So. We were on Norwegian. To Norway, right? What a disappointment. Not one meal, not one night's entertainment was devoted to NCL's home country. We were on the Star. Is this ship tired. The sofa in our mini-suite was threadbare on the edges. The carpet appeared worn, and the bathroom shower door was rickety. The public spaces were -- ummm -- well-used, and in some areas, the carpets were filthy. We were put off by the look and smells in the World Market Cafe. Reminded us of a hospital cafeteria. O'Sheehan's was worse. The tables were sticky, sometimes greasy and more than once our silverware was dirty. Be prepared to wait in lines at Versailles. Our ship wasn't full and every meal we ate there meant a 20 minute wait in line. I talked to the restaurant manager and he said it was because we all came at once. Not really. I came at various times. Same story; a wait. Because my sis and I booked a mini-suite for about $2000 each, our package included meals in the specialty restaurants which were actually good. Servers were a lot of fun. However, as we were in line for the emergency drill, we learned the passengers in the next cabin had initially booked an inside, lower-deck room, only to have been upgraded for the sum of $399 each, and their college-age daughter was on board for free. Disappointment! We quickly tired of the ship's continuous shilling, attempting to get us to buy art, massages, items from the gift shop. I suspect this incremental revenue offsets the low cruise fares, but still, it is tiresome. Now. What about those pricey optional tours. Really, the only way to see the sights in Norway so you're stuck. But don't expect the guides to be knowlegable or informative. They are neither. More like minders than guides. Expect the woman who led the grand tour of Copenhagen from ship to airport. She was superb. So, if you book NCL here how to look at it: Compare the experience you'll have with seven nights in a Hampton Inn, dining in chain restaurants where the service is OK. Know the people in the next room are getting your same deal for significantly less. Sigh, and enjoy Norway.
Dewa was terrific. Attentive to our needs. But you should know, you get one bar of soap and one tube of body lotion. No hair conditioner. The fixture in the bathtub has shampoo and hair conditioner combo. We all know those things never work, right? Bring your own amenities.
Beautiful scenery. Don't miss the waterfall
Visit the museum. Worth the time
Bergen is small, so it's walkable. The Hanseatic Museum is pricey; fish market is small