Vacation escape on the Escape - LIVE report, 3-13 August 2022 from Civitavecchia to Greek Islands, Malta and Italy

[Utas2]

On 8/7/2022 at 7:23 PM, Wyachb100 said:

I am on this cruise in September in a Spa Cabin.  If possible, can you tell me if there is any Tonic Zero anywhere on the Escape.   I don't like the taste of normal Tonic and want to limit the calories.  No big deal if not, as I will drink Wine and Soda but I like a G&T in the evening.

Hi, trying to respond all the questions.

 

No, according to bar staff there is no zero tonic on board. There is diet lemon lime and pepsi diet. I am for Coca-Cola, but NCL is for Pepsi, so I stick to my prosecco-white wine and occasional vodka diet….:-))))))

Edited August 9, 2022 by Utas2

[Utas2]

6 hours ago, diddydoormouse said:

Could you please tell us what days and times are the Choir of Man show - thanks

Hi, here are the entertainment brief.

[Laser77]

Wanted to thank you for taking the time to write. We're on board next week and have enjoyed getting an insight. 

I'd wondered what happened with Mykonos. Marinetraffic.com showed it getting pretty close before turning around.

 

[Utas2]

7 hours ago, Laser77 said:

Wanted to thank you for taking the time to write. We're on board next week and have enjoyed getting an insight. 

I'd wondered what happened with Mykonos. Marinetraffic.com showed it getting pretty close before turning around.

 

Of course, cancelling Mykonos was a disappointment, and the Captain explained repeatedly the details of the decision. Apparently there have been a consultation with other vessels that were scheduled to dock and all of them agreed that due to the forecast it was not safe to enter the harbour - the winds were to becoming even stronger by the time of departure in the afternoon, and given the height of the ship and hence the large surface that the wind would push to the side, there was a risk that it could tilt to an extent that even the return on board would have been not possible.

The topic was also discussed during a Q&A session next day, where the ship’s technical operations were presented in the theather by the Captain and the Chief Engineer. It was an informative event, several details of the propulsion system, the fuel consumption and the engine controls were presented. Plus of course, some pax with maritime career could ask  details about maintenance and stuff, and the circumstances of the incident in Puerto Plata.

Kudos to the Captain to take the time and explained everyting again.

As this was the second cancellation (Corfu was a corporate decision to allow more port time in Mykonos and Valetta), we were also provided with a letter from the Captain, and an extra 50 bucks onboard credit pp.

 

We chatted also with some officers and apparently Mykonos might get cancelled for weather reasons occasionally (like 1-2 times in every 10 cruises there).

Edited August 10, 2022 by Utas2

[Ticatraveler]

Could you please let me know if any specialty restaurants are open during lunch?

[Utas2]

1 hour ago, Ticatraveler said:

Could you please let me know if any specialty restaurants are open during lunch?

Yes, usually American Diner and Food Republic for sure, but I will post the dailys, so you have an idea. We tried the Food Republic yesterday. I will write about that.

[rbxlady]

I always wondered, do they refund any port fees/taxes when a port is cancelled?

 

I’m sorry Mykonos was cancelled but am happy to see you still got to go to Santorini. It looks beautiful!

[Utas2]

Daily 1 (embarkation day in Civitavecchia)

[Utas2]

Day 2 sea day

[Utas2]

Day 3 Santorini

[Utas2]

Before I post more pics and info, this is a heads-up to all the CC followers that the most important information about the cruise shall also be posted soon.

Stay tooned folks!

Edited August 10, 2022 by Utas2

[Utas2]

To be honest the ship internet does not work as expected on board, especially as the NCL app and the Dailyes encourage you to use CruiseCritic as one of the free, complementary apps. Well, I had to use my 150 mins package a few times just to get to cruisecritic. Something to improve, NCL.

I will shortly post some updates on the second sea day (with some photos that show my struggle on the ropes course….:-))) but it is a great experience! I tried a smaller version on the Getaway, but this one is 3 storeys high…..

