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Note - this page contains multiple reviews.
Name: Celia M.
Email: jasita86@yahoo.com
Age: 32
Occupation: sales
NumberOfCruises: 2
TravelAgent: No
Ship: NCL-NorwegianSky
SailingDate: 01-07-01
Itinerary: Nassau - San Juan Puerto Rico - St Thomas, USVI -
Cabin: 9149
FoodDiningRoom: 85
CruiseDirector: 80
CabinComfort: 90
FoodRoomService: 90
CruiseStaff: 99
CabinAmenities: 85
FoodLidoDeck:
DiningRoomService: 90
CabinQuietness: 90
FoodMidnightBuffets: 90
CabinSteward: 90
ShoreExcVariety: 80
FoodVariety: 90
DeckService: 90
ShoreExcValue: 75
GoodForHoneymoon:
CasinoStaff: 75
PrivateIsland: 75
GoodForFamilies: 90
LoungeService: 90
TenderService: 75
GoodForSeniors:
BeautySalonStaff:
EntertainmentLounges: 90
WheelchairAccess:
ExerciseFacilities:
EntertShowLounge: 100
OverallPortsofCall: 100
BeautySalon:
EntertainmentPoolside: 80
CruiseActivities: 90
Casino: 75
AirSeaProgram: 80
MedicalFacilities:
ShipCleanliness: 100
EmbarkDisembark: 90
DiscoNightclubs: 90
DeckSpace: 90
Stabilization: 80
ShopsOnBoard: 25
SpaceRatio: 90
OverallCruiseValue: 100
Submit: Submit Review
Date: 16 Jan 2001
Time: 16:10:28
Remote Name: dialup-102-bits.whitelion.net
Remote User:
Comments
Great cruise~ It was interesting, since we had not experienced the freestyle dining before. We curised on the
NCL ' SS Norway', about 9 years ago and were'nt sure what to expect this time. We booked through 'Cruise
One', our travel agent was Becky Gaar. I found her locallyl, but you can find her online at www.cruiseone.com
- she is at the Smyrna, Georgia location, the owner/agents are Ralph and Susan Barker. I felt we received
excellent service from the whole team at Cruise One, they are a great bunch to do business with, and I will use
their services again, you can be sure of that ... now, on with the review.
Embarkation was smooth, We are registered members of NCL Lattitudes program (available to anyone that
has sailed previously with NCL). I believe that mad the whole process a breeze. Be sure and have all your
paperwork ready when you reach the counter, or it's back to the end of the line for you, no kidding.
Finding the stateroom was no problem, there are crew members waiting to assist you if needed, but we found
our rooms without delay. The luggage came in pieces, not too long of a wait. I strongly suggest that you pack
a carry on with a change of clothes, just so you can get out of the travel gear, and into something more
casual, maybe even your swim suit. I did speak with one traveler that didn't get their luggage until AFTER
dinner, so you might want to think about that too. There was a memo sent around on Tuesday from the
luggage pursor, looking for a missing piece of luggage, it gave a description of the luggage, and the name
and stateroom number of the owner, I don't know if it was ever located or not.
Our room was SMALL, we had an inside stateroom. 2 twin beds together to form one bed, this made the room
seem smaller, but it was alright. We had plenty of room in the closet, and three drawers. I left some extra
clothes in one suitcase, and it all worked out.
the bathroom is small, but effective. I loved the shower. I was scared of what I'd see after reading some of the
reviews here, but found it quite comfortable. My husband and I are both good sized people, and it posed no
probelm for either of us. I am 5'9 and size 22-24 (if that helps any of you ladys to know). Hairdryer is
suppolied in the room, also shampoo and soap. I would tell you to pack your own shampoo and conditioner
though, it wasn't a good quality shampoo, but the packaging it nice.
I thought the freestyle dining was wonderful! 2 members of our party were undecided, and 1 really didn't like it
at all. Just consider it is more like dining in a resteraunt, you are seated, the waiter introduces himself, and
then the meal experience begins. I liked that we were able to experience different dining rooms, different
tables throughout the ship, and we got a feel for where we wanted to dine at consistantly. We were a party of
4 traveling together. We did take many of our meals as '4', however we met some interesting people during
the week, and were able to arrange meals together when convenient for all members. We dined with a
particular couple repeatedly, in fact you can make reservations with the matr'd if you want a particular waiter.
The wait staff is varied, I would suggest: Michael Gonzales, Danillo (?)usually in the seven seas dining room.
busboy/busgirl: Lourdes was a sweetie, and new to the staff, she has the nicest personality. There are too
many wonderful professionals to mention ... oh, seek out the dining duo of waiter Douglas and busgirl Helen in
the Seven Seas dining room. Matre'd 'David' in the Four Seasons dining room is very nice, and a movie star ..
did you see Titanic? Ask him about the experience!
We didn't use the private resteraunts. I heard LeBistro was incredible, but we didn't make use of it. We were
well please with the meals received in the dining rooms, with the exception of Saturday night. If you are going
to do the private dining, consider the last dining night.
