Note - this page contains multiple reviews.

Name: Josh Bruegger
Email: bruegger@swbell.net
Age: 23
Occupation: Police Officer
NumberOfCruises: 1
TravelAgent: No
Ship: NCL-Seaward
SailingDate: 07/11/99
Itinerary: Texaribbean-Cancun/Cozumel/Roatan
Cabin: 2153
FoodDiningRoom: 88
CruiseDirector: 95
CabinComfort: 89
FoodRoomService: 90
CruiseStaff: 95
CabinAmenities: 90
FoodLidoDeck: 85
DiningRoomService: 95
CabinQuietness: 90
FoodMidnightBuffets: 95
CabinSteward: 99
ShoreExcVariety: 85
FoodVariety: 90
DeckService: 90
ShoreExcValue: 80
GoodForHoneymoon: 95
CasinoStaff: 90
PrivateIsland:
GoodForFamilies: 90
LoungeService: 95
TenderService: 85
GoodForSeniors:
BeautySalonStaff: 90
EntertainmentLounges: 95
WheelchairAccess:
ExerciseFacilities: 85
EntertShowLounge: 98
OverallPortsofCall: 90
BeautySalon: 95
EntertainmentPoolside: 90
CruiseActivities: 90
Casino: 90
AirSeaProgram:
MedicalFacilities:
ShipCleanliness: 95
EmbarkDisembark: 90
DiscoNightclubs: 90
DeckSpace: 85
Stabilization: 90
ShopsOnBoard: 85
SpaceRatio: 90
OverallCruiseValue: 95
Submit: Submit Review
Date: 18 Jul 1999
Time: 20:47:01
Remote Name: ppp-207-193-227-73.hstntx.swbell.net
Remote User:

Comments

Introduction-This was my first cruise and I went with my wife for our honeymoon. The reason we chose this cruise was
because we live Houston and our close proximity to the dock.

Embarkation-From reading past reviews we decided not to arrive until 1:30 p.m. When we were dropped off we were
promptly greeted by someone to take our luggage for tips. Once inside the line appeared to be long but actually moved very
quickly. Within 10 minutes we checked in and were aboard the ship. I would not recommed arriving any earlier than 1:30,
because this allows a great majority of the passengers to already be on board and you do not have to fight the crowd. After
speaking with other fellow passengers they told me that when they started allowing people to board at 1:00 p.m. there was
a long line and lots of impatient people who had to be first on board. Once on board we were taken to our room by an NCL
crew member. We dropped our carry on baggage and began exploring the ship. They serve a light lunch in the Big Apple
Cafe and the Seven Seas Dinning Room. The ship was scheduled to leave port at 4:00 p.m. but did not actually leave until
5:00 p.m. This is not a big deal as there are plenty of activities going on around the ship especially near the pool. The
luggage is dropped at your door and it appeared that most passengers had received theirs by 6:30 p.m., though most
received theirs much earlier.

What to Pack-As mentioned in other reviews Sunday-Casual; Monday-Formal; Tuesday-Texaribbean/casual;
Wednesday-Caribbean/Casual; Thursday-50's/60's or casual; Friday-Formal; Saturday-Country/Western During the day you
can wear whatever. At night it states in the in several places throughout the ship that you are not allowed to wear shorts in
the dinning rooms or lounges after 6:00 p.m. Of course there always seems to be somebody who can not follow the rules. I
only saw this rule enforced once. Whlie waiting in line for the Gala Buffet a man in front of me had shorts on and was told
by dinning room staff that he was not allowed to enter with shorts. Participation in the theme nights was about 40% with the
exception of 50's/60's which was very low.

The Passengers-Like said in other reviews there are passengers from across the United States and Canada on board but I
would say that the vast majority were from either Texas, Oklahoma, or Louisiana. Also the average age did seem to be
middle aged to seniors. Being summer time there were lots of children on the cruise. The NCL staff does an excellent job
entertaining the children with activities and you rarely see them on board except for at night. There were plenty of activities
to suit all ages on board.

Room- We stayed in an inside stateroom on the 2nd deck. Again all rooms except for the suites are pretty much the same
size. I was told that an inside stateroom on the lower decks would minimize the rocking the of the ship we seemed to be
true. The higher up you were there seemed to be more rocking. My wife practically packed her whole wardrope and there
was plenty of cabinet and closet space for all of our clothes. The rooms are indeed small but adequate for the actual time
spent in there. I could not see paying the extra money for a stateroom with a window. I do not see myself sitting in my
room looking out the window. Also with an inside stateroom there was little light let in which allowed my wife and I to sleep
very well. I can not say enough about the room steward. He was wonderful. He always seemed to know when we were out
of our room so that he could go in and clean, provide ice or fresh towels, or make down the bed at night. As others have
complained about the announcements made via the loud speaker, I found the rather helpful not bothersome. The only time
the speaker in our room was utilized was for the life boat drill when we first boarded. Every morning at around 9:00 a.m. the
captain came over the speakers in the hallway and gave sailing information and facts which were very interesting. If you
were in your stateroom it was difficult to hear the announcements but you could turn the television in your room to in house
channels and hear the loud speaker announcements.

Service- I do not know were to start, since the service was so good. Everybody on board seemed to love their job and had
one thing on their mind and that was to make the passengers happy. I could go on and on about the service but I let you
find out for yourself how truely remarkable it is.

Food- There are two dinning rooms the Seven Seas and Four Seasons with main or late seating. We were assigned late
seating in the Four Seasons. Since we were on our honeymoon were sat with other honeymooners. Service in the dinning
room was excellent. The only thing I believe that NCL could improve is the food in the main dinning rooms. It is not that the
food is not good but you would order your food and it would arrive approximately 5-10 minutes later. I'm not sure but I
believe the food is made all at one time prior to the main seating and kept warm until it is served. The food was good and
there was quite a variety. On the final night of the cruise we ate Le Bistro wich is more quiet and romantic. If you take this
cruise you must eat here at least once. This was the best meal we ate on the ship. There is a nidnight buffet on the ship
somewhere every night but since we had just eaten at 9:00 p.m. it was difficult to eat again so soon. Do not miss the
Chocolate Midnight Buffet. If a person wanted to they could eat 24 hours a day. Whatever you do make sure you do not
miss dining at Le Bistro.

