Escape - Tips, Tricks & Hacks?

[nr_clark]

Hey y'all, here goes Negative Nancy but please humor me and my questions. I don't mean to offend anyone here who are diehard NCL fans.

 

I'm sailing on the Escape with my spouse, his parents, and his brother and SIL for Bermuda in mid/late May 2019. We booked a Guarantee Balcony stateroom, It's going to be our 2nd cruise on NCL (1st on Gem), and TBH I'm not really looking forward to it because of how our 1st NCL cruise went. We just booked it because the parents in-law chose it for their 50th Anniversary.

 

Two issues we have that we hope you can help provide any workarounds for:

 

#1: We work VERY hard and expect peace & quiet on our well-earned-but-rare vacations. All we really want (specifically me, probably DH too) is peace & quiet: the sound of the ocean, and maybe some seagulls (and fingers crossed for dolphins/whales, but I don't count on it). Anyhow, NCL from my observation/experience is a VERY loud & congested cruiseline. Sometimes felt like a can of sardines, and the intercom/speaker on Gem was always blaring with the cruise director announcing daily events or up-selling the Spa or whatever...even the speaker in our stateroom!! It was HORRIBLE, especially near the pool area. Even the outdoor live band was unpleasantly loud. Constant weaving through crowds of people just to get to Point B, especially at the buffet. The only repose we really found on the Gem was in the stateroom sans-cruise-director's voice, or the MDR for breakfast or lunch, where we could actually hear our own thoughts. I noticed this on the smaller NCL Gem, and it only appears to be worse on the Escape with 5,000+ folks onboard, but I'm not sure.

 

#2: We're also VERY frugal people, and aside from splurging on the stateroom choice, we really have no intention on ANY extra purchases with extreme exceptions. NCL really nickels & dimes their passengers with "nominal fees" galore (and perhaps they despise us for not spending a single dime on the Gem). It seems like the only free things to do on NCL is 1) eat at the buffet/MDR/O'Sheehans (sp?), 2) swim in the 2 tiny & overcrowded pools (on Escape anyway), or 3) workout at the gym (which I already do enough at home).

 

So....my question is: What tips/tricks/hacks are there on the Escape to maximize relaxation or budget? Examples:

 

*Is the Vibe Beach Club worth it, OR is Spice H2O good Enough? Is VIBE really worth the $$$ to go Black-Friday-Doorbusters for after boarding? (And are passes at Headliners or Guest Services?)
*Is it worth the $$$ for room service? Or bring buffet food to stateroom?

*Chocolate Buffet? Lobster?

*Any free drinks besides at the trap that is the art auction?

*Any free specialty coffees/etc at any day/time of the cruise

*Good Shows to see? BAD Shows to avoid?

*Huge discounts on spa treatments/passes during sea/port days?

*Good deals anywhere within walking distance at Bermuda?

 

TYVM in advance! 

[CookieShip]

I'm interested too, but going this weekend!

[tallnthensome]

You'll have a balcony which should be quiet and pretty private. You can find quieter seating and hot tubs on the upper decks instead of around the pool. You can go to shows for free, partake in plenty of activities from the daily for free, there's the slides, the giant ropes course, movies under the stars at night ..... Plenty to do without spending money. Specialty coffees and drinks aren't going to happen ...... You could buy spa passes and even though they'll cost you, you'll be able to relax in the quiet in there all you want. There aren't a lot of freebies and huge discounts on anything and that's on every cruise line. There is no Lobster in the MDR on NCL anymore ......

[drvmywifecrzy]

Spend your money on the  Haven, you will get the relaxation you want

[Lisalk12]

Just a couple of things that I enjoyed while on a recent sailing aboard Escape:

The Waterfront is a noise free place. I loved to sit and watch the waves and read during the daytime. Totally free.

I also used the free breakfast option and got lots of great items in the morning.


Of course you can always bring buffet options back to your room if that works better for you.

Hope you have a wonderful relaxing time. We had a great time in March. I wrote a LONG review if you have time to read it. Look up Escape March 17th Family Review.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[nicoleinwi]

We went on Escape to Bermuda last summer and loved it.  

