How good is Norwegian Cruise Line in all aspects ?

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Marjery B

In Hawaii NCL would receive a rating from me as 3 - 4 using your scale. They poa is a beautiful well accommodated ship. The ship itself and the itinerary would rate 5. It is the staff performance that I rate as 2. PAM is the best of the three - pride of america, pride of hawaii or pride of aloha.
NCL was the first ship in 50 years to become an american flag large cruise vessel. Due to flying the american flag the ship is required to have the majority of the staff american citizens. This is discomforting to many guests familiar with the uncomprimising service offered by international staff. Professional crew from phillipenes, for example, would smile and say 'yes sir' at any and all requests. The first sailings on pride of aloha were hell. The ship was understaffed. The staff that was there was underqualified, insubordinate and lazy. NCL has more than increased efforts to turn this around.
Hawaii is a good market for a cruise...try pricing out the same vacation on land. Roundtrip flights from mainland to hi, interisland flights from point a-b, b-c, c-d, lodging, meals and entertainment. On a land tour you are not able to see the views from the coastline of lava flowing into the sea. No need to decide on maui, honolulu or kauaii - do all of them!
In the rest of the markets, I would not recommend NCL at all. As a travel agent in high standing with them in sales I don't like saying that, but I say it.

Enij

I'm a very experienced traveler but am new to cruising. I went on my first cruise a few months ago, the Norwegian Sun from New Orleans to the Western Carribean. I have to say that I didn't really have high hopes for the vacation as I had heard stories of cruises being full of obnoxious drunk people, rank food, gross rooms.... but I was so pleasantly surprised. I loved it...and I think that Norwegian was a great line for my first experience. The room (though small...but hell, it is a ship!) was quite comfortable and clean and the staff was super friendly and attentive to any needs that we had. Beds were turned down nightly, mint on the pillow, all that. The food, though not quite the stuff of 4 star restaurants (though often close...) was more than adequate...I quite enjoyed many entrees that I had (and speaking of food...Norwegian's "Freestyle" plan is great...you can eat when you want, where you want and with whoever you want...I think this is superior to fixed seatings at fixed times...makes the dining experience feel like a restaurant and not like a dining hall! Also allows for dining with new friends made on board...). Good choice of food as well. Cleanliness was great, no problems there. Excursions were plentiful and fun. The only thing that I'd say that is negative is the lack of things to do with kids on board. There seemed to be a kids club but I never saw it open. However, I was not really looking as I don't have kids! But didn't seem to be too much of a kid-orientated vacation.
In general, I'd give my Norwegian experience all 4s and 5s. Great time, fun group of people, and well, well worth my money!

arecibena_ausente

I have never used NCL but this website has the opinions of hundreds of people that cruise on a weekly basis. I found you the review page just pick or review the one you want or the different ones and also the boards page so you can read about tips, ports of call and if you decide to cruise you can even meet people that are going on the same cruise. I love these boards even now that i don't have my cruise booked.

http://www.cruisecritic.com/reviews/index.cfm

http://boards.cruisecritic.com/

Enjoy!

AlwaysOverPack

Room: 1 (ours was infested with bed bugs)
Food: 2.5 (The food was okay. Not great except in the specialty resaurants that you pay additional, that was a 4)
Service: 4 (All of the wait staff were very good and friendly.)
Cleanliness: 1/stateroom 3/common areas
Kids: ??
Excursions: we had some very nice excursions.

I have learned from this last cruise (our 11th, 2nd NCL) that I can never forget to check the bedding mattress again. I learned of the bedbug infestation in our statroom after spending the first night of our 10 day cruise.

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