Norwegian Escape

The 2015-built Norwegian Escape cruise ship is the 1st of all four Breakaway Plus-class NCL vessels - together with the sisterships Norwegian Joy (2017), Norwegian Bliss (2018) and Norwegian Encore (2019). This class of liners are approx 7000 GT tons larger in comparison to the previously biggest vessel of the line, Norwegian Epic. The NCL Escape ship cost USD 920 million to build (October 2012 ship order rates).

The vessel (IMO number 9677076) is currently Bahamas-flagged (MMSI 311000341) and registered in Nassau.

History - construction and ownership

Norwegian Cruise Line (NCL) is a subsidiary company of the shipping corporation Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings Ltd (NCLH). NCL was founded in 1966, headquartered in Miami (Florida USA) and publicly traded (NASDAQ) company listed on NYSE (NYC). NCLH's major shareholders are the corporations Apollo Global Management (American), Genting Group (Malaysian) and TPG Capital (American). In 2017, the brand NCL had a worldwide cruise market share 8,7% (passengers) and 8,4% (revenue). NCLH (shipowner) owns the brands NCL, Oceania and RSSC-Regent.

The 4300-passenger ship Norwegian Escape received her name in a USA TODAY contest. Guy Harvey was the lucky man chosen in 2014 to paint Escape’s hull art. Norwegian Escape has the innovative features found on Norwegian Getaway and Norwegian Breakaway, as well as a number of new interactive experiences. The new 4,200-passenger miracle by NCL features an expanded Haven – the line’s concept “ship within a ship”. This space (accessible only by keycard) boasts an outdoor terrace, private restaurant, courtyard area with retractable roof pool, whirlpools, spa treatment rooms, separate sauna, private sundeck. Other differences from the Breakaway-class NCL vessels are more Haven Suites (42 to 55), 26 additional Penthouses, 14 Spa access suites, more Studio cabins (59 to 82).

Decks and Cabins

Norwegian Escape staterooms (2174 total, in 42 grades) include 1717 outside, 407 Inside, 82 Studios (single cabins). Most staterooms are sized 160-170 ft2 (15-16 m2). Balcony cabins are 1168, Oceanviews 114, Inside 407. Wheelchair-accessible cabins are 47. The largest accommodations are The Haven Deluxe Owners Suites (900 ft2 / 84 m2, with wraparound terrace sized 190 ft2 / 18 m2).

The 82 Studios (designed for solo travelers) are with virtual views and exclusive access to Studio Lounge. The ship also features many family cabins (connecting staterooms) across most categories.

The boat has 20 decks, of which 16 are passenger-accessible and 12 with cabins.

Shipboard dining options - Food and Drinks

NCL Escape ship's a la carte dining provides passengers with the freedom to savor gourmet dishes, various tastes and the flexibility to choose the number of courses. The signature at-fee restaurants include Le Bistro, La Cucina, Cagney’s and Moderno Churrascaria (steakhouses), Bayamo. Guests can always choose the ship's 11 complimentary dining options.

Follows the complete list of Norwegian Escape restaurants and food bars.

• Private Room at Taste (100-seat, group private dining venue)
• Savor Restaurant (forward Dining Room, complimentary)
• Taste Restaurant (forward Dining Room, complimentary, with Your Time dining)
• Le Bistro (French dinner-only restaurant; reservations-only; US$20 cover charge)
• Teppanyaki (Japanese Hibachi restaurant, reservations-only; US$25; open for Lunch and Dinner; features live cooking demonstrations)
• Manhattan Room (aft-location Dining Room; complimentary; Freestyle dining, Dinner only)
• O’Sheehan’s Neighbourhood Bar & Grill (sports bar, with 24-hour American cuisine - burgers, steaks, desserts; complimentary)
• Shanghai’s Noodle Bar (Asian cuisine complimentary restaurant inside O’Sheehan’s Pub area)
• Food Republic (via partnership with Pubbelly Restaurant Group) is a specialty restaurant open for lunch through dinner, with international cuisine and iPad ordering system.
• Pincho Tapas Bar (Latin dishes)
• Wasabi (sushi bar)
• Cagney’s Steakhouse (specialty dinner restaurant for prime steaks and gourmet seafood specialties; reservations-only, US$30 cover charge per person and free Kids Menu)
• Moderno Churrascaria (Brazilian steakhouse; reservations-only; US$20 per person cover charge; with outdoor seating waterfront area)
• La Cucina (Italian restaurant; reservations-only, US$15 cover charge; with outdoor seating waterfront area)
• Bayamo Restaurant (Cuban/Latin seafood restaurant by Jose Garces)
• Jimmy Buffet’s Margaritaville At Sea (debuted in Southampton on October 27, 2015, as a complimentary fast food restaurant; however, in November 2015 NCL confirmed that the first-ever Margaritaville at Sea aboard Norwegian Escape, will operate as a specialty a la carte restaurant, due to "crowd-control reasons")
• Garden Cafe (complimentary buffet restaurant with various cuisine stations).

