Back in late June, my wife and I did something brand new—a “side by side” cruise. First, we sailed on Margaritaville at Sea Paradise out of West Palm Beach, then Norwegian Escape from Miami. With a day to spare in between, we visited the Yarmouth Castle Memorial in Pompano Beach and stopped by a local brewery before heading back to the hotel. From there, we set off on a seven-day cruise to Puerto Plata in the Dominican Republic, Saint Thomas in the US Virgin Islands, Tortola in the British Virgin Islands, and Great Stirrup Cay in the Bahamas.
This post isn’t sponsored by Norwegian Cruise Line (NCL)—these are just my own honest thoughts.
If you follow me on Instagram, you may know that we’re big fans of Norwegian Cruise Line. We honeymooned aboard Norwegian Gem in 2019, and after this cruise on Escape, we’ve reached Platinum status in their Latitudes rewards program. It’s definitely our speed—and as seasoned cruisers know, every cruise line offers a different style and vibe. No two companies are exactly alike.
We tend to prefer NCL’s older, smaller ships, and the Jewel-class ships are among our favorites in the cruise industry. We’ve also sailed on the significantly larger Joy and Encore—Breakaway Plus-class ships like the Escape. While bigger and busier, they still managed to capture that classic Norwegian feeling. The Escape felt instantly familiar, but it quickly revealed itself as a different kind of ship in several ways, too.
So, what did we think about our time aboard Norwegian Escape? Keep reading to find out!
Norwegian Escape and the Breakaway Plus-Class
The Norwegian Escape was built by Meyer Werft in Papenburg, Germany. Launched in August 2015, it entered service three months later in November. At 164,998 gross tons and 1,069 feet (325.9 meters) in length, she was the first of Norwegian Cruise Line’s Breakaway Plus-class ships—a larger version of the earlier Norwegian Breakaway and Norwegian Getaway.
The Norwegian Escape accommodates 4,266 passengers and 1,733 crew, making her one of the largest ships to ever enter service with NCL. She was designed with more spacious public rooms and unique features like the largest water park in the fleet, multiple sports courts (including the first bocce court on an NCL ship), and a three-story ropes course. These spaces make her ideal for families and adventure-seekers accustomed to similar amenities offered by Carnival and Royal Caribbean. Later ships in the Breakaway Plus-class would replace these with go-kart tracks, giving Escape a distinct identity among her sister ships.
Boarding at PortMiami and First Impressions
As usual for Miami, we boarded at NCL’s sleek, state-of-the-art cruise terminal. It ended up being one of the fastest embarkation experiences we’ve ever had with Norwegian, second only to our boarding on Norwegian Jewel. In fact, it was so quick I didn’t even have time for my usual pre-cruise maritime disaster research.
We did have time, however, to check out NCL’s new Kloster Hall—honoring co-founder Knut Kloster and recounting the company’s decades-long history. As a couple of nerds who both have graduate degrees in Museum Studies, my wife and I loved it. Opened in late 2023, the display features beautifully detailed models of the Skyward, Norway, Norwegian Jewel, and Norwegian Prima. I’ve always had a soft spot for ship models—it was especially great seeing Skyward, as my mom sailed on her back in September 1980.
Once onboard Norwegian Escape, we felt immediately at home. Having previously cruised on Norwegian Joy and Norwegian Encore, we already knew our way around. That is, however, until we hit the outside decks. The massive water park and ropes course dominate the whole area from Decks 16 to 20, dramatically limiting open space around the pools. Still, we found a quiet little spot at the stern on Deck 19 overlooking the Spice H20. It was one of our go-to spots for fresh air.
Cabin, Layout, and Dining Highlights
One difference we noticed right away is that Norwegian Escape doesn’t have an Observation Lounge, one of our favorite spots on both Joy and Encore. It’s disappointing, as it offers a beautiful panoramic view of the sea—it’s especially great on Alaska sailings. However, the Escape still has plenty of cozy spaces throughout, so we found new places to hang out. It’s worth noting, however, that NCL has recently downsized some public areas on several Breakaway-Plus-class ships to squeeze in more cabins.
For this cruise, we opted for a forward-facing Oceanview cabin, which we loved. It had a built-in bench by the window for us to see what was happening outside. Yes, there’s noticeable movement and noise in the front of the ship—we could always tell when the bow thrusters were in use. It’s no surprise, as the forward section is traditionally where Third Class was on the old liners. Perhaps surprisingly, we chose this cabin because it was one of the most affordable options aboard. I guess some things never change?
As for the food, it was consistently great. I know there are a lot of complaints about NCL’s food quality, but we’ve always been happy with it. Different strokes for different folks, I guess. This was the first time we tried Food Republic, and we immediately regretted not going sooner—it was definitely a highlight of the trip. We also had lunch at the American Diner one day, which was once an upcharge venue but has recently become complimentary across the fleet.
Fun fact: when Norwegian Escape first entered service, this space was the first Margaritaville at Sea venue before the brand eventually decided to launch its own cruise line.
Ports of Call and Shore Excursions
Our seven-day itinerary included stops in the Dominican Republic, the US Virgin Islands, the British Virgin Islands, and the Bahamas. We’d visited a few of these locations before, so it was nice to come back and revisit them.
