Never Again

Norwegian Getaway Cruise Review to Caribbean - Western

kathy255863901

Contributor Level: Third Mate

Cruises: 7+ cruises

Review: 1

Helpful Votes: 50

Overall rating:

1 out of 5

Verified Review

7 Night Western Caribbean (Miami Roundtrip)

Sail date: October 02, 2016

Ship: Norwegian Getaway

Cabin type: Balcony

Cabin number: 10734

Traveled as: Singles/Friends

Reviewed: 8 years ago

Review summary

This ship was built to make money and not to serve the customers. Here are the reasons:

1. Only one decent sized pool on the ship that is available without having to pay to belong to The Haven.

2. No solarium where one can have access to a pool that is covered without cost.

3. Medical services are not free. I have never encountered this on any other cruise line.

4. Access to several ports were limited due to the length of the dock from the ship to the town.

5. Food was mediocre

6. No robes provided in staterooms as on some ships

7. No other ship requires reservations to see shows. That is an extra burden on the customer.

8. Having to use the key card to turn on the electricity in the rooms is ridiculous, especially as there were no obvious instructions that one needed to do that.

9. Not being able to purchase normal size bottles of water was also not a service. Who wants to carry that large bottle around all day?

10. I have never been on a ship that didn't have access at any time to the soft ice cream server. Having a person there to do this was not for the customer. It was obvious it was to limit how much a person took.

11. Having bow and stern elevators was also inconvenient. Most other ships also have elevators midship and have glass panels that allow one to look out once inside. These are not built for people with claustrophobia.

12. No other ship requires customers to give their room number and show key card to get towels for the pools, let alone charge a fee if they are not returned where they were handed out.

Ship experiences

Food and Dining

1 out of 5

Onboard Activities

1 out of 5

Entertainment

1 out of 5

Service and Staff

1 out of 5

Ship Quality

1 out of 5

Cabin / Stateroom

1 out of 5

This was the smallest balcony cabin I have ever had.

Ship tip

Don't bother.

Thumbs up

Ports of call

Roatán, Bay Islands

5 out of 5

Go to the private island only a short boat trip from the ship. Everything there was excellent.

Thumbs Up 2

28 Comments

carrirth 8 years ago

Cruises cater to everyone by doing ala cart pricing. It can be as cheap or as expensive as you want. Sorry you're taking a beating. Not everybody likes the same thing and that's ok

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kdlovescruising 8 years ago

WHEN DID YOU LAST TAKE A CRUISE??? Everything you complained about is just about the same on all cruise lines not just NCL.

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ssSherry 8 years ago

I forgot to mention, all of NCL's larger ships require show reservations because of the amount of people on board. So when I guess you say you have never encountered this you have either never been on NCL or only been on their small ships. Another thing that I find crazy to complain about is someone serving you soft serve ice cream. The reason they are doing this is for sanitary reason's, so people don't get sick. Kids get soft serve all day and they have the most gems. Personally I don't want yo get sick and I'll gladly take a cone from someone. 😆

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ssSherry 8 years ago

Sounds like you had a terrible trip might I suggest next time you research your vacation so you know what to expect. The things you are complaining about are ridiculous. First off, most new ships are green or energy savings and the power goes off in the room when you leave and take your room key. Simple solution, bring any card to put in slot to keep on or simply ask your room steward and they will be happy to provide one for you. Second, you always get towels in your room. You do not need to sign towels out unless you want extra or forgot to in bring yours to the pool. Oh yeah and the funniest thing I read was, you had to pay to see a Dr! Really, Tell me when you don't pay to see a Dr? I had a great time on the Getaway and I'm looking forward to my next cruise with NCL soon.

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noname111 8 years ago

This being your first cruise, it seems like you did not bother to actually research the experience before you headed out. NOTE: There seems to be a discrepancy between your profile (indicating you've cruised once versus your experience listed as 7+ cruises. Also, you recently joined this forum.
Most answers to your "issues" you raise are topics address on the cruise line's website, including location of elevators. It is unfortunate that you did not enjoy your vacation, but most of your listed problems are things an informed cruiser would have looked up for themselves ahead of time.

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carrirth 8 years ago

There is good and bad in everything. I try to go with the flow and don't expect perfection.

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carrirth 8 years ago

If you see a dr outside if the country it cost money. I can be reimbursed if I get traveler insurance but wherever you go outside USA will cost

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grandmarnnurse 8 years ago

Continuing---#10 the soft serve ice cream on both the Royal ships I've been on (Oasis and Indy) had limited time availability on their machines.#12 we had to show our room key card to get pool towels on the Oasis, also. So, you see, a lot of the things you are complaining about, are becoming the norm on a lot of ships. For me--I always see the good in any cruise I take--even the many differences.

