The document provides an overview of the author's experience taking a short taster cruise on the Norwegian Escape cruise ship. Some of the key details included: - The Norwegian Escape is over 165,000 tons and can carry over 3,200 passengers, with amenities like multiple dining options, bars, pools and a spa. - The author toured the ship, including their spacious stateroom, and explored many of the facilities and entertainment options. - In addition to the standard amenities, the ship also has exclusive areas like The Haven and caters well to families with programs for kids of all ages. - After only a short time onboard, the author was impressed by the ship and converted to

1. COVENTRYTELEGRAPH SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 6, 2016 1312 COVENTRYTELEGRAPH SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 6, 2016
■■ Paul House took a short
taster cruise on Norwegian
Escape as a guest of Norwegian
Cruise Lines, whose destinations
include Europe, the Middle
East, the Caribbean, Bermuda,
Bahamas, Hawaii, Alaska, Canada,
New England, Panama Canal,
Mexican Riviera, South America,
Middle East, Asia, Australia and
New Zealand.
■■ Full details of NCL Freestyle
Cruising can be found at www.
escape.ncl.co.uk
I
WILL be honest, I have never
been on a cruise and frankly
thought it was unlikely as my
original perception was one of
a somewhat exclusive nature.
That was about to change.
Arriving on a bleak Southampton
morning wasn’t the best start but
when I approached the docks the
formidable sight of Norwegian
Escape took me by surprise.
Its crisp, blue pictured hull and
impressive array of white decks leapt
out of the dull skyline.
Our home for the next 24 hours
filled me with excitement as well as a
sense of disappointment that I wasn’t
going to join the 3,200 passengers
taking it on to Miami once we left in
the morning.
Walking in the shadow of this
amazing vessel, along the red carpet
for a photograph for posterity, you
realise how big this craft really is.
At over 165,000 tonnes and more
than 1,000 feet long, no fewer than
1,730 crew keep the vessel on course
to deliver high level service.
We entered the pre-boarding
complex for a security check and to
be given an identity card which also
serves as a credit card on board for
the duration of your trip.
Once aboard, I was headed for a
seaview stateroom on Deck 15. Upon
swiping my ID card to get into my
room, I was again taken by surprise.
The room was remarkably spacious
with a sea view that would surely be
delightful in any destination.
The room was clean and well
presented; the bathroom well
stocked with quality toiletries from
Bvlgari; the larger than average
double bed had quality bedding and
pillows to die for.
Be warned, however, that
Norwegian Cruise Line (NCL) ships
have US 120v two-pin power sockets
so you’ll need an adaptor to charge
any devices.
I decided to explore as much of
the ship as I could before we set
sail and, more importantly,
before the other
passengers joined us.
You should always
start at the top of the
ship and work your
way down.
Up top you’ll
find a sun deck
with hot tubs,
showers and
enough room to
take in the great
weather once
your holiday
begins in the
far more temperate
climates the ship
visits.
Working down past
the jogging track,
Waves pool bar, kids’
aqua park and the
Garden Café Bar, I
was once again taken
aback, this time
by the scale of the
facilities available.
The fitness centre
at the prow of the
ship has all the latest
equipment, but with
a sea view as an added attraction.
Once you’ve completed your
session in the gym you can unwind
in the beautiful Mandara Spa.
Boasting, a swimming pool, hot
tubs, steam and sauna rooms, they
also have unique salt and snow
rooms for you to truly cool down in.
Why not end it with a fantastic
massage in one of the beautiful
single or double rooms, with variable
lighting to help relax you?
I then headed down through decks
15 to eight in one of the many lifts –
stairs are also available if you feel the
need for a bit of exercise.
Deck eight is part of 678 Ocean
Place – spanning decks six, seven
and eight – where the bulk of the
shopping, drinking and dining
experiences are to be found.
In my short time on
board, I couldn’t
begin to do justice
to the 28 dining
options, 21 bars
and numerous
lounges.
However,
my passion for
sushi was more
than catered for
in Food Republic.
A Pubbelly brand
from the US, this
restaurant had both
bar and high seating with a great
modern feel. Even the ordering
system was slick with each diner
doing so via iPad.
Attentive staff made life easy for
even the most naive orderers of sushi
by guiding us through the menu.
Also on board is a mix of
restaurants including La Cucinas
Italian, Pincho Tapas and Cagneys
Steakhouse. You really can eat in
a different place each day of your
holiday and still not cover them all.
If you don’t fancy eating in a
restaurant, there’s O’Sheehans
Neighbourhood Bar and Grill or
Jimmy Buffetts Margaritaville at Sea
for great burgers and nachos.
Pretty much all of the
restaurants have a great view
and are light and airy enough
to ensure the large number of
passengers are catered for without
the queues you might expect.
This is helped by a pre-booking
system that allows you to pick your
restaurant of choice but also see busy
times and choose accordingly.
