Well What A Lovely Surprise !

My one night on Norwegian Escape came and went in a flash but what a surprise, or maybe revelation is a better word, it was! What I expected and what I got was completely different.

She is a large, elegant ship and that was the first surprise – I expected large but elegant? – No !  Walking on to this lovely new ship was almost a calming experience, even the lifts were beautiful with sparkling red interiors. The reception area is a vast, open area, with loads of seating, a lobby bar and plenty of reception desks ensuring no long wait if you do have any questions.

She is a big ship and there is far too much to say about her in one go so I`ll stick to the things that surprised me most. First the cabins.I expected small, we had an inside cabin and it certainly lived up to expectations – small but perfectly formed ! Decorated in browns and beige colours, it had a mini fridge and a mirror with decent lighting to put your make up on in! A flat screen TV next to the wardrobe and just about enough storage space, although if you were on a world cruise you`d struggle I think. The wardrobe was a good size – well I fit into it anyway !

The bathroom was lovely, a proper shower, with glass doors not horrid plastic curtains, loads of storage space, extra towels stored under the sink and it was quite a big bathroom big too. So a good start, apart from the lack of any really nice toiletries.

The one thing I was really looking forward to seeing was the Snow Room, so off we went to the Mandara Spa to find it and try it out. The Spa is absolutely gorgeous, very calming with lovely hot stone beds to lie on while you watch the world go by during seas days. It has a pool with all sorts of gadgets and wave machines, along with every type of sauna, steam room, salt bath, tropical showers – you name it Escape has it.

So onto the Snow Room – what a disappointment, its like a sauna in reverse! I expected a big room with snowflakes falling from the ceiling, actually its very small, tucked away at the back of the spa and the only resemblance to real snow is the fact that it is cold! Goodness knows why anyone would want to go in there.

This was really my only disappointment as the rest of this ship is great, and my one worry, the food, turned out to be the biggest surprise of all. We headed straight to the buffet restaurant as soon as we were on board, and I have to say this is one of the best I`ve seen on a ship. Its well set out and quite trendy, with a  wine bar area that makes it feel like you are actually in a much smaller, intimate place. There is loads of choice food wise with just about everything from sandwiches to Chines, Indian and Asian food , all very , very good.

Obviously one night on board doesn’t give you the chance to try many of the food outlets, but if I was on there for a week I would be in a different one very night.

Early evening Mojitos went down very well before we headed to Cagney`s Steakhouse for dinner.It is a lovely restaurant, makes you feel like you are in a top class place and the staff were excellent, introducing themselves to us and making sure no one had any food allergies, and all with a never ending smile. I chose the Jumbo Shrimps followed by one of the best Fillet Mignon I have ever tasted, cooked perfectly and so tender you would have been able to cut it with a  spoon. Raspberry Panacotta finished off the meal – delicious. The wine list is a novel idea as its on an Ipad – brought to your table so that you can see the regions where the wines are produced along with all the information you need to make your choice.

There is, of course, a cover charge for Cagney’s, the amount depends on what you choose from the menu and it is probably the most expensive option on board, but well worth it. In fact I can say this is probably some of  the best food I have eaten on a  cruise ship.

After dinner we headed off to the Headliners Club to Howl at the Moon – but that’s another story!