As I said at the beginning, good ship, great ports, but all ruined at the end by positive test. Our vaccinations saved us from bad symptoms but not the rules of cruise lines and governments. I may never travel internationally again.
Embarkation
5 out of 5
We opted to be tested at the port. Preregistered online, were separated from others taken to testing area where we were cleared in about 20 minutes. We were on the ship by 11:30.
Ship experiences
Food and Dining
4 out of 5
The Manhattan Room was our favorite place, great service and good food, we ate there twice, once at Cagney's, and once at La cucina. Good service, good food at the last two.
Onboard Activities
3 out of 5
The granddaughters did the rock-climbing and the pool, enjoyed both, but no sea days so not a lot of down time.
Entertainment
4 out of 5
Granddaughter went to burn the floor on Saturday night the other three in our party were in quarantine after positive test. We attended Beatles show earlier that was pretty good, better as a group than solo's.
Service and Staff
4 out of 5
Staff and workers all did a great job till the end. After wife and I tested positive was on hold over on hour with NCL air support. You can't change your flight so your screwed Also connected to four hotels, three only spoke Spanish, the fourth had no rooms, so booked our own.
Ship Quality
3 out of 5
Like all ships we've been on very clean and cared for. This ship has some weird designs including the cabin layout. Not a fan.
Cabin / Stateroom
3 out of 5
As others have commented, these cabins are weird. Has tons of storage space, but you can answer you door from your shower. Sink is in the cabin. I get what they were trying for. Three people can each be doing separate events but give me the standard cabin layout.
Ship tip
Good ship, great cruise, unless you get covid. All the shots (3), all the early tests didn't save us from one positive test (two of our three had no symptoms). US travelers are now not subject to the rule that caused our week from hell. As of midnight last night they did away with the negative test to fly home. At the time I believe the US was one of about 6 countries that still required it.
Rome is Rome, no way you can begin to see it in a day. Even though they required N 95 masks on public transport we believe its where my wife got covid.
This gets 3 Stars because of the trip there and back. 90 minute ride over and over an hour coming back. Florence is a beautiful city but in the 90's the first week of June.
So, in Barcelona the "normal" guests exit on deck seven (same deck you embark from ) with singing and celebrating crew. Covid positive people are escorted off the ship by men in hazmat suits on deck 4 where they at least load you in a van and take you to a hotel.
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