The Great Outdoor Cafe, or buffet line, was good most of the time for running through snacks, if you missed
the dining room lunch or breakfast, but I wouldn't make a habit of it. Most of the foods were fried, or just bad.
Do not miss any of the entertainment! The Jean AnnRyan company is incredible. They have an accomplished
cast, and the talent is remarkable. I stayed on the edge of my seat during the 3 performances they gave. I
repeat, DO NOT MISS ANY OF THE SHOWS!
If you have a day at the private island, do yourself a favor, eat on the ship. DO NOT EAT ON THE ISLAND! It
was just nasty! We tried to make a picnic out of it, but wound up picking through it, before dumping too full
plates. The seagulls are happy to take away the left overs.
Be sure and try out the hot tubs, they are great! not too hot, and the salt water is a great refresher. Hint:
Hang around the ship on an in port day, and you will virtually have run of the place.
I had a massage in the Mandara spa, it was 'Seven Seas' by definition. My attendant was Sheila, she did an
excellent job! It's rather pricey ... $99.00 for 50 minutes, and they add a 15% gratuity for you (How nice of
them). I tipped Sheila out anyway, figuring she didn't see all that 15%.
If you are wanting to make drinks in your cabin, you will have to take the booze on with you initially. Pack it in a
hard shell suitcase, or carry it in your hand held luggage. You will not be able to keep anything you bring onto
the ship from any ports, and they don't sell it in the gift shop. Drinks start at 5.00 and go up, with 6.95 being
the norm. They do offer 2 for 1 specials during certain hours, and jello shooter specials ie: 1.50 per shot,
usually 10pm to close in Checkers lounge. Any liquor you buy in port is held for you, by the ship, until
saturday night, before departing. I talked to one couple that said if you have a bottle VISIBLE in your cabin,
the room steward can remove it from the room, remember this helpful hint.
Please remember that the crew are very personable, and people just like us. They work very hard to make
our vacation time enjoyable. I had some rewarding conversations with a few of them, and they offered
enlightening answers to my questions. I learned that they are on the ship for 10 months before getting time for
a visit home. Could you handle that?
If you are a lattitudes member, and they offer the Galley tour, take it! It's fascinating, and will only take about
30 minutes of your time. Everything was Sooooooo clean! It's rather educational
Well, in summary ... Great trip, loved it ... already planning the next one. We are thinking of trying out Holland
America, but might stay with NCL, who knows.
There is more to tell, but you will just have to email me with personal questions, I will answer you.
jastia86@yahoo.com
Happy sailing! Celia
Name: Kim Carr
Email: KimmarieCarr@aol.com
Age: 34
Occupation: R.N.
NumberOfCruises: 3
TravelAgent: No
Ship: NCL-NorwegianSky
SailingDate: 1/7/01
Itinerary: Eastern
Cabin: 4102
FoodDiningRoom: 85
CruiseDirector:
CabinComfort: 90
FoodRoomService: 85
CruiseStaff:
CabinAmenities: 90
FoodLidoDeck: 85
DiningRoomService: 100
CabinQuietness: 90
FoodMidnightBuffets:
CabinSteward: 95
ShoreExcVariety:
FoodVariety:
DeckService: 100
ShoreExcValue:
GoodForHoneymoon:
CasinoStaff: 85
PrivateIsland:
GoodForFamilies: 90
LoungeService: 85
TenderService:
GoodForSeniors:
BeautySalonStaff:
EntertainmentLounges:
WheelchairAccess:
ExerciseFacilities:
EntertShowLounge: 100
OverallPortsofCall:
BeautySalon:
EntertainmentPoolside:
CruiseActivities: 85
Casino: 90
AirSeaProgram:
MedicalFacilities:
ShipCleanliness: 100
EmbarkDisembark: 100
DiscoNightclubs: 85
DeckSpace:
Stabilization:
ShopsOnBoard: 85
SpaceRatio:
OverallCruiseValue: 95
Submit: Submit Review
Date: 16 Jan 2001
Time: 21:21:31
Remote Name: syr-66-24-16-250.twcny.rr.com
Remote User:
Comments
I arrived home yesterday from my 1/7/01-1/14/01 cruise on NCL Sky. I traveled with my sister, we are both in
our thirties. This was my third cruise, both previous cruises have been on Carnival ships, The Destiny and
The Paradise. I enjoyed both previous cruises so much on Carnival, that I was almost sure that I could not
possibly have as much fun on NCL, however, with my husband staying home with the kids, I could have had a
good time on just about anything!!!! I booked this cruise just a couple of weeks before departure on
egghead.com, as the price was wonderful (980.00 for two people including taxes and port charges). We found
ourselves continually comparing the two lines throughout the week, so I am doing this review from that
angle.............I hope you enjoy.
Embarkation: NCL won this hands down. We arrived at the pier, and we processed after just a few minutes,
then waited about 15 minutes or so for boarding to start. Upon entering the ship, a porter took our carry on
luggage and escorted us to our cabin. This was a nice touch. When we cruised Carnival, a representative just
kind of pointed us in the general direction.
