This was our 8th cruise, and although we enjoyed them all this was the best! The Escape is beautiful and modern and although large, it is well laid out it does not feel crowded. The gym can become crowded early morning but there are plenty of ways to stay active on the ship, from the walking/running track, rope course, pools, slides, golf, shuffleboard, basketball and dance lessons. Never a dull moment! The balcony stateroom was nicely appointed and typical for the ships we've been on. The food was fabulous in all the restaurants, both complimentary and specialty. We tried most of them and they were all fantastic! There are plenty of options for bars and a great variety of beers and cocktails. Shows in the theatre are excellent, Broadway quality, amazing talent. We particularly enjoyed the comedy shows. The comedians were so funny we went to the shows every chance we got! The ports of the eastern Caribbean route of St. Thomas, Tortola and Nassau were great. Thoroughly enjoyed them all! Certainly the highlight of the trip was the service we experienced on the Escape. Absolutely first class! The crew go above and beyond to make their guests feel special and valued. We were particularly impressed when returning from our day in Nassau to find a party on the pier complete with DJ and dancing staff to welcome us back! On the day of disembarkation staff were again lined up at the pier to send us off and thank us for choosing them. We can't wait to return and would highly recommend the Escape!
The cabin in well decorated, not large but certainly adequate. The bathroom is quite large and the balcony is larger than most as it is on an angled part of the ship so extra space is gained.
St. Thomas is a beautiful port with great shopping! The vendors on the main street are quite pushy, however, trying to get customers into their stores. We have visited Blackbeard's Castle on previous visits and it's worth the trip.
We really enjoyed Tortola. There is a beautiful new area constructed just off the pier with great shops and lovely, clean washrooms. I'm sure as more shops open up it will get even better! A short walk will take you to local vendors, more shops and the oldest street in Road Town which we found charming. The people are very laid back and friendly and not at all pushy.
We strolled into town and picked up a tour with an operator Felton Cox who took us on an almost three hour tour of Nassau and Paradise Island, dropping us off the a walk-about at a shopping area near the Queen's Staircase and again at Atlantis! He was fantastic! Learned about the history, politics and lifestyle of the Bahamas and were back to the port in time to walk around and downtown area which was very enjoyable.
We love to sail out of Miami and always arrive a few days pre-cruise and stay in South Beach. It has it all...beautiful beach, excellent shopping, dining and night life.Love to see the sites on Ocean Drive! If you want to stay in Miami, the downtown area also has so much to offer with Bayside Marketplace, arena, and shops and restaurants.