escape 11/11/18 review

[schildiams]

During a poker cruise - overall a nice trip

 

Here are my subjective thoughts...

 

Pros (there are MANY - don't be turned off by negative reviews - it is not for everyone but has much to offer to many):

 

Staff very happy and helpful throughout.

Embarked early, and was a breeze.

Lunch in the dining room - relaxing and yummy.

Breakfast in the dining room -food was very tasty (but see below).

Manhattan Room dinners (make reservations!)

O'Sheehans (except for overcrowding, seemingly always).

Moderno (salad bar is the best).

Cagneys (except the prime rib).

Bayamo (so good).

The Mojito Bar (try the coconut one! Try them all!)

Lots of entertainment options (book early once onboard!)

Howl at the Moon.

Most drinks at all of the bars.

Comedy shows.

Brat Pack show (didn't see the other one).

Adult pool (when it's actually adult only).

Lots of loungers in the shade.

H20 spice.

The Spa (see issues below).

Slides. (Didn't do the ropes course but looks great).

District Brew House (when you can get a chair).

The Waterfront.

Private island.

Very smooth sailing.

Lots of options at the garden cafe.

Walk off disembark was early and easy.

 

Cons:

General feeling of understaffing (ex lots of empty tables at O'sheehans but waitlisting people for lunch bc not enough staff; only one open omelette station at margaritaville breakfast)

never could get tickets for the escape room

all shows sell out very quickly

staff inviting kids into the adult pool to accommodate them 

Tenders to the private island for those not platinum (wait was 2 hours for some, reportedly)

Some toilet lines broke down more than once

elevators are often overcrowded and far apart

Private island needs more shade

library/game room  is only open 2 separate hours a day to take out books and is small/overcrowded

District Brew house - many days can't get a chair

Closing down a bar for a private event (wedding) when there is already a poker tournament taking up a different lounge the entire week - no where for lots of people to go

the atrium - folding chairs - not enough seats

the atrium bar - too crowded - no seats available almost always

the wine bar - more interested in selling constant wine tastings than serving a glass of wine to passengers. Very disappointing.

DJ at the pool - played the same songs over and over and didn't say anything at all

pre mixed drinks (ex.long island iced tea)

thin walls - noisy neighbors jumping off beds and slamming doors at all hours

extra packed casino due to poker tournament that was never advertised - very smoky too

one lounge closed all week to accommodate poker tournament made other venues extra overcrowded - should have been advertised as a poker cruise to the public

left florida too fast and raced back north, cutting short warm weather on the return by a day - in the past the ships travelled back slower at first then raced at the end to preserve the sunny day

People sneaking into the spa; people reserving chairs in the spa for hours - no one checking on this; long wait to check out of the spa b/c of understaffing

wasting staff to stand outside the restaurants and try to send passengers elsewhere to eat to avoid lines

lots of mistakes in the dining rooms with orders; especially long waits at breakfast

 

In the end, would do it again - but probably not on a poker cruise

 

 

Edited November 21, 2018 by schildiams

[chars]

Excellent list of pros/cons, thanks!

 

[MusterDrill55]

How are people about to "sneak into the spa?"

 

I assume you're referring to the Thermal Suite. On the Escape, you have to show your spa pass to the attendant at the front desk, and then she has to let you into the Suite through a door that only opens with her key card. I'd think "sneaking in" would be virtually impossible. 

[schildiams]

5 hours ago, MusterDrill55 said:

How are people about to "sneak into the spa?"

 

I assume you're referring to the Thermal Suite. On the Escape, you have to show your spa pass to the attendant at the front desk, and then she has to let you into the Suite through a door that only opens with her key card. I'd think "sneaking in" would be virtually impossible. 

The attendant was by herself at the desk almost the entire week and mostly concerned with booking treatments. People walked by and left their cards on the desk and then entered the spa door on their own. Not once the entire week did the attendant use her card to open that door.  And then the people lined up and waited to get their cards back later, sometimes for a long time due to the attendant dealing with a line of people with questions about/bookings for treatments. I know for a fact that people walked right by unnoticed b/c on more than one occasion a person with a key card around his neck asked me a question about the salt room, or the snow room, and wondered if anyone could use it. Also, watched a person leave a treatment with their purchase bag and walk into the spa unnoticed, though the spa is not included with treatments. She too had her key card with her. I did not choose to police it. But someone should do a better job. PS The door was unlocked to the spa area and no one ever had to use a card to enter it, though there is a card reader there. On several occasions, the door lock was used to "prop open" the door. Again, understaffing issues? I am not sure why there is not a better system with people needing to either turnstile in with their key card or having a permanent attendant at the door.

 

Edited November 21, 2018 by schildiams

[BirdTravels]

Thanks for the great pros and cons!

[MusterDrill55]

3 hours ago, schildiams said:

The attendant was by herself at the desk almost the entire week and mostly concerned with booking treatments. People walked by and left their cards on the desk and then entered the spa door on their own. Not once the entire week did the attendant use her card to open that door.  And then the people lined up and waited to get their cards back later, sometimes for a long time due to the attendant dealing with a line of people with questions about/bookings for treatments. I know for a fact that people walked right by unnoticed b/c on more than one occasion a person with a key card around his neck asked me a question about the salt room, or the snow room, and wondered if anyone could use it. Also, watched a person leave a treatment with their purchase bag and walk into the spa unnoticed, though the spa is not included with treatments. She too had her key card with her. I did not choose to police it. But someone should do a better job. PS The door was unlocked to the spa area and no one ever had to use a card to enter it, though there is a card reader there. On several occasions, the door lock was used to "prop open" the door. Again, understaffing issues? I am not sure why there is not a better system with people needing to either turnstile in with their key card or having a permanent attendant at the door.

 

Wow. I was on the Escape in Canada last month, and every single time I wanted to check into the Thermal Suite the attendant had to key me in. The door was never open. 

[schildiams]

8 hours ago, MusterDrill55 said:

Wow. I was on the Escape in Canada last month, and every single time I wanted to check into the Thermal Suite the attendant had to key me in. The door was never open. 

That’s how it should work 🙂 but then you need more staff, I guess!

[Aldeya]

On 11/21/2018 at 5:23 PM, schildiams said:

 know for a fact that people walked right by unnoticed b/c on more than one occasion a person with a key card around his neck asked me a question about the salt room, or the snow room, and wondered if anyone could use it. Also, watched a person leave a treatment with their purchase bag and walk into the spa unnoticed, though the spa is not included with treatments. She too had her key card with her. I did not choose to police it. But someone should do a better job. PS The door was unlocked to the spa area and no one ever had to use a card to enter it, though there is a card reader there. On several occasions, the door lock was used to "prop open" the door. Again, understaffing issues? I am not sure why there is not a better system with people needing to either turnstile in with their key card or having a permanent attendant at the door.

 

Wow, this is unacceptable. The Termal Suite is VERY expensive and I'd be very unhappy if people just sneak in and occupy the chairs. On our last Escape cruise we had to leave the card and the attendant opened the door to the Termal Suite every time with her/his key. And even with such tight control the hot stone chairs were hard to get, people were laying on them for hours. I can't imagine how it is crowded when people sneak in and use the amentities. 

Quote

 

 

Edited November 26, 2018 by Aldeya

[Princess30]

I agree with the wine bar, I was on the same cruise. I asked a question as a wine newb, and the woman was very curt, and rude. She was very nice to the wine tasting couple beside me however.