Activities/Shows- You can do as much as you want or you can just sit by the pool. I have never seen so many talented
entertainers in one week. Every night you will receive the Cruise News which tells you everything that is happening on board
the next day. A definite must see is Jane L. Powell, although here last cruise aboard this ship is July 18, 1999 becuase
she is being sent to Europe to entertain guests on the new NCL ship set to sail on its maiden voyage in August. There was
a comedian named Fred Klett who was very funny and performed two nights. Another must see is Doug Anderson who
performs two nights of the cruise. He is a comedian/magician and is very talented. The two broadway shows Grease and
Sea Legs were also very entertaining. There is something for everyone aboard. There is ususally other bands performing in
the other lounges throughout the ship.

Honeymoon Package- This was an excellent honeymoon. We paid for the deluxe honeymoon package with which we
revieved a bottle of champagne in our room, flowers, a bottle of wine while dinning at Le Bistro, 25 miniute massages for
myself and my wife, breakfast in bed, and other food delivered to our room everyday through out the week. This was an
excellent package and would recommend it to all honeymooners.

Excersions- From reading other reviews we decided to go on our own rather than taking the ships tours. I found this to be
excellent and would recommend it to everyone else. I must caution not to loose track of time because the ship left all ports
of call on time regardless if everyone was on or not.

Cancun- At this port of call the ship has to anchor in the bay because the water is too shallow. From what I have heard this
is a frequently missed port due to the water levels. The captain said the seas must be dead calm to anchor in. I did not
enjoy this port. The first reason is the fact that you must tender ashore. The first group was tendered ashore at 1:00 p.m.
We were on the second which left at about 2:15 p.m. The tender takes about 30 minutes to get you to shore. Once here we
took a taxi to the shopping areas (The Forum). This city is very commericalized and all the merchants pester you to come
in to their store. Most of the stores all contain the same things. Once you have gone in about three stores you have seen
everything. Make sure you do not pay full price for anything in Cancun. It is customary to bargain and usually you end up
paying 1/4 of the starting price.

Cozumel- We ported in cozumel around 6:00 a.m. and no tenders were needed. Since we docked so early passengers got
off at their leisure when they woke up and ate breakfast so there was not a mad rush to be the first off like their seemed to
be at the other ports of call. We brought our own snorkeling gear and took a taxi ($7) to Chankanab. It cost us $7 per
person to get in which was well worth it. Chandanab is a government run area. There is a botanical garden with Mayan
ruins, a beach, and an area with dolphins. There are showers, and lockers as well. You can rent snorkeling gear here if
needed. As soon as go down stairs into the water it drops off and you are in 10 feet of water. The snorkeling was excellent
as there is lots of marine life to view. After a couple hours we took a taxi back to the ship where he took showers and
freshened up then went shopping. The shopping is in walking distance from the ship.

Roatan- Of all the ports this was the best by far. We arrived at 9:00 a.m. This island is rather primitive and untouched. This
is a nice change from Cancum and Cozumel since they are so commercialized. I read another review and took the advise.
We went to Anthony's Key but were told it was a private area and we had to leave. Our taxi took us to Half Moon Bay which
ended up being excellent, there was no fee to sit on the beach at this resort. As soon as you enter the water there is a
large reef full of marine life and fish that swin toward you. There was also a restaurant and bar that were both priced very
well. I was told the bugs are bad in Roatan but I did not find this to be the case at Half Moon Bay. Other guests said there
were insects in other parts of the island. Make sure you bring bug spray from home because it is $8 on the ship. As
mentioned in other reviews when you hire a taxi in Roatan it is for the day and they usually charge $10-$15 a person.

A note about NCL. In all their seminars about the ship about the ports of call they make you believe that there will be
nothing to do at the ports of call unless you sign up for their shore excursions. Many of the ships excusions went to the
same places we did for less than half the price. Even if you do not speak Spanish most of the taxi drivers speak English
and can get you where you need to go.

Disembarkation-This was the saddest part of the entire trip. On Saturday a seminar is given on debarkation procedures. If
you do not make the meeting it is replayed on the television in your room. This information is very helpful and will prevent
lots of headaches. I noticed that others complained about disembarkation procedures but it is probably because they did
not get the information from the meeting. We were the fourth group off and we disembarked at 10:00 a.m.

Overall-An excellent vactation. NCL provided the best service ever. As a matter of fact I booked a cruise for next summer
while aboard this cruise and saved $500.

Name: Larry Kahan
Email: punchers@ctec.net
Age: 50
Occupation: retired
NumberOfCruises: 9
TravelAgent: No
Ship: NCL-Seaward
SailingDate: 5/23/99
Itinerary: Texaribbean
FoodDiningRoom: 98
CruiseDirector: 100
CabinComfort: 99
FoodRoomService:
CruiseStaff: 100
CabinAmenities: 100
FoodLidoDeck: 97
DiningRoomService: 99
CabinQuietness: 100
FoodMidnightBuffets: 100
CabinSteward: 99
ShoreExcVariety: 96
FoodVariety: 99
DeckService: 99
ShoreExcValue: 90
GoodForHoneymoon:
CasinoStaff:
PrivateIsland:
GoodForFamilies: 96
LoungeService: 100
TenderService:
GoodForSeniors:
BeautySalonStaff:
EntertainmentLounges: 99
WheelchairAccess:
ExerciseFacilities: 99
EntertShowLounge: 100
OverallPortsofCall: 95
BeautySalon:
EntertainmentPoolside: 100
CruiseActivities: 99
Casino:
AirSeaProgram:
MedicalFacilities:
ShipCleanliness: 99
EmbarkDisembark: 99
DiscoNightclubs:
DeckSpace: 96
Stabilization: 96
ShopsOnBoard: 98
SpaceRatio: 99
OverallCruiseValue: 99
Submit: Submit Review
Date: 02 Jun 1999
Time: 16:18:06
Remote Name: firewallii-i.nrtc.net
Remote User:

Comments

The good thing about our cruise on the M/S Norwegian Sea on 5/23/99 was just about everything. The
bad thing about our cruise was that they made you get off. Yes,as the ratings above indicate we loved this
cruise.Itwas 110 percent better than our cruise on the Star two years ago, 6/15/97, and even though we
enjoyed it, this cruise absolutly washed that cruise over board. This was our ninth cruise, seventh in the
past ten years, and our fifth on NCL. Other cruises we have been on are Royal Caribbean Int., Premier,
and Commodoronce each. So that you don't get bored while reading this review, I will just go over the the
categories grouping then together, the cabin, food, etc. If I did not do this you would be here all night while
I rant and rave about the cruis, which I would like to do.

