Was hoping to go to Cuba. Are travel plans were changed. Had already been to the Bahamas. The weather was bad . Couldn’t go to your private beach because of rain. Pool hours on boat were over to early in day . Towel service on boat is terrible. Why should you have to keep up with a towel. Charged for internet service not used. The cruise needs better entertainment and activities. Not enough pool and hot tub space for all guest. Not enough lounge chairs at the pool area. I will say all the staff were very good. They made you feel welcome. Everyone took care to make sure you enjoyed your experience. We didn’t have any problems getting on or off the boat. Our suitcases were delivered to are rooms very fast and they were picked up for us the night before. That made our departure go very smoothly. Read Less

August is the month of my 50th birthday and have always wanted to take a cruise! This just wasn't the experience I had hoped for. Please know that it wasn't horrible by any means there were some things that were so special and wonderful. There were also some things that I could have done without and wish could erase from my mind. Can not say enough GREAT things about Splash Academy for our son! He LOVED to go there Koala and the entire crew were so so wonderful and we will always be grateful! The excursion to Blue Lagoon was so perfect for him as well! The excursion to Great Stirrup Cay was also beautiful and fun, however we were not told that lunch would end at 2:00 and were not exactly watching the clock and barley got anything to eat. For both excursions disembarking and re-boarding was HORRIFIC to have those types of lines with people cutting, pushing and the vulgarity of the language around our 7 year old was too much. There was a MAJOR lack of guidelines or instructions by the crew on how to form lines and respect the lines. We actually saw a 20 something girl punch and elderly woman who was not about to let her cut in the line. It was hard to have to see that much hostility. Huge groups and families and friends insisted on staying together which made things so challenging. We would have appreciated the crew's intervention on helping move things along more smoothly. Our cabin was just lovely in both decor and cleanliness. The stewards were so accommodating. The service was superior especially Guest Services and the Palace and the Crossings dinning rooms. If only the food matched the service. It was OK food, but not what was anticipated by the elegance of the room and quality of service. Food lacked the WOW factor we were expecting. Our first night dining with our son having a blast in the Splash Academy, we got a beautiful table by the window at the Palace and were ready for a romantic evening and just after we toasted our glasses a very loud and obnoxious bachelorette party was seated right next to us and the conversation was just so NOT what we needed or wanted to hear! The daily buffet was again OK, trying to just feed the fully booked ship. The hand sprayers were always super friendly though! There really seemed to be a lack of friendly service in the bar areas, which is not surprising considering several of our fellow cruise travelers. We paid for the upgraded beverage package and it was not worth the money due to the fact that the masses who were getting the freebies were so demanding, we couldn't even ask for our premiums that we paid for. The only activities it felt like were available besides leaving the ship on excursions were partying and watching party goers getting vulgar and hammered and of course the gambling. We did enjoy the comedian and the "variety" show on the first night and would have liked to see more things like this available vs. karaoke and dance parties. Walking around the deck was just so special though. The last night we went to order pictures and bought a "flash drive" when we went to pick it up there were no pictures?? We had to order the pictures and then the flash drive?? No one helped with this and we were charged almost $50 for a flash drive with NO pictures. Still waiting to see if we can still get pictures. Oh and there is another charge on my account from Norwegian pending as I type this review for another $100.00 Have to call and ask what that is all about... If I won a free cruise I would absolutely go again! That way there would be no complaining, it's free! But I don't see us paying to go on another cruise. When we go back to the Bahamas will will just fly. Read Less

I couldn't be happier w my first experience w/ Norwegian Cruise Lines. Thank you for thinking of everything - especially the ice cold face cloths when reboarding this ship from being at Nassau and Great Stirrup Cay. I will definitely be booking any and all future cruise trips with NCL. I absolutely loved the NCL crew who always got the party started and made sure to keep the party going. The food at every restaurant was delicious and the servers and staff were extremely friendly. I would recommend Norwegian Cruise Lines to all of my family and friends. This trip was a perfect getaway. My favorite part was the open bar. The bartenders were courteous and they know how to make the best tasting drinks. I was happy that they were not stingy w the liquor in the mixed drink, too! Mark my words... you will be seeing me again! Read Less

