Against my better judgement I took advantage of a deal NCL was offering on a 3-night Bahamas cruise on NORWEGIAN SKY. The SKY is not a ship I've been especially interested in, but I have not sailed on her so that held some appeal. I always enjoy experiencing new ships. As many of you know, she once sailed as PRIDE OF ALOHA in Hawaii.

We opted for an aft facing balcony cabin and decided to eat in specialty restaurants each night. This increased the overall cost of the cruise but I think it was worth it. For a relatively smaller ship, NORWEGIAN SKY offers a great deal of alternative dining venues.

Unfortunately all my concerns about these short Summer sailings were spot-on with SKY. I think the ship was at capacity, around 2400 "guests". The ship was crowded and loaded with kids and teenagers. They basically took over the pool area and ran all over the ship day and night (elevators, stairs, corridors ... you name it). Really my cabin was about the only relaxing place on the ship. Even so it wasn't especially pleasant except for the balcony which was wonderful. Out by the pool they had a DJ spinning hip-hop music almost all day. Not a very relaxing atmosphere and there was no other "quiet" pool to escape noise.

Our cabin left a lot to be desired. I realize the ship is one of the oldest in the NCL fleet, but some basic upkeep just wasn't there. There were tons of stains all over the carpets, sofa, and chair. The drawers in the closet had hair and lint in them from who knows how many previous occupants. The bathroom reeked of mold when we walked in and I asked that the nasty shower curtain be replaced (and it was). When taking a shower I accidentally knocked over the liquid soap container and it was literally covered in mold. Gross! The sheets were not crisp and clean, but more threadbare and almost damp feeling. The worst part was the air conditioning could not keep the temperature below 75 degrees at the coldest, and the cabin often felt damp and humid. If we kept the drapes open, the temperature would reach 80 degrees. So basically we had to keep the drapes closed all the time which defeated the purpose of the balcony cabin. I reported this a/c issue but was told it was working fine and that we just needed to keep the drapes closed. Overall the cabin just felt dirty.

Some other issues were with the specialty restaurants. The food and service were good, but not excellent. At $25 a pop for a couple of these restaurants I expected better. The Broadway production show was literally a bad joke. My partner compared the production quality to that of a high school. NCL apparently let the Jean Ann Ryan Production Company go, and have taken the shows in house. Not a good move judging from this show. The CD was rather humorous in that every announcement he proclaimed the "beautiful" this, and the "beautiful" that, almost trying too hard to convince passengers that everything about the ship was beautiful. It reminded me of the CD on the NORWAY in her final years, where on every announcement he would proclaim "the classic" this, and "classic" that, I suppose in an attempt to cover up the fact that this "classic" liner was falling apart at the seams. LOL

Ok, so not all was bad. Embarkation and disembarkation were a breeze. Getting on and off the ship in Nassau and Great Stirrup Cay was well organized. Many of the crew were very friendly and eager to please, but several were also indifferent and just seemed to be going through the motions. The drink prices were reasonable and they were well poured. Great Stirrup Cay is still charming. I think the beach landings and the fact it's not so built up. It hasn't changed much since when I used to call there on SS NORWAY. It was interesting to see MONARCH OF THE SEAS anchored so close to us at Coco Cay. I don't recall these islands being right next to each other, but they are.

So we still had a nice time, after all we were cruising and I love being at sea. This being said, I'm not in a huge rush to sail on NCL again. I still like NCL and don't think this cruise was their finest performance, but none the less it left me disappointed overall. The entire product just lacked finesse and polish. Even Carnival has a certain degree of finesse in the way they operate, but I just don't get that from NCL. It always seems as if they are just scraping by with the bare minimum. A little more attention to detail could do wonders for the product. I wanted to express some of the opportunities on the comment form, but these are no longer distributed onboard. Instead, only 30% of passengers are "randomly" selected to receive an internet survey if an email address was provided. Thankfully a survey was waiting in my inbox when I got home. My intent is not to rip NCL to shreds, but hopefully present some opportunities for improvement.

I was booked on EPIC for a November sailing, and although I know it would be completely different experience than SKY, I just wasn't "feeling" it and frankly it's not an inexpensive cruise. The primary reason to sail on EPIC is for the entertainment, and frankly it just doesn't appeal to my partner and I. The shows on EPIC appeal to a large majority of people, we are just not two of them. For these reasons we decided to postpone the EPIC cruise until sometime in 2011. Instead of a Spa Suite we will downgrade to a standard balcony. Rumor is the so-called "private key card access" areas of EPIC are losing that status, which provided another reason to push back the trip. Instead I think we will sail on the NIEUW AMSTERDAM at about 1/2 the cost, but eventually I will sail on EPIC. I'm just not in any particular rush at the moment.

