My friend and I chose this cruise bc it was the only 5 day cruise out of Boston with the New England and Canada intinerary. Our boarding was delayed because the Coast guard wanted to inspect the ship due to Serenade returning from a summer overseas...at least we knew the ship was safe!! You could also see Royal’s procedures in place to ensure a smooth boarding process and it was. It’s just that the ship was completely booked so there were a lot of people boarding at once rather than trickling on all day. The rooms opened promptly at 2. Our room was very nice and clean and our room attendant Juliarta was amazing...he made our cruise special with his attentiveness, efficiency and sense of humor! We were on the starboard side of the ship and we got both sunrise and sunset from our balcony! We stopped in the R Bar in the Centrum first and this turned out to be our favorite place to hang out.. there was a guitar player who entertained there a couple of times who was amazing! We also enjoyed Vintages and the Schooner for trivia..we received great service from the staff in all of these places! The ship itself is beautiful with different artwork in every corner hallway and stairwell, they even have a champagne art auction! The food in all of the venues was very good...service even better...we were especially impressed with the lunch buffet in Reflections dining room and the nice hot food in the Windjammer! We even had someone bringing us drinks and clearing things for us in the Windjammer. We dined in Giovanni’s and Chops and the service and food was second to none! We did Giovanni’s for 1st nite done right and it was only $20...There are so many choices to eat..just not in Rita’s Cantina, which was disappointing bc we wanted Mexican food with Margaritas! The excursions we took on this cruise were really great! 3 hour tour of Peggy’s Cove in Halifax and the trolley tour of St John. 1 1/2 hours...then we hopped off at the City market and walked back to the ship. There was a flea market inside a white tent specifically for cruise ship travelers, in St John...down the street and on your left of the terminal...Everyone in Canada takes American dollars! And they reduce the price for you...$20 Canadian and $17 American..I can’t say enough about how friendly everyone is in Canada!! Some people complained that they didn’t enjoy their 6 hour tours in both ports!, but I can’t even imagine touring for that long! I would suggest a shorter excursion and then finishing off with your own tour/ lunch by yourself..It’s perfectly safe and easy to get around in these city’s.. Bar Harbor was a different story because we were completely fogged in and we had to go thru immigration on the ship, but they couldn’t find the ship due to the fog! It backed everything up bc it was a slow process getting off, with excursion boats arriving late and only 2 tenders unloading everyone..But RC made up for it by giving us an extra hour in port and enlisting the help of local tour boats to get everyone back on in a timely manner!! Keep the very real possibility of fog in mind when you plan your excursions...sometimes they go anyway and you can’t see anything! There is plenty of shopping and dining in Bar Harbor if you choose not to do an excursion. Disembarkation was backed up a bit bc Boston was slow in releasing the ship, but it got moving pretty quickly...our bags were waiting for us and we were in a taxi by 9:30am....it would have been longer if we had to go through immigration. Overall, I was really impressed with every aspect of this cruise...the ship, the crew, the ports and the excursions..the only hiccups were from things outside of Royal Caribbean and they did everything possible to make up for it So I can say that I recommend it highly! 2 thumbs up!! Read Less

I have been on this ship quite a few times, as I am now a Platinum Latitude member. At the time of this sailing, I was Gold. Granted, the latitude rewards are not much, but this time I expected to have discounts for on board shopping and spa treatments, which should have amounted to me saving $150.00. I expected the issue to be resolved after speaking with my cabin steward, who looked into it. (Some free items like water and wine should have been brought to my room, and I noticed I didn't get them.) He politely told me to check with guest services. I did, and they told me they also "didn't have information regarding my latitudes status." So, apparently, it's my problem, according to NCL. Whatever they have in front of them on their computer at the time is what you get. I had expected to resolve this easily. I was wrong. I enjoy this cruise and did have a good time, but because this issue shouldn't have been an issue in the first place, I took off a few stars. I think NCL has serious issues regarding customer service. I've read many other reviews of complaints regarding customer service at the atrium lobby. Seems no one cares to resolve complaints of any kind when you try to speak with people there. I now see they had clear reasons to complain. I did find the crew everywhere else on this ship to be friendly and helpful. The food, entertainment and activities were, as always, very good. I could do without the constant nickle and diming of buying lottery scratch tickets, bonus bingo tickets, paying more for certain food items, even in the main dining rooms on the same menu. Unless you note the asterisk on the menu item, you won't know you're paying for it. How many times must that happen?! I have written my complaints to NCL. I would expect them to resolve this with a refund equal to the discounts I didn't get and should have. I really don't care about the things I should have gotten in my cabin, but I definitely should have gotten the priority disembark that would have meant being able to walk off the ship without being in any line. That took 1 1/2 hours! Bottom line? We'll see how NCL handles this. If they choose to ignore me, which I suspect will happen, I will likely not sail with NCL again. Read Less

I live in the Boston area so a cruise out of Boston and/or terminating in Boston is a plus (minimizing air travel is always a plus). Embarking/disembarking was typical for an ocean going cruise as was the cabin and most other amenities (I'm a six time cruiser, "typical" means quite good and no complaints). Dining was free style so no reserved table in the evening and a different wait staff each time. I missed that from other cruises. Norwegian seems to be steering you to the specialty dining venues: smaller, better food, more intimate but cost extra. That is the Norwegian theme. Everything seems to cost extra. I suspect the up front costs are deliberately kept low to attract customers but you seem to pay constantly for day to day amenities such as drinks (wine $11, beer $9); unless you buy the "Ultimate" drink package which is exorbitant. Speaking of which, the Norwegian Internet site sucks, it fails to inform you of all the various drink packages available. You don't find out your options until you board. There is a beer package and a wine package available. The wine package worked for me. Forget Internet service (at least for me). I purchased 175 minutes of Internet and got like 10 minutes. The rest of the minutes went down the drain. If you don't make a point of logging out of their app, the minutes just keep counting. I went to the Network guru the first time and he restored my lost minutes, but even then I lost minutes big time (download time can be extensive and counts toward your allocation and it seemed even logging out of the app didn't stop the clock). Simply not worth it. You're on vacation, forget the Internet! Money is better spent on a drink package or an excursion on Bermuda. I wish I'd done that. Biggest complaint for me was no quiet spot. There were four days at sea and for me, the only quiet spot for reading or contemplating the horizon was my balcony. Every public venue was noisy or had some entertainment or noisy and crowded. Even the promenade deck had very few lounge chairs. The other ships I've been on all had a lounge or two overlooking the bow or stern with views and with wait service and was fairly quiet and peaceful and a place for conservation, except for an occasional event. I missed that and found it a real drawback, particularly since we spent four days at sea. My biggest complaint. Read Less

