Perfect Getaway on NCL Getaway

Item: Norwegian Getaway
Rating: 5
Author: njanders26

Norwegian Getaway Cruise Review

njanders26

Contributor Level: First Mate

84 Days Till Next Cruise

Cruises: 7+ cruises

Reviews: 5

Helpful Votes: 279

Overall rating:

5 out of 5

7 Night Western Caribbean (Miami Roundtrip)

Sail date: May 27, 2018

Ship: Norwegian Getaway

Cabin type: Inside

Cabin number: 11539

Traveled as: Singles/Friends

Reviewed: 5 years ago

Review summary

The Getaway is the perfect place to get a way!

Embarkation

5 out of 5

NCL always seems to have an easy and smooth embarkation process. Other cruise lines have certain times you need to arrive and are still busy, but on NCL you can just show up and are most likely on the ship in less than an hour. Now I’m normally there around 10:00am to 11:00am so maybe it’s busier after that, if it is, get there early and you’ll be enjoying your first drink even faster.

Ship experiences

Food and Dining

5 out of 5

The specialty restaurants on NCL always deliver the best meals on almost any cruise line. Some of the more luxurious lines may be better but you’re also paying more. For what NCL is they have some great tasting and high quality food. I’ve never had dinner in the main dining room or buffet but I’m guessing they are decent as well. The MDR like Taste or Savor do have quick and easy breakfast if you want table service or the buffet has a large selection of items including omelets and cereals.

Skyy Vodka Ice Bar

5 out of 5

The Ice Bar is a fun place to chill out, sorry pun intended. After a hot day in the sun this spot will definitely give you the chills, even with the provided parka and gloves. For $20 you get two drinks and like 45 minutes inside the ice freezer; however, after about 20 minutes I was ready to leave the 17 degree weather. I’m from Minnesota so I don’t mind the cold, but I’m on a Caribbean cruise to get away from the weather at home! Also, the drinks are strong and not the best tasting. It might be so that they don’t freeze so there is more liquor in them. So ask for a little more juice in them and they aren’t so bad.

Sugarcane Mojito Bar

5 out of 5

If you want a perfect mojito then Sugar Canes is the place to go, they have several different kinds to please just about anyone. I would recommend the spicy mojito if you like a little heat, and it really packs a punch.

Le Bistro French Restaurant

5 out of 5

Le Bistro is a specialty restaurant that you need to try at least once during your cruise, especially for the French Onion soup! Yes, it’s that good. The other food is amazing as well and I really love the atmosphere of the small dining venue. It also requires a dress code so I enjoy seeing people wearing slacks and a nice top at least.

Cagney's on the Waterfront

5 out of 5

Same excellent food as my other review on Cagney’s, but if you want to enjoy a nice beautiful sunset and listening to the waves than there is nothing better then dining on the Waterfront! Depending on the weather it may be closed, but if it’s open I would definitely check it out.

Jimmy Buffett's Margaritaville at Sea

4 out of 5

Margaritaville is an extra charge restaurant or you can use your dining package but it’s a fun place to hang out and have some good food and amazing margaritas. The decor is nice but it’s lacking the traditional atmosphere of other Margaritaville’s you would find, maybe because it’s at sea. However, you can go to the bar and get margaritas even if you are not dining and are included in the drink package so even if you don’t dine there at least get a drink.

Ocean Blue on the Waterfront

5 out of 5

As I mentioned with Cagney’s, if the weather is nice then I would recommend dining on the Waterfront because the experience is amazing. I love watching the sunset as I’m enjoying my dinner and hearing the ship crash through the waves. It’s really more romantic when you’re with someone else, but I travel alone so it’s what I do to treat myself.

Cagney's Steakhouse

5 out of 5

You cannot go wrong with a meal at Cagney’s! They have excellent cuts of meat and they cook them to perfection. Their jumbo shrimp cocktail is also a must, on other lines they give you four small shrimp on soggy lettuce but not at Cagney’s. They are huge! The other seafood items are also fresh and prepared well, like the oysters Rockefeller. Their sides are also delicious so check out the fries and Mac n cheese. Also make sure to save room for dessert because they have some good ones.

Wasabi

5 out of 5

Wasabi is an extra cost restaurant or up charge if you have the dining package but they have some really good sushi and sashimi. I would definitely check it out if this interests you.

Ocean Blue by Geoffrey Zakarian

5 out of 5

Ocean Blue has some of the freshest seafood on the ship and the bread is simply amazing, I would go just for that! This is also a restaurant that has a dress code so dress appropriately. Also, if you have the dining package there will be a small up charge to dine at Ocean Blue, but I definitely feel it is worth it.

Onboard Activities

5 out of 5

There is always plenty to do on an NCL cruise, if you are bored it’s because you are not looking. From 7:00am to 1:00am there is always something going on in the Freestyle Daily. You can relax by the pool, play games, bar trivia, adult themed game shows, live entertainment, the casino, movies in the atrium...the list goes on. If you want peace and quiet there are plenty of places you can find as well.

Pool

4 out of 5

The pools are a nice size but on sunny sea days they can be quite busy and rowdy. However, you can also go hang out in the hot tubs back in Spice H2O where it is more quiet. The games and live bands at the pool are entertaining and fun though.

Getaway Casino

5 out of 5

The casino on the Getaway is a nice size and I actually had some luck for once! I probably spent more time than I wanted to but I was able to reach the next level on players club which entitles me to additional perks. So always play with your players card so you can get perks or even a free cruise!