Food-The dining room food was excellent with a
fresh salad each night and the shrimp tasted like it had just been hauled up from the sea. The Big Apple
Cafe is open twenty-four hours a day and has great buffets for breakfast and lunch. Brekfast consisted of
around five kinds of cereal, scrambled eggs and the usual fare. Lunch was hamburger or
cheeseburger,french fries, along with different kinds of salads each day and, again, the usual fare. We
were only able to stay up long enough for the Gala buffet. Only one suggetion here folks, Get here at
11:15. We got ther at around 11:40 and we were almost at the end of Park Avenue, check the map of the
ship for exact location, and were in and out by 12:50. People were still at the doors waiting to get in line.
Not to worry though as there is plenty of food, I mean plenty. The other themed midnight buffets are the
Chocoholic Extravaganza, the Texaribean Buffet, the Caribbean Buffet, and the Farewell Buffet. We were
in the Four Seasons Dining Room at table number 136 located just of center.

Our waiter was very good,
considering that we were a rowdy table of eight and he had at least three other tables of at least that size
to also take care of. Our busboy was almost too effecient. Just when I got the tea and sugar just right, I
found myself pouring on more sugar. Oh well, he kept the table as clean as it could be and did his job just
fine. Ports of call, Shore Exc.-We never got off in Cancun, but had a great time with the ship basically to
our selves. We just hung around the pool, ate ice cream (Lickety Splits is usually open from 1-3 in the
afternoon), had a nice picture taking session (be warned! pictures are expensive), and played games in
the card room. We heard that Cancun wasn't that great from other passengers and we figured we had
more fun on the ship. We were one of only three ships in Cozumel (Carnivals Escatsy and Sensation were
also there in case you're wondering), and all three ships were able to dock. We took the Dolphin
Encounter offered by the ship.

Be warned, howevever, the price jumped thirty dollars from the book we
recieved prior to sailing. The 89$ included transportation which is 10$, entry into the park which is 5$,thirty
minutes with the dolphins of course, and two hours of snorkling in the park. I guess this is a reasonable
price considering NCL makes nearly nothing off this. Take a 20$ bill along as they take a picture when the
dolphin kisses you. If you want a better deal, take along a disposable camera. The ones on board the ship
cost around nineteen dollars. We had to buy one on the ship and paid the price, literally. Our table mates
said the shopping was great. Be sure to take sunscreen. It was 95 F outside and we were not even out of
May yet. We had taken the Tabyana Beach tour on our previous cruise and loved it. We loved it again. Big
advice, take the 9:15 am tour. It sold out by Wednesday,we were one of the first ones there. You get all
the shade if you get there first, plus the advantage of seeing the coral in all it's glory. The buffet lunch was
better than last time.I still think NCL could do a better job on the food. Cruise Activities/director/staff-I
never saw any body bored. I guess that sums up the activities. John, the Cruise Director, kept everything
going smooth.

I never found the announcements over done. They were quite informative and he allways
did an excellent job. This was the first time I've ever seen the host/hostess do anything. At least one of
them was at all the activities and they did an A+ job at everything. Once our toilet clogged up, as fifty
rooms are on the same pipeline, and the job was finished within fourt minutes. We were eating, again, at
the Big Apple and when we came back there was a note under our door telling us that if the toilet still did
not flush to call the front desk up right away and they would personally make sure the job was done. Talk
about service! Cabin-We were in cabin 8204 on Norway Deck 8. The category A oceanview stateroom
hadtelevision set, safe, bathroom with shower/tub, and a partially obstructed view. The view did not bother
us though, as we basically spent all our time in other parts of the ships, and there was a big window right
down th hall. Our Cabin Steward did a great job as everything was always shining and clean. It was a cozy
cabin but still had enough room for everyone.

We could hear the bell that anounced that a message was
coming over the PA system, but you could never hear the message. The bell, however, could barely be
heard and never bothered us. Deck and Lounge Service-The service poolside was excellent, however,
sometimes they never made it in to the shade so you had to flag one down. The lounge service was very
good, and they deserve every sent of the 15%gratuity added on to your bill. Ship Cleanliness/Deck
Space/Space Ratio/Stabilization-Every two days, we just happened to catch someone polishing the hand
rails. The carpet was always clean and you could always see outside.Deckspace would have been a 100 if
I wouldn't have seen some people wander around for five minutes before finding two chairs next to each
other. There was plenty of room every where else on deck to watch the sea go by or count the stars.
Inside the ship there was plenty of room for everybody.

Stabilization was not a problem. Only on Thursday
when we were going top speed and the waves were high was there a problem. Nobody was sick, and
infact, everybody was laughing about it, but just about everyone had a problem walking with out banging
into a wall. Entertainment-We only ventured into the Stardust Lounge three times. I never saw a problem
with the band, Cobalt Blue, and neither did anybody else as the dance floor was always pretty crowded.
The band poolside, Joy, should be in Las Vegas. Don't tell me they belong on a cruise ship. We asked in
the gift shop about their recordings, and they said that they had sold out in one cruise three months ago
and that the band had never bothered to get any more! The entertainment in the Cabaret Lounge should
had been a 500 instead of a 100, but I will say that they were great anway. How they were able to nab
singer Karen Saunders and comedian/magican Doug Anderson is out of my range of thought. Both
recieved well deserved ovations and split the performance the last night. Not to be out done, The Jean
Ann Ryan Company brought down the house all three times. If you want to have a good seat, get there at
eight for those of you in mainseating.

