Our Fabulous "Escape" review w/lots of pics, information & dailies 12/12/15

[CruiseRansier]

St. Thomas - Coki Beach How did u get there? Cost? Was it nice?

Tortola: Cane Garden Bay Beach (Beautiful!!!!) How did u get there? Details Please! We sail Feb 6th

[VegasChic]

Hi Everyone, I apologize for the delay don't mean to drag this on. I probably started this review too soon but I was editing a wedding I photographed back in November and needed to get the pictures to my client ASAP!! So I've been working on them back and forth but I finally finished so now I can continue with the review. I give credit to those that do these lengthy reviews I forgot how time consuming they are! However, its nice to go back to relive and read the story of your own vacation. I should be able to finish up day two and 3 tomorrow by tomorrow and day 4 on Thursday and so forth. Thank you all for following along and I will get to all questions as well!!

[jonasmir]

Thanks so much for your Review!

[UKLloyd]

Pincho looks amazing!! is it open on embarkation day for lunch?

 

thanks for your review, you are getting me really excited for my cruise on the escape.

[Ctrinh225]

Thank you for the wonderful review so far. I have 2 months to go before my Escape! So a few days waiting for more not gonna hurt. Haha

 

 

Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk

[dna529]

Thanks for your review! Those scallops look amazing. I know where I'll be heading for lunch in 2 weeks!

[LuCruise]

Loving your review. We're going on Royal in the spring but I'm always looking at other lines / ships for different family friendly experiences. The Escape looks like a great one for kids and adults.

 

Looking forward to hearing more.

[VegasChic]

Okay I'm back, spent all day prepping for new years eve. Definitely need to celebrate! It's been one amazing year!!

 

I visited so many amazing places this year: Savannah, GA; Disney x2; Las Vegas; Paige, Arizona (horseshoe bend and antelope canyon; Exuma, bahamas; Carnival breeze (8nights); Barbados; Jamaica ; San Francisco; Napa/Sonoma Valley and lastly the Norwegian Escape!! So I think a celebration is in order!

 

Okay back to the review....

 

After the food overdose, we decided to walk around the waterfront! I love the waterfront but again did not have the opportunity to spend much time there but I did walk around it a few times during the cruise. The best part of cruising is being at sea and feeling truly disconnected (it can be scary too) I'm always on the lookout for other ships sailing close by for some reason that makes me feel safer. I promised myself that next time I get on this ship I would dine outside at least once possibly during sunset would be fabulous!! So here are a few pictures from one of my favorite areas of the ship.....

 

This would be a great spot to have some drinks and watch a football game (TV in background)!

 

 

 

 

I think I went back to the waterfront later that day because the tables were then made up for dinner (cannot recall) the fact that I'm remembering almost everything I did is bizarre!! Thankfully pictures exist, ha!

 

 

 

[VegasChic]

Ummm Yum!! Hands down favorite bar on the ship but more on this later!!

 

 

and of course, no trip to or near the Cellars is complete without a glass of wine!

 

 

There were comfy seats and couches in some areas with many people reading, some lovers embraced and talking and some loners just staring at the sea. I wish I could have photographed those moments!

 

 

Up ahead you can see a man just sitting staring at the ocean....

 

 

Back at the pool deck so the child can get in more slide action, I sat with my hubby to relax and just enjoy the moment! This was a gift from my husband and I could not be more grateful my husband is not travel fanatic to the extent that I am so I know that despite all the trips we did this year this one came from the heart, so regardless of imperfections it was perfect! I was a little buzzed at this point - having the beverage package was a bit dangerous! A mimosa here, a chardonnay there and a couple of stellas later....

 

[akbrown1972]

Hi, talking about the UBP did you try any cocktails? If so which ones do you recommend

[FloridaGram]

Signing up so I don't miss a thing! Do you happen to know if any NCL ships are based in Miami year round?

[Loonbeam]

The Escape, Getaway and I think Sky are based out of Miami all year round..

 

At least for now.

Signing up so I don't miss a thing! Do you happen to know if any NCL ships are based in Miami year round?

