Norwegian Escape

 

 

Day & Night

• Daytime schedules are packed with trivia, pub games, animal towel-folding demos, drink tastings, live music performances, water park and ropes course open hours, and other activities
• Evenings are full of energy, with Broadway-caliber shows, a plethora of bars, game shows and Norwegian's popular top-deck dance parties
• Massive casino with a variety of table games, slot machines and tournaments
• O'Sheehan's features two duckpin bowling lanes, open throughout the day

You'll find various forms of entertainment going on all over the ship at any time of day. During the day, passengers who aren't outside sunbathing or cooling off at the Aqua Park have their fair share of indoor activities, most of which are free of charge. The buzzing, glowing arcade, on the other hand, with its vast array of games, costs extra.

At night, activity centers around the main atrium and other lounges, where you'll find trivia, music, dancing, the hilarious "Perfect Couple Game Show" and live bands. Evening karaoke is another popular activity. 

Norwegian Cruise Line offers some of the best theater productions in the industry, and Escape is no exception. The two-deck Escape Theater hosts the bulk of formal entertainment options onboard, including the Broadway show, "After Midnight" and the comedic adults-only "For the Record: The Brat Pack," a musical that's based on John Hughes movies from the '80s. Reservations for the shows, which are free, can be made by visiting the adjacent box office or using your in-cabin TV or touch-screen monitors located throughout the ship.

There is no disco onboard, so dance action takes place in Spice H2O, where the resident DJ spins dance tracks into the wee hours of the morning. Norwegian is famous for its Glow Parties, which take place in Spice H2O on select nights and are sometimes family-centric.

Norwegian Escape Bars and Lounges

Whether you're in the mood for handcrafted cocktails or craft beer, Norwegian Escape offers a place for every taste, each with a personality of its own.

Highlights include:

Skyline Bar (Deck 7): Located adjacent to the Escape Casino, the Skyline Bar is a wide-open space with multiple LED screens projecting cityscapes on the walls. It is the largest of the lounges onboard and features in-bar video poker and live entertainment at night.

O'Sheehan's Neighborhood Bar & Grill (Deck 7): The centrally located pub is a popular spot for food and drinks onboard. In the bar area, you'll also find pool, darts, Skee-Ball, video games and two duckpin bowling lanes. All games require an additional fee. TVs abound in all areas, and sports are broadcast throughout.

Prime Meridian Bar (Deck 8): Sitting gracefully between the ship's two steakhouses is Prime Meridian, a compass-shaped bar. It's ideal for those looking to imbibe in a low-key atmosphere, as the space never tends to get too crowded.

Sugarcane Mojito Bar (Deck 8): Next to Bayamo, you'll see the Cuban-inspired Sugarcane glowing green under enchanting palm tree pillars. It's a relatively small bar, so the wait time can get extremely long at night -- but it's worth it, for a unique-flavored mojito such as pineapple coconut, raspberry guava and jalapeno cucumber.

Cellars Wine Bar (Deck 8): Through the line's partnership with the Michael Mondavi family, Cellars Wine Bar is an oenophile's dream, with a curated wine list that includes 35 varietals from all over the world, as well as service from a certified sommelier. The refined venue also offers tastings and courses for a fee.

Tobacco Road Liquor Bar (Deck 8): Norwegian features an at-sea version of Tobacco Road, once Miami's oldest bar -- now sadly defunct -- that's a seductive place to hang out among leather couches and try a handcrafted cocktail.

The Humidor (Deck 8): Adjacent to Tobacco Road, this aptly named venue is simply the indoor smoking area and cigar bar, which also leads out onto the open Waterfront.

5 O'Clock Somewhere Bar (Deck 8): The 5 O'Clock Somewhere Bar is part of the iconic Jimmy Buffett franchise. It exudes a laid-back Caribbean-inspired atmosphere, both indoors and outdoors on The Waterfront. A stage in the back is home to a house band that plays a mixture of reggae and up-tempo tunes.

District Brew House (Deck 8): Norwegian Cruise Line nailed the draft pub concept with District Brew House, which is complete with a keg room (though nothing is brewed onsite), 24 draft beers on tap and more than 50 bottled beers, including some from Miami-based Wynwood Brewing Co. Nights see either a piano player or live band; there's also a photo booth (photos cost $5).

Norwegian Escape Outside Recreation

• Just two pools to service the entire ship; one additional pool for guests staying in The Haven
• Top-deck recreation is an adrenaline junkie's dream, with two free-fall water slides, a racing-style water slide and a challenging ropes course

Norwegian Escape's outdoor offerings provide something for everyone -- and every mood, whether that's being lazy by the pool or facing your fears on the free-fall slide.

