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Note - this page contains multiple reviews.
Name: Lloyd Johnson
Email: mtngrp@ix.netcom.com
Age: 53
Occupation: Search Consultant
NumberOfCruises: 1
TravelAgent: No
Ship: NCL-Norway
SailingDate: August 19, 1999
Itinerary: Scandanavian Highlights
Cabin: 9214
FoodDiningRoom: 85
CruiseDirector: 85
CabinComfort: 85
FoodRoomService: 90
CruiseStaff: 75
CabinAmenities: 80
FoodLidoDeck: 80
DiningRoomService: 75
CabinQuietness: 90
FoodMidnightBuffets:
CabinSteward: 90
ShoreExcVariety: 90
FoodVariety: 85
DeckService: 85
ShoreExcValue: 80
GoodForHoneymoon:
CasinoStaff:
PrivateIsland:
GoodForFamilies: 80
LoungeService: 85
TenderService: 90
GoodForSeniors: 85
BeautySalonStaff: 90
EntertainmentLounges: 80
WheelchairAccess:
ExerciseFacilities:
EntertShowLounge: 90
OverallPortsofCall: 90
BeautySalon: 90
EntertainmentPoolside: 70
CruiseActivities: 70
Casino:
AirSeaProgram: 95
MedicalFacilities:
ShipCleanliness: 95
EmbarkDisembark: 95
DiscoNightclubs:
DeckSpace: 90
Stabilization: 95
ShopsOnBoard: 75
SpaceRatio: 85
OverallCruiseValue: 85
Submit: Submit Review
Date: 01 Sep 1999
Time: 09:26:51
Remote Name: vna-va22-16.ix.netcom.com
Remote User:
Comments
This review actually applies to the Norwegian Sky. This was the ship's second voyage and
some of the kinks still
needed to be ironed out. The embarcation and debarcation process was quite smooth and
efficient, long lines not
withstanding. Coupled with the air/sea package we purchased we had no problem with
connections or luggage.
Our hotel accomodations were very good, but we did not care for the cattle call atmosphere
upon arrival at the
hotel in London. When we sailed it was into a force 7 gale and the ship was remarkably
stable and quiet, and at
no time during the cruise were we uncomfortable with ship's motion. While we had an
upgraded state room, with a
balcony, we were disappointed in the cabin size and the cabin not being quite as
advertised. Closet space was
limited; the shower was barely the size of a phone booth with poorly placed shelves for
soap, shampoo,etc.The
seating area promised with our 'suite' was non-existant. Otherwise, the cabin was nicely
decorated, bed
comfortable, and very quiet. There were some mechanical problems with the plumbing system
in the cabin
causing a great deal of noise late at night and we were dissapointed in the staff's
response to the problem.
Ultimately, however, we were moved to another cabin with no problems. Food service in the
dining room was
adequate but not the best. The menus were varied and the quality of the meals served was
generally very good.
Other restaurant facilities were only fair. The ports of call were great but more time
could have been spent in the
smaller ports. Too much emphasis on shopping. Excursions were fairly priced and the
excursions were generally
good if somewhat hurried. Overall, we had a good time and felt that we got our money's
worth; however, the
purser's staff has a long way to go with respect to customer service. Ship security was
lax with visitors always
wandering around. Sometimes we felt that they were getting more attention than the paying
customers. Once the
kinks are taken care of, we would recommend this line and this cruise to others, and we
plan to cruise with
Norwegian again.
Name: Bruce Barth
Email: fitzbarth@prodigy.net
Age: 43
Occupation: Attorney
NumberOfCruises: 4
TravelAgent: No
Ship: NCL-NorwegianSky
SailingDate: 8/9/99
Itinerary: Inaugural/Solar Eclipse
Cabin: 0010/S1
FoodDiningRoom: 75
CruiseDirector: 90
CabinComfort: 70
FoodRoomService:
CruiseStaff: 85
CabinAmenities: 70
FoodLidoDeck: 60
DiningRoomService: 75
CabinQuietness: 75
FoodMidnightBuffets: 65
CabinSteward: 70
ShoreExcVariety: 95
FoodVariety: 85
DeckService: 90
ShoreExcValue: 90
GoodForHoneymoon:
CasinoStaff: 95
PrivateIsland:
GoodForFamilies:
LoungeService: 90
TenderService: 85
GoodForSeniors:
BeautySalonStaff: 90
EntertainmentLounges: 85
WheelchairAccess:
ExerciseFacilities:
EntertShowLounge: 85
OverallPortsofCall: 95
BeautySalon: 90
EntertainmentPoolside:
CruiseActivities: 70
Casino: 90
AirSeaProgram:
MedicalFacilities:
ShipCleanliness: 90
EmbarkDisembark: 80
DiscoNightclubs:
DeckSpace: 85
Stabilization: 85
ShopsOnBoard: 75
SpaceRatio: 80
OverallCruiseValue: 75
Submit: Submit Review
Date: 12 Sep 1999
Time: 07:43:50
Remote Name: proxy1.sho.prodigy.net
Remote User:
Comments
This was an inaugural cruise so I will not be as critical with respect to some of the
service issues we encountered. The
ship is quite large and obviously new. The layout and decor are not nearly as nice as I
would expect for a new ship.
