Escape Departure time changed

[LMaxwell]

changed her scheduled Miami departure time from 4:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. This change will allow guests later flight options for arriving in Miami.

 

6PM muster drill; race for restaurants during sailaway?

[Hendricks Clan]

Heres the e-mail I got:

 

Dear Randy :

 

 

IMPORTANT: ITINERARY CHANGE INFORMATION

 

In an effort to allow more guests the opportunity to sail Norwegian Escape's 7-Day Eastern Caribbean itineraries from Miami, we have changed her scheduled Miami departure time from 4:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. This change will allow guests later flight options for arriving in Miami and will apply to all 7-Day Eastern Caribbean sailings from May 7 - December 31, 2016. Guests continue to be invited to board the ship at their regularly scheduled times and begin enjoying all the exciting amenities Norwegian Escape has to offer.

Edited March 1, 2016 by Hendricks Clan

[Zena2005]

6PM muster drill; race for restaurants during sailaway?

 

Exactly! I can see this being a train wreck. Muster at 6:00pm after the booze has been flowing since 11:30?

 

We have 7:00 PM reservations for Bayamo. Can't wait to see how this plays out.

[klepton]

Exactly! I can see this being a train wreck. Muster at 6:00pm after the booze has been flowing since 11:30?

 

We have 7:00 PM reservations for Bayamo. Can't wait to see how this plays out.

 

While it's not ideal, this change doesn't impact me all that much. In fact my friends who are cruising with us might decide to fly in on Saturday now instead of Friday.

 

I feel bad for those who already made reservations though, those with May sailings. Mine is far enough out that I can adequately plan for it.

 

On the bright side, I've never done an after dark sailaway from Miami, so I have that to look forward to.

[Zena2005]

 

I feel bad for those who already made reservations though, those with May sailings. Mine is far enough out that I can adequately plan for it.

 

On the bright side, I've never done an after dark sailaway from Miami, so I have that to look forward to.

 

We are on the May 14th sailing so that only leaves NCL 1 shot at the adjustment before our trip. Hopefully they have a plan to deal with the open ended issues of the muster drill and the extended arrival times. Otherwise we'll still be part of the "work in progress".

 

We typically fly out the same day on a 5:30-6:00 am flight out of Chicago which gives us plenty of time to get on board for a 4:00 pm departure. Personally I think this change is "bottom line" driven to ensure closer to max capacity sailings.

 

I do agree it will be different leaving at 7:00. Hopefully we can dine on the waterfront; that may be pretty cool as you leave Miami in the evening.

Edited March 1, 2016 by Zena2005

[LrgPizza]

A lot of parents will be standing in the line to check their kids in to the kids clubs when the ship sails. Others will be sitting at dinner. Others will be seated waiting for a show to start. I'm thinking the sailaway party might be a lonely place.

[beerman2]

Just called NCL to make a payment. The new itinerary at bottom of confirmation now shows the 7 P.M. Departure time.

 

It will definately affect Dining and shows. We may be in the minority but if Will Not affect us. We will just roll with it. Not going to let it ruin the cruise.

 

Not exactly sure how it will enhance NCL profit as it will be loosing 3 HOURS in the Casino, which I believe is the 2nd biggest money maker.

[buckeyefrank]

I just downloaded the eDocs for our May trip.

Under Cruise Itinerary it states a 4PM departure, however, under Boarding Process it states: Boarding begins 12PM & Departure is listed as 7PM.

 

My boarding docs for May say 7pm departure as well.

[hpecorari]

I just heard the Escape has changed its departure time from 4pm to 7pm all sailings May-December this year, anyone know why?

 

Thanks

 

Matt

 

Nope, don't know why. However, one thing I do know.....

 

Florida will be making out on this change. State tax for every drink while in Miami and if they're no longer sailing at 4 but instead now at 7 p.m. - that gives Florida 3 more hours to get everyone's tax money on the drinks they'll be consuming during those extra 3 hours! That's going to really add up, I'm sure.

