Questions regarding the Sea... HELP!

[klavake]

Hi, I was on the Norwegian Sea a LONG time ago. Now I have to make a decision regarding my next cruise. The Sea has all of the ports of call I would like, but I also know she is an older lady. How is she keeping? The dining rooms were designed before the "free style" dining became an option, any comments or concerns? I also heard a rumor she wasn't going to be with the Norwegian Line for very much longer. Are they ignoring her as a result? I'm planning on taking my entire family on a cruise for their Christmas present from me. None of the others have ever been on a cruise ship. 4 adults and 5 "children" Ranging in age from 16 - 22. Would we be better off on a newer ship? A different line for the kids (Carnival)? I want this experience to be a good one for all of us. Thanks in advance for any help or suggestions any of you have.
Kent

[Kathyh1313]

HI Kent,

My DH and I sailed on the Sea in Sept 03, she had just undergone refurbishment. Even tho the Sea is an older ship, she is in good repair. The decor in the cabins is a bit "dated", but the public rooms are lovely. We had no problems with freestyle dining. Only one night did we experience a wait of 10 minutes, every other night we were seated promptly at a table for 2 as requested. The gym is a bit small, but adequate. Fitness classes were held in a lounge or out on deck, whick I thought was great. Sorry I can't help you on the activities for the kids. Our DD is 21 and she enjoys hanging at the pool with me during the day, and dancing in the disco at night. We loved our cruise on the Sea, had an absolute blast. Sure, she is not as "dramatically beautiful" as some of the new mega-ships, but we had a great cruise.

Happy cruising, Kathy

[helicopter]

We sailed on the Sea in 2000 and will be on her again this June. We had children in the same age group as yours and of all the cruises and ships they have been on they still say this was the best. Lots of teens and young adults on this cruise during the summer. I think you'll have a great time, she has everything you need.

[TEXASMUNK]

The SEA will be moving to the parent company. It would be a very poor decision to allow her to deteriorate when she is expected to begin service for STAR immediately upon repositioning.
We will be on the SEA in 4 weeks..a repeat visit and looking forward to it!

NORWEGIAN SEA....MAY 1, 2004 A RETURN VISIT

[klavake]

Thanks so much for all your input folks! That's OK if the rooms are a bit dated... I doubt we will be spending much time in them anyway. *S* I've been a bit hesitant about booking this ship, but apparently my fears are not grounded in reality. I appreciate the assistance.
Kent

[willydoit]

Just got off the Sea on Saturday, the grand old dame is in good shape and they are not letting her deteriorate. Routine maintenance being performed all the time, in fact, the carpet outside my cabin was replaced during our cruise. Itinerary was great, as a matter of fact, I was aware of the Asia change and was bummed that it would be my last time on her. Be aware that there will be an itinerary change this summer, dropping Belize and Cancun for Grand Cayman. The Sea is easy to get around, never seemed crowded even though we were on a full cruise.

Keep any eye out for my review,,,it'll be coming after laundry, shopping, work, etc.,,,,yech!! [img]http://messages.cruisecritic.com/infopop/emoticons/icon_frown.gif[/img]

Life is short,,cruises even shorter!!

[img]http://www.gifs.net/animate/s_016.gif[/img]
[img]http://www.fancysplace.com/smileys/smiley_kousto.gif[/img] [img]http://www.fancysplace.com/smileys/smiley_kousto.gif[/img] [img]http://www.fancysplace.com/smileys/smiley_kousto.gif[/img]
CCL Fantasy 05/92
RCCL Majesty of the Seas 06/01
NCL Sea 03/27/04


[img]http://www.starpulse.com/images/ads/allposters/jimmybuffet.jpg[/img]

[ZoneHPH]

i was on the Sea last August going to Bermuda from NYC.

i was on the Sun in 2002 and just got off the Wind this past wknd. i am an avid NCL cruiser.

the Sea is by far the best of the ships in terms of deck space. a very large pool! you can actually swim laps in it.

sure the decor in the cabins are a bit dated, with the metal drawers needing some good old WD40.

but you know what? the dining rooms are excellent! she may not have been designed for freestyle...but you sure would never know it.

the only thing that i felt looked crappy was the crystal court...someone needs to take a bottle brush and clean out the crap that grew in there.

