Our one and only original port of call in Bermuda was canceled due to Hurricane Florence. The itinerary was swapped for a Florida/Bahamas trip. My friends and I were disappointed but willing to accept the change as we understand it’s part of cruising. Then, our call at Nassau was also canceled. At that point, I thought maybe NCL would shoot us even a small OBC, but they didn’t. The overall impression we got was “eh, too bad.” A large part of the issue was a lack of communication and honesty. Based on the forecasts before the trip even began, it seemed the stop at Nassau was unlikely from the start. Guests could have been advised of that fact. That information would have allowed us to properly plan. For example, we could have purchased souvenirs and not waited to shop at Nassau, or we may have chosen to be more active on the other port days.
This was my third NCL cruise, and it left somewhat of a bad taste in my mouth. That being said, we girls did have fun because we always do. 😝
Embarkation
5 out of 5
Quick and smooth with VIP Haven check-in process
Ship experiences
Food and Dining
4 out of 5
The Haven restaurant was consistently good.
Other venues were hit or miss but generally decent/sufficient. Teppanyaki *way* too salty on our visit. Food typically too salty in most venues except buffet and Haven.
Onboard Activities
4 out of 5
Plenty of activities for all ages. We did the escape room, and it was fun but surprisingly challenging. Enjoyed the 90s party because we grew up during the 90s.
Entertainment
4 out of 5
I didn’t like the shows as much as on the Breakaway, but it could be a matter of taste.
Service and Staff
4 out of 5
We were unhappy with the lack of service in terms of our itinerary change. The attitude was wholly unsympathetic, to the point where they were trying to sell Bermuda merchandise to us for full price when we never even made it there. Tacky.
Ship Quality
4 out of 5
Some public areas and corridors seemed to be congested all the time.
The hot tub on the Haven sun deck was frequently closed when we wanted to use it. The one time we did, we noticed it had some debris in it after we got in so we pretty much ran right back out. The hot tubs in the Haven courtyard were fine—no issues there.
Cabin / Stateroom
5 out of 5
Beautiful cabin. Fun to be at the front of the ship, but you do feel the motion more. Also there are sometimes noises early in the morning from the lines being let out or pulled in.
Great size for a small group. We were three girls on a friend trip, and the cabin was spacious and comfortable. The large bathroom made it easier for us all to get ready (even though none of us is particularly high maintenance).
This cabin is a Haven cabin, but it is not located in the physical Haven area. You get full access to the courtyard and all of the Haven perks, but you just have to walk a little more.
Ship tip
The Haven is the way to go if you want to relax without crowds and lines.
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