Our Norwegian Escape Cruise from New York took us to Bermuda, Great Stirrup Cay and Port Canaveral. Here’s our review of the food, entertainment, port and what we paid.
At a glance
📍 Starting point: New York City
🚢 Cruise ship: Norwegian Escape
🌴 Destinations: Port Canaveral, Great Stirrup Cay & Bermuda
🗽 Extra stay: New York City
❤️ Best for: Couples, first-time cruisers, entertainment, sightseeing & anyone who considers cocktails an important part of an 🌙 Cruise length: 9 nights
💰 Cruise cost: £800 per person, including the drinks package
💳 Gratuities: Not included in the price. We asked for the gratuities to be removed on our final night, and our request was granted.
✈️ Flights: We used Mike’s staff travel for our flights. 📅 Our sailing: August 2025
From Manchester to Manhattan… and a Date with the Norwegian Escape
Every great holiday starts at an airport, usually with someone frantically checking they’ve packed their passport at least six times. Fortunately, our journey began smoothly as we flew from Manchester to Heathrow with British Airways.
It was only a short flight, but BA somehow still managed to squeeze in a meal and a couple of glasses of champagne. I don’t know if it’s just me, but being handed champagne before you’ve even left the UK makes any trip feel instantly more glamorous.
As we arrived into Terminal 5, we headed to our overnight stay at the Holiday Inn located at Terminal 4. Thankfully, Heathrow’s tube connection meant it was only a quick hop away. Before we knew it, we were tucked up in bed ready for our early flight to New York the following morning.
The next day started in the British Airways Executive Lounge, which is basically a socially acceptable place to begin drinking before breakfast. We enjoyed a few drinks and a bite to eat before heading to our flight. To make things even better, we had been fortunate enough to secure First Class seats. There is something wonderfully satisfying about turning left when boarding a plane. The extra space, attentive service and endless food and drinks made the flight fly by.
After landing at JFK, we had pre-booked transfers to take us to the Aura Hotel Times Square. The hotel is in a fantastic location right in the heart of the action. At around £140 for the night, we thought it was excellent value considering you’re staying in central Manhattan, where you can sometimes pay the price of a small car just to spend a night indoors. The rooms were clean, spacious, and comfortable, and check-in was quick and easy thanks to the friendly staff.
The following morning, after breakfast, we jumped into an Uber and headed to the cruise terminal to board the Norwegian Escape. We had booked the cruise through Cruise118 for a bargain £800 per person, including a drinks package and an inside cabin. In cruise terms, this felt like we’d found the equivalent of hidden treasure.
We arrived at the port at around 9am for our allocated embarkation time and dropped off our suitcases. Despite having a designated boarding slot, there was still a queue. Anyone who cruises regularly knows that “boarding time” really means “time to join a very organised queue.”
Passengers were given numbers and called on board in groups, with loyalty members and luxury suite guests being invited on first. We watched them glide effortlessly through while the rest of us waited patiently, reminding ourselves we’d spent considerably less money.
Once aboard, we were directed to our muster station according to our cabin number. Having cruised before, we knew the golden rule: never put anything you need immediately into your main suitcase. Luggage can take hours to arrive at your cabin, so we’d packed swimwear, toiletries and evening clothes in a small carry-on bag.
With military precision, we changed into our swimwear and headed straight for the pool deck. Within minutes we had cocktails in hand and food on our plates. This is what cruise holidays are all about.
The pool area was particularly impressive. Unlike some ships that seem to think a swimming pool should be roughly the size of a bathtub, the Norwegian Escape offered a much larger space. There was a traditional rectangular pool for swimming, but the best feature was the seating and tables built into the shallow edges. On a hot day, sitting in the water with a cold cocktail felt pretty close to perfection.
As the ship finally set sail, passengers lined the decks to watch New York disappear into the distance. Sailing down the Hudson River was one of those memorable moments that reminds you why you travel. Seeing the Manhattan skyline, the famous landmarks and the bustling waterfront from every angle was absolutely spectacular.
Our itinerary then included two days at sea. there was always something happening, from activities during the day to entertainment every evening. Of course, if all that sounded too energetic, there was always the option of finding a sun lounger and doing absolutely nothing.