The ship is beautiful, and the staff is so friendly and helpful. There were plenty of on board activities throughout the week. The entertainment staff keeps you on your toes and laughing through the entire week, the shows and performers were all amazing. We dined at the Venetian, Aqua, and Bamboo The food was delicious, sometimes it took a bit for us to get our food after ordering however we also went at busy times .Restaurant staff was friendly and attentive. We ended our nights at Bliss Lounge and enjoyed the fun there. The DJ played some of the same songs night after night, but we still had a ton of fun. The only thing we didn't like was the pool deck area was taken over by children a lot of the time, and the hot tubs would have been much more enjoyable if there wasn't many children in them. Read Less

Loved the size of this ship. It was just right for our group of 6. Always something to do and very friendly staff. Had never been to New England or eastern Canada and wanted to add to my list of states and countries I have visited. The cruise seemed like the best way to see and do everything and have a wonderful time doing so with friends. We did several of the shore excursions and they were all wonderfully organized and fun. (Whale Watching in Fundy Bay, Peggy's Cove and fishing village, and Cadillac Mountain and Acadia National Park). Everything from the beginning of the cruise to the end was very well orchestrated and easy to follow. Would suggest giving a little more detail about how much time is spent getting to and from the point of interest as well as how much time is actually allowed at the main point of interest. We did not realize a big portion of our tours would be spent on buses traveling to and from. The crew members that we ran into were fantastic. They were fun, upbeat and very entertaining. Big thanks to Jonathan Isip and Ademerson Diaz -waiters in Main Dining-Reflections (they were awesome!!). As were the bar tenders at the pool - Elena Cucu, Ananbel Sierra, and Vladimir Radovinovic. Jason Cross -server was fantastic and very entertaining. And special thanks to our room butler for states room #9504 -John. He was very helpful and always ready to get us anything we needed. Our cabin was very clean and roomy. We ordered room service a few times and were never served food at the wrong temperature and always when we asked. We loved having current movies to attend and the entertainment was fantastic. So two comedians and the dancers. The dining experience in the buffet area was great as it was at Reflectiions. Our hostess for the 8:00pm reservations in Reflections was awesome as well. (didn't get her name) We were able to stay in Boston a couple days before leaving on our tour so we could do some sightseeing. The weather was great for our trip and would definitely plan another cruise to another area. We did encounter fog and the ship had to sound the fog horn quite often which made it difficult to fall asleep, but I understand the need to keep everyone safe when fog arises. Did not partake in any exercise while on the cruise. Gained some weight that week so maybe I should have. :) Read Less

We took this cruise as a last minute deal to get away from Hurricane Irma. Had a wonderful time on board. Shows were great, food way to good, and staff was friendly and hospitable. What a way to ride out the storm. The fine dining was great except for the way you now get a certificate and can only choose one salad-or- soup. In the main dining room, you can order whatever you want, as much, or little, as you like. Fine dining is limited and sometimes I'd love to have a soup and salad. You have to pay extra. Not quite worthwhile when the main dining and buffet areas have such fabulous items too. The port is so easy to get around - just walk off and you're already in a fort. Jump on the free water shuttle to go to St. George's. Overall a fabulous cruise. Love NCL. Read Less

I'm trying to understand, from previous readings, how there can be such in difference in how people are writing reviews. Others are saying food was deplorable, crew was unfriendly, etc etc, but then gave it 4 stars. 4 stars, but then said they wouldn't take this cruise again. And, asking what happened to the chocoholic buffet, when all cruise lines stopped doing this many years ago. I, like most people, are really glad to see it go. Such a waste of food! Now... I didn't give it five, because in some areas, yes, it could use some improvement. However... I didn't find the crew to be unfriendly. I didn't find the food to be deplorable. I found most, (and I do mean most as there were a few and only a few exceptions), of the crew doing a fabulous job. The food use to be better. But, even then, I won't say every meal was outstanding. Seems the whole lobster-no-more thing is still an issue. It isn't for me, as eating lobster isn't just a cruise sort of thing for me. They haven't done it on any cruise line for many years now. I like this cruise. I've done it many times. Mainly because it's convenient for us New Englanders. I do feel spoiled when I take this cruise. I do find just about everyone doing whatever they can to be friendly and helpful. People in Bermuda are like that too:) Read Less

Booked this cruise last minute, traveling solo ~ Great price, great cabin! I've been in every category up to The Owner's Suite and Penthouse on previous cruises and this inside guarantee worked just fine for me especially since you can no longer smoke on your balcony. Embarkation was a breeze. I was in my cabin at 11:30. Deck 8 was ideal. Plenty of room and storage in my cabin, close to an elevator and just above the Casino and dining and below the pool and buffet. BeeVee in The Venetian always knew my name and greeted me with a smile and desire to please making me feel as though I truly mattered. Rubellen was just as friendly and while making me towel flowers at lunch said "These are not pretty but they come from my heart." Oh!! Of course they were beautiful and I will remember that moment! I also enjoyed eating at Moderno, Cagney's Orchid, The Buffet and Topsiders. Dante kept my cabin sparkling clean and well stocked. A fun week that went by way too fast! Loved ~ The friendly helpful staff, my cabin, storage, towel animals, creative meal and dessert presentation, Casino, dancing to Big Band Music and Karaoke in The Bliss Lounge, Music in the Atrium and dancing at the pool, the line Dances and Mr. Sexy Legs Contest! St. George's little shops and $4.50 shuttle one way to Tobacco Bay. The Bermuda Triangle night time excursion with Tiana and Kevin was fantastic. I enjoyed watching the sunset and seeing the fish, coral and sunken ship. Learned that Bermuda is closer to Canada than the Caribbean but warmed by the gulf stream. Snorkel park was a short walk from the ship and $5 to enter. The water was great although a bit rocky in spots and there is live music, food and drinks available. Didn't Like ~ Hard to get a chair by the pool. Pool was very small for the amount of people and children on board. The shortened hours in The Venetian and day 5 it wasn't open at all for lunch. I Missed ~ The Chocoholic Buffet, Mints on my pillow at night and the poolside barbecue. Little touches that make cruising extra special for me. Read Less