 

I guess I'm in the minority as so many people talk about NCL nickel and diming you, I don't feel that way.  Sure I could either get their free drink package (and pay tips) or pay per drink.  We haven't sailed on any luxury lines that include alcohol with dinner so paying is what we are used to.  We are going with DH's parents on their first cruise and I don't expect they will end up paying for anything extra.  

 

My issue with booking a guaranteed stateroom is you aren't sure where you'll get.  When we book our rooms we check above and below to make sure there isn't going to be late night entertainment on either that will thump through the cabin.  

What we did pay for extra on Escape was Choir of Man dinner show, but I now believe that is free.  I though even paying the $25pp was worth it (and you received unlimited beer).  We've never done speciality restaurants as we think MDR is good.  Alcohol we paid per drink as we figure cheaper then tips on the free package.  And casino.  Sometimes we'll pay to play bingo or another game but didn't on Escape as enough other stuff to occupy our time.  

 

Escape has some water slides, a drop loop slide and one that you ride on a tube.  Both were fun and no additional charge. Ropes course as someone mentioned, was really fun and no additional charge.  

 

As for stuff within walking distance of Dockyard, not really.  There is a fort which we toured and it was OK.  Had a lot of information about the various wrecks.  I think maybe $10pp.  Going to Horseshoe Bay (pink sand beach) is pretty popular and shuttles will run from Dockyard there and back for $7pp each way.  I think it was about 1/2 hour ride.  

[AL3XCruise]

Bermuda is great and Escape is a beautiful ship.

 

5 hours ago, nr_clark said:

*Is the Vibe Beach Club worth it, OR is Spice H2O good Enough? Is VIBE really worth the $$$ to go Black-Friday-Doorbusters for after boarding?

 

I've never done vibe, largely because the race to get passes doesn't appeal to me.  The upper forward decks tend to be quieter and less crowded than the pool areas, BUT my cruise on Escape was when schools were in session.  I'm not sure how much of a difference this will make for you.

 

If you just want a comfortable, quiet place to sit by the water, check out the Waterfront on Deck 8.  Lots of places to sit, a couple of outdoor bars and restaurants, and generally much less crowded than the upper decks.

 

The Spa is also a great relaxation option, but it is more $$$ and not outdoors.  

 

5 hours ago, nr_clark said:

*Is it worth the $$$ for room service? Or bring buffet food to stateroom?

 

Depending where your cabin is, it could be quite a trek to the buffet.  There are three main dining rooms, plus O'Sheehans, so you can also check what is open if you want to avoid the hustle and bustle of the buffet.  For breakfast, consider Margaritaville.  It is free in the mornings and has a pared down selection from the main buffet, but is MUCH less crowded.

 

5 hours ago, nr_clark said:

*Good Shows to see? BAD Shows to avoid?

 

Choir of Man is the big one to see on the Escape, and now that it is in the main theater I believe it is free.  One thing I didn't know about before the cruise was that they have several free shows in the dinner theater; the on-board entertainers do shows in there that included a meal.  Worth checking out if the performer on genre is of interest to you!  

 

Howl at the Moon is a dueling piano show every other night, playing requests.  It alternates with the comedy show, which varies depending on who is onboard that week.  There will also be live music in several venues throughout the week; I'm sure by your cruise it will be different than what I saw, so I can't make any specific suggestions.

 

5 hours ago, nr_clark said:

*Huge discounts on spa treatments/passes during sea/port days?

 

I can't speak on treatments, but on our cruise weekly Spa passes sold out the first day and there were no additional daily passes offered.  From what I've read, that is pretty common.  If you want to try the Thermal Spa, a weekly pass is your most reliable option.

 

5 hours ago, nr_clark said:

*Good deals anywhere within walking distance at Bermuda?

 

Dockyard is nice, but you won't want to stay there the whole time.  The Fort and Shopping Area are close by.  There is also a beach area--it is nice enough if you need to stay close, but not up to the standards of Bermuda staples like Horseshoe Beach.

 

Two suggestions for the budget minded visitor:

1) Look into public transport.  Bermuda has a wonderful network of ferries and buses, and all day, all island passes are pretty affordable.  Price List

2) NCL offers a complimentary ferry to St. Georges, or at least they did last year.  I assume they will be running this year.  I've heard the lines can get pretty long for this though.

