2nd time on an NCL cruise, might be the last time. If we had known about all the challenges and issues, we would not have taken this cruise.
Embarkation
3 out of 5
Time slots are ignored, just get there any time from 9:30 AM and get in line. The ramp to the ship was hot, no fans blowing.
Ship experiences
Food and Dining
3 out of 5
O'Sheehan's - Expect to be ignored a lot, totally ridiculous group of layabouts. We had to get up and go ask for service multiple times. Orders were wrong multiple times.
La Moderna - Overworked staff until 9 PM. Then a little time for normal pace, then they start rushing to get closed. Overall, worth it for meat-eaters.
Versailles - Some tables are too close, chairs constantly bumped from people passing by. Service was not consistent at all. We found the team of Josibeth and Harvey to be the best, they remembered us, our preferences and provided excellent service and after we requested them every time, we really enjoyed eating there.
Cagney's - Service was abysmal! The staff were constantly going through to the La Moderna restaurant and neglecting the Cagney's side. Orders were wrong. Portions were miniscule. The beverage orders took forever and were both forgotten and wrong. We saw staff apologizing at tables near us. Three out of our party of 5 got stomach issues within an hour of leaving. Total waste of money!
Buffet - Busy, smaller than expected, tables not laid out that well. Food cold most of the time. Beef tough most of the time. It seemed like the staff there were working hard most of the time.
Onboard Activities
3 out of 5
Entertainment
3 out of 5
Backing music was too loud for every show, it was obvious the sound engineer did not do any live testing with the band and performers at the same time. The singers had to strain to try to be heard. Technical difficulties too many times.
Service and Staff
3 out of 5
Not much interaction or attention from staff. Even 2 officers just shrugged and smirked when told of the issues. The security person that scans your keycard on the way out was extremely rude. It seemed like a ship being run by unhappy crew.
Ship Quality
4 out of 5
Crew were cleaning all the time! Tables were cleared quickly. Spills were mopped up quickly. We even saw crew cleaning outdoor areas and decks after hours in cold and wet conditions.
Cabin / Stateroom
3 out of 5
Small but ok. Directly above the tender boats and midship gangway so you hear all the activity going on in port or when tendering. On one day, we got sheets that were stained with a lot of brownish stuff. We had to request bodywash and toilet paper refills more than once because they were not done as part of the routine.
Ship tip
There was lacking and misleading and conflicting information about the alcohol not being available in UK ports. The story changed from 3 miles out to 12 nautical miles out. The tickets for the tenders were supposed to start being handed out from 9 PM, but on the 1st day, it was 8 PM. Insufficient information was provided about getting from tender ports to the city centers! Do your own research as the staff don't really care. Avoid room 9650, it is right across from the internet cafe door, and all the noise from the atrium also goes right up there. This was not a cruise for those under 25.
Abysmal transportation. Not much information provided. The fact was that if you had an NCL excursion, you got picked up at the tender dock. Else you had to go stand in line for a cab, which took hours. Or you had to walk up and around a hill to stand in a longer line to get a local bus, which only came by every 2 hours. Returning to the ship was the same. People even mobbed the bus!! Local residents had trouble getting home after work! Totally disgusting organization between NCL and Waterford transportation folks.
This required taking a local train from the port to city center. The ticket kiosks were ok and there was a local resident to asssist with which options to select. The Pearse St station had most gates locked, make sure you exit where the rail bridge crosses Pearse street or you will end up on the not-so-good part of town. Walking around is the best way to see a lot of things. There are a LOT of panhandlers and bums hanging around.
Small but quaint. The NCL excursion was way overpriced. Walk to the tourist information center and get a local tour to the Sliabh Liag cliffs, you will not regret it.
Very enjoyable! Take the hop-on-hop-off bus to get acquainted and at stop #1, walk down to the Skeffington Arms Hotel and look for the free walking tour sign. This was definitely worth doing, and you can tip your guide (who even sang for us) at the end of the tour.
Small, quaint, but seems to have become too touristy. NCL Dingle Peninsular excursion is a waste of time and money, they stopped a few minutes out to allow people to pay to use a local farmer's toilet and pay to feed a lamb, then stayed over an hour in 1 other place, then announced they were returning an hour early to 'avoid traffic', only to get stuck in traffic. There are 2 local water-tour operators at the dock, they will take you to see cliffs and caverns and seals for a lot less cost.
Take the local railtours train and bus from the station next to the pier for a nice train ride then bus ride to Blarney castle. The price includes castle admission. Kiss the Blarney stone, walk the expansive gardens, find numerous hidden gems, return to Cobh by bus, visit the cathedral, then visit the Titanic museum (price also included). Finally, on the pier, a band plays as the ship departs.
Pretty smooth, local folks to direct you, more NCL miscommunication - neglected to inform the Gatwick transfer bus driver that some people were going to the North terminal so a lot of bags had to be removed at the South terminal and then reloaded.
Nice itinerary. Thanks for the information at all the ports. Appreciate your detailed and informative review about the ship. Sorry you were disappointed.
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