rccl-nordic11

Note - this page contains multiple reviews.

Name: MaryAnn McDowell
Email: mimibunk@yahoo.com
Age: 53
Occupation: Programmer
NumberOfCruises: 5
TravelAgent: No
Ship: RoyalCaribbean-NordicEmpress
SailingDate: March 2, 2001
Itinerary: San Juan, St. Thomas, St. Maarten
Cabin: 8642/F
FoodDiningRoom: 69
CruiseDirector: 89
CabinComfort: 95
FoodRoomService:
CruiseStaff: 95
CabinAmenities: 90
FoodLidoDeck: 65
DiningRoomService: 90
CabinQuietness: 90
FoodMidnightBuffets:
CabinSteward: 95
ShoreExcVariety: 95
FoodVariety: 69
DeckService: 95
ShoreExcValue: 95
GoodForHoneymoon:
CasinoStaff: 95
PrivateIsland:
GoodForFamilies: 90
LoungeService: 90
TenderService: 90
GoodForSeniors: 90
BeautySalonStaff:
EntertainmentLounges: 90
WheelchairAccess:
ExerciseFacilities:
EntertShowLounge: 90
OverallPortsofCall: 95
BeautySalon:
EntertainmentPoolside: 95
CruiseActivities: 90
Casino: 95
AirSeaProgram:
MedicalFacilities:
ShipCleanliness: 95
EmbarkDisembark: 95
DiscoNightclubs:
DeckSpace: 95
Stabilization: 90
ShopsOnBoard: 85
SpaceRatio: 90
OverallCruiseValue: 90
Submit: Submit Review
Date: 07 Mar 2001
Time: 13:25:33
Remote Name: ip11.csc-fsg.com
Remote User:

Comments

My sister and I were on the March 3rd, three night cruise on the Nordic Empress. This was my sister’s
first cruise on any line and my 1st cruise on the Royal Caribbean Line. I had previously cruised 3 times
on Carnival and once on a Mediterranean cruise on a line called the Black Prince out of Venice.

I arranged the cruise through a travel agent here in Dallas and I used air mile awards for our flight to
San Juan. I did purchase the transfer package from Royal Caribbean. We were supplied with purple
baggage tags to fill out and place on our luggage. A RCL representative met us in San Juan. He told
us we did not need to retrieve our bags from the carousel if they were tagged. They would be picked
up and delivered to our cabin. This was a great relief! Our bags were heavy and my sister and I didn’t
have to worry about them. We were taken to the Port on a bus. When we arrived, there was a line
outside the door of the building that was the entrance to the Nordic Empress. However, to our
amazement the line moved very quickly. A representative inside the door took our Travel documents
and tore out the slips that we were to present at the counter. When we arrived at the counter, the lady
there was very nice and quickly gave us our card called a supercharge card which we used to buy
drinks, items from the shops and also pay for shore tours. We asked for a cabin upgrade to a cabin
with a balcony, but told they were all full. It was then on to the ship.

We had an outside cabin Category F on Deck #8. When we entered the twin beds were already
pushed together to make a double bed. This would have been nice if I was with my husband but since I
was with my sister, we asked the cabin attendant to move them apart. I guess they were moved
together because they assumed a couple would occupy the cabin. I thought it was very nice that they
moved the beds together even though for us it wasn’t appropriate.

The cabin was very nice and I thought big enough. Our luggage was delivered about 5 minutes after
we arrived. Much better than the last Carnival cruise I was on. The cabin attendant we had was
excellent; very friendly and the cabin was always clean.

The ship was just the right size. I prefer a smaller ship although some people might like the larger
ones. It never seemed too crowded and everything was easy to get to. It was clean and I loved all the
window area.

Food: This was really my only complaint. The food just wasn’t as good as Carnival. It wasn’t good at all.
The Carmen Dining Room was clean and pleasant. I did enjoy the violin music. But the food was pretty
bland. The Windjammer food was worse. We ate the lunch on Friday and then decided to eat on shore
Saturday and Sunday. Something must be done about the food.

The dining room staff was excellent. It wasn’t their fault about the food. Also on the third night, the daily
schedule said we were having a menu with a Spanish influence, but there was absolutely nothing on
the menu that was in any way Spanish.

Entertainment: Everything was fun. Bingo was good, the shows were great, Trivia and Karoke were
also very much fun. We loved the Latin music in the High Society Lounge.

Shore Tours: We went on the KonTiki Party boat in St. Thomas and it was so much fun. In St. Maarten,
we did the America’s Cup Regatta. This was the most wonderful experience I ever had. I would
recommend this to everyone.

Disembarking: This also was fast and easy. We got out bags easily and took them right to the Airline
Reps who checked our tickets and put our luggage on a truck to the airport.

All and all, except of the food, our cruise on the Nordic Empress was very much fun. Hopefully RCL will
do something about the food. I don’t know if the food is the same on all their ships but I would be
hesitant to book another cruise with the Nordic Empress until I was assured that the food was better.

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