The NCL Escape has many excellent features but is not for the seasoned cruiser (older folks). It is essentially Carnival on steroids. We are veterans of 14 cruises. If you want to be left alone by the crew who are there to help you, then the NCL Escape is for you. On the entire 7 day cruise to St. Thomas, Tortola and Nassau the cabin attendant did not even introduce himself. I never said a word to him. In the bar areas (dozens) nobody takes drink orders. You have to belly-up to the bar (2-3 deep) and shout to get a bartender's attention. Want nuts, you had bettter ask.

NCL Escape had the skimpiest buffet I have ever seen on a cruise ship. Didn't they invent the smorgasbord?

We had the full beverage package only to discover later that it did not include water of coffees. What's with that? All the Johnny Walker Black you want but not water? Instead of the dining room we (9 of us) ate every dinner at a specialty restaurant. They are uniformly wonderful except for a loud show at the Japanese Hibachi that drove one of our party out and into Cagney's Steak House. Cagney's is as good as any upscale steakhouse you will find anyplace. Read more