I heard so much about the food and activities with Norwegian that I decided to be my first cruise experience, and I don’t regret it. Perfect cruise, employers and facilities. I really enjoyed everything from the karaoke bar to the mega party at Bliss haha. Bahamas was wonderful and also the Cay, I’m looking forward to travel with you again. Noelia (guest service agent) was so helpful, kind and very attentive. She definitely deserve all the good things. The bartenders were wonderful, like Errol from Local bar...he was very cool, funny, and respectful. The food was AMAZING, gosh.... everything about the food was wonderful. I heard people there saying that Norwegian is better cooker than Royal. I really wanted to go to Cuba (that was the main reason for go with you) but I don’t regret my week with. For my first time been on a cruise I can say that im definitely coming back. Ahh and also I Met some amazing people! Read Less

Lifelong dream. Wanted a nice, smaller venue, not 4,500 people. Loved cruise. Our cruise director Jasper was amazing. He attended every game show or magic show with hints and tips to make our cruise fantastic. Joel Meyer was amazing illusionist/mentalist. The Crossings restaurant was the best on ship for us, particularly one waiter Nadil. The Garden cafe is a buffet. It was also very good. As mentioned, Jasper discussed on Saturday night that the excursions on their private island would all start around 11 am and tenders would start at 8, such would be a good time to go over. I am so glad he did. We had as terrific time. Then we headed back as 2 tenders full with about 400 people each was going to island. That left the Sky pool almost empty which was amazing for a fews hours. Norwegian Sky was clean and every crew member was very nice. Guitar by Angel was a pleasure to listen to in the Atrium lounge. Really enjoyed 2 or 3 shows with him. And you can forget the "washy, washy" ladies at the entrance to every buffet food venue. Amazing, sweet ladies spraying your hands before buffet. Read Less

We wanted a soon experience to the Bahamas, we booked our trip for the same month! It was amazing, every starting the greet from nice staff, the food from the dining restaurants, activities, we had fun at the hot white party! The activities at the Bliss were amazing and both of Joel Meyers show were incredible! My room was impecable the hole time! They would come and fix the extra couch for my son and made him fell cozy. I signed up my son for the Teens program and it was super easy for him to make new friends which was great so at the private island he had who to entertain with. At the private island I really don’t have enough words for the Amazon beach! So clear and just great to snorkel and swim with the manta rays and so much colorful fishes!! I would definitely go again in a heartbeat!! Read Less

This cruise was chosen by my cousin, to celebrate my aunt’s 60th birthday. There was a party of about 12 of us. I looked into it and thought it looked awesome, so we went ahead and booked. We live in NYC, but departed from Miami. We didn’t explore Miami, as we had vacationed there earlier this year. We flew into West Palm Beach, which I wouldn’t do again, because it was really too far from the part. We flew out of Fort Lauderdale, which was a comfortable distance. I recommend flying directly in and out of Miami if possible, however JetBlue, our favorite airline, does not fly there. Embarkation and disembarkation were seamless. We had two adjacent cabins for my immediate family, which consisted of myself and my husband, then our three year old daughter and my mom. We originally wanted to all stay in the same cabin, but I’m so glad we didn’t, because it definitely would’ve been too tight for four people. There is also only one bathroom in each stateroom. The food in every restaurant was excellent. I enjoyed the vast variety of cuisines, usually for dinner. We mostly spent breakfast and lunch at the main buffet. The ports of call and shore excursions were very nice. We docked in Port Lucaya, Castaway Cay and Freeport, Bahamas. In Freeport we took a guided round trip tour of the island, which began at the Rum Cake Factory and ended at Atlantis. While on the ship, we enjoyed the pool and hot tub. The pool games were cute and I loved how interactive the staff was. There was live entertainment on the deck in the evenings, usually a cover band with a great singer. There were basketball courts and a mini golf area, that looked fun. Plenty for teenagers to do. Our three year old definitely enjoyed herself, and while she’s usually a picky eater, everyday there was something she wanted to try. The white party was probably my favorite party. We danced to a variety of music and there was an after party at a lounge on the ship. I cannot rave enough about the staff on our trip. These people were kind, courteous and genuinely interested in making our trip amazing. I was literally blown away by how hospitable everyone was. Our rooms were spotless everyday and attended to twice a day. All in all I definitely can’t wait to go on another Norwegian Cruise. Read Less

This was my first and last time on Norwegian. I have been on several cruises and Norwegian Sky was the WORST. I wish when the itinerary changed that I cancelled. There was no real entertainment on the entire cruise ship, the food was the same every single day for lunch (lunch buffet only had three items besides hamburgers, hotdogs, sausage, and partially cooked chicken) and for sit down dinner you waited at least 40 minutes to get served cold food. Most of the staff was nice except for the sit down hostess (always had an attitude). There was only one small pool for thousands of people. The wait to get off the boat was just dysfunctional. Please don't use their transportation because they had us standing in the HOT SUN for over an hour waiting for a bus (only one bus taking hundreds of passengers to the airport) and then people that was not waiting in line got on the bus and some people had to wait for an additional hour. Guest Services had no clue and when you reported an issue no one came for hours. Air did not work in room, TV did not work, toilet did not work, sink did not work correctly, and it took constant complaining for changes to happen. I can't think of anything positive except the open bar. One piece of advice - DON'T DO IT............... YOU WILL BE DISAPPOINTED........ Read Less

