It's Sailin' Sue reviewing her most recent Norwegian Cruise

Sailing on the Norwegian Sky

Hi  Sailin’ Sue here to share my cruising experiences with you.  Kick back, get a tall drink, and put your feet up. Think smooth sailing.  I can feel that 2009 is going to be a banner year for cruising.

We’re here because we have one thing in common. We love cruising. So why not leverage our experiences, and answer each others questions. It can be a win -win situation for all.     

There’s nothing that gets my adrenaline pumping more than being out to sea. As we all know after you’ve taken a cruise any other vacation pales in comparison.  I’ve been on hundreds of cruises and I’ve experienced the good, the bad, and the downright ugly.  But overall cruising is a fun, relaxing, and economic vacation. All you need is the right mindset and you can survive even the roughest weather and the crappiest of cruising experiences.

The bottom line is that cruising is fun. Whatever your personal preferences there is something for everyone. Where else can you find so many choices? You literally have your pick of choosing a small vessel or a megaliner larger than a small town, either way the experience is unbeatable. You can choose a cruise based on a favorite itinerary or activities you prefer. You can spend a little or a lot of money. But even those cruises that don’t come up to your expectations have something to recommend them.

Let’s say it’s a toss up between the Caribbean, Mediterranean, Alaska, or even the Nile, I can answer most of your questions. If I don’t know the answer I know someone who does. I’ve also had the unique privilege of sailing as both a passenger and as crew. I can confidently speak to the behind the scenes challenges.

How did Sailin’ Sue came about?  One day I was chatting with my buddy, Jason and he told me about Cruise Crazies. I said ... “What if I wrote some articles, and he said…. ‘You’re in,’ so here I am.

I’m not a total novice at this writing business. Believe it or not I have writing credentials but in a totally different genre. If you’d like to be added to my newsletter shoot me an e mail at susiesails@yahoo.com and I can make it happen. You’ll have to agree to keep my identity a secret though because I’ll be sharing secrets only an insider would know.

This is the year dreams come true.  I want to take a French canal barge cruise. It’s been something I’ve wanted to do ever since cruising the South of France. I love those charming little villages where people still carry loaves of bread and bottles of wine under their arms.  I’ve also wanted to visit Scandinavia and Russia. Cross your fingers because if everything goes according to plan, you’ll be the first to read about my adventures.

For now I’m going to ramble on about my December cruise on Norwegian Cruise Lines. I’ve broken my review down into easily digestible segments. Feel free to ignore the information that’s not of interest to you and focus on what sets you on fire.

Given this ship does 3/4 day cruises, and carries over 2000 people, it’s in great shape and showing very little wear and tear. The Sky was formerly The Pride of Aloha and once cruised the Hawaiian Islands, which would explain why the motif is still all things Hawaiian. Luckily the tropical décor is appropriate for the Bahamas.

On boarding, the sewer smell was a bit disconcerting, but either the eau de plumbing grew on me or disappeared.  Since this was the week before Christmas I’d also anticipated more festive decorations. There were plenty of fake Christmas trees and a few artfully placed holiday wreaths but nothing that shouted special.

Cabins are small but comfortably appointed and look like bedrooms. Closet space is very limited, and the size of the shower leaves no opportunity for weight gain.  

The layout of the ship is such you don’t ever sense there are over 2000 people on board. The private dining rooms, though at times difficult to find are in secluded spots. The gym is small but functional and has the essential equipment but no extras.   

Check in at Embarkation was efficient and friendly which was a nice surprise. Since I arrived an hour before the ship’s departure there were no lines.  I did have to leap off the escalator to get my key as the staff was already packing it in. It was left to me to tell the passengers behind me if they wanted to pick up their cabin key at embarkation they should not get on the escalator.

My initial impression on boarding was of a warm and friendly crew. The complimentary champagne served was a very nice touch.  Throughout the cruise the cabin service personnel always greeted you with a smile and a friendly hello. The entertainment (assistant cruise director and dancers) were always actively involved. They got passengers up and participating. I have never seen a more engaged group in all my cruising. Opportunities lay with the photographers, Guest Relations personnel, and casual dining staff, warm and friendly they were not.

This was a pre-holiday cruise and it would not have hurt to have the entertainers or even the crew carol. There were the standard shows at night, the usual bingo, art auction, and trivia type games.  What this cruise lacked was a holiday theme. Few of these activities stood out with the exception of a pub crawl that was supervised by one of the crew. It included 5 bars and one drink at each bar and was a great way to meet people. The two for one Martini happy hour was also a hit and attracted a more mature up market crowd and a gregarious one at that. The White party on the open air deck was fun. The cruise would have benefitted from more deck parties and sadly missing was a formal night.

Also, if health and fitness is part of your regime, you might find the fitness center somewhat disappointing. Instructor led activities such as Spinning and Kickboxing come with a price and required you preregister.

I dread sitting at a table with total strangers, not because I don’t have a whole lot to say, but because eating for me is a relaxing, enjoyable experience. I’m a foodie and meals are to be savored and enjoyed. I am also a late diner and I tend to eat somewhere around the 9.00 p.m. mark.  Norwegian’s freestyle atmosphere allows you to eat when you want too and what you want too. For a nominal surcharge you can dine in a specialty restaurant every night.  Of the three restaurants (there are actually 11 restaurants on board) El Bistro, the French restaurant was by far my favorite. Both service and food met my expectations. Cagney’s, the steak house, though by far the most popular had the slowest service. You might want to have a snack to hold you off before arriving. The Italian restaurant was the least impressive in terms of food quality.

Breakfasts took place on the upper deck. The buffet had an array of choices and in fact has won an award for the best buffet on the high seas. The crew made sure to replenish items when they got low. I fell into the habit of having breakfast at Longboard’s. You’d never guess that a sports bar would make and served omelets and waffles.  Even better it was never crowded. The view (because we were usually in port) was unbeatable.

 A couple of detractors from the overall service experience were the slow bussing of tables on the upper deck, and the trays from room service that sat for long periods in the hallway.

Lunch time is an opportunity on the Sky. It’s pretty much the same thing every day. If you’re not a fan of burgers, hotdogs, chicken, and Chinese rice/noodles, it would probably be best to fill up on breakfast.  

Making up for the disappointing lunch are the make to order sundaes and the chocolate fondues that were special treats in the afternoons.   

Overall Impression:

NCL is a nice cruising experience for people who hate schedules and are looking to relax. There are many pluses to freestyle cruising.  You’re spared tedious announcements to participate in bingo, art auction, or any other activity that doesn’t float your boat, and the entertainment staff works hard to keep you involved.

Service in key areas such as the Guest Relations desk, photographers, and servers on the upper deck, lacked. But overall this was a good value for the money.

I’ll be back next month with more! Meanwhile send me your questions and comments at susiesails@yahoo.com   

Keep Cruising,

Sailin’ Sue