Attached is a link to pictures from the cruise, and a few preview pics are attached here as well.

Ernie

ps - I'm sorry to say the pictures actually make the ship look better than in person. Some look a little foggy as I didn't realize the camera lens was fogged up from the humidity. Sorry about that.

NORWEGIAN SKY Pictures Link

This pic is a good example of why to avoid short Summer sailings. The pool was literally packed day and night.

Little Norway II. I loved seeing a small part of SS NORWAY still in active service.

This was one of the elevator foyers. It reminded me of a European boutique hotel for some reason.

Contestant for the worst promenade deck!

quote:

---

Originally posted by eroller:
One of my cardinal rules of cruising is to avoid short mass-market sailings during the Summer vacation months.

This pic is a good example of why to avoid short Summer sailings. The pool was literally packed day and night.

---

That pic will never find its way in any NCL marketing material. Based on my SSNorway cruise 9 years ago, seeing the clientele on the NCL Dawn ship visit, and other reviews NCL will be considered for repositioning cruises only. Crossers and cruisers are different breeds.

Just be glad that you had Freestyle. If the ship had traditional seating you likely would have been less than happy with your tablemates

Funny, the Veendam out of NYC in July has the same clientele.

[ 07-26-2010: Message edited by: desirod7 ]

SORRY to hear you cancelled your cruise on EPIC. I was so looking forward to your take on her, but as Tim posted earlier when we were talking about what new ship to 'discuss':

Given that the Nieuw Amsterdam is just a few weeks away, she will be next. Ben will profess how beautiful she is. This will be followed by a chorus of "Just Another Vista Clone" wails. And Ernie will be the only one from this board to actually sail on her!

quote:

---

Originally posted by dmwnc1:
That pool picture deserves an 'OMG' and one of the reasons I always cruised on either end of Summer (May or late Aug/Sept) when school was in session. I also thought that pool picture was more or less a sea day, but on closer inspection see it was taken while docked in Nassau. What's up with the two guys with rooster hair!

SORRY to hear you cancelled your cruise on EPIC. I was so looking forward to your take on her, but as Tim posted earlier when we were talking about what new ship to 'discuss':

Given that the Nieuw Amsterdam is just a few weeks away, she will be next. Ben will profess how beautiful she is. This will be followed by a chorus of "Just Another Vista Clone" wails. And Ernie will be the only one from this board to actually sail on her!

Guess he was right!

---

Isn't that pool pic something? I mean those pools were like soup!

There were a lot of interesting characters on this cruise. Often times I had to pinch myself to make sure I wasn't in an episode of The Twilight Zone ... you know, the one where open casting auditions are being held on a cruise ship for the next season of Jersey Shore! LOL

One thing that drove me crazy were the amount of beer bottles, glasses, cans, and food left everywhere on the ship. They were sitting on the stair landings, in hallways, on ledges, you name it. I don't think the crew could keep up. The cabin corridors were always full of nasty half eaten trays of room service (and they stunk). One of our "neighbors" liked to put their room service tray in the corridor with a dirty diaper on top. Nice.

I was invited by a friend to tour EPIC and have lunch onboard next month. I'm looking forward to it. Even though I wont be sailing on the ship until a future date in 2011, at least I will get to experience the ship in a small way.

NIEUW AMSTERDAM is an interesting choice for us. HAL is not my favorite line, but I really like the looks of NIEUW AMSTERDAM. My partner is not interested in the 24/7 energetic atmosphere that EPIC offers, and wants something really relaxing and stress free. I think NIEUW AMSTERDAM will offer this. Also, there is always a plus to cruising on HAL. Instead of feeling like the old farts as we did on SKY, we will probably be two of the youngest passengers on NA! LOL It's really a matter of economics as well. HAL is offering some amazing deals for November. They are far less expensive than Royal Caribbean, Celebrity, and EPIC. It's hard to pass up, and the money saved can be used for something a bit more exotic next year. I really want to cruise again around Australia and New Zealand, and Celebrity's recently announced program on CENTURY might just be the ticket. It will nice to try HAL again too. It's been a few years and I like to go back and sail the various lines to see how they have evolved.

quote:

---

Originally posted by Atlcruiser:
Ernie, thanks for the review. I was waiting to read your comments on this ship. I wonder if this ship is still up for sale and NCL is letting it go with regards of upkeep? Are you still cruising on the Pearl?

