Escape the Ordinary With NCL

Florida summer is headed our way. Sizzling temperatures. Beastly humidity. Crowded theme parks with sterile concrete environments. So, what is the best recipe to enjoy the tropics as they were meant to be experienced?

Combine abundant sunshine, island breezes, and romantic sunsets. Then add in a healthy mix of island exploration, shipboard recreation, restaurant options, and cozy staterooms, and you have your answer – an 8-day trip on Norwegian Cruise Line’s luxury liner, The Escape.  

Sounds like our kind of trip, so off we went to explore. 

NCL’s signature Breakaway Plus-Class ship leaves out of Port Canaveral’s convenient east coast terminal regularly, escorting up to 4,200 enthusiastic travelers to exotic Caribbean Island getaways while providing engaging activities and amazing food choices along the way. 

We booked a balcony suite so we could best enjoy the week-long views. Our stateroom featured a huge bed that could be separated into two if needed, comfy couch, fridge, TV, tons of closet and bathroom space … and of course that awesome private balcony, where we enjoyed al fresco breakfasts and magnificent sunsets.

Like many NCL ships, the Escape also features an exciting new concept in deluxe sailing – The Haven. Hidden away at the top of the ship, this upscale option’s guests receive the best of what cruising has to offer, including premium accommodations, private restaurant, sun deck and spa areas, and a 24-hour concierge with personal butler. Premium boarding status, excursion tender trip priority, and advance dining reservation access round out this luxurious experience.

Cruise lines around the world tout the myriad entertainment choices on board their ships, and NCL’s Escape is at the top of its class. Our sea-days were filled with so many choices – from the warm ship-wide pool and hot tub options to the breezy outdoor bars to the slippery Aqua Racer water slide. There is even a private area for adults, Spice H2O, where we soaked up the warm sunshine in laid-back lounge chairs while sipping tropical cocktails next to the grotto and waterfalls.   (Continue reading below photos). 

When the sun goes down, the on-board activities heat up. We discovered live music in so many venues. The District Brew House is home to talented musicians in an intimate setting and serves up stylish cocktails and dozens of craft brew selections. Howl at the Moon features the dueling pianos and vocals of clever performers. Syd’s Pour House is home to a talented high-energy 8-piece band putting their unique twist on classic rock hits.

Our cruise also presented two nighttime acts in the Escape Theater. “The Choir of Man” featured English Pub-themed musical entertainment with high-energy dancing and hit songs that we sang along to. Alternately, The Nashville Tenors, a dynamic vocal trio mixing classic hits and current chart toppers, treated us to a performance filled with soaring vocal harmonies and classic showmanship. 

Add in multiple venues for dancing, Headliners comedy club, and a red-hot casino scene, and we filled every evening with delightful activity. 

Of course, for as much joy as we got from the shipboard entertainment, we sailed on the Escape for the same reason that many folks do – the food scene.

With an incredible 25 dining choices, the Escape caters to foodies of all types. The sprawling Garden Café is chock full of buffet choices, but it is so much more than that. Separate mini stations rotate their fare constantly, offering such non-traditional buffet options as Asian, Indian, and Latin in addition to the more familiar burgers and pizza. The choices are endless, you eat whatever you want, whenever you want, and it is all included in your cruise price.

The Escape is also home to O’Sheehan’s Neighborhood Bar & Grill, a sit-down restaurant open 24 hours.  We dined on Irish Pub classics like fish and chips any time we desired while catching up on TV sports, tossing some darts, and even playing a game or two of pool. 

In addition to the traditional dining options that were included in our cruise, the Escape presents almost a dozen other specialty restaurants on board. For a slight additional charge, we opted to savor an array of these options throughout the week. Locations such as Teppanyaki gave us a front-row seat for our chef cooking up Asian fare, while others like the Moderno Churrascaria Brazilian Steak House served us ten traditional separate meat selections tableside. We also enjoyed sizzling beef at Cagney’s Steakhouse, Italian classics at La Cucina, and French elegance at Le Bistro. These meals were as authentic, fresh, and delicious as any we have ever experienced while cruising.