very fun ship...lot to do with kids and adults...the entertainment was TOP NOTCH, and Bermuda is a great port...rooms were clean and nice...and the upgrades were very good. Only a few negative things to mention: 1) Out of Boston, and maybe this is the time of the year, there were a LOT of younger (18-22) kids getting hammered...that goes obviously with a lot of adults...it's not going to ruin your time, but it can get annoying QUICK...during a more intimate cabaret show/improv comedy show, some kids were so loud you couldn't hear the performers with their mics MAXED...again this might be different when you go. 2) This is my fourth Norwegian Cruise, and I've never encountered as much of a language barrier as this ship. Normally the crew is very international, but in this occasion, we did have some issues. 3) The food outside of sit down wasn't all that great. Usually the buffet has varying options, but it seemed like the same old every day. the Bamboo included restaurant was impossible to get a reservation to. And the Irish bar pub food was not good. 4) Our inside cabin had VERY thin walls, so we could hear a lot of other people...again this could be our cabin/floor, and the party atmosphere of the ship. Overall I would recommend this cruise, just be aware of when you go. Read Less

I must say I was a little skeptical about going on a cruise vacation when one of my girlfriends suggested it for our girls vacation. The prior cruise a few years ago I had gone on was not a fun time at all. It was on a different cruise line. On my honeymoon 32 yrs ago I sailed on NCL's SS Norway and was wonderful experience even during the close call we had with Hurricane Gloria (if anyone remembers that one). The cruise was booked and then I learned it was a NCL cruise on NCL Dawn. I was excited to go and to see if the service, experience, food, etc. was still as good as I had remembered from 32 yrs ago. I must say it did not disappoint at all. It was an amazing 7 day cruise to Bermuda. The staff was wonderful, friendly, attentive, helpful and let's not forget funny and amazing entertainers as well from the moment we walked onto the cruise line to the moment we did have to go home (unfortunately). The food, presentation and waitstaff from the buffet to any one of the other restaurants on board was top notch service with everything fresh and delicious. The whole staff are very well trained to provide the best service to every passenger on board. The cabin was a great size with a nice window. We went on a couple of tours and the service there was great as well. Everything ran on time and well coordinated. Cannot wait to go on another cruise again on NCL hopefully within the next few months. Great Job NCL Dawn and to all of their staff!!! Read Less

Went on this cruise with my cousins. Our group was early to mid twenties, and this cruise was FANTASTIC! Everyone had a blast. Living right outside of Boston we were able to be drop off right at the pier where there was someone waiting to take our bags. Boarding was a breeze. Once on the boat, there was truly something for everybody, from game shows and the casino for the gambler in our crew, or all sorts of activities during the day from trivia to mr. Sexy legs by the pool, no body ever once said they were bored. Even though I preferred laying by the pool with a drink in my hand. And with two bars near by made the wait minimal. The shows in the evenings were amazing we only missed one all week. We definetly recommend not missing the comedy shows, the second city group on the boat is hilarious!! Food was delicous from the buffet, to the Venetian all around great food. And we loved Not having a set meal time so there was no rush to get off the pool deck and to dinner on time, instead we left when ready and took our time showering and getting ready. And with three girls sharing 1 bathroom and straightener that was definetly a huge plus. Bliss Ultra lounge was soo much fun at night, its huge and the bar tenders always on point. And having osheeans open all night made for the perfect late night snack afterwards. All the staff was all fantastic but Dan, Jaime and shake it Shirley were most definetly our favorites, definetly made our week unique and a blast! All around a blast already planning for next time!!! Read Less

