Well-Worth the Week-Long Escape
Norwegian Escape Cruise Review to Bermuda
7 Night Bermuda (New York Roundtrip)
Sail date: September 30, 2018
Ship: Norwegian Escape
Cabin type: Inside
Cabin number: 15611
Traveled as: Couple
Reviewed: 6 years ago
Review summary
After cruising once on the Norwegian Breakaway to the Bahamas, I felt this cruise was even further beyond my expectations in food, entertainment, and port itinerary. Will definitely make my way to a new destination, on another Norwegian experience, a few years from now to see what improvements have been made, since it is evident they are always working to make it your best vacation yet. Though the ships are only getting bigger, with more passengers to accommodate for, I still feel like a priority in my needs (especially with my gluten-free diet) and never feel like I have a stupid question to ask. Hopefully, the process of boarding and disembarking will get better over the years, as this is truly the only complaint I have with the process.Embarkation
Ship experiences
Food and Dining
Savor
Always felt well-attended to at this venue, versus Taste or the Manhattan Room. My favorite servers were there, especially at breakfast as I did not find myself up in the Garden Café as often due to my gluten-free needs. Never a bad meal here!
Moderno Churrascaria
I enjoyed the salad bar more than even the meat options, as the meats seemed over-seasoned to me at times. The Brazilian cheese bread at the table was amazing, and I was even allowed to take some back to my stateroom given my gluten-free needs, as most bread on the ship is not suitable for me.
The Manhattan Room
Unfortunately, this venue did not feel as classy as I hoped it would. The table we were placed was not even cleaned well, no silverware and dirty dishes. As there are hundreds of tables in this location, it was hard to get the attention of our servers and the temperature of the food was sub-par. We went to Taste/Savor much more often because of these experiences.
Garden Café
Though it was troublesome to find seating at times, there is not one palette that can't be enticed by the different options there. Even as a gluten-free passenger, I felt there were lots of great options.
O'Sheehan's Bar and Grill
The food hit the spot late at night, but even though the venue wasn't full, there was pretty poor service at 1 am. Some of the servers seemed to forget about our table, and I had wished I just went back to the stateroom and skipped the snack.
Onboard Activities
Mini Golf
For only being a 9-hole course, the obstacles are more fun than the course on the Breakaway I had been on back in 2015. To spend 1/2 hour there and kill some time was certainly a fun way to enjoy the outdoors without being on the pool deck.
Escape Casino
Good variety of games and betting minimums. The room as a whole is a bit smoky, even with the non-smoking section considered. Minimums on table games are at least $10.
Ropes Course
I had wished many of the obstacles were open, but many were roped off for unknown reasons. It was also closed for most of the trip due to wind speeds that the crew monitor. For the first time going on a ropes course, this was definitely a nice way to spend an hour and enjoy a different activity on the ship.
Entertainment
Escape Theater
Whether there for shows, Bingo games, or presentations, the venue is always clean from the start of the event and the bar in the back is very convenient.
Headliners Comedy Club
Some of the comics are very talented...others had trouble keeping my interest. Either way, I enjoy the venue itself and definitely feel like I'm in a club instead of on-board a 19-deck ship.
Children's Programs
Kids' Aqua Park
The lines for the slides were never too long, and there is a slide for every level of courage: beginner, experienced and advanced
Service and Staff
Ship Quality
Cabin / Stateroom
Ship tip
If you are interested in the spa, but do not want to pay for the whole week, you can pay about $68 on any of the days you are in port. If there is a day you are not very interested in being off of the ship for a large portion of the day, I felt that this was well worth the money to spend 6+ hours in the thermal spa instead! :)
Ports of call
New York, New York Did not visit port
Royal Naval Dockyard, West End, Bermuda