Food on Norwegian Escape
You certainly won’t go hungry on Norwegian Escape. In fact, the bigger problem is working out how you’re supposed to fit breakfast, lunch, dinner, snacks and “I’ve only come in for one little thing” into the same day.
Norwegian operates Freestyle Dining, which we really like. There are no fixed dining times or assigned tables, so you can pretty much eat when it suits you – ideal when you’re on holiday and don’t particularly want someone telling you that dinner is at 6pm.
Garden Café is the main buffet and is open for breakfast, lunch and dinner. There was always plenty of choice and it was particularly handy on port days when we wanted something quick rather than a long sit-down meal.
For something a little more civilised, Taste, Savor and The Manhattan Room are the main complimentary restaurants. We enjoyed being able to have a proper sit-down meal without paying anything extra – although obviously “nothing extra” is a dangerous phrase on a cruise ship when there’s a cocktail menu sitting next to you.
O’Sheehan’s Neighborhood Bar & Grill was another favourite for casual food. Think burgers, wings, fish and chips and general comfort food. It’s also extremely useful later in the evening when several cocktails have suddenly convinced you that you haven’t eaten for at least three weeks.
There are also speciality restaurants if you fancy a change, including Cagney’s Steakhouse and a good selection of other options. These cost extra unless they’re included in your dining package.
We enjoyed the Teppanyaki the best food was amazing, show cooking was brilliant and the humour of the chef made the dinning experience one to remember.
Overall, we thought there was a really good choice of food and enough different restaurants that we didn’t feel as though we were eating in the same place every night.
Entertainment
Entertainment – This Is Where Norwegian Escape Comes Alive
We really enjoyed the entertainment on Norwegian Escape.
The Choir of Man is definitely worth booking. It’s basically an English pub, a group of very talented men, brilliant voices, dancing, live music and plenty of humour rolled into one show. Even if you’re not normally a “cruise show” person, give this one a try.
There is live music around the ship, comedy, piano music, deck parties and different bars and lounges to wander between. Mixx Bar, for example, combines cocktails with live piano, while Spice H2O changes from an adults-only daytime area into a place for drinks, music and dancing at night.
And Then There’s the Late Bar…
If you’re anything like us and don’t consider 10.30pm an acceptable time to go to bed on holiday, Norwegian Escape does have somewhere to carry on.
Skyline Bar, on Deck 7 by the casino, is one of the late-night spots and somewhere we’d definitely recommend trying. Recent Escape passengers also describe it as a popular late-night venue, with music, dancing and the party sometimes continuing into the early hours.
This is where the sensible plan of: “We’ll just have one drink before bed.” can quite easily become: “Why is it 2am and why am I dancing?”
The cocktails on Norwegian Escape were really good too, which doesn’t exactly help matters.
There are plenty of places to work your way through the cocktail menu. The Sugarcane Mojito Bar is an obvious one for mojito lovers, while The District Brew House isn’t just about beer – it also serves speciality cocktails and has live music.
Our advice would be to try a few different bars rather than finding one and staying there every night. Start somewhere quieter for a decent cocktail, find some live music, watch a show and then head towards wherever the late-night crowd has gathered.
Just remember that cruise-ship cocktails have a remarkable ability to taste like fruit juice right up until you stand up.
And if you’ve got the drinks package, apparently the words “Well, it’s included” make ordering another one completely acceptable.
At least that’s what we told ourselves.
Port Canaveral, Dolphins and the Legendary “Shit show crew”
One of the unexpected highlights of the cruise was meeting a group of Americans who proudly called themselves “Shit Show Crew”. Before your imagination runs wild, they were actually one of the friendliest groups of people we’d ever met. They meet up once a year on a cruise and, judging by the amount of laughter that followed them around the ship, they’ve clearly perfected the art of holidaying.
The group included people of all ages and backgrounds, but they all shared the same mission: have an amazing time and leave with even better stories than they arrived with. Whether we bumped into them at a bar, a restaurant or wandering around the deck looking for the next cocktail, there was always plenty of banter. By the end of the cruise, we were convinced that one day we’d have to join them again for another adventure. Although we’d probably need to start training our livers several months in advance.
Our first port of call was Port Canaveral, Florida, one of the busiest cruise ports in the world and the gateway to all things space-related. Massive cruise ships, endless sunshine and the occasional rocket launch make this a pretty unique destination. Many passengers headed straight for the famous Kennedy Space Center, eager to see rockets, space shuttles and enough NASA merchandise to bankrupt a small nation.
