Exploring the Mediterranean with Dominik and Nicolas

Why venture far away when good things are so close? German TV favorites Dominik Stuckmann and Nicolas Puschmann, known from various shows and dating formats, sailed the Mediterranean with friends and family aboard Norwegian Escape in late April and experienced the ultimate freedom at sea on board Norwegian Cruise Line for themselves.

Check out Dominik and Nicolas' trip recap below:

Civitavecchia. 1 pm. 25°C and pure sunshine. That's how every cruise should start, isn't it? After our short flight to Rome and a smooth check-in at the terminal, our holiday of a lifetime gets started. Grabbing a bite of the best comfort food at sea at O'Sheehan's is a must before exploring Norwegian Escape in depth. From the relaxed atmosphere on The Waterfront to a refreshing ice cream in the Garden Café and the exclusive Vibe Beach Club, we soon realised there was so much to discover on day one that time really flies by before the first sail away. With a cocktail in hand, it's ‘anchors away’. The ship's horn sounds, and we set sail for the high seas!

Wake up in Italy. Then France. Then Spain

When it comes to the all-important topic of destinations, the itinerary we picked combines the best of both worlds: Top port highlights in the Adriatic and our favourite summer hotspots in the western Mediterranean. While Dubrovnik offers breathtaking views and exciting insights into the filming of Game of Thrones, Corfu and Valletta (Malta) impress with picturesque old towns and dreamy sandy beaches - and of course their local delicacies are not to be missed! Next stop: La dolce vita in Italy. After a day in Sicily, Naples welcomes us with fantastic summer temperatures. Perfect conditions for a detour to Capri and a boat ride to the island's most beautiful caves and grottos. NCL’s excursions offer an amazing way to explore more of the shore, we can’t believe how many there are to choose from in every single port. They do the organizing so we don’t have to!

From Livorno, it's not only worth taking a trip to Pisa the following day, but above all a tour of Florence - undisputedly one of the most beautiful cities in the world! Luckily, NCL has an excursion that does both! But book early as these sell out fast!  We leave the Italian coast behind us and visit Cannes, the glamorous city on the French Riviera, which has plenty to offer even beyond the Festival de Cannes. ‘¡Bienvenido a España!’ is the motto for the next day, as sun-drenched Mallorca and Ibiza, with their exclusive lifestyle, are the perfect pen-ultimate stops to this epic voyage, before arriving in beautiful Barcelona. What could be a better location to end with?

It's hard to believe, but we experienced all this and more in just 11 days on board. Crazy, isn't it? With very few sea days and extra-long layovers, there was more than enough time in every port for us to immerse ourselves in different cultures and make special memories that we’ll treasure for a lifetime!

RELATED CRUISES:
10-Day Greek Isles Round-trip Rome: Santorini, Athens & Florence
10-Day Europe From Rome to Lisbon: Italy, France, Spain & Gibraltar
7-Day Mediterranean From Athens to Lisbon: Malta & Alicante

Heavenly Relaxation One Day, Pure Adrenaline The Next

"What I love most about NCL? The vibe! The multicultural atmosphere with guests from all over the world creates a good mood that's simply infectious: On board and ashore, everyone is up for a good time. There's just a relaxed and exuberant atmosphere every day." ~ Nicolas Puschmann

But what we like most about the ship we hear you ask? It was like nothing we’d seen before! The Vibe Beach Club on deck 19 has to be up there as a favourite part of the holiday – the tranquil atmosphere, unrivalled service and great conversations with fellow travellers in the whirlpools were amazing. And Mandara Spa, with its spacious thermal suite including saunas and a steam room as well as soothing treatments, was absolute heaven and we spent some chilled-out afternoons disconnecting there after our morning shore excursions. We were able to get active when we felt like it too, with Pulse Fitness Centre, mini golf, Aqua Park and the largest ropes course at sea all on board.

We need to tell you more about the food. What can we say, it’s the best food at sea! Especially for passionate foodies like us! We found all our favourite flavours at any time of day on Norwegian Escape. With around 20 dining options to choose from, there’s something new to try every day of the cruise and you’ll get go on a culinary journey around the world just like us. From Asian fusion cuisine at Food Republic and the best steaks at sea at Cagney's Steakhouse, to breathtaking dinner shows at the Supper Club and fresh seafood at Bayamo by Ocean Blue under the stars on The Waterfront, we have rarely eaten as well as we did during our days with NCL.

After dinner, the 19 bars on board are a great way to cool down, including those along The Waterfront, Norwegian Escape's promenade deck lined with places to relax right by the water. Then a special highlight awaits in the evening: The Choir of Man! The headline show, which comes directly from London's West End, delivers an energetic performance before the evening really gets going in one of the many club venues on board!

And if you’re still in need of a little midnight snack after all that, O'Sheehan's is always there for round two! You can thank us later.

"One thing is for sure. This wasn’t my last cruise with Norwegian Cruise Line! The fantastic food, the international atmosphere and the unrivalled freedom on board made this trip truly unforgettable." ~ Dominik Stuckmann

See You Soon, Norwegian Escape!

When we think about this holiday, one thing is clear: NCL will definitely see us again. With over 400 destinations worldwide and 20 ships, there is still plenty to discover - so who knows where the next cruise will take us? And if this has put you in the mood for a holiday at sea now, why not secure your stateroom today on one of over 80 different Europe itineraries on board the NCL fleet this summer?

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