Sailed out of Port Canaveral. We love Port Canaveral-from the parking garage to the terminal right onto the ship, everything went smooth. It is very clean and we felt very safe. Disembarkation from our cabin to our car-under 10 minutes, easiest one ever. The Ship was quite lovely and felt "new" inside. Everything was clean (with the exception of the restroom near the pool outside buffet door) YUCK! The outside of the ship could stand a little attention as she feels a bit "tired". For the most part the staff was great. Our stateroom host was wonderful. She kept our cabin clean and our ice bucket full. Bar servers were ok, just not enough of them on a ship with Open Bar for all. But they tried to keep up. We did have the premium beverage package, but ran into the bars/bar tenders not have the "premium" wine or the bartender just didnt want to open a bottle. We wouldnt do the premium package again. It doesn't include the coffee (Starbucks), and its just not worth the extra $$ for us. We were in an Oceanview (obstructed Oceanview) which was great. We kept the curtains closed for the most part (we were on the promenade deck, 6th floor. This room had so much storage, wow. It was at the end of a passageway so it was very quiet, and the AC was cold! We ate in the Seven Seas Dining room and the food was meh. Definitely an area they can improve on. We enjoyed Sushi one night and it was good. Le Bistro consistently knocks it out of the park with food and service!. We did try Los Lobos and while service was very good, we probably won't be back. Food was just ok. We enjoyed the Sports Bar and wish it was open longer hours. Read Less

Chose this cruise because of the killer itinerary - Dubrovnik, Montenegro, four Greek Isles, plus no days as sea. (We have cruised many times, so we pick cruises for the ports; at-sea days are boring for us.) Unfortunately, because of the Venice cruise ship crash a month or so before our cruise, three days before our cruise the portmaster rescheduled departures and arrivals to allow more time between each ship, meaning our cruise no longer had time for Montenegro (and NCL did nothing to compensate us for losing that port, which was disappointing). But the itinerary was still excellent. We were cruising during peak season (July/August) and had read the horror stories about how crowded every place was. Being ready for that helped set our expectations and be tolerant of that. Reading the stories on cruisecritic about chaotic disembarking for non-NCL shore excursions and freelance visits, since NCL offered a $50 discount on each port, we booked NCL excursions for every port. (Saving ~20% by getting the four-port package also decreased the cost.) This made disembarking very orderly and efficient. (Pro Tip: get to the theater a little early for the excursions and you'll be the first group out, which will make the lines shorter at each stop along the way.) All of our NCL shore excursions were great, with entertaining guides. (Surprising, the only Greek isle we were not familiar with, Kefalonia, was our favorite.) We only ate at the free places on the ship and, despite what others have said, found the food very acceptable and typical of our other cruises. (If you don't like something, it's all free - just get something else!) As others have also mentioned, the buffet is almost always busy, but we only had to share a table once. The shows in the theater were not bad. Paradis and the magician & contortionist were excellent, Vegas was pretty good and the dancing couple were okay. Except for a couple instances, we found the service to be excellent in all areas. When we complained about banging under our cabin one morning, guest services followed up a couple times to make sure it didn't reoccur, and sent some chocolate strawberries (which seems to be the go-to - we saw many other cabins getting these as well). So, despite the complaints others have listed, overall we found this to be a typically good cruise with a great itinerary (and if you get Montenegro with yours, I'm sure it will be even better). Read Less

The NCL experience is why we keep coming back. The Greek Isles Cruise out of Venice did not disappoint. Although we had to skip the Montenegro port (due to the changes in Venice port), the remainder of the ports were amazing. There were NCL tours for all ages and abilities. Venture through Kings Landing fed our Game of Thrones fix. The Greece tours Best of Corfu, Greek Style Celebration - Opa! (Santorini) and Melissani, Meze & Ouzo (Argostoli) all were informative and includes the best food and fun. We have sailed on the Star previously (2012). We like the smaller ships, less passengers and easier to maneuver about the ship. The cabin was perfect for our needs. The steward took care of our needs. My wife hurt her should the day before embarkation. He ensured we had ice in our cabin at all times. The dining was wonderful. The restaurants, both included and specialty, have great menus, serve and ambiance. We used the buffet mainly for breakfast and lunch. Food allergies and needs were at the forefront in each dining spot. The only improvement would be reservations for specialty restaurants. They are not for spontaneous dining. From past experience, we knew the difficulties, so we booked ahead based on our excursion plans and ports. Whether the music through out the ship or shows in the theater, the entertainment was great. An improvement can be made for the theater shows. Once the shows started, guests continued to come in. It interfered with viewing. There didn’t seem to be enough NCL staff to monitor it. I would suggest no further entry once the show starts. Embarkation was fine. There was an hour delay in our hotel to port transfer. Unsure of the reason. It was raining in Venice, and we stood in the rain. Luckily, we brought an umbrella. Once inside, we moved through the line quite quickly. We filled out the short health questionnaire while on line. Disembarkation was quite easy as we had a post hotel stay. We automatically were set up. The latitudes rewards were also great...discounts for excursions, on board purchases and even a bottle of champagne in our cabin are all worth it. The spa was fabulous. Purchased the thermal spa passes...worth it! Next time may book spa cabins that have it included. Booked massages and acupuncture...the staff was professional and the services amazing. The acupuncture helped relieve my wife’s should injury. Would we go again? ABSOLUTELY. We already signed up for CruiseNext putting deposits on future cruises. Read Less