I was on the Dawn on the July 29th-August 5th cruise to Bermuda. This was my 3rd cruise on the Dawn, the last being 3 years ago. I chose the Dawn because it was Bermuda, but also because of the new refurbishment everyone was talking about. The buzz about it getting an entire new look made me want to do this cruise again. I then starting reading all the reviews and found myself seriously regretting that I booked this cruise. The reviews went from dissappointing to downright horrible. I read stories where bathrooms were a nightmare, service was horrible or non existent, work being done all over the ship, food being poor and of having very little choices, rude employees, and on an on. Now, I've sailed on NCL many times with many different ships. I liked all 3 of my previous cruises on the Dawn, even when it needed some TLC 3 years ago. I liked some ships better than others but was always impressed with the level of service of NCL. This cruise, I absolutely MUST say, was far better than any cruise I've ever sailed. I did not find the service to be anything less than excellent the entire time, no matter where I was on the ship, on any time or day. I paid attention to every single crew member from maintenance, cabin stewards (not just mine), waiters, hostesses, store clerks, restaurant managers, directors, entertainment staff, bartenders, chefs, officers, dining room staff, buffet staff, etc etc. I wanted to be clear about whether it was consistent if/when I wrote a review.. I never saw any person who worked on that ship not doing their job to a level of service that wasn't far above and beyond possible. All did it with a smile and a high professional attitude of courtesy and at all times. I did not see work being done anywhere except for the non stop daily cleaning everywhere, inside and out. I did not see or hear anyone complain about work being done to their cabin from a toilet or A/C not working. I did not see bathrooms not working except one time and just one stall for a short period of time. That stall was ina bathroom outside the Stardust Theater and that was only one time on one night. Never did I see any toilet not being able to flush and I used all of them. I went to the shows and to the casino all the time and had to use those bathrooms. They were always kept up and clean. The food was very good to excellent and I found the choices to plentiful. If you choose to eat lunch every day at the Venetian, you will find the menu to be the same. You can choose to eat something different there every day if you choose to eat only there every day, or you can choose to got to the buffet. Lunch is also served at O'Sheenan's, where that menu stays the same and you can get sandwiches, burgers, hot dogs, wings, fries, etc. I found between the 3 places, I had tons of choices every day. Dinner is an abundance of choices as the menu is diifferent every night at the main dining rooms or specialty restaurants. I ate at Venetian, Aqua, the buffet, Bamboo and Los Lobos. My favorite was Bamboo. All were excellent. Least favorite the buffet, but I just happen to not care for buffet style eating while I'm cruising, not because I didn't like the food. I had no issue whatsoever with my adult beverage card package. I did not wait in line anywhere, even at the pool. I did not find the bartenders to be rude at any time. I did not see many servers at the pool or at the bars or nightclubs. I can see why that would be an issue with others, but I have no problem walking up to the bartenders myself to get a drink. I did not, however, see anyone being able to get a drink at Stardust. There is no longer a bar there. Those wanting a drink while watching the show will have to bring their own in. I didn't see very many opting to do that since you have to walk up/down many stairs in this theater. I never heard anyone complain of this. I have no complaints either. I remember many people working in this theater having to rush all over the place to get rid of empty glasses and clean tables between shows. It was often annoying to see so many empty glasses everywhere so I'm glad they did away with it. Getting on and off the ship was easy as can be, and they made made major changes to luggage handling. The porters now just put your luggage right onto very large steel trailers that are directly hauled from there with forklifts to the ship. It's done with precise efficiency. There are many people around to help you at all times with where to go and to answer questions. The ship looks beautiful, all public areas are cleaned constantly. The pool area was always packed. That is my least favorite area. I just don'r care for being around smoke, heat, wet floors, etc. I spent no time there except to cross it in order to go to the buffet. My one complaint would be that they have a path outside of the pool area to get to the buffet. My other option would be to use the stairs/elevator to go up/down a floor and walk the hallway to the back of the ship and then head towards mid ship. Too long a way to go just to get your morning coffee and breakfast. My cabin was mid ship on the deck 9. My inside cabin, mid ship, deck 9 was a good spot to be. I have to have mid ship. I get seasickness easily. I choose inside because I actually prefer it over a balcony. I like it very dark and quiet and have issues with that having a balcony. There was nothing above or below me in cabin 9599, and I didn't have the stairs or elevator near me. I did not want either of those as well. My room did not have the toilet in a cubicle as I've had before in my inside cabin on teh Dawn. The toilet was in the same area as the sink, but over to the side and on an angle. Much better than having to squat in that tiny cubicle area like I had to before. Cabin steward Alex was always attentive without being intrusive, He always paid attention to my do not disturb and clean cabin sign. I was never woken or ignored. My room was always spotless. Please tip them on top of the service charge. They work a very long day because they have to clean your cabin twice a day, no matter how late you sleep in, nap before taking in an all nighter, and must do every single room twice. I saw them working from 8 am until midnight every single day. They cannot simply end their shift because they couldn't get into your cabin. I'm really glad they did without the chocoholic buffet. You will find dessert all over the ship. The buffet has a dessert buffet from 9:30 - 11;30 every night. .You can also get more dessert from O'Sheenan's, 24 hours. You can also take your food/dessert to your cabin from the buffet. The shows were absolutely fantastic. Most favorite was Elements, least favorite was Second City. But...I did enjoy them all:) I went to the audience-participating shows as well at the Bliss Lounge. Lots of fun! The daily activities were chock full of variety. I barely made through half of them. I wanted to get to more of them! They have everything from solo cruisers gatherings to family oriented activities. They never plugged up the atrium with tables of things to shop for. I was very glad to see that gone. The atrium now is larger than ever and a great place to hang out and listen to a big variety of music, movies, have a drink or coffee, play games, go to a discussion on whatever, meet up with others, etc. I'm so glad to see how much open up this popular area. I've no clue as to why there were negative reviews other than perhaps having to go through a period of change due to the new staff on this ship. If that was the case, it no longer exists...anywhere. I felt beyond pampered and spoiled. They wanted me to have a perfect experience and that's exactly what I had. Value for money? It was expensive for me. I did not get what others got who cruised solo and were able to get an inside cabin just like mine for less than half of what I paid. Had I gotten my reservation a week before like they did, I would have said excellent instead of average. Over 3000 for an inside cabin is not a good value. Read Less

This is a very a convenient cruise for us being only 45 minutes south of town. Jump on jump off love that feature. As usual the cruise was excellent, it was my 3rd time to Bermuda in 3 years on the Dawn the service was great in all restaurants and the shows were good as well. The seas were a little rough 7-15 ft. but not that bad. I arrived at 10:30 AM and take the latest time tags for disembarking. Bermuda was spectacular as usual! Getting on and off the ship went with out a hitch. The 2 shuttle trains that run from the ship to the town is a great service and runs all day non stop. The locals are very welcoming throughout the island. The NCL prices for next year have gone up almost 20 percent which now makes them compatible with the competition. So have the gratuities gone up 18 percent so we may give another cruise line a chance? The Dawn will be going in for a face lift from April 4th to May 5th, 24/7, in 2016. I heard they will be changing the garden cafe from the 2 sides..... to an open air style from the entire left side to the right and to a round table serving style similar to the newer ships like the jade and jem. Also the Moderno will be relocated to the star bar overlooking the pool area. FYI the Mass-port parking fees have gone up from $116.00 for cruisers to $140.00 for the week they only take cash, visa and master card. One thing I would love to see is a ship cash (credit) banking system where you could store or save your unused room cash so you could use it for the next trip or trips. This would also be a ploy for frequent cruisers to return to them. Just a thought? Read Less

