Quite an experience

Norwegian Getaway Cruise Review to Europe - Mediterranean

AndreeaJ

Contributor Level: Purser

Cruises: 4-6 cruises

Reviews: 4

Helpful Votes: 65

Overall rating:

4.1 out of 5

9 Night Greek Isles: Santorini Mykonos & Istanbul (Athens To Rome)

Sail date: July 12, 2023

Ship: Norwegian Getaway

Cabin type: Inside

Cabin number: 10417

Traveled as: Couple

Reviewed: 1 year ago

Review summary

We have booked this cruise as a last minute and the value for money was great. We already have seen all the ports, except Mykonos which we have not visited since it was too windy for the tender and we just thought we will relax more. I didn't expected to be this crowded honestly. I did had a problem with the people in and around the small pool where mostly the Americans were entering sometimes fully dressed, I've seen them with beach shoes in the jacuzzi, drinking in the pool and jacuzzi, a lot of hair since none of the ladies were tiding their hair. They were eating and drinking on the sunbeds leaving the trash there, being windy a lot of leftovers were flying on the deck. They were leaving the pool towels all over the place. We've seen some of the left behind on some ports. The food this time wasn't that great, a lot of fast food and I'm not a fan of that. When we booked we didn't thought the hours spent ashore were inconvenient, but with the heatwave and the crowd, there are just a couple of hours to enjoy the places. The worst was in Santorini where we stopped in the old port from 2pm-10:30pm, it was incredibly hot, there were 2 more ships there, so some of the people waited around 2-3 hours to go up with the cable car, some people like us walked 600 stairs and other used the donkeys and horses (which it was just cruel, the poor animals were exhausted from the heat). Climbing the 600 stairs that smelled like manure at 40 degrees is something that you will not forget. Thank God nobody needed special intervention because it was really brutal.

Embarkation

4 out of 5

Ship experiences

Food and Dining

4 out of 5

Really liked the Savor and Taste restaurants, the Tropicana was way to big and crowded. Since on this ship were mainly Americans, a lot of the food was fast food which I didn't liked. We cruised in May with the Norwegian Gem and overall the food was way better.

Onboard Activities

3 out of 5

3 stars since the pool was way to small for how many people were onboard, not enough sunbeds. Few people in private section Haven Lounge and Vibe Beach Club but the space was half of ship. I do believe the management should have done something since all the people were crowding around the small pool and bars. Really liked the rope course.

Entertainment

4 out of 5

Few shows but were one of the best I've seen at the Getaway Theater and Ilusionarium.

Service and Staff

4 out of 5

I do believe they were understaffed since the waiters were always on the run, no time to answer some questions about the menu. If you don't have any food allergy, it's enough.

Ship Quality

3 out of 5

Even the ship is new, the layout is not great, a lot of space wasted. There is no Spinnaker Lounge or Garden Cafe outdoors. But there are a lot of bars outdoors that were always crowded.

Cabin / Stateroom

4 out of 5

Really liked the room, the size was perfect for the amount of time spent in the cabin. The minuses are the water pressure and the sewer smell.