Cabin: Carnival has the upper hand in this category, simply larger cabins. However, our cabin on NCL was not
nearly as small as I had expected after reading reviews on cruiseopinion.com. We had an inside cabin that
could be used as a quad. Two lower twin beds, a small love seat that converted to a bed, and a pull down
bunk. The space was very functional. Closet space was more than adequate, however drawer space is as
limited as stated in previous reviews. Luckily, I was prepared for this (thanks to all who do reviews) and I
brought extra close hangers so this really wasn't a problem for me. Our room steward did an excellent job on
both lines, however the kids really loved the towel animals that were awaiting them each night on Carnival.
Sea Days: Toss up....here's why. If you are looking for organized pool games and parties, Carnival wins, no
questions asked. If instead, you are looking for a more relaxed setting, NCL is for you.........for example. NCL
places padded covers on pool lounge chairs every day, not only does this look nice, it is much more
comfortable. NCL had deck staff that actually came around during the day and offered fresh fruit on a stick
and offered to spray you with a squirt bottle of water! This was a very nice touch. Pool side musical
entertainment needs improvement on both lines (how many times can you hear "who let the dogs out?" during
a cruise. The first day we enjoyed, the second day we laughed, the third day we rolled our eyes and
relocated. Carnival had many more announcements during the day to remind you of upcoming events. NCL
really limited the announcements, however they made sure to announce Bingo each and every day!
Freestyle vs. Traditional: Boy, did I love freestyle! On our first cruise, our table mates were a perfect
match....... however, on our second cruise, my husband, two children and I were seated with another family.
The other couple was not getting along for whatever reason( refusing to speak to another when addressed
directly, etc.), and dinner was almost unbearable! We went to the dining room only one or two times for
dinner, as we just didn't want to eat with them. We did not request a seating change, as I didn't want to have
to explain to the other couple why we moved, instead we made do for the entire week with alternative options.
Freestyle was the answer to my prayers. I loved that we presented to the dining room, when we wanted to eat,
anytime between 5:30 and 10pm, dining room closed at 12 midnight. Each night we were asked if we wanted
to dine alone, or join others. Our requests for a table for two was granted without a blink of an eye. While this
is called Freestyle cruising.....it actually felt more like traditional land based dining. I have read many
arguments that Freestyle does not lend itself to the expected interactions between service staff and guests.
Personally, I want good service from my dining room staff, I do not expect good conversation. I can't help but
feel that the over bubbly conversation is very contrived and I do not wish to participate, but to each his own.
The service that I received met my needs on both lines. Both lines offer alternative restaurants. NCL also
offers two additional choices for an additional fee (reservations required, 10 dollar fee per person)., I did not
feel the need to try either. The food was good, not great on both lines. What sometimes is lacking in quality, is
more than made up for in quantity.......Lobster and prime rib was really good on the sky. The lunch buffet left
something to be desired, but I always found something to eat. Pizza is available 24 hours on both
lines......room service available 24 hrs free of charge (just tip) on both lines. The flexibility that NCL allowed
me, will make it hard to cruise another line.
Entertainment: NCL won this Easily. The shows were actually like being at a Broadway musical, (yes, I have
been to Broadway! lol) just smaller scale. The costumes were 1st rate, as was the talent. (Jean Paul
Company?) There is no comparison between the two lines in this department. Do not miss these
performances. Now the magic show was the same, the comedy shows were the same etc...... All fun, just not
any different from Carnival. Fellow Travelers: If I had to guess, I would say the age group of my fellow
travelers on Carnival would average between 20s to 50s, with all age groups represented. The age group of
the NCL guests was more like 40 to 60s, again with all other age groups represented as well. There was one
formal night during the 7 day cruise. The over all dress standard between the two lines was exactly the same
during the day, however, NCL's guests seemed to "dress for the evening" while the majority on Carnival, did
not. I was surprised at the behavior of the younger crowd (20's) on NCL. I ran into several occasions where a
couple would decide to express their love in the hot tub next to me, or in front of me at a musical
performance.........this in inappropriate ( a quick kiss and hug is fine, but moving onto your companion's lap
and serious tongue sharing?) and I am sure happens on all lines.............Oh well, I am sure they will grow up
sometime. I was also surprised at how visible children were on the Sky.......I was mildly annoyed a couple of
times at the antics of kids running wild, i.e., tipping the lounge chair from end to end next to me while I was
trying to nap........etc.....but these were only minor problems. Night life: Carnival won.................no contest.
People seemed much more interested in the disco and bars on Carnival late at night. This worked out fine for
me, as I usually like to retire before midnight. However, there was plenty to do in the evening on NCL as well,
the typical sing alongs, disco, country music theme night, 50,60's theme night etc.