Having sailed Royal Caribbean twice before, but almost 10 years ago, I expected the special first class treatment I received those times. This cruise was a huge disappointment though, as Royal Caribbean nickel-and-dimed the passengers beyond belief with extra charges and upgrades to everything, and some of those were rip-offs as well, like the Premium Wine Package two of my friends purchased for $57.00 per day only to learn none of those premium wines were ever available. However, they could get "above" premium wines for an additional $3.00 charge per glass. The Internet service was only sold in packages of $20 per day. You could not pay by the hour. On the last day when everyone was complaining because they wanted to print their boarding passes for the flights home, the ship finally offered a 3-hour Internet package...for $15.00. This is ridiculous in a world where almost everybody, including the tour buses had free WiFi. The food, something I always associated with cruising, was cafeteria grade at best in the main dining room and buffet. Of course you could go to one of four "specialty" restaurants where there was actual good food for an additional charge ranging from $25 to $75 per person. Another woman couldn't get a glass of unsweetened iced tea after day 3 because, as she was told, they vendor didn't deliver any premade unsweetened tea. She had to fuss to get someone to make a cup of tea and pour it over ice. This is not good. There was also a noticeble change in the level of customer service. Anyone going to Guest Services with a problem or complaint was treated like a bother and very rarely received satisfaction. One woman carried her passport, cash and jewelry around for the entire week because the safe in her room was broken. She lost half of her first day waiting for repairs that couldn't be done, then was told there were no replacements and it was suggested that SHE was the one who broke it even though the lock didn't work from the first day. The ship (Brilliance of the Seas) is the same one i sailed on a decade ago and it has had zero upgrades since. The carpets and upholsetry are clearly worn and there is a musty odor in most of the hallways. A few of the dining room chairs actually broke. The stateroom attendants, probably the best part of the staff, worked hard at cleaning and keeping things neat and clean, but there is only so much they could work with. I will say the shore excursions were great. If you take this cruise, I would highly recommend seeing Portland and Kennebunkport in Maine and do take the 6 1/2 hour tour of Saint Johns, The Bay of Fundy and the reversing Rapids in New Brunswick. Another winner tour was in Halifax Nova Scotia with the Titanic burial area of the cemetary. I did expect that I was paying for a great mode of transportation though with excellent food and service. that was not the case. Believe it or not, alrthough this was a cruise through lobster territory, no lobster was offered at dinner until multiple complaints were made the first three days. One more thing, the two showtimes were scheduled to conflict with dinner seatings, so I never saw one headliner show all week. Read Less

Best to begin with a positive - stops were quite enjoyable and onboard entertainment was excellent. Beyond these not much was above average. The ship is not impressive by any standard of appearance excellence, yet from a functional view the ship performed well (got to all points safe). Downside began during boarding when we had to stand over 30 minutes (insufficient seating) waiting to board. Email to travelers advised processing at 12:00 and boarding at 1:00. Someone should have thought through seating needs if travelers showed at 12:00. First two dinners my wife received the incorrect meal; first time I had to share mine with her so she could eat with the group. Dinner table was right at the entry to Mistrel (dining room) where all traffic in and out passed, including wait staff getting food and returning dishes. Table placement prevented seeing or engagement in any ‘cook/wait staff’ dinner entertainment – very sad. Purchased the full internet package (full access the entire cruise – excellent package) it was down several hours. Breakfast in main dining, at times, presented and tasted as if out of a box - ready to warm and eat; except items were served less than warm. We bought a 3 night Specialty Dining package online before boarding the ship, Giovani’s, Chop’s and Izumi for $55 pp. We made reservations before boarding. Reservations at Giovanni’s and Chops went well. Izumi’s told us the reservation we made was before they open; found out after calling to confirm - no one called us; imagine the displeasure had we showed at our reserved time to a closed restaurant. We like this package, have purchased it on other RC cruises so we knew the drill at each restaurant; or thought we did. At Izumi’s we discovered instead of a set amount of money for dinner we would only receive a 20% discount. At that point we were so irritated with Izumi’s we left the restaurant – clear to all our displeasure. To a positive, Giovanni’s was excellent; exactly what the cruise traveler expects and pays to receive. Chop’s was less so; food was excellent but the dining environment was poorly managed. Tables for 2 were stacked against a beautiful window in such a way that only one guest could see the beautiful sunset. And, to compound the disappointment the tables were unreasonably close (literally inches apart) to to each other. To make my point, when the waiter took the order for the couple seated next to us his derriere was almost in my wife’s face. Flabbergasted at this error, I picked up our table and chairs and moved them - said nothing to the staff, my actions communicated volumes. All of the above was communicated to ship staff. Some were addressed others received no interest despite communication from the ship that ‘they want to know complaints’. Most shortcomings were explained as ‘the staff is new and this is like a training cruise’. Holy mackerel what a statement to give to the customer who paid full price expecting a trained crew and a well-appointed ship. From my perspective, few of the failings were due to a lack of training, merely poor thinking. To lay the onus on the staff was poor form, every failure had a management component, including the technology issues. Sure nature creates havoc and things break but to tell the customer he/she is buying 24 hour connectivity one better be prepared to delivery or else compensate for downtime; doing neither merely leaves the customer irritated. Read Less

I had a wonderful time as a solo traveler on this ship. There were plenty of activities to keep me busy when I wanted it and was very relaxing with 7 days at sea. The ship is elegant with shows going on most of the time in the centrum. The shows in the main showroom were very good. The food was very good most nights .though not excellent. I liked that they had a "classics" section on the menu so if the main menu didn't entice you, there was always a popular choice to choose from. I chose escargot and shrimp for starters most nights. I must say though the steak was tough. The service was excellent. They offered a lunch for cruise critic members which I was allowed to attend even though I had not learned of cruise critic until this cruise as my solo lunch buddies were all going. It was lovely. They had their own menu and was served with red and white wine. I am currently booked on the Brilliance for a five night sailing in November 2015 to Grand Cayman and Cozumel as well as a seven night on the Independence of the Seas in Sept 2012.(western Caribbean)/ I wasn't crazy about St Kitts and St Lucia as ports. The shore excursing in St kitts was not good. It was a snorkeling trip on a catamaran. They took us to a area where all the reef was dead thus no fish. Just as we were being called back to the boat I discovered a patch with some life reef and a few fish. I complained to RCCL and was given a bit of a refund (not satisfactory) They said no one else complained( probably because it was a booze cruise. and they all came back drunk and happy.. I am not a drinker but am a serious snorkeler. Read Less

