A nice experience

Item: Noordam
Rating: 3
Author: SusanW5

Noordam Cruise Review to Europe - Mediterranean

SusanW5

Contributor Level: Deck Hand

Cruises: 2-3 cruises

Review: 1

Helpful Votes: 19

Overall rating:

3 out of 5

Verified Review

10 Night Roman Empire (Rome Roundtrip)

Sail date: August 15, 2008

Ship: Noordam

Cabin type: Suite

Traveled as: Family (young children)

Reviewed: 14 years ago

Review summary

i liked that one pool was designated to families only. the HAL club is a great. it was a nice ship but a bit too large for my taste. Be aware that service charges or tips are automatically deducted from your account at the end of the cruise. this adds up to 10usd per day per person. Be sure to make adjustment at the end of the cruise if you wish to choose your own tip and to whom it goes to. you need to request a form in the last 24 hours of the cruise only from the main desk.

Ports of call

Santorini, Greece

3 out of 5

very croweded in summer. be careful if you take the mules up to the town center as we qued a long time and once we paid 5usd for the mule we wound up walking up two switchbacks anyway which scared the kids and myself. you can get stepped on by the large animals and need to be careful. it is not organized and hit or miss who you get to take you up. i was also sent up alone with a guide to make my mule go so it took way too long.

Thumbs Up 0

Don't Miss: take the cable care and go if you like to shop otherwise the views are worth it.

Valletta, Malta

3 out of 5

take a taxi to the town center or you walk about 30 - 45 minutes up hill. okay if it is not 90degrees. the view from the ship was the best overall as it is a beautiful port. the people were not very friendly and i did not get a smile from anyone...odd. took and excurion to the beach whch was nice but 40 min in an old bus.

Thumbs Up 0

Don't Miss: port views

Corfu, Greece

3 out of 5

nice town, lots of french architecture. i took the excursion to Albania with the hydrofoil which was an interesting day all in all. visited a greek/roman port town in ruins.

Thumbs Up 0

Don't Miss: albania will be the next seaside holiday spot after croacia but needs lots of work to get there.

Kusadasi (Ephesus), Turkey

5 out of 5

Ephesus was the site to see. be sure you book a tour that allows you time to wander on your own. otherwise you are just rushed thru and around major sites. take time to walk around the market streets of kusadasi

Thumbs Up 0

Don't Miss: ephesus and go to the market streets of kusadasi.

Messina, Sicily

5 out of 5

went to Toaramina by bus which was a gem of a city.

Thumbs Up 0

Don't Miss: toaramina and the ancient theater.

Dubrovnik, Croatia

5 out of 5

a must see city. do the walk around the city walls and take notice of all of the new roof tiles. this shows how much was destroyed in the recent attacks on this beautiful city.

Thumbs Up 0

Don't Miss: walking the wall, although it can get very warm in summer the view are worth it.

Katakolon (Olympia), Greece

5 out of 5

the only reason to be in Katakolon is for the visit to ancient Olympia. this was an interesting excursion.

Thumbs Up 0

Don't Miss: olympia

Pros: the deluxe cabin suite with concierge service made everything easy.

Cons: limited hours for kids club when in port.