The 4 story atrium seems small compared to other ships and is not as lavishly decorated.
There are no pictures or
paintings in the hallways where there are rooms. On the 6th deck a quiet lounge
(Windjammer Bar) is located next to
the open Cigar Bar (you can tell) and on the other side is the Checkers Cabaret disco. It
can make it difficult to hear
others in the lounge. The internet cafe is a great idea but not cheap ($.33 per minute).
There were some bugs early
on which were fixed but three days from the end the internet access went down and only
came back up for a few hours
before they shut it down for the rest of the cruise.
Food varied. Lunch buffets were at best mediocre with limited
selection and fair food. The midnight buffets were not that creative and generally the
food was just fair. The dining
room food varied from excellent to poor. Service in the dining room varied just as much.
We were originally in the Four
Seasons dining room but after two nights of receiving entrees at 10:10 and 10:20 for an
8:30 seating we decided that
the waiter was not up to reasonable standards. We asked for a change and were told we
would hear something the
next day. After hearing nothing all day at 6:30 we called the concierge (our room provided
concierge service) for the
first and only time. They were unable to get an answer but said they would call back. They
never did. We then went to
the dining room at the appointed time and the Maitre D said we were all arranged to go to
the Seven Seas dining
room. There we were seated at a wonderful table with a fine waiter for the rest of the
cruise.
The Stardust Lounge is
beautiful but if you are upstairs the railings make it difficult to see all of the shows.
The views and sound downstairs
are excellent. The highlights of the cruise were Jane L. Powell (a singer) and a female
ventriloquist. The Superior
Deluxe Suite had a nice balcony and a large bed. You could not get around the bed very
easily since it was most of
the room. There were four desk sized drawers for storage (nowhere near enough) and barely
enough hanging closet
space. We did think of using the refrigerator for storage but it was too small. The cabin
steward made up the room but
never asked us what we wanted or how we wanted things. On several occassions we had to ask
for more soap. The
bathroom and shower were not as large as other new ships and didn't seem to have the
little extras for more space.
Getting around the ship was not so easy.
The elevators (especially in the atrium) are very small and you can only go
up and down at each end of the ship. In order to go to the Seven Seas dining room from the
front of the ship you must
stay on your deck and walk all the way to the back or go through the casino. You can not
go from the atrium to the
Seven Seas without going up one deck and then back down. There is no access to any deck in
the middle of the ship.
The ports of call (Cherbourg, France; Dublin, Ireland; Ayr, Scotland; Bergen and Oslo,
Norway; and Amsterdam,
Holland) were generally wonderful. The shore excurisons ranged frome excellent in France
and Ireland to too short in
Scotland (Ayr is too far from Edinburgh to have enough time to see the city). Overall we
had a wonderful time but I do
not believe I would cruise on this ship again.
Name: Mel Felker
Email: felker@mediaone.net
Age: 60
Occupation: Retired
NumberOfCruises: 31
TravelAgent: No
Ship: NCL-NorwegianSky
SailingDate: Dec. 12, 1999
Itinerary: Eastern Carib
Cabin: 8013
FoodDiningRoom: 96
CruiseDirector: 85
CabinComfort: 60
FoodRoomService: 85
CruiseStaff: 90
CabinAmenities: 85
FoodLidoDeck: 85
DiningRoomService: 95
CabinQuietness: 99
FoodMidnightBuffets: 85
CabinSteward: 95
ShoreExcVariety: 80
FoodVariety: 95
DeckService: 90
ShoreExcValue: 80
GoodForHoneymoon: 95
CasinoStaff: 70
PrivateIsland:
GoodForFamilies: 95
LoungeService: 95
TenderService:
GoodForSeniors: 98
BeautySalonStaff:
EntertainmentLounges: 90
WheelchairAccess: 99
ExerciseFacilities: 90
EntertShowLounge: 99
OverallPortsofCall: 50
BeautySalon: 90
EntertainmentPoolside: 75
CruiseActivities: 90
Casino: 80
AirSeaProgram:
MedicalFacilities:
ShipCleanliness: 95
EmbarkDisembark: 75
DiscoNightclubs: 99
DeckSpace: 97
Stabilization: 99
ShopsOnBoard: 90
SpaceRatio: 97
OverallCruiseValue: 95
Submit: Submit Review
Date: 20 Dec 1999
Time: 11:51:27
Remote Name: tamw75-67.pompano.net
Remote User:
Comments
My wife and I have taken many cruises (31) and have cruised with NCL a few times, but not
since 1992. We
had always regarded NCL as an inexpensive, second-line cruise line, best for young
families with children.
When an organization we belong to was booking a group on the brand new NCL Sky, I really
didn't want to
go. Reluctantly, because many friends would be with us, I agreed to this cruise.