This is the third year that I have made this trip from Boston on Jewel. Jewel is one of RCI's Radiance class ships which are my favorite as they "look out" to the ocean thru glass walls etc., as opposed to their larger ships which all seem to be oriented "inside" towards their "mall" areas. We left Boston as a howling northeaster was approaching, and thru the night had winds sustained over over 110 mph while crossing around the tip of Cape Cod. Seas of 40' plus continued thru the next day. There Was a picture of a 5' wave rolling down the promenade deck, some 40'+ above the water line which was widely circulated. This was the same Halloween storm which dumped over 30" of snow on much of mid New England. There was little violent motion on the ship as the seas were on the starboard quarter and thus little damage or injury during this violent very early winter storm. After the first at sea day weather improved and was excellent for most of the remainder of the trip. Embarkation in Boston was a breeze, on board at 11:30, to balcony room about 1:00 pm, ship completely full with 2174 pax. This is a very popular trip each year and many pax return, as do I, year after year. Next fall's trip is already almost "sold out". I have made approx. 50+ RCI cruises and always enjoy being with them especially as the amenities for frequent cruisers are very good. On this trip there were 225+ Diamond Plus members (their highest category), and 450+ Diamond members (their second highest category). Thus the Concierge Lounge was over crowded and an additional lounge had to be set up; along with a separate Diamond Lounge. Perhaps I have been lucky enough to be on Royal "too many" times; but their "nickel and diming" practices are really getting on my nerves. They are charging for "everything" - even a $20 fee to say Happy Birthday to a loved one on the daily program. The other problem is the food. Although there is nothing wrong with their food preparation, and service continues to be excellent - the quality of the foods they are buying seems to be the cheapest possible, whether it be in the main Dining Room, Buffet area, or even their "gourmet restaurant" Chops. As a result vegetables are the cheapest "root" vegetables, meat is universally fatty, full of gristle, dry, lacking flavor will all the hallmarks of "CHEAP". Another problem is the proliferation of Indian and Vegetarian entrees. Frequently 3 of the 5 dinner entrees were vegetarian or Indian - again meat is more expensive. Although RCI's Galley personnel are heavily from India, I did not see a single passenger on the entire ship who looked like, or dressed like, they may have been from India. And yet at each lunch/dinner and entire section of the buffet area was given over to Indian food, and there was at least one or two "Indian" entrees on the Dining Room menus. Again Indian food is mostly vegetarian and thus cheaper to purchase and serve. Entertainment - the same old, tired three Production Shows that I have been watching for about 5 years it seems. When will RCI spend $ on new shows for the benefit of their repeat guests? Other "Headliners" were mediocre at best. Had visits to six ports, all of which have been "destroyed" by "mass cruising" of ships such as the one I was on. At St. Lucia the combined total of pax from the ships in port may well have exceeded the population of the island itself. Disembarkation in Tampa on Day #14 was easy, although no "carry off" was allowed but first groups were off the ship at 8:15 am and off to TPA for most people returning to NE. In conclusion - a good trip, I am signed up for next year again; but will I go - I don't know. I'm tired of RCI's "nickel and diming", food quality is worst of any mainstream line, ports will be the same again next year - so we will see. Read Less

Voyage of the Vikings 2010- 35 Days This was my first cruise over 10 days and didn't really know what to expect. It was perfect! Embarkation was slow,but smooth. Luggage was delivered inside staterooms very quickly. Ship is older but in ok condition. Staterooms all have a couch as well as beds. Plenty of closet and draw space. TV position isn't the best. If there are huge waves and you have a cabin in the front of the ship you will hear and feel the slap of the wave, as I expect you will on all ships. Appreciated the special grill luncheons out by the pool. Food only got better as the cruise progressed. Excellent food and a variety at every meal--don't miss the waffles for breakfast with fresh berries! I preferred dining in the Lido-you could sample each of the entrees, appetizers, etc., without having a million plates in front of you, as presentation is important with HAL.Also, if another diner at your table ordered an additional entree after completing the first, then the whole table had to wait until that person was finished to get dessert and coffee. (I can't explain why I was in a hurry...) HAL offers soda drink cards for fountain beverages-you save about $1 per soda. The Coffee Bar in the Explorers Lounge also offers coffee cards--these are only a good value when one can use the card for a large daily special (this changed when the staff person changed). Spa is small-offers warm tile loungers, steam bath and hot tub. Last two weeks the the smaller steam bath didn't work everyday. There is a free sauna. I purchased the spa pass and was generally one of two using the facilities at a variety of times during this cruise. There are only 6 tile loungers, so with a younger group of passengers it may get crowded. Others reported enjoying the nightly shows. There was also a different movie offered each day at different times to accommodate passenger schedules. The Captain kept passengers informed daily at minimum and advised when approaching views that passengers would enjoy (sometimes the evening before the actual approach. He also shared information he gathered about other ships in port, etc. This was something I wasn't use to hearing and really appreciated during this cruise. Interesting lectures were provided and then televised. Cooking classes were also offered. Not many "active" planned activities on this cruise. "Golf" was it besides "Trivia" everyday. The Explorer's Lounge has a variety of board games to borrow/use; and offered a sign-up to find fellow players. Going through Prince Christian Sound, a guide provided verbal information for the whole duration! This was one of the highlights of the cruise for me. Staff are friendly and respectful. They work very hard to ensure passengers are comfortable and enjoying themselves. Ports that required tendering were painful. If you weren't on a ship's excursion the wait was very long. The staff that managed the "tickets" weren't forthcoming with the truth. One female staff in particular, was quite condescending when speaking with passengers--We passengers restrained ourselves and didn't dispose of her in the ocean! Recommend that you avoid cruises that require a number of tender ports. The weather was cool and foggy until we reached Copenhagen (at night anyhow) the foghorn was required frequently. It is difficult to describe the cruise-the views were surreal and I felt like I was visiting another planet. Gorgeous, absolutely gorgeous. My favorite ports were the small communities in Newfoundland, Greenland, Iceland and Norway. Everyone should have the opportunity to visit these countries. The larger ports were like visiting any metropolitan area in the summer...crowded and too much to see without the time to take advantage of being in the cities. Passengers were gifted with whale (different types), porpoise, dolphin and sailfish sightings! Glorious days at sea! Smoking is only allowed in staterooms, outside and in the casino. The casino slot machines just ate money--one jackpot in 35 days! If you are a gambler stick to the tables. It is a blatant lie that "the payouts are the same as Las Vegas."..and the casino staff kept repeating it like a mantra. Disembarkation was orderly and smooth without any incidents. It was a great cruise--both the itinerary and the Maasdam met all of my expectations and more!! Read Less

