Review: Getaway 2/24 - 3/4

[gaiamother]

Hello:). Just off our 2nd trip on the Getaway. First time October 2014, just hubby & I. This time our teens (14dd, 16ds) joined us. We are in our 40's and have cruised a lot on RCCL, Carnival, and some on NCL.

 

Embarkation:

We knew we weren't vying for Vibe this time around, so arrived at the pier around 10:30. Last time we arrived early enough to get the 2nd Vibe Cabana, it was nice, provided a reprise from the very crowded pool/lounge area (more to come). We didn't want to spend the money this time around. Anyway, arriving at 10:30 got us boarding group #8. I remember years ago a 10:30 arrival you'd be one of the first on board, now people arrive as early as 8:30. It's your first day, and you paid for it, so get on early:). Gives you time to acquaint yourself with the ship. Everything went pretty quickly, no problems with security, check-in. After check-in you go upstairs into a large waiting room. They were doing the boarding photographs as you came off the escalator, not as you board, which made boarding smooth once it began. We were on the ship by 11:30ish.

 

Rooms were ready by 1:30. We pack light, so we had all our luggage with us, got into our cabins, after lunch in the Garden Cafe', and showing our kids the ship. We unpacked and were ready to go explore freely by 2.

 

 

Cabin:

We stayed in cabin 8756, Mid-ship balcony BB on deck 8. A bit smaller, and much smaller balcony than our previous sailing when we had cabin 8120, Mini-Suite M6 on deck 8 forward. There were no M6's left when we booked this time so we took the BB. These cabins, more mid ship on deck 8 are either very close to the Waterfront, so close you can see onto the balconies from the WF or like our cabin, pushed forward a bit more so no issue with WF, but you get to observe the antics taking place on the Shuffleboard courts below you. This was actually fun for us, so no bother. You are also directly above the Theater in these mid-ship cabins and they practice during the day and shows at night, so if you're sensitive to sound and severe vibration, take this into consideration. There was none of this more forward in M6.

 

The Cabin's overall are small, but a ton of creative storage solutions and luggage will easily fit under the bed. The bathrooms are larger than other ships, shower has a glass door enclosure. All four of us were in only one cabin and did mostly fine. The teens are now Adult-size, lol, but we made due. They slept one on the couch, converted to bed, and the other on the drop down bunk, above the couch/bed. These small balconies only fit two chairs, no table and if you're taller and sit facing the water, your knees may hit the class. Just so you know. But, you still have the private balcony to sip tea or coffee in the morning, watch the sunrise or set, the moon, etc. So, I'll take it!

 

 

 

Will continue below, but wanted to leave you the link from another review from the same week so you can compare. Cruises, like any vacation, are all subjective. Everyones' priorities and vacation styles being different, I find it best to read none, or many reviews knowing that many things shape them.

 

I'll answer any questions I can.

 

Enjoy this review by FandSsullivan: https://boards.cruisecritic.com/showthread.php?t=2608075

[Keith1010]

Following along and checking out the review right now.

Keith

[gatorchinsky]

Can’t wait to read more

 

 

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[MaryBethV]

Thank you for the review. We will be on the Getaway in a couple of months with our four kids - 14, 15, 21, and 23. Thankfully we are cramming THEM all into one room... but we might cruise with just the younger two in the future and would have to share a cabin with them like you are. Glad to hear it is do-able. :)

[jdvmd]

Thanks for your comments!

[gaiamother]

Dining:

 

This cruise we had the 3-UDP (Three-night, Unlimited Dining Package) included with our booking. Our line-up was...

Sunday - Tropicana

Monday - Le Bistro

Tuesday - Tropicana

Wednesday - Teppanyaki

Thursday - Tropicana

Friday - Cagney's

Saturday - Tropicana

 

We chose the Tropicana over Taste and Savor because we preferred the decor and live music. As far as I could tell the menus were all the same. Bummer that on two of the nights that we had booked specialty dining the Burn the Floor dancers performed in the Tropicana. They did this Wednesday and Friday nights I believe, it was in the dallies.

