Norwegian Escape - Eastern Caribbean
Experience the Eastern Caribbean with Freestyle cruising aboard Norwegian Escape, featuring thrilling waterslides, a ropes course, and visits to pristine island beaches and charming island towns.
Price Range
$
Budget
*Prices vary by cabin type, sailing date, and availability. Confirm rates with Norwegian Cruise Line before booking.
Ship Details — Norwegian Escape
View full Norwegian Escape details
Year Built
2015
Tonnage
164,998 GT
Passengers
4,266
Crew
1,733
Decks
20
Class
Breakaway Plus
Itinerary & Route Map
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Where this cruise calls, day by day
6 ports and 2 sea days over 7 Nights.
- Day 1Port Canaveral, FL port guide: where ships dock and what to do ashore
Port Canaveral, FL
United StatesDepart Day 2 · At sea
- Day 3Puerto Plata port guide: where ships dock and what to do ashore
Puerto Plata
Dominican RepublicPort - Day 4Charlotte Amalie, St. Thomas port guide: where ships dock and what to do ashore
Charlotte Amalie, St. Thomas
U.S. Virgin IslandsPort - Day 5
Tortola
British Virgin IslandsPortRoad Town is a small administrative capital that empties into Tortola Pier Park, a purpose-built shopping village at the dock. The town itself is thin, and it clogs when two ships are in. This is a call you leave: most people cross the ridge to Cane Garden Bay, or take the ferry to Virgin Gorda for The Baths, which is the best thing in the British Virgins.
- The Baths on Virgin Gorda, by ferry
- Cane Garden Bay
- Smuggler's Cove at the west end
- Sage Mountain National Park
- Getting ashore
- Docked at Road Town beside Tortola Pier Park; Cane Garden Bay is about 20 minutes over Ridge Road by taxi, and the Virgin Gorda ferry runs 30-45 minutes.
- Best months
- Dec-Apr; Aug-Oct is hurricane season
Day 6 · At sea
- Day 7
Great Stirrup Cay
BahamasPortNorwegian's Berry Islands beach is the oldest of the private-island calls - the line has used it since 1977. It was a tender operation for decades, which made short calls miserable, until a two-ship pier opened at the end of 2025 and ships began tying up. Bertram's Cove is the main swimming beach. The buffet lunch is included; cabanas, the Silver Cove villas, watersports rentals and the spa are not.
- Bertram's Cove, the main beach
- The included beach barbecue buffet
- Snorkel gear, kayaks and floats for rent (extra cost)
- Private cabanas and the Silver Cove lagoon villas (extra cost)
- Getting ashore
- Ships dock at the pier that opened in December 2025 - older trip reports describing a tender ride no longer apply.
- Best months
- Nov-Apr for calm seas and reliable calls; summer is hotter with afternoon storms
- Day 8Port Canaveral, FL port guide: where ships dock and what to do ashore
Port Canaveral, FL
United StatesArrive
Onboard Amenities
Cruise Highlights
About the Ship
What Travelers Say About Norwegian Escape
Reviews of the ship itself — the same for every Norwegian Escape sailing. Distilled from 392 traveler threads, passenger reviews and travel blogs.
Norwegian Escape is a Breakaway-Plus class megaship built for fun, packing in more dining, entertainment and outdoor activities than its Breakaway-class predecessors. The vibe is energetic and family-friendly, anchored by a sprawling Aqua Park with five waterslides and the three-level ropes course that was the largest at sea when the ship debuted in 2015. With NCL's freestyle approach there are no fixed dining times or dress codes, giving the ship a relaxed, do-your-own-thing feel that appeals strongly to first-time and casual cruisers.
What People Love
- Standout activity deck - the multi-story Aqua Park with five waterslides plus the three-level ropes course (largest at sea when it launched) keep families and thrill-seekers busy all day
- Strong, varied dining roster; reviewers single out Cagney's Steakhouse and Moderno Churrascaria as highlights, and freestyle dining means no fixed times or assigned tables
- Top-tier Broadway entertainment for a cruise ship - Tony Award-winning After Midnight and Million Dollar Quartet draw consistent praise
Common Complaints
- Crowding is the most common complaint - pools and hot tubs are frequently packed and hard to get into on sea days
- Main dining room menus repeat night after night, pushing guests toward pay-extra specialty restaurants for variety
- Specialty restaurant and add-on upcharges add up quickly, and some feel nickel-and-dimed by upselling