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Name: Jeff Broadwick
Email: jlbroadwick@sprintmail.com
Age: 34
Occupation: Indirect Distribution Mgr.
NumberOfCruises: 5
TravelAgent: No
Ship: NCL-NorwegianStar
SailingDate: 3-29-98
Itinerary: Cozumel, Roatan, Missed Calica
FoodDiningRoom: 95
CruiseDirector: 50
CabinComfort: 80
FoodRoomService:
CruiseStaff: 85
CabinAmenities: 80
FoodLidoDeck: 80
DiningRoomService: 98
CabinQuietness: 50
FoodMidnightBuffets: 70
CabinSteward: 95
ShoreExcVariety: 100
FoodVariety: 100
DeckService: 95
ShoreExcValue: 90
GoodForHoneymoon:
CasinoStaff:
PrivateIsland:
GoodForFamilies:
LoungeService: 70
TenderService:
GoodForSeniors:
BeautySalonStaff: 90
EntertainmentLounges: 85
WheelchairAccess:
ExerciseFacilities: 75
EntertShowLounge: 80
OverallPortsofCall: 90
BeautySalon: 90
EntertainmentPoolside: 85
CruiseActivities: 70
Casino:
AirSeaProgram: 85
MedicalFacilities:
ShipCleanliness: 100
EmbarkDisembark: 85
DiscoNightclubs: 80
DeckSpace: 90
Stabilization: 90
ShopsOnBoard: 80
SpaceRatio: 90
OverallCruiseValue: 85
Submit: Submit Review
Date: 07 Apr 1998
Time: 20:29:46
Remote Name: 206.133.112.30
Remote User:
Comments
Let me preface this by saying that my wife and I had a very good
time. The service on the ship was outstanding, our waiter and
busboy were both
very diligent and helpful (and spoke English!). The cabin steward
was excellent. We were particularly impressed by the Dive-in
staff.
The maintenance problems on the ship were significant. The huge
generator (to keep the AC working)just aft of the pool area put
out a lot of diesel
smoke. So we just avoided that area. They were apparently having
a lot of difficulty with the plumbing. We saw them working on it
often. More
disturbing, we heard them working on it, often late at night. We
had to call the purser's office multiple times to get them to
knock it off one night. Our
plumbing worked pretty well.
We could not go to Calica, ostensibly because another cruise ship
had run aground in the entranceway. This was never confirmed. We
did miss the
opportunity to go to Xcaret and the other Mayan ruins. We didn't
mind too much because we got to spend more time in Cozumel. If
you ever go
there, try the La Choza restaurant in town. They all speak
English, and the food and service were terrific!
Our cruise was the first to get to Roatan in a month. The
islanders were delighted to see us and our US dollars! We didn't
get to see much of the
north side of the island, but what we did see was worth the
(harrowing)trip. The roads are mostly unpaved, dusty, narrow, and
downright dangerous
if you did not know the way. Our trip to Tabyana Bay Resort made
the whole cruise worthwhile. It was a beautiful place, almost
comparable to Trunk
Bay in St. John. The snorkeling was the best we have ever done.
You just walk out 40 feet from the beach, and you are in the
midst of the prettiest
reef I've ever seen. There are 3 levels. The first is 4-6 ft
deep, the next is 18-25 ft deep, and then there is a drop off to
50-60 feet. The effect is
awesome. We snorkeled for over two hours (my red back is
evidence). On the way back to the boat, we notice that the
islanders had erected
outhouses over the ocean! Fortunately, they are not allowed to do
that on the side of the island where you snorkel!
From Roatan, it was two days of fun in the sun returning to
Houston.
A few notes:
1. Don't expect much from the port in Houston. The ship is docked
between industrial container operations. 2. The cruise director
was almost never
seen other that at official functions. On previous cruises we
have enjoyed getting to know them quite well, because they were
everywhere. 3. We
enjoyed the return trip through the Gulf Oil fields. Maybe some
people would not, but we found the oil rigs fascinating. 4. The
trip from the dock to the
airport was made unnecessarily exciting due to some snafus with
the busses. Seems they were not where they were supposed to be.
In conclusion, if you go with your eyes wide open to the
shortcomings of the ship, you will have a good time! Don't pay
more than $1000 per
passenger + port taxes and airfare. Enjoy!
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