I am also breaking a rule of my own and cruising to the Caribbean during the summer months. We leave on the Freedom OTS on the 8th of next month. Hope that we do not regret the choice.

---

Yes, still cruising on the PEARL. Much newer ship and it's a short sailing in October with friends so it should be fun.

Prepare yourself for a slightly different experience on FREEDOM compared to what you are used to. Obviously there are going to be a lot of kids and families, but because it's a 7-day cruise and more expensive, you might not have as much of the "Jersey Shore" crowd like I did. Also FREEDOM is a much newer ship and better equipped to handle all the kids. On SKY there was very little for the kids to do, and there were not any dedicated pools so they all used the main pools. They roamed the ship in large groups as there were not a lot of places for them to hang out. Of course I also have to wonder where all the parents were?

quote:

---

Originally posted by dmwnc1:
That pool picture is one you can just look at and 'hear' the noise without even being there! No thanks! And I can just visualize the empty beer bottles and food trays everywhere. Na-a-asty! Not my cup of tea, or crowd. Give me quiet and sedate anytime over that mess.

I have faith that you will love the Nieuw Amsterdam. Just dont set you expectations to compete against the Oasis of the Seas. Two completely different worlds to say the least.

---

It was loud beyond belief! Between the kids screaming and yelling, and the parents getting drunk and being very loud, and the DJ spinning hip-hop music most of the day, the entire pool area was a place to avoid. For me that was very disappointing as I love to hang out by the pool, but not in that atmosphere. I really felt out of place even walking through there.

Not too worry, I won't stack NIEUW AMSTERDAM up against OASIS. You are quite right, apples to oranges and two completely different experiences. Now EPIC I would stack up against OASIS because they are both new, innovative ships that are appealing to the same market segment ... those people that might not typically take a cruise. Well that comparison will have to wait, for me at least.

quote:

---

Originally posted by eroller:
I was invited by a friend to tour EPIC and have lunch onboard next month. I'm looking forward to it. Even though I wont be sailing on the ship until a future date in 2011, at least I will get to experience the ship in a small way. Ernie

---

quote:

---

Originally posted by eroller:

Isn't that pool pic something? I mean those pools were like soup!

There were a lot of interesting characters on this cruise. Often times I had to pinch myself to make sure I wasn't in an episode of The Twilight Zone ... you know, the one where open casting auditions are being held on a cruise ship for the next season of Jersey Shore! LOL

One thing that drove me crazy were the amount of beer bottles, glasses, cans, and food left everywhere on the ship. They were sitting on the stair landings, in hallways, on ledges, you name it. I don't think the crew could keep up. The cabin corridors were always full of nasty half eaten trays of room service (and they stunk). One of our "neighbors" liked to put their room service tray in the corridor with a dirty diaper on top. Nice.

I was invited by a friend to tour EPIC and have lunch onboard next month. I'm looking forward to it. Even though I wont be sailing on the ship until a future date in 2011, at least I will get to experience the ship in a small way.

NIEUW AMSTERDAM is an interesting choice for us. HAL is not my favorite line, but I really like the looks of NIEUW AMSTERDAM. My partner is not interested in the 24/7 energetic atmosphere that EPIC offers, and wants something really relaxing and stress free. I think NIEUW AMSTERDAM will offer this. Also, there is always a plus to cruising on HAL. Instead of feeling like the old farts as we did on SKY, we will probably be two of the youngest passengers on NA! LOL It's really a matter of economics as well. HAL is offering some amazing deals for November. They are far less expensive than Royal Caribbean, Celebrity, and EPIC. It's hard to pass up, and the money saved can be used for something a bit more exotic next year. I really want to cruise again around Australia and New Zealand, and Celebrity's recently announced program on CENTURY might just be the ticket. It will nice to try HAL again too. It's been a few years and I like to go back and sail the various lines to see how they have evolved.

Ernie

---

Thanks for the great review Ernie. I wasn't aware that these short Bahama cruises were so bad.
It proves once again that the clientele can make or break a cruise. You can be bored to tears by people on a luxury cruise line while annoyed like you have been on a mass market one.
I was surprised to hear that the ship was in so dirty and in bad shape. The carpets look a bit run down too.

