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Check Your Sheets!!! by
A Traveler from Flushing, NY Sailing date: Oct 2010Pros: Food was ok, ship did not seem crowded Cons: Housekeeping Staff did not care about changing linens and towels I was not impressed by the ship at all. Seem quite dated. The positive was that the ship did not seem crowded at all. Plenty of available chairs on the deck for taking in the sun. The food was pretty good. Unfortunately, unless you're a huge fan of unsweetened ice tea, that is all you'll be getting in this "all inclusive" trip. Prepare yourself for spending money on drinks. That was the least of our concern. The first day staying in our room we noticed dried blood stains on one of the pillow cases and scattered throughout the sheet under the comforter. We didn't complain about the sheet on the first night and simply left the sheet on the floor expecting the housekeeping to inspect the sheet before making up the bed in the morning. That didn't happen. Came back to the room after having breakfast, same nasty sheet and pillow case covered the perfectly made up bed. That was nasty. I asked the housekeeper for the room, how often did they change the sheets, he said twice a week. Ok. I explained to him the situation...he seemed not really to care. He promised to change the sheet the next morning. Mind you, this conversation was happening on the second morning of the cruise. He expected us to sleep with sheets that had blood stains. So again, we placed the sheet on the floor and slept with just the comforter. But this time, we marked one of the tags on one of the towels, and placed that on the floor in the bathroom to see if they changed towels as well or not. Sure enough, after coming back to the room after having breakfast the next morning, the same sheet and pillow case made up the bed again, and the towel we marked was neatly hanging back up on the towel bar. How nasty can the housekeeping staff there be? Of course we quickly picked up the phone to speak with the receptionist about the matter...he didn't care. He said he would have housekeeping come up to change the sheets and towels. I asked him how ofter were the housekeeping suppose to change sheets and towels, he said twice a day for the sheets, and if you want towels replaced, simply leave them on the floor. What a joke. Well after waiting about 15 minutes we had what we believe was a manager, not a housekeeping staff because of the uniform he was wearing, arrive to the room. Immediately he asked us with an attitude if we had a problem. I explained the problem, showed him the sheets, and his eyes opened so wide you would think he saw a snake. To be honest, we regret not taking photos of the stains to post them online for all to see. The stains were nasty. He mentioned that housekeeping only changes sheets if stains are noticeable. There were many blood drops on the sheet and hard to miss. They simply didn't care. Check your sheets!!!! And complain to management if you want results. The receptionists also seem not to care. Ship QualityCheck Your Sheets and pillow cases carefully! And don't be shy about complaining to the receptionist or management team. Dining/Food
Stateroom QualityVery small room and bathroom. Not comfortable at all. More like a cabin. We felt punished. Ship Staff Quality
Entertainment & ActivitiesEntertainment was nice. Performers at shows worked hard to provide good entertainment. Worth seeing.  15 out of 15 people found this review helpful.
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  Excellent Cruise - Highly Recommend! by
Nathan E. from Charleston, WV Sailing date: Mar 2012Pros: Norwegian Sky is "just right" - not too big, not too small. Plenty to do on board, but plenty of latitude to do nothing at all as well. Staff and crew were exemplary. Food was excellent. Private island, Great Stirrup Cay, is truly wonderful. Cons: Bus tour of Nassau showed too much of the "slums" - made us feel a bit sorry for the native Bahamians. My wife and I were both very impressed with our 3-day cruise on the Norwegian Sky. Every aspect of our experience was truly wonderful. In particular, we appreciated the "Freestyle Cruising" that Norwegian is famous for... doing what we want, when we want, and with whomever we want (which was usually just the two of us).
Our favorite experience overall was floating and swimming around Great Stirrup Cay together. We spent most of our Saturday doing "nothing" in the waters of this magnificent island, and we could not have been happier.
The only thing we might change when we plan our next voyage would be our plans for Nassau. We took a bus tour this time, but now that we have seen what the island as a whole is like we would probably opt to walk around through the areas near the port instead. Atlantis resort was very nice, but in order to do anything over there (such as use their private beaches) you have to pay Atlantis quite a bit of money (which we were unwilling to do). Our tour guide was very friendly, however, and it was nice to learn a little about the history and culture of Nassau.
