Definitely not our best cruise by a long shot. We likely will go back to RCCL or MSC. Regular price gets you a nothing special trip with enough minor annoyances each day to make it feel like a stressful vacation which is not what we expect from a cruise. Everything is up sell now, so if you want the nice trip you used to get from NCL for the regular price, be advised that good service and hot food is not included in NCL's regular price anymore. We also don't like that NCL has done away with turndown/evening service, which is an example of not getting the little luxuries that made cruising a cut above the normal vacation. No towel animals or silly surprises that made you really feel cared for and made your cabin steward feel like a friend. We extra tip ahead of time on the first day when meeting the steward because we truly appreciate that we are going to be cared for by his hard work. Now NCL has created a culture of everyone doing the bare minimum for the same price as the great experiences we used to have. Also pretty shocking to hear employees complaining about their employer and their workload to the customers. This happened more than once in several locations. Sets a sour tone for sure.
Embarkation
1 out of 5
Employees complained about new software and newly repositioned staff. Woman checking us in was rude up front then corrected herself by saying "Sorry nothing is working here today and no one know what they are doing." Early in the day when we arrived parking and luggage drop off was mis-marked and workers mis-directing cars directly into the parking lot instead of to luggage drop off. There were hundreds of people hand carrying our suitcases to the ship instead of dropping off luggage and then going to park as normally happens. Again "sorry for the confusion folks, please bear with us, this is our first day in this location we just repositioned from New York." Honestly, I get it, but this is a huge logistical problem that should have been forseen and accounted for beforehand. Or at least bring a couple of luggage carts down to the parking lot you just misdirected about 200 cars into.
Ship experiences
Food and Dining
2 out of 5
Specialty additional charge restaurants were great but the included main dining rooms were not as good as we are used to from other cruise lines or even our past NCL cruises. Lukewarm entrees. Didnt taste bad or good. Like the bland food you would get at a work conference. We usually enjoy the main dining rooms on cruises but not this tim
The Bake Shop
1 out of 5
This type of snack counter is included for free on RCCL ships. Stupid to pay extra to just grab a quick snack on NCL. On NCL snacks are an extra cost unless you go to the buffet and make something from there into a snack, or of you go sit and wait to order wings from a waiter at O'Sheehans. Sometimes you just want a quick cookie or something that doesn't need to involve a buffet line or a waiter. But on NCL you have to pay extra for that.
O'Sheehan's Bar and Grill
5 out of 5
The snacks and appetizers were great. We had breakfast once amd lunch twice which were also very nice. Again, a shame you can't count on food from the main dining rooms and need to go to the smaller locations like O'Sheehand or the up-sell specialty restaurants just to get reliable hot food.
Le Bistro
5 out of 5
Best meal on the ship, but truly unfortunate that you need to pay for extra upcharge restaurants just to get a good meal on this ship. Flavor and quality in Le Bistro was amazing. Also good service and elegant atmosphere. We sat INSIDE away from the clouds of casino smoke wafting down from above. We would not have eaten there if our table was in the atrium.
Onboard Activities
3 out of 5
Arcade was fun. The Irish pub has its own adult arcade area too with billiards, air hockey, ski ball, mini bowling, etc. Spa had the best deep tissue massage ive ever had on a cruise. Cruises tend to do a lighter touch to not hurt customers, but this lady really helped my painful shoulders and used harder pressure when I asked.
Mandara Spa & Salon
5 out of 5
The best deep tissue massage I've ever had on a cruise. She used moderate to hard pressure when I asked which cruises typically don't do because they don't want guests who aren't used to massage to be hurt. I guess she felt my super tight shoulders and knew I truly wanted hard pressure when I asked for it! She offered up-sell spa products afterward (as they all do), but easily accepted my first polite "no thank you," which also is rare for a cruise spa! Very happy!