We started off on our trip with an easy bus ride from our home near Fort Lauderdale, and I
wasn't very
excited. On arrival, Our luggage was whisked away promptly and documents in hand, was very
quickly
processed. Perhaps the processing was so speedy because the ship was only 70% full (1400
passengers),
or perhaps because they were very efficient. We were given our on-board room key, which
doubled as our
on-board credit card and boarding pass, and had preprinted our names, cabin number,
seating, and dining
room table, which I found convenient.
We were quickly shown to where our rooms were, but not assisted to our rooms by cruise
staff. We asked
the steward, who was on hand, to put our beds together to form a small queen-sized bed.
This was done
efficiently and quickly. If fact, the Steward was very professional and adequate
throughout the Cruise.
Since everything was in order, but our luggage not yet in our staterooms we decided to
have lunch. We
were told we had a choice of either of two buffets or open seating in the dining room. We
chose the latter.
In all our previous cruises I had never been able to dine in the dining room for the first
lunch, it just wasn't
available. We were pleasantly surprised. We were even more surprised with the service,
variety, quality
and presentation even at that first meal. This continued throughout the entire cruise and
showed me that
NCL seemed to be 'a very new NCL' (at least on the Sky!) To continue with food for a
moment, while we
really didn't eat at the buffets often, on the two occasions we did (a breakfast and a
lunch), we found them
just average. However, the buffets always seemed to be available, even at 4:00 in the
afternoon, you could
get more than cookies. Also, the pizza parlor was open for most of the afternoon and the
ice-cream shop
was open late afternoons. The midnight buffets were adequate, but not unusual, except for
the chocolate
buffet which is a specialty of NCL. I was particularly fond of the 'Elegant English Tea'
although, I couldn't
find the appetite to go after the second day! Another nice touch was that you could book a
table at two
alternative dinner choices. There was a Continental and a Italian/Chinese restaurants to
choose from. We
didn't.
The public space was very will laid out. We never had a problem getting from one ship area
to another.
The elevators in particular, were very fast and conveniently placed. Only after dinner was
there a wait for
an elevator. The lounge areas were beautiful and more than adequate. In particular, the
Observation
Lounge was magnificently decorated but, very under used, perhaps because of its location.
The room's
sweeping panoramic windows and gleaming decor were magical and a great place to sit with a
pre-diner
drink at sun-set. The trio that played soft music in this room was also perfect. I won't
describe each of the
other public rooms, but they helped me with my overall impression of this cruise
experience. One place that
did lack was the casino. I found that the casino was much too small for 1400 people and
could not imagine
what it would look like if the ship were full. At times between seatings, you could not
move in the casino.
And if you wanted to try your luck, this too was difficult. There was only four blackjack
tables available and
one of these was for high rollers. We had to wait on line to lose our money!
Entertainment was excellent. Presentation and scope was brilliant on show nights. The
singers and
dancers were very talented people who really knocked themselves out for us during the
three shows
presented to us. On other nights, the comedian was very funny, the magic act excellent and
the singer
great. And then there was the theater itself. It was like being in Las Vegas!
Activities on board were average, all the activities one expects on a 7-day Caribbean
Cruise, nothing
original. The ports: Porto Rico, Nassau, St. Thomas were also as expected. We had been to
these many
times and did not take any special tours. We just got off the ship and walked about. We
were supposed to
go to NCL's 'Special Island' for a picnic and dive-in experience but this was cancelled at
the last moment
because of a medical problem. One of the passengers had to be airlifted back to Miami. The
passenger
was sent by launch to a near-by island and an emergency helicopter was dispatched from
Miami to pick
him up. The captain kept us briefed often and explained that we had to stand by until the
passenger was
picked up. This took about five hours, so the schedule had to be changed.
My wife and I found our outside cabin to be on the small side. The size was adequate, but
not very roomy.
It had a refrigerator, safe, hair dryer, small couch, TV, and full bathroom amenities.
Drawer size was very,
very limited. There was no bureau in the room. Drawer space consisted of two very small
shelves on each
of two night tables besides the bed and four very small shelves inside the closet. Hanging
space was ok.
The bathroom to, was very small. Somehow we managed. The shower was painfully small,
especially if you
are not a small person and especially after a few days of those great meals.
The biggest problem we had was on debarkation. I noticed that there were only 6 color
choices for tagging
your luggage. Of course, all the luggage is collected in the evening and in the morning,
after you leave the
ship you have to find your luggage. Any one traveling independently, or living in the area
was given a
green tag. I would guess that about 40% of the passengers were given a green tag and that
meant that
40% of the total luggage from 1400 passengers were placed together and the passengers
thrown there as
well searching for their bags. Since many bags look the same, it really was a bad
experience as passenger
and luggage collided for almost a half hour! I would suggest that NCL revise their system.
This is no place
for people to get upset after having a good cruising experience. Like a good meal, if the
dessert is terrible,
that is what is remembered! The problem is easily solved by having 15 to 20 different
colored tags and 15
to 20 groupings of luggage.
