ncl-norwegiansea12

Note - this page contains multiple reviews.

Name: Richard & Nancy Graves
Email: rgraves2@msn.com
Age: 46
Occupation: Computer Systems Developer - EDI
NumberOfCruises: 3
TravelAgent: No
Ship: NCL-Seaward
SailingDate: 04/09/00
Itinerary: Cancun, Cozumel, Roatan
Cabin: 6247 - Outside Stateroom
FoodDiningRoom: 88
CruiseDirector: 94
CabinComfort: 82
FoodRoomService:
CruiseStaff: 91
CabinAmenities: 85
FoodLidoDeck: 87
DiningRoomService: 88
CabinQuietness: 78
FoodMidnightBuffets: 85
CabinSteward: 95
ShoreExcVariety: 85
FoodVariety: 92
DeckService: 93
ShoreExcValue:
GoodForHoneymoon:
CasinoStaff:
PrivateIsland:
GoodForFamilies:
LoungeService: 95
TenderService:
GoodForSeniors:
BeautySalonStaff:
EntertainmentLounges: 85
WheelchairAccess:
ExerciseFacilities:
EntertShowLounge: 93
OverallPortsofCall: 92
BeautySalon:
EntertainmentPoolside: 87
CruiseActivities: 88
Casino:
AirSeaProgram:
MedicalFacilities:
ShipCleanliness: 90
EmbarkDisembark: 90
DiscoNightclubs: 91
DeckSpace: 84
Stabilization: 88
ShopsOnBoard: 95
SpaceRatio: 88
OverallCruiseValue: 93
Submit: Submit Review
Date: 04 May 2000
Time: 20:48:36
Remote Name: 1cust76.tnt4.grapevine.tx.da.uu.net
Remote User:

Comments

For us, this cruise was a situation where the whole was greater than the sum of its parts. Our overall cruise
experience was excellent even though many of the categories only scored a ‘good’ rating. Everyone’s
priorities are different when booking a cruise, and ours have changed since our first cruise two years ago. We
now place more priority on fun and relaxation factors, both onboard the ship and at the ports, as opposed to
room size, service, entertainment, and food quality. Living in the Dallas-Ft. Worth area, we have access to
outstanding food, service, and entertainment. Two years from now we’ll remember the fun we had in Cozumel
or Roatan as opposed to how good the ship’s prime rib was or how small and noisy our cabin was.

I won’t go into every detail about the ship and its activities. However, I would recommend you read the other
recent reviews on this ship and others ships at this website to pick up tidbits from each one. They helped us
immensely prior to going on our cruise. By the way, this website is THE BEST for gaining valuable information
from other cruisers about the most popular ships. By reading these reviews, you can get a good idea of which
ships will probably meet your expectations and priorities. I’ll detail pros and cons about our cruise and try to
give as many tips as I can remember.

Prior to leaving: First hot tip.. If you like to spend time in the sun on a cruise, spend thirty dollars and go to a
tanning salon during the month before the cruise. You’ll get a good base tan and won’t burn as easily on your
cruise. We‘ve seen too many untanned people taking in hours of sun on the first two days of a cruise and they
end up sunburned, sick, and miserable. Continue to liberally use at least an SPF15 - 30 suntan lotion during
the cruise and you should be fine.

If you drink liquor or wine, pack a bottle in your hard-sided suitcase that you plan to have checked at the pier
terminal. NCL will x-ray all carry on luggage at embarkation and all ports and probably will not let you bring it
on or might return it on the last night. We did carry a six-pack of Diet Cokes in our carry on luggage and
received no hassle.

Remember to carry on your video camera, regular camera, and binoculars. If you snorkel, buy a disposable,
weatherproof camera ahead of time. NCL sells these on board for 18.00, but the price includes developing for
free on board if you buy from them.

Travel to port: Since we live in the Fort Worth area, we decided to drive to Houston on Sunday, the day of
departure. This saved us some money, which is another one of our priorities. We decided to shoot for a 2:00
p.m. arrival since we didn’t want to stand in line when we got there. It’s a very easy drive to the terminal,
although as mentioned in other reviews, the terminal area is surrounded by refineries and not very attractive.
One word of caution: If you come from the north on I-45, and plan to take Beltway 8 around Houston, make
sure you have enough gas. There are NO gas stations along Beltway 8 and then along highway 225 east.
There may have been some down some side streets, but we didn’t see any signs.

Embarkation: Prior to parking our vehicle, we drove up in front of the pier terminal where courteous porters
handled our baggage. My wife stayed with our carry-on luggage in front of the terminal as I parked our
vehicle. To park your vehicle for the week, they charge $49.00. They do NOT take credit cards, only cash or
travelers checks. The parking lot is locked and secured for the entire week. By 2:00 p.m., most people were
already on board and we only waited a minute to check in at the terminal. Remember to have your paperwork
filled out ahead of time and have your identification ready. After the brief stop for the embarkation photo, we
headed up the looooong gangway to the ship.

Our stateroom: Our stateroom was an outside stateroom located about 6 cabins from the rear of the ship on
the Promenade Deck (Deck 6). We enjoyed being on the Promenade Deck since there was easy access
outside when arriving at or leaving the ports. On this ship, smoking staterooms are located on the starboard
(right) side and non-smoking on the port (left) side. Most public areas are laid out similarly.

Our room had two single beds that we had the cabin steward move together. There were two bunk beds that
could be folded down from the side walls of the cabin if needed. As you’ve probably heard or read elsewhere,
this ship occasionally has a lot of vibration at the rear of the ship. The metal base and frame of the bunk beds,
along with other things in the room, rattled whenever the series of vibrations ran through the rear of the ship.
The mattresses in our room were softer than I prefer, but the noise from the vibrations/bunk beds kept me
awake more often than the mattress. The beds are dressed to use a comforter as the top sheet. They overlap
in the middle when the beds are pushed together, since they normally fit a single bed. I sure hope they
change these comforters between cruises.

The room itself is very small and had nearly enough storage space in the various drawers, closet, shelves,
and under the bed. We left many of our casual shirts and shorts in the suitcase and pulled them out when
needed. However, if you plan on having four in a room, by using the bunks, I would suggest packing lightly. My
wife and I had to dress for dinner at separate times since we always seemed to bump into each other while
dressing. The Deluxe Outside Staterooms appeared to have a little larger dressing area and might be worth
the extra cost. The shower is VERY small, and the bathroom is suitable for one. Climate control in the room is
excellent, however hot water in the shower varied. Several times the water would go cold and then extremely
hot. The hairdryer in the bathroom might dry your head if you’re bald; otherwise you should take your
hairdryer. The room had a TV that showed recent movies, CNN, ESPN, and other closed circuit features.

