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Private group dining venue new on Norwegian Escape, as 678 Ocean Place, The Waterfront return

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678 Ocean Place - the hub of the ship
Norwegian Escape will offer a private group dining venue and Norwegian Cruise Line's largest casino, the company said in sharing some of the first details about the ship due for delivery in October 2015.

Norwegian Escape will also incorporate The Waterfront and 678 Ocean Place, the boardwalk with indoor-outdoor dining and three flowing decks of restaurants, bars, entertainment and gaming. Both concepts debuted on Norwegian Breakaway and are found on Norwegian Getaway.

Located on Deck 8, The Waterfront offers a number of venues with outdoor seating, and the ship's hub, 678 Ocean Place, connects three decks of daytime and nighttime amusements.

Both have earned rave reviews from passengers and travel agents, according to Norwegian president and ceo Kevin Sheehan. 'With this new, larger ship, we’ve taken the concept up another notch and we’ve added some additional interesting venues and features,' he said.

A private group dining venue for up to 100 people will be one of the new features. As part of Taste, one of the included dining options, the Private Room at Taste will give groups the opportunity to dine together in a private setting. Located just below the main Taste restaurant, the Private Room at Taste features its own entrance and lounge as well.

Sheehan said new dining, lounge and entertainment spaces are in the works and will be announced in the coming months.

On Deck 8, 678 Ocean Place will connect The Waterfront outdoor spaces with interior dining venues for Moderno Churrascaria, Norwegian's Brazilian-style steak house; Cagney’s, featuring Certified Angus Beef grilled steaks; and the Italian venue La Cucina, which will have al fresco dining on the outdoor patio and inside seating with tables along a walkway beneath exposed wooden beams and greenery.

Located between Cagney’s and Moderno, Prime Meridian will offer signature cocktails and people-watching.  

Cruisers strolling along The Waterfront will encounter Dolce Gelato while inside, on Deck 8, they will find shops, the photo gallery and the Humidor Cigar Lounge. A three-story atrium with an LED chandelier with light changing effects will serve as the centerpiece of 678 Ocean Place, open to all three decks with floating glass staircases connecting the levels. 

Spanning more than 19,000 square feet on Deck 7, the contemporary Escape Casino will be the largest in Norwegian’s fleet. It will offer 357 slot machines and 28 gaming tables for poker, black jack, roulette and craps.

The new Skyline Bar, located within the casino, is an elegant and sophisticated lounge with brushed gold and metallic finishes. It will feature entertainment, a bar with video poker and multiple walls lined with ultra-high-definition LED screens that can create an array of mood-changing scenes.

O’Sheehan’s Neighborhood Bar & Grill will return on Norwegian Escape with 24-hour dining—classic American fare and exclusive specialty dish nights, such as prime rib, all-you-can-eat baby back ribs, and chicken and waffles. The venue will overlook a giant two-story screen airing sports and movies. There will be miniature bowling, pool, basketball, air hockey tables and interactive games.

Also on Deck 7, the Manhattan Room returns as the complimentary aft dining room with cool, sophisticated tones of blue and silver. The two-story spot will have live music and dancing.

The Mixx Bar will be located on Deck 6 aft. Savor, one of the three included main dining options, will feature traditional cuisine with a contemporary flair. Across from Savor is Taste, another main dining venue.

Norwegian’s signature Teppanyaki restaurant will have chefs working at 12 flat-top grills, cooking Japanese dishes exhibition-style.

Le Bistro, Norwegian’s signature French restaurant, will feature an elegant indoor setting and a European sidewalk-style dining area overlooking 678 Ocean Place.

Within the Atrium, located on Deck 6, will be a two-story video wall and The Bar at The Atrium for mixed drinks along with a self-service wine bar. The shore excursion desk, Internet cafe and art gallery will be nearby, along with three meeting rooms and a multipurpose room that functions as card room and library. New to Norwegian Escape is a portrait studio for professional photographs.

Under construction at Meyer Werft, the ship is scheduled to begin year-round eastern Caribbean service from PortMiami on Nov. 4 next year.