We chose this cruise because we were traveling with our two adult children and there girlfriend/boyfriend. The drink package which was included in the price was the main reason we booked this particular cruise. The packages on the other cruise lines would have made it prohibitive for us to bring everyone on the vacation. The room credits were helpful in booking our excursions. The Norwegian Sky is a smaller ship - good for our long weekend but we prefer larger ships for longer stays. Most staff members were nice but few made eye contact or interacted unless we initiated a "hello". Maybe this is how they are trained but we much prefer the friendliness of the other cruise lines staff who interact with the guests, make you feel welcome and have fun with you. Take some pointers from Royal Caribbean. One exception to this was Regina - who was our Cabana bar tender - she deserves 5 stars!! Compared to some of the other cruise lines, the food options and quality of the food was superior. Always had to be careful not to over indulge !!!! The wait staff in the main dining room never seemed to have it all together . We would start with one waiter then mid way through our meal wound up with a new wait staff - this happened all three nights of the cruise. On several occasions we didn't get what we ordered but when brought to their attention we quickly got the correct meals. Maybe they were being trained and that's ok for us but I imagine this wouldn't go over too well with other guests. Great Stirrup Cay was fabulous - we booked a cabana and what a treat it was!!!!! Regina who was our bar tender was awesome. It was so nice to have the shade, lounge chairs and sofa for our group. The food truck that was close to the cabanas was Read Less

With a group of 13 adults the embarkation & disembarkation were surprisingly QUICK & EASY, other cruise lines could learn for your company procedure. My balcony suite was perfect for me & Jose(Angel) did an amazing job keeping it clean and keeping me stocked with towels. The food was really good, everywhere we ate. Pool deck service was amazing Kevin & Felipe kept the drinks coming. Comedian Jay Moore was HILARIOUS!! It was nice to have the movie option in the afternoon for those that needed a break from the sun. Cruise director Jasper was very entertaining & funny hosting the dance contest. I cant remember the name of the Spanish Band that played but the Selena tribute was REALLY GOOD. Nina was very friendly and entertaining during the trivia game. The private island was really nice, good was good and Felipe kept the drinks flowing. I wasn't in the casino long but the staff was friendly when I was there. The only thing I didn't like was the muster, it was to HOT, crowded and uncomfortable to be standing for so long. But the info was good to know incase. Read Less

We originally were booked for the Cuba cruise but that was changed and everyone knows that story. So our destination was truly the ship and it’s amenities because we live in Florida and know Freeport and Nassau like the back of our hand. So we were booked in the Owners Suite number 9201. This comes with a butler and concierge. I’ve been booked in the Captains Suite on the Carnival Conquest and Victory and they are spacious with two bathrooms. However, the service on the Sky was far superior to the Carnival ships. Our butler’s name was Navi and our Concierge’s name was Orlando. Whatever we wanted or needed it was taken care of. Now to the refit of the ship, it looked brand new. They upgraded everything so nothing looked tired or old school. We ate breakfast and lunch at Cagneys every day which was part of our suite package. Great breakfast and lunch. One night we ate at the Palace which was a big mistake because it took forever for our food to come. But with that said, the food was good. We did room service one night and that was fast and good. And on our last night we ate at La Cucina’s which was quite good too. But I would rate Cagneys as the best. Never ate at the buffet so I can’t rate that. We had a hot tub on our balcony. We turned it into a cool tub because it was too hot to use as a hot tub. The two bathrooms were amazing as was the suite. I can’t say enough good things about the Sky and the people aboard her. Also did pretty darn good in casino. So I booked her for next year at this time of the year only changed one thing and that was the suite. Someone on the CC boards told me that Suite 8201 was better than 9201 so I’m booked 8201 next year. A wonderful experience, thank you NCL. Read Less

