It is difficult to think of some aspect of this trip that did not meet or exceed expectations. Our cabin was perfect for our needs. The ship itself felt neither too big nor too small while providing plenty for us to do. We felt neither rushed nor cheated on our excursions, which reflected well upon both those providing the activity and Norwegian for having their stuff together. January was a perfect time to cruise to the Caribbean. The weather was gorgeous for the most part (and expectedly cold and windy close to NY). Things on board were a tad on the expensive side, but no more than I've come to expect from other cruise lines. Embarkation and disembarkation went as smoothly as possible.
So what made the trip so special?
Dining/Service: My wife has a gluten allergy. On a ship with so many freestyle dining options, we knew there would be a degree of difficulty in ensuring that her food was a) organized, b) ready, and c) tasty. The wait staff (particularly Riyaz and Benedith) did a PHENOMENAL job catering to her. The buffet almost always had a variety of options. Breakfast in the dining room meant eggs and gluten free baked goods. Lunch dishes could be altered on the spot (and the Second City Mystery Lunch in Le Bistro was perfectly tailored to her needs). Dinner was selected the night before, which took away a little flexibility in our dining options, but we were repaid ten fold with what Riyaz, Benedith and the kitchen had in store. Just a few highlights:
We were very happy with the room. There was plenty of room for the two of us, luggage and all. The bed was comfy. The steward was on point for the whole trip, keeping our room clean and fulfilling any requests we had. Porthole provided a great touch of natural light.
We only wound up with an hour and a half thanks to a late entry and dinner reservations. While our initial plans for San Juan had to be altered, we got to walk around the city (during San Se) and get a lot of souvenir shopping done. All things considered, still a good time.
Almost everything outside of the excursions were closed on Sundays. Still had a nice walk on the island. Tortola should be a lot better in these scenarios once the port construction is finished.