Norwegian Escape - Part 2

In part 1 we showed you around the cabins on board the Norwegian Escape.  Now we are going to discuss and show you some of the public spaces and activities on board.

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Public spaces and activities

The Escape is full of activities and spaces to keep busy.  Activities vary from the pools and slides to dangling on the ropes course.  The little ones will enjoy their own water play area and the programming of the respective kids club.  As you head inside the ship, the beautiful layout and colors of the atrium extend into the dining venues and public spaces.  The ship is easy to navigate around and has a comfortable feel to it.  Lets take a look at some of these great spaces.

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pOOL DECK

The pool and water activities aboard the Norwegian Escape are pretty extensive.  Between the main pool deck with associated whirlpools, the kids splash park, and the multiple water slides, everyone in the family will have plenty to do on those nice days at sea.  We toured the ship during February in New York, so you have to use your imagination for the splash park.  I was very impressed as they even had a slide that was tamer which would be good for the younger kids.

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Outdoor activities

On the Lido deck you'll find plenty of wet fun and activities, but their are also some other options as well.  The Norwegian Escape features a mini golf or putt putt course as well as a ropes course.  As well, the ship features an enclosed sports court which is a great spot to shoot some hoops or kick a ball around while the world sails by.

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Other public spaces

As you navigate around the ship you will come across some great public spaces.  The common spaces of the lower decks are home to many of the ships restaurants, entertainment venues. and the casino.  Here are some of pictures we took while exploring. 
At the rear of the ship is an adults only area called Spice H20.  This area features a big screen, comfortable seating, whirlpool, water feature, and its own bar.  In the evening, this area turns into a fun outdoor club area on certain nights.
The Casino featured all the popular table games and a good selection of slots to meet any passengers desires.  The casino is centrally located on the ship and had a simple layout to it.  

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What about the young sailors?

Don't worry, we didn't forget about the little ones either!  As a proud parent myself, I make sure to tour the children activity areas to insure that there is stuff to do for everyone.  I always stress how important it is to take the kids when we travel, but I want to make sure they have something to do.  On Norwegian Escape, there are three different kids venues, split up by age group:

Guppies Nursery- 6 Months (12 for transatlantic sailings) to Age  2
Splash Academy- Age 3 to Age 12
Entourage Teen Lounge- Age 13 to Age 17

The Guppies Nursery features childcare for your tiniest sailors.  This venue is additional to your cruise fare but allows you to enjoy the amenities on board without towing your infant around.  Inside the venue features separate areas for napping as well as play time.  The counselors in this area will follow directions for your child and also insure they participate in group play when the children are awake.  Its a great option for those who still want to travel with the little ones. 
-One thing to note, this is the ONLY ship which has a nursery on board.  The other ships feature infant play rooms which are NOT staffed.  They host group play sessions but the rooms are open typically all day for you to bring your own child in and supervise them playing.
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Splash Academy is the normal kids club you have on multiple ships.  The certified counselors host activities for kids split up by age groups to insure the activity is both age appropriate as well as fun.  These programs are included in your cruise fare, however there are some late evening programming which is available for an extra cost.  Note that the kids clubs print their own daily itineraries outside of the Freestyle Daily you receive in your cabin.  Make sure to grab one if your kids want to participate so they don't miss out!
For those worrying about security, the ships have strict policies about check in and check out at the clubs.  As well, all kids are required to be checked in and out by the designated persons.  These people must display their room key for identification as well as the security password you provided at registration.  No child will be released to unapproved or any person without the key cards for identification purposes.

The Entourage Teens Lounge is a teens only area where you can kick back and relax.  It features comfortable seating, open space, music, and video games.  The Teen Lounge organizes group events like basketball games, theater classes, scavenger hunts, evening pool parties and other things to keep everyone involved.  Note that the Entourage Lounge allows teens to come and go at their own discretion, they are not required to be picked up or dropped off by an adult.  The only thing required is the key card of the teen to sign in.  So if your teen is looking for somewhere to meet other kids or just to escape the family craziness, have them check out Entourage!

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So there is some of the highlights of the public spaces and programming on the Norwegian Escape.  This ship currently sailing from New York has lots of fun and entertainment on board.  Check back for the next post about the dining options on board.  If your looking to book your next trip on this amazing ship, give us a call and we will make sure to find you the best deal.