JW and Jerome's Adventure on The Norwegian Escape

[cruiseguys2009]

Jerome and I deeply apologize for the delay in posting. With the horrific and confusing world events this past week overshadowing virtually all of our lives, it has been difficult to write and be funny. Forgive us for taking a break, but I will return today, with my Casino adventure. I just need a couple of martini's to motivate me, should have those under my belt by 11 am this morning :D

[cruiseguys2009]

Thank you for making it so entertaining to read. I love the cube idea for storage.

 

I am going to be on the same ship end of this year with my boys and love the cube idea in the closet. Can you tell me how big they are? It will be our first cruise as the family together.

 

 

With regards to the cubes:

 

Ours were purchased a couple of years ago at Target, and they were about $8.00 a pair at that time. The cubes are 12 x 12, and we also have an 8 x 8 that we each keep on our respective nightstands. The shoe rack was also around $10 and collapses down.

 

Now, this past weekend, Jerome and I were in Family Dollar and I found cubes, 12 x 12 in packs of 3 for only $6.00. Really neat, and less weight than my originals (for those of you concerned about flying and suitcase weight).

 

The cubes make a wonderful organizational addition to a room with no drawers and virtually no storage.

 

Our friends also take these cool things that organize in their suitcase called packing cubes, and they sit on the shelves of the closet. They just pull them out of their suitcase already packed and clothes separated, and place them on the shelf for instant organization and space saving. Ingenious!

 

Here is the link to the packing cubes, they are expensive to me, but still really neat.

 

http://www.ebags.com/product/ebags/ultralight-packing-cubes-super-packer-5pc-set/309406?productid=10408193&CAWELAID=120011660001618503&sourceid=MSNKPRODLU&couponid=94790994&utm_source=bing&utm_medium=cpc&utm_campaign=Shopping%20-%20Travel%20Accessories%20-%20Adaptive

Edited July 12, 2016 by cruiseguys2009

[LrgPizza]

Jerome and I deeply apologize for the delay in posting. With the horrific and confusing world events this past week overshadowing virtually all of our lives, it has been difficult to write and be funny. Forgive us for taking a break, but I will return today, with my Casino adventure. I just need a couple of martini's to motivate me, should have those under my belt by 11 am this morning :D

 

We need happy and funny now more than ever. Looking forward to the rest of your review! Thank you for taking and making the time. :)

[cruiseguys2009]

St Maarten, St Thomas, Tortola and Nassau, a short run down of some fun things to do.

 

In St Maarten, we usually just walk to town from the ship, it will be scathingly hot in the summer months of June, July and August, and once in town (15 minute walk), we do our traditional shopping at Lipstick for Men's Fragrance (Absolutely the best prices for over 20 years). There are other fragrance shops, but Lipstick we highly recommend. After doing the boardwalk, stopping for a Bloody Mary and free wifi at the Holland House Hotel (right on Grand Bay overlooking the ships) we will then head over via taxi, to Maho Beach and the Sunset Bar and Grill to watch the jets come in. This bores Jerome to no end, as he has flown into Princess Juliana International dozens and dozens of times, but I still enjoy watching. We will have a great burger and libations there and return back to Phillipsburg (town).

 

Once back in town we will then head over to the famous Blue Bitch Bar on the boardwalk, and get "Bitch-Slapped" (their lethal concoction of a shot) but mindful to only have one, as two will be scary. Remember I told you that with one tequila I am fine, two I am naked? Well a couple of years ago, after three, I mooned the entire restaurant as we left, right on the Boardwalk.

 

If you are looking for a quick, close to the ship, beach escape on your own, then take the special water taxi from the port to town, (or just walk to town) and on the boardwalk at Grand Bay, you will find a plethora of vendors that offer a variety of deals for beach access. $20 for two usually is the going rate, and gets a bucket of select beverages (beer and sodas), two chaise loungers, an umbrella and a bathroom pass. (Bathrooms are for restaurant/hotel patrons only and are monitored, public bathrooms charge for use) It's weird. However, we have found that the chaise loungers at The Holland House are the best (you can't miss the hotel, it is located right next to the Catholic Church on the boardwalk), a bit more expensive, but they have cocktail and lunch service on the beach, the chaise loungers are padded, are larger and more comfortable plus there is free wifi. The bathroom is very nice as well. It's lovely. Plus all the shops are right there too.

