What It’s Like on the Norwegian Escape: Our Full Cruise Experience
Recently, my family and I set sail on a week-long Caribbean voyage aboard the Norwegian Escape, eager to see what this mega-ship had in store for us. As travel vloggers, we documented every moment in our Norwegian Escape cruise vlog series – from the first step onboard to the final sunset at sea. In this post, I’ll recount our full experience in a personable yet informative way. You’ll find out what it’s like on the Norwegian Escape, including first impressions, stateroom living, dining delights (and dilemmas), entertainment highlights, shore excursions, and our overall takeaways. It was a journey filled with excitement, a few surprises, and countless memories. Let’s dive in!
Embarkation Day and First Impressions
Stepping aboard the Norwegian Escape on embarkation day, we were immediately struck by the ship’s vibrant atmosphere and modern design. The embarkation process was smooth and efficient – within minutes we went from the port terminal to the bustling atrium of the ship. First impressions were overwhelmingly positive: the Escape is a massive floating resort complete with multi-story LED chandeliers in the atrium, gleaming glass elevators, and friendly staff greeting us with smiles. We could hardly contain our excitement as we explored the decks for the first time.
However, our family’s first day surprise came when we tried to check out the kids’ splash pool for our toddler. We discovered a crucial detail (that Norwegian hadn’t advertised clearly) – children in swim diapers aren’t allowed in any of the pools or splash areas. This policy caught us off guard. As parents of a two-year-old, we had been looking forward to some splash pad fun, only to learn our little one couldn’t partake. In Part 1 of our Norwegian Escape vlog series – our embarkation day video – we talk about this unexpected policy and how it affected families like us (you can watch it in our vlog: Part 1 of our Norwegian Escape series).
Despite that setback, we were determined to enjoy the ship. We spent the rest of Day 1 strolling the open decks, marveling at the massive water slides spiraling above and the ropes course (complete with a “Walk the Plank” attraction jutting off the ship’s side!). The ship’s decor and amenities truly live up to Norwegian’s reputation for a fun, casual cruising style. Our first night at sea featured a sail-away party on the pool deck, where we danced under the open sky as the Norwegian Escape pulled out of port, officially starting our adventure.
Settling In: Our Stateroom Experience
Our home for the week was a balcony stateroom on one of the mid-level decks. Walking into the cabin for the first time, we were pleased with its modern layout and cozy feel. The room featured a comfortable queen bed (convertible from two twins) and a sofa that could accommodate our child at night. A floor-to-ceiling glass door opened to our private balcony – a perfect spot to enjoy morning coffee with ocean views. Storage space was surprisingly ample; we easily tucked away our luggage under the bed and in the closets, and the bathroom was clean and fairly spacious for a cruise ship (we loved the glass-enclosed shower). We took a short stateroom tour in our vlog to show all the clever storage nooks and amenities in the room.
Everything in our cabin was great until we encountered a bit of room chaos mid-cruise. One afternoon, after returning from a day out, we walked in to find our stateroom in disarray – it looked like housekeeping or maintenance had been there unexpectedly, leaving a mess and a mix-up with our belongings. It left us speechless and concerned at first, as we weren’t sure what had happened. We immediately contacted guest services, and to their credit, the issue was addressed promptly (it turned out to be a mix-up with another cabin’s service). We share the full story of this incident in Part 2 of our vlog series (watch our stateroom “Room Chaos” saga in Part 2). In the end, the crew apologized and even left a small treat in our room for the trouble. Aside from that hiccup, our stay was comfortable, and every evening we’d return to a tidy room with a cute towel animal waiting on the bed – a classic cruise touch that always made us smile (our toddler particularly loved the towel monkey!).
Dining Experiences: A Norwegian Escape Food Review
One of the most important questions for any cruise: How’s the food? We’re happy to report that dining on the Norwegian Escape was overall a delight, with a few minor shortcomings. This ship offers a wide range of dining options, from expansive buffets to elegant specialty restaurants. As part of our Norwegian Escape food review, we tried to sample a bit of everything.
For casual eats, the Garden Café buffet on the pool deck became our go-to for breakfast and lunch. We were impressed by the variety – omelet stations, fresh fruits, pastries, and even ethnic dishes like Indian curries at lunch. The buffet did get busy at peak times, but we always managed to find a table. Our first dinner on board was in one of the main dining rooms (the Escape has three main dining venues included in the cruise fare). We dined in the Manhattan Room, a beautiful restaurant with live music. The menu that night featured choices like prime rib, grilled salmon, and vegetarian pasta. The food itself tasted good (the prime rib was tender and cooked just right), though we found the service a bit slow on that first night. In our vlog series Part 1, we even mentioned some initial disappointments with dining options – mostly due to certain venues being closed on the first day and limited late-night snacks – but those were minor issues overall.