I think everyone on this boat is going to need to attend an Alcoholics Anonymous session after departure! As inviting as an all-inclusive drink pass is... it seemed to be everything this ship was about. Server: "Can I get you another drink?" Patron: "How about a bottle of water or ice tea?" Server: "Ice Tea is 3 floors up - so how about another drink? And a bottle of water will cost you extra? And don't forget the service charge." Only I wish the conversation sounded as nice as I just typed. Ridiculous. So here's the nitty-gritty of it all. If you have been on another cruise, are traveling with just a spouse (not your kids), enjoy good food and friendly conversation this boat is not for you. If you have a ton of kids, could care less about food or prices, and love to drink this go for it. The main areas of the ship were just okay - needs some touching up in general - carpet separating, curtains were torn, etc, etc, etc. I do not like how they have the entertainment venues closed off - you have to "go inside" to see the action. I would have loved to walk by and see a few comedy bits but I would have had to go into an overcrowded room to do so. Are you kidding? The casino is the hub of the boat - everything passes through the casino - seriously. Great just feed the gambling addiction - which by the way no one wins after day 3. So don't try. The main lobby is an afterthought and nothing special. Where's the grandness I was hearing about? Onto the Cabin. We had a Spa Mini-Suite with Balcony. Still the smallest room and balcony I've ever seen in my life. Nice shower, but that's about all. Not to mention you can't even leave your phone in your room to charge b/c the power goes out once you leave. Agh! The bed was the most uncomfortable, overworn bed I've ever slept on. It was terrible. My husband and I were tripping on each other every second we were in there. The sink only provided hot water - which I suppose is better than cold! DINING!! OH GOD DON'T GET ME STARTED! Besides for SPECIALITY RESTAURANTS forget about it. The service is TERRIBLE in the main dining room and the menu is even worse. Servers disappearing - refusal to provide ice tea because it was too far to go - food recycled from the f%$#ing buffet. It was sooo bad. They don't change up the breakfast and lunch menus and what the have is like a standard Applebee's. I won't even type upscale because it's not. So so so bad. I'm so disappointed. I paid a lot - ALOT - of money for this cruise and I'm back and starving for a decent meal. GRRR... I'M SO ANGRY ABOUT THIS! Entertainment - Rock of Ages and the 80s house band are amazing! Catch a show this is another bright spot on our vacation! Service - Poor! Just poor! Except in the Vibe Beach Club. Service there is excellent. If you are an adult and cruising with a loved one over 21 get Vibe Beach Club passes well well worth it! Ports & Shore Excursions - Where do I begin. The excursions provided by the excursions desk are terrible. Nothing like what they were! No pictures, the desk doesn't even know what's going on. Very disappointing! Read Less

My husband and I have taken several cruises over the past few years. This was the first time with Norwegian. We were absolutely blow away with the top notch service we received. It began with embarkation, easy, quick and with a warm smile. This set the tone for our week. The food was absolutely delicious. We tried everything on the menu throughout our trip and we were never disappointed. Our room steward Emanuel went overboard (no pun) to be sure our room was always stocked neat and clean. Alexandrea our restaurant hostess was so pleasant. She was very Intune to all the details. We needed to ask for nothing because the crew was always a step ahead and somehow predicted our needs. How they do I we will never know but they made this the MOST relaxing and truly enjoyable trip we have ever taken. As soon as we got home we made a few phone calls to family and friends to plan a 2020 trip. We will never take another cruise with any other line going forward. BEST VACATION EVER!!!! 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

