My View: Escape 'The Storm' with us! (Semi-Live)

[APDMOM]

Good Morning from NCL Escape!

 

Starting this one a bit later than usual, as day 1 has come and gone!  

 

For those who are new to my reviews - I will post TIPS in red so that skim-readers can just get the nitty gritty tips for their cruise planning.

 

We are a family of 3 in an oceanview balcony.  Our pitiful upgrade bid to Haven was declined (no surprise, as we are too frugal 🤣).  The ship is also sold out, so that may have something to do with it...

 

This is our second experience on Escape - the first was in July 2016.  I will post updates during the week of what may be different.

 

Come enjoy a week of Escape from this "winter storm" with us, even if only virtually.  

 

Our Itinerary:

 

 Our Beautiful Ship (From our previous cruise):

[APDMOM]

If you are interested in another view of this cruise, @Stealthdog is doing a B2B review, which started last week and helped us count down the days to our boarding day:

 

 

 

[APDMOM]

The Storm:

 

I was oblivious to the storm until a co-worker on Friday asked if I was afraid our cruise would be cancelled.  I never have time for 'lunch' at work, but took a quick 'lunch break' to see what she was talking about.  When I saw that Holland America had already cancelled one ship from FLL, the skeptic in me immediately thought, "What a convenient way to add a couple of days to the prep after refurbishment."  😆

 

The ultimate Pollyanna, I had no concerns and still worked at 120% to get done 30 minutes early and get home to load up the Maxda CX9 (our COVID land cruiser).

 

We drove from NE Florida to Titusville on Friday night, as we like to spend the night in a hotel close to the port.  Even though we only live 3 hours from Port Canaveral, it is one 'splurge' we allow ourselves, because I have been witness too many times of the 7-8 hour lockdowns of I-95 due to fatal crashes. So, we like to make a 'leisurely' entrance to our cruise experience by staying close to the port.

 

Towneplace Suites, Titusville

This was our second stay at this hotel prior to a cruise.  We like that it is close to the interstate, but with a price much more affordable than anything closer to the port. The hotel is clean and has the BEST soap - eucalyptus lavender... The stairs for the emergency escape are even carpeted, which gives it a classy feel.  Breakfast is typical for this type of hotel, including some hot items, waffles, and pastries.  A great stay for the price of $171 for a double queen with a kitchen.

 

We were wondering if we would get a text or email asking us to delay our arrival, but nothing came in, so we headed to the ship.

 

First glimpse of the ship: (It's a tradition - even if the picture is grainy and poor... got to capture that first glimpse)

 

 

 

 

Edited December 17, 2023 by APDMOM
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[APDMOM]

TIP:  Escape docked at the same terminal as MSC - Terminal 10

 

TIP:  PARKING:  When you get to the terminal and don't want to drop off luggage, choose one of the two far right lanes.  Two lanes become 4 lanes for the parking garage inside the port area, but only the right lane splits into 3, leaving the left lane VERY slow.  The two right lanes moved along the fastest. 

[Stealthdog]

What is better than one review?  Two reviews!!!  

[APDMOM]

1 minute ago, Stealthdog said:

What is better than one review?  Two reviews!!!  

😄 I agree!  I love getting as MUCH information as possible for upcoming cruises.  Plus, my reviews are a bit of a 'journal' too... many years down the line, when the review is well and buried, I can still access it to relive beautiful memories.

[APDMOM]

My View: Day 1 Port Canaveral

 

Our Timeline:

Arrival at Parking Garage - 9:58 (The longest wait of our boarding was to enter the garage)

Lost our heating pad - 10:20 (In 43 cruises, this is the first time it was taken. I did not even think it could be a prohibited item.) Thankfully, my back is good!

Checked in and waiting to board - 10:41 (No wait in line - walked straight up to agent.)

Onboard - just before 11

 

Boarding was SUPER fast and easy.  I was impressed with how organized it was, despite not sitting in sections.

 

 

 

 

 

[APDMOM]

Interesting Health Questions:

 

The cruise contract has not been updated to current health questions.  It still states that you have to declare if you had COVID in the past 14 days.  At the port, the questions were different.  You have to answer each question to the agent - they don't give you a form.  After you answer, each passenger signs on the sreen. 

 

Some of the questions were:

"Have you had Covid in the past 10 days?"

"Have you been exposed to anyone with Covid in the past 10 days?"

"Have you had measles or been exposed to it in the past 14 days?" (That one surprised me)

"Have you had diarrhoea or vomiting in the past 48 hours?"

"Have you had a fever in the past ? hours?" I think that was also 48 hours.

 

I really wish they would make this digital in the app too - it is much easier to read questions for someone like me who is hearing impaired.  Thankfully, it was not too busy and loud.  I only. had to ask for one question to be repeated.

 

[slavetoabunny]

It looked promising for a bit this morning, but clouded up again.  I don't need too many excuses to sit at the Haven indoor pool with a mimosa and read.

[APDMOM]

Luggage:

For the first time in all our cruises, we decided to carry our luggage on.  We read on another cruiseline, at another port, that luggage got soaking wet due to rain.  Since this was such a stormy day and we were early, we felt we would not hold up the security lines if we took our luggage through.  

 

TIP: When you get onto the ship, you can go straight to the casino to drop off your luggage.  They have security and give you a claim ticket.  You can leave carry on luggage here with peace of mind. 

 

TIP:  If you want to make reservations for shows, Supper Club, and tendering, go straight to the Box office on deck 7 Forward - to the right (Starboard) of the ship.  The boarding (gangway) took us straight onto deck 7, so just head forward from there.  You can also make reservations at the touch screens or in the app, but this one stop was quick and easy for us.