The room was usually quiet from hallway noise. However, we had a family of four next door that constantly
opened their door at 6:30 - 7:00 every morning and carried on their conversations. I think having two
teenagers in the crowded stateroom prompted some loud discussions. I can relate to fussing at teenagers;
ours are grown now. About the third morning, I was growing tired of this premature wakeup call. Dressed in my
t-shirt and underwear, I stood in their doorway and politely reminded them of the time of day and asked them
to please hold it down. We didn’t hear much out of them the rest of the cruise. Maybe it was their first cruise
and they forgot they weren’t at home. Keep this in mind if you take kids or if it’s your first cruise.

Service: When we first checked into our room, we noticed the inside of the drawers were a little dirty. There
was a potato chip and a pill under one bed. We cleaned these up and proceeded to unpack. The rest of the
room was clean and neat. Our cabin steward, Phillip Anderson, cleaned the room twice a day and provided
fresh towels each time, if needed. The ice bucket was always filled. Even though the room needed a little
attention at first, I don’t think the cabin steward is given enough time between cruises to get his 15 rooms spot
free. Phillip was always working hard, always friendly, and provided instant service if needed.

Service in the dining areas was always efficient. Service on the pool decks was excellent. These guys on the
pool decks push drinks somewhat, but the drinks weren’t forced upon us. Since their 15% tip is added to the
drink prices, they are just hustling for business. I just thought of it as great service.

One thing we took advantage of is the card for pre-ordering morning coffee using room service. The cards
can be found in your packet of literature in the room and you can designate what continental-type breakfast
items you would like delivered the next morning. Designate the time you want it delivered and hang the card
on your door the night before. They will even call you a few minutes before it’s delivered.

Compared to our other two cruises on Holland America, the NCL dining service was not quite as excellent and
friendly as Holland America’s, but the cabin and deck service exceeded Holland America’s.

Dining/Food: We ate most of our evening meals in the Seven Seas Dining Room at our assigned time of 8:30
p.m. We were seated with a fun couple in their mid-twenties who were on their honeymoon. There was a wide
variety of food on the menu every evening. The food here is very good, but I would not call it excellent.
Presentation of the food was excellent, but we don’t remember anything except one pasta dish I tried that I
would call excellent in taste. Overall, Holland America’s food was better as I remember. On Thursday and
Friday nights, the waiters and busboys all participated in a line dance through the dining hall, balancing
dessert trays, flower vases, and glasses of tea on their heads as they danced to Caribbean music. This was
great! Be sure and bring a video camera.

Most of our breakfasts and lunches were eaten in the Big Apple Cafe (Deck 9 - Pool Deck). There is an
enclosed seating area, with large windows, at the rear of the ship and covered seating by the pool. Breakfast
consisted mostly of eggs, bacon, pancakes, sausage, pastries, cereals, and fruits. There was also an Omelet
Station out on the Pool Deck most mornings. Lunches usually consisted of fish, meats, and other vegetables.
In the late afternoon, we ate at the Big Apple if we missed lunch due to a port stop. They usually had
hamburgers, hot dogs, pizza, and french fries. These were all very good. My wife and I have been on the low
carb diet, and eating at the Big Apple for two meals a day was easy and very satisfying. We ate one lunch in
the Seven Seas Dining Room and it was very good.

There are a variety of foods available from various dining areas from 6:00 a.m. until 12:30 a.m. everyday.
Room service is provided 24 hours a day. It‘s very easy to eat and eat all day, and we saw plenty of plates
filled to the brim. Not to preach, but eat and drink moderately and you’ll feel better during and after the cruise.
Our only regret is we never found time to dine at Le Bistro. Everyone says it’s great. We only attended one
midnight buffet, and it was the Chocoholic Dessert Buffet. It’s impressive, but most of the offerings we sampled
were good, but not great. T.G.I. Friday’s Rockslide Pie is much better than any of the desserts we tasted.

Drinks/Liquor: Coffee, tea, and juices are provided free at the Big Apple Cafe all day. They charge for these in
the bar areas, however. Soft drinks are $1.00. Some of the frozen drinks, with a complimentary glass, run
about $6.00-$7.00. A rum and Coke costs $3.65. These mixed drinks were strong enough, as I watched them
use a full shot glass (jigger?). The Around the Town Bar on the Pool Deck (maybe other bars too) served
Bloody Marys and Mimosas for $2.50 every morning. Drink specials of the day were about $3.50 - $4.50 as I
recall. Hot Tip: If you like margaritas order the ones in the blue plastic shaker glasses ($6.95). We used these
glasses later for mixing our own rum and cokes in the room and carrying them out to the pool decks. Check
into the various refillable containers offered. They cost a little more to get it the first time, but they are a little
cheaper for a refill. To refill the margarita shaker glass with a margarita was $5.50.

As mentioned previously, NCL will x-ray all packages brought aboard. If they see bottles in your bag from the
x-ray, they will ask if you have alcohol. I‘m not sure what happens then, as we didn‘t buy alcohol at any ports.
We did go to a FREE rum tasting one afternoon while at sea in the drug store on the ship. We sampled
various rums, some Kahlua, and Jose Cuervo tequila. They offered $1.00 off of any bottle bought during the
tasting, so we bought a bottle of banana rum ($7.50) and a bottle of Kahlua ($10.95). Alcohol purchases are
not delivered until the day before you disembark, however. Do yourself a favor and listen to the numerous
reminders about buying alcohol and cigarettes on board. Being from Texas, we were only allowed to bring
back 1 bottle per person. Residents of other states are allowed more, but you may have to pay taxes. Also,
duty-free cigarettes are not allowed back into the states due to customs restrictions. I’m not sure if NCL keeps
track of how many bottles of liquor you buy from them on the ship. If we had known this, we were thinking of
hiding some in our hard-sided suitcase at disembarkation. At disembarkation, a customs official will ask if you
have alcohol or cigarettes and how much. I didn’t want to lie, and I didn’t want to see them pour out my liquor,
which they will do. Compared to our Holland America cruise out of Florida, NCL is a lot stricter as are the laws
of Texas.

Gratuities: NCL’s recommended tipping guide is as follows: Cabin Steward - 3.50 per day per person; Dining
waiter - 3.50 per day per person; Dining busboy - 2.00 per day per person; Maitre d’ - 1.50 per day per
person. The wine steward’s 15% tip is automatically added to any wine or alcohol purchases. As mentioned
previously, our cabin steward was responsible for 15 rooms. His average workday is from 6:00 a.m. until 10:00
p.m., 7 days a week, for about 11 months straight. The service was great, so set aside a little tip money before
you go to show your appreciation.

Dress: There were two formal nights, Monday and Friday. The dress, for men, on these nights ranged from
polo style shirts to tuxes. The rest are casual nights, where there is usually a theme such as 50/60s,
country-western, Caribbean, etc. The dress was very relaxed, ranging from NASCAR t-shirts to blazers on
casual nights.

