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People were already lined up to board the Prima for the next cruise. The Pulse Fitness Center is also large with lots of weights and machines, as well as cardio equipment that faces the bow, giving exercisers a great view while working out. Starbucks was part of my upgraded drinks package, so I ordered a lot of the things I had been wanting to try but hadn’t wanted to spend the money on in case I didn’t like them.
The main dining room experience on Norwegian Sun fell short of expectations for me compared to my previous experience.
Find Norwegian Encore Cruises to the Panama Canal & Central America (with Prices) - Cruise Critic
Find Norwegian Encore Cruises to the Panama Canal & Central America (with Prices).
Posted: Sun, 21 Apr 2024 06:18:28 GMT [source]
It's a style that other cruise lines have adopted, but Norwegian Breakaway did it first by outpacing its competitors with sheer number of restaurants, shows and entertainment venues. Our experience onboard a seven-night cruise felt so much like a jam-packed stay at a really good Las Vegas resort that we only remembered we were on a ship when looking out to sea. One of two ships in the line's Sun class that date to the turn of the millennium, Norwegian Sky is far from the snazziest ship in the Norwegian fleet. At 77,104 tons and carrying 1,944 passengers, it's just half the size of Norwegian's biggest ships and has far fewer venues, from bars and restaurants to entertainment spaces.
things I loved and hated about Norwegian Epic
Even better, the cruise sailed from Malaga, Spain to Lisbon, Portugal with a stop in Cadiz, Spain. I love cruising around Europe, so I couldn’t resist the opportunity to book this cheap cruise. Norwegian also offers four solo cabins on its Hawaii-based Pride of America. Tucked away in the middle of the ship, this "studio" zone is essentially a private escape for solos, with more solo cabins — 128 — than you'll find on any other ship at sea. For would-be Norwegian cruisers, Norwegian Sky's shorter sailings out of Miami serve as a sort of "test the line" opportunity. Their short time frame and low pricing mean you're not out a lot in time or money if you don't love it as much as you hoped.
NCL has become such a low-quality…
Norwegian Cruise Line is headquartered in Miami, Florida, and is currently part of the Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings Ltd., which also includes Oceania Cruises and Regent Seven Seas Cruises.
I liked the smaller tours and saved some money because they were a bit cheaper than the ship’s tours. Soon I was on my way for a daylong tour on a large and full bus. I returned to the ship in plenty of time to shower and get ready for dinner. Having a spa treatment like a massage does not allow you access to the thermal suite. Then there was the buffet, the Surfside Cafe & Grill, which was tremendously undersized, always incredibly busy and without enough seating options. While the food was good, the traffic flow was not, and once you had your food in hand, finding a place to eat it was not easy.
Having sailed in one of Norwegian Epic's cabins for one, I can confidently declare them among the coolest solo digs at sea. I particularly love the "Jetsons" futuristic-style design and the multicolored mood lighting. Indeed, the ship often is at the top of the list when you sort cruises by lowest price on Norwegian's website. Norwegian Sky is the Norwegian ship to pick when you're looking for a low-cost, easy-to-do getaway — at least in the summer months.
Also, the changing of port times at such a late date made a lot of our pre-arrangements impossible. The ONLY places on the ship without some sort of music were the cabin room and the library (which was very small). Even the corridors had piped in muzak - so no peaceful relaxing areas. The music from the lounge area drowned out the waitstaffs' voices in the Chin-chin restaurant.
With no supplemental fees for its single studio cabins and a lounge designed to help single travelers meet other passengers, the ship is a standout for solo cruisers. Norwegian offers a selection of specialty dining restaurants that come with an additional cost (some offer à la carte pricing while others come with a flat per person charge). Since that time, it’s grown to be one of the largest cruise lines in the world. It has been an innovator in the cruise industry by being the first cruise line to eliminate set dining times with their Freestyle Cruising program. Norwegian Sun was built in 2001 while Pride of America construction was complete in 2005. At this time, most cruise ships being built were nowhere near the giant mega ships that cruise lines are building today.
What is the best Norwegian cruise ship?
You'll find everything from music halls with Beatles cover bands and dueling piano bars to theaters with some of the most elaborate shows at sea — including some big-name Broadway productions. When you choose to apply (and are approved) for a new credit card through our site, we may receive compensation from our partners, and this may impact how or where these products appear. Please view our advertising policy and product review methodology for more information.
But, they do point out that they encourage their staff to "go the extra mile" and that their employees are allowed to accept cash gratuities for outstanding service. So, it's up to you, but know that your stateroom attendant, the counselors in the kids' club, and your dining room servers would probably not turn down a tip. Norwegian Breakaway deck plans are well designed, with separate decks for public spaces and cabins, allowing for quiet nights for a high percentage of guests. That is a major plus, as you’ll be sharing the ship with almost 4,000 other passengers.
"Freestyle" cruising, a term the line coined, means you can wear just about anything wherever and whenever you'd like. Passengers can withdraw cash from onboard ATMs but will pay a hefty surcharge. "Icons" is an original show featuring dancers and singers who perform tunes by iconic musical artists. It runs at least once per seven-night voyage, with two show times in the Viva Theater. They've had to adapt the show to fit on the Viva Theater's smaller stage, of course, but that has allowed the team the flexibility to tweak things they didn't like about the original version.
As a result, it draws far fewer families than most of the vessels mentioned above and caters more to an older crowd of mostly couples. That said, Norwegian Sky has its allures, one of which is that it has a much more intimate feel than the line's bigger vessels. It's a great choice for adults on a budget who are satisfied with the basics. In short, there are so many family-friendly things to do on Norwegian Encore that you and your kids likely won't be able to do it all in a single, weeklong cruise.
There wasn't a single unoccupied table; I circled for 20 minutes to pounce on a table that someone had just vacated. That's particularly notable for a line like Norwegian, which is notorious for its nickel-and-diming. Not only does Indulge Food Hall provide an additional complimentary food option, but some of the food available there comes with a fee at the corresponding stand-alone restaurants (Q and Bayamo, for example) on other ships.
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