Secrets of the Escape

[cathi007]

Hello,

We will be on the Escape in Jan. We are traveling with our DD and her hubby and two children 3&14 months. We have adjoining mini-suites. I am just looking for any must see areas of the ship. This is my first mega ship experience. I was hesitant about booking such a big ship, but the itinerary was amazing. So where are all the best kept secret places hubby and I can visit to have some time alone? I am so excited! 90 days 🙂

[babygirl722]

58 minutes ago, cathi007 said:

Hello,

We will be on the Escape in Jan. We are traveling with our DD and her hubby and two children 3&14 months. We have adjoining mini-suites. I am just looking for any must see areas of the ship. This is my first mega ship experience. I was hesitant about booking such a big ship, but the itinerary was amazing. So where are all the best kept secret places hubby and I can visit to have some time alone? I am so excited! 90 days 🙂

Really not much of a secret, but I'd make sure to try and sneak in a few spa days so that you can enjoy the heated loungers, the therapy pool, the salt room, saunas, steam an snow room and the panoramic sea vies. She's a gorgeous ship ..just got back today from a week on board. 

[Gracelyn]

Hi, we actually had a hard time finding quiet areas on this ship. We miss having a spot like a quiet lounge area for reading or just sitting in. 

Inside we were told to go to the Library for quietness   But they are not a reading comfy chair lol outside reading we found forward  on the 20th deck or 19th deck were away from the music. It’s a large ship. For the week we only ate at the Buffet once. Rest were in the complimentary restaurants or dinner shows. 

Enjoy it. The kids will have a ball. 

[Two Wheels Only]

The Waterfront is probably your best option. It is usually quiet during the day when the specialty restaurants are closed and there are plenty of comfy chairs with great views of the ocean. You won't be "alone" but if should be mostly empty on some part of the Waterfront. 

[ELA]

We went on Breakaway in December (and Escape is an updated sister ship - at least that what they say). We cruised on Jewel, Star, and Dawn and Breakaway was my least favorite ship. One of the reasons was exactly what Gracelyn mentioned - no places to 'hang out". Especially if the cruise is out of NY during cold months you really need some 'hang out' space as outside was not an option in December (not to mention the ice blizzard storm we were in - but that's besides the point). 

So that's why we're splurging on the Thermal Spa - to have quiet place. I vowed not to do this type of ships again LOL but 1) any cruise is better than no cruise 2) the price was too good to pass..

I also absolutely HATED the buffet. Not even the food (nothing to brag about - hardly any salad bar for example) but the layout was awful.  People cutting lines - no direction as to which way the lines are going. Awful. 

 

Many people were hanging out around Cagneys during the day when they were closed - there were many chairs there.  The library was always packed with people...

[BirdTravels]

2 hours ago, cathi007 said:

Hello,

We will be on the Escape in Jan. We are traveling with our DD and her hubby and two children 3&14 months. We have adjoining mini-suites. I am just looking for any must see areas of the ship. This is my first mega ship experience. I was hesitant about booking such a big ship, but the itinerary was amazing. So where are all the best kept secret places hubby and I can visit to have some time alone? I am so excited! 90 days 🙂

The waterfront is a great place to sit and watch the ocean. 

 

We we like to use a SDP with $7 upcharge for all you can eat tapas at Pinchos for a sea day lunch. 

 

Have DD register the kids for the guppies nursery for some DD and SIL time. 

[galagirl5]

I agree the thermal suite is the best!  The waterfront is a good quiet spot and if the weather is an issue hanging out in the lounge area by Cagney's during the day is great!  I make it a priority to find some quiet time away on every cruise and this ship was amazingly easy to do so!  Enjoy, we loved it and it seemed much less crowded than the Breakaway and we went north and didn't have the best weather.  

[rjwinneberger]

We just got off the Escape yesterday and had a fabulous time. We are seasoned cruisers, but this was our first NCL. WE found that the Waterfront was our favorite public place to chill. You could sit there, see the water, relax and get a drink if you wanted one. Plus there are so many areas around that desk that you were pretty much guaranteed to find a spot with as many or as few people as you wanted to have around! On the days when it was cold and/or rainy, we spent our time in The Cellars. It was quiet and there were never too many people. Even on a ship of 4000+, I think the most in The Cellars at any time was 10. Also Cecilia (the Cellar Master) and Si Thu (her Wine Steward) provided some of the best service on the ship. If you get the chance and like wine, take the Reidel Wine Glass tasting class. It is really interesting!

