Norwegian Newbie thinking about Escape. Tips?

[Dork42775]

Hi. I am usually a Carnival and Royal cruiser but i am thinking about sailing the Escape next year. Right now they are running a special and i would definitely get the free ultimate drink package. Also included would be free gratuities. I have a few questions though....

 

- Is the specialty dining package recommended? What food or restaurants are included in my cruise price?

- How is the casino? I hear it is very smokey but what cruise casino's aren't? They have a usual texas hold em' game going? Decent table games? Hours?

- I also have heard mention of a beer bar. What are some of the examples of their craft beer?

- What else that is usually included with a Carnival/Royal cruise is not included on the Escape?

 

Any other info would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks!

[blackwing]

The restaurants that are included for free in the cruise price are the three main dining rooms (Taste, Savor, Manhattan). They all serve the same food. There is usually music and dancing in the Manhattan room. The Garden Cafe buffet is of course included. And there is O'Sheehans pub which is free and always open. It serves typical Irish pub food... shepherd's pie, bangers and mash, fish and chips.

 

There are some specialty restaurants. French, Italian, Japanese teppanyaki, Bayamo (Modern Latin cuisine), Steakhouse, and a Brazilian churrascaria. Whether they are worth the extra cost or not depends totally on your palate. There is also the Supper Club, where you can pay extra for a dinner show. As well as a tapas bar and Food Republic, which has Asian cuisine served in small plates.

 

In the free dining rooms, there are items such as lobster that might be free on other cruise lines but have an upcharge here.

 

Plenty of free things to do aboard Escape. If you are a frequenter of the gym, just know that there is no free locker room. You can only use the spa locker room (with showers, whirlpools, steam room etc) if you buy the Spa pass.

[BirdTravels]

Hi. I am usually a Carnival and Royal cruiser but i am thinking about sailing the Escape next year. Right now they are running a special and i would definitely get the free ultimate drink package. Also included would be free gratuities. I have a few questions though....

 

- Is the specialty dining package recommended?

If you book now, NCL is offering a free 3-meal specialty dining package (you can buy additional dining package meals - otherwise restaurants are a la carte).

 

What food or restaurants are included in my cruise price?

Garden Cafe Buffet, O'Sheehans Bar and Grill (pub food 24/7), Main Dining Rooms (Manhattan Room, Taste, Savor),

 

- How is the casino? I hear it is very smokey but what cruise casino's aren't? They have a usual texas hold em' game going? Decent table games? Hours?

The casino is the largest in the fleet. They have non-smoking areas including a non-smoking pit, lots of tables, casino open any time the ship is at sea

 

- I also have heard mention of a beer bar. What are some of the examples of their craft beer?

The District Brew House has over 50 bottled beers and 24 draft beers on tap.

 

The Escape is a great ship with lots of things to do!

[TheDougOut]

 

 

 

 

 

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[Dork42775]

Jesus. I would die if i had unlimited 90 minute. Bye bye liver.

[RPJC]

Hi,

 

Escape is a fabulous ship. Was on same in February and have one suggestion - The Bistro was truly appalling - I mean it was dreadful, food shockingly bad, service horrendous and overall experience was worst ever at sea so avoid at all costs !!!

That said, Escape is my favourite ship with an incredible range of other, fantastic eateries, lots of venues for night time entertainment meaning all tastes are covered and I would strongly suggest you go on Escape.

Don't forget The Waterfront ...... a fantastic place to chill, have dinner etc etc. Enjoy !!!

[blackwing]

Curious about the beer selection menu, in particular, it says that Hoegaarden is from the Phillippines and Carlsberg is from Malawi. I always thought these were Belgian and Danish, respectively. Are the two countries listed just where the bottler is?

[TheDougOut]

Was on same in February and have one suggestion - The Bistro was truly appalling - I mean it was dreadful, food shockingly bad, service horrendous and overall experience was worst ever at sea so avoid at all costs !!!

 

To the OP - I'll go out on a limb and personally guarantee that if you choose to go to Le Bistro, that your experience will exceed what's depicted here. We had a great meal with great service back in February.

[hjcp]

Thanks for the info. We are excited this will be our first cruise, so love reading the forums

 

 

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[Sand and Seas]

We weren't bothered with smoke in the areas we spent time at in the casino. Only notice smoke when we went by the one outdoor bar on the water front where they allow smoke. Easy to avoid for us.

 

We loved our cruise on the Escape. Favorite things that were unique to the Escape: Aqua Racer, District Brewhouse and Food Republic!

[Nola26]

The food served on NCL is good. Utilizing the Specialty restaurants is a personal choice, not a necessity to dine well. I sailed the Getaway last summer and we never set foot in a specialty restaurant and would still rate the meals as very good. The buffet was surprisingly good. Both in quality and variety of foods available at any meal.

 

We'll have a Specialty dining package on the Escape in August, but only because it was offered in the Choose2 promotion. While I'm sure we'll have some enjoyable meals, I lament the lose of the freestyle option for those evenings. I may wait until we are on the trip to make reservations.

 

It's funny that for Disney World trip I'll make meal reservations months in advance, but whine for the NCL cruise. :rolleyes: I guess it's about expectations. For WDW I know you won't get your choice of places if you don't reserve, but on NCL we have good options so no issues missing the Specialties.

[2hearted]

I was on the Escape about a month ago and the best part was the beverage package. Other than that I like Carnival a little better and RCI a lot better. To me the cruise was just ok. I think I was just expecting it to be a lot better. Food was good, entertainment was weak, other than some individuals. I will only sail with them again if they have a can't say no deal. One more thing, which I'm sure you have heard, the pool area is the worst at sea.