My cabin was 9210 which was an aft suite. In this letter I will be detailing my experience onboard your vessel. Just a little background this was our sixth cruise with your company and have had a wonderful time previously. We have cruised on the Getaway, Escape, Jade and Pearl. This was a honeymoon cruise for us and we had invited 2 other couples to cruise with us neither have even been on an NCL cruise before. Upon boarding the ship with great enthusiasm and excitement as we have been planning this trip for well over a year. The ship was delayed departing as it had a mechanical issue and did not depart till 1:30 AM the next morning. That is when things turned sour. In order for the ship to make up time it was cruising at a 22-24 knots according to the information screen. This caused our suite to vibrate uncontrollably with glassware clanging, draws opening and the safe door banging it was like traveling on the New York City subway. Everything started rattling, draws sliding open, safe door clanging, and bathroom items falling into the sink and to the floor. Please note in the pictures provided the vibration is so severe, the bathroom tiles had cracked and vibrated loose leaving it uneven. Monday July 22 upon us going to breakfast we spoke to the Concierge about being up all night and her response was she was going to look into it. Well the day progressed as the speed stayed consistence and at 5PM we went to guest services to speak with the manager, unfortunately the guest services rep had to be asked 4 times before my husband finally said that he was not happy and that he would start yelling if his request was not attended to. Finally, the front end manager came out along with the Concierge. Upon speaking with The supervisor we found out that the vibration problem was a known issue. She had said that vibration tests were done in our Suite and that the vibration occurred around 19 knots. She said that she would send an email to the Miami offices informing them of the issue. The immediate solution was to give us a room on deck 6 closer to the front of the ship with a window. So, on nights that the ship was going over 19 knots I was supposed to pack a bag and sleep in another cabin. We found this extremely inconvenient and ridiculous. We then asked for a schedule of cruising speed so we would have knowledge of sleeping arrangements. Well it was supplied but not exactly accurate we learned after the second sleepless night to add 5-10 knots per numbers supplied. By the third day after falling asleep on the bus rides for our excursions (yes paying a lot and missing a lot) I decided to set up an appointment with the Front-End Manager. Again, we found out that he was also aware of the vibration problem on the ship. By this time, I cannot understand how your company would still take $10,000 for a cabin with known issues and think it is OK. This is stealing money from your customers. So, we paid for a suite that could not be used when the ship was moving, and was offered a cabin with a window. Also, I do not understand why the concierge that did not utter a word to us after the first day. Not any staff member offered us any assistance to transition from one cabin to another as we slept in the other cabin for 6 nights. You would have thought that knowing the problem the staff would have been more accommodating and helpful to try to smooth over all of our discomfort. We then thought upon spending the night in Dublin we could stay in our cabin, the captain said that to prepare for dry dock in January they were going to be weighing the ship at night. The cruise director added that they were doing water testing. Well with the staff knowing the issues of our cabin you would think that someone would have suggested us to sleep in our other cabin. Well let me tell you what they did. The crew filled the ballast with water after moving the ship away from the dock. From 1:00am to 5:30am the crew was revving the engines up and down causing our suite to vibrate violently. I tried calling guest service but that was worthless as no one answered the phone. I find it comical how the entire ship knew the issue with the aft cabins but could not care about the guests occupying them. Later that day we had an appointment with management to hear the response from NCL corporate. They read us the response from corporate and My wife was in tears. After spending over $10,000 for the cruise it was like a slap in the face not only were we sleep deprived, falling asleep on buses to and from excursion locations and totally frustrated as not only did we have 2 other couples traveling with us this was my HONEYMOON that is being totally ruined. I felt that I was not considered a valued guest as with this cruise I was going to be a platinum member which does show the loyalty I had with your company. On top of the vibration issues, I was looking forward to a bath at night before bed. The tub had disgusting mold growing around it, and the staff had to step in and out of the tub to pull shade up or down. We had spent over 10,000 dollars for this cruise for a cabin we picked over a year ago, so we could entertain our friends with cocktails and cheese plates (which were ordered in advance). The vibration and noise did not allow any of this. I am not sure if you or a company representative have seen the condition of this ship but it should have been dry docked long ago. The bathroom tiles are cracked and have uneven surfaces as you could not walk barefoot to the toilet. The furniture was stained and looked dirty. The staff was very passive and inattentive. We heard the same issues from our neighbors, it was like the staff did not want to speak with us for fear of hearing more complaints. The service was not up to par with any other cruises we had taken with your company. Where the ship’s staff and corporate offices had knowledge of all the issues long before we had boarded, especially where vibration testing that had been done, these cabins should have never been sold or occupied. To take a customer’s money in advance and knowingly sell a room that does not allow for quiet enjoyment is stealing the customers money. Read Less

Overall I struggle with rating average or poor. We have cruised before with NCL and changed from Princess to NCL for our cruise around the British Islands as they had less ports with tenders and the service has previously been excellent. Once again, the embarkation and disembarkation were smooth. The ship departed almost 12 hours late with no communication whatsoever. We were finally able to piece together from other passengers that NCL came very close to cancelling the cruise and sending us all back to London. After denying that this delay would not impact our shore excursions, they had to make another announcement owning up to the truth. The staff at the shore excursion desk were doing what they could given the circumstances. Clearer communication from the cruise director would have saved a lot of heartache and waiting in lines. We saw very few happy employees on board the ship in every department. They were putting forward minimal effort. Food on the buffet was not hot; boring; and, tasteless. Service in the sit down restaurants was less than acceptable. Finally with the help of an assistant Matri D, we were able to find a very fun and helpful server who we requested the rest of the cruise. The ship needs a lot of work and is scheduled for upgrading soon. It needs it. Not up to NCL standards at all, and may I add NCL has basically average standards. Thankfully, the lounge acts and shows were very good and the ports of call did not disappoint. We had purchased Cruise Next on our previous cruise with NCL so we are stuck taking one more cruise with NCL. It was hard not to look at the people discussing Cruise Next options and recommend "don't do it". We will be seeking another cruise line. Read Less

We are in Canada, so we flew in Rome 2 days early to ease the time change and visited Rome at the same time. Embarkation and disembarkation were a piece of cake, they were well organised; we followed the instructions and everything went well. We had a cabin with a balcony. This is not a huge cabin but it has everything one may need and lots of space for clothes and stuff. For us, the size was sufficient. We bought a 4 restaurants diner package before we left and we picked the restaurants and nights on the first day. All the other meals were taken at the buffet style dining room. The restaurant packages evenings need to be coordinated with the excursions one is buying: if you come back from an excursion at 1800, you don't want a reservation at the same time. The food was great (the Steakhouse is fantastic for a great steak), everything is clean and the staff do everything they can to assure a great meal experience. Great entertainment and I like the fact that there were great musical acts early in the evening. Services were great. All the staff are doing an excellent job. The biggest problem I had was with the internet. I bought a unlimited social media for two for the 11 days. It cost me almost $300.00 CAD. For that kind of money, I thought I was going to get top quality internet: I did not. I got slow and unreliable wifi. Big let down. We took 4 excursions and they were well organised even if at some times, I was left wondering if I got my money worth. The company run the outfit in a very professional manner and I will be looking at them first when I decide to go on my next cruise. Read Less

