Following the success of Breakaway and Getaway, each carrying 4000+ passengers, NCL has just released details of the cabins to be featured in NCL Escape. Sailing in autumn 2015 Escape will be the third in the group to feature a ‘Haven’, which is billed as a ‘ship within a ship’, and presumably an escape from the Escape.
There are a myriad choice of cabins, and NCL has worked hard to differentiate itself from other cruise lines by offering some unusual types. Here are some highlights that Escape promises to deliver:
Solo Studios on Escape
Since Norwegian Epic was launched back in 2010, solo travellers have been able to enjoy their own ‘studio’ cabins made especially for one. It’s a great idea – more and more cruisers are going it alone. Previously, solo travellers either had to pay a supplement (sometimes as much as 75%) to have a standard double cabin to themselves, or use a service that matched them with other solo travellers and share. The studio concept totally avoids that. It’s also in a dedicated part of the ship that makes it easier to meet fellow solo travellers- which is doubtless one of the pitfalls of travelling alone. More on the studio concept here.
Escape has gone with the idea and run with it. There will be 82 studio cabins, up from 69 onboard Getaway.
Escape to The Haven
The Haven has not been universally well-received by everyone. The idea is a private area of the ship that only guests who are paying a premium can access, featuring an outdoor pool deck and restaurant. Great if you want to escape (the masses on The Escape), but not so great if you’re in one of the lesser cabins. The main criticism is that Haven promotes an air of ‘second class passengers’ amongst those who are not part of the Haven club.
Still, the Haven looks fabulous and its appeal is undeniable for those who have enough money to justify hiring one of those cabins. The Escape will feature 55 cabins in Haven, up from 42 on Getaway. The biggest and most expensive cabins are to be found here – four 1300 square foot Owner’s Suites, for instance – each bigger than their equivalents on Getaway.
Family Villas, Suites & Balconies
Cruises are a popular holiday option for families, and NCL has sought to cater for them with their family villas. Each one has two separate bedroom and sleeps up to 6. It’s a great alternative to inter-linked cabins, as the common areas are combined.
Escape will feature 25 of these two-bed villas, and an additional 22 ‘penthouses’. The other options for families wanting to stay together include 40 mini-suites located near Splash Academy, 172 family balconies, and 48 ocean view cabins that sleep up to five. For those on a budget, inside cabins can also include pullman beds.
