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Note -this page contains multiple reviews.
Name: G. Fekete
Email: GFEKETE@dep.state.nj.us
Age: 48
Occupation: Engineer
NumberOfCruises: 5
TravelAgent: No
Ship: NCL-NorwegianCrown
SailingDate: September 12, 1998
Itinerary: Bermuda
FoodDiningRoom: 88
CruiseDirector: 70
CabinComfort: 95
FoodRoomService:
CruiseStaff: 85
CabinAmenities: 90
FoodLidoDeck: 90
DiningRoomService: 80
CabinQuietness: 98
FoodMidnightBuffets: 80
CabinSteward: 90
ShoreExcVariety: 90
FoodVariety: 95
DeckService: 85
ShoreExcValue: 85
GoodForHoneymoon:
CasinoStaff: 90
PrivateIsland:
GoodForFamilies: 85
LoungeService: 90
TenderService:
GoodForSeniors: 92
BeautySalonStaff:
EntertainmentLounges: 85
WheelchairAccess:
ExerciseFacilities:
EntertShowLounge: 80
OverallPortsofCall: 98
BeautySalon:
EntertainmentPoolside: 88
CruiseActivities: 88
Casino: 88
AirSeaProgram:
MedicalFacilities:
ShipCleanliness: 98
EmbarkDisembark: 99
DiscoNightclubs: 90
DeckSpace: 88
Stabilization: 95
ShopsOnBoard: 80
SpaceRatio: 90
OverallCruiseValue: 91
Submit: Submit Review
Date: 23 Sep 1998
Time: 17:50:11
Remote Name: 199.20.64.110
Remote User:
Comments
This trip was my fifth cruise and my third cruise to Bermuda (prior sailings were with
Royal Caribbean and Celebrity). We chose NCL to sample this
line and overall I would rate them equal to the others and a good value. I was a little
alarmed after booking when I read some other comments
about this ship on this website. This is one reason I decided to provide some comments on
my trip. I learned from talking with the other passengers
and members of our group of four, that individuals have different tastes and perspectives
with respect to a cruise experience. My comments
represent a consensus of our group's opinions regarding our September 12 sailing on the
Norwegian Crown.
The ship is in excellent condition, very very clean, well appointed, and well laid out.
The only exception is the location of the casino, which you will
walk through to get to the Stardust Lounge. Boarding and disembarking was the most
convenient and efficient of any of my past cruises. There is
no assignment of tables or dinner seating upon embarkation- this is done prior to arrival.
No steward takes you to your room, but this was no
problem. Cabin space was more than adequate, with lots of storage space for our economy
inside cabin. An attentive and mostly unseen room
steward(ess) kept everything tidy. Most shopping and customs talks are taped and available
on shipboard TV, so there's no need to waste your
time with these. Other TV programming included recent movies but news and financial
information was scant. The room announcements were fewer
than on some other cruises (the button to shut these off was well appreciated). There was
the typical hawking of 'designer' watches, gemstones,
junk jewelry, etc. at the gift shop, as well as photos and artwork. You may want to see
the very reasonable watercolours (sorry, I couldn't resist the
Bermuda spelling) at the Carol Holding studios before purchasing anything on the ship.
Crew officers were accessible and friendly - the Captain
attended some dinners. The tour of the navigation bridge was a treat.
Menus were quite varied with many adventurous selections (many of which were well executed
- some just adequate). Grilled chicken, steaks, and
baked potatoes are available at all dinners for the meat and potato fans. We found the
soups particularly good (even the consommé wasn't too
salty). Breakfast and lunch buffets were also more efficient than any other I experienced
- no lines even though the ship was nearly full (930+
passengers). Even the elevators going to dinner seem to never be full! Food quality at the
breakfast buffet was good with adequate selection.
Croissants and fresh baked sweet rolls were a hit. Fresh fruit was good but the variety
was limited. Waiters seemed personable but provide just
average service. The staff seems a little rushed - common for first seating, but we had
the late seating. You might have to ask for your iced tea
each night or for refills of coffee. Wine selections were good and reasonably priced.
Desserts were disappointing - just adequate. We only
attended 2 midnight buffets - one the 'Chocoholic'. These were also just adequate.
The 'Vegas revues' were average, the highly touted adult comedy night was more obnoxious
than funny. The show room seemed to be less than
full for most performances. The exception was the comedy show where the room was full (1
show for 2 seatings), and some were turned away. (I
should have been so lucky). The other acts were also hit or miss as seems to be typical.
Some passengers thought the lounge pianist was a
drunken passenger! The poolside calypso band and Yacht Club lounge trio were pretty good.
