K
Knotbored
Guest
Wife and I just returned from our third cruise, this time on the Dream.
The itinerary was Houston; Progreso; Playa Del Carmen; Cozumel;
Belize City 7 days total.
The overall vacation was great but I was not satisfied with several inconveniences, none were devestating.
1. The disembarking of the prior cruise was delayed by fog (NOT NCL FAULT) and the NCL representatives at the airport were uninformed when we could be transported to the dock. At 4PM they still had "latest" information we would leave by 2:45 and they had no contact person to update that information. The bus finally left at 5:30 for one hour trip to the dock. There was no seating or baggage storage so about 80 passengers were strewn about the concrete floor in the baggage claim area.This included several (well behaved) children and several elderly couples.
2. The ship was too small to accomodate all the passengers. The Sports cafe was often overcrowded with inadequate seating and the chairs were too close and crowded the aisleways. There were lines waiting to be served at the two restaurants we tried (never waited on 2 prior ccruises.)
3. There is no central open area like the prior cruises. We had a room on 4th forward deck, and the walk to aft 11th floor cafe was like walking hallways in a crowded hotel.
4. Meal service was slow and many passengers complained about missing the shows. The longest it took us was 2 hours, the shortest was 1 1/2 for restaurant meals. Be first in line or miss the entertainment.
5.The port Playa Del Carmen was bypassed. This was a port to only offload passengers taking tours from there and returning to the next port. We were initially told it was to make up the delay from Houston, but later found the ship itinerary was wrong. Tours to Maya ruins from Playa Del Carmen had a 2 hour ride backward from the tour time. We avoided that mess.
8. I am a smoker (I KNOW_I KNOW) and felt both smokers and non-smokers were done an injustice since smoking was allowed everywhere on outside decks. There was nowhere smokers could congregate that didn't blow smoke on folks that wanted clear air. Also the permanent ashtrays didn't trap live ashes in wind, and personal size ashtrays were seldom cleaned and were never acailable early mornings.
9. We didn't feel a need to try the pay-type restaurant but were informed by an irate passenger that even after paying $15 each there was an additiional $10 each charge for half the menu items.What a ripoff!
ok-now the good news
1. The food at the on-deck BBQ, at the sports cafe and the two restaurants (4 seasons and Terrace) was exelent!!
2. The cruise ship personnel without exception were outstanding. Always a smile and always with accurate information.
3. The sidetrip we took to see Maya ruins was great, it included an exciting boatride down the New River and the guide provided interesting information.
Will I crise again ? YOU BET!
Will that be on Norwegian again?- PROBABLY
Will I book on the Dream again-NOT ON YOUR LIFE
The itinerary was Houston; Progreso; Playa Del Carmen; Cozumel;
Belize City 7 days total.
The overall vacation was great but I was not satisfied with several inconveniences, none were devestating.
1. The disembarking of the prior cruise was delayed by fog (NOT NCL FAULT) and the NCL representatives at the airport were uninformed when we could be transported to the dock. At 4PM they still had "latest" information we would leave by 2:45 and they had no contact person to update that information. The bus finally left at 5:30 for one hour trip to the dock. There was no seating or baggage storage so about 80 passengers were strewn about the concrete floor in the baggage claim area.This included several (well behaved) children and several elderly couples.
2. The ship was too small to accomodate all the passengers. The Sports cafe was often overcrowded with inadequate seating and the chairs were too close and crowded the aisleways. There were lines waiting to be served at the two restaurants we tried (never waited on 2 prior ccruises.)
3. There is no central open area like the prior cruises. We had a room on 4th forward deck, and the walk to aft 11th floor cafe was like walking hallways in a crowded hotel.
4. Meal service was slow and many passengers complained about missing the shows. The longest it took us was 2 hours, the shortest was 1 1/2 for restaurant meals. Be first in line or miss the entertainment.
5.The port Playa Del Carmen was bypassed. This was a port to only offload passengers taking tours from there and returning to the next port. We were initially told it was to make up the delay from Houston, but later found the ship itinerary was wrong. Tours to Maya ruins from Playa Del Carmen had a 2 hour ride backward from the tour time. We avoided that mess.
8. I am a smoker (I KNOW_I KNOW) and felt both smokers and non-smokers were done an injustice since smoking was allowed everywhere on outside decks. There was nowhere smokers could congregate that didn't blow smoke on folks that wanted clear air. Also the permanent ashtrays didn't trap live ashes in wind, and personal size ashtrays were seldom cleaned and were never acailable early mornings.
9. We didn't feel a need to try the pay-type restaurant but were informed by an irate passenger that even after paying $15 each there was an additiional $10 each charge for half the menu items.What a ripoff!
ok-now the good news
1. The food at the on-deck BBQ, at the sports cafe and the two restaurants (4 seasons and Terrace) was exelent!!
2. The cruise ship personnel without exception were outstanding. Always a smile and always with accurate information.
3. The sidetrip we took to see Maya ruins was great, it included an exciting boatride down the New River and the guide provided interesting information.
Will I crise again ? YOU BET!
Will that be on Norwegian again?- PROBABLY
Will I book on the Dream again-NOT ON YOUR LIFE