 

The water taxi has been a low of $8 to a high of $12 (depending on season? No rhyme or reason for the variance) per person, offers round trip service to and from the port, and lands directly in the middle of town.

 

In St Thomas, our best excursion ever is The Simplicity Private Sailing Yacht, simplicity charters, but because of Hurricane season, she is not in the waters of St Thomas in July thru October. If you go to St Thomas in Season (Nov-June), keep this in mind. The yacht only takes 6 passengers, and for $150 per person plus 20% gratuity, there is an open bar all day (all I can drink!), a wonderful prepared bar-b-cued luncheon and a sail/snorkel to St John, far away from the "Cattle-Morons" packed with 180 folks each. There is nothing like sailing to a private beach for a couple of hours, then enjoy a special snorkel to a reef or two, then have a tasty home style lunch and drink, drink, drink all the way back to port. A 15 minute Taxi ride to Red Hook, where the yacht sails from, is only $10 per person on one of the open air jitney transports located at the port and the Simplicity will arrange a taxi back to the ship. The Simplicity sailing yacht charter books up to a year in advance, so make reservations early. We are booked on it again in November. I truly Love this excursion and on our recommendation, hundreds have made her one of the Top 5 Excursions in St Thomas on Tripadvisor. Trust Auntie JW. We were on her six years ago and have tried and tried and tried to rebook and it was always sold out. We were fortunate, at the last minute, to have been able to get on the last sailing of the season! Love the Simplicity!

 

JW and Jerome on The Simplicity Sailing Yacht baking in the wonderful Caribbean sun off the coast of St John.

 

Jerome with Admiral Hinckley, our ship's mascot. Overlooking St John.

 

JW and Jerome with Admiral Hinckley.

 

 

"Is there any food left for me?", says Admiral Hinckley

 

 

Looking straight ahead, is our private, white sand, beach. We stayed there for a couple of hours and had the best, most relaxing time ever!

 

 

Also in St Thomas:

 

We have been on the sky ride to Paradise Point, and once up there, everyone must try their famous cocktail The Bushwacker (I call it The Tallywacker because Auntie JW doesn't do no Bush). The Bushwacker was invented here. One of those and you will want another. It's like a chocolate milkshake made with 9 different alcohols and as it's a frozen drink, really refreshingly yummy on a hot August day on the top of a mountainside.

 

The restaurant and food is awful, the service is too, except at the bar, but the view is magnificent. You can purchase your tickets thru the ship excursion desk and I think can still save a dollar or two over the regular walk-up admission. The entrance is a short walk from the port and is visible from the ship. The photographs taken from up there are amazing. The vantage point, looking down at St Thomas and the ships, is a truly awesome experience. Once again, the food, yuck. Cocktails are fantastic. Service, slow as molasses. View, priceless. The sky ride is scary as hell going up, but fun and easy going down, due to all the Bushwackers consumed.

 

We usually make our pilgrimage to Hooters, also located right at the port and next to the entrance of the sky ride, as there is free wifi there. I can enjoy some early morning libations with big tatas while we check up on email, etc. Norwegian still has not gotten with the internet program as it is the last of the cruise lines that still charge an arm and a leg for internet. We do bring our tablets, our phones, and/or laptop to the port with us as there is free wifi virtually everywhere at every port of call, usually just for the price of a cocktail.

 

After Hooters, we would head into town, where it is really just one Jewelry store after another. There is a really cool Pirate store and a tee shirt/handcraft outdoor pavilion that I like to go to. It is about a 25 minute walk from the port, and in the summer heat, fogetaboutit! Taxi to and from the port, about $8 each way per person.

 

In town, there is a wonderful outdoor bar located smack in the middle of an alleyway, and for the life of me I forgot it's name. It's a girls name. Great libations. Wonderful Bloody Marys. However, too many of them and all those jewelry stores, watch out.

 

Havensight, where the ship docks, has two shopping centers. One is right off your ship at the port, where the taxi's and shore excursions meet, with smaller versions of the larger stores in town, row upon row upon row of shops and boutiques. Then, off to the left, there is the new Havensight where high end stores like Gucci, Cartier and Tumi are located along with some interesting restaurants overlooking the harbor. From July through October most of the larger yachts will not be in port as it is Hurricane season. And it will be HOT. But still, plenty of restrooms, and air conditioned stores.

