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Note - this page contains multiple reviews.
Name: Ann Driscoll
Email: driscolld@erinet.com
Age: 52
Occupation: Secretary
NumberOfCruises: 3
TravelAgent: No
Ship: NCL-NorwegianSky
SailingDate: April 2, 2000
Itinerary: Eastern Carribean
Cabin: 0066 AA Deluxe Balcony
FoodDiningRoom: 95
CruiseDirector: 95
CabinComfort: 95
FoodRoomService: 90
CruiseStaff: 95
CabinAmenities: 95
FoodLidoDeck: 85
DiningRoomService: 95
CabinQuietness: 95
FoodMidnightBuffets: 85
CabinSteward: 90
ShoreExcVariety: 90
FoodVariety: 95
DeckService:
ShoreExcValue: 90
GoodForHoneymoon:
CasinoStaff:
PrivateIsland: 100
GoodForFamilies: 95
LoungeService: 90
TenderService: 95
GoodForSeniors: 90
BeautySalonStaff:
EntertainmentLounges: 95
WheelchairAccess:
ExerciseFacilities: 85
EntertShowLounge: 95
OverallPortsofCall: 90
BeautySalon:
EntertainmentPoolside:
CruiseActivities:
Casino:
AirSeaProgram:
MedicalFacilities:
ShipCleanliness: 95
EmbarkDisembark: 90
DiscoNightclubs:
DeckSpace: 90
Stabilization: 95
ShopsOnBoard: 90
SpaceRatio: 95
OverallCruiseValue: 95
Submit: Submit Review
Date: 24 Apr 2000
Time: 11:53:09
Remote Name: px1o.wpafb.af.mil
Remote User:
Comments
We just returned from a trip on the Norwegian Sky so I would like to do a review.
Ship: Beautiful. Lots of wood, not glitzy, but elegant.
Embarkation: Went extremely well. Cards to get into room were given upon checking in Met at door of ship by
bellman who immediately took us to room.
Cabins: AA balcony cabin. Plenty of room. Lots of hanging room in closet, but only 3 drawers. We kept
swimsuits, clothes that wouldn't wrinkle, etc. in suitcases and slid them under the bed. There are several
shelves by the TV that could be used as storage if necessary. The bathroom was nice sized. Plenty of shelf
space to store items. The shower was plenty big enough and I'm not a small person. Good water pressure and
plenty of hot water. The balcony was the best. We had a room on the stern so our balcony was a little larger
than the normal and we spent most of our time out there.
Food: The food in the dining room was excellent. There was a varied menu so you had a lot of choices. Coffee
was very good and always hot. We were in the Seven Seas Dining Room. Food was always hot, well prepared
and beautifully presented. We went to buffet for lunch once. It was good, but was typical buffet food.
Cinnamon Rolls are baked fresh each morning and were very good. We ordered from room service once for
lunch; food was good and brought in a timely manner. Never made it to midnight buffets. Guess we're getting
too old. Also heard that Horizons Dining Room was great; never heard any comments about Four Seasons so
cannot comment on it. Went to Le Bistro one evening, it was fine, but we felt the quality of the food in the
regular dining room compared favorably to Le Bistro.
Service: Excellent. Our waiters and busboys were fantastic. Always there to get us what we needed and made
our dining experience a pleasure.
Crew: The crew was very friendly and made us feel welcome. Everyone went out of their way to help us or to
just smile and say hello. It was fun to meet the crew from all over the world.
Entertainment: Fantastic. Jane L. Powell is not to be missed and the Jean Ann Ryan Company was incredible.
Went to several places to hear piano music which was beautiful to listen to. Managed to go to one Lounge
show in the Observation Lounge which was very enjoyable. Never made it to disco, or other lounges. (
Remember, we're getting older)
Overview: Would highly recommend this ship to anyone. It was everything we were hoping for in a cruise and
we were not disappointed in any area. This is our second Norwegian Cruise and we have been pleased with
them both. Can't wait to cruise again.