For those of you in late seating get there an hour before show time.
If you don't want to stand in line every night, I strongly suggest you get there an hour early for the three
productions. I never saw Sam Griesbaum so I can't comment on him. Be warned, the four main singers
took all the credit the night of their last show. The two dancers who make all the fancy spins and stuff that
makes you dizy just looking at them should get all the credit, and did on our cruise.
Embark/Disembark-Since we live about five hours away, including stops to eat, fill up on gas, and get lost,
and the nearest airport is about two hours thirty minutes away, not including getting the baggage checked
in and all that other stuff that acompanies air travel, we just decided to drive. We drove to Houston on
Saturday the 23rd and arrived at La Quinta Inn La Porte around two. The Inn is about three blocks away
from the road that leads to the terminal. If you stay in La Porte, I suggest eating at Baytown Brewery in
Kemah. Just follow the sighns. If you want to eat at Landrys or Joes Crab Sack, plan on eating dinner at
four as it gets really, really crowded by five thirty.

All restraunts just about have the same view and
Baytown Brewery was secluded and not that crowded. We arrived at the terminal at 11:38am and were on
the ship by 12:08pm. This was because we were Latitudes members and the whole terminal was packed to
the top. We were taken to the Big Apple Cafe, with our carry-ons to get a head start on the
WelcomeAboard Buffet and were alowed to go to our rooms by one. Since we had green cards,and green
cards are let off last, we did not get off the ship until 10:17am and were not on the road till 10:57am.
This,however, was not NCLs fault as customs was very slow. Over All Cruise Value-This was a great cruise
for the whole family. For those of you dieting,food is available 24 hours a day in the Big Apple Cafe, and
there is a Spa Cuisine on the dinner menu! NCL has done a great job out of Houston. Parents need to
read the Cruise News. More than once we saw two kids going up and down in the elevator and according
to the Regulations no one under sixteen is allowed in the elevator without adult supervision. This was a
great cruise and we had a great time.

Name: Jennifer White
Email: white5@iamerica.net
Age: 35
Occupation: Homemaker
NumberOfCruises: 1
TravelAgent: No
Ship: NCL-Seaward
SailingDate: 5/2/99
Itinerary: Cancun - Cozumel - Roatan
FoodDiningRoom: 95
CruiseDirector: 90
CabinComfort: 80
FoodRoomService:
CruiseStaff: 90
CabinAmenities: 85
FoodLidoDeck: 80
DiningRoomService: 95
CabinQuietness: 95
FoodMidnightBuffets: 95
CabinSteward: 95
ShoreExcVariety: 95
FoodVariety: 90
DeckService: 95
ShoreExcValue: 70
GoodForHoneymoon: 85
CasinoStaff:
PrivateIsland:
GoodForFamilies:
LoungeService: 85
TenderService: 85
GoodForSeniors:
BeautySalonStaff:
EntertainmentLounges: 85
WheelchairAccess:
ExerciseFacilities: 85
EntertShowLounge: 95
OverallPortsofCall: 90
BeautySalon:
EntertainmentPoolside: 85
CruiseActivities: 90
Casino:
AirSeaProgram:
MedicalFacilities:
ShipCleanliness: 85
EmbarkDisembark: 80
DiscoNightclubs: 90
DeckSpace: 90
Stabilization: 90
ShopsOnBoard: 95
SpaceRatio: 85
OverallCruiseValue: 90
Submit: Submit Review
Date: 04 Jun 1999
Time: 18:35:19
Remote Name: 1cust86.tnt1.ruston.la.da.uu.net
Remote User:

Comments

This was our first cruise and we had looked forward to it for months. I was a little disappointed in the dock
at Houston. This is the only cruise ship that docks there and it is a very industrial area. However,
embarkation went smoothly and we were soon in our cabin. We had an inside cabin on the Biscayne Deck
2 and it was small, but there was plenty of storage and we settled in quickly. I must say that I am prone to
claustrophobia and was a little concerned about not having a window, but it ended up not bothering me at
all. Also, it is very dark in the inside cabins and that was perfect for those midday naps.

The dining experience on board was wonderful. Our waiter, Riley, and busboy, Nick, did a great job. We
were seated at a table for twelve and enjoyed all of our table mates. The food was very good and I tried
various dishes. The vegetarian entrees and fish were great. The only meal that was disappointing was the
Texas T-bone. We also ate one evening in Le Bistro and enjoyed that very much. Our waiter, Juan, was
very attentive and the food was wonderful. We would have liked to dine there at least one other evening,
but we enjoyed our table mates in the dining room so much that we decided to eat our other meals there.
We went to two of the midnight buffets - the Chocoholics and the Gala Buffet - and they were amazing. I'd
love to be able to watch the chefs prepare all that awesome food!

We enjoyed the entertainment and ended up going to most of the shows. We did miss one of the
comedians and the production 'Sea Legs.' Jane L. Powell is terrific and is not to be missed. She knows
how to involve the audience and is a delight to watch and hear. We enjoyed the production of 'Grease' as
well as the other production by the dance troupe.

As far as the ports are concerned, we did not go on any of the shore excursions offered by NCL. In
Cancun we opted to share a taxi with another couple from our table and went to one of the beaches in
front of a nice hotel. The beaches are public property, so you can use any of them, but the chairs are
owned by the hotels and you will be asked to move if you plant yourself on them. We ended up doing
some shopping at the Forum, but didn't buy much. Beware of the Mexican restaurant there - we bought
two margaritas and two beers and ended up paying $40.00 for them (without any food!). In Cozumel we
ended up shopping at Los Cincos Soles and purchasing some nice items, then had nachos and drinks in
the restaurant connected to the store (Pancho's Backyard). This time the our bill was much more
reasonable and it was a nice place to relax (they have a beautiful courtyard). We took a taxi to one of the
beaches and rented snorkeling equipment for $7.00 per person. The fish were amazing and obviously
used to being around people. In Roatan we had arranged to go to Paya Bay Resort, which was
recommended by another reviewer. Meeting our driver was somewhat confusing, since he had no sign or
lettering on his van, but we finally ascertained that he indeed was the person who was supposed to meet
us and we were on our way. Paya Bay is very nice and my husband and I had the beach to ourselves.
However, I was a little disappointed that we were unable to snorkel. The resort is on the windward side of
the island and the water is rough. We did enjoy being away from the crowds, though, and we had a
wonderful lunch of wahoo and vegetables. Be forewarned that the ride there is at least 45 minutes (some
of it over unpaved roads).

