I'm glad we went on this cruise, and we had a great time. But before I even got on the ship the embarkation fiasco had me saying never again on Norwegian.
Embarkation
1 out of 5
Terrible. We had paid extra for “priority.” Our scheduled embarkation time was 10:00. We arrived at the port at 9:15 only to stand in line until 10:30 when security finally opened. Then we went to the “priority” check-in line to wait another 15-20 minutes only to be told after check-in to go sit in the “waiting area” until noon! It was a disaster. Our friends who did not pay for priority were 5 minutes behind us. Waste of money and a ridiculously unorganized ordeal.
Ship experiences
Food and Dining
3 out of 5
Several of us ordered steaks on different nights. Only once was a steak cooked to the correct temperature. I had to leave for a show one evening without even getting the steak back. Frankly, the best food I had on the ship was a hotdog each day at the poolside bar.
Onboard Activities
5 out of 5
We did not do many activities, but did enjoy the pool each day. The pool area is very nice, not overly crowded as some cruise ship pool areas are, and very clean and well appointed.
Entertainment
5 out of 5
We went to a show almost every evening, and we enjoyed them all.
Children's Programs
We did not have children with us.
Service and Staff
4 out of 5
Service was overall very good, with the exception of the bartenders at the pool bar who were usually quite rude.
Ship Quality
5 out of 5
Cabin / Stateroom
5 out of 5
The cabin was very nice. Plenty of space, especially in the bathroom, which was surprising for just a basic balcony cabin. It was very clean, and the bed pillows were very nice. We had to ask for maintenance to fix our balcony door, but they arrived promptly and fixed it immediately. The balcony furniture was not very nice, but it was serviceable. Overall, we were very pleased with the cabin.
We had been to Grand Cayman before, so we knew the port has nothing really to do. We did an excursion kayaking through the mangroves, which was mediocre at best.
Cartagena is not a nice place. We signed up for a Hop-On/Hop-Off, but quickly realized we needed to accept our tour guide's offer to simply follow her on an escorted walking tour around the old city. The street "vendors" there were the most aggressive we have seen anywhere, enough to make it unpleasant. We were anxious to get on the first available bus back to the ship. Another guide was very helpful in getting us there safely. The excursion and its staff were very good; the port is just not a good place.
It was very exciting to go through the Panama Canal, and it was the whole point of the trip, of course. The canal workers waved to us and yelled "Welcome to Panama!" as we sat on our balconies passing through.
This was the best day of the whole trip. We were the only ship there, so it was uncrowded, and the beach was amazing. Good food and shopping there also.
I think this may have been the only time our "Priority" actually worked because we were the first ones off the ship (other than those toting their own luggage).
Cruiselines do not handle security or customs. I dont think cruiseline should be graded on embarking and getting off the ships. Most of the on and off process is handled by the port and borders security.
*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.