Eastern Vs. Western Caribbean: My first two cruises were both western Caribbean, as I had no interest in the
eastern itinerary. I think I still prefer western, but I did love St. John (ship docked at St. Thomas, but again
thanks to everyone who recommended that we take the ferry over to St. John. The day at Trunk Bay was one
of the highlights of our trip, (I highly recommend this and am more than willing to provide tips for others to do
so) and San Juan was actually much nicer than I expected. Great Stirrup Cay, NCL's private island is simply a
beach day...........could have skipped this, and Nassau was nothing special to me. I do not feel the need to do
the Eastern route again, but may revisit St. John's one day on a land vacation.
Comparison of ships: Actually, I was shocked to see that there really isn't any difference between the two
Carnival ships and the Sky. Perhaps the Sky was a little more on the elegant side, but all three ships were
very nice. Little differences stick out...........my kids really enjoyed the water slides on the Carnival ships, none
on NCL. The physical layout of the pool on the sky was much better in my opinion. Dining rooms are dining
rooms are dining rooms, casinos are casinos etc.
Tipping: I really love how NCL handles this now. Each day, you will see a 10 dollar per person service charge
on your bill..........I love not having to worry about tipping. Of course, if you receive special treatment and want
to tip more, you are welcome to do so.......or if you feel dissatisfied the opposite is true as well........
Little extras: If you are planning a trip on the Sky, a few suggestions might help. Bring an extension cord.
There really is only one plug-in in the stateroom. Bring a clock if you are at all interested in waking up and
seeing the time. Bring close hangers, drawer space is almost non-existant. Shampoo and conditioner (in one)
as well as gel body wash and lotion are provided and replacements are provided as needed. A hair dryer is
provided in the room.I think soda was about 2.00 each.........and they only carry coke products.........I took
(2)12 pks of diet pepsi with me, this saved me money. The internet cafe is a great way to stay in touch with
family. They do charge .75 a minute for this, however, if you go on the first night between 8 & 9 pm, you get
the first 5 minutes free, which is enough to send a quick email to family to let them know you are safe and
underway. The Captain made an annoucement on our cruise that a tornado was just off the starboard side of
our ship.........this was really something to be seen, really close. He stopped the ship and allowed us to watch,
the tornado lasted about 7 minutes, but I will remember it forever!
Vacation Over: NCL HANDLES THIS WONDERFULLY...........You are allowed to wait in your stateroom for your
color to be called to disembark......this was a huge improvement from our Carnival cruises. The dining room is
open for breakfast as usual on the last day. On Carnival we felt the ship was really closed down the day
before.........On NCL we felt our vacation continued right up until we walked off the ship. On Carnival we were
left to find our suitcases in a large warehouse, on NCL, you are informed of the carosel your luggage will be
on, just like the airport. We flew into Fort Lauderdale and took a limo to Miami at a charge of 60.00. On the
return trip we bought the transfers from NCL and only paid 30.00.
Conclusion: I will sail any line, any time..........I loved both cruise lines, however, having said that, if prices were
equal, I would chose NCL, I would even be willing to pay more for NCL. I just felt more pampered on NCL.
Freestyle dining really is the defining difference for me. I had a great time.........but depressed that it is over!
Happy Cruisin.... KimMCarr
Name: Dawn Mulder
Email: dmmulder@gvtc.com
Age: 34
Occupation: Homemaker/Student
NumberOfCruises: 2
TravelAgent: No
Ship: NCL-NorwegianSky
SailingDate: December 5, 1999
Itinerary: Western Caribbean
Cabin: 9024
FoodDiningRoom: 95
CruiseDirector: 95
CabinComfort: 95
FoodRoomService: 90
CruiseStaff: 95
CabinAmenities: 90
FoodLidoDeck: 85
DiningRoomService: 98
CabinQuietness: 96
FoodMidnightBuffets:
CabinSteward: 80
ShoreExcVariety: 90
FoodVariety: 95
DeckService: 100
ShoreExcValue: 95
GoodForHoneymoon:
CasinoStaff: 85
PrivateIsland: 80
GoodForFamilies: 96
LoungeService:
TenderService: 80
GoodForSeniors: 85
BeautySalonStaff: 95
EntertainmentLounges: 98
WheelchairAccess:
ExerciseFacilities:
EntertShowLounge: 96
OverallPortsofCall: 97
BeautySalon: 95
EntertainmentPoolside: 90
CruiseActivities: 96
Casino: 90
AirSeaProgram:
MedicalFacilities:
ShipCleanliness: 100
EmbarkDisembark: 96
DiscoNightclubs:
DeckSpace: 96
Stabilization: 96
ShopsOnBoard: 80
SpaceRatio:
OverallCruiseValue: 95
Submit: Submit Review
Date: 19 Jan 2001
Time: 09:35:38
Remote Name: 63.77.110.97
Remote User:
Comments
The embarkation was very smooth. You didn't have to stand in long lines, and I felt like we were probably in
our cabin within a half hour at the most. We checked in with no problems at all. I was very suprised at how little
time it took. I would have to say that the Debarkation was just as smooth. We had to wait a very short time,
and people were allowed to disembark according to what time their departing flight was. They tried to keep
you comfortable while you were waiting, and I would say that it was a fairly pleasant procedure.
