NCL had been my favorite cruise line until 8/31/19. It had nothing to do with Hurricane Dorian; they changed our itinerary to Key West and Cozumel. The ship was smoothly sailing but I paid more to get the beverage package perk. But they decided to give EVERYBODY on the ship that even though they didn’t pay for it. This was great except they didn’t get us any other perk for free or give me a refund. No one had to show their sign and sail card. I am also a red wine drinker and they told me the only wine available was the house wine and it was horrible. Tasted like it had been in a hot place or something. It had turned bad. I asked for Merlot to Cabernet to Pinot Noir and someone suggested the Malbec. I couldn’t even sip it. It was that bad. But to make matters worst, the only compensation they offered me was free water (6pack) after I complained that a bartender told me I had to pay for bottle water even though I was told at the information desk as soon as I inquired once on the ship, that bottle water and soda came free at the bars which is suppose to be free anyway. They could have offered me the dining package or something to make up for the fact they were giving free drinks to everyone on board. I even suggested it or at least give me a refund since I paid more to have it. That would have made it better. When you go on the NCL website, the sail away rate is much cheaper than the ones that gives the perks so I paid much more plus when you choose the beverage package you pay an extra fee; I think it’s for the gratuities of that package.

Also, the food selection was horrible. On the top deck/buffet you hamburgers, hotdogs and chicken drumsticks and pasta that tasted like the noodles were not cooked fully for both lunch and dinner. The pizza they offered at lunch time and late evening was good if you caught it straight from the oven but otherwise, it tasted like cardboard. The main dining room didn’t even offer a shrimp or shrimp cocktail not to mention no lobster on the menu. I just ordered a steak except for one night I ordered baked fish but it wasn’t very good. There just wasn’t anything really good to choose from. This was my 24th cruise and I’ve always looked forward to the dining experience. The dining room was called the Palace. We ate breakfast there for breakfast every morning except for debarkation day. The breakfast was very good there; both in the Palace and at the buffet on top deck. The table settings were not complete, though in the Palace. I had to ask for salt and pepper and butter on numerous occasions. We ate dinner all but one night in the Main Dining Room; the Palace. One night the main dining menu was so bad that me and my husband looked at each other like WTW. NCL really let me down on this one and we went on the Sky a few years ago and it wasn’t like this nor was the Getaway in 2017. I don’t know if I can ever trust NCL again. I didn’t go to any of the specialty dining rooms this cruise. Our budget was tighter this sailing. I didn’t think I should have to in order to eat a variety of food or even good food. The beans on the buffet were even hard.

I can say however, that every time I go back on ships of different cruise lines from time to time, they’ve changed things. I all in for change that makes things better but this was not the case with this ship. In spite of the food and wine, we did manage to have a good time. We love Cozumel and the Carlos And Charlie’s Beach is worth checking out.