Entertainment: We attended the Broadway and Grease presentations by the Jean Ann Ryan Company in the
Cabaret show Lounge on separate evenings. These acts were excellent, with high-energy performances. The
sound system could use some improvement in there. We missed the comedian and magician, but heard they
were good. We went to the piano bars on some evenings and saw adult karaoke a couple of nights. We went
to Boomer’s Disco one night with our honeymooners and stayed out until 3:00 a.m. This was a pretty good
disco, playing more modern dance songs as opposed to real old disco songs. The band Caribbean Wave
played daily and some evenings on the Pool Deck. They really added to the atmosphere.

The Ship: The Norwegian Sea is showing some wear and tear in some places, but it was always clean. The
only picky thing we kept being reminded of was that the table edges and chair armrests outside the Big Apple
Cafe always seemed sticky. Between cruises, I don’t think they have time to clean everything off in the public
areas. Other than that, we loved the layout of the ship, especially the Pool Deck and Sun Deck areas. These
are large areas packed with people, but we always managed to find chairs or lounge chairs. The Pool Deck
seating area is partially covered by the Sun Deck above, and there was not-so-clean glass on the sides of the
Pool Deck. We would have preferred having some deck chairs on the Promenade Deck, in order to have
shade and an open view of the ocean. However, there are no chairs on the Promenade Deck. There are a
couple of small places at the very rear of the ship (outside of Boomer’s Disco) that are covered, have tables
and chairs, and have an open view. The Sun Deck, the highest public deck, is appropriately named and it has
a clear view of the ocean while lying in a lounge chair. The ship is well laid out, with maps at each of the
elevators. The other public areas did not seem crowded at all, and are easily accessible. One neat thing we
saw (I think outside the casino) was a real-time electronic map plotting our course and progress toward the
various ports. I’ll say it was neat while we headed to the ports, but after Roatan, we were hoping the progress
shown on the map slowed a little bit.

The Crowd: Our fellow passengers spanned the entire age spectrum, although there were not many
school-aged kids. I guess that was due to the week we sailed. Most of the people seemed to be middle-aged.
There were quite a few honeymoon/young couples. Most of the people we met were from Texas, primarily
Houston, Austin, and San Antonio. If you’re not from Texas, don’t let this scare you off. Everyone we met,
non-Texans included, seemed to be thoroughly enjoying themselves.

Ports/excursions: Now for the real fun. We decided ahead of time that we were not going to do the ship’s
excursions, although it looked like there was a good variety. Instead, we decided for once to be brave and go
on our own. I’m glad we did.

The port stop at Cancun was cancelled. I couldn’t hear the announcement. There were probably rough seas
in Cancun, which would not allow the tenders to go to shore. We saw Cancun go by from our Sun Deck perch
using our binoculars. Everyone says that extra time in Cozumel is worth missing Cancun and I believe it. They
served free beer on the pool decks to make up for missing Cancun. I nearly believe there’s a 1 in 4 chance
the ship won’t make the Cancun stop, but I could be wrong.

We arrived in Cozumel about 4:00 p.m. We immediately headed out to do our souvenir shopping. After you
walk the long walk from the ship to the oceanfront road, the shopping starts about a block away. There are
many shops and restaurants during the next 8 - 9 blocks. We walked up the stairs to Carlos ‘N Charlie’s
restaurant just to see what it was like. It was wild and crazy at 5:00 p.m. Several folks we talked to later had
stopped in and had one or a few of C ‘N C’s specialty drinks containing 5 kinds of liquor. We heard they were
lethal. We stopped in nearly every store along the oceanfront and returned to the pier about 10:00 p.m. We
were tired from the walking, so we hopped aboard one of the tricycles that vendors use to shuttle folks to and
from the ship along the pier. These guys work for tip money, so give ‘em a buck or two. We then had a late
night snack at the Big Apple and headed to our room.

Now for the least important piece of information you’ll need. Diet Cokes in Mexico are called Coca Cola Light,
but the cans look similar to the ones in the States. Other than that, the ship sells bottles of water as you leave
the gangway or you can buy some in the stores along the oceanfront.

The next morning, we made a run down the strip to buy several bottles of vanilla to bring home. We went back
to the ship and changed to go to the beach. You can check out beach towels from the ship by signing a ticket.
We rented a scooter and drove out to Chankanaab National Park. The scooter costs $25 for 24 hours, but the
guy wouldn’t give us a break for 4 - 5 hours. I had already made up my mind we were going to rent a scooter,
though. The scooter rental at the pier is $35 a day. There will be guys offering rentals as soon as you hit the
street, and their prices are a little lower. You may have to walk a couple of blocks to sign up for the
scooter/car though. If you are in Cozumel for two days and rent a scooter for 24 hours, be careful where you
park it. We saw a flatbed truck loaded with Mexican police pull up across the street from the pier and load a
scooter onto the flatbed. I‘m not sure if it was illegally parked, but it appeared to be. You can also rent cool
looking VWs that have the rear part of the car opened up. You can rent nearly anything you want from one of
these vendors. Taxis will take you to Chankanaab for $8 total one way. I think someone said Chankanaab is
about 6 kilometers from the pier. Entry to Chankanaab is now up to $10 per person, but it’s worth it. There are
various things to do there, but our main goal was to relax on the beach and snorkel. There are rental shops,
gift shops, bars, a restaurant, lockers, and showers. The beach is lined with large straw umbrellas and shade
trees. Snorkel equipment rental was about $7 per person. There are plastic banana-peel-looking chaise
lounges available if you’re lucky to get one. The snorkeling was good, with lots of fish and coral. This place
was beautiful. We heard there were some other nice beaches further down the road, most of them free I think.
We didn’t have time to visit these, however. We stayed as long as we could and then headed back to the ship
on our scooter.

If you rent a scooter, be sure and stay to the right as much as possible while driving. Taxis and other vehicles
will pass you and they come pretty close to you. Always use your mirrors and keep an eye open all around
you. I would not recommend renting a scooter unless you‘ve ridden before. They’re a little squirrelly in the
handling department, especially with two people. Also, the roads are rough and the traffic is pretty intense
down along the oceanfront road.

The next day we arrived at Roatan, Honduras. Roatan, at least on this end of the island, is very primitive and
poor looking. It’s not civilized like Cancun or Cozumel. However, it’s very beautiful. There was a small
welcoming committee of musicians and dancers on the pier, cranking up as we arrived. You won’t see any gift
shops close by. All you‘ll see are taxis and drivers. When we first got off the ship, we saw a guy offering to
ferry people to several beaches for $29 per person on his party boat. This didn’t include any extras I don’t
believe. I think there was an NCL guy saying something about $24 per person for an excursion to and from
Tabyana Beach, which is their normal snorkeling excursion destination. I’m not sure if it included snorkeling
equipment. If it did, that would probably be a good deal. The normal 4.5 hour NCL snorkeling excursion is $42
per person and includes food. My wife wanted to stop and listen to the NCL guy, but as usual, I didn’t obey. I
later thought I should have stopped and listened. More on that in a minute.