Amateur night was a hit with a variety of near
professional performances. The casino is average - be aware that the 'Win Cards' offer
gets you $15 in chips (3 x $5 chips) for $10 but these
must be used for table games and can't be exchanged for $1 chips. Other activities
(contests, lectures,) were okay but were sometimes scheduled
during lunch.
Bermuda is a great venue and has a very high repeat rate; this was the fifth trip for one
passenger I met. The St. George's and Hamilton ports are
a must. NCL's Majesty stays at St George's, which is not too bad, but don't get stuck at
the Dockyard for your whole stay! Walk around St George's
back streets, and tour Hamilton's forts, parks and the south shore beaches. We went
swimming at Tobacco Bay (in St George's) which was not
crowded and had a good number of fish to see around the coral heads - highly recommended.
Some people raved about the fish at Chaplin Bay
as well. You can always take a snorkeling trip, which was also a big hit. We went on the
'Bottom Peeper' for a combination glass bottom /
snorkeling trip. Horseshoe Bay's beach is popular for sun and swimming with better
changing facilities, food, etc., but the hill is a killer so take the
$1.00 van ride to return to the top. Bus ticket books are a bargain at $15 for 15 rides
(vs. $2.50) and eliminates the hassle with exact change.
The bus terminal is only 2 blocks from the Hamilton dock. You might have to stand on
return trips but then you can appreciate just how tolerant the
locals are of all us tourists. Cabs are not too expensive either for shorter trips. A
ferry ride to the dockyard is a bargain - you might even get a
local to provide a running tour of the sound.
We would take a NCL cruise again if the itinerary were right. We heard no passenger
complaints at buffets or open seating lunches (I heard quite
a few on Celebrity's Horizon in 1996). One group we met had sailed with NCL 15 times!!! I
don't know if I'd go that far, but don't be put off NCL's
Norwegian Crown by some of the other comments on the website.
Name: Richard E. Cross
Email: rcross@digital.net
Age: 67
Occupation: Retired
NumberOfCruises: 13
TravelAgent: No
Ship: NCL-NorwegianCrown
SailingDate: November 7th, 1998
Itinerary: Bermuda
FoodDiningRoom: 90
CruiseDirector: 95
CabinComfort: 92
FoodRoomService:
CruiseStaff: 90
CabinAmenities: 90
FoodLidoDeck: 80
DiningRoomService: 95
CabinQuietness: 94
FoodMidnightBuffets:
CabinSteward: 95
ShoreExcVariety: 90
FoodVariety: 90
DeckService:
ShoreExcValue: 80
GoodForHoneymoon: 90
CasinoStaff:
PrivateIsland:
GoodForFamilies: 85
LoungeService: 95
TenderService:
GoodForSeniors: 90
BeautySalonStaff:
EntertainmentLounges: 95
WheelchairAccess: 90
ExerciseFacilities: 90
EntertShowLounge: 92
OverallPortsofCall: 95
BeautySalon:
EntertainmentPoolside: 80
CruiseActivities: 88
Casino: 86
AirSeaProgram:
MedicalFacilities:
ShipCleanliness: 98
EmbarkDisembark: 60
DiscoNightclubs: 96
DeckSpace: 85
Stabilization: 90
ShopsOnBoard: 88
SpaceRatio: 88
OverallCruiseValue: 90
Submit: Submit Review
Date: 14 Nov 1998
Time: 18:54:06
Remote Name: 206.228.234.62
Remote User:
Comments
My wife and I took this cruise with friends in part because we live 10 minutes from Port
Canaveral. The Norwegian Crown was only doing 4 sailings in the month of November.
Embarkation was very slow because the Port had assigned a berth which did not fit the
Crown
and they had to turn it around before boarding was allowed. Once on board everything was
fine.
This is a very nice ship with vbery pleasing decor. Our cabin was very nice even though it
was
the least expensive.All of the staff were extremely friendly and courteous. The dining
room food
was very good and the service just right.Entertainment in the Stardust Lounge was very
good,
both the Jean Ryan dancers and company and the specialty acts. The three smaller louges
had
very good entertainment. The Yacht Club Lounge had a young couple , Jose and Patti, that
were
outstanding. Patti posssed a most unusual female voice with tremendous range and she could
sing anything. Jose also sang and played guitar. They drew a big crowd of Dancers every
night.
In the Monte Carlo Lounge, Michael Chio played piano and sang requests. He was an
exceptional
talent. Bermuda is still clean and as beautiful as my wife and I rember from a visit 17
years
before. The weather was perfect and the Atlantic very smooth. There were many activties
throughout the day and overall we enjoyed this cruise at least a dozen times more than our
Inaugral sailing on the Disney Magic on July 30th. I would not hesitate to recommend NCL
and
The Norwegian Crown.
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