Name: Marti Klotz
Email: marti_klotz@hp.com
Age: 39
Occupation: Computer engineer
NumberOfCruises: 1
TravelAgent: No
Ship: NCL-NorwegianSky
SailingDate: 04/16/00
Itinerary: Panama Canal
Cabin: 9068 / S1
FoodDiningRoom: 89
CruiseDirector: 85
CabinComfort: 75
FoodRoomService: 90
CruiseStaff: 95
CabinAmenities: 75
FoodLidoDeck: 80
DiningRoomService: 90
CabinQuietness: 75
FoodMidnightBuffets:
CabinSteward: 90
ShoreExcVariety: 95
FoodVariety: 90
DeckService: 90
ShoreExcValue: 80
GoodForHoneymoon: 80
CasinoStaff: 80
PrivateIsland:
GoodForFamilies: 95
LoungeService: 85
TenderService: 85
GoodForSeniors: 95
BeautySalonStaff: 80
EntertainmentLounges: 90
WheelchairAccess: 95
ExerciseFacilities: 80
EntertShowLounge: 85
OverallPortsofCall: 80
BeautySalon: 90
EntertainmentPoolside: 85
CruiseActivities: 80
Casino: 80
AirSeaProgram:
MedicalFacilities:
ShipCleanliness: 95
EmbarkDisembark: 85
DiscoNightclubs: 80
DeckSpace: 80
Stabilization: 99
ShopsOnBoard: 80
SpaceRatio: 75
OverallCruiseValue: 85
Submit: Submit Review
Date: 02 May 2000
Time: 19:58:59
Remote Name: palwebproxy2.core.hp.com
Remote User:
Comments
This was my first cruise, my husbands third cruise, my 74 year old mother's 4 cruise and my 13 month old
son's first cruise. I read the reviews before hand so I had some idea of what to expect. We stayed in two
staterooms (one outside with a balcony 9068 and one inside 9162) because the suites were all sold out. I
think we would have been much more comfortable in a suit with the four of us, trying to schedule my son's
naps, etc. but we made due.
The embarkation process was a breeze! The NCL staff was so efficient and quick. I was extremely impressed
with how easy it was to get on the ship. Also, when we boarded the ship, we were greeted by several
host/hostesses that were very eager to help us. Bravo! A great first impression!
Our room(s) were a bit small but if there were only 2 of us, it would have been fine. My husband and I owned a
small sailboat for years and we were not unhappy with the room size in general. The shower was very small
but very clever. They did a nice job of utilizing the space available. There are only 2 plugs in the entire room,
one if the bathroom, the other at the desk. My biggest complaint is that the Norwegian Sky does not have
enough suits. There is a big difference between the Penthouse Suites and the S1 Rooms.
It took longer than expected to get our luggage. This would not have been an issue for us except we needed
to put my son down for his nap and the port-a-crib did not show up for sometime. The restaurants and bars
are all open and you have plenty of time to explore the ship. We walked the entire ship, had lunch and even
had a nice tour of the spa and beauty salon.
The food was good but not necessarily excellent. We ate early seating in the Seven Seas Dining room and we
found that the service was quite good. Our waiter, busboy and wine steward were very attentive and we never
found ourselves waiting very long for anything. Our waiter always asked if we needed something for the baby
and delivered it right away. Our wine and water glasses were always full and our busboy delivered our 2
cappacinos and one double espresso every evening with out fail!
There are 2 other restaurants on the ship and we ate in both of these restaurants more than once.
The Ciao-Chow is supposed to be Italian-Chinese but they have very few (if any) Italian selections. I was not
really impressed with the menu in this restaurant but the service was outstanding. I think if they changed their
menu, the restaurant would be a lot busier! They do have excellent appetizers and one night, I just ordered
the potstickers and firecracker chicken wraps (we ate there 2 times).
Le Bisto is an excellent restaurant and we ate there 4 times (14 day cruise). Not only was the service excellent
but the food was outstanding as well. This restaurant is a nice alternative if you would like a quiet dinner for
two. Both restaurants ask for a $5.00/per person gratuity but we all thought it was well worth it! Also, I think
NCL did a good job with the reservations on these two restaurants. You can only make reservations from 4-6
p.m., two days out. So, unlike other cruise ships, the reservations don't get booked up and you have a chance
to try these restaurants out.
If you would like to try the other dinning rooms (Horizons or Four Seasons), you can do this on open seating
nights. We tried both restaurants. Horizons is a very initimate, quiet restaurant along the starboard side of the
ship. I was not impressed with the service, however!
Breakfast and lunch were open seating and the service was not great! We found ourselves preferring the
buffets because if took too long to get our meals during breakfast and lunch. NCL needs to work on the
service during open seatings!!!
The buffets were very good but again, not excellent. They had a nice variety on the menus and we enjoyed
sitting outdoors. I thought breakfast was quite good in the Outdoor Cafe. They did a nice job on on the pasta
bar and the omelette bar. Ciao-Chow's serves pizza during lunch and it was very good. Also, we never made it
to the midnight buffet so I cannot comment on that.