Puerto Plata: The Rainy Day in Port
It poured in Puerto Plata most of the day, so we decided to skip going ashore and enjoy a quiet day on the ship. A pleasant surprise awaited us in port, though—the Norwegian Gem, one of our favorite ships, was docked alongside. I spent the day writing, getting trounced in trivia, and enjoying a few craft beers at District Brewhouse.
Saint Thomas: Snorkeling the Wreck of the Cartanza Senora
The next day took us to Saint Thomas, US Virgin Islands. Though still drizzly, the weather didn’t stop us. Norwegian Escape was docked right next to the spot where the ill-fated Angelina Lauro caught fire in March 1979. I tried to imagine what it must have been like watching the old liner burn from that very dockside. I swear that I could almost see it in my mind.
We booked a snorkeling excursion to the Cartanza Senora, a WWII-era freighter scuttled in the 1970s after rumors of drug smuggling. She now rests in three sections—the result of Hurricane Hugo in 1989—and has become one of the area’s most popular dive and snorkel sites.
Since getting into snorkeling last year during a Norwegian Jade stop in Saint Maarten, this was my first time exploring an actual shipwreck. I even bought an AKASO EK7000 action camera to try underwater, and this was my first time using it.
Even with a mild case of submechanophobia, I was captivated. The two diesel engines are still in place, encrusted in marine growth but showing surprising detail. Several dive boats were out there that day. Scuba divers and—something I wasn’t expecting—scuba scooters swarmed the wreck site. I did a double-take when I first saw the scooters over the Senora’s bow. It felt like I’d wandered into the final battle scene from Thunderball, which also happens to be one of my favorite James Bond films.
The weather had cleared up tremendously by the time we left port,
Jost Van Dyke and the Legendary Painkiller
The next stop was Tortola, British Virgin Islands. We finally made it to Jost Van Dyke—something we missed on our Jade cruise last year. On the island is the famous Soggy Dollar Bar—birthplace of the Painkiller. Per their website, “Originated and perfected at the Soggy Dollar in the 1970’s, this smooth, full flavored rum cocktail has become the essence of Caribbean imbibing.”
If you haven’t tried one, a Painkiller is a perfect island drink made with dark rum, coconut cream, pineapple juice, orange juice, and freshly ground nutmeg. I had my first one on our honeymoon, and it’s been a favorite ever since. I make sure to have one at once on every cruise and at every Tiki bar we visit.
On the way to Jost Van Dyke, the captain of our boat, Rebel Yell, warned us that most people can handle about two or three Painkillers before they’re tapped out. Living at 7,200 feet above sea level, we both tend to handle our liquor better than most. Naturally, we pushed those limits. Let’s just say that the captain was right, and we weren’t feeling any pain by the boat ride back. Soggy Dollar also has a coffee bar that serves phenomenal Painkiller lattes.
Jost Van Dyke was such a great time, and we’ve already decided that we’re going back. Everything was gorgeous—the beach, the water, and the scenery. A storm was rolling in, however, and we had to abruptly end the fun.
Great Stirrup Cay and the Little Norways
Our final stop was NCL’s private island, Great Stirrup Cay—the first private island in the entire cruise industry. It’s a tender port (for now anyway), and what makes it special for ship enthusiasts is that the two original tenders from the legendary SS Norway—Little Norway I and Little Norway II—are still in service at the island.
Little Norway I was operating during our visit, with Little Norway II tied up at the dock. We’d hoped to ride one of them this trip, but we just didn’t have the opportunity. I did, however, manage to snap a few photos of the two ships.
NCL is currently building a pier for Great Stirrup Cay, which will soon eliminate the need for tenders. What happens to the Little Norways remains to be seen—but I can probably guess based on how bad a year this has been for ship enthusiasts. I reached out to Norwegian Cruise Line back in January about their future, but haven’t heard back.
Sadly, this was probably the last time we’ll see them working. When they go, so too will the last reminders of SS Norway. But at least a piece of her bow tip is preserved in Le Havre, France.
Other than ship spotting, we had a very nice and relaxing day on Great Stirrup Cay. It’s one of our favorite destinations, and I’m glad whenever we have a chance to visit.
Back aboard the Escape, I couldn’t help but go up on deck and take more photos of Little Norway I in action. It was great to see her for what was probably the very last time.
Final Thoughts on Our Norwegian Escape Cruise
Overall, we had a great time on our cruise aboard the Norwegian Escape. The ship is definitely a little quirky compared to her newer sisters, but I enjoyed those differences—it keeps every cruise experience unique.
This was also the wildest NCL cruise we’ve ever been on. One morning, I was walking down the corridor and found a pair of boxers hanging off a cabin door handle. There were also the most upside-down pineapple door magnets that I’ve ever seen on a cruise (IYKYK). But at the same time, it wasn’t too wild—at least that I saw. It was just right.
As always, the NCL crew was outstanding. We even caught a set from Starbridge, a band we last saw on the Norwegian Jade in January 2024, and they were just as good this time around. This was also our third cruise with Cruise Director Jeff. It’s funny realizing that we’ve cruised enough now to recognize crew members and entertainers.
If you’re considering a Norwegian Escape cruise in 2025 or beyond, I’d absolutely recommend it. She’s a fun, distinctive ship with plenty of personality to discover. And those forward-facing Oceanview cabins are a pretty awesome way to go, too!
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