The Norwegian Escape is heading back from Europe to the US in late November, stopping in southern Spain, Madeira, and the Caribbean en route. While already cheap, the price for the 14-night cruise from Barcelona to Miami has now dropped even further. You can book a “suite” (basically a glorified balcony cabin) for only €1,412 per person. Normal balcony cabins cost €1,334 per person, and inside cabins merely cost €1,217. While the inside cabin is probably not a great choice, as you’re saving less than €200 for a total of 14 nights – it could be interesting for solo travellers, as the inside cabin comes with absolutely no surcharge for single occupancy.
All prices include all meals, as well as tea and coffee. Once again, we’d like to remind you that, unlike with other cruise lines, these “Club Balcony Suites” offer no extra benefits. They are simply slightly larger balcony cabins. Don’t let the word “Club” fool you.
The Route
The cruise begins on November 26 in Barcelona. Your first stop is Cartagena, the main seaport and second-largest city of the Murcia region. The Roman Theatre of Carthago Nova and Cathedral ruins are a particular highlight of the city. Next is Malaga, the largest city on the Costa del Sol in the Andalucia region in southern Spain, which offers everything from beaches to architectural sites, excellent places for shopping, and more. After a day at sea, you’ll then reach Funchal, the capital of Madeira, where you can e.g. visit the Madeira Botanical Garden.
After then spending 5 days at sea, the Norwegian Escape will arrive in Saint John’s, the capital of the island nation of Antigua and Barbuda. The next day, you can stroll along the streets of San Juan, the capital of Puerto Rico and the oldest city under the jurisdiction of the United States, which was founded in 1521 by Spanish conquistadors.
The last stop is Great Stirrup Cay, one of the Berry Islands of the Bahamas. The next day, early in the morning, the cruise ends in Miami.
Here’s the detailed itinerary:
- November 26: Barcelona (departs at 18:00)
- November 27: Cartagena, Spain (11:30 – 19:00)
- November 28: Malaga, Spain (8:00 – 18:00)
- November 29: At sea
- November 30: Funchal, Portugal (7:00 – 16:00)
- December 1 – 5: At sea
- December 6: Saint John’s, Antigua and Barbuda (10:00 – 17:30)
- December 7: San Juan, Puerto Rico (8:30 – 16:00)
- December 8: At sea
- December 9: Great Stirrup Cay, Bahamas (10:00 – 18:00)
- December 10: Miami (arrives at 7:00)
The Ship
The Norwegian Escape was built in 2015 and accommodates around 4,200 passengers as well as approximately 1,700 crew members. It is 326 meters long and 41 meters wide, with a maximum speed of 23 knots.
The ship features 15 restaurants and several bars. Additionally, it offers a cinema, theatre, shopping centre, casino, pool deck, and kids club, among other amenities.
Flights
Most readers will need a flight across the Atlantic, either before or after the cruise. Here are some examples of what you’d currently pay on the cheapest transatlantic routes, including luggage:
Before the cruise:
- Newark – Paris: $182 with French Bee
- New York – Paris: $197 with Norse
After the cruise:
- Miami – London Gatwick: €175 with Norse
- Miami – Oslo: €226 with Norse
Feel free to use our search form to see how much the flights would cost from/to your home town:
Cover Picture: Photo by João Figueira on Unsplash