Entertainment
2 out of 5
Entertainment is a shame. Great singers in the supper club and the big theater but only accompanied by backing tracks, no band or live pianist. Poor lady was singing and dancing her butt off but it was awkward and not exciting since she was up there by herself. Supper club Rat Pack singer sounded amazing but what could have been a great show fell flat because again it was him and a curtain no band. He even joked and turned around to no one behind him saying "let's hear it for the band, everyone." There was a piano player in the atrium at times but never on the big stages where one really could have been used.
Choir of Man is solidly good, but is probably more impressive to those who have never seen a staged or broadway show before, or if you don't hear live singers that often.
The Supper Club
4 out of 5
Dinner and a shower! We enjoyed our chicken parm here. The food was all brought out by course to the entire dining room all at once like at a wedding. It was hot and delicious. Singer was very good too but he should have had a big band instead of cheesy backing tracks.
Children's Programs
1 out of 5
Service and Staff
1 out of 5
Room steward was not good at time management or getting things done when we were out of the room ALL DAY. We left our room at 6, 7 or 8 to go to an excursion and when we came back at 3 or 4 our room still wasnt serviced. We needed clean towels, etc. When we wanted to shower up and get ready for dinner, we had to leave our room and wait outside because the steward was finally ready to come in. This happened 4 of our 7 days. We have never had this problem on any other cruise or at any resort before. Usually the room stewards are magicians or Ninjas who get it done when you are gone so you come "home" to a tidy place with clean towels etc. The steward took one of our robes that is a suite perk and didn't replace it with a clean one. I had to ask again after 2 days and he told me to just go to the spa and get one myself next time I was near the spa. What??? The robe didn't come from the spa its a suite perk and you are charged if its not there at the end of the trip. If I signed one out at the spa I'd then "owe" the spa a robe or be charged for it. Not to mention telling a guest to go get it yourself isn't appropriate. We had to go upstairs to customer service and ask for another robe to avoid charges. I guess the steward was spoken to because he made a sarcastic comment about that to me the next day. This is after we tipped him beforehand upon meeting him the first day, so I'm not sure how he came to be this way, other tha. The fact that he was complainin out loud to us and the cabins on either side of us about the long hallway they assigned to him which is not our fault as guests. (And yes, we did use the "make up room" lights correctly. Been on multiple cruises and know how it works)
Ship Quality
2 out of 5
Clean and well maintained but very compartmentalized. Not open and flowing like other ships. Awkward and closed off and not many gathering areas or areas to stroll through.
Cabin / Stateroom
3 out of 5
Nice size, loved the larger bathroom with a double sink. Full size couch was nice. Lots of hangers and closet space and cabinets. This room was very quiet once the balcony door was shut. Had no trouble with noise at all despite being directly above the Pour House (live music venue) and several outdoor bars.
Ship tip
We are not fans of this ship and won't sail on this class again. Awkward layout, mediocre food and entertainment. The only shops on board are luxury. No dry goods store selling NCL merchandise or even Tylenol or flip flops, etc. My sunglasses broke and my only option for replacement on board was $287 under lock and key in a luxury shop. I didnt buy those.
We have been to Ochos Rios a few times before so we know its a bit rough, but this time we were offered drugs about 5 times as soon as we got off the boat. My teens asked me "mom what exactly IS hash anyway?" So yeah that was our Ochos Rios conversation about how hash and pot are not really the same thing.
Really lacked direction from any NCL staff at all. Nothing in the daily paper or on the ship TV channel. We knew what to do because we are experienced cruisers, but we were hindered by others who were given no guidance and didn't know what to do. Honestly this could be easily remedied we a simple video looped on the TV.
*Cruiseline.com is not a booking agent or travel agency,
and does not charge any service fees to users of our site. Our partners
(travel agencies and cruise lines) provide prices, which we list for our
users' convenience. Cruiseline.com does not guarantee any specific rates or
prices. While prices are updated daily, please check with the booking site
for the exact amount. Cruiseline.com is not responsible for content on
external web sites.
Contact us
Submitting...
Need help from a personal vacation planner?
Loading...
Find the perfect cruise with weekly tips and cruise deals for as little as $30/night!
Sign up for weekly cruise deals
Join other subscribers and get the best
cruise deals of the week in your inbox every Thursday.