Overall, I was very much pleased with this cruising experience. I expected far less than
we got. I would say
that NCL has closed the gap and is in line with Holland-American, Princess and RCCI. While
there were
some negatives, I would recommend this ship and this cruise to anyone.
Name: Lorrie Crossley
Email: crossley@reach.net
Age: 50
Occupation: consultant
NumberOfCruises: 2
TravelAgent: No
Ship: NCL-NorwegianSky
SailingDate: December 12, 1999
Itinerary: Eastern Caribbean
Cabin: 4224 - Biscayne Deck
FoodDiningRoom: 90
CruiseDirector: 75
CabinComfort: 80
FoodRoomService: 90
CruiseStaff: 90
CabinAmenities: 90
FoodLidoDeck:
DiningRoomService: 90
CabinQuietness: 100
FoodMidnightBuffets: 100
CabinSteward: 99
ShoreExcVariety: 90
FoodVariety: 90
DeckService: 90
ShoreExcValue: 90
GoodForHoneymoon:
CasinoStaff: 90
PrivateIsland:
GoodForFamilies:
LoungeService: 90
TenderService:
GoodForSeniors: 90
BeautySalonStaff: 90
EntertainmentLounges: 98
WheelchairAccess:
ExerciseFacilities:
EntertShowLounge: 99
OverallPortsofCall: 85
BeautySalon: 90
EntertainmentPoolside: 85
CruiseActivities: 90
Casino: 100
AirSeaProgram: 90
MedicalFacilities: 100
ShipCleanliness: 100
EmbarkDisembark: 90
DiscoNightclubs:
DeckSpace: 100
Stabilization: 90
ShopsOnBoard: 100
SpaceRatio: 90
OverallCruiseValue: 95
Submit: Submit Review
Date: 23 Dec 1999
Time: 16:34:35
Remote Name: g12.reach.net
Remote User:
Comments
This is a review of our cruise on the Norwegian Sky, December 12 - 19th. Before I launch
into our
experience on the Sky, I'd like to explain how this cruise came into being for us. Our
very best friend, and
best man at our wedding, has been working on cruise ships for the past four years and
because of his
constant globe trotting (or should I say globe sailing), we hadn't had the pleasure of his
company in all this
time. Tom e-mailed us last spring to tell us that he had switched cruise lines and was
going to be working
on the New Norwegian Sky. E-mails began pouring in, telling how beautiful the ship is and
we decided what
the heck, let's give cruising a try - so we booked the December 12th cruise. My parents
and another
couple decided to join us. Tom's parents and sister (from England) decided to go for it as
well. So in the
end we had a reunion of six Canadians and three Brits in Miami. It's a decision that none
of regretted. We
had a wonderful time...
And now, onto a review of the Sky.
We flew into Miami on an Air Canada flight the morning of our cruise. Being Canadian and
knowing how
tricky the weather can be in December, I was worried that we would get hit with one of our
famous blizzards.
I'm pleased to say that the weather was perfect for flying and our flight departed almost
on time. In
retrospect, however, I would have preferred flying down the day before as we didn't get
into Miami until
1:30 p.m. and it was 3:30 p.m. before we finally got on the ship. It seemed that most of
the passengers on
our flight were bound for cruises on a variety of cruise lines including Carnival,
Celebrity, Holland America
and Royal Caribbean. The NCL reps at the airport herded us through the maze of Miami
airport and onto
our bus with relative ease.
Embarkation: The embarkation system worked smoothly and it didn't take any time to board
the Sky
(maybe because we were so late in arriving - I don't know what earlier people
experienced). Tom met us at
our cabins with his sister and gave us a whirlwind tour of the ship.
First Impressions: From the outside, the ship is sparkling white with long, clean lines.
We were wedged
between a Carnival ship (The Destiny, I think) and the enormous Voyager of the Seas. We
entered on
deck five, turned the corner and there was the Atrium. It was stunning! Glass elevators
soar up to Deck 12
which is topped by a glass dome. The decor is not glitzy or even glamorous, but it is very
classy and
elegant. Christmas decorations were evident everywhere and again, done very tastefully.
Cabin: We had an outside cabin (4224) on Biscayne Deck which is the lowest passenger deck
on the Sky.
We were expecting it to be small but found that we were easily able to store all our
belongings. The cabin,
again, was tastefully decorated and we had a great view from the large porthole. Our cabin
steward
(Ernest) introduced himself and was friendly and helpful throughout the cruise. We shared
a lot of laughs
with him, especially over the amusing towel creatures he created on our beds. We often
entered the cabin
to find one of these towel creatures sporting a pair of sunglasses, reading the daily
cruise news. He kept
our cabin spotless and was attentive without being intrusive. Each cabin was equipped with
a TV that had
several movies to choose from along with the usual news stations and special features. We
were also able
to view presentations by Dottie, our cruise director. The cabin had a small refrigerator
which came in handy
for the times when you want to relax with a drink in your cabin. The cabins seemed to be
well insulated
against noise. We never heard a bit of noise from any of our neighbors.
