NCL Escape Mediterranean Cruise Review 10/12-21/2022

[Jmustang67]

Embarkation was slow to get on the ship but once onboard we had the best time. We were in the Haven cabin 17100 and were able to go right away to our cabin. There we met Edwin our Steward and Darwin our butler both who were amazing and made sure we always had whatever we needed throughout the entire cruise! We went to lunch in the Haven restaurant and were surprised to see an outdoor seating area to the restaurant. We had lunch which like every meal we ate was excellent. This was the view 

we then unpacked did some walking around the ship and after a some relaxing went to dinner in the Haven restaurant my wife had  a Caesar Salad and the surf and turf. I had the black tiger shrimp Louie and HAVEN'S BERKSHIRE PORK TOMAHAWK* after dinner we went to see our Concierge Dilip made some reservations and then went to the Haven Lounge had a few drinks and met some new friends. 

Day 2
The next day we ate breakfast and proceeded to get ready for our Meet and Mingle which we were running. Over 30 guests came from Brisbane, Scotland, Ireland, the UK, Canada, Nova Scotia and many states from the United States. We had a gift exchange, and as well NCL provided Kathryn Downs who helped register everyone who attended and made sure refreshments were provided, a DJ  and that many officers from the ship attended! Later we went to the Captain’s Cocktail Party at 7 followed by dinner in Cagneys which was amazing. Next we did a little shopping onboard and then went to the casino. 

Day 3 Santorini 

We had breakfast in the Haven like every day on the ship Leonora Bernard the Haven restaurant Maitre D always greeted us and would come by our table at every meal to see how our day was going if we needed anything or just to say hello. We had several waiters in the restaurant but April who was everywhere and Rossell were just spectacular. 
We we’re ready for Santorini and met in the lounge around 1 and being in the Haven were on the first tender to shore. We decided to explore on our own and didn’t book any excursions. We took the cable car a maybe 3 minute or less ride to the town of Thira and after exploring there we took a taxi to Oia about a 5 mile ride and 30 euros. We walked to get some amazing pictures and videos and had lunch at Skiza Cafe. There we had the most delicious pizza of our 15 day trip. Later after some shopping for souvenirs we took a taxi back to the town of Thira got lost a little and took the cable car down to the tender to get back to the ship or Home as we called it! When we went back to our cabin there were several trays of canapés and sandwiches waiting. We had a late dinner in the Haven 

 

Day 4 Athens 

We had the Panoramic Athens tour which we booked through the ship I went and my wife stayed on the ship. The tour had 2 stops the Olympic Stadium and the Parthenon along with a lot of history and many sights along the way we had about 20 minutes at the Stadium and 45 minutes at the Acropolis/Parthenon. You could decide to stay there and take a taxi back if you wanted. My wife went to the spa onboard and had a massage and hair treatment which she says she still feels the difference in her hair. We had dinner in Teppanyaki  entertaining and delicious.

 

Day 5 Corfu

Horseback Riding and Beach Excursion 6 hours 

After breakfast we met at 11:50 AM in the Escape theater and a little while later we boarded a couch bus for a about an hour drive to the riding area and beach. Only 15 guests were on this tour, after arriving we broke into 2 groups of 7 & 8. We were in the second group so we had lunch and went to the beach. Around 2:30 or so it was our turn we picked our horses and proceeded on a close to 3 mile ride including arriving at a beach. The horses were run by Nat and his assistant Emily, And we rode for almost an hour and 45 minutes then fed our horses pieces of apple an awesome time. Our tour guide was Stefanos also amazing, We highly recommend this excursion! We had dinner in the Haven and later at 10:30 went to the Glow Party at Spice H2O also the clocks were going back an hour so that was great.

 

Day 6 Malta
We had breakfast went to a seminar and lunch in the Haven. We left the ship about an hour or so after arriving in Malta and we boarded a hop on hop off double decker bus and explored. After several hours of shopping and taking pictures we went back to the ship had dinner in the Haven followed by drinks in the lounge. 
 

