Platinum cruiser just off the Escape from Bermduda - a quick and dirty review

[Barb Nahoumi]

We were on the Gem From Boston to Bermuda in May.  There was turn-down service every night.  I don't think that NCL will eliminate it completely, especially in cabins where the stewards must open pull-out couches, trundle beds, and pull down bunks.

[PortFees45]

Just now, Barb Nahoumi said:

We were on the Gem From Boston to Bermuda in May.  There was turn-down service every night.  I don't think that NCL will eliminate it completely, especially in cabins where the stewards must open pull-out couches, trundle beds, and pull down bunks.

Was the forward sundeck on Deck 14 open to the public, or was it blocked off for Haven/Suites only? I'm talking about the Sundeck all the way forward, above Spinnakers, where you can look down on the little crew pool at the bow. 

[Barb Nahoumi]

1 minute ago, PortFees45 said:

Was the forward sundeck on Deck 14 open to the public, or was it blocked off for Haven/Suites only? I'm talking about the Sundeck all the way forward, above Spinnakers, where you can look down on the little crew pool at the bow. 

I'm not sure, because I didn't go up there.  I sat on deck 13, outside of Spinnaker.

[rtkenmore]

5 hours ago, PortFees45 said:

Yeah and once the majority of pax disembark they bring the doggos onboard and sweep the ship.

 

OP likely smelled the flavored e-tobacco juice. THC oil is actually designed to be nearly scent-free for obvious reasons (not scent free to the dogs, though). 

 

Aren't you the OP??

Edited July 7, 2019 by rtkenmore

[kba1988]

Do you happen to have a copy of the dailies? It would be nice to know which entertainment venues are available on which nights   

[peteukmcr]

Thanks for your review. 10 weeks and we’re on Escape. Your experience at Cagney’s is a little concerning, especially the price hikes as we’re al a carte here on the last night and our experiences on Epic and Breakaway haven’t been stellar but we like a steak!

[Arzeena]

4 hours ago, dexddd said:

Those are therapy dogs, for your convenience, of course.

Heyyyy!

I did not have an opportunity to see you on the June 22 cruise.

We had an extremely negative experience and will not be looking back at that cruise line again. They made me truly appreciate NCL and Royal even after all their cutbacks.

 

 

[PortFees45]

30 minutes ago, kba1988 said:

Do you happen to have a copy of the dailies? It would be nice to know which entertainment venues are available on which nights   

Sorry I do not. 

[perditax]

2 hours ago, peteukmcr said:

Thanks for your review. 10 weeks and we’re on Escape. Your experience at Cagney’s is a little concerning, especially the price hikes as we’re al a carte here on the last night and our experiences on Epic and Breakaway haven’t been stellar but we like a steak!

 

I would at the very least order a cut other than the filet. I was on the same cruise, and the filet I had in multiple venues was tough and tasteless. Maybe they will change their sourcing by your cruise. 

 

(I’ve never had a significant problem with service at any of the specialties, but I always dine early. Actually, come to think of it, I had better service in the specialties last week on Escape than I did in the Haven restaurant on BA in April.)

[ghc10]

5 hours ago, PortFees45 said:

I don't hang out in SpiceH20 much, but there were some kids in the adult pool at one point. Granted they were with their family, but I went right to the nearest NCL employee and let him know. He immediately notified the deck supervisor and the kids were ejected within 5 minutes.

We had a 10 month old in our party and we were told we could not bring her into spiceh20. Also saw a group of teens be asked to leave. They definitely were enforcing the rules 

[newmexicoNita]

19 hours ago, perditax said:

Just got off the same cruise. Not sure what you mean by 'no turndown service', but every evening I got my room made up, new pool towel and the next day's planner (and one thousand sales flyers) left on bed, decorative throw cushions removed from bed. 

 

In fact, I could have sworn from previous cruises that they don't do evening service on the last night of the cruise, but this morning (disembark) I had a card on my door saying they'd tried to service the room last night but didn't because I had the DND light on.

 

Maybe you mean something different by turndown service. 

Not sure either what OP meant; we have friends that just got back. They had turn down service. this seems strange that some got it and some did not. 

[newmexicoNita]

16 hours ago, PortFees45 said:

I'm not the first person to mention a reduction/elimination in turndown service. I said "confirmed" because I seemed to be seeing what I'd already read about on these boards for myself. 

and it has pretty much been posted as false. I think your later explanation that you did have the DND light on explains a lot. I am glad to know the cabin stewards can get our cabins cleaned quickly and not at 9pm. Now, maybe the turn down service isn't as detailed as years past, but as long as I have  a bathroom that has been somewhat cleaned and a freestyle daily I am happy. I certainly do not clean my bathroom at home every night. 