I was a little bit disappointed with the size of the room. It was a little smaller than I expected, but not bad. We
took my grandmother with us, and that was probably what made it feel so crowded. For two people, it would
have been perfect. We had an outside room with a balcony, and the balcony was very nice. We spent a lot of
time sitting out there and just watching the ocean....it was very relaxing. We had complimentary robes, which
were very comfortable and nice to have....it saves a lot of room in your suitcase when you don't have to pack
your own!! Our room steward welcomed us, but then we didn't see a whole lot of her. She kept our room nice
and clean, but didn't talk to us very much. I guess that's not bad, but I saw other room stewards saying hello
and chatting. We only had to ask for something once or twice, and when we did, it didn't take an
unreasonable amount of time for her to get it to us. She was very nice to my grandmother, however.....when
she was in the room she would visit with her. She left our envelopes on the bed for us to leave our tips in, and
was very discreet about it. I would have thought it was odd if she had only talked to us the night we were
supposed to tip her.
We were very pleased with the food on our cruise. There was always a nice menu to choose from. There was
a good variety of dishes, and always included at least one healthy entree for those watching their cholesterol,
etc. I thought the food tasted very good also. I have no complaints whatsoever about the food in the dining
room. I only ate at the breakfast buffet one morning, and it was OK. It wasn't anything to write home about, but
it wasn't bad either. They offered hot food as well as cereal and pastries, fruit, etc. The atmosphere was
relaxed, and you could take your time there. I thought the Pizzeria was fabulous. There were 2 or 3 days when
we went in there to grab some pizza, and it was always hot and fresh, and very tasty. I didn't get the
opportunity to eat at Le Bistro or the Chinese restaurant. Our experience in the dining room was great. We
had a super busboy...I felt like he was a mindreader sometimes. After the first night when he discovered my
grandmother preferred iced tea, he had it waiting at our table when we came in. Once he figured out what you
personally liked, he made sure it was there for you. We never had to ask for refills of water, etc. He was there
before our glasses were empty. Our waiter was very good, but he was also the Captain's waiter, so there were
times another waiter was assigned to us so that he could take care of the captain and his party. However, I
found our stand-in waiter to be even better. He always had a recommendation for us, and answered any
questions we had for him. He was very familiar with the menu, and always knew what was in the dishes if we
asked. He was great. We had the late seating, but I never felt like we were rushed out of there. We usually sat
and had coffee until it was time to leave for the show. I would definitely say we had wonderful dining room
staff. The waiters on the deck were also good. As soon as you sat down in a lounge chair, they came to see if
you wanted a drink. I wish they would offer complimentary soft drinks, but they didn't. I'm not a big drinker, and
I think I spent as much on soft drinks as my husband did on beer, etc. That is the only complaint that I had.
There wasn't a problem at dinner, because you could get all the iced tea you wanted. There was ample
opportunity for snacks. There were always cookies in the afternoon, pizza, and other things to snack on. I was
very pleased with the open seating for lunch and breakfast. With the open seating, we were able to go on our
shore excursions, and we could come back later in the afternoon and not worry about missing lunch. And if
our shore excursion left a little later, we could sleep a little longer and still have breakfast in the dining room. I
personally preferred the dining room for breakfast over the buffet because I felt like the food was fresher. I
have a small problem with tipping the maitre d' because he really didn't do anything for us. He walked around
the dining room every night, but I think he only stopped and said hello to us one night. The rest of the time,
we really didn't see him or have any contact with him. I would rather tip the waiter and busboy a little more,
because they really did all of the work.
The entertainment in the lounge was spectacular. I thought they offered a very good variety. There was a
comedian, a singer, and the dance group. I think their shows were very entertaining. I really liked the lounge. I
think the seating was comfortable and I could see from just about anywhere I sat. It was a little cool, so I'd
recommend taking a sweater with you. We missed the show one night, because the schedule had changed. I
think they could have done a better job informing everyone of the time change for that night. I heard several
people saying that they had no idea it had changed, and many people were very disappointed that evening
because they missed the performance. Overall, the shows were good, and the service during the show was a
little slow, but nothing we couldn't live with. After all, we were on vacation and there really wasn't any big hurry.
The staff on the ship was great. Most of them were very helpful and knowledgeable. The only problem I had
was with the information desk. I assumed that if you had any questions about the ship, etc. you could go there
for help. The two times I had a question and wasn't sure where to find the answer, I went there. The standard
answer was that they weren't sure, but would find out and get back to me. Needless to say, I guess they never
found out, because they never got back to me!! I think they were more interested in temporarily appeasing
you, but then didn't follow through to actually help you. Other than that, the rest of the staff was great. The
Cruise Director Dotty was very excited all of the time. By the end of the cruise, she was hoarse from all the
talking and yelling. She was nice, though, and she had a great staff. There was always plenty to do. They had
activities planned around the clock! There were things for everybody to do, no matter what your age. I was
very happy to see that they had things for the older guests. There was a tea for grandparents to get together
and visit. I thought that was really great, especially since we were travelling with an 80 year old grandmother.
