Norwegian Sky Review
Rating by category
Additional details
This was my third cruise on the Sky. The first was September 2014 for a romantic weekend getaway. The second was in March 2015 for a family weekend trip during spring break and finally this one in April for a girls weekend. Each time I have gone on this trip, I've done things a little differently but we did buy the ultimate beverage package on the first two (the third trip it was included - note this cruise always has the ultimate beverage package included now - starting 2016l).
The ship is older and smaller than most. All of the restaurants, lounges, pool area, common areas are very well maintained and updated. The theme of the ship is somewhat Hawaiian and this is because at one time it was a ship that sailed to the Hawaiian islands.
The rooms are S-M-A-L-L and very old. There is very little they can do to update these rooms unfortunately without pulling the ship out of commission and remodeling. The walls are the "old school" formica finish. There are flat panel TV's in the rooms but the balconies are very small and there is really only room for 2 people in a balcony room. It does have the small couch but there is really no room for more than 2 people and luggage. Also, there is only 1 outlet so bring a power strip. The size of the room really didn't bother me as each time I was barely in the room. It was very clean and the steward, although not always around, always did a nice job of cleaning the room, leaving ice, leaving towel animals etc.
Cabin Review
Balcony
Small old cabin but clean. Has either 2 single beds with a sofa or a queen size bed with a sofa. Small flat screen tv. Desk/dressing area. Only 1 outlet so bring a power strip. Very small closet. Very small bathroom. Small balcony. Hard beds. Safe in closet.
Port Reviews
Miami
Very quick check in. Very efficient and friendly.
Nassau
Port area was under construction. Very little vendors selling souvenirs. Lots of solicitors trying to get you to take a tour/taxi.
Great Stirrup Cay
I'm so sad to write this review but I feel I have to let everyone know that NCL's security is not really great when it comes to having a public disturbance while on the private island. (see second part of this review down below - warning it's sexually graphic)
FIRST ISSUE: This is the third time I've rented a cabana on Great Stirrup Cay. They have now planted a row of hedges in front of each of the cabanas completely obstructing your view of the ocean. This is the most ridiculous thing I've ever experienced and will no longer rent a cabana as the objective is to have service while staring at the ocean from your private lounge chair in your cabana. Now you stare at a row of hedges. Oh well! On to the disturbance....
SECOND ISSUE: While sitting and having drinks outside our cabana we were watching two couples get a little drunk while hanging on the beach. As this is 100% open bar, this is to be expected. My 16 year old daughter walked down to the beach area and then hightailed it back to the cabana because she said the women were "doing stuff" to each other on the lounge chairs. I looked out and there was one woman with her head down in between the other womens legs while their husbands/boyfriends stood aside and watched. Shocked is an understatement. There was a woman next to us who was there with her much younger son and she went directly to the bar and asked them to call security and she pulled her son down into the water so he wouldn't be near them.
We then went down into the water (so they were behind us and we didn't have this going on in front of us). Security didn't show up and all four of them made their way into the water. They went out deeper into the water where the ladies pulled off their bathing suit bottoms. One woman proceeded to wrap her legs around one of the guys head while the other couple was clearly having sex under water.
At this point my sister and this lady both went to the bar who called security. Security walked out onto a jetty and asked them to get out of the water. That's it. Nothing was done to get them to leave the beach or even stop drinking. They got out, got another round of drinks and then proceeded to yell at this lady with her young son about her being a joy kill or something. By this point we decided we were leaving as I didn't want to get into an altercation in a foreign country.
I complained to guest services when I got back on the ship who told me they would mark my file and I should call the 800 number on this special card they gave me. They said security was the responsibility of the island. Um, this is a NCL owned island so I'm not 100% sure what that means. Anyway, I called the 800 number and spoke with someone who apologized and said I would be hearing back soon. I then got an online survey. Needless to say it's 4 months later and nobody has done or said anything. Typical NCL when it comes to a complaint or a problem - they just ignore.