Now, Mike had visited Kennedy Space Center several times before, and while space exploration is undoubtedly fascinating, Debbie had a very strong counterargument:
“It’s 28 degrees, there’s sunshine, and there are beaches nearby.”
Case closed.
Instead, we headed to Cocoa Beach, and honestly, it was difficult to imagine a better way to spend the morning. The beach stretches for miles, with soft sand, rolling waves and plenty of people attempting to look cool on surfboards. We took a leisurely stroll along the shoreline, enjoyed the sea air and generally embraced the fact that we were on holiday and had absolutely nowhere important to be.
One thing that struck us about Cocoa Beach was its laid-back atmosphere. Unlike some resorts where everyone seems determined to break a personal best in relaxing, everything here felt wonderfully easy-going. It was exactly what we wanted after the excitement of embarkation day.
In the afternoon, we joined a dolphin tour on the Banana River, and this turned out to be one of the highlights of the entire day. As we cruised along the calm waters, our guide pointed out some of the spectacular waterfront homes lining the riverbanks. Calling them “houses” almost feels unfair. Some were so large they looked like small luxury hotels that just happened to have private docks and yachts parked outside.
Naturally, we all spent part of the tour playing the game:
“What would we buy first if we won the lottery?”
The answer was usually one of those homes.
Thankfully, the real stars of the show soon appeared. Before long, dolphins began surfacing around the boat, much to everyone’s delight. There’s something magical about seeing them in their natural habitat, effortlessly gliding through the water while tourists scramble for their phones and cameras. We were lucky enough to see several dolphins during the trip, and they seemed completely unfazed by the excitement they were causing.
As the Florida sunshine reflected off the water and dolphins appeared alongside the boat, it felt like one of those perfect holiday moments that you wish you could bottle and bring home.
Meanwhile, thousands of people were probably standing in queues looking at rockets.
Don’t get me wrong, we’d love to visit Kennedy Space Center one day. It’s an incredible place that’s inspired generations of astronauts, engineers and dreamers alike. But on this particular day, with blue skies, warm temperatures, dolphins swimming nearby and a gentle breeze coming off the water, we had absolutely no regrets.
Kennedy Space Center can wait.
The dolphins were expecting us.
Great Stirrup Cay: Paradis, Cocktails and My DJ Dubut
The following day we arrived at Great Stirrup Cay, Norwegian Cruise Line’s private island in the Bahamas. We docked at around 7am and judging by the speed some people were moving, you’d think there was a sale on free gold bars ashore. The excitement was contagious as passengers eagerly made their way off the ship to experience their own slice of Bahamian paradise.
And what a paradise it was.
If someone asked you to close your eyes and picture a tropical island in the Bahamas, Great Stirrup Cay is probably exactly what you’d imagine. Crystal-clear turquoise water, powder-soft white sand, swaying palm trees and sunshine that makes you wonder why you own so many coats back home. It looked like a postcard had come to life.
One of the best things about the island was that our food and drinks package worked ashore too. This was excellent news because nobody wants to be doing holiday maths every time they fancy a cocktail. Knowing everything was included meant we could fully embrace island life. After all, it would have been rude not to sample a few cocktails for quality control purposes.
The sea was absolutely gorgeous. The water was bath-warm, clear enough to see your feet and shallow enough for a leisurely paddle. We spent plenty of time cooling off in the sea and enjoying the stunning surroundings.
The only downside was the battle for sunbeds.
It quickly became apparent that there were far fewer sunbeds than there were passengers. Some people seemed to possess Olympic-level skills when it came to securing the perfect spot. We suspect a few were already waiting with beach towels before sunrise. Finding a premium location wasn’t easy, and finding a sunbed at all could be a challenge.
Fortunately, this didn’t bother us too much. We are seasoned travellers and know that sometimes the best memories happen when your day doesn’t revolve around guarding a sunbed like it’s crown jewels. There were plenty of places to sit, eat, drink and soak up the atmosphere.
One of the liveliest spots on the island was the Bacardi Bar, where a DJ kept the party atmosphere going throughout the day. Music drifted across the beach while passengers danced, sang and generally forgot what day of the week it was. There were also games and activities taking place all day, which made the island feel more like a giant beach party than simply a place to sunbathe.
