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Norwegian Escape Cruise Review to Caribbean - Eastern

rileyo1974

Contributor Level: Purser

Cruises: 2-3 cruises

Review: 1

Helpful Votes: 47

Overall rating:

2 out of 5

Verified Review

7 Night Eastern Caribbean (Miami Roundtrip)

Sail date: January 16, 2016

Ship: Norwegian Escape

Cabin type: Balcony

Cabin number: 15828

Traveled as: Singles/Friends

Reviewed: 8 years ago

Review summary

1. most crew members need a lesson in customer service! Especially photo manager, she's rude & sarcastic. And her photographers walk around looking miserable.
2. Pool bartenders at Wave consistently ignore guests even when 6-8 bartenders & only 2-3 guests. Always took 30 min to get a drink when it wasn't busy. Same issue at Atrium bar. Not friendly, DO NOT deserve 18% gratuity.
3. Same drink or beer cost different prices at every different bars & restaurants. Sneaky. NCL purchased the beverages for the same price so why take advantage of your guests?
4. Million $ Quartet show was canceled & replaced with nothing. Apparently the cast had too much to drink the night before and got hurt?
5. Comedy shows had bored, restless kids which distracted from show. Young kids shouldnt be allowed at a 9pm show.
6. 3 main dining rooms all had same menu & only a few items were changed daily. These shouldn't be considered different restaurants "28 restaurants & bars". Not exactly! Food was ok but not great. Often cold.
7. Very obvious ship & shopping consultant get kickback from DI & other stores on shopping maps.
8. Upgraded dining was a la cart price + 18%??? Since when?? Since 3 main dining rooms had same menu, that leaves guests with mediocre buffet, main dining or bar food at O'Shans.? That forces guests to pay for food if they want something different. Shady.

9. Impossible to find a chair at pools even as early as 9am. Everyone "saves" them & then disappears for hours!
13. "VT Maple Syrup" diluted with corn syrup or Aunt Jamima! Very obvious to this Vermonter that it wasn't pure! French Toast was not described as having raisins in it. Mine had only 2, so were they supposed to be in it or not? French toast also arrived cold.

14. If you don't tip your room attendant daily, don't expect clean towels or your room to be made up nicely. You can forget towel animals and chocolates too!

12. NCL has really changed since 2009. Overall though, employees are obviously not happy.

Ship experiences

Food and Dining

3 out of 5

3 main dining rooms all serve the same menu, only a couple items change daily. if you don't plan ahead its difficult to get reservations at the upgraded restaurants. Buffet was always impossible to find seating at peak dining hours.

Onboard Activities

5 out of 5

Always something to do so read your daily and plan!

Entertainment

3 out of 5

Million Dollar Quartet was cancelled. Comedy shows have kids in audience unless you want to see the 11pm show. Other entertainment costs $.

Service and Staff

3 out of 5

most need to take a class on how to treat people. Pool bartenders will ignore you & you will wait even when its not busy.

Ship Quality

5 out of 5

the ship is gorgeous and clean.

Cabin / Stateroom

Room was perfect, but balcony was dirty & had previous guests' long hair all in corners. When we checked in the bathroom floor was still dirty with makeup and hair from previous guests. Bathroom was nice with great shower!

Ports of call

Miami, Florida

3 out of 5

Charlotte Amalie, St. Thomas

5 out of 5

Tortola, British Virgin Islands

5 out of 5

Nassau, Bahamas

1 out of 5

20 Comments

comickie2 8 years ago

I have been on 35 cruises, 9 with NCL. The Escape by far yhe worst ever, glad to be off! This review is 10,000 x's accurate. When the bar staff argues with guests, you have the ultimate beverage package yet they charge you for a drink then never bring it. we had to get a sup to replace our horrible cabin steward. would Never book another for myself or anyone else on this ship..FYI, I am a travel agent. worst experience ever on a cruise.

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kdirago 8 years ago

wow.. we just got off the ship. the Waves bar was the best. awesome, entertaining bar tenders. all remembered and called us by first name. remembered what we drank and always there to serve us either pool side or at the bar. agree the food was nothing to brag about but you had choices. our room was cleaned and picked up twice every day. towel animals, chocolates, clean towels etc. remembered our name every time we passed him in the hall. I guess you get what you put out. we found the staff very pleasant and accommodating.

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skibm69 8 years ago

So needs a nice glass of whine! You were probably rude to the bartenders. I wouldn't serve anyone that was douche.

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cruisincouple06 8 years ago

amen

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askoleern 8 years ago

I really dont know how to say this but some people are never happy

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cruisincouple06 8 years ago

we leave in a week so anxious to see what's up....thinking alot of this review is jus a very unhappy person in general....take a look at all the positive reviews lately....they out weigh the negative ones by far....your on a vacation and spend money to do so...enjoy it for god sakes and not focus on all negativity nothing or nobody is perfect

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jdukette 8 years ago

So they have had 2 months since I was on that ship to fix the problems but nothing has changed. All your observations are correct. I have been on several cruises and this was the first one I was happy to get off. I'm so glad I escaped the escape.

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cruisincouple06 8 years ago

yes webetmat you are correct but that would take being a lil responsible. ..it's much easier to whine about it

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Webermat 8 years ago

Ps there is a little dial by your door which you must set to make up room it's there for a reason

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lancey 8 years ago

cruisingluvcouple.....Play nice now everyone entitled to their own opinion.....Ah who am I kidding that was hilarious....Lmao

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Noahdog54 8 years ago

Well said!!

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askoleern 8 years ago

Couldn't have said it better

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Rokababy05 8 years ago

When people complain about things here and there I Listen! However, when a Person has this "tall list" of complaints.....obviously leaves Me a little suspicious of The Reviewer! Just My observation, and I am a Cruise Ship Junkie! Good Day

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sloopjohnb53 8 years ago

Someone needs a Snickers!!

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Noahdog54 8 years ago

Sounds like every where you turned it was awful. I was on the carnival Dream its first year, perfect cruise, and heard someone saying "this is the worst cruise I ever had". So please cruisers, take reviews with a grain of salt and have fun. 7 cruises, I'M ON VACATION, we always have a great time!

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ifrisch 8 years ago

What is the deal with the speciality meal package. the AL cart resturant are in the plan so how does it work. thanks

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beerman2 8 years ago

Wow, just wow!

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askoleern 8 years ago

Sometimes you can't please people like that

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lancey 8 years ago

Wow what a review!! I was on the ship same time as you and never had that many complaints. Always had hot tasty food, room always had fresh clean towels, towel animals everyday in the room. All servers greeted us friendly and offered to get us drinks even while sitting poolside. Sorry to hear you had a bad time.

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askoleern 8 years ago

I am going to say ,if o had as much trouble as you i would never take a cruise,go to Disney World,that is where everybody is Happy

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