the good and the bad

Norwegian Escape Cruise Review to Bermuda

Cruises: 7+ cruises
Review: 1
Helpful Votes: 57

Overall rating:

3.9 out of 5
Verified Review
Norwegian Escape

7 Night Bermuda (New York Roundtrip)

Sail date: May 12, 2019

Ship: Norwegian Escape

Cabin type: Suite

Cabin number: 15208

Traveled as: Couple

Reviewed: 5 years ago

Review summary

okay, here are our comments....... to preface everything we did, our last 5-7 cruises were on the Gem so I'm using that as the baseline to compare .....the GEM was so enjoyable and so pleasant........the ESCAPE was way too big....whoever made the decision that there should be only TWO elevator banks for 4,200 people should be demoted to swabbing the poop deck....horrible decision......unfortunately our cabin was located middeck....about 1/8 mile from the nearest elevator bank...seemed like a 1/4 of a mile after awhile.....that trek grew tiresome... the disembarkation methodology was great...one of the fastest ever and most comfortable (available arrangements were made where we could sit down while waiting to leave)....the embarkation was more than adequate provided you got there by 9:30..... the most unfair, unjust thing was the passage fee we were charged....what I object to the most is that we didn't have the option to reject all the "free" perks and thus get a lower fare.....by not having the option to get a lower fare, I feel that we were "taken to the cleaners"......we were paying for everyone's drinks et. al. by being forced to pay the same price whether one took the drink package or, for that matter, the part of any other package........no option available to forego the "free" stuff for a lower fare....the cruise on the GEM last year cost $2,800...this year the cost was $3,600.....WOW!!!!....I only agreed to go because my wife really wanted to go....but never again!!!!!!...not at this price!!! ….the balcony on the ESCAPE was much too small...the GEM spoiled us....service was great (ESCAPE) and the staff were very friendly....didn't do any excursions…..St. George's walk-about was great....loved The White Horse Inn....If we can't go on a smaller ship, on whatever line, we've been on our last cruise.....we will never again sail on a ship with more than 2,000 people.....bring back the GEM to NYC!!!!! ...the GEM spoiled us....we'd like to say see you again next year, but not on this ship....or any one of this size like it....the food in the garden café was ok.....nothing great....however we loved the desserts there.... the dining in the specialty restaurants was above average...Le Bristo was the best....loved the freestyle dining.....

Embarkation

5 out of 5
very good if you're there by 9:30...

Ship experiences

Food and Dining

3 out of 5
the garden buffet was mediocre.....some good meals some so-so...the desserts were excellent in the Garden Café...loved the Le Bristo and Cagneys

Onboard Activities

3 out of 5
I'm a simple person.....the only activity I participated in was happy hour...of which I enjoyed...

Entertainment

didn't see any shows

Children's Programs

no kids

Service and Staff

5 out of 5
the attitude and service and friendlyness of the crew were outstanding…..

Ship Quality

5 out of 5
areas were clean...the ship was way too big for me.....4,200 passengers????....and only two elevator banks????? really!!!!! don't get a cabin midship unless you're prepared to do a lot of walking from your room to the elevator bank

Cabin / Stateroom

3 out of 5
cabin was spotless....but too small compared to other NCL ships...the balcony was way too small....

Ship tip

get a smaller NCL ship

Ports of call

New York, New York Did not visit port

i live in NYC

Royal Naval Dockyard, West End, Bermuda

4 out of 5
loved The Pig and Onion Pub....and the beers...great place to be while wife goes shopping

Disembarkation

5 out of 5
great!!!!! had seating available while waiting to disembark....
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3 Comments

Cruisers4Lyfe     5 months ago

Thanks for sharing

Eeshmeesh    5 years ago

You do have the option to not get a promo and get reduced fare. It is called a sailaway fare. Just to clarify the placement of the elevators. The forward elevator bank has 8 cars and is just slightly in front of midship. It actually let out into the atrium. I had a room in the center of the ship, and neither elevator bank ever seemed far. Not saying it does not get crazy crowded at peak times (embark, muster & disembark), but it mellowed out during the cruise.

jpmato16    5 years ago

If you forego the drinks package, you WILL actually save by not paying the daily gratuity of $20 per person per day for the package. I chose to forego the package on an upcoming trip, as I don’t drink much and paying a la carte is cheaper for me. This is especially true on port-intensive itineraries. The larger ships are newer, with more activities and dining options. They are also more suited to families. It’s really a matter of doing the research and prioritizing what matters most.

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