The few negatives that I would like to point out are these: one of the mattresses in our cabin was badly
contoured and needed replacing (hopefully this is being done since I've read this complaint in a few other
reviews) and the fact that we were unable to disembark for several hours after docking. This was due to
the fact that we had driven to the dock ourselves and didn't need NCL's bus transportation. I understand
NCL's allowing people with early flights to disembark first, but there were people with flights that didn't
leave for six hours that were allowed to get off the ship before we were. It was frustrating to be able to see
our vehicle in the parking lot and not be able to get to it. However, we made the best of it and visited in the
lounge with our table mates that were from Houston.

I would highly recommend this cruise to anyone who is looking for a good value, great food, and wonderful
entertainment. I'm sure that there are other ships that are newer and more glittery, but we thoroughly
enjoyed our vacation. It was the most relaxing trip we've ever taken and we look forward to many more
cruises.

Name: John Kidwell
Email: Farm175@aol.com
Age: 53
Occupation: School teacher
NumberOfCruises: 4
TravelAgent: No
Ship: NCL-Seaward
SailingDate: 05/30/1999
Itinerary: Texaribbean
FoodDiningRoom: 85
CruiseDirector: 90
CabinComfort: 80
FoodRoomService:
CruiseStaff: 90
CabinAmenities: 80
FoodLidoDeck: 80
DiningRoomService: 85
CabinQuietness: 80
FoodMidnightBuffets: 91
CabinSteward: 87
ShoreExcVariety: 95
FoodVariety: 95
DeckService: 100
ShoreExcValue: 85
GoodForHoneymoon:
CasinoStaff:
PrivateIsland:
GoodForFamilies: 90
LoungeService: 100
TenderService: 95
GoodForSeniors: 95
BeautySalonStaff: 90
EntertainmentLounges: 90
WheelchairAccess:
ExerciseFacilities: 95
EntertShowLounge: 95
OverallPortsofCall: 85
BeautySalon: 90
EntertainmentPoolside:
CruiseActivities: 85
Casino:
AirSeaProgram:
MedicalFacilities:
ShipCleanliness: 100
EmbarkDisembark: 95
DiscoNightclubs:
DeckSpace: 90
Stabilization: 90
ShopsOnBoard: 85
SpaceRatio: 90
OverallCruiseValue: 95
Submit: Submit Review
Date: 14 Jun 1999
Time: 21:26:33
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Comments

This cruise fulfilled a long-standing promise to our niece Leigha (age 18), that we would take her on a
cruise for her high school graduation. Also along with my wife, Phyllis, and I were two of Leigha's friends,
(both 17), and her brother Phil (age 16).

Living in East Texas influenced the selection of this cruise line and ship. We have only a three and a
half-hour drive to the port and with this many people the expense of flying would have hurt. So, early
Sunday morning we loaded up the Suburban and laughed all the way to the Port of Houston.

Embarkation was a breeze. Since we are Latitudes members we were able to board an hour early and
were escorted to the Big Apple Café for lunch by the Latitudes hostess, Liz Redley. Liz also helped me
with a snafu concerning our dining room assignments. (They had the girls in one dining room and us in
another.) And, when I say she helped me I mean that, while the others were getting lunch, she and I went
down to the dining room and reported the error to the Maitre d' immediately. Later in the afternoon we had
our new and correct table assignment. At 1:00 as the rest of the passengers were boarding we were in our
cabins unpacking.

I booked the cruise last October reserving category I inside cabin 6100 on the Promenade Deck for the
three girls and for Phil, Phyllis and I, Category B outside deluxe oceanview stateroom 6041, just across the
area from the aft elevator and stairwell. I had read reviews lamenting the small cabins on the Sea, and,
being a big guy had prepared myself for the worst. Cabin 6041 had plenty of room and the pull-down 3rd
person bunk was very sturdy and accommodated Phil's 6-ft. height with ease and comfort. The girl's cabin
was small but they never complained, even after dressing 'to the nines' for both formal nights. The only
drawback to the cabins, for me, was the small size of the shower stall. (I will share my secret remedy later.)

After unpacking, we were anxious to explore and found the ship very easy to maneuver from one place to
the other. We found the elevators especially handy and fast, albeit small, compared to other ships we
have sailed. On Main Deck (4) the Crystal Court (a nice open area with a two-deck fountain), holds the
Purser's Desk and the Shore Excursion Desk. Just aft of that is the Four Seasons Dining Room and
further aft, the Seven Seas Dining Room. Both are bright and visually open with glass paned walls. The
show lounges, photo gallery, shops and casino are on International Deck (5). During time in ports when
the Casino is closed this deck is blocked between the two show lounges.

The Sea's bragging rights come with the Pool and Sun Decks (9 and 10.) On the Pool Deck there are two
large swimming pools and two hot tubs. I tried to count the chaise lounges but I kept being distracted. Rest
assured there is more than enough. The waiters on this deck must have been track stars in high school,
as they seemed to be everywhere at once. They charge for the drinks, but the cool sprays from their spritz
bottles are free and very welcome. The top deck holds three of the best surprises aboard. The first is the
Le Bistro Restaurant, an evening alternative to the main dining rooms. The second is Gatsby's, the martini
and cigar bar, and lastly, the fitness center. I'll describe the first two in detail later in the review. The fitness
center is open at all hours so you can work out whenever you want. But the real treat here is the surprise I
promised to reveal earlier as a remedy to the small showers in the cabins. Connected to the fitness center
are the men's and ladies lockers, a sauna for each and, (are you ready for this?) two real people sized
showers. After I found these, I showered there every morning after our workout. I also showered there one
evening so I assume one could use these anytime.

The thing that impressed me the most was the cleanliness of the entire ship and I told Captain Strom as
much at his cocktail reception Monday evening. The crew was unobtrusively cleaning something night and
day.