I think it's important before leaving a rating to understand the frame of mind of the traveler and their expectation levels before cruising. Let me say that in my case - I love cruising. To be it's about relaxation, the vacation coming to you, the full itinerary, the work is done for you, and the fact that everything is settled in advance. You go, you don't have to think too much about spending a fortune, you unwind, recharge, and when you get back, you don't feel like you need another vacation. That said on The Escape... The service was absolutely excellent, the food was excellent. The shows (Choir of Man and After Midnight, their Magic duo) were excellent. Our weather and our "ride" to an fro were excellent. So why just a 3-star review? The Escape loses points because it is simply overcrowded, there are not enough "open" spaces to just conversate or relax unless you want to tan on the upper deck and even that is way too overcrowded, and a little unruly and dirty (not their fault, the guests just leave food and drinks and dirty towels everywhere and the staff can't keep up). A lot of the indoor functions took place in the Theatre or the "Atrium," and it too was way overcrowded. The Theatre was fine, uncomfortable and rather small considering that there are 4000 guests on the ship. Spice H2O is a great party space, but again, way too overcrowded. This made it uncomfortable for my kind of tastes. As NY'ers, we go on a cruise to get away from that shoulder-to-shoulder discomfort, not to enter into it. Bars were hit or miss with service. O'Sheehan's., the main bar overlooking the Atrium was incredibly understaffed at the bar, and on a number of occasions we were simply ignored for 10-15 minutes at a time. Thankfully, there are other bars where it's easier to score a drink...no big deal. Felt a bit nickel-and-dimed at times (do they really have to charge $5.50 for a bottle of water in the room, especially when they charge guests $15 a day already?), and way, way, way too much space designated to art and photography. that's just a money grab and a waste of good space. On nights when photographers were around you had stairways blocked, cues of lines in hallways just to pass, it was rather obnoxious at times. It's a problem because the Escape just doesn't have a lot of usable space for a ship this large, there is simply too much congestion, and then throw in blocked hallways and staircases into the mix simply to take a portrait, c'mon now! And to do it for the final 4 nights on the cruise is a little too much. Choose a single night to do that, people dress up, take your picture, and be done with it. The Escape just hits you over the head with that nonsense. The automated bingo with predetermined winners was a letdown and way too expensive. Deal or no Deal and some of the other "game shows" were really boring and a letdown, but because that's not why I choose to cruise it didn't lose too many points. The bottom line is this - the Escape is NOT cheap and it is a good time. Where it needs to deliver - Food, drink, service, cleanliness, embarkation process - it truly is fantastic! but there a lot of minor annoyances that certainly will have me looking to "try something different" next time around, not because it's a bad ship but because I didn't walk away saying, "Wow, that ship is amazing" and that's simply what I want when I cruise! Read Less

OK . . . I'll start by saying that there were plenty of positives, but... The food was not nearly as good as any of our previous cruises with other cruise lines The lines were too long for the slides and the high ropes course Every comedy show we tried to go to was sold out well in advance of the show The other shows we did attend were average at best, nothing spectacular No convenient way to stay hydrated, suggest putting in water bottle filling stations Smoke wasn't contained to casino and could be smelled on other levels Automatic gratuities do not encourage excellent service, had to complain more than once Teen curfew was not enforced, found at least 50 noisy teens out and about at 2:30am Took advantage of a massage special that included a Dr consultation, massage great, no Dr In general, crowded with over 5,500 guests on board, lots of lines and not enough seats! Would we go again? To get to Bermuda, yes! But we would probably consider looking at other options. We thought we would be wowed by NCL and they turned out to be slightly better than average. Read Less

Well I was a bit skeptical going in......Some of the past reviews I have read about the Escape were somewhat mixed. Large ship, lots of people, bad service?? I was concerned let's be honest. But it was just so wonderful, where do I begin. We haven't cruised in 30 years. This was our 30th anniversary celebration. This ship is just beautiful. The service was first class. Food very good. Shows were amazing. Yes, some areas crowded up, but it was never a big issue. So much to do so everyone was scattered about. We will definitely go Norwegian again. I also loved the designated quiet areas on the ship The Waterfront on deck 8 was very relaxing when you wanted quiet time. Something for everyone on this cruise. One thing I can suggest, if any: maybe another pool area for cause one pool for adults only? Could have been a bit larger. But still it was no big issue for us. Maybe some get togethers for couples of two - just a suggestion. All in all, a perfect cruise to Bermuda. Read Less