 

We booked our tender tickets and supper club for one night.  We already had a reservation for "The Choir of Man", which we booked a few weeks ago on the app.

 

 

[APDMOM]

Since it was "stormy" outside, we waited in the atrium for Taste and Savor to open for lunch.  

 

TIP: If you prefer a more quiet space for lunch, you can sit down for lunch on boarding day in Taste or Savor.  You order from a menu, so the options are more limited, but we enjoyed everything we ordered.  The MIXX bar outside Taste and Savor is also a great place to go first when you board - less crowded and right outside the restaurants.  So, you can wait here until they open for lunch.

 

The Menu:

 

Edited December 17, 2023 by APDMOM
typo

[APDMOM]

Our Lunch Order:

 

Everything we ordered was good to excellent.  The hushpuppies were obviously the most popular, since they barely made it to the photo before disappearing. 😆

 

Hushpuppies: (Will definitely order again)

 

 

Roasted Tomato Soup: 

 

 

Philly Cheese Steak:

 

Chicken Quesedilla:

 

Orange Chocolate Mousse:

 

Creme Caramel:

 

 

 

[APDMOM]

Rooms Ready:

 

It took a bit longer than on other cruises for the rooms to be ready.  They announced about 2 decks at a time.  Our room was ready just after 2 PM.  It was great to have our luggage with us, so we were unpacked and settled within 30 minutes.  READY TO CRUISE!

 

"The Storm"

 

Rainy and windy weather continued, and it became more 'stormy' as the afternoon continued.  Nothing like a tropical storm or hurricane, but not pleasant outside.   I tried to do a ship tour via WhatsApp with my family in South Africa and Namibia, but the ship has no reception inside.  I don't know if this was due to the weather, or if NCL has a way of keeping you from using cellular inside the ship - everytime I walked into the ship, I lost them on WhatsApp.  This has not happened in the past on MSC or RCL ships.  So, with wind and rain, they got a very abbreviated tour. 

 

Leaving Early:

Due to the forecast of gale force winds, the captain announced that we would try to leave at 4:30 rather than 5:30.  It did not quite work out, since there were so many other ships leaving.  We started pushing away around 5:15 PM.  

 

 

[APDMOM]

Ships leaving port:

 

Carnival Vista (taken from Garden Cafe):

 

Adventure of the Seas:

 

Goodbye our COVID canceled cabin 7388!! (Got canceled on March 13th while we were waiting at the hotel to board on March 14th, 2020. 😞  DH's worst birthday)

 

[spookylu]

Thanks for this, I love reading this! My next cruise isn't for 4+ months so I am happy to tag along on this one virtually.

[APDMOM]

Goodbye, Port Canaveral - see you in a week:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Edited December 17, 2023 by APDMOM
Typo

[APDMOM]

Evening Entertainment: The Other Guys

 

TIP: This group has more then one performance, and the shows differ.  They also perform in The Supper Club. 

 

This was a fun and entertaining show.  Although the intonation was not always perfect, the show was well worth it - a fun and relaxing way to end the day.  We plan on seeing them again later this week, when they will perform a tribute to The Jersey Boys:

 

[APDMOM]

My View: End of Day 1 - Port Canaveral

 

Since I cannot offer you a view of a sunset, here is one to wish you "Welcome Aboard!" (And not on the train)

 

 

 

[APDMOM]

The Freestyle Daily - Day 1 Port Canaveral

 

Click to download:

Day 1.pdf

 

 

[APDMOM]

TIP:  Note that the internet procedures have changed (at least since the last time we cruised and even from recent posts I read on CC).  Once you choose Escape wifi and register for the first time, you can go directly to the browser to log any device in.  If you buy the 'one device' package, you can log one out and log into another one - One device means "One at a time" (unlike MSC where you can literally only use one device).

 

 You now connect by typing in "loginnow.com" 

 

If you purchased minutes or have th 150 free minutes, be sure to type in "logoutnow.com" in your browser and click log out so that you avoid losing minutes. 

[APDMOM]

My View: Day 2 - At Sea

 

[APDMOM]

The Storm:

 

It was definitely a rocky night.  It caused the ship to lose 4 hours of time due to strong current and winds.  So, our arrival in Cozumel is delayed.  Grand Cayman is already cancelled.  Since we are cruising for the ship experience this time, we are not too disappointed - the only downside is that the ship will continue to be crowded with the extra sea day.  

 

Thankful that we did not need one of these 🫢 - provided at every staircase on the railings for seasickness:

 

[APDMOM]

We enjoyed an early breakfast in the Garden Cafe, before it got busy.  At 9:30, we went back to get a cup of coffee.  It was packed.  The crew member by the door recommended American Diner, which has complimentary breakfast (also buffet style).  They offer very basic breakfast - not a whole lot of variety, but the seating was plentiful.  Unfortunately, the coffee was not good.  We had read that coffee is very 'hit or miss' on this ship - which we found to be true.

 

 

 

 

 

[APDMOM]

Cruise Critic Meet and Mingle:

We appreciate that NCL still puts on the Cruise Critic Meet and Mingle.  It was a great opportunity to meet some of the officers.  They spent almost 30 minutes talking to everyone and making sure we are enjoying our cruise.

 

 

[APDMOM]

Today's Color Schemes:

 

 I loved the red and wanted to take a picture after our evening show, but the color scheme had changed again.  Hopefully, the red will come around again.