Norwegian Escape

Item: Norwegian Escape
Rating: 4
Author: shavdean

Norwegian Escape Cruise Review to Caribbean - Eastern

shavdean

Contributor Level: Purser

Cruises: 4-6 cruises

Review: 1

Helpful Votes: 9

Overall rating:

4 out of 5

Verified Review

7 Night Eastern Caribbean (Miami Roundtrip)

Sail date: December 12, 2015

Ship: Norwegian Escape

Cabin type: Balcony

Cabin number: 9924

Traveled as: Large Group

Reviewed: 8 years ago

Review summary

I enjoyed the cruise ship. For the most part the staff was nice, the food was good, and the ambiance was wonderful. I was most disappointed with the automatic charges for gratuities which left me unable to use my $50 onboard credit. The cruise line required me to pay those charges upfront each day. It basically left me without the onboard credit until the very last day of the cruise where I complained so much until they finally removed the charges. However, my card remained frozen most of the trip because I didn't want to pay the $95 in gratuities. I did not like that policy at all. I always leave tips for my room stewards and that's the way I wanted it to remain. The automatic gratuities each day should be optional for passengers and not a requirement!!!

Ship experiences

Food and Dining

5 out of 5

Onboard Activities

5 out of 5

Entertainment

5 out of 5

Service and Staff

3 out of 5

Ship Quality

5 out of 5

Cabin / Stateroom

5 out of 5

Loved the cabin, the room space, and the balcony!!

Ports of call

Miami, Florida

5 out of 5

Charlotte Amalie, St. Thomas

3 out of 5

Tortola, British Virgin Islands

1 out of 5

Nassau, Bahamas

5 out of 5

11 Comments

bluemoonies 8 years ago

teresar2012.I agree with the fact that some servers don't give their best service because they are getting a guarenteed tip, but once we get a good server, we request them each night. Or if you give them a small cash tip on your 1st encounter, I bet service will be great going forward.

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teresar2012 8 years ago

I'm cruising on the Escape in August. The only problem with prepaying tips is I have found the service can be lacking because they know no matter how hard they work or not they are assured those tips. I found that some of the bar's/ nightclubs on a previous Norwegian cruise, that was my only complaint was slow to non existent service.

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bluemoonies 8 years ago

I like the policy of charging each person a per day amount for gratuities. This insures that everyone leaves tips. I have been cruising for 20 years with both systems of tipping, cash and daily charge to cabin. On NCL, employees understand the tipping system. I like to give my room steward a tip on my 1st day of arrival, above what I am charged daily. They are extremrly appeciative and my new best friend. I do the same in the dining rooms. I am in the service industry so If I find a waiter who is amazing, I leave them a cash tip and request that waiter every time I eat in that particular restaurant. Sad to say but I have been on cruises with the cash tips on the last evening and have heard people say that they were going to eat in the buffet on the last night to avoid having to tip. The cruise staff work EXTREMLY hard and long hours. They ahould never be cheated out of tips so people can cut costs but yet have the money to buy cheap, crappy t shirts.

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francis29 8 years ago

I like taking care of everyone on my own and as nickman684 mentioned... they remember you better! I always ended up paying more $$ in tips but they go above and beyond for me and my family!

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samyers 8 years ago

So you wanted to pay the gratuities in cash at the end of the cruise? I've cruised on five different cruise lines and for years they've all charged the gratuities to your account credit card. I prefer that to having to give cash to all the different attendants and waiters at the end of the cruise.

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francis29 8 years ago

You cannot remove it anymore! they charge your card daily and you cannot leave the ship without paying the gratuities in full, no matter if you complain or not. The only way of getting the money back is sending a form by email and they take two of weeks to process it! I had no problems with them before but this is a new policy as per management:(

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nickman684 8 years ago

Just thought about it and what you say did happen this year on a Royal Carribean cruise. they charged but I went to the Purser the last day and it was removed. I will let you know.

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evanaction 8 years ago

Good luck. Let us know when you get back!

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nickman684 8 years ago

I've never had to do that but its been a little over a year since the last NCL cruise. Guess I'll find out.

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evanaction 8 years ago

You don't have to prepay, but you have to pay before you leave the ship. If you decide you want it removed after you leave the ship you have to open a case with NCL via an online form :/

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nickman684 8 years ago

Unless things changed, you do not have to prepay the gratuities. I never do. I take care of everyone on my own and they make out better. there's something about handing someone a tip that lets them remember you better than the measley amount they end up with on the automatic plan. I'm leaving in 3 weeks and opted out of the automatic with no problem. If you booked through NCL there is a specific box for just that.

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