This was our second cruise, but it took us over 20 years to try again because our first one wasn't a pleasant experience. So I'll start with why we selected this particular cruise and why it was so much fun for us overall! We love surprises, but some are even better than expected! The backstory: Bill and I planned an August RV trip to Washington to visit family members who are no longer traveling long distance in their RV. Our 25th anniversary is August 20, so we thought, since we'd be nearby around that time, maybe an Alaskan inside passage passage cruise would be a nice way to celebrate. As we were narrowing in on a particular ship from another cruise line and deciding on which 7 days, the Mickey Utley Band, a favorite that plays in Laughlin, Nevada when touring, announced that they had signed on to entertain for 2 months on the Norwegian Bliss, with their last week being July 21-28. So I started asking questions on their Facebook page, and we decided that it was worth moving our trip up by a month to know we'd enjoy dancing during the cruise. I continued to correspond occasionally after we booked the trip, including sending a message on the morning of the 21st saying we were headed their way. We enjoyed our first day, had an early dinner, and headed for "Q", the BBQ restaurant. The band had just taken the stage, and I waved as we walked in, but nobody waved back. I just figured they were busy, and when they started their first song, Bill and I immediately headed for the dance floor. The looks on their faces surprised us as much as we surprised them! It turned out I had been corresponding all along with their photographer/media person, and the band didn't have a clue we would be here until they saw us start dancing! We had a wonderful time dancing to this excellent band almost every night, and are so very glad we made this choice! We didn't make reservations for any other entertainment or shows, nor did we book any shore excursions. We attended several lounge-type performances by Duo Rika. Siglo, and Suzanne Jade, all of whom were excellent. We had local friends who gave us an incredible tour of Juneau, and booked the White Pass & Yukon Train trip at the dock. We wandered around Skagway and Ketchikan on our own. We didn't disembark at Victoria because of the short stay at that port. We bought the "Romance Package", which was wonderful in every detail. The roses looked almost as fresh as we left our room for the last time as they did when we arrived, and our dinner in Le Bistro was perfect in every way. We ate most of our meals in the Garden Café, which had a great variety of choices as well as special theme nights. The local was great for late-night gatherings with new friends and entertainers. Because we don't drink a lot of alcohol, we didn't buy either of the beverage packages, and found that we had made the right decision for us. We enjoyed the Sugar Cane Mojito Bar's creative options, had our usual 2-beer nights in Q while dancing, and enjoyed other adult beverages "a la carte" wherever we happened to be. Overall, we kept this cruise as simple as possible to allow ourselves to figure out whether we would enjoy cruising again in the future. We're glad we did it our way, we had a great time, and next time, we'll be more adventurous with our planning and reservations. Read Less

The Negative...Bottled Water should be added to the Premium beverage package. At over $100/day its ridiculous that simple bottled water isn't included. Room Service charge of $7.95 should be abolished. No other cruise line charges this fee. Some cruise lines do charge for Room Service, but only after 11:00pm at a rate of $3.95. The show Havana, should be looked at. The whole story line, including the vocals(The singers simply don't make the grade), need to be Redone. Sorry, but its a horrible production. If they auditioned for me, I'd send them all home and say....Next... The Positive.....GREAT Ship. So many activities, its impossible to be bored. Service was Excellent. The Band Siglo, was the best band I've ever listened to, on any cruise ship in my 40 plus cruises. Comedians were very good. Simply amazing. No complaints on the Food. Everything we had was excellent. Boarding and disembarking in Seattle was very good.....Thank You Read Less

This was our 5th time on the same cruise, which we love because of the convenience of leaving from NYC and not having to fly to get to the departure port. Boarding was an absolute breeze and we were on board by 11:30am. The mini suite we were in was fine, and we selected it because it was on the 11th floor, just 3 doors from the Thermal Spa, which we had purchased the week long pass. The dinners in the Venetian Main Dining room were fabulous, with great selections every night. We also did 3 nights in the specialty restaurants (Moderno, Cagney's and Le Bistro), which were also wonderful, with great service and selections. Lunch was generally at the buffet, which was adequate, but better than the main dining room which had the same menu every day for lunch. Breakfasts at the Venetian were outstanding, but the service for breakfast was generally slow and it took a long time, which was ok most mornings as we were in no rush. Entertainment was generally good. The aerialists and the magician were exceptional, but the singers and the comic were just ok. We did the therapy spa package for the week, which was nice, but there were several times we had to complain to the front desk that people in the spa were obnoxiously load and there were no signs that it was supposed to be a "quiet" zone. Spa staff apologized to us but I don't think they did anything about it. The spa on the Gem was much nicer with a much better use of space. First day of cruise was fine, but on the 2nd day I began having heart palpitations, which was not something new for me, but they usually end quickly within a few minutes. This time they lasted for over 24 hours, so on Monday 7/22 when we were due to dock in Cape Canaveral, I finally broke down and went to the medical center on board. After the doctor did an EKG he determined I had Atrial Fibrulation (AFib), but within 1/2 hour of my arrival in the medical center the palpitations ended and my EKG was normal. The doctor demanded that I remain in the treatment room and they connected me to an IV glucose drip and did a lot of blood work, chest xray etc. My partner and I were both asking how long I would need to stay there and the doctor pulled my partner aside and told him he didn't understand the magnitude of the situation. The doctor then informed my partner that he needed to go pack all of our bags and collect our passports because we were to be evacuated from the ship by ambulance to the nearest ER as soon as we arrived in Port Canaveral. We both questioned the need for such extreme measures, but the doctor on the ship was determined that we were to leave the ship and would not be returning for the remainder of the cruise. Having no other recourse, my partner packed all of our bags and got our passports and the ambulance came to the port and loaded me up. As the EMTs were taking me off the boat on the stretcher, we were stopped at the gangway by NCL staff who had to swipe our cruise cards. They came up to me on the stretched and told me I had a credit on my account and needed to take care of it before I could leave the ship. The charges thus far for the medical care I received on board were $3800 and they wanted there money immediately! For at least 5 minutes, while I was supposedly in such great need of immediate medical attention, the EMTs were not allowed to remove me from the ship until NCL was certain they would get paid. They already had my credit card account set up at the time we checked in on 7/20, so the charges were already on my credit card. We also found out the there was a mandatory $800/person fee required to end the cruise early, regardless of the reason or circumstances, which NCL already charged on my partner's charge card, prior to our leaving the ship. They finally let the EMTs remove me and take me to the Cocoa Beach Hospital ER. The service at the ER was superb and I was taken in and seen by a doctor within 10 minutes of my arrival. after being there about 4 hours, and after several more EKGs, bloodwork and another chest xray, the doctor came in again and basically questioned why I was even there. We explained everything to him, and ultimately he gave me 2 prescription for my newly diagnosed AFib and released me. I told him the doctor on the ship specifically stated that he would NOT allow us back on board without a written medical clearance from a doctor at the hospital. The ER doctor wrote me a note of clearance to travel, and we were on our way in time to get back to the ship by around 6;30p. The ship set sail at 8p and passengers had to be on board an hour early, so we just made it in time. This whole day in Cape Canaveral was supposed to have been a pleasant day with our family who were driving up from Ft Lauderdale (4hrs each way) to meet us and then go with us to Kennedy Space Center. They ended up spending the day with us in the ER and then driving us back and forth from our ship and to 2 area pharmacies for my prescriptions. My real issue was that the physician on the ship couldn't wait to get me off the ship and remove any liability they might have for my health etc. If it truly was such an emergency then how can they possibly explain why we were literally held on board the ship and the EMTs were not allowed to remove me by stretcher until they had my account settled? The ER staff ultimately determined that my medical condition was not urgent enough to terminate my cruise, so thankfully we were allowed to return to our ship and they did remove the fee of $800/person for early termination of our cruise. NCL needs to seriously look at their policies in terms of both customer service and their medical policies. I would advise anyone who books a cruise on any cruise line to strongly consider buying the trip/medical insurance policies. They would cover the $800 per person fees for ending your cruise early and they would also cover many of the emergency expenses. We will never travel again without trip insurance. I truly hope this helps someone avoid going through what we went through.... Read Less

