This was our 2nd and last Norwegian. It’s just not worth it when there’s so many other cruise lines.
Embarkation
1 out of 5
We were supposed to board by 11am but they didn’t start until after 12pm. Over 4000 people squished into 2 small areas to wait in the terminal. It was hot and loud
Ship experiences
Food and Dining
4 out of 5
Food was really good. Not sure we had anything that was bad. Lots of bars and lounges. Maltings on deck 7 was a good place to find a drink without having to wait so long.
Onboard Activities
3 out of 5
The only outside activity we used was the race track and we only went once. I’m not sure how often it was open. We stood in the cold wind for an hour to ride.
Entertainment
3 out of 5
Comedians were great but if you’re not into the musicals/shows, there’s not much else to do during the afternoons and evenings. We struggled to find something to do. All the trivia and whatnot is in the Atrium which is not large enough and seating was very limited. The comedy shows were in a small lounge that was outfitted with old patio/deck chairs and plastic folding chairs; not overly comfortable or “intimate”. The chairs in the theater were very narrow but comfortable.
Service and Staff
4 out of 5
Everyone seemed nice enough. Saw our room steward maybe 2-3 times during the cruise. It’s so different than it used to be!
Ship Quality
4 out of 5
Everything was nice and tidy. Need to upgrade the comedy lounge and add real chairs and couches. The Atrium needs more places to sit and relax.
Cabin / Stateroom
5 out of 5
Little small but the balcony was great
Ship tip
Book dinner times early as they fill up fast! And bring your patience as this is not a well organized ship.
Beautiful city but we were only there 3 hours. Not much time to do anything especially when it’s 8:30 at night. Take a Pedi-cab and you get a 2hour tour of the city for $160 for 2 people. It was worth it!
If Norwegian can do things easy or hard, they’ll choose hard! Every port we had to shuttle to the town we were visiting while other ships docked in town. Maybe that’s beyond their control but when it’s every port and it takes at least 1-1.5 hours out of the ridiculously short time you have in port, it’s very annoying.
I didn’t think anything could be worse than embarkation but I was wrong. We were supposed to be the first group off due to airport transfers but everyone decided “me first” and none of the staff directed them out of line. Took almost an hour to disembark in the ridiculously long line that snaked through deck 7. No announcements telling you where to go, either.
@JC3375 We truly appreciate you taking the time to share your cruise experience with our community! We want to ensure a positive and respectful environment for everyone, which is why the Cruise Line Admins have taken the step to remove any inappropriate comments. It's important to remember that not every cruise is perfect, and everyone has the right to share their honest experiences. We kindly ask all commenters to adhere to our Community Guidelines. Thank you for your understanding and cooperation. To those who have remained respectful in their comments, thanks for contributing constructively to the conversation, even if your experiences may differ. Happy Sailing!
These views are my own and they are 100% true. This was not my first or even 10th cruise. Our check-in time was 10am. And, yes, though you doubt me, embarkation time was supposed to start at 11am. The issue I had was wholly NCL’s fault for not having a large enough area to accommodate people to wait on boarding. The passenger that wouldn’t exit the ship from the prior sailing was not their fault and I didn’t blame NCL. As for the shortened time in port, I did my research and I knew this ahead of time. What I did not anticipate, as we have never had it happen on previous cruises, were the ridiculous amounts of time standing in line for their shuttles into town. I was trying to give information for those who were traveling after us so they would be aware. I do not need to be talked down to like a child and told I should’ve done this or that and that I’m the issue. I did my research. My complaints are valid. If you feel the need to condescend to feel superior, that’s your issue, not mine.
For me, this trip and the ship was very fun, lots of things to do, the racetrack was empty, and embarkation was very good too, I’ve missed my flight but not for slow disembark (it was a little bit); the security lines at airport was the problem. I agree with you about Vitctoria, not enough time. I was traveling solo.
Appreciate your feedback. Happy you are open to trying more options and at least gave NCL a second try. Sorry this cruise didn’t meet your expectations.
Its a good idea to try some other cruiselines. You will either find a different one you love or it may make you realize that the cruiseline you were loyal to, maybe, wasn't that bad overall. We enjoy RCCL, but have cruised on Celebrity, HAL and others and have enjoyed many cruiselines.
We love NCL, we think they do a great job. I never think of getting on and off the ship as a cruise line issue. Most delays are caused by port authority, immigration and passengers trying to get on or off at not the assigned times.
I hope you enjoyed the beautiful scenery.
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