For those wanting to live their best celebrity lifestyle, there were private villas available to hire. These looked fantastic and offered a little extra luxury and exclusivity. However, since we travel quite frequently and had booked this holiday on something resembling a sensible budget, we decided to admire them from afar while clutching our included cocktails. Besides, watching other people spend money is completely free.
One thing the island could benefit from is a swimming pool. The beach and sea are beautiful, but a large pool area would provide a nice alternative for those who prefer lounging poolside. That said, with water that warm and clear, it’s difficult to complain too loudly.
We had an absolutely fantastic day and threw ourselves into the island atmosphere. We joined in with the games, enjoyed the entertainment and spent most of the day laughing.
The highlight, however, was undoubtedly when I Debbie somehow found myself behind the DJ booth.
Now, whether the island’s regular DJ was brave, distracted or simply looking for a tea break remains unclear. What we do know is that I was suddenly given access to the controls and embraced her new music career with surprising enthusiasm.
For a few glorious moments, Great Stirrup Cay had its very own Yorkshire guest DJ.
No international music contracts have been offered just yet, and the Ministry of Sound hasn’t called. However, for one afternoon in the Bahamas, I was living my best life, entertaining holidaymakers while surrounded by palm trees, turquoise seas and a cocktail in hand.
To be honest, that’s probably what paradise is all about. 🍹🏝️🎶😎
Bermuda: Rum Swizzlers, Pink Sand Expectations and Adventures
After our wonderful day in the Bahamas, the next day was a sea day. By this point we’d settled into a very demanding routine of eating, drinking, being entertained, eating again, attending a show, squeezing in another cocktail and then somehow finding room for dinner. Cruising is hard work, but somebody has to do it.
The following day we arrived at Royal Naval Dockyard, Bermuda, docking at around 2pm. One of the things that makes Bermuda different from many cruise destinations is that ships often stay overnight, giving visitors chance to experience the island after dark. Usually, you’re constantly aware that the ship will sail away without you if you’re not back in time. In Bermuda, for once, we could relax and enjoy the evening without repeatedly checking our watches.
The Royal Naval Dockyard itself has plenty to see, with shops, restaurants and bars set among historic limestone buildings dating back to Britain’s naval presence on the island. As we wandered around, it quickly became clear why Bermuda is such a popular destination. The island has a distinctly British feel, but with palm trees, crystal-clear waters and temperatures considerably warmer than UK.
We spent the evening enjoying a few drinks in some of the local bars and soaking up the atmosphere. We didn’t venture too far, however. Although Bermuda has an excellent ferry network, some services stop running relatively early in the evening, and neither of us fancied testing our navigation skills in the dark.
The next morning we were up bright and early and ready to explore Bermuda properly. Our first stop was the Tourist Information Centre, where we purchased a transport pass covering the island’s ferries and buses. This turned out to be one of the best decisions of the trip. The public transport system is easy to use and provides some stunning coastal views along the way.
One place we’d read about before arriving was the legendary Swizzle Inn, proudly known as the oldest pub in Bermuda and home of the famous Rum Swizzle. Their slogan is famously “Swizzle Inn, Swagger Out”, which should probably be considered both an invitation and a warning.
The bus journey there was an attraction in itself. As we travelled along the coastline, we passed colourful houses, turquoise coves and picture-perfect scenery around almost every corner. Bermuda isn’t a large island, but what it lacks in size it makes up for in beauty.
By the time we arrived at the Swizzle Inn, it was already starting to fill up. The building is packed with character, covered in decades of signatures, memorabilia and stories from visitors around the world. Naturally, we ordered a Rum Swizzle. It would have been practically illegal not to.
The drink itself was delicious. Refreshing, fruity and deceptively easy to drink. In fact, it was the sort of drink that tricks you into ordering a second before you’ve fully evaluated the consequences of the first.
As luck would have it, we’d also read about Bermuda’s famous ice cream shop, and somehow, through an extraordinary coincidence that definitely wasn’t planned, it happened to be directly opposite the Swizzle Inn.
Purely for research purposes, of course, we crossed the road.