The food was bad, the waiter was good but there seemed to be no excitement from the staff. The freestyle meals are cold and not friendly. The smoke on the ship from the casino was horrible. You could smell it 2 floors down in the dining area. The staff on the ship were not educated on events and where to go many times we asked. We have cruises many times and this was probably the most disappointing cruise we have ever been on. Our cabin was nice and we enjoyed having a balcony but when we tried to sit out there the people in cabin 8051 were smoking. We were not told this ship allowed smoking or we would not have scheduled a cruise in this ship. The staff when we got off the ship in customs were very rude to everyone getting off of the ship. We will probably not cruise with Norwegian again. Read Less

My Wife and I are a dual income, no kids couple (aka DINKS) and we vacation frequently with the notion of work hard, play hard and have no problems paying for luxury experiences. We had heard great things about the Boston to Bermuda NCL cruise. Being local, we absolutely LOVED the idea of getting dropped off at the ship and hopping right on to start our vacation. We decided to book the Owner's Suite with the large balcony, Hot Tub, King bed, large bathroom, Butler and Concierge service. The Hot Tub did not have a heater and it did not bubble,which caused us to sit and wait for it to be repaired on our first day. We usually book the more luxurious trips because we like the memorable experience it offers along with the pampering we do not receive on a day to day basis. Our summer Boston to Bermuda cruise left quite a bit to be desired and unfortunately, DID NOT meet our expectations. Given that we booked the Blue Diamond Suite on the Gem, our expectations were Extremely HIGH!! Day one of vacation came and embarkation on the ship as a Haven guest was as expected, we were greeted by the very professional MassPort personnel and shown to the Priority boarding area. There were some light refreshments and we met our concierge (Anoop) who was pleasant and provided an excellent vacation experience. He checked in with us at every dinner, helped to switch dinner reservations and provided ideas for a free day that we had in Bermuda. We do not consider ourselves High Maintenance guests and we appreciated Anoop's pleasant demeanor and his daily if not 2-3/day checking in with us to see if we needed anything. That being said, this is Actually the kind of thing one expects when you are spending the money to have the HAVEN experience, furthermore to be guests in the OWNERS Suite. One of the disappointing experiences was being told at dinner we had to pay for the $27 bottle of wine, champagne and cappuccino (it's espresso people) above and beyond what we ALREADY PAID. I understand it costs money to run a ship, overhead, etc, but we did not expect to be able to drink as much wine, champagne and coffee as we want when we went to the bar or in our room and not at dinner. It just doesn't make sense. Our Butler upon our arrival informed us that we are provided with 3 bottles of alcohol which included wine and liquor, and 1 complimentary bottle of champagne which of course makes sense. However, when after hours of sitting in the room waiting for the Hot Tub to be repaired (by very nice mechanics), I asked her if we can get more champagne while the sun is shining and it's 85 degrees and I'd like to start my vacation. There was no suggestion of the bottle being complimentary until I had suggested that some more champagne would alleviate the "inconvenience". I will say our Butler, Josephine, was pleasant, hard working and took good care of us, but if we needed anything we had to summon her. We certainly didn't feel like she was checking in on us and she did stock our fridge with 2 bottles of Prosecco the next day after considering my suggestion. Another rather disconcerting event happened near the end of our cruise in the Haven Courtyard. Apparently only cruisers who booked HAVEN Rooms are allowed in the Haven Courtyard. Given this was our first cruise, I was not aware of this because while hanging out in the Haven Courtyard two days prior, several of us who were staying in the Haven had a impromptu Pool party with buckets of Adult Beverages for everyone, good conversation, laughter etc, While socializing I realized that it was obvious several of my fellow passengers had brought their friends who were NOT HAVEN Guests up to the courtyard, I assumed that this was allowed and it seemed reasonable to me. All the guests at our impromptu pool party were great people, classy and we were all having a really good time. So, when I brought a friend who happened to be on the ship serendipitously, I of course thought it was fine. Hey, rules are rules, I totally understand. However, our concierge (Anoop) sent a younger HAVEN Staff member (Made, the Haven Courtyard Valet) to address this issue with me in front of my Guest and my wife, I was MORTIFIED. Listen, we've all been kicked out of bars or nightclubs when we're in our twenties for too much celebrating etc., but when you pay a pretty hefty sum of cash to stay in a premier room and are scolded and treated with such utter DISRESPECT over a misunderstanding I have a bit of an issue. Anoop, (The Concierge and the BOSS) should've take it upon himself to have a private conversation with me and clarify the rules, not send his subordinate over and embarrass me in front of my wife and friend. This small incident was the final straw in what we thought was going to be a 5-Star White Glove Service. In Summary, this was our fault, we lacked experience cruising and with NCL in particular. We had an EXCELLENT Vacation but We did NOT get the VALUE for the money we spent. The NCL Gem is obviously not a luxury based ship and trying to provide white glove 5 star service with their HAVEN option was not up to par. We would've been better off and less disappointed if we booked a much less expensive option for the experience we had. If NCL wants to provide high level white glove experiences to guests who are willing to pay then they need to stop nickel and diming their guests and offer more 'all inclusive' type packages with attention to detail if they are looking to garner a higher level clientele who are willing to pay. We would definitely go on another Boston to Bermuda NCL cruise, however, we will absolutely book a much more cost effective package. Booking the package we booked along with our disappointment is akin to going to Outback Steakhouse and believing you are going to get the same kind of Filet that one gets at Del Friscos or similar high end steakhouse that in short, is basically the experience we had. I love to have some Kukkaburrow wings while wearing jeans and a t-shirt but you will not catch me ordering a premium steak and at the very least having the expectation that it will be 5 star!! Read Less