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grandmarnnurse 8 years ago

Let me comment to some of your statements: #3 Medical services are NEVER free! I had to pay to have my granddaughter see the Dr, and that was 9 years ago! #6 no robes provided. In all the years I've cruised, I've only had robes offered once! #7 all the newer mega ships require reservations for shows. I had to reserve for shows on the Oasis almost 2 years ago.

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shannyboat70 8 years ago

Did you make a connection?!

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BrentH69 8 years ago

But did you at least get muster station D? And I think you know what the D stands for...

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paulandmike 8 years ago

Just got off the getaway last week. It was awesome. Didn't encounter any other issues in this post. This person really needs to stay away from cruising.

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Noahdog54 8 years ago

I think everyone said everything to this review. I asked our room steward about robes, and 2 robes were in our balcony stateroom the first evening. He said you just have to ask. No big deal. Also, we have always drank ship water. Fill up in buffet. buy a few big bottles for our room, ship drinking water perfect. Cruising is much the same across lines, we do our homework, and ALWAYS have a ball!

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tango15 8 years ago

I am almost certain based off of my knowledge of the sister ship Escape that there are two pools that are accessible to everyone. We never had an issue with the soft serve OR the ice scream station in the buffet. I don't disagree about the elevator and atrium situation but that is the direction NCL went and the ships are beautiful regardless. Lastly.. How in the world is it the cruise lines fault that a city isn't coastal? I can almost guarantee you that the city existed before the port and cruise line. If on an off chance you're talking about the tendering prohibiting ports of call.. I'm going to go ahead and point out that the Caribbean and Bahamas just got absolutely obliterated by a huge and powerful hurricane which may have created rough seas hundreds of miles away.

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maktas 8 years ago

To much complaining. I was on the Getaway and loved it. All cruise lines charge for the extra services.

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carrirth 8 years ago

2) Since I have kids and my health it means they can run around even if I can't. 3) I do opt for a suite especially if I have the kids and they aren't over priced (well some) 4) the pool is small but I'm only there when we are at sea the rest of the time I'm happy on a beach 5) kids eating is obnoxious so them being able to eat 24/7 for free huge plus. I do prefer the smaller ships to the mega

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carrirth 8 years ago

I think they only provide robes mini suites and up but they may give them for balcony rooms if you ask. I like cruises for a few reasons. 1) I'm only 45 but have a rare CNS class disease so having medical services available is a plus. My insurance will cover my costs. Not sure if I have to pay and than get reimbursed.

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healed14 8 years ago

The getaway is the worst. I went on a 7 night cruise and didn't get a chance to get into the tiny pool because it was always to full. Never again!

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Katievp 8 years ago

I know positively that Carnival requires a key card/room # to get towels and charge if not returned.

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CVCruiser 8 years ago

Carnival does provide robes in the balcony rooms... but Ive never used them.. lol

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CVCruiser 8 years ago

Wow, when was the last time you cruised last??? And what cruise line? Ive cruised 5 times ... 4 over the last 2 yrs and once in 1986... and nothing has changed in that time on carnival... and all your complaints are normal on Carnival ships.

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Rokababy05 8 years ago

All Ships were built to make money. Not hobbies.

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boldpro 8 years ago

First of all All Ships are built to make money if you like the Haven pool why didn't you stay in the Haven All Ships Charge medical fees as far as the port so concerned you knew what they were before you were going again if you wanted robes you should have stayed in the Haven the food in the specialty restaurants and in the Haven was excellent reservations for the shows are for your benefit so you are guaranteed a seat all new ships use the key card for electricity concerning the water you know the rules before you went why not purchase it ahead of time soft serve ice cream was available almost always in there was not always a person that just served as far as the elevators go next time check it out and take a ship that has the elevators where you like them concerning the key card for the towels not in the Haven

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batch123 8 years ago

Hey Einstein, all cruise ships are built to make money. You make it pretty clear you are not a cruiser.

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banaford 8 years ago

I am thinking it has been awhile since last you cruised. If you cruise again, doctors have always been a fee. All ships will charge you if you do not return a towel (and will ask for your key card if you pick up on deck).Only bigger ships require reservations. To me pools have always been too small for the # of passengers. Many newer ships have key cards to turn on lights. Since they create their own electricity, it helps with not to overburden this system. I hope you trip was better than 1 star. Happy cruising!!

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bdonovan17 8 years ago

Lol

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thewolf000 8 years ago

RC Anthem of the Seas requires the key card for electicity & pool towels.

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cruisincouple06 8 years ago

#13 stay home next time

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