The ice cream did not disappoint. The selection of flavours was incredible, and the quality was exceptional. It was exactly what we needed after sampling Bermuda’s most famous cocktail. We are nothing if not committed to achieving a balanced diet.
From there we continued exploring the island, including a visit to the famous Horseshoe Bay. This is probably Bermuda’s most photographed beach, renowned for its pink sand and spectacular scenery. The beach itself was absolutely beautiful, with crystal-clear water and dramatic rock formations.
However, we must confess we were slightly disappointed by the colour of the sand.
After seeing countless photographs online, we’d been expecting something resembling bubblegum pink, Barbie pink or perhaps even flamingo pink. In reality, the sand had a much more subtle rosy hue. Beautiful? Absolutely. Bright pink? Not quite. We suspect the photographers may have been a little enthusiastic with their camera filters.
We continued our adventure around the island, visiting various locations before heading to Hamilton, Bermuda’s colourful capital. The waterfront, pastel-coloured buildings and relaxed atmosphere made it a lovely place to spend a few hours. Everywhere felt clean, friendly and incredibly scenic.
Eventually it was time to catch the ferry back towards the Dockyard. The ferry ride itself offered fantastic views and was a wonderful way to finish our day exploring.
Before heading back onboard, we stopped for a drink aboard the pirate ship moored in the Dockyard. After a day of buses, ferries, beaches, rum and ice cream, it seemed entirely appropriate to end our Bermuda adventure.
As we sat there with our drinks reflecting on the day, it struck us just how much we’d managed to pack into our visit. Bermuda had exceeded our expectations with its stunning scenery, friendly atmosphere and easy-going charm.
The only disappointment was that we eventually had to leave and unlike the Rum Swizzles, there was no option for a refill.
New York
And just like that, the cruise was over and we were back in New York.
Thankfully, we weren’t heading straight to the airport. We’d planned another day and night in the city, which gave us plenty of time to squeeze in a few more of the famous sights.
By this point we’d spent days eating, drinking and relaxing on a cruise ship, so naturally we thought the best way to recover was to walk approximately half of Manhattan.
Brooklyn Bridge
First on the sightseeing list was the iconic Brooklyn Bridge.
Walking across the bridge is one of those things that has to be done at least once when visiting New York. The views across the East River towards the Manhattan skyline are fantastic, and there are plenty of opportunities for photos. Of course, you’re not the only person who’s had this idea.
It’s busy, there are people stopping suddenly for photographs, people trying to get the perfect Instagram shot and tourists wandering around looking in every direction except the one they’re walking in.
Basically, allow plenty of time and bring some patience!. But once you stop dodging everyone and actually look around, the views are absolutely worth it.
Times Square – Bright Lights & Complete Chaos
Next up was Times Square, possibly one of the least relaxing places on the planet.
Huge digital billboards, yellow taxis, shops, street performers and thousands of people all competing for your attention at the same time. It’s loud, bright, busy and completely over the top — which is exactly why you have to see it.
During the daytime it’s impressive, but when it gets darker and all the signs light up, it’s on another level. You can stand there doing absolutely nothing and still feel like you’re in the middle of a film set.
Just be prepared to suddenly find yourself standing next to Spider-Man, Mickey Mouse or Elmo, who may appear very friendly until you realise a photograph isn’t necessarily free!
The Empire State Building
You can’t really talk about New York sightseeing without mentioning the Empire State Building.
It’s one of those buildings you’ve seen hundreds of times in films and photographs, but there’s something different about actually standing underneath it and looking up.
If you have time, you can head up to the observation decks for panoramic views across Manhattan. On a clear day, the views are incredible and really give you an idea of just how enormous New York is.
It’s also a great opportunity to point at random buildings and confidently announce, “I think that’s Central Park,” whether you’re completely sure or not.
World Trade Center & Ground Zero
From there, we visited the World Trade Center area and Ground Zero.
This part of New York has a completely different atmosphere. The 9/11 Memorial stands where the original Twin Towers once stood, with two enormous reflecting pools surrounded by the names of those who lost their lives.
After the noise and chaos of Times Square, the atmosphere here is noticeably quieter and more reflective. No matter how many times you’ve seen the events of September 11th on television, standing in the place where it actually happened is incredibly moving.
Nearby, One World Trade Center rises above the area and is now one of the most recognisable buildings on the Manhattan skyline. The contrast between the memorial and the modern buildings surrounding it makes this an especially memorable part of a visit to New York.
