NCL Escape

Item: Norwegian Escape
Rating: 4
Author: nuknuk

Norwegian Escape Cruise Review to Caribbean - Eastern

nuknuk

Contributor Level: Purser

Cruises: 1 cruise (first)

Review: 1

Helpful Votes: 56

Overall rating:

4 out of 5

Verified Review

7 Night Eastern Caribbean (Miami Roundtrip)

Sail date: October 01, 2016

Ship: Norwegian Escape

Cabin type: Balcony

Cabin number: 13882

Traveled as: Couple

Reviewed: 8 years ago

Review summary

The unlimited drink package and the dinner package were the best. The only thing I have to complain about is that the casino is on the center of the ship and the smoking was so bad and you can't avoid it. The atrium is open and the smoke travels to different decks. You have to walk through the smell. Why don't they have an area closed off away from where restaurants are. We also complained to guest services that someone was smoking on their balcony and we were on deck 13 aft and we were told that it was the wind blowing the smoke from one of the smoking areas and basically just ignored us. The pool area is way too crowded and they should come up with a way to stop the chair hogs who put their towels on chairs and then disappear to have breakfast or lunch or dinner. Maybe they should start charging for a pass to reserve a chair and if you disappear for more than an hour or more and you are not in the pool area than you lose your deposit. 8 am and 50+ chairs has towels on them and there are only 10 people in the pool area. Parents also need to keep an eye on their kids. There were 4 to 9 kids that would get together and run the halls. They also got ice cream and threw it at each other and one elevator was a disaster with ice cream on the walls. They also smeared ice cream on the walls of the hall way. We never saw a parent with any of them. We went to a movie and there were kids telling talking loud shining flashlights. They also grabbed as many bags of popcorn that they could carry and then ran back to get more. I know kids will be kids but we chose to go in October because kids should be in school. You don't go on a cruise and turn your kids free to have others have to deal with them. You brought them therefore you should watch them. Other than that we had a Very good time. The ship was beautiful and our stateroom steward Dave was awsome. He took great care of us. We would go again but hopefully we will get to the Bahamas. The captain done a great job of keeping us out of harms way. It would have been nice to go to another port.

Ship experiences

Food and Dining

5 out of 5

Onboard Activities

5 out of 5

Entertainment

5 out of 5

Service and Staff

5 out of 5

Dave our stateroom steward took great care of us and made sure we had whatever we needed. A few of the wait staff could be a little more helpful. Overall most went above and beyond to take care of people. The washy washy guys were awesome and kept people laughing.

Ship Quality

5 out of 5

Cabin / Stateroom

5 out of 5

We left our stateroom steward Dave an extra special tip for taking care of us and making sure we had ice and whatever else we needed. Room was spacious and comfortable with a great view.

Ship tip

Have an adults only non smoking cruise.

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Ports of call

Miami, Florida Did not visit port

If we go again we will leave from Cape Canaveral.

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Charlotte Amalie, St. Thomas

5 out of 5

18 Comments

sly072962 8 years ago

I understand rules, the world is overloaded with rules, and where there are rules people will break them, not just on a boat. All I am saying is we cannot put ourselves in a bubble and enjoy life. It really doesn't bother me because if it did I guess I would just have to stay inside my house all the time.

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matt2016 8 years ago

True. I understand. I'm also a former smoker. Yes... The casino smells to high heaven, but it is a designated smoking area. But... it really is aggravating, that so many people are that desperate, and Jones'n for a smoke, that they'll totally go against the rules, and put people at risk of a possible blow back fire, from the balconies. Rules are rules, for a reason.

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bilshup 8 years ago

Smoke bothers some people more than others. No need to criticize.

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Bri33 8 years ago

The balcony smoker was annoying since the rooms are suppose to be non smoking.... however the smoke in the casino wasn't as big of a deal as people made it seem.

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sly072962 8 years ago

All I was saying is find a smoke free vacation but remember wherever you go people are going to smoke. I don't smoke but I don't mind people that do

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nuknuk 8 years ago

Sorry, nothing against smokers because I used to be one. I just think that anyone who doesn't want to be around smoke shouldn't have to be. I also didn't realize how much I smelled like an ashtray to nonsmokers until I quit smoking. I feel like if you want to smoke it is your right just like it is my right to choose not to be around smoke.

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sly072962 8 years ago

I guess you people complaining about smoke live in a bubble

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aquawater 8 years ago

Was on that same cruise Oct 1, To me the smoke varied some times more than others. I personally didn't see it as an issue most of the time. Since everything is smoke free every place you go now days when you smell it you are more aware when you do smell it. Since I don't gamble I just walk past it. I don't remember experiencing unruly kids, that is not the cruise lines fault those same type of parents will sail every cruise line and behave the same. I can however see how it can happen and parents not know about it Kids ask if they can go to cuz parents say yes as long as you are back by a certain time or hang out a certain location. I love kids so it doesn't bother me seeing them being kids.

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askoleern 8 years ago

I agree with pauletta

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pauletta 8 years ago

I'm a non smoker I never noticed the smell at all I didn't see that as a problem I just didn't like the layout of the casino in general

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Bri33 8 years ago

Someone was definitely smoking from deck 13 I watched them do it from my balcony.

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maureenlm 8 years ago

Wow, that's scary!!

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matt2016 8 years ago

https://youtu.be/lFr6OF8eneg This is what smoking did to one Princess Cruise.

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matt2016 8 years ago

Definitely, the smoke was bad. Also, the smokers felt the rules were a joke, because I watched several on their balconies, lighting up.

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dusty247 8 years ago

I also agree!! They really should figure something out for that area, it was pretty bad. I did gamble a bit and the smoke became unbearable at times. On the bright side...I had a smoker light up next to me at the blackjack table when I was up over $700. Due to it being in my face, I left the table! I probably would have stayed long enough to lose it all otherwise. But had a great cruise overall!!!

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bilshup 8 years ago

I totally agree with you on the smoking issue. It is a possible deal breaker for a return trip, in spite of everything we liked.

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kdlovescruising 8 years ago

Glad that you had a great time especially since this was your first cruise. Hopefully this will be the first of many.

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jwolf 8 years ago

Wow, parents watching there kids , stop it, they are the same pRents who put towels on there chairs for hours , they act like the never seen the sun before , I love it when they get burned to a crisp in that Caribbean sun shine , then they blame the cruise line. Morons!!!

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