 

Do not forget to check on this topic, and if yoh have some questions, a few days left.

cheers.

 

Edited August 10, 2022 by Utas2

[Utas2]

Day 4 Daily

 

Edited August 11, 2022 by Utas2

[Utas2]

Second sea day was easy going as expected while the Escape cruised at about 11 knots towards Malta. For breakfast I had a tasty avocado toast in the Haven restaurant.

Hanging around the sundeck, some treatments in the Spa, sauna, steam batch, sanarium, salt room and snow room was all tried and enjoyed. 
The Q&A session with the Captain I already mentioned. Escape is the tallest in the NCL fleet, 59.8m, it has 165,157 gross tonnage, 325.9 m long.

Max speed is 22 knots, ensured by its propulsion system consisting of 2 azipod 360 degrees and 2 fixed propellers. For rough sea conditions it can deploy its 2 stabilisers (covering 22 square meters).

The ship is usually refuelled in Civitavecchia, but it is capable to use its fuel for 2 weeks. For more you should visit the one hour session during your own cruise:-)

 

Lunch we tried the Food Republic where you can order and pay all your food items using a tablet. It was worth a try, service was quick and for those who like the Asian kitchen and its variations the place is a nice to have. 

[Utas2]

Hoping that your cruises will make it to the Mykonos port, here is the originally planned activities for day 5 Daily

[Utas2]

In the afternoon of the second sea day I tried my vertigo on the ropes course. There were quite some people taking the challenges of 99 crossings across a 3 storey high construction, including a 4 feet long plank reaching over the sea, and other funs.

you have to be below 136 kgs and above 122 cm to be allowed on the course, nothing in the pockets.

Some photos that I dare to share with keeping my dignity…..

[Utas2]

And the evening of the last sea day was for us a delicious dinner in the Haven Restaurant, followed by the Glow Party in the H2OSpice. I made some videos, too, but you should experience yourself the energy and the fantastic vibe of the event.

[Utas2]

The next morning La Valetta, Malta welcomed us. It is a short walk from disembarkation to reach the elevator to the Upper Barrakka Gardens from where you can enjoy the view, entertain yourself with the frequent demonstrations of discharging the guns (loud) and then to start your stroll in the inner city part of Valetta, full of walking streets, churches, shops, cafees and old establishments.

The elevator costs 1 eur/person (it is the return price) and only cash payments. The ride is about 30-40 seconds, up to approx. 19 storey high.

Malta is full of historical places, proud of its very busy history and the many wars that were fought to defend or occupy the island. Unfortunately, for the more informed, the recent killing of one of its most famous investigative journalist, Daphne Caruana Galizia, and the still pending justice for her death casts a shadow on the current state affairs, too.

 

[Utas2]

After a few hours wondering in Valetta we tool the same route back to the ahip via the elevator (no queues), and before boarding we visited se shops in the Waterfront, right next where Escape was docking. For eventual collectors: the Hard Rock Cafe is also on the Waterfront.

 

For dinner we managed to secure a booking in the Manhattan Room and an excellent table looking at the evening lights of the harbour. The MR is pretty large and busy, therefore we noticed that ocassional hickups might happen in the service (not the fault of the waiters). However, we also noticed the number of supervisors trying to maintain a smooth handling of the large number of guests, also approaching tables for feedbacks.

 

some pics on the menu, the food we chose, the view, including a passing maritime vessel of the Maltese coast guard.

 

Finally, we called it a night by visiting the Haven Lounge, chatting with the attentive staff and some of the other guests there. It was a hot, long day, and from the balcony we enjoyed the departure of the Escape (and some hilariously enthusiastic greetings between the passengers of our ship and the Aida Blue, and the Maltese people…..

I posted the video on my instagram, here are some photos only.

