Norwegian Escape expected to make its mark in Miami

The Norwegian Escape signals — if, indeed, there were still
doubts — the resurgence of Norwegian Cruise Line’s competitiveness in perhaps
the highest-profile cruise market, South Florida.

At 4,200 passengers, the Escape will be the largest ship
ever homeported in Miami, and travel agents on a preview cruise last week said
they thought the ship was going to find an audience.

“I love the ship,” said Cruise Planners CEO Michelle Fee,
who was hanging out in the lounge portion of the ship’s two-story Haven, private
suites that surround a courtyard and are accessible by key card, a first for
Norwegian. She added that, once again, Norwegian has built a ship with dozens
of eating, drinking and entertainment options.

“What Norwegian does best is that there are choices,” Fee
said.

It’s hard to believe that less than two years ago, Norwegian
Cruise Line did not have a ship full-time in Miami. Now it will have two, the
Escape and the Norwegian Getaway.

The Escape is an expanded version of the Breakaway/Getaway
platform introduced in 2013. The Escape has more hot tubs than its predecessor
ships, and a water grotto was added to the Spice H2O adults-only area. The
ropes course has been doubled in size, the waterslides are bigger, and there’s
a new private dining room. But a lot of the changes are in the food and
entertainment.

“Escape is an evolution,” Norwegian President Andy Stuart
said. “The ship has a very premium feel.”

A Michael Mondavi family wine bar called Cellars, for
example, replaces the Ice Bar, a novelty that may have run its course. The
District Brew House craft beer hall exceeded my expectations, as did the two
main theater shows, “After Midnight” and “Million Dollar Quartet.”

Everyone I spoke to who had eaten at Bayamo, the new
high-end seafood concept, was enthusiastic. “It was delicious. I was really
surprised,” said Patrick Luciani, owner of TravelOnly, Toronto.

Less satisfactory was Margaritaville at Sea, where there was
a long wait time for burgers. Norwegian might have to resort to a cover charge.
A little more oomph to the Jimmy Buffett theme would also be nice.

Norwegian is working hard to cross-pollinate with its two
sister brands, Regent Seven Seas and Oceania Cruises. In the Haven, Julio
Guardado, a Miami accountant and regular Oceania customer, said the Escape
still feels too big to him, and the service is less polished.

But he and his wife, Carmen, enjoyed the Haven and
acknowledged that there’s more to do than on Oceania cruises.

“We like it,” Guardado said of the Escape. “This ship is
beautiful.”