[VegasChic]

After awhile it as time to get back to the cabin and get ready for The Supper Club - For the Record (the brat pack). Unlike my husband I was so excited!!

 

Sunset view from our balcony...

 

 

My daughter was going to the kids club tonight so while we got ready, my hubby went to the garden cafe and brought some dinner back to the cabin for her. He took her to Splash Academy while I went ahead to get us seats at the Supper club....

 

 

My teenage years were in the 80's and I'm a huge fan so when I heard that the Escape had a production of 80's movies, I was thrilled. The show is a mashup of the John Hughes movies of the 80's... Sixteen Candles, Ferris Buellers Day Off, The Breakfast Club, Weird Science and although not mentioned, Some Kind of Wonderful which is one of my favorites. I have seen all these movies many times, I love them all especially Sixteen Candles! I know them all so well I can probably be in the show with barely any rehearsal time!! J/K I don't know how they do it (I would totally lose it laughing!!).

 

I was not sure what to expect but I loved the show and my husband who could care less, loved it too!! I took a good look around the theater and I felt like it didn't matter where we sat all the seats were good! I thought it strange that the theater wasn't full. The performers move around and interact with the audience. I personally loved the performer with the short blond hair and the performer who played the principal/teacher was the best. At times I thought I was the only one laughing!

 

 

 

Appetizer - don't ask me what it is but I ate most of it (I think the middle was a crab salad and on the right something with salmon??) My husband did not eat it he's not a seafood person and although not pictured the short rib very good the beef was very good and tender!! We thought the food was okay (nothing special) IMO this show should be free.

 

 

We had a great date night!! I love the fact that my daughter is just 3 decks below in very good care, while I have a night out with my husband #1 reason I love cruising as a family vacation. After the show, we stopped at the atrium cafe my hubby wanted an expresso and I decided to try a macaroon. I asked the attendant to recommend one and he chose the Salted Caramel (it was yummy but a little chewy!) it was $2.00 and the only one I tried. I'm quite particular for sweets they have to be perfect otherwise I rather drink the extra calories.

 

[VegasChic]

There was a live music performance...

 

 

Picked up my daugher from Splash Academy then back to the cabin! Waiting for us was this cutie...

 

 

and day 2 is a wrap!!

[duchesslt]

My vacation in 2 weeks will definitely be about becoming

one with The Cellars and the couches along the waterfront. Thanks for the pics!

 

I notice from your pics and others that the Waterfront seems quiet and almost empty and the pool deck is a Macarena Madhouse. I definitely am more of a deck 8 girl.

[VegasChic]

Day 3 - At Sea

 

What better way to spend a Monday morning than on my balcony with the sun, the sea breeze and my coffee! It was another beautiful morning and back to the pool/slides we go. Every morning of the cruise my husband ordered coffee for two and assorted pastries he always ordered warm milk for my daughter but all we got was a carton of cold milk, we got hot milk one day and another day no milk. The coffee was not great but the pastries were good.

 

 

 

We had breakfast at the Garden Cafe today... Nothing special just typical buffet breakfast. My hubby took my daughter to the pool and I walked around a little. I stopped in at The Districk Brew House which is an adults only joint. It looks like a great little spot to have some drinks and watch sports. I did not hang out here at all but I always saw people in there hanging out. One day when I walked by there was an entertainer singing I saw some people playing cards. Seems like a fun place!

 

 

 

There's a projector and screen here in this spot (blurry photo) and one day there was a football game on.

 

 

I guess this is where the kegs of beer are held...

 

[VegasChic]

 

 

Passing through the atrium, I guess Brenda Braxton is a performer on the ship did not stick around for this Q&A.

 

 

At the pool the Ms. Norwegian Escape was happening...

 

 

Family pool.... everyone standing around watching their kids

 

 

My daughter made a friend at the pool and they were together all day and pretty much the rest of the cruise.

 

 

 

 

[VegasChic]

My daughter was having a great time with her new friends we got her some pizza and ice cream from the buffet...