There are three swimming pools, including the main pool with a shaded hot tub on each side, a smaller all-ages pool with a waterfall feature (not to be confused with the kids' splash area) and one reserved for suite passengers in The Haven. (A quieter hydrotherapy pool can be found in the spa's thermal suite, which requires a day- or weeklong pass.)

Spice H2O (Deck 17), the line's adults-only sun deck, does not have a pool; though passengers can cool off in a walkthrough grotto, by wading in shallow water. Vibe Beach Club (Deck 19) is another adults-only sun deck, but it comes with a fee.

You'll find plenty of other spots for sunning yourself on decks 16, 18 and 20, as well as another hot tub on Deck 19.

Other recreational activities include a mini-golf course, sports courts and the hard-to-miss ropes course, one of the largest at sea. Standout ropes course features include sky rails (akin to ziplines) and two planks that jut out over the side of the ship, 172 feet above the water.

Perhaps the biggest draw to the top deck is the water park on Deck 16. The Aqua Park includes two freefall water slides, where each rider waits in a capsule for the bottom to drop, starting a twisting, heart-pounding plunge. It also includes a tube slide called the Aqua Racer, in which competitors can race side by side in tubes; there's even a clear portion that extends over the side of the ship. An open yellow slide makes for a tamer ride.

Norwegian Escape Services

• Guest and shore excursion services
• Future cruise sales
• Small library and card room
• Photo gallery
• Internet cafe (find Norwegian Cruise Line prices here)
• Shops: designer accessories and clothing, fine jewelry, Norwegian-branded items, toiletries, snacks, duty-free alcohol and tobacco products
• Laundry service (no self-serve facilities)
• ATM
• Medical center

• More than 25 free and extra-fee dining options, representing American, Japanese, Italian, French, Brazilian and Spanish cuisines
• Vegetarian options always available in the main dining rooms; cruisers with other special dietary requests should let the cruise line know ahead of time
• Room service is available 24 hours a day; while morning coffee and continental breakfast is free, all other orders incur a $9.95 charge; passengers staying in The Haven receive complimentary room service 

Norwegian Escape offers a wide variety of restaurants; passengers who don't want to spend extra on meals onboard have plenty of choices. On the flip side, it can be hard to resist the temptation of so many eclectic for-fee options onboard (such as a hibachi restaurant, a Brazilian churrascaria and a French bistro).

The ship doesn't have a main dining room in the traditional sense, where everyone eats at set times in a large venue. Instead, it has a larger restaurant, called the Manhattan Room, and two smaller venues, Taste and Savor, which offer the same menus. Meals are "freestyle," meaning passengers can show up any time the venues are open when it's convenient for them, rather than at set times.

Free Dining

Taste and Savor Restaurants (Deck 6) and the Private Room at Taste (Deck 5)
Meals: Breakfast (B), Lunch (L), Dinner (D)

These two restaurants, both of which are included in the basic cruise fare, sit across from one another, midship, with Mixx Bar in between. Menus are the same for both, and each layout offers a mix of seating arrangements, with tables for two to six and beyond.

Breakfast fare is simple and continental-style, while the three-course lunch menu includes a mix of eclectic options, such as Vietnamese pho soup and hummus. For dinner, options range from a rotating selection of international dishes, along with some standards that are available every night. Just remember to save room for dessert, as the spread is extensive. 

For an extra fee, designated Chef's Signature Dishes can be paired with selected wine recommendations at lunch and dinner. For large families and groups, the Private Room at Taste offers a more secluded space and can be requested when making dinner reservations.

The Manhattan Room (Deck 7)
Meals: D

Norwegian Escape's Manhattan Room is the largest complimentary dining venue onboard. It's a two-level restaurant with a spacious dance floor taking up a large swath of space near floor-to-ceiling windows at the back of the room. The dinner menu in the Manhattan Room is the same as in Taste and Savor.

O'Sheehan's Neighborhood Bar & Grill (Deck 7)
Meals: B, L, D 

O'Sheehan's is Norwegian's Irish-inspired pub. The space, which overlooks the atrium, is divided into two areas (a larger bar section and a smaller dining section), but the food and drink menus are the same. In the dining section, tables and booths are available, and it's significantly quieter than the bar area. The comfort food-style fare is pretty average when it comes to quality; the plus is the venue is open 24 hours a day.

Garden Cafe (Deck 16):
Meals: B, L, D 

The Garden Cafe is Escape's massive buffet complex. It's designed with stations, which repeat throughout so passengers don't have to do endless laps to make sure they didn't miss anything. This also effectively manages passenger flow, as lines are seldom long.

In the morning, a wide range of breakfast options is available, though they don't vary much from day to day. Lunch options, on the other hand, change each day, though the most popular (the salad and pasta bar, for example) are available every day. Dinner includes carving stations, salad bars and a variety of hot mains and sides. Dessert options abound as well.