 

 

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[RPJC]

To the OP - I'll go out on a limb and personally guarantee that if you choose to go to Le Bistro, that your experience will exceed what's depicted here. We had a great meal with great service back in February.

 

I have to say to TheDougOut - in fairness, The Bistro on NCL ships is normally outstanding, after QSine on Celebrity, our favourite restaurant at sea. Perhaps we just were unlucky the night we went, but other cruisers were also very disappointed & some were actually annoyed. Anyhow, one bad night will not stop us from going to The Bistro again and again. Enjoy !!

[zteamtwo]

Best advice--splurge just a little bit and get a M6 cabin--"Mini Suite with Large Balcony". You will not be sorry. Most balconies have a small table and 2 chairs. M6 cabin has that AND 2 lounge chairs. Only small criticism is that people on higher balconies can look down on a portion of your balcony. The balcony is the place "to be" on a cruise--get the biggest possible. Staying inside the room is like being in any small cramped hotel room.

[asctony]

I have to say to TheDougOut - in fairness, The Bistro on NCL ships is normally outstanding, after QSine on Celebrity, our favourite restaurant at sea. Perhaps we just were unlucky the night we went, but other cruisers were also very disappointed & some were actually annoyed. Anyhow, one bad night will not stop us from going to The Bistro again and again. Enjoy !!

 

As we all know, food is very subjective. We were on the Escape in Feb 2016 and really enjoyed all of the the SRs.

What did you find disappointing about the Bistro?

Our experience with QSine on Celebrity was just the opposite of yours. We found the food to be OK. However, trying to order was a mess with the iPad as many others had the same experience, too. We like the Silk Harvest much better.

[asctony]

The SDP (Dining Package) is the best value as you can use it and get what you want in the SRs without trying to figure out what it will cost you if you went and paid Ala Cart price.

If we don't get it as a perk, we buy the 4 dinner package. JMHO!

[RPJC]

As we all know, food is very subjective. We were on the Escape in Feb 2016 and really enjoyed all of the the SRs.

What did you find disappointing about the Bistro?

Our experience with QSine on Celebrity was just the opposite of yours. We found the food to be OK. However, trying to order was a mess with the iPad as many others had the same experience, too. We like the Silk Harvest much better.

 

I fully agree re all other SR's on Escape, we fully enjoyed and love all on offer and have to say that all food venues offers great fare with fantastic choice and ranges of options. As for Le Bistro, I am not a complainer or moaner, I just passed a comment re 'our' night. I clarified that we always have and always will eat at Le Bistro. However on this occasion and having been asked for specifics ..... We arrived at the booked time to be seated at a table that had not been reset after previous guests. In fact their used, dirty cutlery was still on the table which was cleaned around us as we read the menu. When our starters arrived, my partners was cold to the point of freezing. The waiter removed same but left mine as is. A top restaurant will remove both starters so that the diners may eat together. Alas, the same happened with the mains when the wrong main arrived for me. I would have happily eaten same but for food allergies. Again, my main was removed but my partners was not resulting in each of us eating dinner while the other looked on. The most frustrating thing - no apology at any time throughout the night - nothing and that's what really annoyed me most. We are a chilled out couple, on vacation and fully aware that things go astray every so often, we're all human, but no apology or any thing remotely close to same really disappointed us. I suppose we have been spoilt on Epic and Jade and saying that, on Getaway the following week, thankfully normal top class service was restored so all good in the end. There are times when everything works out great and times when everything goes wrong - alas the latter was the case that night. I restate however, Le Bistro is a great restaurant, I would just reserve this high accolade for Escape's - at least for now - that is until re cruise Escaoe again.

[asctony]

I fully agree re all other SR's on Escape, we fully enjoyed and love all on offer and have to say that all food venues offers great fare with fantastic choice and ranges of options. As for Le Bistro, I am not a complainer or moaner, I just passed a comment re 'our' night. I clarified that we always have and always will eat at Le Bistro. However on this occasion and having been asked for specifics ..... We arrived at the booked time to be seated at a table that had not been reset after previous guests. In fact their used, dirty cutlery was still on the table which was cleaned around us as we read the menu. When our starters arrived, my partners was cold to the point of freezing. The waiter removed same but left mine as is. A top restaurant will remove both starters so that the diners may eat together. Alas, the same happened with the mains when the wrong main arrived for me. I would have happily eaten same but for food allergies. Again, my main was removed but my partners was not resulting in each of us eating dinner while the other looked on. The most frustrating thing - no apology at any time throughout the night - nothing and that's what really annoyed me most. We are a chilled out couple, on vacation and fully aware that things go astray every so often, we're all human, but no apology or any thing remotely close to same really disappointed us. I suppose we have been spoilt on Epic and Jade and saying that, on Getaway the following week, thankfully normal top class service was restored so all good in the end. There are times when everything works out great and times when everything goes wrong - alas the latter was the case that night. I restate however, Le Bistro is a great restaurant, I would just reserve this high accolade for Escape's - at least for now - that is until re cruise Escaoe again.

 

Thank you for taking the time to clarify. I must agree with you. Did you bring this to the attention of the Dining Room Manager? That is something that should be immediately surfaced to ensure that it does not happen again. That is not a complaint, but a valid turn-off. They should have never seated you at that table until it was completely setup.

Hope you and everyone else doesn't experience this on any ship.