mrnew2008

Overall, for a first time cruiser, I think you will enjoy it. I liked it because I simply love cruising and I make the very best of my sea days, my balcony, and my vacation time. MSC is new to year round Caribbean trips from Miami and as they get better I think they will be a fierce competitor. Right now, I think they cater more to Europeans as I felt speaking English that I was in the minority. If you are thinking of taking a cruise with MSC, try it, have a different mindset, and relax. My children sailed for FREE which was a major selling point for me as well as the itinerary locations. Since I have cruised 4 other cruise lines, my expectations are different. However, if I am given the right price, my children sail for free, and they make improvements in the food, service, and entertainment, I will definitely sail will MSC again.

I like Carnival, my wife likes Royal Caribbean, but we both LOVE Norwegian. The food, the service, the cabin, the entertainment, and Costa Maya was simply beautiful. I have only 2 complaints about Norwegian. One is strictly Norwegian and the other is Cruise Industry specific. The Ilusionarium (Magic Show) should have been complimentary. If the cruise industry continues to nickel and dime costumers, cruising may lose it's value(although I still prefer cruising over destination vacations).  The second, choose a balcony cabin on the port side or well away from the Waterfront Bar so as to avoid inhaling second hand smoke 12 cabins above the designated smoking area.  There were about 12 to 15 cabins on deck 9, 10, and 11 that the wind would blows the second hand smoke our way.  However, I think this is a cruise industry issue regarding smoking. Personally, I have been on 15+ cruises and the smoking side has very little passengers while the non-smoking side has to search for space which tells me there are far more non-smokers than smokers.  The Cruise Industry needs to react as such.  Anyway, this review is about the Norwegian Getaway, I will cruise the Getaway and Norwegian again. Does that tell you anything? The waterfront (deck 8) is the perfect covered area all around the ship that allows ocean breezes and ocean views on sea days. This is the perfect place to read, sleep or do absolutely nothing if you don't want to take in the sun.  The open deck is perfect for sun bathers but there is a major problem with towel/chair saving of chairs. The saving of chairs happens on other cruise lines as well but this ship seemed to have a greater problem with this. I love to cruise, I loved this ship, and I love Norwegian Freestyle.

I want to be helpful to those who have not cruised and have cruised before. This was the perfect, last minute, quick get away for my wife and me for our anniversary without the kids. This was our second time on the Carnival Liberty as we took it out of Florida.  I am little biased because I like Carnival; my wife likes another cruise line. We had an inside cabin on the Rivera (deck 1). The Carnival Liberty is part of the Conquest Class of ships (Conquest, Glory, Valor, and Freedom) are all sister ships. It does not have all the bells and whistles of the newer Carnival ships, but it will do for this itinerary.  It has a twister slide, an ample pool size where adults and children play, and Jacuzzi's as well as a separate pool and 2 Jacuzzi's (for adults only) in the back of the ship. It has plenty of open space for sun bathers. It has quiet areas for those who don't wish to take in a lot of sun for reading, relaxing, sleeping or whatever you wish (Serenity Deck) for adults only.  If you want the same thing with an ocean view and ocean breeze, try (Deck 3) on both sides of the ship (most people don't know about it). The only thing, one side is for smoking and the other side is for non smokers and the non-smoking side fills quickly after the 3rd day because everyone has found this little hide away. It is great for taking family pictures at Sunset as well as all day relaxing on sea days. I love the jogging trail at the top, rear of the ship. It is nothing like jogging/walking/exercising and watching the sunrises and sunsets with ocean breezes. It just takes me away. (I am ready to go again just thinking about it.) The ship has a megatron screen that shows at least one movie per night under the stars.  My wife and I are movie buffs and we look forward to watching the "Dive in Movies" as they call it; they have list of the movies/times they will show each night in the daily FunTimes; arrive at least 30 minutes prior as the good seats fill up quickly.  I always look forward to the shows on every cruise, but since this was a 5 day; they did not have a magic show.  The comedy shows were great. The food was good.