There were things for couples and singles as well. I have to say that our absolute favorite place on the ship
was the Observation Lounge. We loved to go there and have drinks and listen to the band play. It was very
relaxing there, and during the day you could look out and see everything. I really enjoyed that lounge. The
service there was good also. I really liked the jazz band that played there in the evenings. I also enjoyed the
Cabaret Lounge. One afternoon, they had TV Theme Song trivia. That was a lot of fun.
There were places on the ship that were money suckers. For example, the Internet Cafe. I think it was pretty
expensive, but I understand it's a great thing to have for people who have to stay in touch when they're away.
Not me......I had no need for e-mail on the high seas!! The casino was another. We had a good time at the
casino, but I see the potential for an expensive night there!! The staff was pleasant, however, and it was a fun
evening. I won a little, then lost a little.
I thought this ship was great for families. Although we didn't bring our children with us, I saw a lot of families
that did have their children there with them, and it seemed like they were having a really great time. We
decided that when we took another cruise, we would definitely consider taking our kids with us.
I had the opportunity to use the beauty shop facilities. I had a great experience there. I got my hair cut, and
also got a mini-facial. There was a morning when the beauty salon staff hosted a mini-makeover session, and
I happened to be unable to attend it because of a shore excursion conflict. I was, however, very interested in
it. When I called the beauty salon, they were very willing to have me come in and see the demonstration. I
thought that was very nice, and I did get the makeover. I also had two massages while I was on this cruise,
and it was so relaxing. THe women who did the massage did a great job......it was very relaxing and soothing. I
think their staff was very professional and courteous and I was very pleased with my overall experience there.
I would definitely use their services again on future cruises.
We had a great time on our shore excursions. There was a good variety of trips to choose from. Sometimes
there were TOO many, and I had a hard time choosing. One morning the waves in port were very choppy, and
our trip was canceled. However, there was staff there to tell us what other trips were available to us. I was very
pleased with the trip we chose to replace the cancelled one. In fact, afterwards I was glad the other one was
cancelled because I had such a good time on the other one!! I think it was very easy to book trips through the
Shore Excursion desk. My husband was especially pleased with the Dive-In desk. He went on two scuba diving
trips, and was very pleased with the assistance he received from the man who ran that area of the desk.
Overall, I think we got a good selection of trips, and the prices were pretty reasonable. I definitely would love
to go again and see the ones I didn't have time to see!!
Overall, I would highly recommend this ship. The staff was wonderful, food was tasty, and we received
absolutely wonderful service. It was also the cleanest ship I've ever seen. People were constantly polishing
and cleaning everything in sight!!
Name: Roberta Hall
Email: nmh@idirect.com
Age: 60
Occupation: retired
NumberOfCruises: 3
TravelAgent: No
Ship: NCL-NorwegianSky
SailingDate: Feb 18,2001
Itinerary: Eastern caribbean
Cabin: 9247 catagory AA
FoodDiningRoom: 90
CruiseDirector:
CabinComfort: 90
FoodRoomService: 90
CruiseStaff:
CabinAmenities: 95
FoodLidoDeck:
DiningRoomService: 95
CabinQuietness: 95
FoodMidnightBuffets:
CabinSteward: 100
ShoreExcVariety: 90
FoodVariety: 95
DeckService:
ShoreExcValue:
GoodForHoneymoon:
CasinoStaff:
PrivateIsland:
GoodForFamilies:
LoungeService: 90
TenderService:
GoodForSeniors: 90
BeautySalonStaff:
EntertainmentLounges:
WheelchairAccess:
ExerciseFacilities: 95
EntertShowLounge: 95
OverallPortsofCall: 80
BeautySalon:
EntertainmentPoolside: 70
CruiseActivities: 70
Casino:
AirSeaProgram:
MedicalFacilities:
ShipCleanliness: 100
EmbarkDisembark: 100
DiscoNightclubs:
DeckSpace: 90
Stabilization: 90
ShopsOnBoard: 50
SpaceRatio: 90
OverallCruiseValue: 95
Submit: Submit Review
Date: 26 Feb 2001
Time: 21:05:55
Remote Name: on-osh-ahp-02-46.look.ca
Remote User:
Comments
We have just returned from a cruise on the Norwegian Sky. To say that we were pleased is an
understatement. Fairness dictates that we attempt to correct the wrong impressions received from
comments on the internet. As soon as we set foot on the Sky we were escorted to our cabin which was
exactly as pictured in the brochure. Our steward Janak Bahrak worked cheerfully and endlessly to
keep it that way. There was plenty of space for a 7-day wardrobe, and amenities such as fridge, safe,
hairdryer and robes were appreciated. The fruit bowl, flowers, champagne, Evian and sparkling water
were a pleasant surprise. A fantastic luncheon was waiting in the dining room and the next morning's
breakfast in bed was more than adequate. Other meals were taken in the dining room where the
variety of food was endless. Staff were falling over one another in an effort to please and we got
exactly what we wanted perfectly timed and served with a smile. It seemed the staff worked as a team
and enjoyed what they were doing. We found the ship easy to get around and although the ship was
full, we never waited for an elevator. We saw three shows and agree with all the internet critics - the
shows are superb. We took this cruise for relaxation and it fulfilled that purpose admirably. Our only
regret is that we set out with great apprehension having read negative criticism.
