As the debut of Norwegian Cruise Line's Norwegian Escape draws closer, the cruise line is releasing more details on the new ship's dining and entertainment experiences.
The ship's culinary direction will be helmed by James Beard Award-winning Iron Chef Jose Garces and Miami restaurateurs Jose Mendin, Andreas Schreiner and Sergio Navarro of The Pubbelly Restaurant Group. New beverage concepts will include The District Brewhouse, featuring craft beers from Wynwood Brewing Company, and The Cellars, A Michael Mondavi Family Wine Bar.
For entertainment, there will be three new shows: Tony Award-winning Broadway musicals After Midnight and Million Dollar Quartet, along with a new supper club concept exclusive to Norwegian Escape, For The Record presents Dear John Hughes, featuring classic soundtracks from favorite motion pictures in a 360° post-modern cabaret and dinner experience.
New Concepts by Jose Garces
Garces will launch two specialty restaurants onboard Norwegian Escape, his first at sea. Bayamo by Jose Garces will highlight Latin dishes with a Cuban-influence in a dining room and al fresco on The Waterfront. Dishes will feature the flavors of Latin America with Spanish influences, such as Berenjenas, roasted eggplant with tomato rice and a saffron emulsion; and Bacalao Carbonizado, black cod with a squid ink glaze, saffron, and tomato and chorizo rice, among others.
Pincho Tapas Bar by Jose Garces will offer traditional Spanish tapas à la carte. Plates will be prepared on an authentic la plancha grill right at the bar in front of guests and feature Latin dishes including Tortilla Espanola (Spanish omelette), Boquerones (white anchovies with pine nuts), and Jamón Ibérico (specialty ham imported from Spain).
Sugarcane Mojito Bar will serve as an entry to Bayamo, offering more than 10 different mojitos and rum-based cocktails, as well as mojito flights for sampling.
Food Republic
A new new concept for Norwegian, the Food Republic will be a modern, upscale food emporium from The Pubbelly Restaurant Group featuring global cuisine for sampling and sharing. Menu highlights include Dates with Chorizo featuring smoked bacon, spicy tomato and goat cheese crema; Japanese Amberjack with lemongrass romesco, charred tomato and hazelnuts; and Black Truffle Braised Shortrib Dumplings, with white corn soy, red shiso leaf, and grana padano. Guests can place orders via an iPad at the table.
The District Brew House
The District Brew House is a hip, urban craft beer hall featuring a partnership with Miami’s own Wynwood Brewing Company. The District Brew House will also offer a menu of gastropub-style plates for snacking that will complement the beer and beverage offerings, including handcrafted cocktails from Bar Lab’s James Beard Award-nominated mixologists Gabriel Orta and Elad Zvi.
The Cellars, A Michael Mondavi Family Wine Bar
Norwegian Escape will also be home to the line’s first wine bar in partnership with the Michael Mondavi Family - The Cellars, A Michael Mondavi Family Wine Bar. The curated wine list features 35 grape varietals including top selections from Tuscany’s Ornellaia and Michael Mondavi’s own Napa Valley Estate. The Wine Bar offers guests both an indoor tasting room, and 180 degree ocean views at the outdoor wine bar on The Waterfront, with service provided by a Court of Master Sommeliers certified Sommelier.
Carlo’s Bake Shop
While onboard, guests can also enjoy Carlo’s Bake Shop by Buddy Valastro, star of TLC’s “Cake Boss” and “Next Great Baker.” Carlo’s Bake Shop’s famous cannolis, lobster tails, tiramisu, plus a variety of other unique cakes, cupcakes and Italian cookies, will all be available à la carte.
New Entertainment Offerings
The new ship will feature two Tony Award-winning Broadway musicals headlining in the Escape Theater. Winner of the Tony, Drama Desk, Outer Critics Circle and Astaire Awards for Best Choreography, After Midnight, which recently completed its run on Broadway, combines the big-band songs of Duke Ellington and an onstage jazz band.
Also showing in the Escape Theater following a successful run on Broadway and currently touring nationally as well as performing in Las Vegas, Million Dollar Quartet is the musical inspired by the famed recording session that brought together rock 'n' roll icons Elvis Presley, Johnny Cash, Jerry Lee Lewis and Carl Perkins for the first and only time.
In a new concept exclusive to Norwegian Escape, the Supper Club has been re-imagined. For the Record celebrates classic soundtracks of motion picture masters in a 360° post-modern cabaret.
Expanding a successful run that began on Norwegian Getaway, Headliners Comedy Club will offer up the nation’s top comedians through the line’s expanded partnership with Levity Entertainment Group.
Visit www.ncl.com