This is the 2nd NCL ship we had awful food on of 4 cruises. We still like cruising but I think they should let u know what style of cooking the chef will mostly be making before u book so u can decide if u want a diff ship as I hate curry and also count eat most meats as they were so dry and I have choking issues and the same gravy for every meat every day not acceptable. Some ports were disappointing and the lack of excursion options and avavilability not acceptable for what u pay to go on a cruise. We have never tried another cruise line but are now considering just that!
Embarkation
2 out of 5
Long Lines no Seats
Ship experiences
Food and Dining
2 out of 5
Buffet had too many repetitive dishes and meals esp. ALOT of curry & unknown foreign dishes that were very spicy and tasted awful, as well as very dry bland american dishes. Alot of beef options, not many poultry, cheap ham for dinner was same as breakfast ham. NO variations for breakfast at all. Dining Room meals weird combinations and under or over cooked on most. Chef needs to teach staff to fry eggs. Also chef and his staff need to learn how to cook American food ALOT better as well as add other styles of food besides Indian. And properly name dishes as burritos are not enchiladas. Also please add other free drink options at dinner buffet. Hot cocoa tasted like coffee as hot water machine not cleaned well enough. Some Fruit unripe. Make enough of the same desserts for everyone to get some as they had several cobblers put only a few peach and kept changing them on same meal so when I went to get peach it was gone cuz they put another kind and I craved it the whole cruise. Chin Chin restaurant egg drop soup with corn tasted only of corn and was awful. Felt like the chef was cooking more for the staff then the guests.
Onboard Activities
2 out of 5
Mostly sports, casino that reaked of smoke, pool and hot tub or shows with seats so tight in leg room couldn't enjoy the shows and only attended one. Bars near events also weren't open soon enough and not enough seating at most events.
Entertainment
2 out of 5
see above comments
Children's Programs
3 out of 5
Need to allow u to sign up for program before u get on the ship, esp. if space is limited. Grandson loved it except he forgot to get some things he made at the end of the night and they threw them away but they could have saved them til the last day of the cruise forbids to still get them longer
Service and Staff
3 out of 5
one person on spa staff rude, the others snobbish and one in particular barely had her chest covered, very inappropriate attire.
Ship Quality
3 out of 5
Casino reaked of smoke as they allow smoking in the casino which is sad for those of us who want to gamble but get sick from smoke as I am allergic to it.
Cabin / Stateroom
3 out of 5
Some extra cleaning was needed, sheets never changed. Clean towels not left unless u put old ones on floor. NO more toll animals unless u request them.
Ship tip
Pick a different Cruise if u don't like Curry/ Indian and the like dishes and dry bland American Food as well as repetitive weird combinations of Asian food.
We wanted to go to Solvang but the cruise line didn't offer enough Excursions for everyone as many people we talked too were disappointed as well as they all sold out almost immediately and they use to offer more on the ship but they didn't for this port.
Not enough transportation in this port to see much of anything and again cruise line excursions mostly sold out and not interested on ones that weren't. Local Trolley usually meets cruise ship at port but no one from the ship told them we were getting in late so alot of people had to wait 45 min or more to get in the trolley, which only holds 50 ppl, Also cruise ship offered bus to maritime museum for $15 pp but they only had 1 bus and 45 min between to catch it with a cruise of 2000 ppl this is ridiculous. If u walk to any things to do in town the shortest walk would be 1 mile one way! 3 taxi's in town that don't answer and were fully booked. Maritime museum not as great as indicated. Missed Goonies House and Film Museum cuz of transportation issues.
At least u can walk to nearby things to do close by. Aquarium was great! Pikes Place highly recommend the Chowder and Pikes Place Chowder. The Big Wheel great for kids and bathroom nearby.
Booked a Excursion outside of cruise line that flaked called Seaside so be careful if company is not a member of Visitors Center. Cruise line excursions too costly in ketchikan they need to lower the prices, esp if u have kids who do not like seafood but they want u pay the same higher price for kids to eat chicken. Booked alternative excursion that was ok saw some totem poles, and taxidermy, but never saw the salmon run or real wildlife like they said we might. Also NCL needs a better place to stop in Alaska then Ketchikan as we've been to other places that are way better. NCL also now docks away from town which takes 20 min bus ride each way to get to town BUT i woulda preferred to dock in town and see and do more with my 40 minutes esp. as most places we docked were far too short of times. Also the bus ride was almost the same as the one we paid for sadly.
This was our end stop and it was nice but the cruise ship didn't offer much excursions and what they did in may stops the best ones sold out quick as we never even got to use our $50 credit per port as not enough good excursions.
We got off the ship ok but were told but front desk clerk we had til 9am to leave cabin but then the next morning room attendant told us 830 am which meant we had to take our luggage to breakfast cuz it screwed up or plan.
Unless you go with the premium cruise lines, the food on most cruise lines can be hit or miss depending on your personal preferences. If you want a boring breakfast buffet, sail on carnival. I personally like the opportunity to try different ethnic foods while on a cruise. It is very difficult to cook for 3000+ passengers and expect it to be to everyone's liking. I have sailed NCL several times and did not have issues with their food to the point that I would give the entire cruise a bad rating.
Wow, sounds like cruising is not for you. I've enjoyed 10 different cruises and always grateful for my time on board compared to my daily routines at home.
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