Norwegian Escape Review

4.0 / 5.0
3,050 reviews

Mediocre cruise for an above-average price

Review for Canada & New England Cruise on Norwegian Escape
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DraesMiran
2-5 Cruises • Age 40s

Rating by category

Cabin
Value for Money
Embarkation
Dining
Public Rooms
Entertainment
Fitness & Recreation
Service

Additional details

Sail Date: Sep 2019
Cabin: Balcony Stateroom

This was an extremely average cruise, and by the time we were done, I felt like our "good deal" had become "a little too expensive." I have written a very detailed review below, but if you want a TL;DR here you go: The service was horrible, the food was one step above hotel catering if you paid extra and right at cheap convention center quality for free dining, the wine is overpriced but delicious, the shows and entertainment are excellent but require extra fees and/or reservations, the spa is worth every penny, the ship is too big for comfort, and the app is garbage. On, and expect to smell cigarette smoke everywhere but your stateroom and the main theater which was super gross.

We booked on a promotion which offered the ultimate beverage package and 3 upgraded dining options at no additional charge (but plus the gratuity for the packages) and we prepaid our general gratuities. More on the beverage package below. The initial cost for 2 adults splitting a balcony room was about half of the cost for 2 adults in an inside room on our preferred cruise line (DCL) for a similar itinerary.

Ship: The ship itself is in good shape and things were in good repair and good working order. The crew could be seen working to clean and maintain the ship daily, which is a good thing. There are eight elevators at the banks located fore and aft, but no easy way to access the center of the ship. Wait times for the elevators could range from a few seconds with empty cars to a 10-15 minute wait. I thought the ship was too big- it was difficult to make plans to meet people and I almost never just "stumbled" on folks I had met at other activities in the evenings- things were just too big. This also means all the relaxation areas were constantly full- it was difficult to find seats on the Waterfront or in the bars at night. The overall decor of the ship is mid-range casino glitzy, if you're into that kind of thing- I prefer classy or elegant. The main atrium, which is not where the LED chandelier in all the pictures is located, looks like a 1990s living room done in taupe and boring. The three story centerpiece with the light was a design mistake- while it is striking to look down from the waterfront interior shops or up from the ground floor restaurants, the middle is open to the casino...and that means the cigarette smoke goes everywhere- into every restaurant, bar, and venue open to decks 6, 7 and 8. Truly disgusting.

Cabin Review

Balcony Stateroom

Cabin BF

Overall, the cabins are average and nothing special. They lack the consideration touches from DLC with the privacy curtain between the sitting area and the sleeping area, and the lightswitches are laid out for a single bed. The balcony is a nice clear wall, but the chairs are tiny and uncomfortable. Armless chairs are preferred for lounging.

Beds: The beds were comfortable enough but the linens were too short, so we were constantly getting up at night to retuck the sheets around the mattress, and we had to flip the comforters every night so the opening for the duvet was at our feet, not our heads. We had the bed split into two singles. There was about a three inch gap between the two beds. There are bedlights on each side, with a USB port on each light- a nice touch. The rooms were a nice decor- lots of blues and browns.

Power: There were three outlets on the desk (plus one if you unplug the coffee maker) and one in the bathroom. The only USB outlets are on the wall by the bed. Don't forget to bring a blank key card or similar to keep the power on while you're in the room without risking forgetting your own key as you walk out the door.

Storage: Smallish closet with tons of hangers, no drawers, four half-shelves (one of which is consumed by the safe) and one full-length shelf across the top. The desk has one deepish corner cupboard by the minifridge with one shelf and a very shallow cupboard under the TV that was unsuited for any storage. There are two drawers under the bed which we used for clothing. Our housekeeper was annoyed by this...too bad. We moved the extra linens into the suitcases under the bed. Bathroom storage was above average- deep cabinet under the sink and four narrow shelves plus counter space by the toilet and two narrow wire shelves in the shower. There were also two hooks on the bathroom door and two more by the cabin door. The walls and ceiling are magnetic- bring heavy hooks (25 lb hung from ceiling = great for jackets, wet swimsuits, bags, etc.) and didn't leave marks.

Amenities: Nice! Coffee maker in room (although our housekeeper never refilled it- we had to call every night) + 2 cups and 2 wine cups. Mini fridge, can be emptied (annoys the housekeeper though) and holds 4 bottles of wine upright. No shelf, though. Hair dryer at desk- works great. We were able to request 2 robes, but we were told only because of our Spa pass. (We did not stay in a spa room- we added the week long pass. In hindsight, for the cost, should have booked a spa room.) The in-shower gel, shampoo/conditioner combo sucked. No lotion was provided for us, and we had to request extra towels.

Port Reviews

Portland (Maine)

I did a self-guided walking tour courtesy of Google maps in Portland and thought it was a charming city. It doesn't feel quite ready for cruise guest yet, but as the only port with Lyft/Uber on this trip it was the easiest to explore on your own.

Bar Harbor

Hands down my favorite port. Walk up the hill right away and then work your way back to the ship for a charming experience.

Saint John (New Brunswick)

My least favorite port- I should have stayed aboard. The city was under construction, there is no infrastructure to handle cruise tourists, and the port is inconveniently far from the city center.

Halifax

My second favorite stop. The harbor walk is gorgeous, and there is a lot to do within the city. Still not lyft or uber, which makes getting around a little bit of a hassle- don't forget to leave time for the surprisingly long walk back to the ship.

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