Coki area. 2) much less traveled and more pristine IMHO. Note the chair rentals have gone up to $9 each from $6 a few years ago. Had a few beers from the local dive shop for $3 each and a Painkiller from a local shack serving sandwiches including the famous Mahi Mahi. Son and I had GOPRO and fed the fishes some fruit loops. Lots of Jacks, Parrot Fishes, basslets, tangs etc. Awesome snorkeling day.

 

On the way back visited the Tap & Still after reading great reviews (in Red Hook on way back). My opinion, if you're looking for a great pub with the best burgers and cheapest drinks this is a MUST STOP. Right on the water front with a view of the Red Hook Harbor. Wife and son said it was the best burger they've had anywhere period! You can order cheeseburgers, patty melts etc. and customize anyway you want including 1 2 or 3 beef patties. $4 Bulleit's all day long and Happy Hour starting at 3pm. I could have stayed the entire day in that bar. Oh and cute waitresses :)

 

TORTOLA: been here many times and never did the Bath's due to wife's back surgeries. Well we opted to finally cross of the bucket list and so glad we did. Totally enjoyed the scenic paths and formations etc. We started out to the right (as suggested) and rented locker at bottom just before entering the baths. NOTE: if you're going to rent locker know that once you go through the baths, you have to go all the way back through the boulders to get back to your locker to get your stuff. OR...... you can head out toward the right after Devil's Bay (end of the Bath's) and go around the loop (think doing big circle back to top where you started. Kind of long way back and not as scenic as going down from the start. So we eventually (15 minute walk) got back to the top of the mountain. THEN... we son and I had to walk back down the path (to the right) to get to the bottom to retrieve our belongins from the locker and walk back up the path. Got my steps in that day, but seriously an awesome experience if you have never done the BATHS. Highly recommended.

 

NASSAU: we done many things here as well including Atlantis and the Frommer's walking tour (highly recommended if you haven't already done). Decided to just head out we hit McDonalds for free wifi and to check email, send pics, Facebook update (wife) etc etc. After that we rounded the corner and hit Junkanoo beach which was rocking. Literally. Fat Tuesday is right on the corner and had a DJ etc. Had some drinks and another burger (in no way will I even dare to compare to the burgers from Tap & Still). Still a good visit and we walked back to the square to do some shopping and head back to the ship

[dolita22]

Not sure if you visited the main dining rooms, Savor and Taste - but - if you did, what's the difference in the two? Thank you!!

 

I'm not the OP, but sailed the Escape in November on the 3-day (and will be sailing again in January!). I can answer your question, since besides Margaritaville, we only ate in the MDRs on the 3-day.

 

There is no difference in the menus between Taste, Savor and the Manhattan room. The only difference we noticed was size of the rooms - Manhattan is the largest and busiest, while Taste and Savor are smaller and quieter, which we enjoyed. There is also a live band that plays in the Manhattan room, but not one in Taste or Savor. That was all we noticed as far as differences.

 

Hope that helps! Now, back to the OP's review.

[jewliana]

I heard the burgers in O'Sheehans on The Escape are very good. I am wondering if anyone tried them:?

[wrcjr98]

I'm not the OP, but sailed the Escape in November on the 3-day (and will be sailing again in January!). I can answer your question, since besides Margaritaville, we only ate in the MDRs on the 3-day.

 

There is no difference in the menus between Taste, Savor and the Manhattan room. The only difference we noticed was size of the rooms - Manhattan is the largest and busiest, while Taste and Savor are smaller and quieter, which we enjoyed. There is also a live band that plays in the Manhattan room, but not one in Taste or Savor. That was all we noticed as far as differences.

 

Hope that helps! Now, back to the OP's review.

 

Thank's for the info - that is exactly what I was wondering!!!

[Warm-Water Diver]

I heard the burgers in O'Sheehans on The Escape are very good. I am wondering if anyone tried them:?

 

Sad to say but with the SDP and Platinum Dinners and Food Republic, I never ate at O'Sheehans. I did however have multiple drinks while playing pool and bowling :D

[helen haywood]

I haven't sailed on Escape yet (next month!) but my husband had several hamburgers from O'Sheehans on Getaway and they were great! Cooked to order and rare (shudder) like he ordered them...

[john kaz]

Entertainment: How and when can I book shows. We sail (17 of us) in April. How many people can I make reservations for?

 

Food: I was told by NCL special events I cannot make reservations for MDR dinners at this time for a large group other that at 5:30 or 9:30. Neither work. Can I make reservations for say 8 people when the sailing gets closer?

 

Can anyone give me NCL thoughts on letting my wife and I purchase alcoholic drinks, soda, 24/7, but not be able to have a fresh squeezed juice or bottled water without paying for it???? thanks, John

[MMR555]

Not sure if you visited the main dining rooms, Savor and Taste - but - if you did, what's the difference in the two? Thank you!!

