NCL new ship missed the mark

Norwegian Escape Cruise Review to Caribbean - Eastern

bimbo

Contributor Level: Purser

Cruises: 4-6 cruises

Review: 1

Helpful Votes: 12

Overall rating:

2 out of 5

Verified Review

7 Night Eastern Caribbean (Miami Roundtrip)

Sail date: December 26, 2015

Ship: Norwegian Escape

Cabin type: Balcony

Cabin number: 11906

Traveled as: Large Group

Reviewed: 8 years ago

Review summary

Pros: excellent food

half of the staff really tried to provide excellent service

Cons: where to start? If you didn't make restaurant or show reservations prior to the cruise, good luck. You were forced to eat at the buffet. We made show reservations prior to the cruise and our reservations for one show was cancelled prior to the cruise and the other complimentary show was completely cancelled half way thru the cruise. Layout of the new ship is POOR. Tiny inside and balcony staterooms and small common meeting areas. Did I mention two tiny complimentary pools exist for 5000 people? Forget about securing a lounger or even a chair.

Watch for fine print because what you think you paid for on this cruise will be different when you receive the invoice at the end of the cruise. We purchased the unlimited beverage package. We inquired about the additional port charges for beverages consumed while awaiting departure in Miami. We received three different answers from Guest services. Sure enough, port charges apply to beverages consumed while on US ports. So read the fine print and monitor your onboard charges carefully!

We waited 2 1/2 hours for dining in Manhatten room two times. We went to the bar ourselves because the waitstaff was so slow to deliver our drinks.

Our group was comprised of experienced cruisers and more than half have cruised with NCL. All seventeen of us will never cruise with NCL again after this experience.