Public Areas: The Sky is a fairly large ship, holding a maximum of about 2400 passengers.
We had
considerably less on our cruise as the week before Christmas is not a popular time for
cruising. This was
reflected in the great price we received. There are a multitude of bars and lounges
scattered around the
ship. Many had panoramic views and it was an easy matter to find a secluded spot to enjoy
a drink and
marvel at the views. One of our favorite spots was the Observation Lounge on Deck 11. It
became
increasingly popular throughout the cruise as people discovered it, but was never crowded.
There was a
small dance floor and band for those who enjoy more mellow entertainment that what is
offered in the
disco. Another favorite of ours was Gatsby's Wine Bar on Deck 12. Both of these lounges
were beautifully
decorated and the staff were attentive but never pushy. In fact, not once, throughout the
cruise did we ever
feel that anyone was pushing us for tips or encouraging us to spend more.
Casino: The Monte Carlo Casino was one of my husband's favorite haunts - probably because
he won
$700 the first night out. We put the winnings to good use in the shops on board. There
were lots of slot
machines ranging in price from quarter slots to $5.00. There were also the usual roulette,
poker tables etc.
available as well. The casino was quite busy at times but not overly crowded.
Shopping Arcade and Internet Cafe: The on-board shops were very attractive and well
stocked with the
usual merchandise. Deck 7 housed the Duty Free.Com stores which were attractive with
moderately priced
jewelry, perfumes, sundries, logo merchandise and lots of fun, inexpensive gifts and
souvenirs. I found the
staff here especially warm and friendly. The more expensive jewelry and watches were to be
found at
Columbia Emeralds. Enter at your own risk! They had some incredible items. I found the
prices on the ship
to be much the same as in the duty free ports.
The internet cafe is located outside the shops on Deck 7. There were several computers
always available
and they were easy to use. The service was expensive. It didn't stop us, however, from
e-mailing all our
friends and my husband was able to keep in touch with his business. He's a workaholic!
Dining: We found the food on board to be good to excellent. Tom made arrangements for us
all to eat
together and he had to sort out our table arrangements with the Maitre d' as the two
groups were originally
seated at different tables. He suggested we try the Le Bistro on our first night while the
arrangements were
being made to change the tables. The food and service at Le Bistro were both excellent.
There was an
excellent variety to choose from and the food was delicious. I highly recommend this
alternate restaurant.
There is a $5.00 per person gratuity charge which we found quite acceptable. For the rest
of the cruise we
ate in the Four Seasons Dining Room. We chose early seating as we had a few seniors in our
group and
they like to eat early! Tom arranged for us to eat every night at the Captain's Table
(minus the captain who
dines at the second seating!). This was a lovely table directly under the main chandelier.
Our waiter and
busboy were efficient and friendly and soon came to know everyone's preferences. The menu
was varied
and aside from a slilghtly chewy rack of lamb on one occasion, the food was delicious. I
particularly like the
chilled soups. You can choose from exotic appetizers and entrees (which I liked to sample)
or for the
standard meat and potatoes type person there was always something like roast chicken or
steak. The
presentation of the food was especially good. At lunch we usually headed for the Great
Outdoors Cafe
which is a buffet. There was a good variety of foods to choose from and I always found
something I liked.
You can eat inside where it's air conditioned or outside where you have wonderful views
from the back of
the ship. The pizza in the Ciao Chow restaurant was very good as well. There was also free
ice cream at
Sprinkles ice cream bar. We only ordered room service once - for breakfast and it was
delivered promptly.
They even called to let us know it was on its way. We attended one midnight buffet - NCL's
famous
Chocoholic Buffet. I wasn't really hungry when I entered, but soon ended up with a plate
full of goodies.
Pool Area and Activities: There are two pools and several jacuzzis on the main pool deck.
Towels were
plentiful as were deck chairs. I appreciated the fact that there wer shadded areas for
those of us who burn
easily. Another level up from the main pool area is another small waterfalll pool and
jacuzzi at the front of
the ship. The views from there were breathtaking. This area was usually deserted, the only
drawback being
no covered areas. It's great, however for sun worshippers. At the other end of this deck
is the batting cage,
golf cage etc. A lot of activities were conducted in this area for the children. There
were quite a few
children on the cruise but for the most part they were kept entertained by the staff.
Waiters were available
around the pool areas to bring you drinks, but they were never intrusive.
Itinerary: We were on the Eastern Caribbean itinerary which includes stops in Nassau, San
Juan and St.
Thomas as well as NCL's private island. NCL switched the original port of Eleuthera to
Nassau and
unfortunately we were only allotted about 4 hours in this port. It didn't give people much
time for shore
excursions. We chose to meander around Nassau on our own and ended up in the Straw Market
where we
purchased the usual t-shirts and souvenirs. The Disney Wonder pulled in alongside us in
the morning. It's
quite a beautiful ship for those of you who have kids. On our other side was Premier's
Rembrandt and next
to that the Seabourn Sun.