I just returned from my cruise to Bermuda on the NCL Spirit today. This is my first on the Spirit, but have also sailed to Bermuda on the NCL Majesty (2x) and NCL Dream (1x.)(Once on Holland America and Disney, but neither went to Bermuda.) I liked this ship much more than the other two. Weather on this trip could not have been better. Even the Captain remarked that this was the best weather on this ship all season. (Brought my lucky penny, wished for great weather...guess it worked!)We left Boston in the sunshine and I have yet to see a cloud in the sky since last Friday :) Nothing but sunshine for the past 8 days! Embarkation: Very quick, very easy, lots of people to help (From NCL and Boston Authority.) Traveling solo, managed 3 bags from the garage to the terminal with minimal trouble. Once there, the porters whisked away my luggage, literally zoomed through the latitudes line, and got right through security. In the past, NCL did not have such an organized system in place when embarking the ship. That was a very pleasant surprise. The Ship: The ship has that "wow factor" when you first walk on board. The atrium is that pretty! The colors on this ship are oriental(golden,reds, black wrought iron, and deep greens with lots of wood and recessed lighting.) It had a soothing feel to it. Staircases, restaurants, moulding, and railings were mostly wood which gave the ship a very nice feeling and look. It's hard not to notice the tarnished and greasy fingerprints you see on other ships who have brass and metal railings. It also looks much richer to see dark wood on paneling and ceiling moulding. Windows, in particular has lots of pretty wood paneling and moulding throughout. Very classy. Restaurants: The Windows and Garden Restaurant are both pretty. Garden has darker lighting, Windows has a classier feel. I enjoyed both just as much. Service in both were superb. Menus were identical and on any given day I would have been just as happy to go to either for any meal. Like anyone, there are certain meals I enjoyed over others, but I cannot say I didn't like any meal. Unforgettable are the Beef Wellington, Roasted Tomato Bisque Soup, Scallop/Mixed Greens/Miso Dressing Salad, Eggs Benedict, Mocha Cheesecake/Banana Sauce, and the fresh baked cookies at Raffles. Raffles Buffet: Was far better than the previous buffets I have gone to on NCL. Great selection from what I saw the few times I ate there. (I prefer being served at a table when I cruise.) I saw one incidence of a woman...who knew not to do this but did so anyway...walk through the buffet with nothing more than her bathing suit on. No shoes, either. I mentioned this to the restaurant manager later that evening at the Gardens Restaurant. He thanked me for telling him this and told me that indeed, they do not allow people to be in there without being covered and wearing shoes. It would have been nice to see someone ask her to please come back when she is covered and has shoes on. I didn't actually see her get in line, maybe because I was so disgusted at the sight of seeing her in there like that. I would have thought though, that someone would have seen her walk in there like that, as they do have people standing at the entrances with a spray bottle of hand washing liquid. Blue Lagoon: I ate at only once but enjoyed their cheeseburger with fries. Looked packed just about every single time I walked by there. Lots seemed to like the wings as well. Specialty Restaurants: I ate only at one, Shogun, for the "Taste of India" special they had one night. That meal is truly unforgettable. I ate far more than 15$ worth of food. (Cover charge.) They brought out at least 20 different kinds of dishes that were simply fantastic. They take great pride in their culture and want you to truly experience Indian food at it's finest. Everyone remarked how much they thoroughly enjoyed the never ending meal. The Cafe: Coffee at it's finest, and I do prefer good coffee. It was wonderful to sit in the comfy couches listening to the music above from Champagne Charlie's after the show every night, sipping a frothy cappuccino. Bar Drinks: Although I didn't drink all that much, I found the drinks to be better at Champagne Charlie's. They seem to be far more organized there in getting you a better quality drink. The martinis are their specialty. At 9$ each, that's important to me. Activities: I traveled solo, so of course I wasn't interested in doing many of the activities they had on board. That is NOT to say I wouldn't have done them if I were not traveling solo. The list is endless fun. Minus the bingo or gambling, (not my thing) there are tons of things to do. I was more than happy doing nothing more than listening to the great music from Alvin and Emily at Champagne Charlie's or reading my book on the lounge chair on promenade deck. I get very little time to myself, as I work 55 hour weeks taking care of preemie triplets as a Nanny, so that was a priority for me on this trip. The game shows, trivia contests, dance/music venues were full of variety and matched to all ages of all kinds. I just needed some peace and quiet this time around on this cruise. Service: Service was perfect in every restaurant. There was very little waiting time to get into both restaurants. On some evenings, there was no wait at all. Having sailed on NCL before, I have noticed that it was far far far better on the Spirit. It didn't take forever, either to go through the meal. Within and hour, we were on our way to the show with plenty of time in between. I think it may have been because they have more people working in the dining rooms than I have seen in the past. They were always pleasant and attentive. Simply excellent. Stateroom: I prefer an inside room, as I have insomnia and like the darkness of the inside room. Mine was on the 10th floor. Yes, they do a good job cleaning the rooms, except for vacuuming in certain areas. I noticed that under the beds, chairs, and in corners, it had not been vacuumed for a while. That could use some improvement, as I saw bottle caps and a child's action figure clearly in sight, which could have easily been detected, as well as dust, sand and paper scraps where they do not vacuum. Shelves, drawers and places where there are handles could have used some scrubbing as well. The beds were hard, too hard for me, even with a foam pad I brought from home. Lighting at the head of the bed is directly where you put your pillow, so reading became a bit difficult if you couldn't wedge your pillows into a corner. Why place them there? Made no sense to me. Waste basket in bathroom is a plastic bucket