 

We had done the revived Kon Tiki excursion recently and it is not the same as it used to be for us cruise veterans that remember Kon Tiki from years ago(or perhaps had so much rum that they don't remember)and the very wild times. It is a similar multi deck party boat with glass bottom viewing and it still rolls right up to the beach to drop off passengers, but gone is the fun, the rum punch, the revelry, the full calypso band (only have a steel drum and electronic background percussion now with one person playing) and it is actually boring. For $90, in our opinion, it was not worth it, as everything else, Beach Chair, Umbrella, Food, Beverages, Rum Punch (weak) was ala carte.

 

St Thomas still is our favorite port to sail into, so either be on your balcony, on deck or in Taste having breakfast when the ship is arriving. It is beautiful and fascinating.

 

In Tortola, there are excursions from NCL that look fun, particularly the boat to the beach and back. It's an early day, only 7am-3pm and it was scorching hot when we were just there a few weeks ago. One of our options in Tortola has always been to walk into town. One stop always is Pusser's Rum, Store and Restaurant, (10 minute walk from the port) where you can get the famous Pusser's Original Rum (The first dark rum ever, over 200 years old) browse the store and perhaps have their famous Stacked Potato Chip Christmas Tree appetizer.

 

We also recommend stopping at Spice Caribee Hand Made Spice Shop, located very near Pusser's (and on the way there) where they still make amazing spices by hand, and where McCormick buys their spices from for their Spice Island brand. I bought their new Curry just a couple of weeks ago and it has not been introduced by Spice Islands yet in the States. Wonderful.

 

At the Port of Tortola, there are brand new shops and interesting little bars, it is still under construction and all of it is not finished yet. If you have been to Grand Turk, Mahogany Bay, Amber Cove, and other Corporate Inspired ports, then you will find Tortola is fast becoming one of these "Concrete" kinds of ports of call. Fortunately, all the ship excursions leave pretty much right from the docks located here at the port, or the taxi buses located a short walk from the ship.

 

In Nassau, been there done that, it's just like sections of Miami that we would never get out of our car at. If you are on a Pricey excursion to Atlantis, most feel that they get their money's worth. There are quite a lot of renovations going on in town as Nassau has been told by enough well traveled cruise passengers and consumers, to spruce up or we are staying on the ship!

 

The shopping in Nassau is like a going to a typical Marshall's (prices compatible) perhaps with a Caribbean flair.

 

The Royal Bahamian Hilton, a popular hotel within walking distance from the port, is undergoing a complete renovation and reconstruction with many large additions to the property, making way for the new Hilton Vacation Club addition. So my advice is, because of the construction, don't waste the money on the formerly popular day-beach pass ($60-$90) (which was once a fun and recommended thing to do but, with the construction, many folks have been very disappointed).

 

The walk to historic Junkanoo Beach is also restricted due to this construction project and the public beach is a bit smaller now due to the Hilton expansion taking over parts of it, both for new building and parking for all the construction vehicles. Many of the original Junkanoo Beach bars, like Fat Tuesdays, are no longer there either. Senor Frogs is still the Jumping Bean of cocktails for the day, so if you like to get imbibed, it is always happening and located right next to the Straw Market at the port.

 

We love the NCL drink package and planned to stay on the ship, loading up on Shot O'clock in VIBE all day, and had the ship, slides and ropes course to ourselves with no lines. Sometimes though, they keep the rope course and slides closed in port depending on weather, wind etc. But not on our sailing. Faaabulous!

[cruizinwithkids]

Thank you for posting this. I was beginning to think I might actually work at work today, but you saved me. :D

[Coastalbreezes]

Welcome back, JW. Your posts are truly rays of sunshine streaming through the darkness in our world. So happy to continue reading your Escape adventures.

 

Tracy

Edited July 12, 2016 by TracyE

[mabones]

I find it really refreshing reading this. We won't be on the Escape until this December but I'm already itching to get there early for the Vibe passes.

[irishayes]

Hey JW - - My husband has the exact same swimsuit as you!

[NotACruiserYet]

Following!

[cruiseguys2009]

Hey JW - - My husband has the exact same swimsuit as you!