I'll say more about specific areas of the ship later. The ports-of-call are, in my opinion, good, better and
best in that order. Cancún is a thirty-year-old resort city built for American tourists and the kids loved it.
We took a suburban from the tender landing to the Forum Mall where I bought Phyllis a diamond ring and
we had lunch at The Hard Rock Café. Everyone was happy! The cab ride back was more exciting than any
amusement park ride. There was a thunderstorm and deluge of rain as we were boarding the tender back
to the ship. It was a little scary but the shore crew and tender crew handled it very well. We were all
transported safe and sound in plenty of time for a shower and short rest before a martini at the
no-smoking table in Gatsby's.

'If it's Wednesday this must be Cozumel'. Here we were able to dock at a pier near the center of town.
Later that morning the Norwegian Leeward joined us at the same dock. It was overwhelming when we
walked ashore between these two leviathan vessels. We chose to do our own thing here as we had on
Cancún. The suburban drivers here wanted a set fee for an island tour so we were forced to enlist two
cabs as they were small and we were large. We had some personal shopping to do so we had the cabs
take us to a pharmacy and a couple of other shops looking for hats. Then they drove us to Chankanab
National Park, about a ten-minute drive from downtown along the shore. The park has beautiful beaches
where snorkeling gear is only five dollars a day. There is a reef right near the shore that is great for
beginners or anyone for that matter. The kids even talked Phyllis and I into getting fitted with gear and
joining them. We loved it! (We have already agreed that on our next trip we will sign up for one of the
snorkeling excursions.) After a nice lunch in an open pavilion restaurant, we looked through some of the
shops in the park. Cabs back to the pier were readily available and reasonable (eight dollars per cab, I
think). The girls got their hair braided and beaded for thirty dollars each at a market area near downtown
before returning to the ship. (They paid too much; it was much more reasonable on Roatan.) We sailed
away from Cozumel in a light rain at dusk. A beautiful sight, especially from our no-smoking table in
Gatsby's martini bar.

Let me interject here my description of one of our favorite diversions. Gatsby's is a very cozy little piano
bar where 'everybody knows your name.' It's designation as a cigar bar may scare some of us
non-smokers off but we never were grossly offended by cigar smoke. The ambience is very relaxing and
the view is wonderful. And, yes, there is a no-smoking table right by the grand piano. After our first night at
Gatsby's, our waitress, Rebecca Lleno, knew our order by heart and always addressed us by name.
Watching sunsets from our table in Gatsby's is heaven.

This itinerary saves the best for last. Roatan and its people were an absolute delight. As the ship neared
the dock, Phyllis and I watched a small band of musicians and dancers preparing to welcome us. One
dancer was exuberantly urging the younger members of the group to be their best. As the gangway was
extended, they cheerfully began their singing and dancing and continued throughout the day urging the
passengers to join in their revelry. Honduras is one of the most economically impoverished nations in
Central America yet; we saw no beggars or bothersome vendors. There is a market area a short distance
from the ship. It is obvious that they value and appreciate the Norwegian Sea and her passengers. We
were told that only one other line calls here (Premier), and that Norwegian passengers outspend them two
to one.

Roatan was the site of our only shore excursion; the dolphin encounter at Anthony's Key Resort. The
shore excursion personnel had arranged for and prepaid cabs to take us on the thirty-minute scenic ride
to the resort. It was an idyllic setting for a most exhilarating experience. To hug and kiss on a five
hundred-pound dolphin named Rita was an encounter of another kind. Phyllis and I agreed that this was
the highlight of the trip and an experience the kids will never forget. This excursion is always the first to
sellout, so here's another secret remedy. As you board on Sunday afternoon, go directly to the Shore
Excursion Desk, (it's right there in the Crystal Court where you enter.) There are some Shore Excursion
Order forms on the counter and a large ballot-type box. Just fill out the form and slip it in the box.
Excursions are filled on a first-come basis and the 'box' goes first. You can stop by the desk later in the
afternoon and pickup your tickets.

Leaving Roatan was bittersweet. It was the last port of the cruise, and the loveliest in my opinion, but we
still had three nights and two days at sea to enjoy before arriving back in Houston. Thursday night
features the Jean Ann Ryan Company starring in a production of the Broadway musical, 'Grease.' The
script is abbreviated yet retains the essential story line and the popular musical score. Talent abounds in
this small cast and our girls were agog with the choreography, especially the gyrating pelvises of the male
dancers. (How did they know to get there early to get seats on the front row? Go figure.)

Entertainment offerings on other nights were well done but not the caliber of 'Grease.' The comedy/magic
acts, while somewhat hokey for me, kept Phil rolling in the aisles.

Every review seems to call for an appraisal of the dining choices and cuisine offered in each. Even
though, we all know we are going to gain seven pounds during the week, we like to hear how good that
seven pounds is going to taste. In this category, as with the itinerary, I will classify as good, better and
best.

The Big Apple Café, on the Pool Deck (9), served good food just about anytime of day. Coffee, tea, fruit
juices and ice are available twenty-four hours. A full breakfast is served from 7:30 am to 10:30 am for an
all-you-can-eat feast of unlimited pancakes, bacon, sausage, grits and eggs. Starting at 8:30 an omelet
station is open. A buffet lunch is also served and a Pizza Bar opens at 2:00pm until 1:00am. The food
served here is well prepared, served hot and generally good. The downside to the Big Apple is the long
lines at peak mealtimes.

I judge the main dining rooms to be in the 'better' category. We were assigned to the Four Seasons Dining
Room at a table for ten. Noticing some very familiar dishes, I soon realized that the menus for a seven-day
voyage on any Norwegian vessel are the same. Tuesday's menu on the Norway is the same as Tuesday's
menu on the Sea. On the galley tour we learned that the provisioning for all Norwegian ships is bought
and flown from Miami to the ships' homeports, even those in Europe. I'm sure this practice assures
uniformity and a high standard of quality, but yields a fare that lacks originality and creativity. To their
credit, the dining rooms serve approximately 1500 hungry vacationers in less than four hours. I must
commend the lobster. The best I've ever had. A tip to the hungry; order a double serving of lobster when
first ordering. If you ask for more later you may miss out. Remember if you are not going to be eating in
the dining room on Saturday night, don't forget to tip your waiter and busboy.