Name: Cind
Email: cindini@aol.com
Age: 40
Occupation: legal secretary
NumberOfCruises: 1
TravelAgent: No
Ship: NCL-NorwegianSky
SailingDate: January 14 -21
Itinerary: Western Carribean
Cabin: 9047/Ocean View/Balcony
FoodDiningRoom: 95
CruiseDirector: 85
CabinComfort: 90
FoodRoomService: 90
CruiseStaff: 92
CabinAmenities: 90
FoodLidoDeck:
DiningRoomService: 97
CabinQuietness: 100
FoodMidnightBuffets:
CabinSteward: 98
ShoreExcVariety: 90
FoodVariety: 90
DeckService: 90
ShoreExcValue: 75
GoodForHoneymoon: 95
CasinoStaff: 95
PrivateIsland: 100
GoodForFamilies:
LoungeService: 95
TenderService: 90
GoodForSeniors: 90
BeautySalonStaff:
EntertainmentLounges: 95
WheelchairAccess:
ExerciseFacilities:
EntertShowLounge: 95
OverallPortsofCall: 85
BeautySalon:
EntertainmentPoolside: 88
CruiseActivities: 95
Casino: 95
AirSeaProgram:
MedicalFacilities:
ShipCleanliness: 98
EmbarkDisembark: 95
DiscoNightclubs:
DeckSpace: 100
Stabilization: 95
ShopsOnBoard: 85
SpaceRatio: 90
OverallCruiseValue: 90
Submit: Submit Review
Date: 28 Feb 2001
Time: 21:24:22
Remote Name: bondschoeneckking.bsk.com
Remote User:
Comments
This was our first cruise. We are both in our early 40s with three teen-age children. We planned this
vacation to spend some quality time together, something that is rare in our day to day lives. That is
one of the reasons we choose NCL, because Freestyle sounded made to order for us. We choose the
Sky partly for its itinerary, the newness of the ship and for the price. We booked the cruise through
UniGlobe.Com, but shopped around many internet travel companies before finally going with UniGlobe.
We originally booked a deluxe outside ocean view room, but later upgraded to a balcony room after
reading reviews and people’s opinions about having a balcony. This added $400 to our cruise price
but was well worth it.
ARRIVAL: We flew into Miami Airport and after waiting at least 45 minutes for our luggage to come out,
we easily walked out the door into a waiting taxi, took the 15 minute ride to the ship. This was about
1:15. This was a standard $18.00 and I think cheaper and easier than buying the NCL shuttles. We
had all of our paperwork in hand: birth certificates, drivers licenses, photocopies of the registrations we
had previously mailed to NCL (just in case) and our shipboard credit papers. We never waited in a
single line. We walked right up to the counter. The NCL representative went through our papers, took
our credit card information and sent us on our way. We went through 2 quick photo stops and were on
the ship. We were met on our floor and given our key and went right to our room. From taxi to our
room in about 15 minutes! Our luggage arrived piece by piece, but was all there within about 2 ½
hours. We went to the mandatory life boat drill at 3:30, which took about 30 minutes.
CABIN: Our room was as I expected from other reviews, and we were very comfortable with it. The
bathroom had plenty of shelf room on both sides of the mirror. The only negative was the shelf in the
shower was too low and shaving my legs was quite tricky. We thought the room was decorated nicely.
We had bought 24 cheap wire hangers and hung up almost everything except underwear and night
clothes. We used the three drawers for tee shirts, some shorts, underwear, etc. We definitely brought
too many clothes, but when the week was over and we were repacking about 1/3 of our clean, clothes
back in the suitcases, we both agreed it was nice to have a choice of what to wear each day. I bought
a large laundry bag and used that for dirty clothes, every couple of days I moved that to the empty
suitcases under the bed. We really enjoyed having the balcony. We were out there our fist night, about
5 or 6 hours after leaving Miami, when we realized the ship had stopped moving. We could see a big
spot light from the front of the ship shining down on a small personal boat, with about 5 people
huddled together on it. We stayed there, we could see a light in the distance which ended up being the
Coast Guard coming to the rescue. The captain explained that they were stranded the next day on the
daily announcement. It was pretty neat to have seen that. Anyway, we sat out on the balcony to read,
or drink our morning coffee or as we were coming into port. I’m sure we will never cruise without a
balcony now that we have experienced it.