 

I hope his is much thinner than I am. I am a big ol' Queen of The Walrus! :D

Edited July 13, 2016 by cruiseguys2009

[StlGal]

Because of your review we have booked Simplicity for next June. We are looking forward to spending our 10 year anniversary with them! :)

[cruiseguys2009]

Because of your review we have booked Simplicity for next June. We are looking forward to spending our 10 year anniversary with them! :)

 

 

You are going to love it! Congratulations. Captain Charlie and 1st Mate Josh are amazing hosts, plus, the best part about the cruise is Admiral Hinckley. Enjoy! Enjoy!. If you are traveling with others, great, if not, and you are just a couple, then reach out on your roll call to sell the boat out for 6 people. That way, it's a whole group going and you are all on the ship.

 

Sailing on the Simplicity is a very exciting adventure! Very laid back. Just cocktails, sailing, sunshine, cocktails, snorkeling, cocktails, sunshine, beach, swimming, cocktails, sailing and more cocktails. Oh, did I mention cocktails? Anything goes. It is your boat for the day. Anything goes.

 

Oh, If you like red wine, please consider something else to drink as red wine and sailing yachts really don't mesh well together. Permanent stains.

 

You are going to have the time of your life and say to yourself, the entire day at sea, "Oh My Gawd, Auntie JW was right, this IS amazing!"

[youngestof9]

Can I ask a quickie? My kids want to do Paradise Point in St. Thomas - we're doing some sort of beach in the morning and I HAVE to stop at Da Lime in Da Coconut in Yacht Haven Grande for some Cruzan Rum - how long is the actual skyride to the top, have a drink and back. Will an hour cut it or do I have to budget in more time?

 

Thanks! See ya onboard in August!

[cruiseguys2009]

Can I ask a quickie? My kids want to do Paradise Point in St. Thomas - we're doing some sort of beach in the morning and I HAVE to stop at Da Lime in Da Coconut in Yacht Haven Grande for some Cruzan Rum - how long is the actual skyride to the top, have a drink and back. Will an hour cut it or do I have to budget in more time?

 

Thanks! See ya onboard in August!

 

If you get to the sky ride right when it is coming down, and are able to get on the gondolas at that time (depending on the time, there sometimes is a long line like at Disney), the ride takes about 8 minutes to ride up to the top or to return down. The time spent up at Paradise Point is entirely up to you. Photographs, a peek in the expansive restaurant, and then get on the next gondola group down? 30 minutes tops.

 

To relax at a table, get a Bushwacker, enjoy the view and really, really take in the ultimate in sights? Then that could be an hour to an hour and a half, unless you order food, then it could take all day. There is plenty of time if you do the beach until say 2PM, and get back to the port to ride the gondolas up.

 

Our ship on the 24th of August, departs St Thomas at 6PM, so we have to be back on board no later than 5:30pm. Plenty of time to enjoy the late afternoon up on the mountainside, and probably less crowded, too.

 

It is spectacular, a big wow!, and we have done this about a dozen times, taking many newbees up, over the last 5 or 6 years.

[irishayes]

I hope his is much thinner than I am. I am a big ol' Queen of The Walrus! :D

When hubby hit 50, he got real focused on getting fit and lost 35 lbs. He looks younger than he did 32 years ago when we were married. My friends tell me he's "Benjamin Buttoning." I just think he looks good :)

 

Sent from my SM-N915V using Tapatalk

[youngestof9]

If you get to the sky ride right when it is coming down, and are able to get on the gondolas at that time (depending on the time, there sometimes is a long line like at Disney), the ride takes about 8 minutes to ride up to the top or to return down. The time spent up at Paradise Point is entirely up to you. Photographs, a peek in the expansive restaurant, and then get on the next gondola group down? 30 minutes tops.

 

To relax at a table, get a Bushwacker, enjoy the view and really, really take in the ultimate in sights? Then that could be an hour to an hour and a half, unless you order food, then it could take all day. There is plenty of time if you do the beach until say 2PM, and get back to the port to ride the gondolas up.

 

Our ship on the 24th of August, departs St Thomas at 6PM, so we have to be back on board no later than 5:30pm. Plenty of time to enjoy the late afternoon up on the mountainside, and probably less crowded, too.

 

It is spectacular, a big wow!, and we have done this about a dozen times, taking many newbees up, over the last 5 or 6 years.