The Haven Restaurant (Deck 18)
Meals: B, L, D 

The dedicated restaurant for The Haven's suite passengers is spacious, yet exclusive. Meals are similar to what you'll find on the rest of the ship but are a step up in terms of quality. A sizable seating area is just outside the entrance to the restaurant and makes for a great place to relax with a pre-dinner drink from the bar just steps away.

Pricing was accurate at time of review, but may have changed since.

Margaritaville at Sea (Deck 17); $14.95
Meals: B, L

This at-sea version of Jimmy Buffet's popular land-based eatery boasts a relaxing yet social atmosphere outdoors, only a few steps away from the water park. Menu items, for the most part, have either some type of island flair (Key West omelet with shrimp for breakfast) or Jimmy Buffet theme (Who's to Blame margarita or Cheeseburger in Paradise). The restaurant closes in poor weather.

Teppanyaki (Deck 6); $29.95
Meals: D 

You'll want to book Teppanyaki early, as it's sold out most nights. The hibachi-style restaurant is more like a show, with the chef as the entertainment, and you -- the diners -- as the willing participants. Everyone sits at a square cooking station, which houses two chefs, a large grill/hot plate and 12 people on each side. The chef chops onions, throws eggs into his hat -- and occasionally "at" you -- and prepares the meal in front of your eyes. Theatrics notwithstanding, the food and quality of cooking are outstanding.

Le Bistro (Deck 6); a la carte
Meals: D 

On a casual and laid-back ship like Escape, Le Bistro is the spot to go for slightly upscale dining (the dress code requests no shorts). The venue is French through and through. Dine on the terrace and people-watch from a patio-style area outside the restaurant, or settle into one of the mood-lit tables inside. You can also choose from a selection of wine, or one of Le Bistro's featured cocktails, to pair with your dinner, which includes French classics such as escargot, coq au vin and bouillabaisse.

The Supper Club (Deck 6); $24.99
Meals: L, D 

The Supper Club embodies the slick ambiance of dinner theater with velvety blacks and reds and intimate seating. Here, passengers indulge in a three-course dinner with a show. Shows vary by cruise, with rotating guest performers. One show that's consistent is "Wine Lovers the Musical," a comedic afternoon lunch theater and wine-tasting experience, held on select afternoons.

Cafe at The Atrium (Deck 6); a la carte
Meals: Snacks 

The cafe serves a variety of specialty coffees, teas and pastries.

Cagney's Steakhouse (Deck 8); a la carte
Meals: D 

Norwegian's signature steakhouse, Cagney's offers indoor and outdoor seating in a traditionally designed setting with dark tones and booth seating. The menu, likewise, offers classic steakhouse dishes spread out among starters, main courses, sides and desserts. Couples looking for a more intimate dining experience should snag a seat outside, at sunset.

Moderno Churrascaria (Deck 8); $29.95
Meals: D 

Moderno Churrascaria, the ship's Brazilian steakhouse, gives diners a great bang for the buck -- with a massive hot and cold salad bar, myriad sides and the popular pao de queijo (cheese bread), all in addition to roving meats dished out by passadors. You'll be lucky if you can save room for dessert. While there is plenty of seating spread out inside, those looking for a more intimate setting can enjoy the outdoor seating.

Bayamo (Deck 8); a la carte
Meals: D 

This elegant yet relaxed eatery offers a variety of Spanish delicacies -- and views of either all the action from inside, or the ocean outside along The Waterfront.

Pincho Tapas Bar (Deck 8); a la carte
Meals: D 

Traditional Spanish tapas are available at Pincho Tapas Bar, a casual spot, adjacent to Bayamo. Dishes like calamari and imported ham are prepared on an authentic la plancha grill, tableside, as diners watch.

La Cucina (Deck 8); a la carte
Meals: D 

Norwegian Escape's Italian restaurant, La Cucina, is the place to go for a long, relaxing meal. Savor traditional Italian by choosing from several starters, main courses -- including a whole menu section dedicated to pasta and risotto – and, of course, dessert.

Food Republic (Deck 8); a la carte
Meals: D 

Food Republic offers cruisers the chance to splurge on international gourmet dishes. The emphasis is clearly on Asian cuisine, and portions are tapas-size, making the plates great for sharing. Diners order and pay via iPads, and the food comes out quickly; you can even belly up to the food bar to watch the chefs prepare your order.

District Brew House (Deck 8); a la carte
Meals: L, D 

Light gastropub-style snacks are available at this brew pub venue during lunch and dinner hours.

The Bake Shop (Deck 8); a la carte
Meals: Snacks 

Get your sweet fix at The Bake Shop, where you can find cupcakes, pastries, pralines and macarons. Prices start at $1.50 per item.

Dolce Gelato (Deck 8); a la carte
Meals: Snacks 

Grab a scoop or two of gelato at Dolce Gelato, located on The Waterfront. You can order cups or cones starting at $2.50.