A cruise is always my number one choice for vacation. As a resident of Miami for over twenty years, I’ve been on more than thirteen cruises – and I’ve sailed on various cruise lines. So when I heard that the Norwegian Escape, the newest and largest ship in the Norwegian Cruise Line fleet, would be making Miami its home port I was pretty excited… and I was ecstatic when invited to join in the christening celebration and to spend a couple of days onboard for the inaugural cruise for the purpose of writing this review!
The line-up of events for the christening was nothing short of amazing. There were performances by the casts of The Brat Pack, After Midnight and the Million Dollar Quartet, all award winning shows with nightly performance onboard. The godfather for the Norwegian Escape Armando Perez, or Pitbull to most of us, was there to christen the ship and gave an electrifying performance of his hits, new and old- an awesome send off for the inaugural cruise!
The most important thing about a cruise for me is the on board amenities. The ports of call is important also but most of your time on a cruise is spent on board (I’ve been known to skip visiting a port or two) so the service must be exceptional, the entertainment and the menu must be great– I don’t want the same old cruise ship entertainment or fare.
Having had a preview of the shows at the christening ceremony, I wanted to see the entire performance of the smash-hit musical After Midnight, which recently completed its run on Broadway; the Million Dollar Quartet, the successful musical inspired by the famed recording session that brought together rock 'n' roll icons Elvis Presley, Johnny Cash, Jerry Lee Lewis and Carl Perkins for the first and only time; and The Brat Pack, a live show at the Supper Club with a critically acclaimed cabaret celebration of classic soundtracks from motion picture masters Sixteen Candles, The Breakfast Club, Weird Science, Pretty In Pink and Ferris Bueller's Day Off. All three shows were very different but if asked which one was my favorite, I couldn’t choose. I was transported to the Cotton Club in Harlem by After Midnight; to an amazing jam session by Million Dollar Quartet and to the movies by The Brat Pack, and each had me applauding and laughing and having a really great time. 
There are over sixteen restaurants to choose from on the Norwegian Escape. We selected the more casual buffet style dining in the Garden Café for breakfast and lunch. But that is not to say we sacrificed quality or style. Omelet made to order with fresh tomatoes and spinach was my favorite breakfast and Tuesday’s seafood lunch menu was nothing short of fantastic! The tastiest, largest, crab legs, crayfish, lobster tails you’ve ever seen really had guests buzzing. For dinner we dined at the Supper Club and also the Manhattan Room. The Manhattan Room, a beautiful two-story high restaurant with floor-to-ceiling panoramic windows, reminiscent of a private New York City supper club, is a complimentary restaurant that features a dance floor as its focal point. The perfect restaurant to enjoy a romantic evening of fine dining, live music and dancing.
There are quite a few family friendly staterooms and family mini-suites that is ideal for families. Some include two lower beds that convert to a queen-size bed, upper and a sofa beds, sleeps up to four people and are conveniently located near the kids club. We stayed in one of the ship’s 308 mini-suites that are perfect for anyone who wants a little more room than the standard balcony stateroom. The mini-suite had an amazing view, lots of cabin space and a very spacious bathroom. 
There are two additional standouts for me on this inaugural cruise, and that’s Dolce Gelato and The Cellars. My very favorite after dinner treat was enjoying a tiramisu gelato from Dolce Gelato while strolling along The Waterfront. I also loved spending time at The Cellars, a wine bar on the Waterfront with a gorgeous ocean view, learning about the different types of wine glasses and wines all accompanied by small plates of delicious tapas.
Two days just wasn’t enough time to enjoy all the amenities on board the Norwegian Escape. When planning your next vacation, consider cruising on the Norwegian Escape. The entertainment, food and services on the Norwegian Escape is top notch, and without a doubt the Norwegian Escape is a cut above the rest. Definitely my kind of vacation escape!
I’ve shared a few photos on our Facebook page that you can view here.