When you walk a little further, the taxi drivers are waiting...like vultures. As soon as you cross an invisible line,
they’re after you, offering their deals. I saw a building that said ’Taxi Information’ with several guys sitting on
the front ledge and we headed that way. The whole time, several drivers were trying to get my business and
arguing with each other. One guy, Kenny, hopped off the ledge and walked over to us. He didn‘t seem as
pushy as the others. I asked him where the best place to snorkel was and how much to get us there and back.
He said Half Moon Bay and it would be $15 per person, round trip. Taxi drivers there work on the round trip
fare per person, as opposed to a cab load. You also arrange a pickup time ahead of time, and pay them on
the return trip. We tried to talk him down, but he stuck at $15. Another guy stepped in and broke up the
argument between the other drivers and talked to our guy a minute. He spoke good English and I asked him if
our cab driver was OK and he said yes. Kenny later told us the intervener was some sort of peace officer, but I
don’t remember his title. We hopped into Kenny’s older Toyota Corolla and waited a few minutes. At this point,
I was kind of wishing I had listened to my wife and listened to the NCL guy’s pitch.

A few minutes later, a young couple was hopping into the car with us. We agreed to it because maybe we felt
there was safety in numbers. After talking to them later, we found out the only reason they got in was because
they saw us in there and felt the same way. To heck with the safe and secure ship excursions. This was kind
of exciting!

Kenny drove us through the section of town where I guess the only gift shops are, and it seemed a little scary.
But on our return trip from the beach there were plenty of cruise tourists walking the street and shopping. We
drove on an asphalt road, winding up and over the mountaintop, down to Half Moon Bay. It was a very nice
and beautiful drive. This guy was a good driver and didn’t speed around like a lot of the drivers do there. He
wasn’t honking or waving too much. Maybe 5 people in his Corolla slowed us down somewhat. That was OK by
us, though.

Kenny was a good guide and first stopped at one place at Half Moon Bay that had a restaurant and covered
seating areas. It didn’t have a beach, but you could hop into the water using some steps. We could have
rented snorkel equipment there for $6 a person, but decided to have him drive around a little more to the
beach side of the bay. At that location, there is a restaurant/bar (Salt & Pepper?) and a dive shop across the
street from the beach, about 100 feet from the water. Equipment rental was $11 per person, but we went
ahead and got it.

This beach was fairly small and had a few plastic chaise chairs, and there wasn’t much shade. We met a
couple who said the prettiest beach was over at West Bay Beach, which is accessible from Half Moon Bay by a
nearby water taxi. We hadn’t snorkeled yet, but decided to walk a quarter-mile or so to a bar called Foster’s,
which runs a water taxi. A water taxi is nothing more than a 14 - 18 foot narrow fishing boat with a motor. Along
the way, locals will offer you a water taxi to anywhere. It’s probably safe, as long as they pick you up. I’m fairly
sure they would since they could use the money. We were a little apprehensive, so we declined them and
continued the walk to Foster’s. The guy there said he’d take four of us round trip for $15. We gave him $10
and told him we’d pay the rest on the return trip. We arranged for a pickup time. He said he’d come by every
once in a while to see if we were ready to return to Half Moon Bay. We then headed for West Bay Beach.

It was definitely a prettier beach. I think it’s actually connected to Tabyana beach, where NCL takes their
excursions. I may be wrong, but access to Tabyana might be restricted to NCL excursion folks only. West Bay
Beach had some straw huts on wood decks. We asked the guy at the nearby bar if it was OK to use the huts.
He said it was OK as long as we gave him some business. This beach was long and beautiful, with very few
people. The snorkeling was just OK. There was mostly grassy stuff on the bottom and very few fish. I think we
didn’t go out far enough to see any coral. I saw one small stingray, which was neat. The water was very clear,
however. It seemed like the nearby bar was barely open and had trouble breaking a $10 dollar bill from a drink
purchase. By the way, most of these places will give you change in American dollars. Hot tip: Keep a good
supply of ones and fives, available at the ship’s purser desk, for tips and situations like these.

We snorkeled awhile and then asked the bar guy where the best snorkeling was. He said Half Moon Bay,
which is where we came from in the first place. However, we had not seen the water taxi driver from Foster’s
since he dropped us off. A few feet down the beach, we saw the party boat that had been docked by the NCL
Sea as we got off the ship. We talked to the captain and he offered to take us over to Half Moon Bay in a few
minutes, after his party boarded, for $2 a person. We agreed, and headed back.

We then got to snorkel at Half Moon Bay, and realized we probably should have stayed there in the first place.
It had the same grassy stuff on the bottom, but at about 100 yards from shore, in the middle of the bay, huge
rock and coral formations rise up from the bottom to about a foot from the surface of the water. We had to
snorkel around and through the coral/rock formations. This was awesome. Got some great pictures, and saw
another small stingray, and more fish. We bought a Coke and a Honduran beer at the upstairs bar across the
street from the beach. We never really had a problem with the insects that you hear about. I think I was bitten
a couple of times at our very first stop at Half Moon Bay. We talked to some others that did have some
problem with insects (sand fleas?). Be sure and take some insect repellent if you go to a beach in Roatan, just
in case. The ship had plenty of repellent in the drug store for $8.95 a can (must have been good stuff).

As a side note, Roatan’s time is an hour different than the ship’s time. We were reminded by NCL as we
arrived at Roatan to maintain ship’s time, which had not changed time zones since we left Houston. Keep this
in mind as you arrange a pickup time with your driver. If I remember correctly, if it was 2:00 Roatan time, it was
3:00 ship’s time.

As we had arranged with Kenny, he was waiting for us at 2:30. We turned in our snorkel gear and headed
back. Kenny was going to give us the scenic tour over some gravel roads, but his car had a low tire and we
told him not to try it. Some of Kenny’s stories may or may not have been true during the ride, but we had no
reason to doubt him. Kenny asked if we wanted some Honduran coffee (ground beans) and we said yes. He
stopped at a rundown looking house, but brought me 3 pounds of Honduran coffee at $3 per pound. It smells
and tastes like coffee, anyway (just a joke).

We came back through town again where the shops were located. There were some kids selling large shells
when you first get off the ship, but walk a little into town and you’ll get a much better deal. Overall, I think we
had a much more exciting and daring adventure than if we had just taken the NCL excursion. We’ll always
remember the trip to Roatan, just because of the unknown, the uncertainty, and the fly by the seat of your
pants feeling.