The cruise was very fun. I met new people from all over. Everything went smoothly, had no problems what so ever. However, I wish it was more entertainment for us to do. Don't get me wrong it was fun, love the unlimited drinks, loved the atmosphere, just wish it was more entertainment for Young adults. It was fun activities. Loved the all white party, even though wasn't aware of it, glad I had packed some white clothes lol. The club onboard was also lit, loved the lip sync battle fyi my nephew won!. It was his first cruise and he had a blast!. We both did! Can't wait for the next one. The food could've been a little bit better. Had some more seasoning, but the exquisite restaurants were you had to have a reservation food was delicious. Also need more varieties for breakfast, for people who don't eat beef, or pork. It was only bacon, turkey bacon should be added, or chicken apple sausage. Also, for the hamburgers. Hamburgers looked so delicious, but it was only beef, recommend you guys have turkey burgers also, for those who don't eat beef. All in all the cruise was fun, had a blast! Read Less

The ship is renovated on the inside and nicely done. The Pool on this ship is way too small for the number of people. I found the kiddie pool on front of ship was more relaxing then main pool. The pool deck had a trashy party atmosphere- women were twerking on pool deck. The DJ at the white party was playing obscene music- with children present. The Norwegian Sky Bahamas cruise is more of a booze cruise. However, this will be ending soon as they are stopping the free open bar as of September. And people will then not drink as much because they will have to pay. For a first time cruiser the ship and cruise may be enjoyable but for people who have been on other cruise lines and larger ships this cruise is average at best. The buffet lines were lit and I felt like I was in a school cafeteria, or prison. The dining room was a pleasant experience. The service was excellent on the ship in every department which made the cruise more enjoyable. Read Less

I’d like to start off by saying that the moment you walk on this ship you are greeted warmly by ANY employee you encounter. We went on a weekend cruise, my husband and I with our two young children (5&6). Aside from the great staff, the ship is extremely clean. There are employees everywhere constantly picking up. As I finish a plate someone is already taking the plate, it’s like they know what I need before I even know I need it. The staff at the restaurants even remembered my kids name and would call them by name as we saw them throughout the ship, this made them feel so special. The food was incredible as well anywhere we went. We ate at Le Bistro our first night and we could not be happier. It was so delicious and the service was spectacular. The buffets throughout the ship were also great and had a variety of food for everyone, also super clean which is difficult to find from buffets. I never experienced that food had run out, I promise we ate so much and were super satisfied, I’d never seen my kids enjoy food so much as they did this weekend! The breakfast buffet was phenomenal! So many options and the omelette bar is an awesome touch. My cabin was always clean and my cabin stewardess was the nicest and was on top of everything we needed. Again, thinking ahead to anything we might need before I even knew it! At the private island you get in and off the ship through a tender which is like another smaller boat that takes you back and fourth to the island. When I saw this I thought oh no this is going to take forever, but the process was very fast and we really didn’t have to wait. There was also a buffet on the island (more food!) which had a variety of options as well. Lastly, for anyone traveling with children this is the MAIN reason I would return on this ship. Sure, it doesn’t have a lot of the slides and all that stuff other ships might have that you can enjoy with children on the ship... but their Splash Academy is INCREDIBLE! I mean, my children would be so excited to return for their activities. This gives us parents some peace of mind in knowing our children are in good hands while we try to have some time to ourselves! The counselors are so kind and have numerous activities planned for the kids at different hours. When we were on the island they also had beachside activities. On the ship they had face painting, arts and crafts, fairy tale night where the kids were dressed as princesses and walked around singing songs, a Hollywood show, I mean they thought of everything! My kids want to return just for the splash academy and we are definitely not complaining. In general we truly enjoyed our experience and can’t wait to plan our next experience in this ship! Read Less

The cruise was amazing. The food and service were outstanding. Friendly staff and very helpful in all areas. Never a dull moment. So much to do on board , just not enough time to do it all. Karaoke was fun. Enjoyed going each day to get charms for my bracelet and the woman in the store was very kind and friendly. She always made us feel welcomed. Watched a show one night and it was enjoyable. Casino was fun, would like to have won but that's gambling. My favorite restaurant was the palace. The food was fantastic. The open bar was great, disnt have to worry about overspending. They even made me pasta without shrimp as I'm allergic to shell fish. The desserts were yo dye gor. Really enjoyed the party in the deck . I never knew how much i would enjoy a cruise until i went on this one. The islands were beautiful .Will be doing it again soon! Read Less