[BNBR]

16 hours ago, BirdTravels said:

The waterfront is a great place to sit and watch the ocean. 

 

We we like to use a SDP with $7 upcharge for all you can eat tapas at Pinchos for a sea day lunch. 

 

Have DD register the kids for the guppies nursery for some DD and SIL time. 

 

I couldn't imagine using an SDP AND an upcharge for an a la carte concept that has items for $2 - $4.  Have to buy 2 or 3 just to break even on the upcharge alone.

 

But yeah, Pincho's for lunch is a "best kept secret" on Escape in my opinion.  Sit out on the waterfront, enjoy a few tapas and drinks.  I think a lot of people don't even realize it's open at lunch.

 

The spa is a "must" on Escape.  I would book the thermal suite for the week without question, it's unmatched at sea and really special.

[cathi007]

46 minutes ago, BNBR said:

 

I couldn't imagine using an SDP AND an upcharge for an a la carte concept that has items for $2 - $4.  Have to buy 2 or 3 just to break even on the upcharge alone.

 

But yeah, Pincho's for lunch is a "best kept secret" on Escape in my opinion.  Sit out on the waterfront, enjoy a few tapas and drinks.  I think a lot of people don't even realize it's open at lunch.

 

The spa is a "must" on Escape.  I would book the thermal suite for the week without question, it's unmatched at sea and really special.

I am doing a 14 night, and I do want to get a spa pass, but only for 1 or 2 days, as I we are traveling with ny grand-babies, so I want as much time with them as possible. For me, as spa pass wouldn't be worth it for mare than 2 days, as I will not use it. I just wanted it for a sea day or two.

[StormiB]

4 hours ago, rjwinneberger said:

We just got off the Escape yesterday and had a fabulous time. We are seasoned cruisers, but this was our first NCL. WE found that the Waterfront was our favorite public place to chill. You could sit there, see the water, relax and get a drink if you wanted one. Plus there are so many areas around that desk that you were pretty much guaranteed to find a spot with as many or as few people as you wanted to have around! On the days when it was cold and/or rainy, we spent our time in The Cellars. It was quiet and there were never too many people. Even on a ship of 4000+, I think the most in The Cellars at any time was 10. Also Cecilia (the Cellar Master) and Si Thu (her Wine Steward) provided some of the best service on the ship. If you get the chance and like wine, take the Reidel Wine Glass tasting class. It is really interesting!

Ohh. I am excited to see about the Reidel Wine glass tasting class. When / Where did you sign up for this?  And do the drinks in the Cellar fall under the drink package as well? 

[rjwinneberger]

6 minutes ago, StormiB said:

Ohh. I am excited to see about the Reidel Wine glass tasting class. When / Where did you sign up for this?  And do the drinks in the Cellar fall under the drink package as well? 

We signed up for the class at The Cellars on the first day. The actual class was offered a couple of times during the week. As for the Wine... some is covered by the Beverage Package and some is an upcharge. It just depends on what you drink.

[birdsofparadise47]

5 hours ago, rjwinneberger said:

 Even on a ship of 4000+, I think the most in The Cellars at any time was 10. Also Cecilia (the Cellar Master) and Si Thu (her Wine Steward) provided some of the best service on the ship. If you get the chance and like wine, take the Reidel Wine Glass tasting class. It is really interesting!

 

Couldn't agree more with respect to The Cellars. Si Thu was the BEST! We did the black glass wine tasting and it really expanded our minds and pallets. 10/10 would recommend.

[JamieLogical]

I just got off the Escape yesterday for the second time. This time, I was determined to try some of the things I missed on my first sailing back in in February. We did Margaritaville, Food Republic, and Pincho (twice!) for lunch. Margaritaville was fine. They give you a LOT of food, so be warned. They insisted I order an app and an entre even though the nachos appetizer could probably feed a family of four by itself. Food Republic and Pincho have much more reasonably-sized portions. Pinchos was just sooooo nice. The food and service were excellent. The first time we ate there we sat on the waterfront and it was wonderful. The second time it was storming and freezing outside so we sat at one of their precious few indoor tables. Food Republic was also good, but I guess just not as much my thing. I am not into sushi. The firecracker shrimp were excellent.

