Norwegian Sea Review July 17th Cruise

[shonadamson]

Embarkation: We were really excited to get on board so we went to the dock a little early. We arrived at 11:00 and to our surprise we were on the ship at 11:30 It was very quick and the staff was very friendly. I do reccommend that you check your luggage. It is a long was from the ticket area to your ship. Every piece of luggage was at our room about 3:00. So it was very quick.

 

Entertainment: There are plenty of things to do while on the ship. Something is always going on. The nightly entertainment in the showroom was just so-so. The Calypso band and other bands were a lot of fun. If you have more detailed questions about this just ask.

 

Food: The food was great. We ate at the buffet most of the time for breakfast and then we ate in the dining room for lunch and dinner. The dining room is wonderful. I would reccommend Feti our waiter if you have kids. He was wonderful with the kids. He did magic and made napkin animals for them. He was the best waiter I have ever had. The food was very good in the dining room also. Room service food was good also. The buffet for lunch and dinner we had a couple of times. It was just so-so.

 

Casino: I just want to say that it was very proffessional. If you want to enter the Blackjack tournament don't do it till the final day. You have to get one of the top six scores. You won't know what to aim for until the final day.

 

Ports:

 

Cozumel: We went to Chakanaab. It was wonderful. We went out and snorkled and saw a Barracuda. We also saw many other different types of fish. It was so fun. They also have a nice little sand beach that the kids can go and play in. The paths through the rain forrest have many iguanas and birds. It was very beautiful. We also went and shopped around where the pier is. Their is a mall there and many shops surrounding it.

 

Roatan: We went to Fantasy Island in Roatan. It was absolutlely beautiful. It was also very secluded. They have a nice sand beach and they also have a Gazebo where you can snorkle from. It was amazing. They also have hammocks to just lay down and relax in the shade. I loved this place. It looked like an island paradise.

 

Belize: In Belize we went cave tubing with Xstream cave tubing. Our guides name was Thomas and he told us about the area and the rain forrest on our hike to where we started the float. It was amazing going down that river. I would reccommend going with Xstream since they go through the two caves. The first cave doesn't have as many formations, but it is a slower part of the river where you can relax and enjoy the beauty. This is a once in a lifetime opportunity. You should really try it.

 

Cancuun: We went to the local shoppin center here. They provide a free shuttle from the pier. My sister in law wanted to go to Margaritaville and it was in the mall. When we came back we had plenty of time to relax on the beach. We were going to go parasailing , but they were running really behind schedule. So we just relaxes at the beach. The beach is right next to the pier and has many thing to do right there- parasailing, waverunners, bannana boats, scuba diving boats, snorkeling boats etc.

 

Disembarkation- We had too much luggage to do the express disembarkation. We saw many people who took advantage of this and they got off the boat quickly. We were out and on the road by 10:30 and we were one of the last decks called.

 

Positives: Food- Although I would reccommend not paying the extra money to go to Le Bistro. It seemed about the same as the other restaraunts.

 

Service- I don't think it could have been better.

 

Ports- I am so glad we were on a cruise with four ports. It was wonderful.

 

Ship- It was so easy to get around the ship. People have said it looked worn. I didn't see that. The crew were taking care of the it immacuately.

 

Kids Program- The kids enjoyed the parties that were going on. They were always looking foward to going back.

 

Activities- They had plenty of activities to choose from.

 

Negatives- Beds- I don't know if it is that much different than any other ship but they were hard.

 

Buffet Lunch/Dinner- The food just wasn't that good. Go with the grill if you are going to eat the buffet.

 

Tea- It was instant and very strong.

 

Overall: We had a great time and would go on this ship again. This was my fourth cruise and my wifes first. We enjoyed his very much. Hope you liked my review. If you have any comments or questions feel free.

[newmexicoNita]

Thanks so much for a complete and yet simple review. You gave us some good ideas of things to do and not do. Did you actually eat at Le Bistro? The only reason I ask is we have always enjoyed it and thought the service alone made it worth the extra bucks. Maybe we will just skip it. Was was the extra charge for the second restaurant, I think it's a pasta bar and what were the selections?

 

Thanks again, sounds like you had a great trip. We can't hardly wait.

 

NMNIta

[teacup754]

thanks for the review. we are going in dec. I've heard that you need to pay attention to "ship's time" because it is different than the time in each port.Can you explain that?

Also I read somwhere that you can't use regular sunscreen in Cozumel beach because it affects the dolphins and snorkling. Did you have any problems?thanks for any more info....

[vette]

Thanks so much for the review. In Roatan, you went to Fantasy Island; did you just grab a cab and go, or was it a prearranged tour? We have been there before, but it was part of a tour.

 

Vette

[ArkansasFish]

Do you have pictures to share?

[kadao]

newmexiconita - There was no extra charge for the other restaurant. It is called the Pasta Cafe and had a very limited selection. We ate there. It was right above the Big Apple Cafe. It was okay - the food was so so. The plus side was it was very small, so more intimate and a little more personal attention.

[newmexicoNita]

newmexiconita - There was no extra charge for the other restaurant. It is called the Pasta Cafe and had a very limited selection. We ate there. It was right above the Big Apple Cafe. It was okay - the food was so so. The plus side was it was very small, so more intimate and a little more personal attention.