Spa Thermal Suite

5 out of 5

The thermal Suite is a nice place to go and relax if you want to get away from all the activity going on around the ship. They have a variety of rooms you can enjoy as well as a decent size hydro pool. Also check out the heated stone loungers for a nice relaxing place to read a book or take a quick nap.

Entertainment

5 out of 5

There is always entertainment to be found on the ship. From the band at the pool, to Fat Cats, Howl at the Moon, Headliners, the Theater, atrium...etc. Everywhere you turn you’re bound to find something.

Howl at the Moon

5 out of 5

Howl at the Moon is a nice place to go if you want to hear some good music and jokes. The entertainers are normally pretty good and will play almost any song you can think of, if you give them a tip then they’ll probably play your song next. The venue is small so get there early if you want a seat.

Dance Floor

5 out of 5

The themed events in Spice H2O are a blast and where most of the ship will go. They will have Norwegian’s Night Out, White/Glow Party, 80s Night...etc. It is definitely worth checking out and always a good time.

Getaway Theater

5 out of 5

The Getaway theater is the home to some of the best shows you will find at sea. These are broadway style production shows that are actually quite amazing! Reservations are needed but if you can’t get one then there is a standby line and most of the time you’ll always get in.

Bliss Ultra Lounge

5 out of 5

Bliss Ultra Lounge is the place to go if you want to party and dance the night away. It is always packed and typically where you will find the younger crowd, so if that is something you don’t like then you might want to find somewhere else.

The Atrium

5 out of 5

The atrium is where you will find trivia, game shows, adult fun, dance lessons, and movies throughout the cruise. You can view this all from the 6th and 7th decks mid ship.

Service and Staff

5 out of 5

The staff is always a amazing and provide outstanding service. No matter how long their day is they will always greet you with a smile. I get to know my room steward in passing through the hall and he gets to know my routine on when I will be away or in my room. The officers are always friendly and greet you when they see you and are always available to answer questions. I’ve also seen the Captain more on NCL ships then I have on other lines.

Ship Quality

5 out of 5

The layout of NCL ships are such that no area ever feels super packed with people. On other ships the big open shopping and dining areas can be busy because that is where all the action is, but on NCL it is more spread out. I also see staff cleaning the ship at all times of the day so it is nice and tidy.

Cabin / Stateroom

5 out of 5

The studio cabins on the newer NCL ships are amazing for solo travelers and gone are the supplement charges we’d normally have to pay. The stateroom is only 99 square feet but it is plenty of room for one person and there is definitely more than enough storage. The beds are comfortable enough for a full size and the bathroom and shower are decent, but if you are a big person it could be a tight fit. The studio lounge is also a nice place to socialize with other solo travelers or meet up before dinner. You can also get water, juice, coffee, and pastries throughout the day.

Ship tip

Get to the port as early as you can. You might have to wait a little while before the ship is clear to board, but you’ll be one of the first to the fun and your first day will be longer.

Thumbs up

Ports of call

Harvest Caye, Belize

5 out of 5

In Harvest Caye I booked a Spice Farm and Mayan Ruin excursion. We had to take a ferry to the mainland and that takes about a half hour. Then another 45 minute bus ride to the spice farm where you take a tractor ride through all the different spices and plants they grow there. Then you spend a little time in the shop where you can purchase spices or food. We then take the bus ride to the Ruins and portions of the ride should not be for busses but ATVs but we made it. We took an hour tour of the Nim Li Punit Ruins which are still being discovered and we got to speak to one of the archeologists there. I would recommend this excursion if you are looking for a tour that explores Belize as you do a lot of driving and hear some history and there is not a ton of walking.

Thumbs Up 5

Miami, Florida

5 out of 5

Other than flying in that morning I did not spend any time enjoying Miami. However, the weather was beautiful and I enjoyed seeing the little I did from the airport to the port.

Thumbs Up 6

Costa Maya (Mahahual), Mexico

5 out of 5

In Costa Maya I went on a Chacchoben Mayan Ruins excursion. It was a really fun experience and being able to learn about that piece of history. There is a lot of walking and some steps you’ll need to take, it’s also quite warm so keep that in mind when looking at this excursion.

Thumbs Up 7

Cozumel, Mexico

5 out of 5

In Cozumel I did a Chocolate and Tequila tour that lasted about 4 hours or so. We boarded a bus and headed to the Mayan Cacao Company where we learned how chocolate was made and got to sample different products throughout the tour. Then we were given time to shop. We spent about an hour there. Then we drove to a part of the island where we were able to get off the bus and view the water and rock formations, I can’t remember what this area was called. But it was was fun 30 minute stop to see the waves crashing into the rocks and there were local vendors selling trinkets and souvenirs. Then we drove to a tequila factory and learned how this specific tequila is made, they only sell it at this location because the batches. We got to sample each of the different tequilas and they are surprisingly good, not like the tequila we have here that tastes like alcohol. They are quite pricey but if you like tequila it would be worth it. Then we headed back to the ship.

Thumbs Up 25

Disembarkation

5 out of 5

Disembarking is always a dreaded part of every vacation. People are wanting to get off the ship and start their journey home that they forget their manners. People always congregate near the exit and block those who want to leave and ends up slowing down the process. So wait in a public area not near the exit and wait for your group to be called and it will be quicker and less stressful.