Our next stop was San Juan. We elected to take the Bacardi Rum Factory and City Tour. We
all found
Bacardi to be quite boring, although we did get a few free drinks. We stopped at the
fortress in San Juan
and enjoyed the spectacular view. The tour ended with a drive through the old city which
is very
picturesque but very crowded. If I visit Puerto Rico again, I'll avoid San Juan and head
for the rain forest
excursion.
Our favorite port was St. Thomas. Well, actually it was nearby St. John. Our excursion
took us by ferry to
St. John where we boarded a bus that took us to Trunk Bay. It was a beautiful, sunny day
and we swam
and strolled along one of the most beautiful beaches in the world. This was probably the
highlight of our
cruise. Trunk Bay is one place I would love to visit again - highly recommended. Although
St. Thomas is
noted for shopping, we decided not to venture into Charlotte Amalie, but instead visited
the many shops
located near the pier.
Unfortunately we were unable to visit NCL's private island as a medical emergency forced
the ship to
detour to evacuate a passenger at Turks and Caicos.The patient was taken ashore with the
ships's
medical team and we had to wait several hours for the emergency services aircraft to
arrive from Ft.
Lauderdale. This put us well behind schedule and we were unable to make up the time to get
to the private
island. We were disappointed but obviously people's lives have to come before pleasure and
most people
understood this.
Entertainment: This is one area where NCL excels. The broadway-type production shows were
spectacular.
Just the costumes alone were worth seeing. Jane L. Powell, a very talented entertainer had
the Stardust
Lounge rocking and rolling (and I'm not talking about the seas). This lady has a great
voice! We didn't see
the magician (not my thing) but my parents did and enjoyed it. We didn't take part in any
other
entertainment on board so I can't comment. There was lots to choose from, however
including bingo, crafts
etc.
Passenger Mix: On this cruise there were a good number of seniors although I was told that
the previous
cruise to ours had quite a young crowd. I did overhear some young girls (early twenties)
complaining about
the lack of night life but for old fogies like us (40 to 50 year-olds), the night life was
just fine. There was a
large contingent from a certain U.S. city whose residents are known for their rudeness.
Needless to say,
they more than lived up to their reputation. I was quite appalled at the way some
passengers treated the
crew and their fellow passengers. For me this was the most negative aspect of the cruise.
Enough said!
Ship's Stability: We encountered some moderately heavy seas but the ship seemed to handle
herself well.
Prior to the cruise, my 78-year-old dad was quite concerned about seasickness. His last
experience on a
seagoing vessel was a troop carrier during World War Two! We assured him that this would
be different
and he was just fine!
Debarkation: Because we were doing a shore excursion in Miami, we were among the first to
get off the
ship. Everything went smoothly until we went to collect our luggage from the designated
area.
Unfortunately, one of my mother's suitcases was missing. Two of the NCL reps helped her
look for it, but no
luck. We went off on our excursion without it. Fortunately, the suitcase was eventually
located and
delivered to the airport by two NCL security officers in plenty of time for our flilght.
In the morning we had
fun on an Everglades excursion where we toured the Everglades on an air boat, fed
marshmallows to
alligators and handled a big snake with our bare hands! From there our bus took us to the
airport. At
check-in, Air Canada advised us that there was space on an earlier flight if we were
interested. Needless to
say we jumped at the chance. We had an uneventful flight back to Toronto and there ends
our cruise
experience.
Summary/Comments: Lest you think I'm being too positive, I should point out the negatives.
Here they are:
The ship's layout can be confusing. I found the internet cafe expensive but still useful.
Four hours in
Nassau isn't long enough to do much. The railing on the balcony of the Stardust Lounge
obscures the
view. And then there's the one everyone complains about - the cabins are a bit small.
Certainly they're not
the smallest cabins at sea, but if you have more than two people in the cabin it would
make for a very cosy
experience! Finally, for me, I found the ship almost too big. Anything bigger would have
been too much for
me personally.
Other than those few negatives, we found our cruise experience to be first class and I
would most certainly
cruise on the Sky again. I believe NCL has a winner with this ship and I understand that
their new ship
coming out in 2001 will improve on most of the Sky's deficiencies. Having said that, I
also plan to try some
other cruise lines as well. Now that we've been bitten by the cruise bug we plan to go on
many more
cruises in the years ahead. We've already booked another NCL cruise but will probably give
Celebrity or
Princess a try at some point. Also, we'll be watching very carefully to see the result of
the recent takeover
of NCL by Star Cruises.
Crew Perspective: Because we have a friend who works on cruise ships we had the unique
opportunity to
see life at sea from the crew perspective as well. For example, crew members are not
permitted to use the
passenger elevators, nor can they enter the casino unless en route to somewhere else (in
which case,
they're not allowed to pause or talk to anyone) And no, they don't eat the same food as
the passengers. I
have it from reliable sources that the crew galley is not up to passenger standards! They
work long hours,
especially on sea days and the the bulk of their income comes from tips or commission. The
rank and file
crew share cabins with another crew person. On the positive side, the drinks in the crew
bar are very
cheap - and no, I didn't get to sample them first hand! Some people may think this is like
a working holiday
for the crew but in truth it's hard work and it takes a special person to adapt to this
kind of life. On the other
hand, you do get to see the world. Our friend, Tom, has been to the South Pacific,
Australia, New Zealand,
Singapore, China, Viet Nam, Hong Kong, Hawaii, Alaska, Caribbean, Mexico, Scandinavia,
Canada, New
York, Boston, British Isles and the Mediterranean - and probably other places I can't
remember.
