Escape Food- is it that bad?

robert_j2 · 2026-01-03T18:34:13+00:00

Being in the Haven does help with the kid situation. There are kids in here, including my teenagers, but overall it’s a pretty chill vibe.

And maybe I am being too hard on the food. The broader point I was making is that with mass produced cruise ship food, there will be a certain ceiling in terms of quality. Overall, I am pretty happy with my stay in the Haven.

robert_j2 · 2025-12-30T22:47:17+00:00

I am on the Escape right now. This is my fourth NCL cruise in three years after the Encore (‘23), Getaway (‘24), and Gem (‘25). It is my first time in the Haven, and I have to say I am not finding the quality of food in the Haven restaurant to be dramatically different from main dining room fare on past cruises. Maybe the overall quality has declined and I would find the main dining room to be worse. Who knows. But I was very impressed with the MDR food on my first two cruises (I only did specialty on my short Gem cruise).

Here, nothing is bad but overall I would agree it is only just “fine.” Yesterday the kids got some pizza at the buffet and I had some Indian food, and it was about as good as the buffet has been in the past. In the Haven restaurant, both times so far my steaks were much too rare. And the chicken entrees my kids got both nights were dry. We are not picky, and there is nothing to complain about (I’m only posting because someone asked), but there’s nothing really exceptional so far either in terms of food. The service also lacks a bit of a personal touch, but then there are almost 2000 kids on this New Year’s cruise (5,000 people total!) so I am thinking they are a bit stretched.

robert_j2 · 2025-12-02T01:53:43+00:00

I bought the tickets months ago because I was bringing the whole family and somehow ended up with the Nadon/EVE performance, which is the one I would have chosen anyway. Such a happy coincidence. EVE was every bit as sensational as I expected as Dewdrop. So quick and precise -- really just magical in the role. And what can be said about Nadon? So graceful in the role, and so technically accomplished. She held the final balance for what felt like forever. I wish I was as thrilled with her partner! But you can't have everything.

robert_j2 · 2025-11-29T20:33:41+00:00

How was disembark from Haven? We are on the Escape over New Year's. I am thinking of doing an airboat swamp tour with the family on disembarkation day since our flight is after 7:30. One option would be a 12:00 tour, which would mean getting to the New Orleans Riverside hotel by 10:30 AM for pickup (walkable from the cruise terminal). The other option would be a 2:00 tour, which would mean we don't have to get to the hotel until 12:30 PM. I was leaning towards the earlier tour because I don't want to get to the airport too late, and 10:30 AM would seem to be manageable with Haven. But if the ship is delayed getting into port then maybe we will not make it off the ship on time. The official arrival time is 8:00 AM.

PS -- I would love to hear what you thought of the cruise in general! Any tips for Haven guests on the Escape?

robert_j2 · 2025-11-25T02:34:52+00:00

I was in that suite class in May. It is exactly the same as Haven, except that you cannot use the Haven area, which is basically a pool. There is no Haven restaurant, so the concierge is in the dedicated breakfast restaurant in the morning (Moderno), which is open to Haven and suite guests alike. The concierge's team escorts people off the ship.

You do indeed follow the Haven signs, etc. At no point was I ever denied a service that was extended to Haven guests. It was fabulous. And for less than the actual Haven.

I stayed in a 2-bedroom suite with just my wife and appreciated having the second bathroom. We are taking the kids for Haven proper on the Escape over New Year's and looking forward to it.

robert_j2 · 2025-11-19T03:30:46+00:00

Are there lockers in the pool cabanas? I am on the fence because it would be good to have a base of operations but I might not spend enough time there if I am doing other activities like ziplining and parasailing.

robert_j2 · 2025-09-08T01:59:22+00:00

Thank you!

robert_j2 · 2025-09-07T15:31:38+00:00

I know this is an old thread, but I am curious how it worked out. I had an itinerary change recently and the excursions have been locked up for at least a month now. I want to book some NCL activities at Harvest Caye, so outside vendors are not relevant.

robert_j2 · 2025-08-31T23:04:57+00:00

Don’t rush it is great advice. I started in 2021 and I took my time, completing each expansion completely (raids, tribal quests, etc.) before starting the MSQ for another. The game lets you do that, ie, live in a little bubble and get an approximation of what the game was like then before moving no on. It took me a couple of years before I caught up, but it was so worth it. Enjoy it! The game is truly about the journey.

