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Norwegian Cruise Line

SS Norway

Your Rating:
Reviewed by: Jeffrey Leach
# previous cruises: 4
Date of Trip: January 16, 1999
Itinerary: Caribbean - Eastern

The Norway is truly one of a kind. There will never be another ship like her. I first sailed on the Norway in 1984 and I found much change to her in the 15 years between cruises on her and almost all is for the best. First, moving the gym from the lowest passenger deck to a glass enclosure on Olympic deck was great. In 1984 it seemed that no one used the gym or knew where it was, today in is busy most of the time it is open. The addition of a sports bar has given some passengers the best of both worlds (the get a way from it all lifestyle of a cruise; but you can still watch the NFL playoffs). They did however leave the great public room along.

The two dinning room are the same now as they were 15 years ago which is good. On thing however I still believe is true, the Leeward Dining Room, which was the France's 2nd class dinning room is (up graded in the conversion) is nicer than the Windward Dinning Room which was the France's 1st Class dinning room and has not been changed much in 40 years. The Club International has also not changed in 15 years which is very good as it is with out any doubt, the last great public room at sea. A room like this with columns and vaulted ceiling was standard issue in the liners of the past, but is not seen in the boxy, ugly, cooky cutter cruise ships of today.

The made problem I see with the changes is by adding the cabins on the top deck, passengers can no longer access the top deck pool from outside stairways. Though 3 stair towers and there elevators go to this deck, for passengers not familiar with the ship, it is hard to figure out. I believe this is why the aft pool area was very crowded and the sun deck pool had very few people. NCL need to put up more sings to direct people to the sun deck. The ship's haul does need maintenance. The problem I found out is that the crew can no longer sand and paint the haul as sea. So the 40 year old haul show it due to the fact that they can only do the painting in dry dock and Norway has not been in dry dock since 1996. She will be going there this summer however.

As I stated before more signs have to be put up to direct people to the sun deck pool thus lessening the over crowding at the aft pool. I like all the public rooms. They all have a different mood and feel. From big band music in Club International, to the new sports bar will wall to wall TV's with ESPN to Dazzles Disco to the intimacy of the windjammer bar there was something for everybody. Norway International deck with it enclosed air conditioned promenade was great. One this deck is must of the shops and public rooms are located. One deck up from international deck is the padded 1/4 jogging track on Olympic Deck. The deck is covered with a tar made from old tires that is painted green. It give a very nice place to walk or jog with reduced impact to your joints.

The food was great and there was main choice on were to eat. you could eat in you assigned dinings room for all three meals, or you could go to the outdoor restaurant for breakfast and lunch buffets. These buffet had the standard fare every day (egg, bacon , pancakes, etc for breakfast, and hamburgers, hot dogs, fries , fresh fruit, etc for lunch). Also at the lunch buffet they would cook something different on large grills with large woks. One day it may be s shrimp stir fry the next gumbo. For dinner you could eat in your assigned dinning room or make reservations to eat in the Le Bistro restaurant at no extra charge (did not eat in the Bistro). The menu was the same for both dinning room and the galley between the two prepared the meals for both room so there would be know difference in food quality between the two, though I believe the Leeward dinning room is the nicer looking if the two. The food for dinner was a different theme every night, but there was always something on the menu for everyone. My waiter recommended dishes to me from time to time and each of his choices were great. As for my waiter, he was the best waiter that I have had in all my cruises. For any near-future passengers on the Norway, I remind you tell your Matree D you want Santiago as you waiter. He has a style that makes dinner the highlight of the day.

The two cabin I seen would have enough room for a full size person to use the shower. while one was small it was good enough for all I did in it (sleep, shower, and change clothes).

The entertainment was great. The Broadway style Sea Legs shows were the best I have seen on a ship. The Comedy was very funning and the cruise staff did a great job. There was enough to do for those who wanted to do something and a enough quiet space for those who just wanted to relax and/or read.

We stopped in St. Thomas & St. Martin. I have been to both of these Islands before, so I did not spend much time ashore except at the last stop, NCL's private island where there was a great beach party the last day. As I say before there were enough activities for everyone who wanted to do something while enough quite space for those who wanted to do nothing. There was babysitting, but I do not have kids so I can say any more then that.

The passengers I meet were all friendly. My party became quick friends with our table mates and when with then to may of the on board activities after dinner. Yes I would invite to my home almost all of the passengers I meet.