Norwegian is a good value for the money and a great way to get to Havana. Plan carefully and you'll have a wonderful time. Be kind to everyone you meet and you'll receive the same in return. Norwegian does a great job of keeping everyone happy. I would encourage everyone to try one of the specialty restaurants for a memorable evening.
Embarkation
4 out of 5
Fairly smooth. Speaker system could be improved as we had a hard time hearing group announcements.
Ship experiences
Food and Dining
4 out of 5
Cagney's was terrific. We also found the 'cafeteria' options to be pretty good. Especially the open air spaces where we could get a table outside in back of ship. Service was good and good was ample and tasty. The main dining rooms were a bit of a disappointment. Service and food was generally acceptable but not memorable. Our first night's food was poor around the table. The second night we tried, somewhat better. The elimination of the 'formal' night with the waiters and flambé dishes is missed as it adds to the cruise aura. Also, we missed seeing the captain about the ship and had no opportunity to meet him or go to the reception. Normally as frequent cruisers we are invited to attend. We really had a good experience with the assistant hotel manager who was calm and reasonable with a problem one of our group couples encountered. Another great option is the free delivery of a continental style breakfast if you want to avoid the crowds in the morning. Coffee, fresh fruit, cereal and pastry delivery is most appreciated!
Onboard Activities
3 out of 5
With the short amount of time available to enjoy onboard activities, we really can't give a fair review. I did take a look at all events that were offered but didn't see anything out of what Norwegian normally offers such as the 'fine art' auctions, spa services and entertainment. I enjoy playing the slots but lost all my allotment in less than 5 minutes.
Entertainment
Not really enough time to attend.
Children's Programs
No children.
Service and Staff
5 out of 5
Service was definitely better than the last Norwegian cruise we took in Hawaii. Our cabin steward was great and always cheerful, bartenders were also well trained but appeared to be overwhelmed at times with the lines. Perhaps due to free beverages. We did not encounter any rude behavior with the exception of the female manager in one of the small bars where we had frustratingly long waits for service in basically an empty bar. All in all, a very good experience. Everyone always had a smile for us.
Ship Quality
4 out of 5
Everything was clean and well cared for. No negligible signs of neglect. Amazingly well prepared for our boarding so soon after previous cruisers departed. I don't know how they do it!
Cabin / Stateroom
4 out of 5
We knew what to expect having cruised with Norwegian many times. We find that the best way to enjoy the room is to have two twins so you can move around the small cabin comfortably. I would suggest a couple more hooks to hang wet towels and swimwear. We found only one in the main cabin and the clothesline in the bathroom got in the way of trying to use the facilities. I was very impressed that we did not encounter the normal 'sewage' smell that we have always dreaded. Not sure what the difference was but that was a great surprise.
Ship tip
Plan your cabin assignment very carefully. Maintenance was done between midnight and 4 a.m. in one of the dining rooms that prevented some of our group from sleeping. Pay the extra bit and stay on upper level floor to eliminate any type of noise. A dead end room is great. We heard NOTHING the entire time on the 8th floor. And BE NICE, these folks work very hard.
We love South Beach and always find plenty to do before our cruise. Don't wait until the day of the cruise to arrive, relax and enjoy the food and sights available close by. Be sure to plan on boarding the ship the earliest available time to avoid longer waits to board.
Havana was on our 'bucket list' and we found it to be a great way to determine if we wanted to plan on coming back. While our experience was very good, we don't feel they are quite ready for the masses to descend on them. The people were extremely kind and we were amazed at the great condition of the colonial buildings in the squares of Havana. Unfortunately just blocks away are obvious poverty. In some small restaurants there was no running water, toilet paper or electricity! We did take the Colonial Havana excursion and our Cuban guide was really fascinating and knew his history. The group was a manageable size so we could hear him. We did not enjoy the time consuming stop at the cigar and rum factory. We waited in line quite a long time and once inside, we couldn't move around, we simply left and waited on the bus. It was interesting to experience that the people seem happy in spite of their situation. We will
probably return. PLEASE NOTE: When you exchange money at the port we only received 10 peso bills. Nowhere we went had change and we were unable to give tips as a result. We asked everywhere we went and had no money even for the bathroom attendants.
We had a pleasant few hours on this stop. Everything was well laid out with plenty of beach chairs, close proximity to bars, food and restrooms. The water was beautiful and crystal clear and the staff was attentive. Be sure to explore the area and find out where everything is as it's pretty spread out.
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