In summary, this cruise was pretty awesome. Going to Havana was the highlight, to be sure. I'm not sure I would look to go with the Norwegian Sky again, unless I was bound and determined to go to Cuba and the Sky was my only option. If you're looking to go to Cuba, and taking a cruise with the Sky is your best bet (which it might actually be since I don't think most other cruise lines STAY overnight in Havana) then I would highly recommend it. The POSITIVES of Havana outweigh the negatives of the actual cruise ship.
If you're going to go out in Havana, I would HIGHLY recommend taking a tour from a Cuban company rather than through the ship. They are very friendly and helpful, plus they're more economical than ship excursions. Additionally, for trips out to the Tropicana Club or other areas around Cuba, you may be able to work with you guide for transportation, rather than having to worry about working through the cruise line for this. As a point of reference, the cruise line charges $200/person for a visit to the Tropicana Club. To go on your own, for FRONT ROW seats was $190 (which you could pay in advance online). The cab ride was $25 each way. So for a total of $240, we went and had the same, if not better, experience than the cruise guests, at literally half the price. Just something to consider.
At any rate, GET TO CUBA! You'll be glad you did!
Embarkation
4 out of 5
Embarkation was quite standard, if not a bit more efficient than normal. This could have been due to the fact that rived at the port quite early (around noon) since we were traveling within a cruise transfer from Ft. Lauderdale airport. However, all things considered, this embarkation moved quite quickly. There were plenty of porters to collect luggage quickly upon arrival, and the cruise attendants at check-in kept everything running smoothly.
Ship experiences
Food and Dining
4 out of 5
Food was quite delicious, both in the main dining areas and on the buffet. In my opinion there was ample variety and not too much repetition, which is quite common with cruise ships. The only thing keeping this from being 5 stars was the fact that, since this was an all inclusive cruise with drinks included, I was a bit disappointed with the size of the drinks we were given. They're quite small, and if you ordered a soda, they filled the cups nearly to the brim with ice, thus limiting the actual amount of liquid in the cup. At one point, I just started ordering 2 soft drinks when we went to the bar just so I would have a whole drink through my meal. It was a little better in the dining room since they brought you a larger glass cup with less ice. I wish this were the case all around the ship. Definitely enjoyed having everything included though. Was much easier.
Onboard Activities
3 out of 5
Trivia, etc was all quite standard, nothing to really write home about. The casino was nice, overall, but once again, nothing out of the ordinary. We didn't use the pools, spas, or fitness centers, so I can't comment on those.
Entertainment
3 out of 5
We've sailed NCL quite frequently, and I have to admit that the shows on this cruise were somewhat lacking in talent and originality. We had previously experienced one of the shows on a prior NCL sailing, and to be quite honest, this cast did not do as great of a job as the cast on the Norwegian Spirit last April. Don't get me wrong, these dancers and singers HAVE talent (much more than I have, to be sure), however, in comparison with other NCL ships and shows, this cruise wasn't stellar.
Service and Staff
5 out of 5
To be honest, out of all the NCL cruses we've taken, I would have to say that this crew was the most friendly and helpful overall. We loved our cruise director, Joel (actually, we've cruised with him before and he's GREAT), and all the other members of the staff were also quite amazing. Food service in the dining rooms was stellar, as mentioned before, MUCH better than on prior NCL cruises (and even then I thought the service was good). When we had any issued, the staff was right there to assist and help in any way they could. We never really heard them say "no" they just tried to accommodate and help us in any way they could. I would have to rate these guys at 5 stars simply because I honestly felt that they CARED, which is big for me.
Ship Quality
3 out of 5
Truthfully this rating is based on design rather than cleanliness. The ship itself was quite clean overall, no complains there. Design-wise though, this ship is MAJORLY outdated and small. In comparison to the Norwegian Jade, Norwegian Spirit, or Celebrity Summit, this ship definitely needs to be put in to drydock ASAP. It's a quaint little ship, to be sure, however, it doesn't offer the same open feel as the newer/larger ships in the fleet. The layout and ability to get from one deck to another, ESPECIALLY during rush times such as dinner, is quite difficult, and needs to be addressed. If this was my first cruise, I'm not sure I would continue to look in to cruising if this specific layout was my first experience.
Cabin / Stateroom
2 out of 5
Ship tip
Something to note regarding trips to Cuba...you CANNOT exit the ship at your own pace. They have a lottery system in place to disembark at Havana AND Great Stirrup Cay. Be forewarned, you will need to go to the Dazzles Lounge and pick-up a lottery ticket to ensure a time when you can disembark the ship. We were NOT informed of this ahead of time and had a tour booked at 9:30AM upon arrival in Havana. Luckily, we were able to get a disembarkation ticket to be one of the first people off the ship, but we did almost miss our tour due to the lottery system. Please just take this in to consideration when planning tours and excursions in Havana.
Went last year, i found it enjoyable. Pre planned my tours and the guides met us across the street from pier. We paid what was agreed and we had no issues. Take toilet paper or tissue in your bag because some places want to charge for it. Also some places have toilets with no toilet seats. I think you get a better tour deal using the internet. Much cheaper.
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