Shipboard entertainment options - Fun and Sport

The honor to serve as the Escape’s godfather was given to the musician known as Pitbull (Armando Christian Perez). “Mr 305” was officially announced as a leading performer during the ship’s christening ceremony on November 9, 2015. On the NCL Escape ship is served Pitbull’s signature vodka brand “Voli”, mixed also in specialty cocktails (“Mr Worldwide”).

The Escape vessel features an expanded 55-Suite Haven, a spacious sundeck, 2 whirlpools, private dining and specialty restaurants, an expanded courtyard, outdoor terrace, Thermal suite, treatment rooms (14 – suite Heaven SPA) and a fitness center.

Entertainment options also include the NCL's FIREWORKS show (on each voyage), "Rock of Ages", "Cirque Dreams", "Illusionarium" (magicians show). Additional amenities include: Complimentary 24-hr Room-Service, Supervised Kids Program ("NCL Kids"), Internet/WiFi Access, Laundry.

Follows the complete list of Norwegian Escape lounges, clubs and other entertainment venues for kids, teens and adults.

• Escape Theater (900 seats; features Broadway-style musical productions; two grand shows per night)
• The Supper Club (theatrical entertainment dining venue, with grand-style aerial acrobatics; surcharge $30-40 PP)
• Atrium (3-deck midship hub area - “678 Ocean Place”, with a big-size LED screen, dance area and live entertainment)
• Atrium Cafe & Bar (specialty tea & coffee bar)
• The Library; Card Room; Internet Cafe (24-hour)
• Headliners Comedy Club & Lounge
• Mixx Bar (live piano music; pre-dinner cocktails); Bar 21; 5 O’Clock Somewhere Bar; Tobacco Road Liquor Bar; The Humidor (cigar lounge); The Cellars Wine Bar; Sugarcane Mojito Bar; Prime Meridian Bar; Studio Lounge; Svedka (ice bar), Shaker's
• Carlo's Bake Shop is a premium patisserie/bakery by ‘the “cake boss” Buddy Valastro.
• Art Gallery
• Escape Casino is a premium gaming lounge with both smoking and non-smoking areas, large-size LED screens, a separate Escape Casino VIP Room (high-stakes gambling room) and is served by Skyline Bar.
• Skyline Bar offers cocktails before dinner. Guests can meet friends after a show or press their luck with the bar-top poker screens.
• Bliss Ultra Lounge & Nightclub
• The District Brew House (craft beer hall featuring a keg room, 24 draft beers on tap and 50 different bottled beers; via a partnership with Wynwood Brewing Company, Miami)
• Dolce Gelato (Italian ice cream)
• Atrium Boutiques (tax-duty free shops, among which are 2 new, exclusive for NCL boutiques - Carolina Herrera (designer fashion clothing, bags, purses, perfumes) and LACOSTE (designer shoes, clothing, apparel, leather goods). Each of the new onboard stores is "first at sea", and designed specifically for NCL Escape. In addition to exclusive boutiques, the Escape ship also has retail shops from name brands like Bvlgari, Hublot, Tissot, Uno de 50. The ship also introduced the Ulysse Nardin watches and a hand-picked Columbian Emeralds collection.
• Photo Gallery & Shop
• Waterfront Promenade (1320 ft/402 m long; open-air dining and entertainment venues)
• Aqua Park (3-deck, with two pools, 2 racing twist-slides and 5 waterslides)
• Kids venues, club lounges (Kid’s Aqua Park, Splash Academy for kids 3-12 yo, Guppies Nursery for kids 6 months to 2 years old)
• Mandara Spa & Fitness (Thermal Suite, Snow Room, Salt Room, Medi Spa, 24 Treatment Rooms, Beauty Salon, Barber Shop, fitness classes)
• Spice H2O (adults only; served by Breezeway Bar & Grill)
• Entourage Teen Centre (jukeboxes, table football, video arcades, teen disco)
• “The Haven” (Suite- and Villa-passengers only complex; consists of The Haven Courtyard, The Haven Restaurant, The Haven Lounge)
• Rock Climbing Wall; Jogging Track; Sports Complex (Spider Web - enclosed 24ft/7m tall kids' climbing wall with a spiral slide, Bungee Trampoline, 9-hole Mini Golf course, the largest at sea Ropes course, Zip Line, The Plank - 8ft/2,5m extending platform)
• Vibe Beach Club (deck 19) is an adults-only relaxation area (surcharges per day apply) with cantilevered whirlpools, sunbathing area with sun loungers and luxury chaise lounge chairs, outdoor bar, private cabanas.

