As fans of NCL, my husband and I chose this cruise on the Escape as it was going out of NYC and we could get to the port without flying. We were looking for a week disconnected from reality, just the two of us spending some time relaxing. Getting on and off the ship was a breeze. Crowded, yes, but the lines flowed. The ship is immense, with that, there were a lot of passengers! The pool deck was full of sun bathers and liveliness, but there were sundecks where you could go for a little more quiet. Other than that, we really didn't notice the number of people onboard. Our cabin met all of our requirements: affordable, clean and conveniently located. We didn't partake in the zillion activities offered, just relaxed in our lounge chair and enjoyed the sunshine, fresh air and drinks then afterward dined in one of the numerous specialty restaurants. After dinner we would put a little cash into a slot machine for fun. The food was good in all, but Food Republic stood out as the star. All of this, though, would not have been possible without the FANTASTIC staff. All levels, all roles, every person we interacted with was warm, pleasant and welcoming. Everyone had a smile for us. The officers were seen all around the ship, stopping to talk with passengers. They were always accessible if you had a need for anything. Now to the destination: Bermuda was breathtaking! Pictures can't do justice to the color of the water and the sand of the beaches. The locals were friendly, it was clean, easy to get around via public transportation and there was so much to see and do. One trip to this island isn't enough! We will be cruising NCL again and hope to get back to Bermuda, too.