Getaway vs Pearl

[Stealthdog]

We are looking to book our first post-COVID cruise and think we are set on a Dec 2021 transatlantic Rome to Miami.  Two different ships leave roughly the same time, with almost identical itineraries, and about the same cost.  Looking for some thoughts on Getaway vs Pearl.  Thoughts on translatlantic sailings are nice too, but we’ve looked at those boards, so we are most interested in recommendations to help decide ship.

 

We have been on the Pearl, but haven’t been on an Away class yet.  We have been on a RCL megaship.  This is an off peak, and longer sailing, so we wouldn’t expect large number of children on either ship.

 

Pearl sails Dec 7-23, Getaway Dec 5-22.  Only itinerary difference is Pearl has a stop in Alicante Spain, while Getaway goes to Bermuda en route to Miami.

 

We are both early 40s and tend to stay up later, so take advantage of the later night entertainment (karaoke, casino, etc).  On either we will initially book club balcony suite as a placeholder.

 

I’m currently leaning towards Getaway because I think there will be more things to do on the ship during sea days and a better chance to bid up or rebook into a Haven suite if prices drop.  But the Pearl has been one of our favorite ships.
 

One thing about the Pearl we really liked is the Spa, particularly the Thermal Suites.  The Pearl spa has been our favorite on any cruise line and ship.  How is the spa and thermal suites on the Getaway?  One unique aspect we see that is different is the salt room.

 

We will probably spend a lot of evenings at the casino.  How is the casino on the Getaway - imagine it will be much bigger than Pearl given about double capacity.  Knowing it will be a different circumstance, but were craps and card tables typically filled on prior sailings?

 

Last question is around food.  We almost always have dinner in the specialty dining rooms and never go to the buffet (don’t see this changing post COVID).  Big difference I see is Ocean Blue.  What has been people’s experience there and is it worth using a dining package on?  We will probably have 8 dinners already (Status, AMEX, and Free at Sea).  We will use them Bistro and Modeno and do ala cart other nights.  Other than Ocean Blue any major differences?  And how is main dining generally on Getaway?

 

Appreciate in advance everyone’s thoughts!

[Nclcruise1415]

I’d go Getaway for all the reasons you’ve stated. More to do,  more options in the evening, and will provide better opportunities to be outside getting some fresh air even when it’s cool. Hop on YouTube and search videos for each ship. That’ll help you make up your mind pretty easily. 
 

I cannot comment on food  as I’ve not been on Getaway. We have a trip scheduled on Breakaway in April, 2021. That said, we have been on the Escape and Bliss and really enjoyed the additional dining options the larger ships offer. 
 

 

[deweytrader]

Getaway for sure!

[casofilia]

Personally a smaller ship with fewer people every time.

[GA Dave]

We found Ocean Blue on the Getaway to be very good.  I really enjoyed the clam chowder that they made right at the table (see below).  The place we loved the best was the Haven restaurant.  Service was impeccable and the food incredible.  If you can upgrade, definitely do it.

 

[PhillyTravelBug]

Getaway for the thermal spa.

[farmersfight]

2 hours ago, GA Dave said:

We found Ocean Blue on the Getaway to be very good.  I really enjoyed the clam chowder that they made right at the table (see below).  The place we loved the best was the Haven restaurant.  Service was impeccable and the food incredible.  If you can upgrade, definitely do it.

 

 

After two huge plates of Thanksgiving food, these are the last pictures I needed to see. Thanks a lot @GA Dave 😉.

 

 

[MeHeartCruising]

I’ve been on both.  Both are great ships. I’d prefer the Getaway.  More to do.  More variety.  No real negatives. 

[debenson0723]

I've been on both and would pick the Getaway just for the Thermal Spa and Waterfront.

[SteelMagnolia9]

I’ve been on both and would recommend the Pearl. Although there are more venues in the Getaway, it seemed claustrophobic and confining at times. Even though it’s a large ship, the layout didn’t lend itself to a lot of outside access. Would not go on the Getaway again. 
 

With the Covid issues, smaller is better right now and I’m wondering if some of the ports will initially restrict the larger ships from docking to limit the numbers coming in to the ports.

[BirdTravels]

We would do the Getaway just for the space. Even if it is just to bundle up and sit on the Waterfront and watch the ocean during the day. The Pearl has limited open public spaces. We have sailed on the Getaway 4 times and her sister ships about a dozen times. Highly recommended. 

Edited November 28, 2020 by BirdTravels

[Stealthdog]

17 hours ago, GA Dave said:

We found Ocean Blue on the Getaway to be very good.  I really enjoyed the clam chowder that they made right at the table (see below).  The place we loved the best was the Haven restaurant.  Service was impeccable and the food incredible.  If you can upgrade, definitely do it.

 

Thanks for the photos - you had my partner at clam chowder!  We will definitely look to upgrade - it’s just out of our range right now.  

[david_sobe]

Since you like the casino, you cant even compare the casinos Getaway vs Pearl.  The Getaway is like 10 times larger.

[Turtles06]

13 hours ago, SteelMagnolia9 said:

I’ve been on both and would recommend the Pearl. Although there are more venues in the Getaway, it seemed claustrophobic and confining at times. Even though it’s a large ship, the layout didn’t lend itself to a lot of outside access. Would not go on the Getaway again. 

