We (my wife and I, no children) wanted a getaway from the cold northwest weather, and got just what we needed. The Escape is a really big ship with activities and entertainment to satisfy everyone. 4,000+ guests all seemed to be accommodated without any crowding or major standing in line. Amazing how smooth the crew makes it all happen. We opted for a balcony cabin (always had an inside cabin before) and it was well worth the few extra dollars. Better layout, more room around the bed, and the balcony made it nice to step outside the room when we wanted. I don't know how the stewards do it, but they always managed to clean/freshen up the room after we stepped out and before we returned, even when we took a mid-day nap. The stewards were always available to bring us extra towels or whatever we needed, including fresh ice in the ice bucket.

For us, the dining was great. We like prime rib, and had it 5 times (all you can eat) for dinner at the various complimentary restaurants. Also had a variety of seafood for dinner on the other nights. The buffet offered a good variety for all meals. We did not eat at the specialty restaurants, but felt no need to considering what was available at the complimentary restaurants. Did I mention the killer deserts at the buffet?

The entertainment was better than expected. The "After Midnight" tribute to the jazz era (25 cast members) was excellent, as was the Four Seasons tribute. Seemed like there was always some live music, comedy or juggling act, dance instructions, or house shows to entertain. Overall, the service by the entire staff was super. If we needed something, whether for the room, or while roaming the ship, all we had to do was ask a staff member, and it happened. Frequently, when we were at a bar on an upper deck, one of the waiters would come around and provide guests with ice watered wash cloths so they could freshen up. When we came back to the ship from leaving for an excursion, we were greeted with ice water/juice and refreshing ice watered wash cloths before getting back on the ship. Might not sound like major items, but need to be pointed out to show how far NCL went to make our cruise comfortable. Read more