My husband and I decided to go on a relaxation/romance cruise for our 22nd wedding anniversary. We've only stayed in an inside cabin before, so the oceanview was really cool. We enjoyed watching the sun rise and set and also pulling into and out of port. The best part of the cruise was the free open bar. We figured it would be only a few off brand wines and beers, but it was everything we liked. The worst part was the food choices. Unless you ate dinner at the main dining rooms each meal, the choices were basically always the same. We never found a dessert we really liked. Also, sometimes the cards for the name of the dishes on the buffet were not correct. There were times when the chefs on the buffet line were not nice. Also, sometimes the crew got in the way in the serving lines while they were cleaning. Don't get me wrong, I'm glad they were cleaning, but it seemed as if they didn't understand they were in the way in the line. Overall, the cruise was very nice. We were supposed to go to Havana, but that was changed. But, we enjoyed the ports and the ocean. Read Less

The reason we picked this cruise fame of Norwegian lines. They are little bit pricey I have been told but you get what you pay. I would say taking a cruise , especially all inclusive , is much more cheaper and entertaining than the regular hotel vacation. We spend more just for the hotel in Panama City Beach for same amount day. Plus drinks and food expense , including six hours each way drive. Since it is our first cruise trip we decided to enjoy what comes with it and didn’t take any excursions. Next time, the same trip can be embellished with excursions and become a totally different experience. The music volume was great, it was loud enough to energize you but also was at the point that doesn't irritate you after a while. Crew was well trained, friendly and very fast and organized. Here are the things that i think necessary to take with you: Medicine Small bottle sunscreen Two shorts Two underwear Flip flops Sunglasses A hat or a bandanna Body splash ( Not mandatory, sunscreen smells great anyway) Lady wipes ( This is my mandatory item but definitely your personal preference) Fanny pack ( Very useful, I would recommend highly) Backpack for travelling Travel toothbrush and toothpaste Fun book I would highly recommend this cruise line. Read Less

I chose this cruise as a birthday celebration. I have cruised several times before with 2 different cruise lines most often I cruise with carnival. I thought trying Norwegian would be an upgrade but it was the opposite. The first issue I had was a non functional AC in the room. I called maintenance around 10:30 pm and no one showed up by midnight so I called again. They showed up at 2:30 am and did not fix the issue so I had to msg there and sweat through the night. The next afternoon someone came again and made it slightly cooler but still not great. From there all of dining experiences were sub par with extremely long lines and 1.5 hours to get through any dining experience in the dining rooms including breakfast. The drinks and entertainment were great especially the comedian Mike Paramore but there were not as many options as I expected (only one loud but good production show and cramped games in the bliss lounge ). One of the most frustrating experiences was visiting the private island. The tender boats required to get to the island took forever due to long lines and the actual travel time. I decided to get an excursion(which is supposed to let you on the islands sooner but this was not true) to Jet Ski and was looking good forward to lunch on the island afterward. To my surprise they only served food for 2.5 hours on then Island and due to the time of the excursion and a delay getting on the island I had no choice but to return to the ship for lunch because all the food options closed at 2:00pm despite the fact that the last tender back was not until 4:30 . This situation left me with no way to enjoy the rest of the island due to the time for security and tendering on and off the ship. This was extremely disappointing and seemed like a public safety issue considering how alcohol was served nearly the entire time but food was only available for 2.5 of the 6 hours the island was open. I am not sure why they believe this is okay but to me and many people trying to scrounge for food this was unacceptable. My complaints about this once I got back on this ship fell on deaf ears and even the director of food on the ship could not explain the logic of the time frame. If all I wanted to do was be drunk on this cruise it would have been great but I was looking to eat great food enjoy a full day on a private island and relax. I will not be cruising with this ship every again and I doubt I will be willing to risk wasting my money on this cruise line again. Read Less

Hi folks, we just got back from a short cruise onboard the NCL Sky. I have to say that I was over all impressed with the conditions to the ship. The Casino had new slots and they came out to win on the last night. So here are a few things that I will point out. 1. Ship, the ship looked really good after the refit We had good weather and we made all the stops. Being a casino guest really is a nice experience with NO waiting to get on the ship. The ship looks years newer the NCL Sky is again a treat to go cruising on. 2. Cabin, the cabin was really nice with all the new schemes and colors. They replaced all the doors out to the balconies and took out those nasty blue waffle matts with new flooring. Nice job NCL! 3. Dining, We had dinner at Cagney's and the food was excellent. The food in the buffet was average but hey, it was a 3 day cruise. The food in the main restaurant what good over all but my favorites was breakfast. 4. Entertainment and Activities, well we are talking about the NCL Sky here. The best party boat at the Port Of Miami!!! Pools side is great and the party never stops. The other passengers where having a huge good time and of course the "Free Drink Package" pays for it self over and over. For me I enjoyed the nights at the Karaoke in the big lounge up forward from 9:00 to 11:00pm. My over all activities was in the Sky Casino and the grand new machines paid out for me on Sunday night. 5. Service, we have cruised on NCL 12 times and the service is always EXCELLENT. From the moment we got to the Terminal to the last minuet stepping off the ship it was again excellent. My hat off to the Crew of the NCL Sky. 6. Port and Shore excursions, Key West was really nice but my all time favorite was Private Island, loved the water and the drinks. There were 8 of us in our party some had cruise before and some for the first time. They are all booking again for March 15 2020 sailing on the newest NCL ship, NCL Encore. Read Less