We LOVE NCL, and cruise with them yearly. This is our 8th NCL cruise in 6 years, and it was fantastic. We met some wonderful people on the ship, and actually planned another NCL cruise to Japan with 4 of them! The ship was immaculate, and the staff that we interacted with were wonderful. The issue with this particular cruise was actually the other passengers. Unfortunately there were no activities on the pool deck, and the music wasn't even all that loud. We met quite a lot of people and formed a pretty big group of smokers, and we didn't see the cruise staff until the 5th day of the cruise. When we finally pinned the assistant cruise director down, he informed us all that people were complaining about the noise and activities on the pool deck, so they cancelled them all. Isn't that simply ridiculous? In addition, there weren't many activities offered, which was disappointing. The shows were magnificent; NCL always scores big in that area. As for the food, that also left a lot to be desired. The buffet hours were much more limited on this cruise, and there were not many options. What was out there was quite bland, and lacked much flavor. Sadly they never did a Greek night, which was disappointing because it was a Greek Isles cruise. Half the buffet was closed most of the time, and the entire buffet was usually closed by 10 at night. O'Sheehan's was 24 hours, but at night they have a very limited menu. The spinach/artichoke dip was watery and flavorless, as were the nachos. The wings were great, as was the reuben and the roast beef sandwich. The food in the specialty restaurants was magnificent, as was Ginza. The excursions were a bit chaotic as well, as they had a new procedure on this ship. Everyone went to the theater as always, but they gave you a sticker there, and then once everyone showed up, they called the group to go down for the tour. People wouldn't stay out of the exits, and many people were late, which delayed everyone's excursions. The excursions were good, but the overall organization was very chaotic and stressful, especially when we believe that being early is being on time, and we had to wait up to 40 minutes for people who were late. That's just selfish and unfair. Another crazy thing that really disappointed me: YOU HAVE TO REQUEST TOWEL ANIMALS!!! What's that all about? I was so disappointed with this one. I didn't find out until day 6 that I had to request towel animals; I was told that people complain so they stopped it. Something else that was very strange: they only had one English movie channel, and they played sad, depressing movies like "Five Feet Apart," "Stay Human," and "Penguins." I know you're not there to watch TV, but really? Overall, we met some really wonderful people, and had a fabulous time. We booked another cruise with NCL to Japan, and are planning to book more, but we won't sail on the Star again. Every ship is different, and you live and learn. Read Less

We have been on several other lines, RCL, Carnival, etc. We couldn't have been happier with NCL and now wouldn't go back. the freestyle dining and drinking was tremendous! there was never a time i couldn't sit and get a drink. 22 bars keep it uncrowded. We had no trouble getting on or off the ship. the food was great. and there was plenty of it. And it was hot. i love the room cold. My room was freezing, thanks to Roberto. i suppose the Oasis had something this ship didn't_ more shopping. I dont cruise to be in a mall. the Waterfront was a great stroll. Syd Normans was a true highlight for us 80's rockers! The service was outstanding. our room was cleaned twice a day, bathroom too. nothing is perfect. the internet sucked and was overpriced. we have been all over the world. we recommend NCL Have Fun Read Less

