First of all, let me be clear here, I do understand that Norwegian has no control over the weather, and the time of year has a lot to do with it that, nonetheless, this was not our first cruise, or our second for that matter… it was however our first time cruising with Norwegian, and will definitely be our last.
We had 23 in our group; fourteen of which were family members, adults and grandchildren (eighteen months to fifteen), as our son was getting married in St.Thomas.
That said, here’s the list of the things that made our family vacation disappointing;
** The entire cruise was spent navigating the rock of the ship:
I do understand that the larger ships are more susceptible to this, being larger and taller etc. but I have never been on an entire cruise that was so bad.
** The elevators were so incredibly slow:
By the time one came, if it wasn't already so overcrowded because everyone had to wait SO long at the elevator lobbies for them, and it was not uncommon that at east 3-4 elevators would stop on our floor, and we would have to pass on because they were already busting at the seams.
We honestly, (of course I did not chat with everyone on the ship) did chat with other guests and when the subject of the elevators or sway of the ship came up, we didn’t talk to anyone who as well, wasn't disappointed in the rocking or the elevator wait.
** Our dinner reservations we’re screwed up:
After being pre-made for 5:30 every night in the main dining room, for the fourteen of us, every night, there was an issue every night…and here’s the kicker, it was the same gentleman navigating the reservations, and the flow into the main dining room.
Now, I understand that there were four thousand + people on the ship, and it would be silly to expect that they would remember us, but…we were mostly fourteen, at the same time, with kids and two strollers…every time.
What are the odds that the reservations could be screwed up EVERY night?
Would you consider that be coincidence, lack of professionalism or just plain “too bad, too sad?”
We only had one specialty dining resturant that wasn't, really, only one!
** The water slides were shut down half of the cruise, and the rope course was literally open for about thirty minutes, one day (we know this because we always congregated in the area tucked in under part of the water slide, by the back entrance of the kids pool) and then closed because there was “ash” spewing from the exhaust stacks on the course and a portion of the deck.
** We were reprimanded by a deck employee because we brought a collapsing bucket for the not one, mind you, but two of my eighteen month old grandsons to play in.
The reason: because we were getting water on the floor in the “pool area”! REALLY!
** We were unable to port in Pourta Plata:
Now, I do understand if the weather makes it unsafe to port, and in all fairness, we were reimbursed $20 per person for our dock fees but, I feel, since the alternative was staying on the ship, the ship that was in the weather that made it to rough to port, the ship that because of which rocked even more than normal, we should have been compensated accordingly, either in on board credit or more time in another port, not just our dock fees.
Again to be fair, we were given a bit more time in St. Thomas, but it was on the front end of our port there, in the early morning.
** Also, explain to me why we docked at Tortola at 6:00am?
There was NOTHING for us; meaning us that did not schedule excursions, to do at 6:00am?
Most of the shops were not open at 6:00am, and it was too chilly to go directly to a beach, especially with my younger grandchildren!
Then…when we came back to the ship at 2:00pm, we’re all standing on the dock in a virtual windy “DOWNPOUR.”
Also, when they did start letting people back on the ship, it was a few at a time, and so slow that we were ALL literally drenched!
Personally, as irritating as it was for me, I was worried more about my grand children, especially the babies.
** The food in the “garden café” was for the most part, the same for breakfast and lunch, which was okay, and expected (which is sometimes nice) but it was never hotter than a bit above warm.
How is that possible…every day?
** We were disappointed in the availability of places to shop:
There were only a few stores and though it doesn’t have to be an entire deck like the other cruise ships we’ve been on, I wonder what the comments would’ve been had the Casino’s area been the same square footage as the retail area.
** And then there was the smoking area…
Personally, I am the worlds most paranoid smoker; never inside, not directly around people, never in my vehicles etc…only outside.
That said, walking to the seventeenth floor, at the back of the ship was more of a nuisance than anything else, but okay, not my sandbox, not my sand.
That said, It would have been nice to have a smoking area mid ship, like the smoking…the inside smoking area, you have for cigar smokers.
** We purchased the “Starbucks” drink package:
When I went there on the Sunday, (the second day) I discovered that they did not have a regular menu selection like the regular stores have, which okay, I get it…but had I known that, I would not have PAID for that drink package. It was a treat for my birthday…I could have saved the money and just gotten coffee at the buffet.
** Customer service:
Our entire cruise was booked through my daughter who is a seasoned, and very good travel agent.
She herself had to go to the concierge seven times to correct problems for her family of seven, and though your representatives, at face value, corrected the problems, she ultimately just said “whatever” as she was tired of trying to get the problems repeatedly corrected.
We, as many do, researched Norwegian, and the Escape, through social media, cruise blogs and word of mouth. Over all, there were good and bad comments, via person preferences, so though we were cautious in booking with Norwegian, we did mostly because we as a family are pretty good at going with the flow.
We all understand there are glitches and unforeseen things that happen when your dealing with this amount of people, in a confined area, but that only goes so far.
All that said, we were SO disappointed in the entire week!!