Even though HAL is by no means my favorite it is certainly far much better than you described on NCL. It was very comfortable and relaxed. Mind you on I was twice on a RSVP on Eurodam so your fellow passengers will be a bit different I suppose :-)

Does the ship still retain a lot of the Hawaiian decor?

quote:

---

Originally posted by dmwnc1:

I also have this feeling once you have toured EPIC you wont be back. Not for the lack of wanting to cruise her, but for other options that will revel themselves in later days. Allure OTS, Queen Elizabeth, Eclipse, Disney Dream, QM2? And like you said, Australia is calling!

---

Well I would still like to sail on EPIC, but I think it will have to be without my partner. He is not big on cruising to begin with, and the more he heard about EPIC the less interested he became. The short cruise on SKY pretty much sealed the deal. Keep in mind he has no interest in cruising on OASIS or ALLURE either. Just not his cup of tea. So when I sail on EPIC it will have to be with my brother (like I did on OASIS) or with a friend. The thing is, EPIC is priced substantially higher than other ships (which is good for NCL). You can snag an inside cabin for $499 on HAL and Princess, but it's closer to $800 on EPIC. Since there are no outside cabins on EPIC, the price jumps to almost $1000 per person for the next step up, which is a balcony.

I'm glad NCL is getting a premium for EPIC. They spent a lot of money to build and promote the ship so it should draw a higher yield.

quote:

---

Originally posted by oslo dutch:

Mind you on I was twice on a RSVP on Eurodam so your fellow passengers will be a bit different I suppose :-)

Reint

---

Yes, I think so Reint! LOL The typical HAL passenger is more in line with what you experienced on Oceania. The atmosphere will be sedate, but that is fine. If it turns out to be a bit more festive, then all the better and I will be pleasantly surprised.

quote:

---

Originally posted by nycruiser:
Ernie thanks for the review. That pool pic is crazy just too many people. I know what you mean about NCL as I returned weeks ago on Pride of America and even thinking about my cruise on the Spirit in '08 I got the feeling NCL was just getting by as well - sort of a cheap - making Carnival appear a bit better! Though on POA the service was great.

Does the ship still retain a lot of the Hawaiian decor?

---

Yes, much of the Hawaiian decor remains, but it blends in because the ship is still in the tropics.

It's hard for me to pinpoint exactly what was lacking on NCL, for the product to feel even less polished than Carnival. I think it's a combination of things and they all add up. In the end it just didn't seem as organized or professional.

quote:

---

Originally posted by DAMBROSI:
BTW, did you get photos of DISCOVERY SUN coming into Freeport when you were there?

---

We didn't go to Freeport as it was only a three day cruise. Just Nassau and GSC.

quote:

---

Originally posted by eroller:

Well I would still like to sail on EPIC, but I think it will have to be without my partner. He is not big on cruising to begin with, and the more he heard about EPIC the less interested he became. The short cruise on SKY pretty much sealed the deal. Keep in mind he has no interest in cruising on OASIS or ALLURE either. Just not his cup of tea. So when I sail on EPIC it will have to be with my brother (like I did on OASIS) or with a friend.
Ernie

---

Ernie,
Maybe you should try one of the Studio Cabins and go it alone for one trip....

quote:

---

Originally posted by Frank X. Prudent:
Except for our room being immaculate and no dirty diapers in the hall, the experience sounds eeriely similar.

---

I guess the diapers were a special "freestyle" touch. LOL

quote:

---

Originally posted by Carlos Fernandez:
Excellent review Ernie, thanks for doing this. I was actually thinking of booking a weekend trip on Sky in a couple weeks for a quick getaway from college but this doesn't look good at all.

---

Well remember every cruise is different. You may have a completely different experience ... or it could be very similar. If the price is right, go for it! Just put your expectations in check. If I were still in college I probably would have enjoyed it much more.

quote:

---

Originally posted by Thad:

Ernie,
Maybe you should try one of the Studio Cabins and go it alone for one trip....

Thad

---

It's a possibility. To be honest though, I'm not certain the "freestyle" concept is ideal for singles. I recently traveled as a single on QM2, and one of the things I really enjoyed about it was my table mates at dinner. They became friends by the end of the crossing and I really enjoyed my time with them. The same opportunity to develop those friendships doesn't exist with Freestyle, because you never dine with the same people twice. Ships are so big today that you may never see people again unless you arrange a time and place to meet.

EPIC does have the singles lounge, but I've read mixed reviews about it. It seems it's a bit under utilized and passengers are having to fend for themselves. Hopefully that will change as EPIC becomes more broken in, and there will be organized activities just for singles in the lounge.