Glad we got to see Cuba before it gets closed again and we would never get to see it, but not thrilled with ship experience.
Embarkation
5 out of 5
Seamless, efficient, I was using a cane due to recent surgery and they opened lines to help ease the walking
Ship experiences
Food and Dining
3 out of 5
Main dining room was good, food good, under staffed
Onboard Activities
1 out of 5
New NCL policy prohibited ANY beverages of ANY kind in the hot tub or pool. Lifeguards were literally standing OVER the hot tubs preventing any adults from bringing any drinks to the hot tub, not even to put on the side to sip. Felt like we were being policed! Really reduced enjoyment of the pool area. Became a joke and really irritating. Someone said they were concerned about drinks spilling in tubs, but seriously, I was more concerned about the kids staying in the tubs for hours on end. I've never seen anyone spill a drink. Felt like we were being treated like babies.
Entertainment
4 out of 5
As always, dancers were awesome. Disappointed only 1 night of comedian. No adult-only show. Shows timed poorly, too, so had to go to early dinner just to make show or show up minutes before dining rooms closed to eat super late. Need 2 shows to accommodate early and late eaters. Piano bar in dumb place, out in the open, next to a bar, with only about 10 chairs, everyone else had to stand or walk around people to get by. Should have its own venue.
Children's Programs
4 out of 5
Entourage was great for daughter even though she was almost the only one there, but counselor Pegasus was wonderful with her!
Service and Staff
3 out of 5
Restaurant waiters were nice, but dining room was understaffed. Room steward took some "training" to get things right. No towel animals? Finally asked and he started doing them, said they were only available "upon request." Seriously?
Ship Quality
3 out of 5
Nice little ship,
Cabin / Stateroom
2 out of 5
Room was small for 3 people, no room to even step between couch bed and king bed, and ridiculously small closet area for 3 people, only 2 chairs outside so had to have daughter sit on table on balcony. Had to sit on couch bed to use desk for computer.
Ship tip
Bring your own hanging cubbies for extra drawer/closet space because the 3 little drawers were like size of desk drawer, super small.
Not much there. Went snorkling and there was little to no help with equipment or location. Got between island and point where lifeguard was and caught in really strong outgoing tide. I'm a good swimmer but had husband and daughter also with us and they got in trouble rapidly. I had to pull daughter to sand bar while husband struggled against the tide. Scary moment. Never did see the "underwater garden" and when asked snorkle staff, they said there was a "blue buoy" out there, but no one could see it. Really bad snorkling experience. Other than that, didn't eat buffet because ate on ship before going, thought beach wheelchairs were cool for accessibility for people, but drinks were lame and bar closest to "the action" closed at 3, ran out of margarita mix, even though we didn't need to be back on board until 4:30 so walk to "other" alternate bar would have been a long way away.
Dumbest border check ever! Because we left US and went to Bahamas, we now had to go through US customs, passport check and all. Just a nightmare scenario! Come down at 3, they told us, if you have an excursion. We weren't in port yet, but 1000's lined up to get their "turn" at passport check, CBP officers and all. Seriously? What did they think we did on Great Stirrup Cay? Bring onboard "undesirables" through the NCL card key control system? It was a ridiculous overreach of US Govt. Border Patrol, completely unnecessary and took hours and hours. Procedure and logistics by NCL were terrible. Did the little Conch Train and eco boat. Both were really fun but wish there was some time to get on/off at the "points of interest" like "southern point" for at least a picture and it didn't stop at all.
Did an "outside vendor" 8 hour excursion 1st day that was amazing and fantastic. Shore Excursions Group. Loved it. Did shorter bus tour on 2nd day to El Morro, cemetary, nuevo Habana, Revolution Square and got to see lots of things we didn't see 1st day. Definitely want to come back in about 10 years to see how much progress reconstruction is making; the UNESCO rebuilding, changing in political structure with new President and Constitution, addition of more private enterprise, and beauty of city and people worth returning.
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