 

5 hours ago, nr_clark said:

maybe some seagulls (and fingers crossed for dolphins/whales, but I don't count on it)

 

Normally not too many seabirds on sea days, though on my last cruise I saw frigate birds daily.  Escape is the only cruise ship I've seen dolphins from; who knows, maybe its lucky!  If you do like wildlife, you may want to consider the Bermuda Zoo.  It is small and easy to see yet extremely nicely done.

 

Hope that helps!

 

 

[BirdTravels]

We are just off the Escape and didn’t spend anything other than explicit purchases. Less than half a page of charges. 

 

The waterfront sofas are are nice and quiet. 

 

Never considered paying money for the vibe. 

 

Almost all of the entertainment is free. 

 

How often ten do you go to Starbucks and get free coffee?  Same on the Escape. 

 

Never considered red wasting money on spa treatments. There are port day specials, but usually combo packages. 

 

You can can go to the port shops by walking. That’s about it. Catch the public ferry to Hamilton for $4.50. 

 

Never considered red paying for room service. We aren’t that lazy. We walk to restaurants (open 24 hours a day) if hungry. 

 

There are chocolate desserts. NCL was dumping 10’s of thousands of pounds of chocolate overboard because there was no interest in a chocolate buffet. That went out of fashion with the beta max vcr. 

[michelle-nh]

We were on the Escape a few weeks ago. Absolutely loved our balcony rooms. Our friends stayed in the next door room and we spent a surprising amount of time just hanging out on our balconies watching the water and talking. It was quiet and relaxing.

 

Granted, we had the drink package and we each had 3 vouchers for specialty dining, but we honestly weren’t ever tempted to spend extra money. In fact, we had $225 in onboard credit, and they gave us about $200 back in cash on the last day. We never felt pressured to spend more.

 

if you are looking for relaxation, you might love the spa. Honestly, the pool deck WAS loud and crowded, but none of us are pool people, so we tended to avoid that deck during prime times, and enjoyed time in the spa pool instead. The spa was never crowded and always quiet.

 

Loved Choir of Man. A definite don’t miss, and free. Howl at the Moon was also lots of fun, and we really enjoyed the performers in the Tobacco Road bar and the Brew House.

 

The atrium was always crowded and we mostly avoided it, but we stopped to watch a couple of shows that were fun and worth putting up with the crowd.

 

After our first experience at the buffet for breakfast (madhouse!), we opted the rest of the cruise to eat breakfast in the dining rooms. That was soooooo much nicer and more enjoyable. We did have between meal snacks at the buffet a couple more times and I was never as crowded again as that first time. O’Sheehans is the only restaurant we didn’t like. Service was way too slow and the food is just typical pub food. All the other restaurants were really good, never crowded, always great service - and that includes both the complementary dining. Except for the specialty restaurants, we didn’t have reservations and never had to wait.

 

Finally, we also loved the waterfront area. It was a quiet and comfortable place to sit with a book and a drink when you wanted to be near the water, but not your own balcony.

 

I can definitely see why some would find it loud and crowded. It definitely was in prime areas like the pool and atrium. Our solution was just to seek out the places where it was more relaxing and quieter and thoroughly enjoyed it.  To me Escape had something for everyone and I loved that about it....lots of options.

[bkrickles1]

15 hours ago, nr_clark said:

Hey y'all, here goes Negative Nancy but please humor me and my questions. I don't mean to offend anyone here who are diehard NCL fans.

 

I'm sailing on the Escape with my spouse, his parents, and his brother and SIL for Bermuda in mid/late May 2019. We booked a Guarantee Balcony stateroom, It's going to be our 2nd cruise on NCL (1st on Gem), and TBH I'm not really looking forward to it because of how our 1st NCL cruise went. We just booked it because the parents in-law chose it for their 50th Anniversary.