 

Harriet

[bruadhin]

Just called NCL to make a payment. The new itinerary at bottom of confirmation now shows the 7 P.M. Departure time.

 

It will definately affect Dining and shows. We may be in the minority but if Will Not affect us. We will just roll with it. Not going to let it ruin the cruise.

 

Not exactly sure how it will enhance NCL profit as it will be loosing 3 HOURS in the Casino, which I believe is the 2nd biggest money maker.

 

If I had to guess, I would say it has something to do with flight times. Where they were flying people in from there may have been a lot of missed connections, delayed flights, etc. so a lot of people were missing the ship. If using air through NCL, that meant flying a lot of people to the next port to catch the ship. Also if they had insurance through NCL, they may have been getting heat from the insurance carrier over it.

 

I would agree with a lot of posters, it is going to be chaos for the first few sailings. It will throw off muster drill, dining, checking kids into the kid's club, the sailaway party, the casino, etc. And yes, Florida and Miami stand to profit handsomely from the extra tax on drinks. Also, depending on when dinner starts, they may even have to collect tax on for fee dining.

[buckeyefrank]

If I had to guess, I would say it has something to do with flight times. Where they were flying people in from there may have been a lot of missed connections, delayed flights, etc. so a lot of people were missing the ship. If using air through NCL, that meant flying a lot of people to the next port to catch the ship. Also if they had insurance through NCL, they may have been getting heat from the insurance carrier over it.

 

I would agree with a lot of posters, it is going to be chaos for the first few sailings. It will throw off muster drill, dining, checking kids into the kid's club, the sailaway party, the casino, etc. And yes, Florida and Miami stand to profit handsomely from the extra tax on drinks. Also, depending on when dinner starts, they may even have to collect tax on for fee dining.

 

I'm going to guess there are a lot of international travelers booking on the Escape and a lot of those flights are overnight. This is kind of frustrating to me because we have dinner reservations at 5:30. I'm hoping the muster is performed at 5, not 6 and the late arrivals go to a separate one.

[LrgPizza]

[Teends]

Cool. I hope it's dark when we leave.

 

Night falls around 8:15-8:30 in Florida at that time of May. It's definitely NOT gonna be dark when you leave. I like to see all the Miami mansions and beach goers when we leave from there so curious as to why you hope it's dark.

Edited March 9, 2016 by Teends

[Vortech]

Nope, don't know why. However, one thing I do know.....

 

Florida will be making out on this change. State tax for every drink while in Miami and if they're no longer sailing at 4 but instead now at 7 p.m. - that gives Florida 3 more hours to get everyone's tax money on the drinks they'll be consuming during those extra 3 hours! That's going to really add up, I'm sure.

 

Harriet

 

I'm sure it won't be anywhere near as much as they loose on the Room (hotel) taxes for people who no longer need to fly in the day before to feel sure of making it on board in time. Those Hotel Taxes are where FL makes a lot of it's revenue.

[LrgPizza]

Night falls around 8:15-8:30 in Florida at that time of May. It's definitely NOT gonna be dark when you leave. I like to see all the Miami mansions and beach goers when we leave from there so curious as to why you hope it's dark.

 

 

I even get up in the wee hours of the morning when returning to port of Miami at the end of a cruise because I like seeing the lights. It's lovely at night. But alas, sunset is 8:02 that evening, so while still lovely, it won't yet be completely dark.

 

 

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[Teends]

I even get up in the wee hours of the morning when returning to port of Miami at the end of a cruise because I like seeing the lights. It's lovely at night. But alas, sunset is 8:02 that evening, so while still lovely, it won't yet be completely dark.

 

Jeez, just seeing your comments about the last day of a cruise made me sick to my stomach. I wish I could cruise 6 times a year, that would help my "last day of the cruise" blues...

[LrgPizza]

Jeez, just seeing your comments about the last day of a cruise made me sick to my stomach. I wish I could cruise 6 times a year, that would help my "last day of the cruise" blues...

 

Haha. I know what you mean.

 

 

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