There was always plenty to do on board, from dance parties to bingo to gambling to karaoke to art auctions, etc. etc. etc. The greatest thing about all these activities, though? My wife and I never once felt like we were left out or missing out on anything when we opted to just spend time together watching the sun set, enjoying a romantic dinner together (just the two of us), sipping tea and Diet Pepsi while watching the ocean slip by us, floating around aimlessly in the beautiful Bahamian waters off of Great Stirrup Cay, or even just lounging around in our stateroom watching one of the two movie channels (which are both provided at no extra charge).
All things considered, this was one of the best vacations I have ever had.
(Please note that we did not rate the "Children's Programs" for the Norwegian Sky as we did not bring any of our six children with us on this cruise. It was just the two of us, enjoying our 10th anniversary together.) Ship QualityWhile some might argue that the Norwegian Sky is too small in comparison to the newer, larger cruise ships, my wife and I felt that it was perfectly proportioned and distributed. In fact, we spoke with many of our fellow passengers who said that the Norwegian Sky was "just right" - not too big, not too small.
You could tell that the crew took very good care of the ship. It was always very clean, neat, tidy, and well-lit. Some of the designs on the carpet and decor looked a bit dated, but even the dated elements did not look worn or dirty.
While neither my wife nor I are handicapped, we took special note of how every aspect of the ship was handicap accessible. There were several passengers in wheelchairs, and they all seemed to be enjoying themselves immensely. The staff even brought out a special "beach" wheelchair with fat sand tires for use on Great Stirrup Cay. Dining/FoodOur experiences with dining on the Norwegian Sky were exquisite. Every evening we were able to have a romantic dinner, just the two of us, and we never even needed a reservation! We just strolled in whenever we felt like, and we were immediately brought to a table and attended to with no waiting. The two main dining halls are as nice as any of the nicer restaurants that my wife and I have ever been to. The food was excellent, and the waiters and waitresses were very attentive and accommodating. We enjoyed it so much, in fact, that we never felt the need to pay extra to eat at any of the three "specialty" restaurants on the Norwegian Sky. If they are even a modest degree nicer than the two main dining halls then they must provide a truly spectacular dining experience.
I cannot stress enough how convenient and relaxing it was to have total freedom over when and where we wanted to eat. For this reason alone it would be difficult for us to choose another cruise line over Norwegian. Stateroom QualityOur stateroom was very nice. We were quite satisfied with the size of the room. The bathroom was even a bit larger than I had thought it would be. We were pleasantly surprised to find that there were two on board movie channels playing fairly recent movies for no extra charge. The staff cleaned the room frequently without ever intruding on us.
When we first arrived there was some sort of heavy fragrance in the air. We put in a request to have the staff refrain from using such things in our room during the length of our stay, and they complied flawlessly. We also found that the temperature of the water in our shower tended to fluctuate quite a bit, but this did not cause us any major issues.
For the most part, we appreciated the location of our stateroom. We had chosen one which was very close to the Atrium elevators. The only downside was its position directly below the "stage" up on the pool deck, which meant that we could hear some of the louder music they played up there. Ship Staff QualityWe were very pleased with the excellent service we received from the ship staff. They were friendly, warm, attentive, courteous, informative, helpful, generous, hard-working, and kind. Seldom did we ever have to "hunt" for someone to help us with anything; there always seemed to be someone nearby who was willing and able to assist us with whatever we needed. Our room was always kept clean, the common areas were always neat and tidy, and the dining halls were immaculate. Even the frequently-used tables in the large buffet area covering most of decks 11 and 12 were cleared and cleaned and restocked with napkins and silverware almost immediately after they were vacated.
Perhaps most importantly of all, my wife and I were struck by the fact that all of the staff seemed to really enjoy what they were doing. They seemed genuinely pleased to to take care of our every need, and never once did they lead us to believe that what they were doing for us was a burden or a chore.