 

Thank you thank you! Been to STT so many times, just never found the time to do it. My daughter loves photography, so she's really excited to get up there and take pics.

[ajomtl]

Thank you so much for the incredible review. My wife and I are going on Escape Aug. 14. I'm sorry we will be missing some of you by a week.

I am trying to convince my wife to get the Vibe passes. So far no luck:( Any suggestions on how to win her over?

First vacation without our kids in a looooooong time. Only partial regret is not getting the drink package.

[SNJCruisers]

Thank you so much for the incredible review. My wife and I are going on Escape Aug. 14. I'm sorry we will be missing some of you by a week.

I am trying to convince my wife to get the Vibe passes. So far no luck:( Any suggestions on how to win her over?

First vacation without our kids in a looooooong time. Only partial regret is not getting the drink package.

Not having the kids is the perfect time for the two of you to enjoy each other's company and indulge in the drinks package. There is no reason why you can't just switch your choice and get it. If you drink at all, it's the best choice value wise. I am glad when I read that some people don't get it because don't want to pay the 14+ dollars per day. That's great, then there will less people fighting to get the bartenders attention. ;)

[mabones]

No kids??? If she wants to be pampered, I hear that Vibe can give that to her. She can sit or lay down and the server's will wait on her hand & foot. I'm going to try my hardest to get on early enough to try to score some in December. Have a wonderful Vacation!

[seashells]

Need to hear all about your Casino experience.

Most just brush it aside and say they were in and out.

Will you be telling all?

[Clay Clayton]

You are going to love it! Congratulations. Captain Charlie and 1st Mate Josh are amazing hosts, plus, the best part about the cruise is Admiral Hinckley. Enjoy! Enjoy!. If you are traveling with others, great, if not, and you are just a couple, then reach out on your roll call to sell the boat out for 6 people. That way, it's a whole group going and you are all on the ship.

 

Sailing on the Simplicity is a very exciting adventure! Very laid back. Just cocktails, sailing, sunshine, cocktails, snorkeling, cocktails, sunshine, beach, swimming, cocktails, sailing and more cocktails. Oh, did I mention cocktails? Anything goes. It is your boat for the day. Anything goes.

 

Oh, If you like red wine, please consider something else to drink as red wine and sailing yachts really don't mesh well together. Permanent stains.

 

You are going to have the time of your life and say to yourself, the entire day at sea, "Oh My Gawd, Auntie JW was right, this IS amazing!"

 

Is there any shade on the boat? We have a couple of folks in our group who have sun issues so before I email Simplicty thought I would get a customer's opinion....TIA

[cruiseguys2009]

Is there any shade on the boat? We have a couple of folks in our group who have sun issues so before I email Simplicty thought I would get a customer's opinion....TIA

 

 

Yes, the whole rear of the yacht is under cover and very comfortable. The picture of Jerome, myself and Hinckley is taken under the cover.

[StlGal]

You are going to love it!

Sailing on the Simplicity is a very exciting adventure! Very laid back. Just cocktails, sailing, sunshine, cocktails, snorkeling, cocktails, sunshine, beach, swimming, cocktails, sailing and more cocktails. Oh, did I mention cocktails? Anything goes. It is your boat for the day. Anything goes.

 

Oh, If you like red wine, please consider something else to drink as red wine and sailing yachts really don't mesh well together. Permanent stains.

 

You are going to have the time of your life and say to yourself, the entire day at sea, "Oh My Gawd, Auntie JW was right, this IS amazing!"

 

Thank you JW! This is exactly the kind of day we are looking for and I'm so excited that I found your review! Although I do love me some red wine, I'll take your suggestion and steer clear. :D

 

Thanks again and I can't wait for the rest of your review. It's my entertainment while I'm at work. shhhh.... don't tell anyone.

[patrick516]

Been following your great review and we can't wait for August 20th to get here!

[Clay Clayton]

Yes, the whole rear of the yacht is under cover and very comfortable. The picture of Jerome, myself and Hinckley is taken under the cover.

 

Thanks! I have an email into them though after looking at their online gallery I'm suspecting it isn't going to work for us. I am not a petite flower and I drew the idea of the news reports ...."US cruiser and three crew die while trying to hoist him back aboard yacht hoist.....film at eleven"