DINING: We ate 4 of our dinners in the Seven Seas or Four Seasons Restaurants. We always
requested a table for 2 and were seated immediately. I cannot say enough about how friendly and
attentive all of our servers were. They made me feel as if they were happy to be serving us. It didn’t
take long to get use to really enjoying that feeling. Every course arrived in a timely manner. Every
menu had several cold and hot appetizers to choose from, several soups and salads, at least 5
entrees to choose from with a good variety and several desserts or ice cream. We lingered over coffee
each night and never felt rushed. Every night we were brought a basket of rolls and breads. These
were absolutely delicious and it was hard not to eat 2 or 3. Every food was cooked to perfection,
however, after almost every dinner we found our selves walking around the outside of the ship
because we were so full. We also took the stairs a lot during the week to compensate for what we were
eating. Three nights we made reservations at Horizons which was smaller and more intimate, twice
sitting by the window watching the waves go by. This was the same menu as the main restaurants
(although I think I read that has changed since January).
We ate a couple of lunches in the dining rooms, a couple from the Garden Café or Outdoors Café
buffets because we got back from shore excursions in midafternoon. These meals were sufficient, but
not nearly as good as the dining rooms. The pizza from Chow Ciaos was good though. The buffets are
a nice option for when you don’t want to leave the pool area. There are drinks available, milk, ice tea,
coffee, juices. If you want soda there are wait staff there willing to get you something. You can also
take your meal from the buffet into the SportsBar or outside on the deck to eat. Sodas were $1.50
which is pretty close to what you pay for one here in a restaurant, however they are served in 12 oz.
cans as opposed to refillable glasses in restaurants. Alcoholic drinks ran us about $4.50 - $5.50, with
Souvenier Glass drinks being about $6.50. You only need to buy those once. The drinks were well
made and were not skimped on at all, in any of the lounges or restaurants. We did go to the SportsBar
a couple of nights before dinner, for a drink and to play the Trivia Game of the night.
We did order room service for breakfast on three of the mornings that we were going on shore early.
That worked out well, and we were able to relax as we were getting ready. They brought a carafe of
coffee and anything else we ordered.
The bottom line is we were always very satisfied with our meals and service.
ACTIVITIES We spent much of the two at sea days up on the 12th floor (deck above the pool) We
always found lounge chairs to use. We relaxed in the sun, read our books, enjoyed a drink now and
then when the servers came around. There are also outside bars on both the 11th floor (pool deck)
and the 12th floor. There are showers and restrooms on the 12th floor. We did not want to swim but
did watch some of the activities going on from the open area above.
We spent some of the time in the casino. Overall we probably broke even through the week, but we
had a lot of fun playing.
We used the internet café almost every day because of the kids at home. On our second day the NCL
representative that works there gave us a punch card so that after 5 5-minute internet sessions we got
a free 20-minute session. We used our own AOL account so that we were only charged for the
.75/minute fee, and just e-mailed back and forth once a day. We let the kids know that we would be
on-line on Thursday night at a certain time so they could go on. We used the 20-minutes of free time
to instant message back and forth to the kids and Gramma and Grampa. After that I was able to relax
more and not worry about anyone at home.
SHORE EXCURSIONS We did the Sting Ray City tour at Grand Caymen. This was very good. Then
went on our own for very little shopping, on to lunch at Hard Rock Café and used the payphone for a
quick call home. We were back on the ship by 3:00. I guess we could have paid less by doing it on our
own but was more comfortable doing the excursions through NCL at least for our first time.
Ocho Rios We did the Best of Ocho Rios tour. Be prepared for extreme poverty. The Shaw Park and
Dunns River Falls part were definitely worth doing. The pictures we took at Shaw Park look like post
cards, they are so beautiful. Climbing the falls was fun, but you will get soaked!!!
Nassau We took a cab to Paradise Island, spent some time on the beach in front of the Radisson
Grand, right next door to Atlantis, then spent an hour in the Atlantis casino. We went back to the ship
by about 3:00 that day, too.
Private Island This was by far the most relaxing day. It was like Gilligan’s Island. We did the paddle
boat, my husband snorkeled, we ate, and the food was very good. We layed in a hammock and in the
beach chairs and read our books. It was a great way to spend our last day.
ENTERTAINMENT I think it is unanimous among all reviews that the entertainment on the SKY was
fantastic. We did not see every show because sometimes you just get too tired. Same with the midnight
buffets, we found it hard to stay up that late, and we had already eaten too much.
We didn’t realize how long we could relax the last morning before we would be called (by color) or we
would have lingered over our breakfast longer. Once we were called, debarkation moved right along
very smoothly. Again, from ship through customs and picking up luggage to the taxi within about 30
minutes.
Overall, this was the best vacation we’ve ever taken. It doesn’t compare to the trips to Disney with the
kids because it is a different kind of vacation. We spent a lot of quality time together, and by our
second day we were already planning for our next cruise. We will definitely do Norwegian again, and
depending on itineraries, probably the newest ship at the time. I don’t think we would do the same
itinerary again, just because it would be nice to see other places.
The cruise opinion sites and message boards were very helpful to me in our planning. I hope this can
be as helpful to other people.
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