Entertainment & ActivitiesWhile there was plenty to do on board, my wife and I opted not to participate in, well, pretty much any of it.
That being said, we are quite certain that lovers of activities and entertainment will not be disappointed by the options and schedules available on the Norwegian Sky. There was always something going on somewhere on the ship, and there seemed to be a little bit of everything for all different age groups and temperaments. The "Freestyle Daily" that was delivered to our stateroom every day (naturally) had a detailed schedule of all of the events occurring over the next 24 hours, so it would be easy to plan your day accordingly.
The only reason that I did not feel comfortable granting this category the top rating is because my wife and I voluntarily chose not to participate in any of the activities. (See my "Ship Quality" comments for more information). 16 out of 19 people found this review helpful.
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We were disappointed! by
Debbie and Bernie N from Indianapolis, IN Sailing date: Nov 2008Pros: The ports were nice Cons: the food at the buffet never changed. 5 out of 7 dining rooms charged a cover charge to eat there. Lacking activities. Having cruised twice before on a different cruise line, I was referred to Norwegian. I really was quite disappointed. My husband and I enjoyed the time we spent off the ship in the various ports, but always returned to the ship by mid afternoon. There was absolutely no planned activities until about 30 minutes prior to departure. The only thing for us to do was sit by the pool, read, or take a nap. We didn't pay to do that! The casino and shops were closed during port times, and we are not big drinkers, so were totally bored. The food on the buffet was the same daily, you can only eat so many burgers, hot dogs and fries. Although the fresh fruit was wonderful. the lines were long as well, but that is to be expected I guess. If you wanted to eat in a different dining room, 5 out of 7 of them had cover charges. We paid 20 dollars each to eat dinner at the steakhouse. The food was great, but we can eat for that back home. I also was not happy about the mandatory 10 dollar per day per guest "service charge" that went for tipping the staff. This is in addition to the automatic 15% gratuity added to any drink order, etc. I prefer to tip on my own based on the service received. The staff and crew were awesome. Very friendly and helpful. The stateroom was small, but very clean. All in all, we were disappointed in this cruise and will definately cruise again, just not with Norwegian cruise lines. Ship Quality
Dining/Fooddid not like needing to pay a per person cover to eat in certain dining rooms. The food on the buffet was the same daily Stateroom Qualityroom was a little small, but overall very nice Ship Staff Quality
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Freeport, Grand Bahama IslandThis is a terrific port to see. Very clean, people are friendly. great shopping experience.
Nassau, Bahamasshopping is good, town is kind of old and dirty
Great Stirrup Cay (Cruiseline Private Island), Bahamas
11 out of 11 people found this review helpful.
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A lovely and special cruise! by
Kim S from Iowa Sailing date: Sep 2012Pros: The freestyle cruising...doing what we wanted when we wanted. Cons: The cold showers. The water was always cold or lukewarm when my husband or I went to take a shower. My husband and I traveled on the Norwegian Sky for our 25th anniversary. It was an experience of a life time. We loved nearly everything about the whole experience. We would go again in a heartbeat if it were financially feasible. Ship QualityWe thought the ship was beautiful. We saw several cruise ships out at sea and thought ours was the loveliest. It was clean, well laid out and just all around pleasant. Dining/FoodThe food was delicious. We ate in The Palace the first night and liked it so much we ate there all three evenings. We enjoyed having breakfast brought to our room. We enjoyed the Great Outdoor Cafe and had a "snack" (actually more like a forth meal...we ate like hobbits) there each afternoon. We especially enjoyed the tropical fruit served at nearly every meal. You could tell it was very fresh and right off the vine/tree. Stateroom QualityOur stateroom was kept very clean and our steward was very friendly and helpful. Our minor disappointment was that we only had a "towel animal" on our bed one day. Ship Staff QualityVery friendly. They bent over backwards to accommodate us. Entertainment & ActivitiesSince we rarely have time alone (children at home) and since it was our 25th anniversary, my husband and I mostly did our own thing. However, the few activities we did participate in were very well done. 10 out of 10 people found this review helpful.