I think you‘re pretty safe in Roatan. Something tells me that no one there wants to mess things up, because
NCL tourists are a good source of income for these folks. As long as you have some money on you, you can
get anywhere by taxi or water taxi, or whatever. If a local kid cleans off your chaise lounge on the beach or if
the welcoming committee dances with you, give them a buck or two. We’re just grateful we live in North
America and have the luxury of going on a cruise occasionally. If you are adventurous, look up Kenny and
take his taxi. I told him I was putting his name out on the Internet and he laughed and thanked me. He may not
have been the best guy there, but we felt safe and I would bet there were plenty of worse drivers.

Sailing Home: The last two days are sea days. On Friday, when we were between Cuba and Mexico, we saw
schools of flying fish that would dart away from the ship. We also saw dolphins that were jumping and racing
the ship. Too cool. We primarily relaxed on the Pool and Sun decks, lounging on the last night until 6:30 p.m.
Listening to Caribbean Wave, watching people, and watching the ocean roll by was enough entertainment.
When we saw the drilling rigs in the Gulf waters, we knew we were getting close to home.

Disembarkation: The day prior to disembarkation, NCL places a bin full of colored baggage tags on Deck 4 by
the Crystal Court. If you are flying home, you take colored tags according to your flight time. If you’re driving,
the other colored tags correspond to the deck of your stateroom. You place these tags on your checked
baggage the night before disembarkation (by 2:00 a.m. disembarkation day actually) and place your bags in
the hall outside your room. On disembarkation day, you are asked to be completely removed from your
stateroom by 8:30 a.m. We had time to eat a quickly served breakfast in the dining room around 7:45 a.m. We
went back to our room, gathered our carry on items, and headed upstairs to the Pool Deck to wait.

The people with colored tags designating flights are called to disembark first. Then they call out the remaining
colors designating the decks. We sat outside of the Big Apple Cafe and talked to other passengers while
waiting. We were the last deck called, practically the last ones off the ship, so we didn’t exit the ship until about
11:00 a.m. When our color was called, we took our time, because we knew this was the end. The workers on
board were hurriedly preparing for the next batch of cruisers who would be embarking in a couple of hours.
We found our bags in the terminal and a porter carted them all the way out to our vehicle in the parking lot.

Conclusion: Would we do this cruise again? We would leave next Sunday if we could. We really had a great
time. Before we left, we knew the rooms were small and the food was not the greatest. We obtained a great
rate for this cruise, so that made up for any of the negatives we encountered and only increased the positives.
Unfortunately, NCL is pulling this ship from Houston and taking it to Florida in the near future. We haven’t
heard if they intend to replace it with another ship sailing from Houston. Even though this ship may not
compare to some of the newer, bigger ships in many areas, its comfortable size and great layout make up for
any shortcomings. The variation in ports also made this a very exciting and memorable experience.

Name: Laurilee Shennett
Email: lshennett@tec.nh.us
Age: 34
Occupation: Admissions Recuriter
NumberOfCruises: 1
TravelAgent: No
Ship: NCL-Seaward
SailingDate: April 22, 2000
Itinerary: Cancun, Cozumel, Roatan
Cabin: 3316-K
FoodDiningRoom: 90
CruiseDirector: 100
CabinComfort: 90
FoodRoomService:
CruiseStaff: 90
CabinAmenities: 90
FoodLidoDeck:
DiningRoomService: 90
CabinQuietness: 100
FoodMidnightBuffets: 90
CabinSteward: 90
ShoreExcVariety:
FoodVariety: 90
DeckService: 90
ShoreExcValue:
GoodForHoneymoon:
CasinoStaff:
PrivateIsland:
GoodForFamilies:
LoungeService: 90
TenderService:
GoodForSeniors:
BeautySalonStaff:
EntertainmentLounges: 90
WheelchairAccess:
ExerciseFacilities:
EntertShowLounge: 95
OverallPortsofCall: 98
BeautySalon:
EntertainmentPoolside: 95
CruiseActivities: 90
Casino:
AirSeaProgram:
MedicalFacilities:
ShipCleanliness: 90
EmbarkDisembark: 85
DiscoNightclubs:
DeckSpace: 85
Stabilization: 90
ShopsOnBoard:
SpaceRatio: 85
OverallCruiseValue: 100
Submit: Submit Review
Date: 05 May 2000
Time: 15:29:24
Remote Name: gateway.tec.nh.us
Remote User:

Comments

This was our first cruise. We had some concerns because of the reviews that we had read on this site and
others. I am glad to report that they were all for naught. We had a trouble free experience boarding--from the
NCL representative at the gate meeting our plane and escorting us to the transfer area--all went well. We
were on board and having our first drink on deck in no time at all. We were late leaving port but we didn't
mind. It was rough the first night and it was very difficult to walk without tipping over. The next day was calmer
and we enjoyed a day at the pool. As was mentioned in most of the reviews we were informed the next
morning during breakfast that we would be skipping the port at Cancun and go directly to Cozumel. We didn't
mind at all, as we had a notion that this might happen and we wanted to snorkel at that port anyway. The one
down side being that upon returning home and calling NCL to request a refund of the port charges for Cancun
we were told that this was not to be...something about it not being NCL's fault. Anyway, we got to Cozumel
early and had to dock at a site further away from the shopping area. This resulted in the need for a taxi to
shopping and we had to pay $5 each way to get to and from the main shopping area. We went shopping and
although we had a great time, we were unnerved at the actions of the shop keepers. It was literally worse than
a fair, "hey, mister, come in to my shop"....on and on and on. It made me uncomfortable but we shopped
anyway. We got some good deals and did quite a lot of haggling. When we returned to the ship it looked
absolutely beautiful glistening in the night, all lit up. Returned to ship and had dinner, which by the way were
all fabulous. All of our meals were great, even The Big Apple Cafe, which we had heard exactly the opposite of
on this site. The waiters were wonderful, in fact they waited on us so much that it made me feel a little
uncomfortable. For instance, my husband and I are very close and at times will share a drink with our dinner,
and one night on the cruise I didn't have any ice in my water but my hubby did in his iced tea...so I had a bit of
his ice and the Maitre D called our bus boy aside and informed him to get me some water, which he did but he
asked me if I wanted iced tea--a little snidely because he had gotten in trouble for my empty glass--and we
informed him that I enjoy sharing my husband's ice. No problem to us, but it became one due to the over
protective service of the waiters. It made me feel uncomfortable and I think they should consider letting people
be and just going with the flow a little more...enough said. We went to Chankanaab park the next day for $8
each way taxi ride and $10 each to enter. We rented snorkeling equipment for $10 each and found a spot at
the far end of the beach with no other people around. There were stairs there to enter the sea and we started
out. Let me tell you, this was my first attempt at snorkeling and WOW!!! The moment I put my face into the
water there were the most amazing vibrant plants and fish, I never thought about all of those things being
under the water when I am swimming before. It was fabulous. We spent the day and then went to the ship to
shower and do some last minute shopping before the boat set sail. We did go to The Iguana Factory and slide
into the place yelling "Iguana dacquiri" and proceeded to get a free drink. We also went to Pancho's backyard
and had a lovey lunch/dinner with nice mexican music provided by two lovely gentlemen. The absolute best
Margaritta I've ever had! The next day I must say that Roatan is our favorite. We got a taxi for $20 round trip,
but be sure to haggle with them or it'll be more. He took us to Fantasy Island and we paid $10 each to get in
(new thing) and then $20 for our snorkeling equipment rental (plus $20 each for a security deposit) we spent
the day snorkeling and even saw a plane crash that was left in the water (30 feet deep) and I have pictures of
it from the snorkeling surface. Then we went to the main beach to get our free drink (with your entrance ticket)
and lay in the sun. There are nice lounge chairs with bamboo umbrellas you can use to provide shade if you
want, and waiters that come to your chair to bring your drinks. I told my husband that this must be Heaven. It
must be just like this. This was the highlight of our trip. We then returned to the ship and cleaned up. We
ventured to the town and I had my hair braided for $25 (haggled price) not much cheaper than Cozumel like it
said on here. We had beers for $1 and got harrassed by the town people to buy this or that and the small
children trying to sell us shells or Hondurus money. The place is poor, no doubt, but these people seem
happy. That's what struck us as amazing. We would love to return here and bring the family. What a beautiful
place! We enjoyed our last two days on ship. Just relaxing and swimming and eating and sunning. This cruize
was well beyond my expectations. I was leary after reading negative reviews and for no reason. It was clean,
quiet, great food, and wonderful ports of call. I would recommend it to my family and friends and we are trying
to go again before the Sea pulls out of Houston at the years end. If you are lucky enough to be able to do it I
say, Go and Enjoy.,

