Having just returned from a short trip on the brand new NCL Escape, I will be!
Wow, wow wow!!! The Escape is beautiful. She is a big lady taking 4266 guests, and in all honesty I do not normally like huge ships, but the Escape feels different, is so spacious and has the most amazing features. One of the great features I loved was the “waterfront” which basically is the promenade. It is a quarter of a mile long but it connects you also to some of the great venues on board such as Cagney’s steakhouse or the 5 o’clock somewhere bar. Loads of space and a really great place to have a wander around. Then there is the aqua park, if you are a lover of waterslides then this is the place for you – you could try the free fall – fastest waterslides at sea! I am a bit of a scaredy cat however, I could be tempted in this wonderful area.
Of course, those of you who know me well know I do love a bit of pampering. Well, I was blown away in the Mandara spa. This has to be the biggest spa at sea I have seen. It is wonderful. We went into the snow room which is a first for NCL, the cold can stimulate your blood circulation then we headed into the Salt room which was lovely and is really good for those who have respiratory and skin ailments. The thermal suite has 17 heated loungers which are fantastic, really warm too, then you can take a dip in the vitality pool. The range of treatments are vast, more then 50 treatments including a bit of teeth whitening if you want that kind of thing! Next to the spa is a massive gym area – so many running machines!
Entertainment on board is superb, so much choice. From comedy clubs to great jazz music, a bit of 80’s music and so on. We went to the Million Dollar Quartet show all about Johnny Cash, Elvis, Jerry Lee Lewis and Carl Perkins having a bit of a “jam session.” This show is on Broadway and has won a Tony award. The music was fab, even for me who is really not into rock and roll. Jerry Lee Lewis was fantastic had so much personality. I do have to say though that I would have preferred more music but as they are telling a story about this iconic jam session, I guess I am expecting too much! After the show we headed off to O’Sheehans bar which was jam packed, great atmosphere and a great place to mingle. This was not the only drinking establishment I was in though! We also had a few drinks in the Cellars wine bar, the Sugarcane mojito bar and passed so many others, I did not have time to try them out. I loved the look of Tobacco Road, Miami’s oldest bar and also the District Brew House – too many for 1 night I am afraid but if your on a weeks cruise or longer then you will have so much to sample!
Food? OMG!! Loads of places to eat. One of the things I like about NCL cruises is the freestyle dining concept. Wonderful choice of eating places as well as the choice of speciality dining. From Cagney’s steakhouse to Le Bistro, to La Cucina, Teppanyaki, and Moderno Churrascaria. We had our meal in Moderno Churrascaria which is a Brazilian steakhouse. Point of note – you have a little token on your table, when it is turned upwards to green – they will keep coming at your table with steak, lamb chops, chicken, pork, sausages, and will not stop till you remember to turn your token around to red which means STOP, I am full!!!!! Food is fantastic, need I say more?
The staterooms on board the Escape are really lovely, plenty of space even in the inside cabin and YES they have a shower door – woo hoo!
I loved the Haven area – this is for me, but I will keep that for my next blog!
Seriously, if you are looking for a ship with great entertainment, fantastic facilities, great food, do not go past the Escape, this will 100% be the next ship Keith and I will be travelling on!