Again, I've saved the best for last. Le Bistro Restaurant, the other surprise on the Sun Deck (10) is one of
the best-kept secrets of the 'Sea.' Unlike the alternative restaurants on other ships, where reservations
are necessary, the Sea's Le Bistro is first-come, first-serve. But, since few seek it out, there never seems
to be a problem getting a table. Sharing the aft section with Gatsby's and the Observatory Lounge, this
small but elegant café excels in great cuisine coupled with great service. Our first visit there was on
Tuesday evening. The girls had a rough day in Cancún, so decided to order room service, (I think they
just liked the idea of room service), so Phyllis, Phil and I ventured to Le Bistro. We arrived about 7:30 and
were seated immediately at a table next to the glass wall looking over the sea. Our waiter was Alejandro
Arancibia of Chile. His demeanor was so cordial that I felt we were friends within minutes. The menu is
totally different from the dining rooms. That night, we all had the 'catch of the day'; a perfectly grilled Mahi
Mahi with an ample serving of sculpted fresh vegetables, one of which Alejandro had to identify. It was a
grilled wedge of pumpkin that was wonderful. This restaurant has the originality and creativity that the
main dining rooms lack. This was further evidenced by our Caesar Salad with fresh baked croutons, and
Phil's dessert of Crepes Suzette, both prepared at the table by Alejandro. We dined here two more times
with our whole entourage. One evening the girls became quite excited as we were dining next to the male
star of 'Grease'. One note on dining in Le Bistro; the food is included just as it would be if you were dining
in the main dining rooms but, a gratuity of five dollars per person is customary. You will just sign a ticket
for this charging it to your on-board account. We found the service to be so good that we tipped a little
more.

Sadly, Saturday evening did arrive. So to dull the reality of a wonderful vacation coming to an end, we sat
quietly at our no-smoking table in Gatsby's Cigar and Martini Bar, enjoying one last visit (and martini) with
Rebecca Lleno. Then, (surely you know the rest), we walked across the 'Sea' to Le Bistro for another
wonderful meal and to bid Alejandro a 'vaya con dios.' We will return.

Name: Lonny Martinez
Email: lmarti98@cybertrails.com
Age: 32
Occupation: Professional
NumberOfCruises: 1
TravelAgent: No
Ship: NCL-Seaward
SailingDate: 7/4/99
Itinerary: Texaribbean (Cancun-Cozumel-Roatan)
FoodDiningRoom: 95
CruiseDirector: 100
CabinComfort: 90
FoodRoomService:
CruiseStaff: 100
CabinAmenities: 90
FoodLidoDeck: 75
DiningRoomService: 100
CabinQuietness: 90
FoodMidnightBuffets: 95
CabinSteward: 95
ShoreExcVariety: 99
FoodVariety: 80
DeckService: 90
ShoreExcValue: 85
GoodForHoneymoon: 95
CasinoStaff: 90
PrivateIsland:
GoodForFamilies: 95
LoungeService: 90
TenderService: 85
GoodForSeniors:
BeautySalonStaff: 95
EntertainmentLounges: 95
WheelchairAccess:
ExerciseFacilities: 70
EntertShowLounge: 99
OverallPortsofCall: 80
BeautySalon: 90
EntertainmentPoolside: 95
CruiseActivities: 93
Casino: 95
AirSeaProgram: 89
MedicalFacilities:
ShipCleanliness: 88
EmbarkDisembark: 90
DiscoNightclubs: 70
DeckSpace: 95
Stabilization: 99
ShopsOnBoard: 85
SpaceRatio: 90
OverallCruiseValue: 95
Submit: Submit Review
Date: 12 Jul 1999
Time: 18:36:26
Remote Name: nt242.apsc.com
Remote User:

Comments

This was my wife's and my first cruise. We chose this particular cruise because flying to Houston seemed better (and a lot
less hassle)than flying to Miami or San Juan. We had no expectation or preconceived ideas about how a cruise should be.
We are hooked and will plan cruise vacations from now on.

We took advantage of Norwegian's Air/Sea package and were very impressed with how well organized everything was at the
airport. We flew into Bush Intercontinental and there was quite a bit of construction going on at the airport itself. We were
both really glad we had someone there to guide us through the detours.

Once we got to the ship, the embarkation process was very fast. We were off the bus and onto to ship in 15 minutes. We
arrived just as the lifeboat drill was finishing up, so we did not get to participate. WE were directed to our cabin, which we
found easily and went to find the swimming pools. We went directly to the pool deck, ordered a few drinks and waited to
leave Houston. We stayed on the pool deck for about 2 hours enjoying the music and activities. We went to our cabin to
change for dinner and found our luggage had arrived. We had a standard outside cabin. Although the cabin is small, we did
not plan to spend a lot of time there except for sleeping and showering. There is plenty of storage space for clothes and the
suitcases fit underneath the beds fine. One word of advise here -- Don't overpack. We packed too many clothes and ended
up bringing about half of them home without being worn. We usually wore our swimsuits during the day with a t-shirt or
cover-up when we weren't by the pool. Our shore excursions involved snorkling and being in the water, so it was swimsuits
again.

Food -- We had late seating in the Four Season's dining room. William (our waiter) and Felix (our Busboy) were excellent. I
hope that you have them serving you if you go on this cruise. The selection of food was great. I'm usually a meat and
potatoes man, but I tried many new foods that looked good on the plate and tasted very good. We usually ate breakfast and
dinner in the Four Seasons dining room because the food was better. The Big Apple Cafe is a 24 hour buffet type
restaurant. The pizza here was good, but not much else. It is typical school cafeteria food. Eat here only if you like pizza or
are absolutely starving and anything sounds good. We ate at local restuarants when we were at the different ports of call. If
you are the adventurous type, you should try it. You might be pleasantly surprised.

Ports of Call--- Cancun: We chose to do our own thing in Cancun. We went shopping and hung out on the beach. The water
is beautiful and crystal clear. The shopping is not so great. I think that this place has become too commercialized. They
have a mall there that is like any mall in America with The Rain Forest Cafe, The Hard Rock Cafe, Reebok, etc. The prices
were comparable to what they are here in the U.S. I would not go back to Cancun again if I could help it.