[PortFees45]

Also forgot to mention no balcony lights in standard balconies (they have them on Haven balconies).

 

I think this is a great change. It's so annoying being stuck to someone who leaves their damn light on all night, especially if you're a stargazer. 

[cruisingmomof5]

On 7/7/2019 at 11:52 AM, Son of a son of a ... said:

I’m back, too ... so I’ll post under your thread ... thanks!

 

Just back from a seven day cruise from NYC to Bermuda on the Escape ... a few observations.

We took Amtrak to Penn Station.  Train was on time and the cab fare to the port was under $20.

Platinum priority boarding line was definitely shorter than the general boarding line.  The general boarding line had approximately 150 people.  We were on the ship by 1130.

We went to the Savor for lunch.  The food was salty (as expected) and the service was extremely slow.  NCL seats sections and then paces service.  If you are seated early in the section, then service is very slow.  Luckily, this was our only experience with slow service.

We had a spa balcony.  The spa was great!  Almost no one there on embarkation day.  Throughout the week, the available seating was abundant with even a few heated loungers open every time we went.  

We didn’t use the spa on port days because, after spending the day in the sun and water, we were already relaxed.  

The Choir of Man was as good as everyone says.  Get there early for a good seat as it is a popular show.  I couldn’t believe they have a license for “contemporary” songs.  They announced that they are going on tour in the near future and there will be another COM replacing them.  

At the Welcome Aboard Show, it was announced that towel animals were being discontinued.

NCL needs to address marijuana vaping onboard.  We could smell it morning, noon, and night on the balcony.  Several times we could smell it in the hallways.  Maybe NCL is turning a blind eye, but it was readily apparent by smell that folks were partaking.

We arrived in Bermuda a day early to drop off an ill passenger via pilot boat and then went back out to sea for the day and night to make circles until the next morning.

Bermuda weather was hot and sunny. Indeed, we had great weather the entire cruise.  

On day one in Bermuda, we took the minibus to Horseshoe Beach.  The ride was $14 per person round trip.  The beach was crowded, the water and rocks were beautiful.  We got an umbrella and beach chairs for $48.

On day two, we to the NCL excursion to Clearwater Beach Triangle.  It started with the NCL ferry to St George and a short driving tour around St George.  At the beach, lunch, drink, umbrella and chairs were all available.  Bring your own goggles and snorkel - you can find cheap ones in the states.  The venue had masks and snorkels for use, but no one was washing them out between use.  This excursion was great!  A lot of sun and water.

On day three, we walked around the naval yard.  There is a beach within short walking distance from the ship, but we were “sunned out” by then.  We toured the fort, which was very informative.  It cost $15 pp.  Afterward, went shopping.  The t shirt prices were high so we waited until the next sea day to buy Bermuda shirts on the ship - 2 for $20.  We did buy some rum cake souvenirs on shore.

The chair hogs were out in strong force on all sea days.  You could not find a chair and NCL’s attempts to control squatting failed miserably.  The pool was completely taken over and kids were in Spice H2O.  We were glad we got the spa!  Give that we had three days in Bermuda, we didn’t miss the deck time.

We ate at Tepenaki, Cagneys (x2) and La Cucina (x2).  We had early reservations on most nights.  Food and service were excellent.  We leaving some nights, we noticed very long lines waiting to get into the restaurants.

We went to the magic show ... aside from the woman’s singing, the rest of the show was very blah and used simple, common props or slight of hand.  2 out of 10.

We went to the comedy show in the main theater - the host and two comedians.  The first comedian completely bombed.  No one was laughing and the comic knew his set stunk.  He abruptly closed and walked off.  I felt a bit sorry for him.  The second comedian was somewhat better, but after the first one bombing, the threshold was low.  4 out of 10.

The casino was very tight, then loose, then very tight, and ended very loose. We made enough money to pay off our bill and take some home.  Sorry to those folks coming onboard next because all the money was sucked out last night!

Disembarkation was a bit of a cluster. All told it took 45 minutes.  If you are in a rush, get a porter.
 

We bought cruise next vouchers and will cruising with NCL again.

I will be on the Escape Sunday, I see you mentioned chair hogs.  What is the latest time to get a lounge chair before they are all gone? Are they all gone by 8AM?

[Son of a son of a ...]

1 hour ago, cruisingmomof5 said:

I will be on the Escape Sunday, I see you mentioned chair hogs.  What is the latest time to get a lounge chair before they are all gone? Are they all gone by 8AM?

 

The best ones around the pool or with ocean views go very fast.  The chairs are set up three deep in some parts.  The earlier, the better.  DW ended up using our balcony ... simply place the couch cushion and pillows on the balcony and you have a great sun bed for one.  