Name: Karen Webb
Email: yogibear@goes.com
Age: 40
Occupation: Registered Nurse
NumberOfCruises: 4
TravelAgent: No
Ship: NCL-Seaward
SailingDate: 4/23/00
Itinerary: Texaribbean
Cabin: 8001: Deluxe Outside Suite
FoodDiningRoom: 95
CruiseDirector: 95
CabinComfort: 95
FoodRoomService: 90
CruiseStaff: 95
CabinAmenities: 100
FoodLidoDeck: 90
DiningRoomService: 100
CabinQuietness: 100
FoodMidnightBuffets: 90
CabinSteward: 100
ShoreExcVariety: 95
FoodVariety: 90
DeckService: 90
ShoreExcValue: 90
GoodForHoneymoon:
CasinoStaff: 100
PrivateIsland:
GoodForFamilies: 90
LoungeService: 90
TenderService:
GoodForSeniors:
BeautySalonStaff:
EntertainmentLounges: 90
WheelchairAccess:
ExerciseFacilities:
EntertShowLounge: 90
OverallPortsofCall: 95
BeautySalon:
EntertainmentPoolside: 90
CruiseActivities: 95
Casino: 100
AirSeaProgram:
MedicalFacilities:
ShipCleanliness: 95
EmbarkDisembark: 100
DiscoNightclubs:
DeckSpace: 90
Stabilization: 90
ShopsOnBoard: 95
SpaceRatio: 90
OverallCruiseValue: 95
Submit: Submit Review
Date: 09 May 2000
Time: 13:06:36
Remote Name: a212.goes.com
Remote User:

Comments

My daughter,Becky(12) and I flew grom Newark,NJ to Houston,Texas Easter Sunday for our much-needed
vacation. The flight was a little bumpy but otherwise enjoyable. We were able to fly First Class on Continental
due to my frequent flyer miles. We met our limo driver down at Baggage Claim. Our suitcases were already
there except for one. It was nerve-wracking for about 1/2 hour until the bag was located on another carousel.
My feelings were: if that is the only thing that goes wrong, this will be my best vacation. This was found to be
true by the end of the week. The ride from the airport to the pier was uneventful. Someone had told me that if
you were given $10 for every refinery you passed, you could pay for your cruise. This is indeed true. We got
to the pier shortly after 10:30am. We were able to put our bags into the luggage bin right away for later
delivery to the cabin. Check-in started around 11:30am.

Since I've cruised with NCL before, we were able to
board the ship at 12noon. Becky and I were the 1st Latitudes members to board. Lunch was in the Big Apple
Cafe on Deck 8. Our cabin was ready at 12:30 just as we finished eating. The cabin was located right under
the Bridge. I never heard any noise. We had windows looking out over the bow of the ship and on the port
side. They need more drawers in the cabins but I thought ahead and brought a closet organizer. There is
plenty of room under the beds for the suitcases. We were assigned to a table for 10 in the Four Seasons
Dining Room. After the first dinner,I was able to secure a table for 2. This was the best move I ever made as
we were seated next to a little girl(5) from LA who became Becky's new friend for the rest of the trip. Marcho,
our waiter, was one of the best I have ever had. He took pride in his work. There was never a mix-up in our
food order. We were at Table#152. Felix, our busboy, only had to ask the first meal at the new table what we
wanted to drink(ice tea). After that, our glasses were never empty all week.

We did eat in Le Bistro one
night(Thursday). The chocolate fondue is to die for. I enjoyed the food more than Becky. She ate off the
children's menu a couple of times. You could always find something on the menu to your liking. Our Cabin
Stewardess, Michelle, was excellent. We saw her a couple of times in the hallway on our way to/from the room.
She always greeted us by name. Our room was always spotless. We were never asked to leave the room so it
could be done. A couple of days we slepted in and ordered room service for breakfast. I always let her know
when we were leaving those days as it was close to 11am. She was the only one I tipped more than required.
The entertainment onboard was typical. The JeanAnn Ryan dancers were super. We saw Grease Thursday
evening. Broadway was earlier in the week and was very good too. There was a singer, Karen Saunders, who
I can not say enough good things about. I wish she had done more than one show. I'm trying to get tickets to
see her when she comes to NYC.

