I just returned with my kids from a cruise on the Escape during the week of June 4, 2016. I've cruised perhaps 10 times before on various lines in the US and Europe including once on another Norwegian ship some 10 years ago. I can't decide if this was the best cruise ever but it's certainly right up there.

To start with it's a beautiful ship. The interiors are elegant and contemporary and not overly glitzy and flashy like on some other lines. The ship is big with as many as 18 decks but still easy to get around, although the main decks (6, 7 and 8) do get quite crowded at peak times.

Entertainment, particularly the After Midnight show, was outstanding. There were some dancers in this show that were amazingly talented and had me wondering why they were performing on a cruise ship rather than on Broadway or some other famous venue. Also, don't miss comedian Frank Townsend, he is brilliantly funny. In the elevators there are small TV screens promoting, among other things, the onboard restaurant of chef Jose Garces of Food Network's Iron Chef fame. Many cruise lines have famous chef associations but you never expect to meet them. Not true on Escape as Jose Garces was actually on the ship giving cooking demonstrations. I'm not sure if this is a regular thing of just our lucky week but it was really cool. Another favorite entertainment venue of mine was the game shows and other events taking place every evening in the Atrium on Deck 6. Most were tremendously entertaining. Some do get a little risqué during the evening hours though so be aware of that if you have little ones, and you do need to get there early for prime seating. Read more