 

The food in the MDR, Tropicana, was mostly very good, on par with the better food on other cruise ships/lines in more recent years. We always keep our expectations in check, we can be critical of food quality, and currently live in NYC so we have access to some amazing food. They served Prime Rib on the first night and both my husband and I were very pleased. The pastas were good, the Carbonara, Short Rib Ragu... Between the four of us some of the mains we enjoyed were the Caribbean Mojo Roast Pork ( a tad dry but good), Sirloin Steak Diane, Vermont Duck Breast, and Bangers & Mash.

 

They don't serve Shrimp Cocktail or Lobster in the MDR. FYI.

 

They seem to be an bit off on their Asian offerings. My son, 16 and very well versed in Asian food ordered it too often and was always very disappointed. The Veg Pad Thai in particular was not Pad Thai. He also didn't like the spring roll starter.

 

The croutons everywhere except Cagney's were soggy, always. I read this on a review prior to leaving and I can confirm. No crispy croutons. Weird.

But, again, mostly the food was very good, throughout the ship really. And the service in Tropicana was always pleasant as well.

 

Le Bistro: This has been our favorite on any previous sailings with NCL. As far back as the Norway, when Le Bistro was the only specialty dining option. Not sure why we continue to try others.

I have in the past ordered the Coq au vin, my daughter did this time. I got the lamb loin, my son the veal medallions and I can't seem to remember what my husband ordered. All was very good! Oh, the Warm goat cheese with frisee salad and pancetta was sooo good, as well as escargot and mussels starters! We did eat inside this time, but on our cruise in 2014 we chose to eat in the atrium, even with awareness of the possibility of smoke from the above casino and we didn't encounter too much an issue. It seems to be worse on floor 7, but a stale odor does linger about. I'm sure it's worse at times.

 

Teppanyaki: Glad we did it once, won't again. It's always fun to experience Japanese Teppanyaki, but the food was probably the worst of our week. My steak was way overcooked, the scallops were awful tasting, the sauce they served was very watery and wouldn't stay on the meat or veggies when dipped. My son ordered the seafood combo and got really sick afterwards. Can't say it was the food, he may have gotten a bug, it just coincided with the meal. We could have gotten a different table/chef and had a totally different experience, who knows.

 

Cagney's: Hubby and I had a date night. Our reservation was for 9, it was all that was left when we reserved it. We arrived by 8:15 to see if there had been any cancelations or no shows but they told us we'd have to come back at our reserved time. We sat at the Prime Meridian bar and checked by in at 8:55. We were sat at a table right next to the kitchen and asked to sit somewhere more inside the restaurant. Having been in service industry for many years I know it was possible our server was now double sat, it appeared to be the case, another new table being right near us, so I knew it would take him a moment. Anyway, he was frustrated, and definitely out of sorts, I saw him stop and turn around to walk back and grab something he appeared to have forgotten on several occasions. I felt bad. I tried to be very nice but he would talk to the other table and not to us. With us he was very mechanical. The food was ok, the steaks, a ribeye, and NY strip, both came out cooked as we asked, so that's good. Overall it was fine, but nothing special.

 

Raw Bar: We didn't eat here this time around, but in 2014 hubby and I were here every night before dinner. We made friends with the bartenders/chefs and enjoyed a small nibble and drinks. They took my favorite specialty cocktail off the menu, the North of Easy, and the bartender working was very rude about not knowing how to make it, he acted like the he had heard about it, but it was "before my time" he said. So this was not part of our experience this time around.

Sooo....

Instead we ended up finding Ana from Macedonia at the Atrium bar. I was really excited to see Abba being performed in the Atrium on Monday evening before our dinner so we ended up at the bar there. We love, love gin martini's and after a sub par one the first night we were thrilled with finding Ana who not only was just a great bartender overall, but it was important to her that her customers were happy with their drinks. We loved her and learning a bit more about her country.