 

Two issues we have that we hope you can help provide any workarounds for:

 

#1: We work VERY hard and expect peace & quiet on our well-earned-but-rare vacations. All we really want (specifically me, probably DH too) is peace & quiet: the sound of the ocean, and maybe some seagulls (and fingers crossed for dolphins/whales, but I don't count on it). Anyhow, NCL from my observation/experience is a VERY loud & congested cruiseline. Sometimes felt like a can of sardines, and the intercom/speaker on Gem was always blaring with the cruise director announcing daily events or up-selling the Spa or whatever...even the speaker in our stateroom!! It was HORRIBLE, especially near the pool area. Even the outdoor live band was unpleasantly loud. Constant weaving through crowds of people just to get to Point B, especially at the buffet. The only repose we really found on the Gem was in the stateroom sans-cruise-director's voice, or the MDR for breakfast or lunch, where we could actually hear our own thoughts. I noticed this on the smaller NCL Gem, and it only appears to be worse on the Escape with 5,000+ folks onboard, but I'm not sure.

 

#2: We're also VERY frugal people, and aside from splurging on the stateroom choice, we really have no intention on ANY extra purchases with extreme exceptions. NCL really nickels & dimes their passengers with "nominal fees" galore (and perhaps they despise us for not spending a single dime on the Gem). It seems like the only free things to do on NCL is 1) eat at the buffet/MDR/O'Sheehans (sp?), 2) swim in the 2 tiny & overcrowded pools (on Escape anyway), or 3) workout at the gym (which I already do enough at home).

 

So....my question is: What tips/tricks/hacks are there on the Escape to maximize relaxation or budget? Examples:

 

*Is the Vibe Beach Club worth it, OR is Spice H2O good Enough? Is VIBE really worth the $$$ to go Black-Friday-Doorbusters for after boarding? (And are passes at Headliners or Guest Services?)
*Is it worth the $$$ for room service? Or bring buffet food to stateroom?

*Chocolate Buffet? Lobster?

*Any free drinks besides at the trap that is the art auction?

*Any free specialty coffees/etc at any day/time of the cruise

*Good Shows to see? BAD Shows to avoid?

*Huge discounts on spa treatments/passes during sea/port days?

*Good deals anywhere within walking distance at Bermuda?

 

TYVM in advance! 

I sailed Escape last July to Bermuda and had a great time!

As others have said, Choir of Man is a must see. I paid to see it in the dinner theater last year, but it's free now in the main theater.

Deck 19 forward is the place to be on sea days for a much quieter experience in the sun. There's a bar, whirlpools and a misting machine to cool off. This area is just outside of Vibe, which I don't believe is worth the expense and is very hard to get.

Howl at the Moon was also great fun. I think we went for at least an hour every time it was available.

Everybody loves the Waterfront. It's a great addition to these ships. Comfy seating with tremendous sea views.

I went almost every morning after working out at 6am to have coffee. They have a couple of stations set up in the early hours with coffee. It was also a popular spot for pre dinner drinks at the 5 O'clock Somewhere bar.

The Escape is a great ship and it's pretty easy to avoid the crazy crowds if you choose to.

And I didn't feel nickel and dimed at all. I had the beverage package, which I get value out of, and I didn't feel pressed into purchasing anything else. I ate in all free venues and found good food to eat everywhere.

Enjoy!

[Laszlo]

My 2 cents, Vibe is great and my wife and I have done it 3 times. However due to the rat race to get passes will be taking a break from it in June. Spice H20 is great and free. Attached are three video's of Vibe and Spice on the Escape and the Thermal Spa on the Escape

 

 

 

You might want to think about getting Thermal Spa Passes......

 

 

 

 

 

[JimmyBuffet99]

We are going on the escape in November after 6 on Carnival and I have heard about the nickel and dimming, so I am trying to do as much research as possible so I know what exactly is free and what costs extra. This way we can plan ahead for what we want. We have the free drink package and will definitely get the value for that even with the taxes. 

 

Question - did anyone who sailed go to the Humidor cigar room? How busy was it and how easy to get a drink to bring in? 

 

As as for shows, we want to see both After Midnight and Choir of man. Is there a limit to what you can pre book? 