We spent some time in everyroom on the ship. We especially liked the Observation Lounge. It has a wonderful
view and is very quiet. We also enjoyed Gatsby's Wine Bar. They have a very nice piano player there and it is
very relaxing. We found ourselves going to the wine bar to get a GOOD glass of wine and then exploring other
areas of the ship. I was not impressed with the wine selections in any bar on the ship except for Gatsby's! So if
we wanted a glass of wine, we would go to the wine bar and then to another location.
Also, do not miss the Windjammer's Bar and Churchill's Cigar Bar. They had nice piano music/singing every
night and this is were the Martini bar is located (even though I never got to try one!) The Cigar Bar was very
under utilized and it was a nice place to just sit and relax (we do not smoke).
Also, if you have children, the Kid's Korner was great! We spent a lot time there as well. The staff is very fun
and clever and the kids had a great time. Since my son is only 13 months old, we had to stay there with him.
But we had an opportunity to view the activities on a regular basis.
We never used the Casino but walked through it frequently (our route from forward to aft on Desk 7). It was
never too crowded and there was always room for more.
Also, Checker's Cabaret was very under utilized. They had nice entertainment there but very few people used
it. The dance floor always had lot's of room.
The shows were nice. My husband liked the comedians and my mother, the singing and dancing. I got to do
both! My biggest complaint about the Stardust Lounge is the balcony. There are very few seats in the balcony
and many have an obstructed view of the stage. So, in order to get a good seat, you need to get there early
and stand in line.
My husband and I both used the spa services. I had a pedicure and a reflexology. I had had both treatments
before (frequently) and I was not impressed. I felt like they were just going through the motions. My husband
had 2 massages and he said that they were good but not great!
One unique feature of the Norwegian Sky is the Internet Cafe! There are about 11 terminals on either side of
the coffee bar for your use. Also, my husband brought his own computer and on the first day, the internet
attendent to our stateroom and set us up on the ship's intranet. Since my husband is self employed, he
needed to stay in touch with his office daily. He was able to check his email daily directly from our stateroom.
Also, the cost was .75/minute. If you are careful about logging off after you download your email, the cost is
minimal. I would suggest that you ask family and friends NOT to sent large emails to you while you are on
board ship!
Since this was my first cruise, I do not have anything to compare this to. The Norwegian Sky was a nice ship
and the staff and crew were very friendly. Also, the average age on this particular cruise was 61 so we spent
more time talking to the crew since they are closer in age. The ship had a very relaxed feeling and the people
were very nice. The NCL staff was excellent with my son and I think he had more fun than we did!!!
I thoughly enjoyed the cruise (14 days through the Panama Canal) and would recommed NCL to SOME of my
friends. I have other friends who cruise quite a bit on Crystal Harmony and I think that NCL would fall short. But
for the money, it was a good value. I guess that old saying is true sometimes, you get what you pay for!
Feel free to email me if you have questions. marti_klotz@hp.com
Name: John D. Meehan
Email: jdmor@prodigy.net
Age: 70
Occupation: Retired
NumberOfCruises: 15
TravelAgent: No
Ship: NCL-NorwegianSky
SailingDate: June 4, 2000
Itinerary: Alaska
Cabin: 0050/Category AA
FoodDiningRoom: 90
CruiseDirector: 70
CabinComfort: 60
FoodRoomService: 90
CruiseStaff: 80
CabinAmenities: 60
FoodLidoDeck: 69
DiningRoomService: 65
CabinQuietness: 80
FoodMidnightBuffets: 80
CabinSteward: 95
ShoreExcVariety: 80
FoodVariety: 85
DeckService: 85
ShoreExcValue: 60
GoodForHoneymoon:
CasinoStaff:
PrivateIsland:
GoodForFamilies: 85
LoungeService: 85
TenderService:
GoodForSeniors: 85
BeautySalonStaff:
EntertainmentLounges: 90
WheelchairAccess:
ExerciseFacilities: 90
EntertShowLounge: 100
OverallPortsofCall: 80
BeautySalon:
EntertainmentPoolside:
CruiseActivities: 80
Casino:
AirSeaProgram:
MedicalFacilities:
ShipCleanliness: 85
EmbarkDisembark: 90
DiscoNightclubs: 85
DeckSpace: 90
Stabilization: 90
ShopsOnBoard: 90
SpaceRatio: 75
OverallCruiseValue: 90
Submit: Submit Review
Date: 14 Jun 2000
Time: 08:34:12
Remote Name: bendb102-42.splitrock.net
Remote User:
Comments
Our recent cruise on the Norwegian Sky produced mixed results. The ship itself is quite beautiful in an
understated way. Nothing spectacular. Yes, the cabins are small, but adequate. We had a Category AA
"Superior Deluxe Oceanview Stateroom with Balcony", which is the top category other than the "Penthouse"
and "Owner's Suite". The biggest problem is the lack of storage space (only 3 small shallow drawers). It is
mandatory to use luggage under the bed for storage. This AA cabin had a small hide-a-bed for a third
passenger. We understand it is wall to wall beds when you fold it out. Our biggest complaint is that NCL
sprung "Freestyle Cruising" on us. The brochure and the documents received before departure indicated
there would be two formal evenings, 3 casual evenings, etc. "Freestyle" means dress is optional anytime.