We missed the stop in Cancun as the seas were too high for the tenders to
come out. We arrived in Cozumel at 4:30pm Tuesday instead of the next morning. Becky and I went shopping
that afternoon and had dinner at the Hard Rock Cafe. It was really cool as they had poeple dancing on the
bar. Wednesday, we took the ship's Horseback Riding trip to Rancho BuenaVista. We had been to the ranch
last August with Commodore so we wanted to return. Roatan was our next stop. The island is very poor but
very beautiful. I want to return on another ship some day. We went to Tabayana Beach Resort. We had no
problems with the little sand flies/bugs. The resort is sprayed frequently. We stopped at the open-air market
on return to the ship. Children were all over trying to sell you big conch shells for $1. If you buy from one,
you'll be buying from all. There were a good variety of activities onboard for the days at sea. Plenty of
opportunities to play Bingo(which I avoided). There was a band who played at poolside every afternoon. They
played a good variety of music. There was ice cream at Lickety Splits from 1-3 pm every day. Becky had at
least 2 cones every day. She did not gain any weight as she was always in the pool. When we arrived back in
Houston Sunday morning, debarkation was quick. Since we were in a suite, we were considered VIP's. We
were escorted off the ship around 8:15am before any announcements were made. Our luggage was easy to
find as there were only about 50 pieces between all the VIP's. Our limo driver came around 10am as that is
the time I told him we would be off the ship. He transported us to our hotel in Houston. Our flight home was not
until Monday afternoon. Would I cruise on the Norwegian Sea again: Most definately!!!

Name: Shannon Holdaway
Email: shannon_shsu@excite.com
Age: 24
Occupation: Manager
NumberOfCruises: 1
TravelAgent: No
Ship: NCL-Seaward
SailingDate: May 14, 2000
Itinerary: Cancun, Cozumel and Roatan
Cabin: 2030
FoodDiningRoom: 85
CruiseDirector: 100
CabinComfort: 95
FoodRoomService: 85
CruiseStaff: 100
CabinAmenities: 90
FoodLidoDeck: 90
DiningRoomService: 100
CabinQuietness: 95
FoodMidnightBuffets: 80
CabinSteward: 100
ShoreExcVariety: 100
FoodVariety: 90
DeckService: 90
ShoreExcValue: 100
GoodForHoneymoon:
CasinoStaff: 100
PrivateIsland: 100
GoodForFamilies:
LoungeService: 90
TenderService: 90
GoodForSeniors:
BeautySalonStaff: 90
EntertainmentLounges: 95
WheelchairAccess:
ExerciseFacilities:
EntertShowLounge: 95
OverallPortsofCall: 95
BeautySalon: 90
EntertainmentPoolside: 95
CruiseActivities: 100
Casino: 100
AirSeaProgram:
MedicalFacilities:
ShipCleanliness: 95
EmbarkDisembark: 100
DiscoNightclubs:
DeckSpace: 95
Stabilization: 95
ShopsOnBoard: 95
SpaceRatio: 95
OverallCruiseValue: 95
Submit: Submit Review
Date: 21 May 2000
Time: 23:04:29
Remote Name: sw4-14.dialaccess.com
Remote User:

Comments

Like most people in this day and age, we did extensive research on the web prior to deciding which cruise
line, as well as which boat to take, for our first cruise. After conducting lots of research, we determined that
the Norwegian Sea was the best vacation for our money. Also this web site was an excellent source of
information. Since we live near Houston, we had my in-laws drive us to the port in order to save money. We
arrived at 1:00 p.m. on Sunday and there was a very short line to check-in and board the ship. Mind you, our
cruise was sold out, so we were expecting the worst. We were in our cabin and unpacked by 1:45 pm. After
unpacking, we did a short tour of the boat on our own. We found that the boat was somewhat outdated but
we were prepared for this since we had read so many reviews from this site. The ship was clean, though, and
this made up for the outdated appearance of the ship. A few words about the cabins. Yes, they are small but
there is ample closet space. We never felt cramped in our cabin.

One strong recommendation: Pay for the
porthole! We had a porthole and it allowed us to see what was going on outside the ship. Also, we were on
Deck 2, mid-ship and we were never bothered by any engine noise. After touring the ship, we grabbed a
chair on the sun deck and sipped our tropical drinks. Next, we had to participate in the lifeboat drill at 3:30
p.m. It didn't take long, so we didn't mind. By 5 p.m. we were leaving the dock and Houston behind. That
evening, we went to dinner and enjoyed a great meal (1 of only 3 great dinners in the dining room).
Afterwards, we saw a magician/comedian by the name of Doug Anderson. He was extremely funny and
talented. Our second day on the ship was spent at sea. We ate at the Big Apple Cafe for breakfast since the
dining room closes at 9:30 a.m. The food was okay. We spent the rest of our day sunbathing by the pool,
gambling, taking in a fashion show, as well as eating a great lunch and dinner in the dining room. There were
lots of activities planned for each of the days at sea so we were never bored. The third day on the ship, we
made it to Cancun. In hindsight, I wish we had skipped this port. We boarded the tender that takes us to
shore (somewhat bumpy) and decided to visit the island of La Mujera since it had been recommended on this
site. I won't get into the details because we were very disappointed. We spent $71 dollars roundtrip. That
night, we went to dinner at Le Bistro. The meal was fantastic and the waiter even prepared Banana's Foster
for us even though it wasn't on the menu. One note: the menu at Le Bistro is the same every night but this
isn't a problem since the food is wonderful.

On the fourth day, we visited Cozumel. We purchased the Safari
Jeep tour ($144) and it was well worth the money. We were paired with another couple in the jeep and we
took turns driving. The best part was when we went off-road. It was an extremely bumpy and fun drive. We
laughed so hard, we were sore. The 'off-road' led to a beautiful, white-sand beach (private) where they had
umbrellas and blankets for everyone (free of charge). We took a quick dip in the ocean and then enjoyed a
fajita lunch, which was prepared on the beach. We stayed for about an hour and then headed back to the
ship. I would highly recommend this tour to everyone. That night, we ate in the dining room but the food was
not very good. The food was not hot and it lacked flavor. Afterwards, we joined the Caribbean party on the
pool deck and had a great time. On the fifth day, we discovered the omelet station outside the Big Apple
Cafe. The omelets were great and made right in front of you. We then left the ship (docked in Roatan) and
joined the SCUBA shore excursion that we purchased through the ship. It was extremely convenient because
the SCUBA boat was docked across the dock from the ship. A few quick notes. This shore excursion is for
certified divers only. We were nervous about diving because we have only logged 4 dives (in lakes, mind you)
since becoming certified.