placed in a well (hole)under the sink. It was disgusting, I'm afraid. They don't use plastic bags, just simply remove the bucket, toss the waste, and then replace back into the well. The bucket was brown. Why brown? I don't want to know. That alone made me keep the bath mat on the floor at all times. They came in to replenish, I suspect, but how much time they spend on disinfecting (not simply wiping down), I do not know. The shower looked somewhat clean, but you could tell by the film, it wasn't disinfected at all times. Nothing horrible, but not what I had expected. Shelves and such were plenty, and everything worked properly, except for the closet door which remained stuck on one side for the entire week. I brought along a hairdryer, but couldn't use it, as there isn't an outlet to plug it into. The only available outlet in the room (near the desk) had a label saying "no hairdryer please." The one installed in the bathroom was quite a task to use, as it has a hose (hard to disentangle) and gets very hot. My hair feels quite dry now, having had to use that one all week. I managed, not the end of the world, but no outlet anywhere in the room? What's up with that? One other problem...I chose my stateroom in particular, because it didn't have another stateroom on one side of me. Bad choice, because it was right near a service room, for, I gather, the room stewards. Lots of noise early in the morning. Not exactly sure what they used that room for, but I heard banging, and what sounded like a large dryer running and supplies being collected. Could I have asked why there isn't another room near me or could I expect my choice of room to be noisy? Probably. I booked through an Internet agency. It's likely they didn't know. I just wish NCL would have at least had some info on their site as to certain rooms on the ship that are near loud areas...especially at 6 AM! Entertainment: This is the area where the Spirit really truly shines! I enjoyed every show, and found the Elements show on the last night to be just spectacular. I looked forward to each show after a nice dinner. Traveling solo, it's the two things I enjoy most about cruising. The comedy acts, acrobats, magic acts, and the dancing were some of the best I've seen. I found the costumes in large, to be stunning. Such a great variety, too. I do wish, though, that the crew show would have had more crew members involved the show. They had only a few solo singers and 2 quick dance routines. I was surprised how little there was to the show. With a crew of 975, you would think there would be. Bermuda: This being my 5th time there (4th time cruising there), I obviously love Bermuda. I mainly love being on or near the water, and I hate to fly, so this cruise works well for me. Having the opportunity to dock for the first time on the other side of the island was a great experience for me. I really liked the Dockyard and wasn't expecting to enjoy it as much as I had in the past being docked at St. George. They have a great little mall there and the ferries were right at hand to take you to St.George and Hamilton very quickly. I took both the bus and the ferries and always liked being in Bermuda for their great transportation around the island. That alone makes your trip so much more worthwhile. I went to my favorite beach, Horseshoe Bay, as I always do when I come here. More waves...big waves...this time. Exciting, yes, but had to be careful of that undertow. Such a pretty beach. Always lovely to come to...every time. I took the bus to The Swizzle Inn, first time there and thought for a change I'll try it. I won't again. It wasn't worth the effort or the price. The chicken barbecue nachos were cold... and I do mean cold... and I had a much better rum swizzle drink right on the ship. The service at the Swizzle was horrible. Unfriendly and inattentive. I took the bus over to St. George and enjoyed a quick walk around. Sad to see many of the places closed here, and I knew that before I came, but I always enjoyed this part of the island in my past experiences here. Not as much this time. I was hot, too, and probably tired from not sleeping well in my noisy cabin the night before. I try to make the best of everything so I took some pictures, poked around the few shops that were open and enjoyed the ferry ride back to the dockyard. I took the bus to Hamilton but being a Sunday, many of the shops were closed. It didn't matter. Window shopping worked just fine for me. I got a delicious frozen caramel coffee drink at a juice bar/type place and walked around taking pictures and was actually glad to be in the capital city without the crowds I have seen in the past. I had to linger a little longer while I waited another hour for the next ferry so I took another walk, thinking, I really should work off some of this cruise ship food :) The last days at sea were smooth as can be. Last night I walked the promenade looking at a beautiful pink sunset. This is why I cruise. I enjoy being at sea and walking the promenade deck at sunset. I like it just as much as those pretty pink sand beaches in Bermuda. We disembarked without a hitch. They make it very easy to find your luggage and get off the ship and where you need to go in a hurry. They even smile when you leave the ship. Summary: Would I go back to Bermuda? Most likely yes, but perhaps I will opt for a different kind of cruise this time. The kind where I actually have to get on a plane this time. I would sail with NCL again, maybe not on the Spirit, but that's not definitely. I'm thinking I need to venture out more, and it would all depend on what I can afford. Being single..it's twice the price for me. I'm glad to see that NCL has gotten their "Freestyle Cruising" in gear. Seems they worked on solving the long lines at dinner and faster service in the dining rooms. Food was better as well, especially in the buffet. The ship needs some work. Not an overhaul, just certain areas like new chairs in Raffles and bathrooms updated. It makes sense it shows wear and tear, since it takes in nearly 2000 people every single week. I just don't want to sit at a chair in Raffles and find my hand sticks to the back of it when I pull the chair out. (Layers of grease that doesn't wash off when constantly being used.)She is a pretty ship, and I suspect still has a lot of use left. With careful detail to certain areas, she would, and should continue to give people a memorable vacation. I enjoyed mine. I know you will too. PS...I gave this ship a TWO on Rates, simply because as a single person I have to pay twice the price, so it's not a great value for me. Read Less