If you’re looking for a family friendly cruise, this is a good option. However, just know that going in that Norwegian still gets some of the folks you’d likely only seen on a carnival cruise. That was surprising to us. We purposely avoided carnival for that very reason. We will likely explore other cruise lines in the future, but we would not rule out booking with NCL again. Also, NCL has tons of fees and it will end up costing you quite a bit extra. Again, not necessarily a dealbreaker, but know that going in.
Embarkation
4 out of 5
Mostly smooth. Spent about 45 minutes waiting in line due to a customs hold. After that, things went very smooth.
Ship experiences
Food and Dining
3 out of 5
Specialty restaurants were awesome. Buffet was bland. Main dining rooms were somewhere in between.
Onboard Activities
3 out of 5
Ship was fully booked so activities were hard to come by. We were told this was the first fully booked cruise for NCL since COVID. Decks were often overrun with people. Bars had long but manageable lines for drinks.
Entertainment
4 out of 5
Plenty to choose from, all different genres. Something for everyone.
Children's Programs
5 out of 5
Programming was great but you’d better be there early to get a spot. They were booked every single night within 30 minutes of opening.
Service and Staff
5 out of 5
Service was great. Everyone was very attentive to anything you needed.
Ship Quality
4 out of 5
Mostly a very clean ship.
Cabin / Stateroom
4 out of 5
Size is tight for 4 people. We had an old face mask and mascara that were not cleaned up from the prior occupants. Balcony is small but manageable and useable. Don’t think you’re getting tons more room because the word “suite” is used.
Ship tip
This is a good cruise for families but be aware, this is very much a party ship. Not as bad as carnival but still full of folks looking to just drink all day long. Some of the contests they ran were not appropriate for kids to be around even though it was the middle of the day. Something to keep in mind if you have a young family.
Tender process is horrible. We did a non-ship excursion and would’ve missed our shuttle had we not been allowed on one of the ship’s excursion tenders. This process could and should have been handled much better by the NCL crew.
Did a non-ship excursion. Transportation was no problem. Don’t be fooled by the first people advertising you a ride. Go to the legit taxi area. And, know how long your trip is and how long it should take. I had one guy quote me $70 for a 15-minute trip, he claimed it was a 40-minute trip. Be wise, do your research.
Almost every cruise ship company that I’ve been on has some party goers regardless of if it’s carnival or not. People who drink love to go on cruises because they don’t have to worry about being a responsible driver. You just have to hang out in the areas where there are less bars…if you can find an area like that…
Were you able to escape some of the crowds or noise by going out to the Waterfront seats and promenade around deck 8? One of my fav areas, plus the Observation Lounge.
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