However, after speaking to the dive-in representative on the ship, our fears were
calmed. The SCUBA trip was run through Anthony Key's Resort and they provided us with any equipment we
needed. We brought our own regulators, so we rented the rest of the equipment (approx. $60 for both of us).
Also, we did rent wetsuits even though the water is 80 degrees and I'm glad we did. The two men who hosted
the SCUBA trip were great! They were very helpful and had a great sense of humor. The boat ride to the dive
site was about 15 minutes. Then we were briefed by the dive master concerning the dive site and down we
went. Our first dive lasted approximately 30 minutes and we reached 100 feet. This was our first dive in the
ocean and we were not disappointed. We dove along a coral reef, which was breathtaking, and we saw 8
different types of fish. After our first dive, we had lunch and then took another boat ride to another dive site.
This dive lasted about 25 minutes at 40 feet. We saw a Nerf Shark (harmless, I'm told, unless they are
provoked), a Barracuda and numerous beautiful fish. On both dives we had the opportunity to stay down
longer; however, my husband and I were having trouble with our sinuses. It was an amazing dive and I would
highly recommend this shore excursion as well. Since I've covered the important items in detail, I will
summarize the remaining days.

For the two days at sea, we saw many shows. There was another comedian
on board, Rex Haven, who was great and we saw the production of Grease, which was great too. Also,
Johnny Thunder (formally of the Drifters) was on board and his show was okay. We played Bingo on Friday
and Saturday but in hindsight, we should have waited until Saturday since there is a progressive jackpot
($4027 on our trip - one lucky person won it all). Our entire cruise was extremely relaxing. The food, overall,
was good. We had two fair dinners and three great dinners in the dining room. I don't want to be too harsh
since they are cooking for 750 people at one time. We ate at Le Bistro twice and it was excellent. A note
about the photographers. They are everywhere! On the boat, off the boat, at the shore excursions. Do not
pay full price! On our jeep tour, we bought 4 pictures for $20, instead of $45. On the ship, we waited until the
last day (Sunday morning, but get there early or ask on Saturday night) and we made a deal with the
photographer and saved a lot of money. Also, don't be afraid of the casino. We stayed on the blackjack
tables and I broke even and my husband won over $700. Just play by the strategic rules and you should
come out ahead. Also, keep tabs on your on-board spending account. They can print you a copy of what you
have spent at any time. Just ask at the information desk. One more thing, sign up for the shore excursions as
soon as you board. They do sell out. Overall, our cruise was wonderful. We laughed a lot and met some
great people. I would highly recommend this cruise to anyone who is looking for a cost-effective vacation. We
can't wait to cruise again next year with NCL, even though we'll have to go to Miami since NCL is leaving
Houston.

Name: Robin Van Horn
Email: jrvanhorn@prodigy.net
Age: 36
Occupation: Medical Assistant
NumberOfCruises: 4
TravelAgent: No
Ship: NCL-Seaward
SailingDate: 5/14
Itinerary: Texeribbean
Cabin: 3041 outside
FoodDiningRoom: 85
CruiseDirector: 85
CabinComfort: 75
FoodRoomService: 89
CruiseStaff: 85
CabinAmenities: 85
FoodLidoDeck: 85
DiningRoomService: 79
CabinQuietness: 70
FoodMidnightBuffets: 85
CabinSteward: 85
ShoreExcVariety: 85
FoodVariety: 85
DeckService: 90
ShoreExcValue: 85
GoodForHoneymoon: 85
CasinoStaff: 80
PrivateIsland:
GoodForFamilies: 85
LoungeService: 80
TenderService: 85
GoodForSeniors: 80
BeautySalonStaff:
EntertainmentLounges: 90
WheelchairAccess:
ExerciseFacilities: 70
EntertShowLounge: 90
OverallPortsofCall: 95
BeautySalon:
EntertainmentPoolside: 90
CruiseActivities: 85
Casino: 85
AirSeaProgram:
MedicalFacilities:
ShipCleanliness: 80
EmbarkDisembark: 90
DiscoNightclubs: 85
DeckSpace: 85
Stabilization:
ShopsOnBoard: 85
SpaceRatio:
OverallCruiseValue: 85
Submit: Submit Review
Date: 27 May 2000
Time: 23:20:50
Remote Name: mdfdb103-18.splitrock.net
Remote User:

Comments

This was my fourth cruise, my husband's fifth and our children's 1st. Getting on board was pretty smooth. Our
luggage arrived in a timely manner and we unpacked before looking around. This was our 1st time on an
older ship and our 1st time on NCL. The ship had some obvious wear and tear on her, but we really did not
mind too much. We were wanting a more casual trip since we were sailing with our three son's and it was.
Cancun: We wondered if we would get to stop there since we had heard that it sometimes did not happen. We
were not told until we were there that it would happen for sure. We had purchased the Excarat excursion. We
tendered in and then took a really long bus ride to the park. The park itself was wonderfull, we wish we could
have seen more of it, but with the long trip there and back we ran out of time. Cozumel: My husband and I had
been to Cozumel before so we decided to do our own thing there. We went shopping in the morning, and got
henna tattoo's to mark the occation, our boy's loved that! They tell you that they will last 3 weeks, but they
don't last more than 1 - 2 so don't pay more than $5. In the afternoon we took a taxi to San Francisco beach.
It was not as nice as the beach we had been to on our last trip to Cozumel (I can't remember the name) but
we had a good time. Roatan: It rained as we were docking and the wind was really blowing. We had
purchased the Dolphin encounter/Tabanaya beach excursion, which was very expensive x5, but very much
worth it. Our kids will remember always.

Food: I was not really impressed with the food, but in all fairness I have to admit that I have not been
impressed with the food on any ship that I have sailed on. I don't complain about it either, it is really not that
important to me. I liked Le Bistro and I liked breakfast in the Big Apple cafe. Our waiter was very nice, but we
did not bond with him as we have on other cruises. Also the service was very slow we noticed that we were
served last every night. also our busboy never remembered anything about us like who drank water, who
drank tea ect.. We got the impression that they were either new or overworked. They were serving two tables
of 10.

Sea Day's were nice we enjoyed sitting on the sun deck and never had trouble finding a spot. Eric was great,
kept us in Pina Colada's and even sprayed us down with ice cold water when he passed by. Norman Lee at
the All around town bar was great to our 8 year old root been lover and we all loved Lickety Splits the ice
cream parlor. The on deck band Caribbean Wave was great, we even bought their CD!

Staterooms: We had two outside cabins side by side. They were very small and very plain, but we had been
warned in advance so we did not mind too much. It was the smallest cabin we had ever had, but had the most
storage so it worked out fine. Some nights the noise and vibration was pretty bad

Entertainment: We made it to most of the shows and enjoyed them all. We especially liked Grease.

Disembarking was also pretty smooth being the only ship there works to everyone's advantage.

All and all we had a really good time. I only give the cruise a good rating because of all the little things that
were missing. No dining room antic's, no towel animals in our staterooms, very small staterooms. I did not see
people fixing and cleaning things like I have on other ships and this one really needed it. The Cruise staff
seemed to be working, on previous cruises they seemed to be having fun right along with us. All that stuff
does add up. Even so I think we would sail NCL again if they had an iterary we liked on a newer ship.

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