NCL Escape Review

[LoneStarHorse]

Just got off the NCL Escape today... In two words NEVER AGAIN...
BTW I came home with quite a bit more money than I left with thanks to Atlantis Casino..


As I left today I told Casinos at Sea people you could give me $5,000 in Free Play & Penthouse Suite I'll never sail with NCL again


There were some good parts

A-Food exceptional
B-Drinking glasses have been enlarged
C-Teppanyaki great chefs and food
D-Million Dollar Quartet person who played Jerry Lee Lewis was amazing


Now the bad parts

A-Embarkation WORST ever over two hours to process paper work
B-Cruise Director just so annoying and not funny
C-Dining Room Service slow and slower
D-Bar Service slow and slower
E-Shore Excursions took forever to get on and off even as a Haven Guest
F-Casino Staff could give a crap about anything
G-St Thomas many homeless and beggars NEVER EVER again
H-Elevators they have them in different locations mid ship they take for ever to get on
I-Atrium a complete cluster F crowded noisy

[Dan Druff]

Welcome back.

None of these complaints of yours surprise me. I like cruising NCL because I have come to realize which parts suck and avoid them.

A - Embarkation with them is indeed notably chaotic, but it sounds like you had a worse experience than I ever had. I know that some ports it is much worse than others.

B- Cruise Directors are always annoying. I avoid them. If I see a show, I leave at the end before the Cruise Director starts giving their speech.

C - Dining room always sucks. I eat at specialty restaurants every night, where it is considerably better.

D - I don't drink, but I assume the bar service is awful now because they hand out the Ultimate Beverage Package to nearly everyone

E - Shore Excursions are expensive and crappy. I always do my own thing or buy a private excursion on shore.

F - Casino sucks. Odds are horrible compared to Vegas. I avoid.

H - Elevators were probably terrible because Escape is a megaship with over 4200 passengers. Never been on a ship that size.

I - Atrium is always a complete cluster F. I avoid it, and in fact avoid most public gathering places on the ship.

[FABismonte]

LoneStar, when I take NCL I find that embarkation is a mixed bag.

In Venice it is a mosh pit but if one already have colored tags on my bags, you can save your sanity. By contrast, Barcelona and New Orleans embarkations were very organized and easy to get on.

I have always had pretty good service from the restaurant and bar staff. That said, I have never been on an NCL ship that had over 4000 passengers. I only took NCL Jade, Dawn and Epic. If you do try NCL again, you might try smaller boats.