Our introduction to NCL was simply ok. Nothing was particularly horrible but nothing was particularly outstanding either.
Judging against our previous experiences with Carnival, we'd say NCL falls short, just a bit.
Hopefully, our next cruise aboard the Encore ups the ante!
Embarkation
4 out of 5
Embarkation was average. Staff were polite. Nothing really to complain about.
Ship experiences
Food and Dining
3 out of 5
The food was good, but not amazing. The main dining rooms had decent selection. The buffets were similarly decent but no better than our previous experiences on Carnival ships.
We ate at Cagney's one night and it was a much better experience which is to be expected given the extra cost.
Onboard Activities
3 out of 5
The Sky simply doesn't have the level of amenities as most newer, bigger ships but that was fine with us. Cruise Director Jasper and his team managed to have enough going on to keep us busy and entertained.
Entertainment
4 out of 5
We saw one major show with a 70's and 80's rock music theme that was actually pretty well done. The cast are very talented.
The stand-up comic night was funny and entertaining.
Kid Ace the illusionist was quite good! He made me laugh even more than the previous night's comic act!
Service and Staff
3 out of 5
The service wasn't bad but we felt that it wasn't as good as previous experiences with Carnival. A couple times, we had minor special requests (milk instead of cream for coffee, or a specific drink that isn't readily available in the venue we were dining in) and the staff accommodated the requests but certainly let us know (politely) that they had to go out of their way to do so.
Ship Quality
4 out of 5
The Sky is actually a decent ship, given its age. Everything seemed clean and fresh. We liked the layout and found it easy to get around.
Cabin / Stateroom
1 out of 5
Our cabin was VERY small and difficult to navigate for 3 people. The 3rd bed is a pullout that was set up into a bed the first night and stayed that way the entire cruise. We expected the steward would switch it back to a sofa during the day to free up space.
Our room seemed clean. The bathrooms clearly didn't benefit from the ship's recent refresh and refurbish treatments.
The beds were not very comfortable.
Ship tip
The Sky will give you a decent vacation if you keep your expectations in check. If you're looking for a once-in-a-lifetime experience, you won't find it on this ship.
Freeport only gets 3 stars due to the Segway excursion and friendliness of the people. (Not the vendors, see below)
Try to avoid the shopping. Vendors are pushy and kinda rude.
Hurricane Dorian caused some schedule changes and shortened our trip. We understand NCL doesn't control the weather or the decision to close the port of Miami early, but the entire process seemed very tedious and disorganized. There were a LOT of passengers complaining about the delays, lineups and poor communication. Staff didn't seem too happy either. Certainly there has to be a more efficient "Plan 'B'".
I did Norwegian Encore in May and is a totally different experience and ship then Norwegian Sky. Loved Encore. It was big, but so many options and upgraded features and spacious rooms
Thanks for the review, we have never cruised on Norwegian. I find in reviews that either people like it or they don’t, kinda like no middle of the road.
I’ve sailed on the Carnival Conquest in the Captains Suite which was nice and had concierge. But then I sailed on the Norwegian Sky in the Owners Suite and the was absolutely amazing. Not only did we have concierge but also a butler. They went above and beyond then Carnival ever did. So if you go for the cheap that is exactly what you will get anywhere. And everyone knows that Carnival cabins are bigger than any of the lines. Yup, stay with Carnival because if you’re booking an inside you’ll get a bigger cabin.
I had a good time the three times I've been on this ship. You can ask for a family cabin which are much bigger. I've been assigned on one of the tiny cabins once it was as big as my walking closet at home, but i only sleep there temporary not live in it. A cruise is what you make of it, so do your best to make it right. Happy cruising to all.
Just read your review, this is going to be my first time on Norwegian, there inside cabins are really small comparing to the other cruise lines I’ve been on..
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