[img]http://images.animfactory.com/animations/people_m_z/scuba_diver/diver_floating_md_clr.gif[/img]
WE ARE...PENN STATE! Biology '94
[url="http://photos.yahoo.com/zonehph2002"]http://photos.yahoo.com/zonehph2002[/url]
click on NORWEGIAN SEA 20030803 (08/03/2003 sailing)

[cpristash]

willydoit....quick question! I am trying to eliminate unnecessary items from my bag! Therfore, would you be kind enough totell me if there was a liquid soap dispenser inth shower? Thanks so much!

[willydoit]

[B]cpristash[/B], yes there is both a soap and shampoo dispenser in the shower. That being said,,,we opted to use our own bar soap (hung in a freezer baggie on shower head)and shampoo because we wondered about the quality of the products in the dispenser. It was just personal preference and the fact we had ours with us.

Life is short,,cruises even shorter!!

[img]http://www.gifs.net/animate/s_016.gif[/img]
[img]http://www.fancysplace.com/smileys/smiley_kousto.gif[/img] [img]http://www.fancysplace.com/smileys/smiley_kousto.gif[/img] [img]http://www.fancysplace.com/smileys/smiley_kousto.gif[/img]
CCL Fantasy 05/92
RCCL Majesty of the Seas 06/01
NCL Sea 03/27/04


[img]http://www.starpulse.com/images/ads/allposters/jimmybuffet.jpg[/img]

[Got2Cruise]

[QUOTE]Originally posted by ZoneHPH:
i was on the Sea last August going to Bermuda from NYC.

i was on the Sun in 2002 and just got off the Wind this past wknd. i am an avid NCL cruiser.

the Sea is by far the best of the ships in terms of deck space. a very large pool! you can actually swim laps in it.

sure the decor in the cabins are a bit dated, with the metal drawers needing some good old WD40.

but you know what? the dining rooms are excellent! she may not have been designed for freestyle...but you sure would never know it.

the only thing that i felt looked crappy was the crystal court...someone needs to take a bottle brush and clean out the crap that grew in there.>>>

[img]http://messages.cruisecritic.com/infopop/emoticons/icon_wink.gif[/img] HEY THERE! I happened to be on the same cruise as Zonehph, and we actually met on board. I loved the Sea. . .no complaints. . .well the rooms are a wee small. . . Now, if you are expecting a megaship with all the bells and whistles you will be disappointed. My daughter wants to try one of the RCCL ships with the rock climbing wall, roller blading, and ice skating. . . .it will keep her busy so I agreed, but I am planning to do the same exact thing I did on the SEA. . .nothing but get a suntan and read trashy novels. In other words, who needs all the extras if you are not going to use them anyway? One thing is for sure, the NCL cruisers are great, very relaxed and just want to have fun. . .Take Care. . .

Got2Cruise
[img]http://escati.linkopp.net/cgi-bin/countdown.cgi?trgb=000000&srgb=00ff00&prgb=9400d3&cdt=2004;7;11;23;00;00&timezone=GMT-0500[/img]
till we sail ADVENTURE OF THE SEAS,

[jander]

[img]http://messages.cruisecritic.com/infopop/emoticons/icon_smile.gif[/img]Regarding the soap dispenser in the shower,yes it is there, but my preferance is a good bar of soap. We were on the dream in March, and I just had to buy a bar of soap in port to enjoy the shower. I find it very hard to lather up using the liquid soap dispenser in the shower.

[willydoit]

Here's a link to some of our cruise pictures. We just got off the SEA Saturday. [img]http://messages.cruisecritic.com/infopop/emoticons/icon_rolleyes.gif[/img]

[url="http://www.dotphoto.com/go.asp?l=willydoit&AID=1443557"]http://www.dotphoto.com/go.asp?l=willydoit&AID=1443557[/url]

Life is short,,cruises even shorter!!

[img]http://www.gifs.net/animate/s_016.gif[/img]
[img]http://www.fancysplace.com/smileys/smiley_kousto.gif[/img] [img]http://www.fancysplace.com/smileys/smiley_kousto.gif[/img] [img]http://www.fancysplace.com/smileys/smiley_kousto.gif[/img]
CCL Fantasy 05/92
RCCL Majesty of the Seas 06/01
NCL Sea 03/27/04


[img]http://www.starpulse.com/images/ads/allposters/jimmybuffet.jpg[/img]

[zahr03]

[img]http://messages.cruisecritic.com/infopop/emoticons/icon_cool.gif[/img]

We really enjoyed the SEA in October/November.