I know I've left out lots of useful information. Anyone with questions about the Sky is
welcome to e-mail me.
Name: Jodi Hoplin
Email: rjhoplin@uslink.net
Age: 35
Occupation: Loan Officer
NumberOfCruises: 4
TravelAgent: No
Ship: NCL-NorwegianSky
SailingDate: 2-6-00
Itinerary: Bahamas/San Juan/St Thomas/Great Stirrup Cay
Cabin: 0341
FoodDiningRoom: 75
CruiseDirector: 75
CabinComfort: 60
FoodRoomService:
CruiseStaff: 70
CabinAmenities: 70
FoodLidoDeck: 60
DiningRoomService: 80
CabinQuietness: 90
FoodMidnightBuffets: 60
CabinSteward: 80
ShoreExcVariety: 90
FoodVariety: 80
DeckService: 80
ShoreExcValue: 80
GoodForHoneymoon: 90
CasinoStaff: 90
PrivateIsland: 90
GoodForFamilies: 90
LoungeService: 90
TenderService: 90
GoodForSeniors: 90
BeautySalonStaff:
EntertainmentLounges: 70
WheelchairAccess:
ExerciseFacilities: 90
EntertShowLounge: 70
OverallPortsofCall: 90
BeautySalon:
EntertainmentPoolside: 80
CruiseActivities: 75
Casino: 80
AirSeaProgram:
MedicalFacilities:
ShipCleanliness: 95
EmbarkDisembark: 95
DiscoNightclubs: 90
DeckSpace: 85
Stabilization: 80
ShopsOnBoard: 85
SpaceRatio: 85
OverallCruiseValue: 75
Submit: Submit Review
Date: 16 Feb 2000
Time: 21:45:23
Remote Name: usr-monti-236.uslink.net
Remote User:
Comments
I went on this cruise with my sister-in-law. We had a great time. This was her first cruise and my
fourth. I have always cruised with Carnival before. I expected Norwegian to be a notch above
Carnival, however, I didn't find that to me true. We went on this cruise mostly because of the ship
and not so much the ports of call. We went to San Juan, St Thomas, Bahamas and Great Stirrup
Cay. We liked all of the ports of call. We both loved NCL's private island, Great Stirrup Cay. The
water there was beautiful and so was the island. The one downside to that island is that we were
bitten by some type of insect. We now have about 200 bites all over our bodies. I called NCL to find
out what may have bitten us while we were on their private island. NCL refused to talk to me and
said if I wanted any information that I had to write them a letter. I thought this was poor customer
service. The ship was nice but nothing fancy. I thought the Carnival ships were nicer. I think the Sky
is a bit more on the elegant side, but to me seemed boring in terms of the decor. The food was fair
at best. The food in the poolside lido area was the exact same stuff everday. Breakfast contained
watery scrambled eggs, cereal, toast, muffins, fruit etc. Lunch was always the same sandwiches,
cookies, fruit etc. The food in the dining room was the best on the ship, but again nothing to rave
about. The deserts always looked good, but were usually dry and not too tasty. The midnight buffet
was a big disappoinment for us. Half the time the buffet was just in the atruim and was fancy desert
stuff. One night they had a Chocoholic Buffet. That took place in the main dining room and was
really good. I thought Carnival's midnight buffets were one hundred times better!
We had an inside stateroom which was extremely small. There was no place to put our clothes or
our suitcases. We had to put our suitcases under our bed. Many people complained about the small
cabin size. This ship has a Sky Cam which shows the front view of the ship. This is also shown on
the TV. Being in an inside stateroom with no porthole, this came in very handy. We just turned on
the TV in the morning to see what it looked like outside from the Sky Cam.
I will not cruise with Norwegian again. I'll stick with Carnival, as I have always been very happy with
this cruiseline.
Name: Chris Crain
Email: ccrain@getus.net
Age: 35-45
Occupation: owner web site development co.