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Bahama Dream by
Ted R. from Chicago, Il Sailing date: Dec 2008Pros: The food, service and entertainment were stellar! Cons: There should have been a disclosure about the $10 per person per day gratuity that would be added to the on board final bill. The staff and the service were exceptional. The amount of food alone more than covered the initial expense. There should have been at least 2 or 3 more hot tubs. There were lines waiting to get in the tubs which made people want to get out earlier than desired. Ship QualityBeautiful ship from top to bottom. Dining/FoodThe amount fo food alone more than compensated for the initial price. The liqour purchases were high at nearly $10 but they have tomake money somehow. Stateroom QualityThe inside cabin was a bit tight for two, but clean. Ship Staff QualityEveryone was very pleasant and willing to help. Entertainment & ActivitiesGet a seat early for the Adult Quest! OMG! Half naked men and women doing everything for prizes.
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Nassau, BahamasDon't sign up for the ship excursion. Use the taxi people in the port for sights, food at a local hangout, and more fun in a small group. They saved us alot of money compared to what the ship line charges.
Great Stirrup Cay (Cruiseline Private Island), BahamasThis uis just a beach outing for a day. The food was hamburgers, chicken and hot dogs. Not much shelter from the rain but still nice to be on the beach.
10 out of 10 people found this review helpful.
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The Best Anniversary Cruise EVER!!! by
Dave S. from Naples, Florida Sailing date: Aug 2010Pros: Over the top excellence in Customer Service Cons: Having to return home We met 18 years ago on a cruise. We got married a year later on the same cruise and we took the wedding party with us to enjoy. While the economy was good we went every year on a cruise to celebrate, it has been a few years since we have cruised and we looked forward to this one, and we were not disappointed at all.
The crew ( and we mean everyone working for NCL) treated us like family and tended to our every concern without question.
Our stateroom with a private balcony was beyond compare.
Thank you NCL you will be our cruise line of choice from now on. Ship QualityThe Sky was very well cared for and very clean. We especially liked the hand sanitizers in and out of every public area. Dining/FoodOMG! Because it was our anniversary the first night we felt we should eat in one of the gourmet restaurants offered. (At a small up-charge) The food and menu was unbelievable. The table side service was superb. The next two nights we ate in the Palace (main dining) and the food was every bit as good and tasty with NO up charges.
Where to go??? Oh well, just going to have to eat several meals a day. We'll exercise later. Stateroom QualityThe stateroom was very nice and well lit. Or cabin guy did a great job of keeping up with everything for us. Ship Staff QualityBeyond willing to help, the ships staff was like family, and they made you feel important, from the deck hands to the staff with 5-6 bars on their shirt shoulders. Entertainment & ActivitiesWay fun, every where we went there was some sort of activity, great job. And the Cruise Director was a hoot. He came from Australia but there was nothing upside down about him, he knew his job and he did very well.
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Nassau, BahamasAlways beautiful, Nassa is one of our favorite places to go, but we try to get in a bus and head out of town and go where the locals go. We find different food choices and activities that way.
Don't Miss: Kalik Gold beer. If you are a beer drinker you have to try Kalik Gold. Great Stirrup Cay (Cruiseline Private Island), BahamasOMG, in the past we have stayed on board for the island excursion, but this time we went off and had a blast.
Don't Miss: Tandem Para-sailing. Get your intestinal fortitude together , get strapped in and go for the ride of your life. (Don't forget to ask for 2 dips.) 8 out of 8 people found this review helpful.
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A great time by
Cathy J. from Peoria, il Sailing date: Apr 2009Pros: Liked the boat, Cons: Everything extra was really expensive The cruise was nice and relaxing, we didn't get to stop in Freeport because of the winds on the ocean, which I know is not their fault but, I booked this cruise because of the variety of stops. They only credited us $11.95 each because we didn't stop there. I thought there should have been a larger credit. Like I said, I choose this cruise because of all the stops in the short amount of days. Ship Quality
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Freeport, Grand Bahama IslandWe didn't get to stop and only got a 11.95 each credit. Especially with the prices of the extras on board being so overpriced, I didn't feel that was enough credit for missing one whole island.