All this can be done in your room
or on one of the many interactive
touchscreens around the ship. They
also give you directions and details of
most aspects of the ship that you will
need to know during your stay.
The central atrium is a light
and airy space that sees the
entertainment and shopping
experience brought to life.
Gift shop Duty Free
and quality brands
such as Carolina
Herrera and
Lacoste all offer
great deals.
I headed
next to The
Supper Club to
watch Million
Dollar Quartet,
the Broadway
show based on a
one-time recording
session in 1956 with
icons Elvis Presley, Johnny Cash,
Jerry Lee Lewis and Carl Perkins.
Held in a fantastic auditorium
seating 900 people, it was as good
as any West End production. It was
difficult to remember we were at sea.
Once I had consumed a few of
the cocktails on offer from a mouth-
watering list, I felt a bit peckish.
On cruises, you soon learn, food is
available 24/7. Bliss.
You don’t have to opt for buffet-
style eating, either. There are
extensive a la carte options if you
wish to pay a supplement. Pre-paid
drinks packages can also spread the
cost should you want to break away
from the main deal.
By now the bulk of my journey had
disappeared all too quickly and I was
wishing that I could stay on to Miami
because I had only scratched the
surface of this amazing ship.
Calling it a day, I took advantage of
the terrific power shower in my room
and headed to bed.
Waking early next morning, I took
a brisk walk around the jogging and
walking track, then had a freshly
cooked omelette with roasted
vegetables, washed down by a great
pot of coffee.
But don’t go away with the thought
that cruising is just for grown-ups.
Norwegian Escape is a very family
friendly place.
Children from six months to two
years old are catered for in Guppies;
for kids from three to 12 there’s
Splash Academy, and Entourage – for
13- to 17-year-olds – is seriously cool.
That results in a family experience
that means parents and kids alike
can get a break.
Another unique offering is The
Haven, an exclusive offering that
is a brand in its own right. With
exceptional service that includes a
concierge, a certified 24-hour butler,
private courtyard and your own
sundeck and pool (with retracting
roof) and hot tub, this is special.
It’s available for families, couples
or singles, and private keycard access
means that should you want to
simply escape, you can do just that.
The high quality you have come
to expect from a cruise has just been
elevated to a whole new level.
I may have had my doubts but I
am now most certainly a convert.
Freestyle cruising is just what you
want it to be, when you want it to be.
I couldn’t get hold of next season’s
brochure quickly enough...
Cruise virgin PAUL HOUSEnever fancied life at sea –
until he set foot for the first time on a new ship, that is
Anchors aweigh
on a great Escape
NEED TO KNOW
»»The Norwegian Escape has a cruise speed of 22.5 knots
Mexico: Seven nights all-inclusive at the four-star Grand
Palladium Vallarta Resort Spa in Puerto Vallarta,
right, starts from £789 per person. The price is based
on two sharing and departing from Manchester on
February 18. Go to firstchoice.co.uk
down mexico way
■■ Pincho Tapas, above, is just
one of the 28 dining options
aboard Norwegian Escape
■■ The painted hull of Norwegian Escape,
left, the Supper Club, right, and one of
the spacious cabins onboard, above right
■■ TANZANIA: Rainbow Tours
(rainbowtours.co.uk; 020 7666
1266) offers eight nights at
The Residence Zanzibar (half
board) from £1,644 per person
(two sharing) – saving £1,286
per person. Includes transfers
and flights from Heathrow.
Valid for travel from March 1 –
June 30. Book by March 31.
■■ The Residence Zanzibar in Tanzania
■■ The Aqua
Park main
pool on
Norwegian
Escape
Celebs on
the river
Join three of the UK’s most
popular TV personalities, Charlie
Dimmock, John Sargeant and
Tim Wonnacott, on an eight-day
Rhine Treasures cruise from APT
Luxury River Cruises.
Celebrity gardener, Charlie
(pictured) will spend three days
onboard and take guests on a tour
of the Bonn Botanic Gardens;
British TV and radio journalist,
John, will accompany guests on
a guided tour of Cochem and
Cochem Castle, while star of
Bargain Hunt, Tim will be joining
the ship and taking guests on a
tour of the medieval
city of Colmar.
Guests will also
have the chance
to win dinner
with each of the
celebrities while
onboard.
The eight-day Rhine Treasures
river cruise departs from
Amsterdam (Netherlands)
and calls at Leeghwater
(Netherlands), Cologne, Bonn,
Cochem, Koblenz, Mainz,
Speyer, and Breisach (all
Germany) before arriving in
Basel (Switzerland) where guests
disembark for the flight home.
Save up to £950 per person
with prices starting from £1,795
per person based on two sharing
on an April 8 departure, and
including home to airport
transfers by private car, return
flights, all meals plus compli-
mentary beverages on board. A
total of 15 included excursions
and invitations to exclusive events
and experiences are all included
within the price.
■■ For more details and to book,
visit aptouring.co.uk/celebrity
cruise or call 0800 046 3002.
LATE BREAK
TRAVEL