Good but not Great

Item: Norwegian Escape
Rating: 3
Author: RMadrid

Norwegian Escape Cruise Review to Caribbean - Eastern

RMadrid

Contributor Level: Deck Hand

Cruises: 4-6 cruises

Review: 1

Helpful Votes: 11

Overall rating:

3 out of 5

Verified Review

7 Night Eastern Caribbean (Miami Roundtrip)

Sail date: April 29, 2017

Ship: Norwegian Escape

Cabin type: Balcony

Cabin number: 11122

Traveled as: Couple

Reviewed: 7 years ago

Review summary

Starting from the day of embarkation, I'm not sure why we were asked what time we wanted to board when there were long lines regardless. If we had to wait in a long line, did it really matter what time we showed up? The room was nice and was very clean. I can't believe how small the pool is for the amount of people on the ship. I've been on smaller cruise ships with less people and they've had two very big pools. The slides were fun. The drinks were good. The food was delicious, however, the desserts need working on. The desserts were hard, and not tasty. I think desserts should be delectable, and they were far from it. The service everywhere was great. The staff is very friendly. Should've been told from the beginning that bartenders don't get part of the gratuity so that we could've been tipping the bartenders the entire time. We found out the day before the cruise ended that bartenders don't get a percentage of the gratuity we pay. That's wrong and must be horrible for the bartenders, who are super friendly and accommodating. The theater shows were awesome, however, kids should not be allowed to attend. Overall, I was pleased. Definitely not the best cruise I've been on and probably won't cruise with Norwegian again. We'll stick with Celebrity.

Ship experiences

Food and Dining

3 out of 5

Onboard Activities

5 out of 5

Entertainment

5 out of 5

Service and Staff

5 out of 5

Ship Quality

5 out of 5

Cabin / Stateroom

5 out of 5

Clean and spacious.

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

3 out of 5

7 Comments

ColoradoKen 7 years ago

No, it's the same. If you don't get the UBP, they add 18% to every drink you order.

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jrvansi1 7 years ago

When we purchased drinks they added the gratuity to it automatically! 18% - did it change?

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alanathep 7 years ago

Thanks for the tip! What you mentioned, a smaller ship and not a crowded pool, that's the opposite of the escape! There is a very small pool and it's a huge ship! I liked the big ship, and I didn't mind the crowded pool as I was saving my swimming for the ocean!

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gi16 7 years ago

osubucknuts- we are going on our first Norwegian Cruise in 11 days but have always done Celebrity. I'm dying to have another cruise line to compare Celebrity to! But I can tell you that the 4 celebrity cruises we have been on were awesome! I like the smaller ship sizes and everything was super clean. the staff were awesome and the food was really good. I guess we were spoiled because we splurged for a suite on our last 2 cruises but it is totally worth it. something to keep in mind though, it is more of an older crowd. I hardly see any kids and when we did they were very well behaved! The pool area was also never that overcrowded either. I'm looking forward to going on the Escape soon and hope you decide to book a celebrity cruise! I suggest their newest ship the Reflection:)

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alanathep 7 years ago

Can I Ask why Celebrity is better? I've been thinking about pulling the trigger on a Celebrity cruise but I'd like to know the comparison to the escape, which I've been on and loved.

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osubucknuts 7 years ago

they don't get part if the gratuity that you are charged per day. But they do get gratuity that is paid for in the drink package. If you don't have the drink package, then yes you should tip them.

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familysailing 7 years ago

no kids allowed in the shows that's like saying no kids allowed on the ship their parents pay just as much as you did sorry you don't like children

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Escape is an escape!

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Great trip on the Escape!