Another Boat Trip… Obviously!
You would think that after spending more than a week on a cruise ship we’d have been desperate to stay on dry land. Apparently not.
We decided to finish our New York sightseeing with another boat trip, this time along the Hudson River and out towards the Statue of Liberty. And I’m glad we did.
Seeing the Manhattan skyline from the water gives you a completely different perspective of the city. As you move away from Manhattan, the skyscrapers gradually form that famous skyline you’ve seen in countless films and photographs.
Then there’s Lady Liberty herself. The Statue of Liberty is impressive from land, but seeing her from the water is something special. The boat gives you some brilliant photo opportunities, particularly when you can capture the statue with Manhattan in the background.
It was one of those moments when you put the phone down for a minute and just take it all in. Well… after taking approximately 47 photographs from slightly different angles, obviously.
Goodbye New York ❤️
🚢 Top Tips for Your Cruise
🗽 Add extra time in New York: If you can, stay at least one night before or after your cruise. There’s far too much to see to use New York simply as a place to board the ship, and arriving early also protects you from flight delays.
🚢 Explore the ship early: Norwegian Escape is huge! Have a wander when you first board and find the restaurants, bars, pools and entertainment venues. It’s much easier before you’ve sampled half the cocktail menu.
📱 Check what’s on each day: There’s loads of entertainment, particularly on sea days. Check the app or daily programme so you don’t discover the following morning that you missed something you would have loved.
🍹 Check your drinks package: Know what’s included and make the most of it. We particularly enjoyed the later bars with music — although “just one more” can very easily turn into several more!
🍽️ Don’t live at the buffet: The buffet is convenient, but try some of the other dining options too. Cruising is basically the only holiday where breakfast, lunch, afternoon snack, dinner and late-night food all seem perfectly reasonable.
👙 Pack essentials in your hand luggage: Keep swimwear, sun cream, medication and anything you’ll need immediately with you, as your suitcase may take a while to reach your cabin.
☀️ Pack for different weather: This itinerary can take you from cooler New York to much warmer Bermuda and the Bahamas, so layers, swimwear, comfortable shoes, sun cream and a light waterproof are useful.
💰 Don’t book an excursion at every port: Some places are easy to explore independently. Save your excursion money for experiences that are difficult to organise yourself.
⏰ Check the all-aboard time: Always double-check when you need to be back on the ship. Watching Norwegian Escape sail into the distance without you is definitely not the holiday memory you want.
🌎 Top Things to Do
| Destination | Don’t Miss |
|---|---|
| 🗽 New York | Walk Brooklyn Bridge, experience Times Square, see the Empire State Building, visit the 9/11 Memorial & World Trade Center, explore Central Park and take a boat trip to see the Statue of Liberty. |
| 🚀 Port Canaveral | Visit Kennedy Space Center, relax at Cocoa Beach or take a Florida airboat and wildlife trip. |
| 🏝️ Great Stirrup Cay | Enjoy a proper Caribbean beach day, swim in the clear water, snorkel, try watersports or simply find a sunbed and a cocktail. Sometimes doing very little is exactly the point! |
| 🇧🇲 Bermuda | Visit beautiful Horseshoe Bay, explore the Royal Naval Dockyard, see Bermuda’s colourful houses, visit Hamilton or take a catamaran/snorkelling trip. Visit Swizzle Inn and Bailey’s Icecream Parlour |
| 🚢 Norwegian Escape | Enjoy the pools and sun decks, , walk along The Waterfront, watch the shows, listen to live music, join the quizzes and make the most of the bars and restaurants. |
| 🌊 Sea Days | Eat. Drink. Pool. Entertainment. Repeat. Possibly until the following morning in some cases! 🍹😂 |
⭐ Our Don’t-Miss Experiences
For sightseeing: New York 🗽 | For something different: Kennedy Space Center 🚀 | For beaches: Bermuda & Great Stirrup Cay 🏝️ | For relaxing: Sea days ☀️ | For nightlife: Norwegian Escape 🍹
Our biggest tip? Don’t try to do absolutely everything. Cruises are supposed to be holidays, not endurance events. If you come home needing a week off to recover, you may have slightly overdone the sightseeing!