We packed our usual formal atire and found we did not have enough casual clothes. Not only casual dress,
"Freestyle" means no assigned tables or meal times. As one can imagine, there were occasions when it was
necessary wait for dining room seating. We missed having waiters who could get to know your needs and
desires. Also missed making lasting acquaintances. In our 15 cruises we have always had good luck
meeting varied and interesting table mates. Another interesting concept of "Freestyle" is that you are
basically denied the freedom to tip as desired. They now charge $9.75 a day per person to your shipboard
account for the tip pool. Oh, they say you can make arrangements with the purser to adjust it as you wish,
but that gets complicated. We, and most people we know, tip according to service rendered - i.e. if
outstanding, tip extra. By the way, the Maitre d' shares in this tip. We seldom tip them unless they provide
actual service other than to interrupt your meal with the obilgatory small talk. Besides, they are on salary. I
will admit that the dining room service was generally excellent. This was only the second week of "Freestyle",
so only time will tell if this level of service continues when the lack of incentive to earn extra tips dawns on
the waiters. Our cabin stewardess was excellent and we did slip her a bonus in cash. Since tips were now on
the shipboard account, we brought way too much cash - cash that should be earning interest in the bank.
The food in the dining rooms was always good to outstanding, and presentation was generally excellent. We
dined one evening in the Le Bistro alternative restaurant. The quality of the main course filet mignon was
excellent, but the rest of the food was nothing to rave about. And, the $5 p/p suggested gratuity did not yield
any extra special service. Unfortunately, food in the Garden Cafe buffet was pretty bad - cold eggs, dry
partially toasted toast, etc. And, general cleanliness and table clearing was often lax.
The high point of the cruise was the entertainment. This was our third NCL cruise in a row and the Jean Ann
Ryan Company production shows have always been outstanding. The three shows on the Sky were even
better. The singers and dancers were very talented and exquisitely rehearsed. The costumes were
fabulous. With superb sound and lighting, the shows were at least of Las Vegas or Broadway quality. Other
acts included a hilarious comic Rich Pupura, and the dynamic Jane L. Powell with a great voice, personality,
and back-up band. Even the ship's show band was unusually good - none of the members trying to out play
each other and they blended well - even the drummer. Unfortunately, the main show room is less than
adequate for a ship of this size and age. The main floor is crammed with uncomfortable bench divans and
barrel chairs competing for space with those pesky drink tables, resulting in some marginal sight lines. The
balcony is even worse. Sight lines are also bad and sometimes non-existent. And, you have to peer through
overly ornate railings giving an "in-prison" feeling. Here, "Freestyle" can be good. You can arrange to stand
in line when the doors open in order to insure decent seats.
The itinerary was to the Sawyer Glacier and included short stops at both Haines and Skagway in a single
day, as well as 1/2 day calls at Juneau and Vancouver. While weather was cool and wet, the Alaskan
Scenery is still outstanding. Our last cruise was around the South American Cape Horn and the highly
touted Chilean Fjords. Believe me, nothing compares with our good old Alaska for spectacular scenery. As
this was our third Alaskan cruise, we did not partake of any shore excursions. Despite ever increasing
prices, many were sold out in advance. Haines, Skagway, and Juneau are open to strolling in town for lots of
shopping. They dock at the Ballentine docks in Vancouver which are quite a distance from downtown,
making it difficult to see much unless you take an organized excursion.