 

Again, overall we were very please with the food on the ship. The Garden Cafe's selection was plentiful and mostly really good. Salad was fresh, plenty of ethnic options from different regions of the world, always an Indian selection. You could almost get a whole Full Scottish breakfast minus the Black Pudding;). I only had a problem one morning. I went to get an eggs benedict and there was no more Hollandaise sauce. There were several people waiting and we were told 5 minutes. Well, it took much longer. By that time the eggs were ice cold and then when it finally came out, the sauce, no kidding, was ICE cold. So I had to ask them if this was normal. They served me two fresh eggs out of the hot water and luke warm sauce. It was frustrating, but the only time I encountered a problem like this. I always try to stay in awareness of the amount of people they're serving and that issues will arise.

 

We didn't try any food options I didn't mention above.

 

More to come....

[gaiamother]

Thank you for the review. We will be on the Getaway in a couple of months with our four kids - 14, 15, 21, and 23. Thankfully we are cramming THEM all into one room... but we might cruise with just the younger two in the future and would have to share a cabin with them like you are. Glad to hear it is do-able. :)

 

 

Oh, absolutely. I think if you go into knowing it's not a perfect situation and that shower-time will have to be staggered. We're a pretty cozy family, sharing an RV for long stretches and now a small Brooklyn apartment, so that helps! Have a great cruise!!

[Clarea]

Thanks for the review.

[vacation44]

As we are set to sail this upcoming June on the Getaway, I thank you for posting your review and look forward to the rest.

[thistimeplease]

Thanks for the review, we are sailing on the GA in July and am very excited.

[gaiamother]

Activities on board:

 

The ropes course and water slides were a big hit. Three of four of us even walked the plank:D.

The main pool was as crowded as the reviews all report. It was no different on our 2014 trip. We tend to stay away from this area, looking for quieter, less crowded spaces. We ended up at Spice H20 which also filled up, but you could find nooks, especially around the waterfalls. We spent a good bit of time in the hot tubs up there. They were not hot, but warm enough to relax.

 

Note: drop slides, the ones were they do the countdown and release the floor, no jewelry at all! Not even a nose piercing.

Also, ropes course clothing, you can not be wet at all, not even damp and you must have a sleeve, can be s short sleeve, but no tank tops. They will send you away to change. I saw many people sent away. There is a sign, but...

 

There are only two sea days with this Itinerary, the first and last full days. Well, on this sailing there was an emergency helicopter med vac the second sea-day. They cleared the top two, forward decks for hours. It was quite a spectacle. Hoping the woman got the medical attention she needed and is recovering, I heard she had a heart attack on board. It was our first time seeing a helicopter hover like that to take someone off a ship. Afterwards we were able to get great loungers way up top, forward for a couple of hours, almost to ourselves.

 

Oh, the other pool, next to the kid splash area, was always less crowded from what I saw, so that's a good option for a dip. We were on board early one day and had it to ourselves.

 

Want to note... In Spice H20 the bar is a full smoking area. It's one of the nicest outside bars on the ship but we couldn't enjoy it unfortunately due to the smoke. Yes, sensitive non-smokers here. We did end up using the hot tub on this side and were never affected. The wind kept it away. There was one early evening that I guess most people were preparing for dinner when it was almost empty and enjoyable then.

 

The jogging/walk spaces... The main jogging area is poorly placed on deck 16 going though were people gather near Margaritaville, but can be done if you rise early enough, before the masses awaken. There is also the Waterfront for walking. We love this space for walking. The only issue again is the smoking bar, The Sunset Bar, on the port starboard (right) side of the ship. So to make a full circle you pass through this. Just an FYI to non-smokers out there.

 

We also played mini-golf, and shuffle board (one on each side of ship, deck 7, forward). Those were fun too!

 

There is also an over-sized chess board on the Waterfront, forward, starboard.

 

That's all we took participated in as far as sporty activities.

 

More to come...

[stacystacy]

Really enjoying your review so far! I go next month :)

 

 

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[fandssullivan]

It is really interesting to read the different experience on the exact same cruise... but that is what makes this all so much fun :)