 

[JamieLogical]

• For peace and quiet, the Waterfront is the perfect place. It's shady, has comfortable couches and chairs, and you can listen to the ocean until your heart's content. During the day time, when there's no live music, the District Brewhouse is also nice and quiet.
• I have been on five NCL sailings so far and I have never once heard a cruise director's announcement through the speaker in our room. I have no idea what was going on with your experience on the Gem. When I sailed the Gem last June, just like every other NCL sailing, only important Captain's announcements came through the speaker in the room. Otherwise, we had to open our door to the hallway or tune the TV to the appropriate channel to hear announcements. Also, on most sailings, I've only ever heard two cruise director's per day. One in the morning around breakfast time and one before the evening activities started.
• The buffet will be crowded. That's a simple fact. For breakfast you can go to the smaller buffet they have set up in Margaritaville to avoid the crowds. It will have a more limited selection of hot items and it has breakfast sandwiches! Otherwise, stick to the MDRs for a more subdued experience.
• I have sailed on the Escape three times, the Bliss once, and the Gem once. Honestly, the Gem was the most crowded-feeling of any of my sailings, despite being a smaller ship. I mostly attribute that to the cold temps we experienced forcing everyone indoors though.
• I have never felt nickeled and dimed by NCL. I have had a couple of sailings now where I never spent any money beyond whatever OBC we had coming, except for often buying CruiseNext certificates. There is PLENTY to do for free. On the Escape there are activities in the Atrium all the time, comedy shows, Howl at the Moon several nights (DO NOT MISS IT!), mini-golf, the ropes course, water slides, live music all over, karaoke in the 5 O'Clock Somewhere bar... you will not lack for free activities. Only the Supper Club shows, the Spa, the Casino, and the Arcade cost extra for entertainment and recreation.
• For free food, you have three MDRs, O'sheehan's, the buffet, and the little mini-buffet in the Casino to choose from.
• For free drinks, make sure you sign up for the Cruise Critic Meet & Greet. Those are usually held in the District Brew House on the Escape and will include free beer and snacks.
• I've never done Vibe before, so I can't say if it's worth it. I will say that even if it *is* worth it, getting the passes is worse than trying to shop at a mall on Black Friday in the 90's. Spice H2O is nice on the non-smoking side, but I never spent much time there because the bar is on the smoking side.
• Free room service continental breakfast every day! The Room Service binder in your stateroom should have little door-hanger cards you can fill out with your order and the time you want it delivered. You just hang that on your door before bed and they bring you the food in the morning. It includes "cold" items like cereal, yogurt, fruit, and pastries as well as coffee, orange juice, and milk.
• No Lobster outside of Bayamo (one of the Specialty Restaurants) and no chocolate buffet.
• No free specialty coffee.
• 100% you NEED to go see Choir of Man in the main theater (make reservations as soon as you're on board). Also, make sure to check out Howl at the Moon in Headliners (no reservations necessary). I also always make it a point to attend the Crew Talent Show in the main theater. It's usually on the last day of the sailing and it is always a lot of fun.
• There are discounts on Spa treatments on port days, but I can't say for sure how great they are. I will say, if you were thinking about plunking down $200+ on Vibe passes, you might be better served to spend that on thermal spa passes. The thermal spa on the Escape is wonderful.
• For Bermuda itself, as soon as you get off the ship, go to the kiosk near the end of the pier and pay the $19 per person for a day-pass for public transportation. You can use it for all the busses and ferries on the while island. We used ours to take the ferry to Hamilton where we walked all around "downtown", then a bus to St. George, and then a fast ferry back to King's Wharf. It was a great way to spend the day and the only money we spent was on the day passes, lunch in Hamilton, and a cup of coffee in St. George. 

[JamieLogical]

7 minutes ago, JimmyBuffet99 said:

Question - did anyone who sailed go to the Humidor cigar room? How busy was it and how easy to get a drink to bring in? 

 

 

I am not a smoker, so I avoided it like the plague, but it is literally IN the Tobacco Road whiskey bar, so you can very easily get a drink to bring in with you.

[nr_clark]

Ah, The Waterfront...I had no idea about that and will keep in mind! Good to know Vibe isn't completely necessary. And if the MDR is not open for Breakfast we'll check out Margaritaville (although they seem to be closed for Breakfast sometimes). Howl at the Moon and Choir of Man will definitely be on our list to see. We'll be thinking about whether or not the Thermal Spa is worth the $200 pp. As for Bermuda, we'll do some more digging based on your feedback to see which option's best for us

 

Thanks a million for all your advice 😀

[bjtravelnews]

I believe Taste and Savor are also open for a sit down breakfast.