Dream Ship Experience to Bermuda
Norwegian Escape Cruise Review to Bermuda
Contributor Level:
Second Mate
Cruises: 7+ cruises
Reviews: 5
Helpful Votes: 229
7 Night Bermuda (New York Roundtrip)
Sail date: September 02, 2018
Ship: Norwegian Escape
Cabin type: Balcony
Cabin number: 15730
Traveled as: Couple
Reviewed: 5 years ago
Review summary
We enjoyed a magic carpet ride from enchanting New York City to the paradise that is Bermuda! The Escape is the way to get there, riding in style!Embarkation
Very easy. My husband is disabled (on oxygen), NCL whisked us through with minimal delay.
Ship experiences
Food and Dining
The Manhattan Room was like a 4 star restaurant every night, always live entertainment during dinner, just wonderful all around. We also tried Taste and Savor both of which were very good also. One morning at breakfast at Savor, two lovely singing bakers came by to offer pastries and a sweet song! O'Sheehan's was also top notch, great for breakfast and dinner with Prime Rib served the first and last nights of the cruise. We did eat at one specialty restaurant, Cagney's Steak House, and the Maitre'd comped our meal because I told him it was the best steak dinner we ever had on an NCL ship! It was wonderful all around. We only ate once at the buffet for breakfast the last morning, kind of chaos, but it was clean and well stocked, no complaints. The only dinner that was less than stellar was served at the Choir of Man show in the Supper Club, and NCL has changed it up because everyone agreed it was pretty awful (bangers and mash with Newcastle Ale). The bars were also great - we found ourselves often relaxing with a cocktail at the Skyline Bar, and the District Brew House was super fun! Headliners was great with the Dueling Pianos - DO NOT MISS THAT SHOW! The Starbucks in the Atrium was awesome for our afternoon cappuccino fix. Good daily entertainment nearby.
Onboard Activities
The SPA. the spa, the spa! I am forever spoiled for spas on ships after our experience on Escape. The spa is clean, beautiful, relaxing with brilliant amenities, the big therapy pool, the snow room, lots of chaises and thermal loungers. We were going to get the spa pass for 2 and an OV room, but it was cheaper to get a Spa Balcony cabin that included the spa pass for both of us. Where there are lots of sea days on the Bermuda cruises, spa access is a no brainer. We didn't use the gym, but walked through it to get to the spa and it looks great. My husband did receive some acupuncture treatments which were very good.
Entertainment
All the entertainment on the Escape was top notch. The Choir of Man show was by far our favorite, and was in the Supper Club. It has since moved to the main theater. I am glad we got to experience it in a small venue. The performers went around and met everyone, and invited many of the audience to participate in the show, which I did - FUN! The Brat Pack show was a good take on the movies of the 80's, but I would have liked to see a little more diversity. The After Midnight - Cotton Club show was super - the sets, lighting and especially the performers in song and dance were extraordinary! Honestly, better than many Broadway shows I have seen before. I have enjoyed Elements on other NCL ships, this show just surpassed that show as my favorite. Dueling Pianos was beyond fun. The entertainment in the public spaces was very good also, and we especially enjoyed the guitarist/combo that played in the Manhattan Room. He did surprising jazzy interpretations of songs by The Police, Tom Petty and the Beatles and people danced. It was superb.
Children's Programs
We did not have children with us.
Service and Staff
All of the ship's staff was professional and courteous. We barely saw our steward, but he took care of our needs seemingly effortlessly. We left him a good tip! He left an assortment of adorable towel critters. The internet service was way better on the Escape than any other ship we have been on. Usually we are just screaming at how slow it all is, but not so much this time. The wait staff was awesome, often greeting us like we were old friends and remembering our drink preferences. Pretty impressive with so many people on the ship.
Ship Quality
Super clean and beautifully designed ship. The design of the public areas just sort of feel organic when you move from place to place. The casino was pretty smoky, but we liked the big, colorful chandelier, The little plaza below was Le Bistro and Headliners, and felt like a little neighborhood common. Above were the shops. The Atrium was a great place to find something going on, and The Waterfront was the spot to meet people and enjoy the evening.
Cabin / Stateroom
The size of this cabin, a Spa Balcony category, was pretty average. The left side of the bed is pretty close to the sliding door of the closet, but I easily got out of bed. The bathroom is not bigger than an ordinary cabin (I had thought it might have a bigger shower being a "spa" room - it does not), but the balcony was spacious enough for two chairs and a table. On different weeks the Escape may "park" facing different directions, but our week we were facing Dockyard, a lovely view night or day. Our steward kept the place spotless. Our only complaint was our neighboring balcony cabin had smokers who disregarded the rules. We finally had to call in and ask that someone make them stop. They got PO'd and bitterly complained loudly on their balcony that they weren't smoking and what kind of people would report them? Jerks. Otherwise, we loved it all. Sailing out of NYC was great, Escape is amazing!
Ship tip
Check the price of a Spa Balcony vs. Oceanview Cabin + 2 Spa Passes for the week, you may save money and get a better room.
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Ports of call
We stayed two nights before the cruise at Hotel Dylan which is near Grand Central Station. Not very expensive for NYC. We visited the Museum of Modern Art and took a HOHO Bus Tour with Grey Line that included a night tour of NYC (great!). Got to see some great spots like Strawberry Fields and Times Square. My husband's back was bothering him so although we could have done more we didn't just to save him some pain. We ate at Applebee's in Times Square. We also did the Top of the Rock at night on our Grey Line HoHo combo ticket. Good times! Sailing out of NYC on the Escape was unbelievable! We almost can touch the Verrazano Narrows Bridge (BE UP TOP FOR IT!) and the views of Manhattan and the Statue of Liberty are truly inspiring. You will never forget it!
Royal Naval Dockyard, West End, Bermuda
We love Bermuda and visit almost every year. We love everything about it, and can recommend Heidi's Byways Tours, renting a Boston Whaler from Somerset Watersports, taking a glass fusing class at Studio 8 Glass in Dockyard and hopping the NCL ferry to St. Georges to explore (do not miss the spooky "Unfinished Church"). Go to Horseshow Bay Beach, and the easiest and most comfortable way to get there is taking an air conditioned mini-bus right next to the ship for $7 each way. I absolutely do not recommend renting a scooter even if you are an experienced rider. They are deadly. Bermuda is magical and unforgettable. You will want to go back again.
Disembarkation
Easy, porters everywhere. Getting everyone off the ship was pretty impressive.
1 Comment
yk07us 5 years ago
I'm so glad it was a wonderful trip starting with your stay in NYC. It's such joy to read a detailed positive review with so many people being just miserable about everything. As far as you dinner at Cagney's, it shows again how it pays to be nice to crew and just people around you. To more great cruises!