Day 7 Sicily 

The Godfather Tour excursion 

We started the day in the Haven for breakfast where the staff sang Happy Birthday to my wife and Rossell made a white rose out of 2 paper napkins and a red and white dragon out of cloth napkins in a few minutes incredible! 
We went to meet in the theater around 9 AM and a little while later we boarded a couch bus and drove through picturesque Sicily. We drove about 1500 feet above the sea up a mountain to a monastery, a church and a pizzeria among other places in Forza D’agro followed by driving down and then back up to Savoca where the church where Michael married Apolonia was filmed along with the bar where he met Apolonia’s father and we also saw the home of the actress who played Apolonia’s mother. Amazing views and delicious gelato. We arrived back at the ship after 3 had lunch by the Haven pool and then went to the hot tubs on deck 19 had a drink or 2. Later we had reservations at Ocean Blue Bayamo for 7:30, being my wife’s birthday I had arranged for Darwin our butler to take a bottle of champagne along with a strawberry shortcake which I originally requested prior to the cruise a piece of for her dessert that night. We had the champagne with dinner and the meal was incredible, my wife had the roasted beets and I had a shrimp cocktail followed by her main course Black Sea Bass with the potatoes au gratin and creamed spinach I had the Brinzino along with steamed broccoli  and Steamed Asparagus Hollandaise Sauce. Upon dessert several of the staff brought a Strawberry Shortcake which was light fresh and a twelve out of ten for taste. Compliments to Chief Pastry chef Bengie. This was a total surprise to my wife we then after picking up something in one of the stores we went to the Haven Lounge and shared the Strawberry Shortcake with many guests. The Maitre D from Bayamo sent the cake from deck 8to the lounge on 17. A fabulous day!

 

Day 8 Naples 

We decided to take a tour on our own after we got off the ship so before 10 we found a driver at the port and headed to Sorrento, Positano and the Amalfi Coast. Afterwards we had our driver drop us off in the city center. We did some souvenir shopping and took some more pictures as well as stopping for some Naples pizza and a little while later we boarded the ship.
We had reservations for LeBistro at 7, my wife had the baked onion soup, Fruits de Mer* and for dessert the Fraisier. I had the Pétoncles Dubarry, Huile de Truffe*, the Carré d'Agneau Rôti et Souris d'Agneau aux Savers Marocaines* and for dessert Poire Belle - Hélène all amazing! 
At around 8:30 PM we went to the theater for the 9 PM The Choir of Man Show which started around 8:45 or so. I cannot stress enough how this is a must see show which we almost weren’t going to go to. It is such a well done good time, at the end the cast received a standing ovation and IMHO was the best show I have ever seen on a cruise! 
After the show we went to the casino and upon entering found out the casino wouldn’t be open after that night. We played until closing which was 2 AM and then called it a great day!

 

Day 9 Florence & Pisa

After breakfast we left the ship around 11:30 about 3 hours after arriving. We took an excursion with 2 other couples to Florence and then Pisa. We stayed in Florence for a few hours went to the  Galleria dell'Accademia to see Michelangelo’s David along with so many more pieces of art. We did some shopping had lunch then met back at the van and we went to Pisa. We spent over an hour there more souvenir shopping and several pictures. Then we went back to the port and arrived around 7 PM, we had reservations for Moderno at 8:30 which was delicious and as with anywhere else you can have as much as you like. We followed that with packing our suitcases to be ready to outside our cabin by midnight. Next we went to the Lounge to have a few drinks and talk and say goodbye to everyone. We called it a day went back to our cabin took a few pictures of all the animals our steward Edwin had made throughout the cruise. 
 

Day 10 Disembarkation 

We woke around 6:30 AM took some pictures of the port and went to breakfast for 7. We saw the sunrise from our table and then said goodbye to all the Haven restaurant staff who treated us like family this whole cruise! We left around 8:30 grabbed our luggage which was in the VIP area easily found met our driver Pasquale from Stefano’s Rome Cabs who took us to Hotel Artemide in Rome where we spent another 5 days.

 I am mentioning some of the staff who went above and beyond during our cruise below.

Kivanc Ucar GM

Zafer Dal GM 

Duncan Fouche Assistant GM ****

Bengie Fernandez Laza Chief Pastry *****

Ixia Sandoval Miranda Assistant Concierge ***

Dilip Lopes Concierge 
Recep Akar Food & Beverage Director 

Rechaleen Divinaflores GM Secretary **

Elana Cornea Restaurant Manager 
Leonora Bernard MaitreD Haven *****

Darwin Panganiban Butler *****

Edwin our steward *****

 

 

[Jmustang67]

 

 

 

[Jmustang67]

Any questions please ask 

[GreenFamily]

Thank you for your pictures and port reviews. 

[Sudoku]

Was there a Syd Normans Pour House on board and did they play live music every night?

[Jmustang67]

Yes music almost every night 1 night I believe nothing 

[Sudoku]

Thanks.  Husband and I love hanging out there.

[Jmustang67]