We chose this cruise because in late April we realized we needed a relaxing break and a cruise without the need for an airport would be ideal. Norwegian was not our first choice but was the only cruise with availability for the dates we wanted. As such, it served its purpose, total relaxation. However, I probably would not choose it again.
Embarkation
5 out of 5
Boarding the ship was seamless and the perfect start to what we hoped would be a relaxing vacation
Ship experiences
Food and Dining
5 out of 5
The food was excellent and the staff was extremely responsive to my special dietary needs (allergy to dairy, soy, melons and mango). I was advised to pre-order which worked well, with the exception of one dinner when, for some strange reason, everything went awry.
The meals at the specialty restaurants were superb, well beyond my expectations.
Onboard Activities
2 out of 5
We did not engage in many on board activities. We played mini golf the first afternoon and determined it would be fine for small children but a bit unimaginative for others. The pool area was extremely crowded and the music was much too loud for our taste (especially the bass, booming constantly) but most people around us seemed to enjoy it. We found ourselves gravitating towards quieter spots such as the Observation Lounge.
Entertainment
2 out of 5
I had read that Norwegian’s evening entertainment was the best but I was very disappointed. The comedians were quite good but the other offerings were fairly pedestrian. The “big” show, Elements, was like an America’s Got Talent level act. The Tropical Trio was quite good. However, one outstanding act was the Fortunazzo Duo. We followed them night after night and loved every type of music they played. The other group, Emily and Arvin, were awful, off key and amateurish.
Children's Programs
No children. Actually we were quite surprised at how many children were aboard because we had erroneously assumed most children would still be in school during the first week of June.
Service and Staff
5 out of 5
With the exception of our room steward, all out-of-room service people we encountered were excellent, pleasant, polite and competent. Unlike on other cruises, our room steward did not stop by on the first evening to introduce himself. In fact, we never met him or the person who, it seems according to the screen info, the person who replaced him. The bathroom was barely touched and although I left a note the first day that I wanted a third towel, it seems he did not note that as a regular request. I had to leave a note every time the towels were changed. Also one day, we did not receive a floor mat.
Ship Quality
4 out of 5
The bathrooms needed better maintenance. There were paper towels on the floor and poor ventilation. It seemed that every time I used a bathroom, at least one toilet was not flushing which did not help the ventilation problem. The entry way to the bathrooms between the Garden (buffet) Cafe and the pool area were especially vile. The enclosed hallway where the doors to the men’s and women’s rooms always smelled like a NYC subway bathroom.
Cabin / Stateroom
4 out of 5
The room was smaller than any we’ve ever had on other ships. We have sailed on many Princess, several Celebrity and one other Norwegian ships, always with approximately the same level of cabin. However, the configuration of the bed and the curved in wall, on the far side of the bed, was very awkward.
Ship tip
Only choose this ship/cruise line, if you are a party animal.
This was our 4th time in Bermuda but it’s been 20 yrs since our last cruise there. We were surprised and pleased by how this area has changed and grown.
It was long and tiresome. After snaking our way through the ship and finally approaching the gangway, we suddenly stopped and stood still for over a half hour. We could see people walking from a different exit spit into the building and yet we just stood there. When a Norwegian employee squeezed through on her way somewhere, we inquired and after some insistence, she explained that our gangway broke and they were trying to fix it. My issue wasn’t with the waiting (things break) but with the failure of the ship to make an announcement, explaining that the gangway was being repaired, and the fact that no one thought to redirect us back into the ship and to a different exit point.
Appreciate your feedback. Most schools now “seem” to be out by Memorial Day (at least in our area). Glad you were able to relax some even if this line isn’t your first choice.
*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.