My husband and I are frequent cruisers but have been loyal to Royal Caribbean, and occasionally Carnival for convenience. This was our first NCL cruise, and we chose it because we wanted to visit Key West on a short weekend cruise. The schedule and value were perfect, and a low priced direct flight out of Charleston, SC was the icing on the cake! (We live 2 hours from Charleston). Having never experienced the open bar concept, we weren't expecting much as far as service or food (to compensate for the free alcohol), and also expected a ship full of belligerent drunk people. Boy, were we wrong! The ship was beautiful (although a little confusing at first), the crew was SUPER friendly, the food and drinks were amazing, and other cruisers were a blast! We didn't experience any extremely drunk people, surprisingly enough, and the ambiance of the ship was laid-back and just fun. Our oceanview room was perfectly comfortable from the cool AC to the bed and pillows. We are extremely satisfied and pleasantly surprised, and look forward to more cruises on NCL, particularly the Sky. Read Less

After our destination was changed from Cuba, NCL decided to change the itinerary to a full Bahamian cruise. Although we hoped that NCL would have been more communicative during the change, we decided to make the most of it and attend anyway. I have cruised with multiple lines. The Sky was small but clean and it was nice. We witnessed staff turning over rooms on several occasions and to do so, they thoroughly vacuumed in between sofa cushions! Cabins were a bit small, but the stewards were very attentive. We only had one outlet. The bathroom only had a special outlet for shavers, so it was difficult to use multiple items requiring electricity. Ex: it took 40 minutes to obtain an iron and to use it, you had to unplug anything requiring a charge and then hurry to use it because housekeeping wanted it back. The cruise was all-inclusive and the food was good. The drinks differed by bartender and ship location, so we had to remember our favorite bartenders. It seems that the drinks may have been stronger if we were not on a cruise thatbcame with alcohol included. We purchased the upgraded premium package and it seems that was a bit of a waste on this cruise. Again, the food was good; not spectacular. I wish that the dining menus varied a bit more each day. The specialty restaurants were always crowded and we went to Cagney’s one night. Each time we sat down, whether in general or specialty dining, we always had quite a wait. Excursions were amazing! We went on excursions each day and I’m so happy that we rented a large private cabana on Great Stirrup. The day at Atlantis with the dolphin encounter and the following day’s luxury day sail were definite stand outs; they were amazing. But for the horrible experience on the last day, we would have likely sailed again for the value. Generally speaking, the entertainment was just okay, but our cruise was ruined by the comedy show on the last night. After 10 minutes of listening to him incessantly use the N-word, make jokes about rape, misogynist statements and generally racist and sexist “comedy”, many of us decided that our senses were so wholly offended that we just couldn’t take anymore. Many of us left and remarked that we were absolutely shocked that NCL felt that this brand of hatred was acceptable; far less funny. He should have been vetted and NCL managamenent shoukdnhace made it clear what was and was not acceptable. If this represents the views of NCL, they can keep the 50% discount; I can say without a doubt that we will not be back. Read Less

