Fantastic!

Cruises: 1 cruise (first)

Reviews: 5

Helpful Votes: 101

Review summary

My wife and I had an excellent time. The food, activities, staff, and entertainment were all superb. I had read many reviews on this site prior to my cruise, and would like to offer my perspective. Many have criticized the overly crowded ship, the grumpy, unhelpful staff, and the food. This was my first cruise, so I don't have any reference for comparison. But, the only crowds we encountered were at embarkation and at the pool. I cannot get on NCL for a lengthy embarkation process. The ship holds over 4,000 vacationers. It takes time! If that's a problem for you, then book your vacation on a smaller vessel! I will admit that the pool area seemed crowded. Having said that, most seemed to be enjoying themselves, including others in the group with which I was traveling. My wife and I are not pool people, so these crowds were of little consequence to us. I've read where pool areas on most ships are crowded. Escape is no different. It is difficult to get a chaise lounge, but there seems to be a reasonable protocol: get there early, and don't leave yours unattended for too long, as it will be forfeited (and rightfully so, IMHO). We did not find any of the staff to be grumpy. They were all attentive, ready with a smile and a "Good Morning/Afternoon." On the few occasions where we needed help, the staff was very accommodating. As for food, the buffet had a wide variety. The main dining rooms had varied menus, as well. We had the dining package and enjoyed meals at Moderno, Le Bistro, Cagney's and La Cucina. All were excellent, though I enjoyed Moderno and Cagney's the most. We did not purchase any excursions on the ship, but had pre-arranged a jet ski-snorkel tour on our own. This resulted in a very reasonable price and extra careful attention from our tour guide.

Embarkation

Ship experiences

Food and Dining

Onboard Activities

Entertainment

Service and Staff

Ship Quality

Cabin / Stateroom

Ports of call

New York, New York

Royal Naval Dockyard, West End, Bermuda

Disembarkation

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