[cruisingmomof5]

24 minutes ago, Son of a son of a ... said:

 

The best ones around the pool or with ocean views go very fast.  The chairs are set up three deep in some parts.  The earlier, the better.  DW ended up using our balcony ... simply place the couch cushion and pillows on the balcony and you have a great sun bed for one.  

I get they are all gone, one woul expect that on such a large cruise but Im still  confused as to what time. Are people out there at 6AM?

[chars]

Are there still signs around the ship that state chairs can't be held for a period of time?  In the past, if there were items on chairs for a long period of time (hours) I would move the items to another place and take the chair.  I think it is completely rude for people to "claim" the chair for the day.  

[PortFees45]

10 minutes ago, chars said:

Are there still signs around the ship that state chairs can't be held for a period of time?  In the past, if there were items on chairs for a long period of time (hours) I would move the items to another place and take the chair.  I think it is completely rude for people to "claim" the chair for the day.  

They have language stating that on the big screens on the pooldeck (not constant, it rotates through). I did notice employees at peak times in the peak areas (around the pool) putting stickers with timestamps on loungers with unattended items. 

[mizLORInj]

Have to agree about Cagney's.  We used our platinum certificate there on Escape in November, or maybe it was the 3 meal package--don't recall.   We had a 2nd res for later in the week and after our 1st experience at Cagney's we changed it to Teppenyaki.  

[DuckTollerFans]

We had mixed experiences at Cagney's in early June. 

My husband's beef (filet) was fair, a bit dry for his taste.  His appetizer of Oysters Rockefeller made him happy though.

I had a delicious crab cake appetizer and fantastic lamb chops.  (If I'd been at home I would have gnawed at the bones to get every last bit!)   The biggest complaint about the meal was my broccoli.  It was barely warm, had no seasoning, and clearly an afterthought. I think in many of the restaurants veggies are a real afterthought.

Also, we had to ask/wait for a wine list.

 

By far the best beef we had was at the Wine Tasting: The Musical. 

[perditax]

Can confirm they were stickering chair hog chairs last week on the main pool deck. 

 

(There was one day (I can’t remember if it was a sea day) where I counted about 12 heated loungers in the thermal suite where people had carefully left personal belongings and then gone off to do something else, possibly somewhere else on the ship. There wasn’t a single one free, and there were more “reserved” tile loungers than there were people in the entire spa area. Come on, guys, don’t do this. I like to swim in the warm pool and then dry off for about fifteen minutes on a tile lounger. You were gone way more than fifteen minutes. Not cool.)

[newmexicoNita]

On 7/8/2019 at 1:49 PM, cruisingmomof5 said:

I get they are all gone, one woul expect that on such a large cruise but Im still  confused as to what time. Are people out there at 6AM?

no, not at 6am but if you put your belongings on a chair or lounge than early and do not intend on using the lounger right then you are doing the same thing. This is a no win situation. the only thing that seems to work would be to move peoples belongings if there has been no one around for say, 1/2 hour or hour 

[Laszlo]

On 7/7/2019 at 3:02 PM, BirdTravels said:

Thanks for the review. We were on the Escape in April and enjoyed the cruise. We had the same observation about Cagney's,,,, worst service ever (and we cruise on NCL 4-5 times a year). We canceled a second reservation there. And brought the poor experience to the Assistant Hotel Manager (who then followed us around for the rest of the cruise). 

I guess it all depends on the month, day, hour you guy. My wife and I were on the June 9th sailing and had dinner at Cagney's one night with another couple. The service was absolutely out fantastic, I thought it was even better than the dinner service in the Haven Restaurant. Restaurants can be hit or miss

[PortFees45]

11 hours ago, perditax said:

Can confirm they were stickering chair hog chairs last week on the main pool deck. 

 

(There was one day (I can’t remember if it was a sea day) where I counted about 12 heated loungers in the thermal suite where people had carefully left personal belongings and then gone off to do something else, possibly somewhere else on the ship. There wasn’t a single one free, and there were more “reserved” tile loungers than there were people in the entire spa area. Come on, guys, don’t do this. I like to swim in the warm pool and then dry off for about fifteen minutes on a tile lounger. You were gone way more than fifteen minutes. Not cool.)

Move the stuff from the thermal lounger. If they complain, tell the person there are multiple signs saying thermal loungers can't be reserved. If they keep complaining, go tell them to talk to the staff. 

[gymbomb]

On 7/8/2019 at 3:21 PM, PortFees45 said:

They have language stating that on the big screens on the pooldeck (not constant, it rotates through). I did notice employees at peak times in the peak areas (around the pool) putting stickers with timestamps on loungers with unattended items. 

 

We saw employees putting stickers on chairs and then coming back and removing belongings from chairs that were left unattended for more than an hour. We were able to get chairs in the shade on the pool deck two sea days between 9-10 a.m. because they were pretty efficient at doing this.