In summary, it was mostly an enjoyable cruise. The relaxed "Freestyle Cruising" is probably a good
approach for Alaskan cruising (if you know about it in advance!). Norwegian Sky is a adequate vessel for a
7 day cruise; but for heavens sake, the small cabins and lack of storage makes it inappropriate for any thing
longer. Opinions we heard on "Freestyle Cruising" varied. Younger or first time cruisers seemed to like it,
while veteran cruisers almost all disapproved. I guess Carnival now has some competition for their "Fun
Ships". However, this will be our last NCL cruise!
Name: Gino Westcott
Email: ginoroy@bigfoot.com
Age: 63
Occupation: Manager of Service Co.
NumberOfCruises: 4
TravelAgent: No
Ship: NCL-NorwegianSky
SailingDate: May 7, 2000
Itinerary: Alaska Inside Passage
Cabin: 9275 Penthouse Suite
FoodDiningRoom: 85
CruiseDirector: 80
CabinComfort: 100
FoodRoomService: 90
CruiseStaff: 80
CabinAmenities: 100
FoodLidoDeck: 80
DiningRoomService: 90
CabinQuietness: 80
FoodMidnightBuffets:
CabinSteward: 90
ShoreExcVariety: 90
FoodVariety: 80
DeckService: 90
ShoreExcValue: 75
GoodForHoneymoon:
CasinoStaff:
PrivateIsland:
GoodForFamilies:
LoungeService: 75
TenderService:
GoodForSeniors: 95
BeautySalonStaff:
EntertainmentLounges:
WheelchairAccess:
ExerciseFacilities:
EntertShowLounge: 80
OverallPortsofCall: 90
BeautySalon:
EntertainmentPoolside:
CruiseActivities: 85
Casino:
AirSeaProgram:
MedicalFacilities:
ShipCleanliness: 90
EmbarkDisembark: 70
DiscoNightclubs:
DeckSpace: 90
Stabilization: 100
ShopsOnBoard: 70
SpaceRatio: 90
OverallCruiseValue: 95
Submit: Submit Review
Date: 27 Jun 2000
Time: 15:51:03
Remote Name: sdn-ar-012casfrmp069.dialsprint.net
Remote User:
Comments
My wife and I both love the Alaskan adventure. This was our third cruise there in six years, our second on a
Norwegian Ship. We were quite excited about the new ship and Seattle as the homeport. We arrived, early
at the airport, before noon for the short trip to the pier only to learn that there were problems at the pier and
that we should wait at the airport, until things cleared up. When we finally arrived at the pier there were long
lines waiting to get thru security and moving very slow. I have a medical problem that prevents me from
standing for long times and requested assistance. The NCL people responded with both a wheel chair and a
snack, because I had missed lunch, taking us on board immediately. I would note that this was the first
scheduled sailing out of Seattle and the problems related to our delay were just kinks that everyone was
working to straighten out. On our return to Seattle there were many more people to speed up the entire
process. Our disembarking was fast and efficient, we were at the airport within 1 hour after the ship was
cleared to off load.
The Sky is a beautiful ship and we always felt comfortable. We enjoyed every minute of our trip. We had a
penthouse suite, which was stunning; it was located on the starboard side on the aft end of the ship. We sat
out on our private veranda in shirtsleeves every day enjoying the beauty of Alaska. Our cabin was large and
included both butler and concierge service and these people did a splendid job. Other cruises we took with
this service fell way short of the service provided here. (The standard staterooms were a bit small, as they
seem tobe on all the new ships) Everyone got a commemorative Tee Shirt of the inaugural sailing. We dined
in the Horizons Dinning Room, which was a new dinning experience for cruising. The room is long and
narrow and runs amidships between the two large dinning rooms. All the seats in this room provided
spectacular views thru the large windows, on the starboard side, while dinning. Being a smaller room it was
very quite and offered an intimate dinning experience.
The dinning room food service was very good both from a selection to the presentation. There were great
soups; I like soups, and a fine selection of foods to please anyone. The food service in the Great Outdoor
Café and the indoor Garden Buffet were typical of buffet food. The specialty restaurants, practically the Le
Bistro, were very nice and added additional choices to an already full pallet of selections. Room service was
a dream; the response was fast and the food hot. We had breakfast every morning in the cabin, with our
traveling companions. The Ice Cream Shop was a big hit and always busy, you could get cones or sundaes.
Bar service varied form good to fair depending on the servers.