As the week went on, we explored more eateries. A standout for us was Cagney’s Steakhouse, one of Norwegian’s signature specialty restaurants (not included in the base fare, but we splurged for one night). It was worth it – the filet mignon there was melt-in-your-mouth and the truffle fries and cheesecake dessert were divine. We give a full rundown of this meal in our videos. We also loved the 24-hour pub (O’Sheehan’s Neighborhood Bar & Grill) for comfort food like chicken wings and burgers, especially after returning from excursions and feeling hungry at odd hours. And for a sweet treat, we couldn’t resist the onboard bake shop – the red velvet cupcake we tried was delicious.
In our vlog series, we dedicated time to discuss the food in detail – from buffets to gourmet dinners. If you’re curious about specific dishes or want to see a Norwegian Escape food review in action, check out the dining segments in our videos (we show our plates and give honest reactions). Overall, the Escape’s food ranged from good to great. We never went hungry, that’s for sure! Perhaps it’s not five-star gourmet every single meal, but given the variety (Italian, Asian fusion, steakhouse, seafood, and more), there’s something to satisfy every palate on this ship.
Onboard Entertainment and Activities
When it comes to fun and entertainment, Norwegian Escape truly shines. Every day and night there were numerous activities catering to all ages. As a family with a young child, we appreciated the options – and we adults made sure to enjoy some of the grown-up entertainment too! Here are some of the highlights of entertainment on Norwegian Escape from our trip:
Broadway-Style Shows: One evening we attended the headline theater show, After Midnight, a high-energy musical tribute to the Cotton Club era. The performers were Broadway-caliber; the singing and dancing had us enthralled (even our toddler clapped along to the music). Another night, we caught part of a comedy magic show that had the audience laughing and gasping in surprise. The Escape’s main theater is comfortable and large, so arriving 20 minutes early ensured we got good seats.
Live Music & Themed Parties: The ship’s entertainment team hosted some amazing deck parties. Our favorite was the “Totally Awesome 90’s” deck party – a throwback dance party under the stars featuring hits from the 1990s. As 90’s kids ourselves, this was pure nostalgia; we found ourselves singing along to Backstreet Boys and Spice Girls songs with hundreds of fellow guests. Later in the cruise, there was also an Electric Glow Party where everyone dressed in white or neon, and glow sticks and face paint were handed out. The atmosphere was electric (literally!) as the DJ spun dance music and the pool deck lit up with blacklights. These themed nights were so much fun that we made sure to capture them in our vlog. (You can see clips of us dancing the night away in Part 3 of our vlog series here: Part 3 – Entertainment Highlights). It’s safe to say Norwegian knows how to throw a party at sea!
Daytime Activities & Amenities: During sea days, we took advantage of the ship’s many amenities. The Aqua Park with its twisting water slides was a thrill (I braved the free-fall drop slide – an adrenaline rush I won’t forget!). My partner tried the ropes course, even inching out on the ship’s plank for a daredevil photo op high above the ocean. There were also more low-key options: we played mini-golf on the top deck and enjoyed afternoon trivia games in the Atrium lounge. For kids, the Splash Academy youth club looked fantastic for older children; in our case, since our toddler was under age 3, we used the nursery play area and found other ways to entertain her (strolling the decks, watching the fountain shows, and plenty of ice cream breaks!). The ship truly offers something for everyone, whether you seek relaxation by the pool or action-packed fun.
One thing we must note is the overall crew service and vibe: the Cruise Director’s staff did an excellent job engaging guests, and we always felt there was an inclusive, happy atmosphere on board. In our videos we highlight some of these activities, giving you a taste of the lively entertainment scene. If you’re researching Norwegian Escape cruise vlogs to see the fun firsthand, our series shows everything from dance parties to quiet moments by the adults-only Spice H2O sundeck. The bottom line – you’ll never be bored on this ship!
Shore Excursions and Ports of Call
Of course, a cruise isn’t just about the ship – it’s also about the exciting destinations! The Norwegian Escape took us to some beautiful ports on our itinerary, and we made sure to explore and make the most of each stop. Here are the key excursions and experiences we had off the ship:
Costa Maya, Mexico: Our first port of call was Costa Maya on the Yucatán Peninsula. We decided to immerse ourselves in local history and booked an excursion to the ancient Chacchoben Mayan Ruins. This excursion was a highlight of our trip. After a comfortable bus ride through the Mexican countryside, we arrived at the archaeological site and were guided through fascinating Mayan structures hidden in the jungle. Walking among ruins that are over a thousand years old was awe-inspiring – we captured some great footage of the pyramids peeking out from the trees. Our guide was knowledgeable and made the history come alive. Even our little one was wide-eyed at the scenery (though we did have to carry her stroller over some rough paths). After the ruins, we had time to relax at the Costa Maya port area, which has a large pool, shops, and even resident flamingos. We cooled off with fresh coconuts and enjoyed a bit of souvenir shopping before heading back to the ship. (Check out Part 2 of our vlog for scenes from Costa Maya and our thoughts on this excursion – it’s all in our Day 3 vlog along with the aforementioned stateroom adventure!).