 

Different decor but same menus. We ate in both and thought the food was excellent. They have some entrees that were the same all week and had a few new selections each day.

[pambo]

My husband and I were also on the December 12 sailing. We have to agree that the entertainment is 5 star! We totally enjoyed all three of the major production shows. Off the Record was my absolute favorite and my husbands was After Midnight.

 

Regarding Food Republic....yes it is a MUST! We ate there three times during the week - twice for lunch and once for dinner. We never made a reservation and never had an issue getting a table right away. Give it a try - you won't regret it. Pork belly and scallion potstickers...yum!

 

OK - back to the OP's review....just had to add my 2 cents.

 

Hope everyone has a wonderful holiday!

[newcruzrs4]

We were also on the December 12 sailing. Agree with the comments on the shows (all excellent). We also enjoyed Food Republic. Another great addition is the District Brewhouse, near Food Republic. We caught a football game there and heard the piano player who plays there is very good. Great selection of beers on tap (about 24) with many more choices in bottles. I believe everything was fully covered by the UBP except the 24 ounce Chimay bottles which cost about $5 extra. Ship is beautiful and we had great and friendly service as we have always found on NCL. We would highly recommend the Cruise Critic meet and greet. Members from a number of departments mingled with the guests before the heads of departments were introduced. Sean, the Hotel Director (who we first met a year ago on the Getaway) is very personable and we found the meet and greets on his ships to be outstanding.

[excitedtocruise]

John Kaz....

 

We will be traveling with 12 next week, and made our reservations through the special events coordinator because this is what we ran into....when we try to book 8 at a specific time then go to another reservations (myncl) and do 8 for the exact same restaurant at exactly the same time, we could not because that time was full.....Then we had to cancel the other reservation and try a different time. It really was time consuming and it never did work. So we just took the 5:30 p.m. reservations for the restaurants. I know it is not the most convenient time, but we will make try to make it work. Have a great cruise.

[akbrown1972]

Hi..can somebody tell me what happens at a Meet and Greet?

[newcruzrs4]

A meet and greet gives cruise critic members an opportunity to get together and meet fellow cruisers as well as key members of ship management (hotel director, cruise director, food and beverage manager, housekeeping manager, etc.). If you look at the Roll Call section of The Cruise Critic site, you can find a thread for the particular ship and sailing you are on. It gives cruisers an opportunity to talk about their upcoming voyage, ask questions (about the ship, hotels, potential excursions etc.), coordinate, and get to know each other beforehand. Once there is a critical mass interested in attending a meet and greet, one of the participants will volunteer to contact NCL to organize the meet and greet. In my experience, it has usually been held at 11 am on the first sea day in a restaurant (such as Cagneys). NCL will provide refreshments and, after a brief with, key staff members are introduced by the captain, hotel director or cruise director. There may be an opportunity to ask questions. Ship management hands out a contact list with on board phone extensions so that if you have any issues, they can be rectified while you are on board. That is far preferable to the cruise line to passengers complaining after the cruise about items that could have been handled on board.

 

It is also an opportunity to mingle with fellow attendees. Sometimes the organizers on your roll call will organize an ice breaker or optional grab bag with gifts representing your home state as part of the meet and greet.Other optional typically organized by volunteers are a slot pull where a group pools their $ (perhaps $20 each) and uses the wheel of fortune slot in the casino, with prizes for highest scorers and a division of the proceeds once everyone has finished pulling. This may be right after the meet and greet or at a different time. Another typical activity is a cabin crawl, where members of the Roll Call volunteer to show their cabin type to the group of cabin crawlers.

 

On some of the larger ships, well over 100 people may sign up for the meet and greet on the roll call.

[newcruzrs4]

The best meet and greets we have attended were on the Getaway a year ago and the Escape this month. Sean Wurmhoeringer was the Hotel Director on both. As is usual for NCL, the HD, Asst Hotel Director, Food & Beverage Director, Executive Housekeeper, Cruise Director, Guest Services Manager, Executive Chef, Restaurant Manager and Beverage Manager were introduced. It's nice to be able to recognize these members of senior management who regularly circulate throughout the ship, making sure services are up to standard.

 

Sean's meet and greets have featured additional members of ship management (such as the next level of management and maitre d's) circulating among the guests and chatting for perhaps 15 minutes at the start of the meet and greet. If there are questions or comments, they take notes and follow up. It has been nice for us to meet a restaurant maitre d and then dine in their restaurant during the cruise and be remembered.

[akbrown1972]

Perfect. ..Thanks so much for that..much appreciated. .

 

Off to my Roll Call.