A group of 2 couples boarded the Norwegian Escape on Saturday October 8, 2016. The embarkation could not have went smoother. We dropped our luggage at the pier walked to the embarkation desk and in 10 minutes we were on our way to board. Went to get something to eat at Jimmy Buffets Margaritaville at Sea for a margarita and a hamburger. While there was a charge it was very reasonable. From there went to room and our luggage had arrived. We had a mini suite # 10840 and I was very pleased with the space and the bathroom was the biggest I had seen on a ship. Plenty of room but balcony could have been bigger. Our week on the ship we ate at several specialty restaurants as our Travel agent included them along with free drink package. This cruise line has some of the best cuisine around and it shows, especially in the included dining restaurants, where menus generally are innovative and food quality is high. Service is attentive and quick, and waiters are willing to make informed recommendations. O'Sheehan's Neighborhood Bar & Grill Menu options for lunch and dinner include wings, burgers, sandwiches, salads, hot dogs and fajitas, along with some Irish classics like fish and chips (the best meal on the menu) and shepherd's pie. Breakfast actually is the highlight and one of the better-kept secrets onboard. Teppanyaki was our first specialty restaurant and If you haven't experienced a night at Teppanyaki, then you should. For our money, this is the best for-fee venue onboard. Book early, as it's sold out most nights. Consider it more as a show, with the chef as the entertainment, and you -- the diners -- as the willing participants. Everyone sits at a square cooking station, which houses two chefs, a large grill/hot plate and 12 people on either side. The chef chops onions, throws eggs into his hat -- and occasionally "at" you -- and prepares the meal in front of your eyes with a huge mound of rice, dashes of soy sauce, salt, pepper and eggs. This is just the basis of the meal. You then choose the protein you would like (chicken, beef or seafood, including lobster) and how you would like it, and he cooks that up, too. All of this is served with miso soup, ginza salad, vegetables and garlic fried rice. Theatrics notwithstanding, the food and quality of cooking are outstanding. Green tea cake and fruit sashimi are dessert options. It's superb cuisine -- and lots of fun.

The next night Le Bistro venue is French through and through. Dine on the terrace and people-watch from a patio-style area outside the restaurant, or settle in to one of the mood-lit tables inside. We had the 32-oz. beef ribeye for two which was super..The third night Cagney's Steakhouse Norwegian's signature steakhouse with classic cuts are listed with your choice of steak sauce; a 5-ounce filet mignon, a New York strip, or a 32-ounce Porterhouse you can't go wrong. Sides like sauteed broccoli, truffle mashed potatoes (or fries) and onion rings were great. Last specialty restaurant was Norwegian Escape's Italian restaurant, La Cucina, is the place to go for a long, relaxing meal. The restaurant is decorated with red velvet, stark whites and rich fabrics may have been the best Italian food I have eaten...I also have to add that the complimentary restaurants, Taste , Savior and Manhattan are just as good with less of a menu.. I could write a book on how wonderful this cruise was. Now that I am home I have booked with my travel agent a 100 room reservation for our BNI group for next June...Can't wait..