Cozumel, Mexico: Another memorable stop was the island of Cozumel. We opted for a more low-key day here, tailoring it to our family needs. In the morning, we took a taxi to one of Cozumel’s popular beach clubs. The water was the clearest turquoise blue – absolutely picture-perfect for a Caribbean day. We spent hours splashing in the gentle waves (our toddler loved the shallow shoreline) and lounging under a palapa with cold drinks. For lunch, we had authentic fish tacos and guacamole at the beach club – a delicious change from the ship’s food and a true taste of Mexico. Before returning to the Norwegian Escape, we wandered around the port’s shopping area where we picked up a few local chocolates and trinkets. Cozumel offered the perfect mix of relaxation and local flavor. You can see how stunning the beach was in Part 3 of our vlog series (we included plenty of sunny beach scenes in our video: Cozumel Day on our vlog). It was a day that really reminded us why we love cruising – you get to sample a bit of paradise in each port.
(Our itinerary on this cruise also included two relaxing sea days, giving us time to fully enjoy the Norwegian Escape’s onboard features as described above. Each port and sea day balanced perfectly to create a satisfying vacation rhythm.)
Overall Takeaways from Our Norwegian Escape Cruise
After seven days aboard the Norwegian Escape, we came home with a trove of memories and a better understanding of this ship’s offerings. Here are our overall takeaways and final thoughts:
A Family-Friendly Cruise (with a Few Caveats): The Escape proved to be a great choice for our small family. There were abundant activities for all ages, and we never felt out of place having a toddler along – from high chairs in the dining rooms to staff who would say hi to our daughter, NCL made us feel welcome. The only caveat was the surprise pool policy for young kids, which was a letdown initially. Future cruisers with babies or toddlers should be aware of that restriction. Fortunately, we found other ways to entertain our little one, and by mid-cruise we were fully enjoying ourselves. If you’re curious about specifics of traveling with a toddler on this ship, our vlog series addresses it throughout our commentary.
Dining and Service Impressions: We went in with realistic expectations about cruise food, and the Norwegian Escape met or exceeded them. The specialty dining was outstanding, and even the included options were enjoyable once we learned when and where to dine to avoid crowds. Service was generally good; a couple of slow meals were offset by many instances of staff going above and beyond – like the waiter who remembered our names by day 2 and the bartender at The District Brew House who made me a special mocktail when I mentioned I don’t drink alcohol. Little touches like that personalized the experience. We gave an honest Norwegian Escape food review in our videos and would rate it positively with just minor room for improvement.
Entertainment and Amenities: This ship truly has a wow factor in terms of entertainment. Whether you’re a party-goer, a theater lover, an adventurous spirit, or just want to relax, you’ll find something to make you happy on board. We left the ship feeling like we only scratched the surface of all the activities available. (For example, we didn’t even get to try the spa or the casino, but they were popular among other guests.) The fact that we were busy from morning till night is a testament to how engaging the Norwegian Escape is. If you want to see the day-by-day fun we had, be sure to watch our cruise vlog series for the visuals and genuine reactions.
Would We Sail Norwegian Escape Again? Absolutely yes. Despite a couple of early hiccups, the voyage turned into the cruise we were hoping for. By the end of the week, we were sad to disembark – always a sign of a great vacation. The ship, the crew, and the destinations delivered an unforgettable trip. We’d love to sail on the Norwegian Escape again (or her sister ships) in the future, perhaps when our child is a bit older and can take full advantage of the kids’ club and water slides!
Watch Our Full Norwegian Escape Cruise Vlog Series
If you enjoyed this written recap, don’t miss the full video series that accompanies it. In our YouTube playlist, “Norwegian Escape Cruise Vlog,” you can watch the entire journey unfold – from embarkation day surprises to snorkeling in crystal-clear waters and all the foodie moments and fun in between. Each episode is filled with candid insights and visuals that will truly show you what life on the Norwegian Escape is like.
🔗 Watch the full Norwegian Escape cruise vlog series here – and don’t forget to subscribe to our channel Portholes and Pixie Dust for more family travel adventures.
Thank you for reading about our cruise experience. We hope our story gave you a clear picture of the Norwegian Escape and helpful insights for your own travel plans. Happy cruising, and see you on the next voyage!