 

 

Edited August 11, 2022 by Utas2

[Utas2]

The following day we woke up as the Escape was docking into Messina port, or I should rather say, its city centre. Right after leaving the vessel you just cross the street and in fact you are in the centre of this small town. We again decided not to take any shore excursions (I have been to the Etna and also in Catania, although the ancient place of Taormina still awaits), so instead we took a few hours walk in the Sicilian city, and bought some souvenirs. 
Right at the doorstep of the port there are dozens of local ventures offering different tours and rides.

IMHO, Messina is a typical Sicilian place, in case you are not looking for a historically wow place like the Etna it is worth to visit for a few hours.

I posted a video on our departure at my insta again, here some photos. After coming back we chilled a bit in the the cabin’s Jacuzzi, and booked a table in the La Cuccina. Service was excellent and very quick, the food improved a lot since my last experiences a few years ago on another NCL ship.

 

[diddydoormouse]

On 8/9/2022 at 8:59 PM, Utas2 said:

Hi, here are the entertainment brief.

 

[diddydoormouse]

Brilliant thanks 😀

[Laser77]

Thanks again for posting. So is there any actual comedy at the comedy club? Everything listed seems to be music.

 

[Utas2]

18 hours ago, Laser77 said:

Thanks again for posting. So is there any actual comedy at the comedy club? Everything listed seems to be music.

 

Yes, that is my observation, too, as the events across the ship’s various places mostly offer musical or visual entertainments, plus game shows. I guess that is due to the fact that the audience in mainly international, lot of European (if not more than half) guests, so for them an English language comedy would not be attractive. 
BTW, I also noted (besides the regular “suspects” of UK, Spain, and some other European nations, like Germans, Italians, Dutch, Irish, and let alone even a few Hungarians like us:-), there is a sizeable Maltese guest group on board, benefiting from the ship’s stop at Valetta, where they embark/debark.

But of course, the US and Canada are well represented amongst the quests. This is my personal observation, wondering around the ship.

[Utas2]

After visiting Messina the next port was Naples. Sorry, folks, but as I had been to Naples already 3 times, and took the most usual excursions to Pompei, Sorrento, Amalfi coast, this time we just visited the cruise terminal building to do a casual shopping of some Naplese sweets and souveniers for home. The place of course caters for tourists, but in some of the shops you can have a chance to bargain a discount price.

The port was very busy with 4 large cruise ships docked (next to the Escape we had a Viking, the Regal Princess and the MSC Bellavista).

So after walking to and back from the terminal we stayed on-board, enjoying the calm port day by  the sundeck and the poolbar.

 

I also promised earlier to share with you some thoughts that you might wish to consider. Before doing so, in all honesty, I have to also mention that one of the very few disappointments during our cruise was during the dinner in Cagney’s - usually we consider visiting Cagney’s as one of the highlights. Well, this time it was not.

I made a booking well in advance to secure a place, and upon arrival the place was busy but not extremely busy.

 

After being seated we awaited for 20 mins to have someone come and ask for our drink orders… and kudos for the sup who realised that and tried to relax the situation, but to us (one of us has a 15 years hospitality background) the place was not of the highest standard. To start with the speed and quality of service, the soup arrived before the drinks did, some staff was a bit lacking attention and did not make even the extra mile for living up to the expectations of Cagney’s.

I was wondering if that is due to the current struggle to attract quality staff back to business.

The butter for the bread was almost fully melted, and the biggest surprise was when we both ordered the filet mignon, with very same style/temperature, still, what we got on the table were two very differently done filet mignon…..

Hm, so we ended up a bit earlier, no big damage, just the service was sub-par compared to the expectations and previous experiences of Cagney’s.

Usually we appreciate that with some tipping, this was not the case.

We closed the evening in the Haven lounge, where we had some

really nice chats with the bar staff and the concierge (kudos to Dilip, BTW, he came to see us in the Cagney’s as he remembered our reservation there).

 

Edited August 12, 2022 by Utas2