The open areas of the ship seemed roomy, I never felt crowded except when to many people would attempt
crowd into an elevator. The Atrium with its glass elevators was attractive. The various public rooms I visited
were very well appointed. I did try the Cyber Café, sending E-Mail back home. The process to use the
computers was simple, you establish an account using your cabin number and off you go.
We had great weather the entire trip, everyone warned us of the weather in May but we had sunshine every
day of the cruise. The ship glided thru the water like it was on ice. We never had to grab a rail to steady
ourselves. The captain guided the ship in and out of the ports with ease. In Skagway we docked on the
starboard side and the gang plank didn’t line up properly, so the captain backed the ship up into the
channel making a 180 degree turn and re-parked the ship with the dock on the port side. You couldn’t feel
the ship moving.
The ports of call were all places we had been, but again we enjoyed them. The White Pass Railway train
ride in Skagway is a must. If you go all the way to Alaska be sure to take the train in Skagway. The other
local tours and plane rides offered at all the ports were good, but the train in Skagway alone is worth the
trip.
Questions? Just E-Mail me and I’ll return a message to you.
Name: Bill Rainwater
Email: BILL-RAINWATER@worldnet.att.net
Age: 68
Occupation: Retired
NumberOfCruises: 6
TravelAgent: No
Ship: NCL-NorwegianSky
SailingDate: August 13, 2000
Itinerary: Alaska inside passage
Cabin: 0213 AA
FoodDiningRoom: 90
CruiseDirector: 100
CabinComfort: 90
FoodRoomService:
CruiseStaff: 100
CabinAmenities: 90
FoodLidoDeck:
DiningRoomService: 95
CabinQuietness: 95
FoodMidnightBuffets:
CabinSteward: 95
ShoreExcVariety: 90
FoodVariety: 90
DeckService:
ShoreExcValue:
GoodForHoneymoon: 95
CasinoStaff:
PrivateIsland:
GoodForFamilies: 95
LoungeService: 100
TenderService:
GoodForSeniors: 95
BeautySalonStaff:
EntertainmentLounges: 95
WheelchairAccess:
ExerciseFacilities:
EntertShowLounge: 100
OverallPortsofCall: 90
BeautySalon:
EntertainmentPoolside:
CruiseActivities: 95
Casino:
AirSeaProgram:
MedicalFacilities:
ShipCleanliness: 100
EmbarkDisembark: 100
DiscoNightclubs: 95
DeckSpace: 100
Stabilization: 100
ShopsOnBoard: 85
SpaceRatio: 90
OverallCruiseValue: 100
Submit: Submit Review
Date: 24 Aug 2000
Time: 18:44:59
Remote Name: 117.las-vegas-01-02rs.nv.dial-access.att.net
Remote User:
Comments
We had a cabin with a balcony, and for the inside passage cruise the balcony was well worth while,
expecially since the weather was largely cold and wet and didn't lend itself to hanging out on the
deck. There were three of us, my wife, our six year old, and me. So the cabin was very good,
except when the ouch bed was out, there was very little room. Every thing is judgemental, but I like
the free style crusing. I predict that within a year or so, all of the cruise ships will be doing free
style. Its nice not to be committed to a certain dining schedule, and a fixed table, and the same
group of people. With freestyle, when you want to eat, you que up and eat. The main dining rooms
serve throughout what amounts to early and late seating period, and the flexibility is great. I also
like the posting to the sign and sail account the fixed gratuity for the crew, instead of sneaking
envelopes on the last night to various members of the crew. The question of dress is also largely
solved, and a person could cruise the entire period with a polo shirt and Docker slacks, and not be
uncomfortable. The stops, Haines, Skagway, Juneau, and Vancouver are nice. Not much time in
Haines, but we paid a lady with a mini-van waiting as we came off the ship for a guided tour, and
she knew where every bald eagle was perched within about 20 miles, and we saw some beautiful
scenery. Skagway is more picturesque, and the train ride is the only ship's tour we booked. It was
worth the $89/person, and we had good viewing weather. I would suggest turning the tour request
form in very early, because the 1:00 tour sold out and we had to take a 4:30 tour. Juneau was
exceptionally nice.