We celebrated my moms 80th bday on the break away. We took this cruise because of the offers. I never sailed the western carribean before . The unlimited drinks, great entertainement . Speciality dining was awesome. The variety of food choices superb. Catered to all ages and the staff at the customer service desk was amazing. Some more than others especially since i was going there all the time to correct an issue. Special kudos to Pamela , at the desk. Strong who cleaned my moms rm. The restaurant manager at Savor Alan. Overall all the staff qas above and beyond. The ship was clean and the staff was working akways. I was dissapointed that i did not get a rm i requested for my mlom a special disabilty rm. Eventually they moved her to accomodate her by moving her to another rm. It still was not what we requested. . Read Less

We loved the Escape. Great rooms, food and entertaining. If I have one complaint is that there is limited smoking areas which I get. It was a little inconvenient but I survived. My biggest issue is that the Cigar bar has inadequate ventilation. It is horrible in that room. They need to fix that. My favorite restaurant was LaCucina. The food and service were outstanding. The comedy dueling pianos was great! We saw The Choir of Man - very talented young men. Great show. Our room steward Danny was outstanding. Embarkment was a breeze. Disembarkment took no more than 20 minutes. They are very organized. One other issue was with the pool chairs. I was glad to see that the chairs are tagged. You have an hour to return or they take your stuff to guest services. So many chairs have towels on them with nobody sitting in them for hours. Again it was a great week. Bermuda is lovely and so are the people. But it is pricey. Read Less

My parents booked this cruise as a gift to me for my 22nd birthday , (07/14) . From the second I got there , I was treated far better than any all inclusive resort in Cancun or Punta Cana . I had a studio room , the studio is small but full of everything u need . Shower , toilet , sink , very comfortable bed , closet , tv , and these party lights installed all throughout our he room which really changed the mood of the whole trip . The buffet food at the restaurant was okay , however the exclusive restaurant were out of this world . Le bistro, was superb , the Manhattan was great , moderno had amazing meats . The drinks were made to perfection . Nothing watered down, all drinks premium and perfect with the alcohol . The amount of friends I made on this cruise is unreal . Norwegian does everything they can to make it as easy as possible to have a good time . If you are early 20s or late teens , definitely book a cruise with Norwegian because they give you everything you need , full of activities , you just have to make the best and most fun of it . Which is fairy easy Read Less

I always sail the haven category. It’s usually in a forward facing penthouse. This cruise I had 12106. I like this cabin for its space and forward and port views. The balcony is usually small and this ship was no exception. The curtain in the bedroom wouldn’t stay up and after numerous calls to fix it, my husband tied a belt around it during the day. Since this ship is so huge, bigger than I would like, the walk to the haven is terribly long. Don’t forget anything in your room. The cabin steward was lacking. No towel animals for us although everybody was talking about them every morning in the haven dining room. Our butler is the only thing that saved this room. She was fantastic! Moving on to the haven itself. Gorgeous when kids weren’t running around the observation lounge or screaming in the haven pool all day long. Don’t get me wrong, I like kids but when you spend $17,000.00 on a cruise, you expect the kids to be supervised. They were not. This was an Alaskan cruise so not much for kids to do. Maybe limiting their kids hours in the pool is something Norwegian should consider. It was impossible to relax in the haven observation room and no chance at the haven pool. One evening in the haven restaurant we were even unlucky enough to be seated next to the kids table. 7 kids while the parents and grandparents sat at a different table. My husband and I were unable to compete with the very loud children. We were seated first before they arrived so we had no idea. Moving on to food. Haven restaurant food was fantastic as usual. We also ate at Le Bistro which was good, ocean blue was so so and Carney’s I wouldn’t go back to. Ribeye steak was very tough. We didn’t step foot in the garden cafe (buffet) or any of the 3 main dining rooms. Common areas outside of the haven were super crowded and it was like stepping onto a different ship. All ports were great except for Victoria BC. It’s a useless stop. We were supposed to get off the ship at 8pm., however, foreign nationals held up the disembarking process and didn’t get off until 8:45pm. The all aboard time was 11:30pm. Why bother? The nice shops were closed and only restaurants and t shirt shops were open. It was also the last night of the cruise so packing had to fit in there somewhere. Our next cruise is on celebrity in a suite. I don’t think I’m too excited about cruising Norwegian again even though we did book another cruise with them. It can always be cancelled without penalty if I do it soon enough. Read Less

This was the one cruise line that visited the islands we wanted to see. It offered a good itinerary for Oahu, Maui, the Big Island and Kauai. Our cabin was small, but it had a balcony and a comfy king sized bed. The shower and bathroom were tiny. The room steward for us (no.8656) kept the room immaculate. Early on, the shower drain plugged up flooding the bathroom floor and it took 2 calls to guest services for them to send someone. Next time we'll page the room steward directly! As we all know the cruise ships have upped the price for excursions so we bypassed most, renting a car ourselves, which was easily done. They do nickle and dime you, any other coffee other than decaf. or regular were a separate charge for instance. Our cruise included free transportation from the west coast, but think twice before using it. That section was horrible to get a hold of and scheduled us for a connecting flight starting at 5:30 am. The food was quite good, usually, although the buffet selections cooled off too quickly for those who like their food hot. Some of the staff in charge of certain stations lacked the knowledge of what ingredients they were serving, too. A more polished team took care of the main restaurants. Our one special night out at the French bistro was disappointing. Not enough staff led to very slow, inattentive service. They were trying to serve us a dessert after we wanted the check. Read Less