Kadao, thanks for the info. We may give it a try just for something differenct. NMnita

[sealgs2000]

How many people were in your room? I am hearing alot about how small the rooms are. This will be our first time on NCL and we will have 4 in our room. Two adults and two kids ages 10 and 14.

[Crusty the Crab]

Thank you for the review, it was very helpful. My wife, 10 yo son and I are going on the Sea this weekend, 7-31.

 

How is the parking at the port? You can just lock and leave your car there can't you?

[sbempowerment]

Hi, I was just wondering if anyone has stayed in Houston before a crusie leaving Houston? And what was good to do there, and what did you all do about transportation. Also I am looking for anyone else that is going on that cruise and would like to maybe have a drink/coffee with us....

 

Thanks

Susan

[douglinc@msn.com]

Hi Susan,

My wife and I are also going on the 9-18 sailing. We are going to LaPorte on the 17th. & staying at the Best Western in LaPorte. They will let us leave our car there (NC) while we are on the ship. Where are you staying?

Doug

[vette]

Hi Susan,

 

My dh and I are also going on this cruise along with another couple. See our Roll Call for information. Would be nice to get together with you and the others on the roll call (huh, Doug).

 

Donna (Vette)

[shonadamson]

New Mexico Nita- We ate in Le Bistro the food and service I think was equal to the dining room. We had a wonderful waiter in the dining room though. If you want surf and turf you should probably go there. There is no extra charge for the Pasta Cafe. We didn't eat there because there was not a lot of variety and the main dining room offered a pasta choice every night.

 

Teacup- We didn't swim with the dolphins, but there was no one checking the sunscreen. I had heard that rumor before we went also, but didn't see anyone checking. About Ships time, just make sure you wear a watch and you keep it to the ships time. We didn't have any problems. We just made sure the taxi driver knew the difference.

 

Vette- We had prearranged a tour (no money down) with Fantasy Island but they weren't at the peir to pick us up. We think it was because a difference in ship time and Island time. So we just got a taxi and went. It was beautiful.

 

Arkansas Fish- We have over 200 pictures that we took. We are still going through them. If there are any requests I will see if I have them and try to get a way to send them.

 

Seal- We had 3 people in our room. Me, my wife and our infant son. So he had a crib. It is small that is not a joke. I was actually pleasantly surprised because I had envisioned much worse. We did fine.

 

Crusty- The parking was very easy. It was $49 and you just pull your car up to the porters unload your car and then drive back to the parking lot a park. No hassles.

 

sbempowerment- We stayed at the Hilton on Nassau Bay. It was just across from Johnson Space Center. It was beautiful. It was a twenty minute drive to the port. Their are a lot of things to do near there.

 

I am so happy to see all of the responses. If anyone else has questions I will be checking back periodically.

[douglinc@msn.com]

Donna,

I definately think we should all get together, we can decide on time and place as time gets a little closer and we find out who all we have going with us. Have you kept up with the ones that have checked in so far?

Doug

[vette]

Hi Doug,

 

Another couple is joining us; just found out yesterday. Yay! I will make a list on the Roll Call.

 

Donna

[newmexicoNita]

Shon, thanks so much for all the feedback.

 

NMNita

[Jem4life]

Thanks for the great info. We just booked on Sea for Easter week 2005. I'm sure that week there will be lots of families on board since most kids are off from school. Is there plenty for teens to do? 2 daughters ages 19 and 15 coming along. I'm sure they'll be content sunning themselves for most of the time though!

[newmexicoNita]

Thanks for the great info. We just booked on Sea for Easter week 2005. I'm sure that week there will be lots of families on board since most kids are off from school. Is there plenty for teens to do? 2 daughters ages 19 and 15 coming along. I'm sure they'll be content sunning themselves for most of the time though!

 

 

From the time our granddaughters were about the age of your daughters they found laying out by the pool, sight seeing and doing the show thing at night plenty to keep them busy. Last year on Celebrity over Thanksgiving the 17 year old thought she would do the teen club, but after one night found her own activities. She did see the other kids some but never felt the need for a teen group. Is she anti social? No, just the opposite, but she is also very much a family kid. The teen program may be suited to your 15 year old, but I don't think the 19 year old will get much out of it. Of course all kids are different. NMNita

[Jem4life]

I've heard that you need to pay attention to "ship's time" because it is different than the time in each port.Can you explain that?

 

 

When we went to Alaska, time changed a couple times while on board. They announce it and it's also in the daily "schedule" (not sure what NCL calls theirs as we went on Princess) Also, the current time should be displayed on your TV.

 

3/05 will be our 2nd cruise. 1st on NCL. Can't wait and thanks to such a great review here... I'm REALLY looking forward to a great time!

[DJDQ]

:) My Sis and I sail on the sea 9/4/04. We have read good reviews and bad. Happy that people do like sailing with the Sea. My 1st and her 2nd.;) ---!st time on the Sea. :cool: We were getting nervous about all the bad reviews. I guess everybody has their own perceptions of the ship and the cruise. I think all will be wonderful for me because I have nothing to compare it too.:p

[cruzfool]

Can you tell me the Captain's name from your daily paper?