I was extremely surprised to encounter such a beautiful ship with a high standard of customer service. The ability to choose from several dining venues with consistently good food when we wanted to eat was great for my family. You’re not always hungry at the same time each day, so freestyle is the way to go for my family. NCL provides IMMENSE value for the money spent.
Embarkation
5 out of 5
Got to the port at 1pm. Was on the ship at 1:35 pm. I preferred to go a little later and skip the early crowds. Plus our cabin was ready upon our arrival.
Ship experiences
Food and Dining
4 out of 5
Savor, Taste, and the Tropicana room (included dining rooms) had very good food quality. A- for the food and B+ for service. Had to remind servers a few times for refills, condiments, but nothing that doesn’t happen at a regular land-based restaurant. Buffet had great food quality, especially the ethnic dishes. On sea days, they decompressed the main buffet by opening Moderno’s/Cagney’s as a complimentary specialty themed buffet (Indian, Greek, and Spanish). The Indian dishes on the ship were awesome. Teppanyaki was a great show, with excellent food. Cagney’s was a nice experience. Le Bistro was also excellent.
Onboard Activities
5 out of 5
There was always something going on. Keep in mind that this ship was designed for warm weather cruising, so some activities were weather dependent. For example, the pool is not fun when it’s 60 degrees. Also, the ropes course was closed several times due to high winds. The climbing wall was fun. The hot tubs in spice H2O were outright lukewarm, not at all hot. Make sure you arrive to activities 20 to 30 minutes early to secure seating. Theater shows that required a reservation opened to the general guests 10 minutes before the start of shows.
Mini Golf
3 out of 5
The course was fun, but there was a big problem with adults not watching their toddlers and small children who saw the course as a playground. 3 different groups of adults were standing on the course drinking alcohol while their kids ruined everyone’s experience. Not the ship’s fault.
Entertainment
5 out of 5
The Russian folk show was well done and just the right length. Burn the Floor was really good, with very talented and attractive dancers. Comedian Stevie Jo was very entertaining. Dueling Piano performers were talented and funny.
Box Office
4 out of 5
Very limited hours, but good service.
Children's Programs
4 out of 5
They divided the groups by age. As this sailing had a high load of kids, there was one occasion when they reached capacity and we had to wait 30 minutes (no big deal). On sea days, they are closed 12p to 2p and 5p to 7p. On port days, they are open continuously and offer a service where they’ll watch kids if you wish to go onshore without them (we did not partake). The counselors were fun and involved (greeted my son by name when they saw him around the ship). There is a theme every night, which kept it fun for the kids.
Service and Staff
4 out of 5
Overall, the staff were friendly and pleasant to interact with. They worked well as a team, with obvious training and organization. They always had an impeccable appearance, with crisp uniforms. Overall, the ship was very modern and classy.
Ship Quality
5 out of 5
People were always cleaning. Saw staff on many occasions cleaning commonly touched surfaces (handrails, elevator buttons, etc.).
Cabin / Stateroom
5 out of 5
Well-designed cabin. Enjoyed the large shower and double-sinks. Balcony was on the smaller side, but very workable.
Ship tip
Get to activities 20 to 30 minutes early to secure a seat (Atrium, Comedy shows, magician, etc.).
Took private full-day tour from SPB tours. Guide and driver were experienced and obviously knew what they were doing. You really need 3 days to see all the major sites. You will need a visa to get of the ship without an organized tour. You need a disembarkation group to get off the ship at this port if you’re doing a non-NCL tour, booked through the screens and box office (couldn’t book in the app.). St. Petersburg is crowded, so a private tour was great.
Walked 25-30 minutes to the Seaplane Harbour museum to see British-built Russian submarine (inside museum), 100 y/o icebreaker, and various other interesting exhibits. On the way back, walked around the Old Town. Just be aware that the Old Town is NOT wheelchair or walker accessible. Lots of cobblestones and other uneven surfaces. Main church was closed for renovations.
Took group tour through SPB. The guide and driver were experienced. There just isn’t a whole lot of interesting things to see in Helsinki, in my opinion. Overall, still enjoyable though.
Stayed 2 days before and 1 day after the cruise. Very easy to get around on public transport. Download the DOT app to pay for transportation from your phone. A lot of history and beautiful attractions.
Did group tour through SPB tours. Particularly enjoyed the Vasa museum, but it would have been nice to spend more than the allotted 90 minutes. The Vasa has poor elevator access, so those with mobility issues will need extra time. In hindsight, I would have done the Vasa on my own. Had free time at the end, during which we toured the excellent Royal Armoury museum in the basement of the old royal palace (free admission).
If you want to get off the ship in St. Petersburg, you need to book an excursion through either NCL or a private excursion. We booked a private tour with SPB tours. They offer private or group tours. The private tour price with SPB was only a bit more expensive than the group tour through NCL. It all depends on your wallet. Alla tours is another popular company as well. Have fun!
We go on The Getaway on Sunday, I can’t wait.
Really looking forward to St Petersburg but we haven’t booked a tour yet, do you have any suggestions?
Thanks in advance Alex
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