Nassau, Bahamas
Great Stirrup Cay (Cruiseline Private Island), BahamasNice to have own private island.
8 out of 8 people found this review helpful.
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Wonderful time by
Chris V from Staunton, VA Sailing date: Sep 2008Pros: Friendliness of staff, food in speacilty restaurants Cons: charging for sodas I booked a room in one of the balcony staterooms and was very impressed. The room was kept clean. The restaurants and other areas of the ship were easy to get around and not crowded. However I found out at the end of the trip that this cruise was only around 1,000 people and during the busy periods they have around 2,000. This was my first cruise and I enjoyed the freestyle cruise experience that Norwegian has. You could relax or participate in the many activities that the very entertaining cruise director Matt arranged. Overall a very enjoyable experience. Ship Quality
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Stateroom QualityYou can tell that the rooms are well used. The room was kept clean by the steward. However, I think they could give the whole room a good cleaning and replacing a few damaged items such as a missing hook or a slight tear in the curtain, etc. Ship Staff QualityThe ships staff were very friendly and always said hello when passing. Entertainment & ActivitiesMatt the cruise director and Bingo Joe made this trip entertaining.
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Freeport, Grand Bahama IslandNot much to do in Freeport. My excursion had an hour at a beach. It was nice, but there were no bathroom or changing facilities.
Nassau, Bahamas
Great Stirrup Cay (Cruiseline Private Island), Bahamas
16 out of 25 people found this review helpful.
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won't stray away from Norwegian! AWESOME by
Tara A. from Milan, IL Sailing date: Dec 2008Pros: freestyle cruising is for sure the way to go. it was awesome and everyone was so incredibly nice on board This was a great trip! And the private island (great stirrup cay) was awesome as well. everything was clean and they were willing to get us anything we could have possibly needed. one thing they dont tell you is that they will charge you $10 a day as a service charge but this is TOTALLY worth it! It means you dont have to leave tips otherwise!!! Ship Quality
Dining/Foodthe special restaurants were amazing Stateroom Quality
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Freeport, Grand Bahama Islandthe beaches and caves tour was fun but freeport was pretty boring in general. pretty though!
Nassau, BahamasGORGEOUS! we loved playing with the sea lions!!!!! but dont book an Atlantis tour through NCL. just go in a taxi. we saved over $75 doing it that way
Great Stirrup Cay (Cruiseline Private Island), Bahamassimply beautiful
9 out of 12 people found this review helpful.
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a carribean cruise by
michael l from tampa,fla. Sailing date: Nov 2010Pros: the lobster dinner, the female pianist Cons: the cold meal, atlantis overpriced everything, desserts that were aweful the ship itself was ok. we have been on others that were just phenomenal,and this one ok. if it weren't for the piano girl "Laurie", i would have rated this cruise probably yuck. she became the life of the boat, interacting with all the guests using her musical talent and quick wit, along with a variety of sayings in so many different languages. she actually made this cruise for me and my wife, because up until the time that we watched her perform we had terrible food, so-so entertainment, a cruise director full of himself, a smoke filled casino that i didn't go into but wanted to( i couldn't breathe it stunk so bad),and just ok ports of call. if it weren't for the great deal that this cruise was, i would never take it again. there are too many better options. and if it wasn't for the piano girl, i would probably never cruise on norwegian again. Ship Quality
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Entertainment & Activitiesthe piano girl laurie should be commended for her addition to the ship. she had such a small part, and made such a huge impact. better take another look norwegian!
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Freeport, Grand Bahama Island
Nassau, Bahamasatlantis is a joke. we were given a tip to take the number 10 bus to cable beach for $1.25, and this was the best time ever. the beach was secluded and quiet, the water tremendous, and nobody (other than local vendors trying to sell their wares) actually interfered with the day. go to the sheraton if you get a chance, there is even a casino next door. this was the place to be, a little known secret!
Great Stirrup Cay (Cruiseline Private Island), Bahamasthis was a typical private island with all the usual stuff, but again, i was hamburgered and hot dogged to death!
8 out of 11 people found this review helpful.
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