Cozumel: We did our own thing here also. We took a taxi ($7.00 each way) to Chankanaab national park. It's about 8 miles
south of the pier where the boat docks. All of the shops and restaurants are right off the pier. Once there, we paid the
entrance fee ($7.00 per person) and rented snorkling equipment ($5.00 per person) and were off and running. We walked
right into the water and started snorkling. The water is crystal clear and the coral reefs are beautiful. There were a lot of fish
that are used to having people around because they would swim right up to you. Absolutely beautiful. This park also has
botanical gardens, a protected lagoon, and a dolphin encounter. After several hours sand, sun, and snorkling we took a cab
back to the shopping district. We ate lunch at a local place and set out to spend our hard earned cash. Save your shopping
for Cozumel. You can get a better bargain here than in Cancun. It was also a lot of fun to haggle with the shop owners. We
headed back to the ship with full bags and nice tans. Most people that went on the cruise lines excursions were surprised
to hear our tales about the amount of fist we swam with. Some people did not see any and thier snorkling excursions.

Roatan: This island is beatiful, but primitive. There is virtually no shopping here, except for handmade items by the locals.
This was by far our favorite stop. It is not commercialized like the previous 2 stops. Since the Norwegian Sea is the only
ship that stops here, the locals are very happy to have us and are great hosts. We took the Yachting tour that NCL offered
and enjoyed it. We sailed for a few hours around the west end of the island. The water was so clear that you could see the
coral reefs on the bottom. We were surprised to find out that the bottom was 120 feet down. The yacht anchored off the 2nd
largest reef (only behind the Great Barrier in Australia)and started snorkling. The reef is protected and it is illegal to even
touch them wiht you hand. It was amazing to swim around and next to them. You can see the reef only a few feet under the
water and then just drop off to a depth of 700 or 800 feet. We then had a late lunch that the crew of the yahct prepared for
us. The rum punch and soft drinks were unlimited. After eating, we swam around the boat for a while longer. Everyone on
the yacht was reluctant to go back ashore. We looked at a few handmade items on the way back to they ship and bought a
few.

The days at sea were relaxing and very enjoyable. My sife and I decided that we want all of our future cruises to include a
few days at sea. There were plenty of activities if you wanted something to do or it was great to lay in a deck chair by the
pool and enjoy the calypso band. The cruise director (Erik) and his staff (especially Tisha) were awesome. They kept
everyone excited and had plenty of games for the young and young at heart. Do not miss the Liar's Club towards the end of
the week. I haven't laughed that hard in a long time.

The shows in the evening were great. DO NOT MISS THE JANE L POWELL SHOW. She is a phenominal entertainer. The
broadway shows were good and the comedians were very funny. The theme nights were a lot of fun to participate in.

Overall, my wife and I are definately going to do this cruise again. The only reason we left the ship in Houston is because
they made us leave. This is an excellent ship and an excellent cruise line. Everyone I spoke (whether on the ship, or before
we even sailed) seemed genuinely interested in me and what I had to say. You can't ask for better service than that.

Name: Rick hunter
Email: jazze79@aol.com
Age: 44
Occupation: Administrative Officer
NumberOfCruises: 12
TravelAgent: No
Ship: NCL-Seaward
SailingDate: 6/27/99
Itinerary: texaribbean
FoodDiningRoom: 85
CruiseDirector: 83
CabinComfort: 80
FoodRoomService:
CruiseStaff: 83
CabinAmenities: 79
FoodLidoDeck: 83
DiningRoomService: 87
CabinQuietness: 75
FoodMidnightBuffets: 85
CabinSteward: 90
ShoreExcVariety: 85
FoodVariety: 82
DeckService: 89
ShoreExcValue:
GoodForHoneymoon:
CasinoStaff: 89
PrivateIsland:
GoodForFamilies:
LoungeService: 87
TenderService: 79
GoodForSeniors: 80
BeautySalonStaff:
EntertainmentLounges: 80
WheelchairAccess:
ExerciseFacilities: 83
EntertShowLounge: 80
OverallPortsofCall: 86
BeautySalon:
EntertainmentPoolside: 95
CruiseActivities: 85
Casino: 85
AirSeaProgram: 85
MedicalFacilities:
ShipCleanliness: 81
EmbarkDisembark: 90
DiscoNightclubs: 82
DeckSpace: 83
Stabilization: 75
ShopsOnBoard: 80
SpaceRatio: 83
OverallCruiseValue: 84
Submit: Submit Review
Date: 14 Jul 1999
Time: 12:00:07
Remote Name: spider-pa021.proxy.aol.com
Remote User:

Comments

It is hard for me not to have a good time on a cruise and this was no exception. I have taken most of my cruises on Royal
Caribbean and I give it an edge over NCL. The NCL staff was first rate and provided exceptionally friendly service. My major
complaint with the cruise was the condition of the ship. Its nice, but it should have been in dry dock for an overhaul a long
time ago. I don't really like that Scandinavian (sp) sparse look. There are some public areas that could use some furniture
and plants. They were just empty.

What was the best part of the cruise? Easy, Gatsbys. The next had to be the Le Bistro resturant. They charge five dollars
for each person but its well worth it. The menu is static but they include two specials each night. The pool band (Joy) is
exceptional. The same is true for Jane L Powell who is on her way to the Norwegian Sky. The entertainment and tequilla in
Oscars is also great. Don't miss the tequilla party. The upper level outside bar is also nice and the servers are really great.

The big Apple Cafe makes it possible to eat at any time. You will never go hungry on this ship. The fitness center is small
but well stocked. I had several good workouts during my cruise. The jogging deck on the promenade level is not wood. It
could use a non-skid surface (maybe they'll do that when they go to dry dock).

There is plenty to do and the ports are excellent (yeah Cozumel). In my opinion, Cancun gets a bad rap. Sure its a tourist
trap but thats what it was built to be. I have not seen beaches like that except in the Caymans. Simply outstanding!

The bottom line is I had a good time. I thought the drinks and extras were a bit overpriced but NCL gives you what it
promises: a nice vacation in some very nice places. I may try their new laarger vessels, but I still think that RCI is the best
of mid priced cruise lines that provide style, class and a good time. The Norwegian Sea was nice but it would have to be
deeply discounted for me to return. I think most people will enjoy this cruise. If you are use to white glove service then save
your money. If you want a nicely priced decent vacation then you won't be disappointed. BON VOYAGE!

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