This cruise was the perfect relief from a year and a half of social isolation. I wanted a safe way to travel and Norweigian provided that peace of mind. All passengers were required to take three different covid tests with a negative result plus provide proof of vaccination. The staff was masked at all times. The precautions at the buffet were excellent. That "washy washy happy happy" line stays in your brain for a while.

I was pleasantly surprised with the food choices. My expectations were very low as normally there are limited options for people with food intolerances and sensitivities. Admittedly, I am a picky eater. However, Norweigian surprised me with very good gluten free and dairy alternatives on board. And I'm talking about desserts like dark chocolate sorbe, basil sorbe, pistachio crème brûlée, and bread options like English muffins, toast, muffins, etc. At Ocean Blue without me even requesting gluten free bread, the waiter brought a few toasts so that I too could have bread at the same time with my family. Service is truly in the details and this gesture spoke volumes to me. The salad bars at the specialty restaurants were excellent. I was impressed with the soft hearts of palm at Moderno and the healthy juice bar near the garden cafe ... wow! Even the regular buffet had veggie options that I had not seen before aboard this ship. I had lentils with arugula, wild rice with chickpeas, roasted summer veggies, miso soup, Greek salads, and lots more. I was impressed at how satisfied I felt after each meal.

We also had excellent weather during the entire cruise and I appreciated the care the Captain took to keep us all out of harms way from hurricane Sam. Yes, it was a slight inconvenience to leave half a day earlier, but we arrived home safe and very happy to have enjoyed a sunny time at the sea. Read more