So we definitely did not choose a cruise to the Bahamas but our Cuba cruise was canceled 14 days out. The two other couples we had planned to go with canceled but it just didn’t leave my wife and I enough time to change all of our plans. First time to Miami and it’s a beautiful city by the beach and downtown. We arrived a day early and really enjoyed our time there. The local people operate on a totally different wave length and it doesn’t really feel like you’re in the States. The locals also tend to be very off putting and generally unfriendly but they had little do with the Miami that I experienced while I was there so it was not much of an impact. The terminal at Miami ran very smooth and it was the fastest I have ever gotten onto a ship. The terminal staff definitely weren’t as excited about my vacation as I was but they did a great job getting us through the line. Once on the Norwegian Sky we where met with little to no fan fare to the point it seemed like the ship felt quite and docile. The Sky is only a few months out from its refurbishment and the common areas look good. The design of the ship is old and has a choppy flow but the updates help and very little floral patterns are left. I think it has plenty of bars but the main dance club is also one of the main passage ways to get across the ship so it’s kind of an awkward place to hangout at in the evenings. Aside from the lone comedian who was great the rest of the entertainment staff was horrible. I really can’t believe these guys get paid for what they did. We walked into the bliss lounge on our way across the ship and heard someone trying to sing what we thought was karaoke. Nope. That was one of the paid entertainers and it was absolutely heinous. The group that performed the nightly shows in the main theater were so mediocre it was uncomfortable. The choreography looked like it was a parity and the ones that sang were so far off pitch it was like they were singing different songs. The crew overall did a great job and I never had to wait very long for anything or felt like I was being ignored. They didn’t have much enthusiasm and no one wowed me or even attempted to go above and beyond. The food was by far the poorest quality I have ever had on a cruise including the specialty dinning. We went to La Bistro and it wasn’t any better than an average chain restaurant in the US. The main buffet served the same thing everyday for breakfast and lunch. Because of forces outside of anyone’s control we had to go to three stops in the Bahamas in lieu of Cuba. Surprisingly NCL’s private island Great Stirup Cay was the best stop. It’s just an extension of the cruise ship so food and beverage are provided on the island. It’s a little hot without a breeze but the beaches and water are beautiful. The two other stops, Freeport and Nassau, are just not worth it. Freeport is a major shipping hub and has little to offer tourist other than beaches cover with drift wood. In Nassau, outside of the tourist enclave of the Atlantis Resort and the million dollar homes of the west side of the island they're just a couple of burning tires away from looking like Mogadishu during the Somali Civil War. Nassau has lots of stuff to do, none of it worth the time or money. Getting off the ship was somehow easier then getting on. From the time we stepped into the terminal I don’t think it was 90 seconds until we where outside getting onto the bus transfer to the airport. No customs, no security, I don’t think a single employee acknowledged us until we got outside to the bus driver - he was cool. So to summarize I would highly dissuade someone from taking a cruise to the Bahamas on the Norwegian Sky. The ship is sub par compared to comparable ships even on Carnival and the Bahamas are forgettable at best. Without the calamity with Cuba I would’ve never chosen a cruise to the Bahamas. Read Less

For our first cruise was really good choice. Although rerouting from Cuba to Bahamas was disappointing (obv not NCL fault). Food in all restaurants we went to was very good, service was great across the board. Balcony room was tight, but we knew that going in. Embarkation was a breeze, even with seemingly hundreds in front of us. Disembarkation was a little confused, they weren't letting folks off that had checked their bags the night before since they weren't ready in the terminal (at 8:45 AM). They finally relented and let people pass. Better to wait in the air conditioned terminal than on board in the morning heat. Also we booked the NCL transfer, and this was very smooth and well organized. I'm sure there were plenty of Ubers but NCL made it easy. One negative that is probably all cruise lines not just NCL was the medical service. My wife needed to see the doctor due to an infection. 20 minutes and $650 later we were back in the room (cost of "treatment" and antibiotics). While a bummer, this saved her a lot of discomfort for the rest of the trip. Another veteran cruise couple told us they heard the medical operation makes more profit than the casino. So get travel medical insurance! We have via our credit card, but I learned that only goes to $2500. Speaking of the casino, I ran pure at blackjack (on a 8 deck continuous shuffler!) so that helped ease the wallet pain! BJ tables were $10 and $15, and some were 3/2 (just have to ask). Poker is not so great, they spread 2-5 NLHE and rake 10% of the pot up to $25! Didn't really see the poker table get going, but I guess they should get kudos for having it. Video poker pay tables are awful (7/5 DDB) but that's expected. But casino had great service, with the open bar the waitresses kept the drinks flowing, dealers and floor guys were fun even when they were getting beat! For the food, Cagneys was outstanding, top US steakhouse service, and the food was just one notch below your Delmonicos, Ruth Criss, etc. The Italian was average (we paid ala cart $52 for that). Crossings dinner was another night and that was good with again great service. The longboard bar in the back of the ship is a gem, after 6 they serve wings, hot dogs/hamburgers, and other appetizers. Also great servers in there. Also the buffet always seemed to have great looking desserts, so Bahamas isn't our thing so we won't be going again on Sky, but with our 50% credit toward a future cruise we'll likely go with NCL again. (With better travel medical insurance). Read Less