NumberOfCruises: 2
TravelAgent: No
Ship: NCL-NorwegianSky
SailingDate: Jan - 2000
Itinerary: Eastern Caribbean
Cabin: 4101
FoodDiningRoom: 85
CruiseDirector: 95
CabinComfort: 90
FoodRoomService: 85
CruiseStaff: 89
CabinAmenities: 85
FoodLidoDeck: 89
DiningRoomService: 82
CabinQuietness: 82
FoodMidnightBuffets:
CabinSteward: 85
ShoreExcVariety: 90
FoodVariety: 90
DeckService: 95
ShoreExcValue: 85
GoodForHoneymoon:
CasinoStaff: 85
PrivateIsland:
GoodForFamilies: 85
LoungeService: 80
TenderService:
GoodForSeniors: 95
BeautySalonStaff:
EntertainmentLounges: 95
WheelchairAccess: 100
ExerciseFacilities: 100
EntertShowLounge: 95
OverallPortsofCall: 75
BeautySalon:
EntertainmentPoolside: 95
CruiseActivities: 99
Casino: 85
AirSeaProgram:
MedicalFacilities:
ShipCleanliness: 90
EmbarkDisembark: 100
DiscoNightclubs: 75
DeckSpace: 85
Stabilization: 100
ShopsOnBoard: 90
SpaceRatio: 80
OverallCruiseValue: 89
Submit: Submit Review
Date: 19 Feb 2000
Time: 09:15:27
Remote Name: proxy1.jersey.net
Remote User:
Comments
This is my second cruise, with the last being almost 10 years ago on the old Seabreeze (which had
some of the best food and service I'd ever experienced). Our first impression was a Feast for the
Eyes! Beautiful woods, leathers, carpets glass/crystal. What a gorgeous ship! The greeting staff
was terrific directing 2000 guests quickly to their cabins without making us feel rushed. The cabin
was generous if not spacious. The bath was tight - even tighter than the old Seabreeze. The shower
stall was a challenge with the soap ledge below my knees (I'm 5-10). But the vanity was laid out
nicely with loads of space for two people's goodies with room to spare. We had requested a queen
bed and found two twins so I phoned the reception and asked for the room steward to change the
configuration.
They said they would take care of it, but after 3 days, and the beds were still twins, we
did it ourselves. When we moved the beds we found candy wrappers and a knee high stocking
under the beds. The TV and top shelf at the desk area were so dusty that after 2 days we finally
dusted our own room. The room service was quick but very limited for breakfast, which is the only
time we used it, another couple traveling with us used it for evening sandwiches and had only praise
for the food. The dining rooms are more eye candy with one dining room being a MUST DO! The
Horizon Dining room is every bit as luxurious as a four star dining room. There are two specialty
dining rooms which cost $5 per person but we never made it to those. We felt the food quality
ranged from poor to one meal which was excellent. Mostly being average.
We had several meals
where our food arrived before water glasses were filled. Coffee was quick after the meal but the cup
went dry before we could flag someone down for a refill. In general the dining room food was
average and the service was lacking. The deck buffet was pretty good by my standards. We ate
there every lunch and never used the dining room for lunch. There was a wide variety of foods
available from burgers and dogs, to chicken, beef and vegetarian dished - something for everyone.
Don't ask for coffee or tea from the deck wait staff as every time I did, they directed me to the self
serve area, preferring to deliver pay drinks. We couldn't have done everything available to us and
still slept. We felt this ship was fun.
So much to do, so much to see. The ports of call were a little
disappointing. Nassau was downright depressing. Such poverty, and one of our companions, got an
obscene proposition as soon as we got off the ship (we all heard the offer as there was no shame
from the offender) We didn't feel safe in the town. San Juan was more of the same, although we felt
safe in San Juan, both towns were very dirty. St. Thomas was beautiful although we could have
been someplace in the US. Shopping is not our highlight but we found a fabulous restaurant for
lunch in St. Thomas - Herv's - if you go, try to have a meal here. Its quite a hike up a hill but once
there the views are spectacular. For our money, the ports of call are probably insignificant as the
ship is the real vacation and we could have just stayed onboard. The private island of Norwegian is
some kind of little joke - a coupe we met aboard said this was their third NCL cruise and they had
yet to see the island.
We speculated that since we paid for 4 stops and the docking tax is 7.95 per
person per stop, NCL must be paying for their private island before anyone gets to see it. Truthfully
it was not a problem and the additional day at sea was relaxing and enjoyable. - Little Notes - The
bar above the pool area above the upper deck has the best service and there are 3 bathrooms up
there for quick relief of all kinds. The observation lounge on deck 12 got little use, and may be the
most beautiful room onboard. The Casino bar is the place to get a good mixed drink. This is the only
place I saw free pouring, with every other bar used shot glasses. There is a really great Coffee bar
just outside of the Casino with good specialty coffees. There was fresh fruit in the lobby every day
and the folks who ponied up big bucks for balcony rooms (there a loads of balcony rooms) got fruit
and appetizer every day in their room, as well as robes. Dottie, the cruise director seemed a bit stiff
at first. But after a little while we enjoyed and looked forward to the 'Dottie morning show' on TV (we
actually asked our traveling companions in the morning, 'Hey did you see the Dottie show this
morning?') She was terrific and professional, getting the job done and trying to ensure everyone a
good time. It helps to keep things in perspective - these people have 2000+ guest to greet, feed,
water, entertain, keep the ship safe and afloat at the same time. AND make it look effortless.
Ultimately, we would not choose again NCL for the food and service but would for the ship. We are
looking at Holland American -Masdaam for next year. If the very best food or dining room service is
not your top priority, this ship is a must do!
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