 

 

I wanted to try out margaritaville for lunch which was just one deck above the family pool and slides. My daughter wanted to stay

at the pool with her new friends. I told her she could only go to the slides, showed her exactly where I was, showed her the crew member

with the yellow shirt watching over the family pool in case of anything and told her she was not allowed to leave the area. I would not

normally do this but my husband assured me that it was fine. While at Margaritaville I checked on her twice luckily it was close by just

one flight down the stairs. The restaurant was fairly empty so the service was pretty quick.

 

We started off with conch fritters and they were pretty good....

 

 

My hubby is a huge James Bond fan so he totally loved the beer bottles....

 

 

I ordered the Fish Tacos and they were okay my biggest issue is that the fish is breaded and fried if I would have known this before I

would have ordered something else I could not finish it.

 

 

My husband got the chicken quesadillas and they were good!!

 

 

After being there for a few minutes... a live band came on and they were great!!

 

 

We were stuffed cannot say that I would pay to eat there again not because of anything because the food was good but I rather use the money to dine elsewhere. We had no complaints and actually had a nice time. I rushed back to the slide area and the girls were going crazy on the red slide. We could not understand their obsession with that slide it was a mini

slide in the water park.

 

 

 

[jonasmir]

Thanks for your review. Is it possible that you post the second day Dailie. Thanks again.

[ourfamilylovescruising]

loving your review!!

[VegasChic]

Thanks for your review. Is it possible that you post the second day Dailie. Thanks again.

 

Sorry, totally forgot to post these....

 

 

 

 

 

[VegasChic]

 

 

 

 

 

[jonbgd]

Enjoying your review

Was suppose to be boarding today but had to cancel

Thank You for taking time to post all the photos and dailies so we can see what we are missing

[VegasChic]

My hubby stayed with my daughter while I finally had some quality alone time at the spa. I was so extremely disappointed that I only used the spa once during the whole cruise such a waste!! It was way easier to use on my last cruise because we had a spa balcony cabin and were a few steps from the spa. The spa was quite empty I enjoyed all the facilities except the snow room which was under repair they said it would be working tomorrow but when I passed by they were painting in there (it's a tiny little room). The sauna, salt and steam rooms were pretty small too if there were 4 people in there it would be crowded. I tried them all, couldn't appreciate the salt room though not sure what I should have experienced in there.

 

After awhile I decided to relax on one of the heated loungers and read a little this was my view....

 

 

 

Stayed there for a bit then headed to the cabin to shower and prep for the evening. When I got back my daughter was showered and dressed and already eaten at the buffet. My husband headed to the spa and my daughter took a nap. I was not hungry and I believe this is the first time in our 20+ cruises that we skipped dinner we were so stuffed from beers and food at margaritaville. We headed out for the night my daughter decided to go to Splash academy so we dropped her off but first a family pic.

 

 

and the lovely chandelier is blue.....

 

 

I spent a little time in the casino playing draw poker (it was bad) after $30 I left to the Theater. My husband wanted to stay gambling so I went to the show alone. Passing by the atrium this was happening... not sure what type of game it was but there was a huge crowd and it seemed like everyone was having a great time (lots of laughing).

 

 

The show tonight was Million Dollar Quartet and I totally loved it the music and singing were just amazing. I saw people leaving the theater and I realize this show is not for everyone, 1st you need to actually like this type of music (which I love; Johnnie Cash, Elvis Presley, Jerry Lee Lewis and Carl Perkins) and 2nd there are no set or costume changes. Halfway through the show like 5 people around the 6th row from the stage get up and start yelling and cussing at each other It looked like someone was ready to fist fight but some crew came running and got them out of there. I was mortified because it was part of the show where there was no music and they were so close to the stage. The performers keep performing like nothing happened.

 

[VegasChic]

After the show I picked up my daughter and told my hubby we were going to the cabin, he joined us for once and we all passed out.

 

 

Day 3 is a wrap!!

 

Next up: Day 3 Freestyle Daily

Coming up on day 4:

St. Thomas

Coki Beach

Dinner at Cagneys

80's Party