 

I also tried to do more of the "organized" entertainment (versus just live musicians performing in various bars/lounges) this time. Definitely do Howl at the Moon! It is so much fun!

[cruiser123!]

23 hours ago, babygirl722 said:

the salt room, saunas, steam an snow room 

I’ve seen the salt and snow rooms but not much detail given.  Are they extra or included ?   Is there an age limit (traveling with 15 daughter)

[babygirl722]

33 minutes ago, cruiser123! said:

I’ve seen the salt and snow rooms but not much detail given.  Are they extra or included ?   Is there an age limit (traveling with 15 daughter)

The spa pass is $219 per person for a 7 day sailing and it's adults only. I believe 18 and over. Sorry 😞

[cathi007]

4 hours ago, JamieLogical said:

I just got off the Escape yesterday for the second time. This time, I was determined to try some of the things I missed on my first sailing back in in February. We did Margaritaville, Food Republic, and Pincho (twice!) for lunch. Margaritaville was fine. They give you a LOT of food, so be warned. They insisted I order an app and an entre even though the nachos appetizer could probably feed a family of four by itself. Food Republic and Pincho have much more reasonably-sized portions. Pinchos was just sooooo nice. The food and service were excellent. The first time we ate there we sat on the waterfront and it was wonderful. The second time it was storming and freezing outside so we sat at one of their precious few indoor tables. Food Republic was also good, but I guess just not as much my thing. I am not into sushi. The firecracker shrimp were excellent.

 

I also tried to do more of the "organized" entertainment (versus just live musicians performing in various bars/lounges) this time. Definitely do Howl at the Moon! It is so much fun!

Thanks, I will check out the Howl at the Moon 🙂

[JustAllie]

8 hours ago, cathi007 said:

I am doing a 14 night, and I do want to get a spa pass, but only for 1 or 2 days, as I we are traveling with ny grand-babies, so I want as much time with them as possible. For me, as spa pass wouldn't be worth it for mare than 2 days, as I will not use it. I just wanted it for a sea day or two.

Just as a warning, day passes to the thermal spa are generally only available on port days, and they may not be available at all if the spa is really busy.

 

If you want to guarantee access to the spa thermal suite, buy the full pass. 

Edited October 23, 2018 by JustAllie

[cathi007]

1 minute ago, JustAllie said:

Just as a warning, day passes to the thermal spa are generally only available on port days, and they may not be available at all if the spa is really busy.

 

If you want to guarantee access to the spa thermal suite, buy the full pass. 

It's not that important, like I said I would only use it one day maybe two. I'll spend that money in the casino instead, lol

[cruiser123!]

3 hours ago, babygirl722 said:

The spa pass is $219 per person for a 7 day sailing and it's adults only. I believe 18 and over. Sorry 😞

Thanks!

[StormiB]

17 hours ago, cruiser123! said:

I’ve seen the salt and snow rooms but not much detail given.  Are they extra or included ?   Is there an age limit (traveling with 15 daughter)

I'm traveling with a 15 year old daughter too. I am bummed to hear she can not come into the spa for a massage. 😞

[barb65]

On 10/23/2018 at 10:02 AM, StormiB said:

I'm traveling with a 15 year old daughter too. I am bummed to hear she can not come into the spa for a massage. 😞

The area for a massage is separate from the Thermal Spa area. She will be able to get a massage since it's not part of the Thermal Spa. Once you board, check out the spa area and request a tour,

[cruiser123!]

3 minutes ago, barb65 said:

The area for a massage is separate from the Thermal Spa area. She will be able to get a massage since it's not part of the Thermal Spa. Once you board, check out the spa area and request a tour,

Yay!!  Thank you 

[lg rover]

On 10/22/2018 at 5:21 PM, babygirl722 said:

The spa pass is $219 per person for a 7 day sailing and it's adults only. I believe 18 and over. Sorry 😞

$199.00 before cruise for the spa pass.

[StormiB]

On 10/24/2018 at 8:05 PM, barb65 said:

The area for a massage is separate from the Thermal Spa area. She will be able to get a massage since it's not part of the Thermal Spa. Once you board, check out the spa area and request a tour,

great! thanks so much. she will be so happy.