There are two salmon bakes, one close in town and one 8 or 9 miles north of
town. The one north of town offers bus service to and from the cruise ship terminal, and the
scenery was spectacular, so for that reason alone I would suggest it. The food was good, and we
saw hundreds of salmon swiming upstream to spawn. I think it was offered as a ships tour, but we
went dorectly to the bake. Vancouver is a beautiful city, but there isn't much time to see it. We were
about 2:00PM clearing the ship, and had to be back to ship about 8:30PM. We took the evening
meal at a wonderful Italian/continental restaurant downtown named Cafe Medici. I'm pretty familar
with Vancouver, and had dined at the restaurant before, so it was a pleasure to return. The show
room entertainment was first class, and I live in Las Vegas, where I see lots of shows. We found out
the last night that Eric, the cruise director, has a wonderful voice, and he should definitely perform
in the show room. Kid's Korner was very well run, and our 6 year old bugged us every day to return
to the place.
My only negative is the internet access. I arranged for a connection to the stateroom
for my laptop, and had no difficulty the first day. But from then on everytime I tried to access, I
received a busy signal. The ship definitely needs more channels. I even carted the computer
ashore at Juneau and Vancouver to find an internet cafe to make my connection (I teach online for
the University of Phoenix and had three classes ongoing, so I had to talk). Glacier Bay was
certainly worth the trip, even though it was cold and raining. The ship spent a good bit of time
about 100 yards out from two different glaciers, and the photo ops were great. Norwegian Cruise
Lines deserves a real pat on the back in my opinion for their overall management. The
embarktion/debarktion was flawless-the best by far of any of the cruises we have been on. The Sky
is a prime example of understated elegance. Its not garish, and everything just fits perfectly. My hat
is off to Norwegian Cruise Line.
Name: Amanda Sturgill
Email: Amanda_Sturgill@excite.com
Age: 31
Occupation: College Teacher
NumberOfCruises: 10+
TravelAgent: No
Ship: NCL-NorwegianSky
SailingDate: 8/6/00
Itinerary: Alaska/Sawyer Glacier
Cabin: 8132
FoodDiningRoom: 90
CruiseDirector: 85
CabinComfort: 95
FoodRoomService:
CruiseStaff: 85
CabinAmenities: 95
FoodLidoDeck: 95
DiningRoomService: 75
CabinQuietness: 95
FoodMidnightBuffets:
CabinSteward: 95
ShoreExcVariety: 95
FoodVariety: 95
DeckService: 95
ShoreExcValue: 70
GoodForHoneymoon: 85
CasinoStaff:
PrivateIsland:
GoodForFamilies: 90
LoungeService: 60
TenderService: 85
GoodForSeniors: 85
BeautySalonStaff:
EntertainmentLounges: 85
WheelchairAccess: 95
ExerciseFacilities: 95
EntertShowLounge: 85
OverallPortsofCall: 100
BeautySalon:
EntertainmentPoolside:
CruiseActivities: 80
Casino:
AirSeaProgram:
MedicalFacilities: 90
ShipCleanliness: 95
EmbarkDisembark: 95
DiscoNightclubs:
DeckSpace: 90
Stabilization: 95
ShopsOnBoard: 85
SpaceRatio: 90
OverallCruiseValue: 80
Submit: Submit Review
Date: 14 Sep 2000
Time: 12:54:33
Remote Name: bess-proxy.baylor.edu
Remote User:
Comments
We generally enjoyed our trip on the Sky, which we took with our 1-year-old daughter. Food exceeded
our expectations (pizza and sushi were particularly spectacular), service was generally less so. The
'freestyle cruising' was in some ways useful (e.g. we could take the 1-year-old up to the buffet for an
early dinner when needed etc.) but really detracted from the service in the dining rooms since no one
was really accountable for the service that you received. Things like getting a highchair were
unnecessarily difficult and we ended up buying our own food for the 1-year-old (who eats the same
things we do at home) not because suitable food wasn't available, but because they couldn't get it to
us in a timely manner. The international crew was very friendly and tried to be helpful, but I chalk the
problems up more to their training. We had an inside cabin which works great for naps with a baby and
wre glad we did when we saw the outside cabins across the way appeared to be the same size. The
Sky is a lovely ship in the public areas and even our cheapo cabin had amenities like a separate
sitting area that can be closed off form the sleeping area with a curtain (also helpful with a baby) and a
refrigerator. Closet space was adequate and drawer space was not, but buy hanging up jeans and
sweatshirts etc. we made it work. Generally we had a good time.