Itineraries

Norwegian Escape itinerary program is based on roundtrip Eastern Caribbean and Bahamas cruises from Miami Florida, with feature port destinations Saint Thomas, BVI and Nassau, Bahamas.

Since April 2018, NYC New York becomes NCL Escape's new homeport in the USA, with roundtrip departures from Midtown Manhattan. Becoming the largest ever cruise ship homeported in NYC, NCL Escape was repositioned to NYC from Miami to operate on 7-night roundtrip itineraries to Bermuda (through September 2018) and also on 7-night and longer itineraries to Florida-Bahamas and other Eastern Caribbean destinations.

NCL Escape ship design changes ("Breakaway" compared to "Breakaway Plus" class) include 1 more passenger deck, increased number of Heaven Suites (from 42 to 55), expanded Haven and Courtyard areas, 26 more Penthouse Suites, more Studio cabins (single occupancy rooms - from 59 to 82). Fun fact is that the "Norwegian Escape" name was selected through a Facebook contest with 10 potential names options. The contest was traditionally called "Norwegians Name Their Ships", and included NCL FB fans votes. The same way company's fans picked the names of Breakaway and Getaway. Escape ship's hull theme is by Guy Harvey (marine wildlife conservationist).

On September 18, 2015, started vessel's 24-hour long conveyance along Ems River (from the shipyard in Papenburg Germany to Eemshaven Holland). Liner's christening ceremony was on November 9, 2015, lead by godfather Pitbull (rapper Armando Christian Perez). The naming ceremony was attended by NCLH's CEO Frank Del Rio. The opening act featured acrobatic Parkour performers (helped by hidden trampolines built into the stage). Then Froggy ("Elvis Duran Morning Show”) introduced various performers and VIP guests, among which was Carlos Gimenez (Miami-Dade County's Mayor). Pierside at PortMiami, the rapper Pitbull performed a live concert with some of his best hits, including “Don’t Stop the Party”, “Fireball”, "Give Me Everything”. Followed DJ-led sing-alongs.

Ship's Inaugural Cruise (maiden voyage) started on October 29, 2015. The 11-day Transatlantic crossing was from the UK to Florida (Southampton to Miami). On March 1, 2016, NCL announced that Escape's scheduled departure time from homeport Miami will be changed - from 4 pm to 7 pm (3 hours later). This change allows NCL cruise passengers later flights (arrivals in Miami) and applies to all the ship's 7-days Eastern Caribbean itineraries out of Miami scheduled for the period May 7 through December 31, 2016.

NCL Escape has the world's biggest marine scrubber system, consisting of all 5 units produced and installed by Yara Marine Technologies. These units clean the engines' sulfur oxide emissions by 99%. At max cruising speed, the ship's engines consume ~11 tons of diesel fuel per hour. In March 2015, Yara Marine installed its latest technology scrubber system on the Brittany Ferries ship Normandie.

The ship was built with new "scrubbers" (exhaust gas cleaning systems). The new technology reduces the equivalent of approx 1500 tons of the poisonous gas Sulfur Oxide. These in-line scrubbers (5 units) are lightweight and able to operate in a dry mode, as well as in open and closed loops.

In 2018 (starting April), NCL Escape was homeported in NYC New York, with departures from Midtown Manhattan. Currently the largest NYC-homeported cruise ship, Escape was repositioned to NYC from Miami for 7-day roundtrips to Bermuda (through September 2018) and also 7-day and longer itineraries to Florida-Bahamas and other Caribbean destinations.