Three Times and Out
Written: Jul 08 '00
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Product Rating:
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Pros: Convenient way to travel, relaxing
Cons: boring, may get seasick,
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| blimbach's Full Review: Norwegian Wind |
The first time is the charm. At least it was for us. No, it was not on this ship. It was on the French Paquet line, the Rhapsody, which was an old ship. We loved just about everything about this trip. It was for our 25th wedding anniversary, so we booked a seven day trip through a broker from Miami called The Cruise Line. (Creative, huh?)
This broker bought up open blocks of rooms and sold them at a reduced cost. We spoke directly to the owner who gave us his assurance that he had personally travelled on this ship and recommended it. It was everything he said. We did not go for the lowest category in price but the middle. A week before we left we were notified we were upgraded to a lovely stateroom on a high deck. It was spacious and had a huge bathroom and many, many closets, heavy wood panelling and a sitting area and makeup desk.
We enjoyed all the food from airy croissants every day, sometimes three times a day, to great entrees cooked to perfection. Our tablemates came dressed up to dinner, in furs and one had on a tuxedo each night. They were not stuffy, but fun people. Our waiter knew our every want as we had the same waiter each night.
The ship was small enough that we could navigate around easily. We enjoyed a tour of the bridge where the captain and officers "drove" the ship. We even found our way onto the front deck below the bridge and were watched by the crew as we walked around. Then we noticed that the sign of "no admittance" had been turned around at the gate to the stairs.
We were not supposed to be there, but they did not embarrass us by asking us to leave.
The little theater had good up to date movies and popcorn. The shows at night were good, and the midnight buffet was beautiful with butter carvings of famous people. We watched how they made ice carvings while on deck. The ports of Nassau, San Juan, and St. Thomas were interesting to tour and the rates were reasonable.
If you have read this far, you must be saying, "What does this have to do with the NCL?" Well, I am getting to that. Our second cruise was on the Premier Line out of Florida. It was four days, a charter of the whole ship, and the food was mediocre. The waiters did the same themes as on the first cruise--flaming desserts paraded around while they sang some song, a Carribean night with different costumes, etc. We had seen it all before and were perhaps a little jaded.
Our last cruise was on the Windward out of Los Angeles to Ensenada, Mexico, and San Diego. This was the worst cruise of the three. The food was not well prepared. We did not have arranged seating but mingled with whoever we wanted to sit with. We did not get to know the waiter, and the service was poor. The shows were boring. How often do you want to play "horse race"? The talent was lacking. Getting around the ship was a challenge. San Diego was lovely, but we had already been there and had done the tourist things, but had to do something so went to the SeaPort Village (many cutesy shops on the water) and the big mall. Ensenada was a real disappointment. We went on a tour of the city and a drive on the "Gold Coast", another boring ride. Some of the coast was pretty, but not worth the long drive.
My point is (finally) that if you have done a cruise once, do not expect to be as thrilled with the subsequent ones. On our first cruise two women went on the same ship, same cruise every year! I could not believe it. Well, she was a travel agent and got a rate. I do not think we would like the same ship, the Rhapsody, as much the second time. The farewell party is not as exciting as when people went on liners across the Atlantic for weeks, not seeing their relatives and friends for a long time. Therefore, they had people "see them off".
Maybe we are easily bored. A cruise is fine if you work hard and just want a no-brainer vacation where everything is done for you. That was partly why we liked the first cruise. No unpacking and repacking each night. Read a book on deck. Eat great food (hopefully), and see some ports. Will we ever cruise again? Only if we win the lottery (yeah, fat chance) and buy our own boat. It was three times and out for us.
Recommended:
No
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Epinions.com ID:
blimbach
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 - Top 1000 |
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Location: Illinois, near the Wisconsin border
Reviews written: 367
Trusted by: 146 members
About Me:
Grandmother of 4 (so far), married to the same great guy since 1961, retired teacher.
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