Name: Susan Conner
Email: golfdad3@yahoo.com
Age: 49
Occupation: teacher
NumberOfCruises: 7
TravelAgent: No
Ship: NCL-NorwegianSky
SailingDate: 9/24/00
Itinerary: Pacific coast
Cabin: 9160/inside
FoodDiningRoom: 90
CruiseDirector: 90
CabinComfort: 89
FoodRoomService: 98
CruiseStaff: 95
CabinAmenities: 89
FoodLidoDeck: 90
DiningRoomService: 95
CabinQuietness: 98
FoodMidnightBuffets: 90
CabinSteward: 98
ShoreExcVariety:
FoodVariety: 98
DeckService:
ShoreExcValue:
GoodForHoneymoon:
CasinoStaff:
PrivateIsland:
GoodForFamilies:
LoungeService:
TenderService:
GoodForSeniors:
BeautySalonStaff:
EntertainmentLounges: 90
WheelchairAccess:
ExerciseFacilities:
EntertShowLounge: 99
OverallPortsofCall: 90
BeautySalon:
EntertainmentPoolside:
CruiseActivities: 98
Casino:
AirSeaProgram:
MedicalFacilities:
ShipCleanliness: 98
EmbarkDisembark: 98
DiscoNightclubs: 89
DeckSpace: 95
Stabilization: 98
ShopsOnBoard: 89
SpaceRatio: 93
OverallCruiseValue: 99
Submit: Submit Review
Date: 04 Oct 2000
Time: 15:51:23
Remote Name: ce7300.stkn.mdsg-pacwest.com
Remote User:
Comments
I travelled with my 15 year old daughter to Vancouver, B.C. on Saturday, the day before the cruise. We
made our own air and motel arrangements. We met my mother and sister at the Holiday Inn Express
Airport motel. They have a nice continental breakfast and a courtesy van from the airport. The motel is
only 5 blocks from the city bus park and ride. There are several buses that go directly downtown with only
a few stops. The motel also offers a van that takes cruise passengers to the terminal for a $5.00 charge
per person. We left about 8:00AM Sunday in taxi which cost $25.00. We checked our luggage in early at
Canada Place Baggage Services. They charge $3.00 for small bags and $4.00 for medium bags. They
kept them for us while we went sightseeing on the Vancouver trolley. The trolley cost $22.00 and you can
get on and off at many popular locations around Vancouver. We caught the first trolley at 9:00AM at
Canada Place and returned about 2:00PM. We reclaimed our luggage and took a taxi to Ballentyne Pier
which is where the Norwegian Sky was docked. Embarkation took less than 5 minutes and we were in our
cabins by 2:30PM. Our room key/charge card/boarding pass had to be picked up on the ship and the
charge card had to be activated in the casino. There were no long lines and this went smoothly.
This was our first Freestyle cruise and we loved it. Between the four of us, we have been on 25 cruises.
We were not expecting to like Freestyle cruising, but because of the excellent service our waiters and
busboys provided during meals, we changed our minds. We enjoyed the flexibility of choosing what time
to eat dinner. The Sky has lots of tables for four and we never had to wait in line. We usually has dinner
in the Seven Seas dining room which is aft. On most days we had breakfast and lunch at the 24 hour
Garden Cafe.
The deck plans on the Sky do not allow for easy movement around the ship or out onto the deck.
However, there are plenty of elevators. The Promenade Deck wraps all the way around and has two
drinking fountains out on deck which is a nice feature when walking a mile with a smile.
The whirlpools stay open until 11:00PM. I like to relax in the hot bubbly water after dinner when I have had
a busy day in port. I wish RCI would keep their pools open longer. The Solarium is practically deserted at
night.
We had perfect weather and calm seas the entire trip. Even sailing into San Francisco was not windy, and
we had an excellent view of the Golden Gate Bridge from the outside deck 11. To reach this deck, you
have to go through the Observation Lounge. Watch for dolphins as you sail into the bay. I saw hundreds
of them from this deck from 7:45AM until 8:15AM. Most people we watching them from the aft decks, but
the best view of the dolphins was from deck 11 forward.
The rooms are extremely quiet and we managed to find a place for everything. The hair drier in our room
worked fine and I was able to have my electric rollers plugged in and heating, while I dried my hair with the
hair drier from the room.
There is very little vibration on the Sky even when using the thrusters. This made dining and sleeping
easy. However, the beds are very hard. When NCL replaces the mattresses, I hope they upgrade them.
We asked for early debarkation and that went very well. My daughter's suitcase was damaged by NCL. Be
sure not to pack breakables in bags that are handled by someone else.
Overall this was a wonderful cruise. I would go on the Sky again. In February, I am booked on Celebrity's
Infinity and I think I will miss the flexibility of Freestyle cruising.
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