We left for our cruise about four days after the executive order that trips to Cuba are no longer allowed. NCL took a while to announce what our new itinerary would be and what our discounts would be, but we were very pleased with the information when it was announced. We were originally supposed to do Cuba overnight, a day at sea, then Great Stirrup Cay. They replaced the Cuba days with Freeport and Nassau. We have cruised royal and Disney several times each, and this was our first NCL trip. We selected it for Cuba, but were determined to make the best of the trip regardless of the change. The ship itself was small, which we were expecting. The decor was nice and not garish. The layout to get to the Crossings dining room was awkward but we eventually got the hang of it. The feel was relaxed and the crew was very friendly. Our room was small. We were expecting that, being spoiled by DCL's larger rooms but we had forgotten just how small inside rooms were on other lines. We had to shift the bed about 1" every night so I could get around the cabinet without getting my leg stuck. The decor was nice, the room was clean. We were in 0138, which is right below the teen club. That was a mistake. It was very loud and there was a clunky noise or scraping noise seemingly 24/7. The dining was perfectly acceptable. We rarely do specialty restaurants and did none on this trip. I was disappointed that the sit-down lunch offered the same menu every single day. There were not enough things there that sounded good so we ended up doing the buffet which isn't our favorite but there was more to choose from than we could possibly eat so it was fine. The pretzel buns are AMAZING I am going to try to make some at home. The beef dishes were good. I found most of the soups to be very overly salted. I thought the freestyle dining was amazing, and I wasn't expecting to like it. Seating was fast, the restaurants were nice, we liked the privacy as well. The food itself seemed comparable to both DCL and RCCL and we were happy with that. Snacks in the casino were fun to try late at night as well. The breakfast buffet was really repetitive, but there was enough to select from so again it was fine. We found the sushi bar late into the trip. The service there was excellent and we had never had sushi before. We really enjoyed the spot. The view was nice, the bar was quiet and friendly. It really was a very nice space to spend some time. The main shows on the Sky were quite cheesy. Props to the cast they really did put in a lot of energy and effort. DH and I were both theatre majors and enjoy shows but these were not our style. The audience was very well mannered and the cast was really talented. We tried a couple of the group games and those were fun as well. The trivia looked fun from afar. We did not do the outdoor activities because they really aren't our style. I peeked in at the movies and those seemed like fun also. Quiet and relaxing. The bingo game we went to was a good time as well. The staff did a good job of keeping things fun. I do prefer more enrichment type activities, there was very little of that offered on this type of trip and on this ship. Our cabin steward was very prompt and did a good job. We only saw him two times but he always remembered our names and was very friendly. The convenience of the onboard account info being on our app was incredible. I wish the venue hours were in the app as well as the scheduled activities. The food service staff were always friendly, but not all were attentive. It just depended on the evening. We did three ports. Freeport was BEAUTIFUL. DH chose a sailing excursion and it was hands-down the most beautiful day we've ever had in port. Our second stop was Nassau, which is always our least favorite. We did a snorkeling tour and felt like we were cats being herded but the snorkeling was good. Great Stirrup Cay was a great little private island. We don't enjoy beach days much but do love to snorkel. There wasn't a lot to see, but it was calm, sunny, the equipment was clean and in good shape, and we really did enjoy ourselves. Even with a smaller ship, and a short Bahamas itinerary, we've decided that NCL is a great fit for us. We enjoy excursions and taking it easy, and even though there are lots of activities offered, there's a lot of opportunity for just kicking back and relaxing if that's your style. Read Less

This trip was intended to be a short girls weekend, free of kids and husbands. We drove from Tampa to Miami and choose to use Premier Parking. We arrived at the port around 1230pm and we through security and aboard within 15 minutes! We headed up to grab some lunch and I have to say that garden café is much smaller than I am accustom to on the bigger ships. The choices are minimal. Pool deck is nice. Especially loved Champs bar and the table seating for smokers. We ate in the Palace and had the BEST SERVICE. But. that's why we love NCL, service is always amazing. Food... ugh.. that could improve for sure. The menu in main dining rooms were also limited, and served the same items for three days. Warning - the steak comes covered in gravy! Steak should never be destroyed like that... steer clear. Cabin was clean. Shower is tiny! I am not a large woman, but I had the hardest time shaving my legs! Entertainment was just sad. Comedian was horrible. I am not a fan of cover bands or singers. Shops were pretty sad too. Key West - we got off to find Blue McCaw - bloody mary bar, and got back on board. I live in Fl, so Key West isn't a place I need to be. Great Stirrup Cay- Nice beach day. Great service, plenty of chairs. Overpriced market! Beware, they charge you based on how they feel at that moment. Overall a great weekend with my bestie. It wouldn't say this was the BEST cruise, but I had a nice relaxing time. Read Less