Escape comparisons please

[skiwee]

Just off the Breakaway today and already planning the next cruise. We want to try the Escape next September. We have been on the Epic, getaway, and breakaway. Also have been on the smaller ships. I was wondering if anyone has been on the escape and any of the larger NCL ships what the difference is besides size. Anything new and exciting? Thanks!

[Sand and Seas]

The Escape has Food Republic (good food, small charge), the District Brewhouse, and better water-slides than the 'Away' ships in my opinion.

Since the 'Away' ships are losing the Uptown/Flamingo Grill areas that just made the Escape our new favorite ship.

[BirdTravels]

Sailed on Escape x 2, BA x 2, GA x 2, Epic x 5.

 

The Escape is a Breakaway Plus class ship. Basically take the BA and add one more deck with rooms.

 

The ships are very similar in look and feel.

 

Escape deletes Bliss and expands the open casino bar (Skyline) into a 18+ bar at night.

 

Replaces ole favorite bars (Fat Cats, Ice Bar) with new bars such as the Wine Bar, and the 5 o'clock somewhere bar, and the Brew House.

 

The Raw Bar becomes a Tapas bar (really good)

 

The Chinese restaurant is replaced with a larger casino

 

Add new restaurants like Food Republic and Margaritaville (replacing Uptown Grill and the rock climbing wall).

 

The ropes course grows to 2 stories and adds a second plank and a zipline over the edge of the ship.

 

Escape is currently our favorite ship.

[easyboy]

Sailed on Escape x 2, BA x 2, GA x 2, Epic x 5.

The Escape is a Breakaway Plus class ship. Basically take the BA and add one more deck with rooms.

 

The ships are very similar in look and feel.

 

The ropes course grows to 2 stories and adds a second plank and a zipline over the edge of the ship.

 

Escape is currently our favorite ship.

Thank you for your comparison.

[skiwee]

Wow ty for the great comparison birdtravels! The escape definitely sounds better then the other away ships in some ways. I'm sure we will have a great time!

[Lido_Deck]

Just off the Breakaway today and already planning the next cruise. We want to try the Escape next September. We have been on the Epic, getaway, and breakaway. Also have been on the smaller ships. I was wondering if anyone has been on the escape and any of the larger NCL ships what the difference is besides size. Anything new and exciting? Thanks!

 

Just got off the Escape Saturday and I've been on the Getaway before. There is no significant difference between the two other than the Getaway has (or had) a rock climbing wall and the Escape doesn't. Both now have a really boring, dull, sedate and quiet Margaritaville at Sea.

 

I've been on the Epic three times even though I think it's the worst ship I've ever been on (over 40 different ships). The deals I got for those three cruises were too good to pass up, though.

 

I think two of the three best ships in the entire cruise industry (that I've been on) are the Gem and the Pearl (Navigator of the Seas is the other), while the best entertainment is on the Escape and Getaway. Right now the Escape has After Midnight (Harlem's Cotton Club) and the Brat Pack (80s movie and song mash-up). I have not been on the Breakaway, but I assume it's similar.

 

The Pearl and the Gem have 7 hot tubs for 2,000 passengers. The Escape and Getaway has 7 hot tubs for 4,000 passengers. The mass of humanity that crowds around the pool on the Escape and Getaway is disturbing.

 

The Pearl and the Gem have the best designed Garden Cafe/Buffet in the entire cruise industry and they both have the Great Outdoors which, unfortunately, NCL has abandoned on their newer ships.

 

Just my observations and my own personal opinion.

[skiwee]

Ty for the info! We stayed in the haven this past week on the Breakaway and didn't have to deal

with crowded pools and hot tubs. We had those all to ourselves every night. Lol. We are now haven people for life so that crowding at the pools won't be an issue for us.