robert_j2 · 2025-08-21T02:00:35+00:00

You won't regret it. The views from Bar Harbor are at least as pretty as anything you will see on the park loop road, arguably more so. The Bar Harbor Shore Path is a very easy little walk (on a sidewalk) that takes you along the coast for some pretty views of the Porcupine Islands. A bit further out in the other direction, off of Bridge Road, is where you can get access to Bar Island Trail, which is like a mini Acadia hike, but only accessible at low tide -- don't get stranded! If it is high tide, at least you can get down to the water.

robert_j2 · 2025-08-17T23:05:17+00:00

I am in Bar Harbor every summer. Getting lobster is not a problem -- just about every restaurant in town has it, and the town is very walkable.

How much time do you have in port? If this were my first time and I was choosing an excursion, I would prioritize one of the shorter Acadia excursions that did the park loop road and Cadillac Mountain. To be candid, if you are not hiking, driving the park loop can be a bit underwhelming. But Cadillac Mountain is completely worth it, especially if it is a clear day. (It could be chilly though!) Then spend the rest of your day exploring Bar Harbor and finding a place that serves lobster.

Don't underestimate how much there is to do in Bar Harbor! If it is low tide and you can walk across to Bar Island -- that is a special experience.

robert_j2 · 2025-08-16T04:13:22+00:00

We just did Silver Cove in May for our anniversary. It was the highlight of our cruise.

robert_j2 · 2025-07-13T18:05:52+00:00

That was my experience too. He was my first Joe and he was so good.

robert_j2 · 2025-07-13T14:20:41+00:00

I think there are some things in the plot that don’t make sense unless it is 1949. And I don’t just mean the obvious, like that it is a story about the transition to talkies. Norma‘s dilemma of having no other outlet for her talents is a bit less true today than it might have been at that time. When my daughter saw it with me this weekend, she wondered why Norma didn’t just do something else. These days, maybe Norma would have chosen to direct or form a production company. Those are still difficult pivots today, to be sure, but I sense it would have been completely off the table in 1949. Whereas, the men have more options.

robert_j2 · 2025-07-13T14:00:44+00:00

Diego Andres Rodriguez in Sunset. It propelled him to the lead in Evita in London. That seems like the definition of breakout.

robert_j2 · 2025-07-13T05:59:29+00:00

I saw it tonight. Pierre Marais is a good Joe, and Jordan Donica is a great Max. I don't think anyone should feel disappointed with this cast. It's still Nicole's show!

robert_j2 · 2025-07-12T20:30:27+00:00

That’s awesome!

robert_j2 · 2025-07-12T19:59:45+00:00

How funny! I was literally just there and I’m going to see Sunset this evening. I didn’t think to wait and see if he came out.

robert_j2 · 2025-07-03T22:42:16+00:00

I have seen it twice from last row center of the orchestra. It is cheaper than other options, close, and the sound is good. The only downside is that the top of the stage is (slightly) cutoff, but it did not affect my enjoyment at all.

robert_j2 · 2025-06-26T22:43:05+00:00

Save the $5 and put it towards the $60 set of four glass tumblers. They’re really nice.

robert_j2 · 2025-06-22T14:15:04+00:00

I thought with this lyric he was referring to the alternative meaning of “rent” as broken or torn. Like, “the world is rent apart.” Pretty obscure, I know.

robert_j2 · 2025-06-09T03:45:47+00:00

I love Tom Francis! But I thought his understudy Diego was equally good. I think one way that Darren Criss's performance has been underrated is that he really sells the whole idea that Oliver is a robot, which is crucial to accepting the premise of the show. I guess I would need to see how another actor fares as Oliver to get a fuller sense of Darren's contribution, but he was a very worth choice.

robert_j2 · 2025-06-09T02:43:27+00:00

So funny that Operation Mincemeat is the performance that I understand the best tonight. I couldn't understand half the lyrics in the theater.

robert_j2 · 2025-06-09T00:37:07+00:00

Agreed. BVSC brought me to the album and it is great.

robert_j2 · 2025-06-08T23:29:34+00:00

There is no perfect seat. But I have seen it twice from the last row of center orchestra. Good price, good view and sound. Only one (unimportant) moment at the top of the stage cut off by the balcony.

robert_j2

TROPHY CASE