Norwegian Escape Review
SeaMaverick
6-10 Cruises • Age 60s
Rating by category
Cabin
Value for Money
Embarkation
Dining
Public Rooms
Entertainment
Fitness & Recreation
Service
Additional details
Sail Date: May 2019
Cabin: Balcony Stateroom
If you are a complete novice to cruising and were to read some of the reviews here for this ship you might come away thinking that the cabins are all filthy, the crew all have a chip on their shoulder, the food is substandard even by cafeteria standards, the entertainment is poor, the ship is packed to the gills with rude passengers and children are all running amuck. This absolutely is not the case. Although there might be a kernel of truth to some of the negative statements you will read in these ship reviews, one must take them with a grain of salt and always keep in mind that everyone has their biases, myself included, and tend to be more hypersensitive to the things that annoy them most. The underlying truth is that a vacation aboard the NCL Escape is a wonderful experience.
In this review I will try to remain as objective as possible and give tips where I can. Understand that my rating of 3-stars is not a negative assessment of the Escape or her crew. It is merely a neutral rating, meaning I rate the Escape as average especially when I compare the ship against other cruises and other lines on which I have sailed. I have set this review up with headers to make it easier for you to skip those things that are not of interest to you.
SHIP BACKGROUND: Make no mistake, the NCL Escape is a really BIG ship. As of 2019 it is the 14th largest cruise ship in the world! The Escape is similar to the Breakaway and her sister ships in physical layout, but had additional cabins added to make her a “Breakaway-Plus” class ship. Whereas the Breakaway accommodates 3,963 passengers (and a crew of 1,657) the Escape accommodates 4,266 passengers (and a crew of 1,733). This does not include third or fourth passenger occupants (often children) in a cabin. On our voyage, for example, the total passenger headcount was 4,829. A ship of this size is NOT for everyone, regardless of the itinerary; bigger is not always better. So my first tip is to do your homework before booking any ship and select the one that is right for you.
Cabin Review
Balcony Stateroom
Cabin BD
The cabin has sufficient closet space and shelves in the closet to easily handle 2 adults. Ample storage exists under the beds to store multiple pieces of luggage. There are no drawers in the cabin anywhere. The balcony is comfortable enough to sit and enjoy the ocean but not to accommodate a lounge chair. It overlooks the balcony cabins on the 2 decks below it, such that those decks have no privacy. The bathroom is relatively large by cruise ship standards, especially the shower stall. As with most newer ships, you need to insert a card into a slot by the entry door to activate the lights. Any card will do, it does not need to be your sea card.
Port Reviews
New York (Manhattan)
The NYC Cruise Terminal is the most difficult of the 3 terminals serving NY/NJ to use. It is always congested. Driving yourself is not recommended unless you are use to handling Manhattan traffic. Parking is expensive and limited. Personnel are not the most pleasant to deal with. And on our most recent cruise, the embarkation process was painfully long.
27 Helpful Votes
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