 

 

13 hours ago, BirdTravels said:

We would do the Getaway just for the space. Even if it is just to bundle up and sit on the Waterfront and watch the ocean during the day. The Pearl has limited open public spaces. We have sailed on the Getaway 4 times and her sister ships about a dozen times. Highly recommended. 

 

I was fascinated by these two completely opposite recommendations (posted at almost the same time).   Just like food, it seems, one's reaction to a ship is very subjective. 

[MNcruisingcouple]

I would chose the Getaway for more entertainment options and the Waterfront.  

[Sand and Seas]

21 hours ago, Turtles06 said:

 

 

I was fascinated by these two completely opposite recommendations (posted at almost the same time).   Just like food, it seems, one's reaction to a ship is very subjective. 

Excellent point!    We each choose with different views of what we are looking for on a cruise.  Some do not care which ship they choose as they are more interested in itinerary.  Others (like me) are looking for what the ship offers in entertainment and dining.    

 

My (subjective) choice is Getaway.  I love the Waterfront,  Ocean Blue and the larger casino😊

[RunBikeCruiseDC]

Another vote for the Getaway.  We haven't been on any Gem class ships.  But sounds like your interest are about like ours- entertainment and food.  We love the Waterfront on the Breakaway Class ships.  We also go to the Comedy Club/Howl at the Moon often when on those ships.

 

 

[bluesea777]

We have been on several TAs (all westbound) and would say go for the Getaway .... for a TA crossing with many sea days you should go for the bigger ships with better variety of dining venues and activities.

 

Here is a clincher - the Club Balcony suites are great on the GA - better than the Pearl - GA's CBS have bigger bathroom with luxury shower and long trough sink. When you select the CBS cabin make sure it has shower rather than bathtub.

 

One of our TAs was on the Jade which is sister ship to Pearl. She went thru the TA well but we prefer bigger ships for the TAs. If it was a port intensive cruise we prefer smaller ships.

 

A stop in Bermuda is GREAT!!! We live here in Bermuda and it had been on our bucket list to be on a cruise ship sailing into and out of Bermuda ... it became a reality in Oct 2017 when we sailed the TA on Getaway from Copenhagen to Miami ... it was sheer excitement for us. We off loaded our shopping, dirty laundry and booze (akvavit from Denmark - I'm 1/2 danish) in Bermuda and went home to drop them off and returned to ship to continue the cruise!

 

Our next TA is on the Epic in Dec 2022 from Southampton to New York via Bermuda so we'll be able to return to England to take some stuff out of storage to bring it home to Bermuda. This year we sold our UK house and bought one here, so we're here in Bermuda for the rest of our lives.

 

 

Edited November 29, 2020 by bluesea777

[Stealthdog]

Thank you so much for all the responses!  We went with the Getaway with a Club Suite on the 14th deck.  Hopefully we eventually upgrade to Haven.  The Pearl is really one of our favorites, but the 6-7 days at sea pushed us to the Getaway.  The variety and options on ship for both the sea days, and 17-18 night cruise, vs the comfort of a smaller ship with fewer passengers just seemed like the right decision for us for this sailing.  Thanks again!

[Stealthdog]

3 hours ago, bluesea777 said:

 

 

 

@bluesea777 - thanks for the response.  We’ll be interested in your thoughts on what to do in Bermuda, especially in December.  I spent 5 days there about 10 years ago and had a great time but that was summer time.
 

I did Epic a few years ago - if you have any questions let me know!

[Stealthdog]

4 hours ago, RunBikeCruiseDC said:

Another vote for the Getaway.  We haven't been on any Gem class ships.  But sounds like your interest are about like ours- entertainment and food.  We love the Waterfront on the Breakaway Class ships.  We also go to the Comedy Club/Howl at the Moon often when on those ships.

 

 

Howl at the Moon is one of our favorites on any cruise line.  We will probably spend many nights there.  Definitely a selling point on such a long cruise. 😀

[bluesea777]

On 11/29/2020 at 9:39 PM, Stealthdog said:

@bluesea777 - thanks for the response.  We’ll be interested in your thoughts on what to do in Bermuda, especially in December.  I spent 5 days there about 10 years ago and had a great time but that was summer time.
 

I did Epic a few years ago - if you have any questions let me know!

 

The weather in December - when you get to Bermuda - will be crapshoot - maybe you'll have a nice warm sunny day ... or not. I would assume the Dockyard will be active when the ship is in.

 

As for Epic, it'll be our 4th time (and 3rd TA) on her. 😉

 

 

[gatorchinsky]

Definitely the Getaway!  We’ve been on both and I never felt so crowded then when we were on the Pearl.  I know that might sound strange but we waited more for a drink at anytime during the day/evening, waited forever to be seated for dinner and just felt like there was no place to go to get away from crowds.  We have never felt like that on any of the Away class ships.

[PTC DAWG]

Getaway, for all the reasons stated.  

[Nebr.cruiser]

We've been on both.  The Pearl was fine (weather from NY to Ireland not!) but we prefer the Getaway for most of the reasons others have listed.