6/6/2004 NCL Star to Alaska
[img]http://escati.linkopp.net/cgi-bin/countdown.cgi?trgb=000000&srgb=00ff00&prgb=191970&cdt=2004;06;06;16;00;00&timezone=GMT-0800[/img]

[tawcat]

omigosh! didn't know about the sea departing ncl. anyone know when this is scheduled and any idea of what ship will replace her in houston?

NCL Leeward 9/97
Carnival Celebration 1/99
NCL Sea 2/00
NCL Sea 12/00
Grand Princess 9/01
NCL Norway 4/02
RCCL Rhapsody 8/02
NCL Norway 2/03
RCCL Rhapsody 8/03
NCL Sea 2/04
RCCL Grandeur 1/05


[img]http://escati.linkopp.net/cgi-bin/countdown.cgi?trgb=000000&srgb=00ff00&prgb=FFA000&cdt=2005;1;3;17;0;00&timezone=GMT-0500[/img]

Water water everywhere, yippie!!!</BR>

[ZoneHPH]

GOT2CRUISE!!! NICE TO SEE YA AGAIN!

i just got back from the WIND 3/27 sailing (western caribbean).

met some other cruise critic people. will post pics soon. thinking of another cruise soon? we can try to plan another one and meet up this time. i wonder where PhillyF is? there were tons of CC people on the Sea last year that just didn't ID themselves. such a shame.

it's really a great thing to meet nice people who are well versed in cruising. makes for special times while onboard.

[img]http://images.animfactory.com/animations/people_m_z/scuba_diver/diver_floating_md_clr.gif[/img]
WE ARE...PENN STATE! Biology '94
[url="http://photos.yahoo.com/zonehph2002"]http://photos.yahoo.com/zonehph2002[/url]
click on NORWEGIAN SEA 20030803 (08/03/2003 sailing)

[Got2Cruise]

[img]http://messages.cruisecritic.com/infopop/emoticons/icon_cool.gif[/img]Hey Zone, would you consider trying another cruiseline? Host Cecilia tried RCCL. We are doing the Southern Caribbean on the Adventure of the Seas July 11, it leaves from Puerto Rico. [img]http://messages.cruisecritic.com/infopop/emoticons/icon_smile.gif[/img] I wonder if they serve lobster. LOL

Got2Cruise
[img]http://escati.linkopp.net/cgi-bin/countdown.cgi?trgb=000000&srgb=00ff00&prgb=9400d3&cdt=2004;7;11;23;00;00&timezone=GMT-0500[/img]
till we sail ADVENTURE OF THE SEAS,

[magmcclure]

The Sea is a very good ship despite her age. Earlier this year she was stated to undergo an itinerary change but she will continue the 4 port itinerary Cancun, Cozumel, Belize, Honduras until next Spring when she will leave for Star Cruises. The Norwegian Dream will replace her in Fall 2005 doing the same 4 port itinerary.

The Dream is a slightly newer. lerger ship than the Sea. I too hate to see the Sea go. I haven't been on the Dream to date but I guess I'll just plan that one for 2005.

[Sandycruise]

I sailed the Sea to Canada a while back and she is a charming ship. More intimate than the magaships. It is true that the restuarants were not designed for Freestyle, but you can ask the Maitre d to help you anticipate times to avoid a wait OR just accept the wait and enjoy..afer all, it is a cruise!

If I recall, one of the interesting tidbits about the Sea was a Sauna that is tucked into the whale tail. It is very low and oddly shaped, but it gets the job done.

Also, there is a great section that you can sit in comfy chairs and enjoy the view if it is a windy day, as long as you get to the chairs first. There is an adorable little walkway, too, with cocktail/coffee tables and the cutest decor. Of all the ships I've been on, I think that walkway is the cutest I've ever seen.

Sandy
Carn. Jubilee, Nov 13,2000
NCL Sea, July 22,2001
Cel Zenith Oct 19, 2002
Carn. Pride Aug 27, 2003
NCL Dawn, Oct. 31, 2004 (find us at the roll call!)
Sandy and Len, Mom and Dad, BahamaMomma, DJ and family
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