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Norwegian Cruise Line

SS Norway

Your Rating:
Reviewed by: Lori Travers
# previous cruises: 10+
Date of Trip: August 27, 1998
Itinerary: Transatlantic

I would not cruise on this ship again if it were free. All was not dreadful but much could be improved. Check-in for past passengers was slower then the other lines. Seems there was a confusion about whose job was whose.

Most of the Public areas were good, the lounges beautiful. But I think NCL has a few changes to make if they continue to make transatlantic crossings. The ship was redone to accommodate warm weather cruising. That outside buffet during the crossing was the pits. By the time you got your food and came back through those hard to manage doors, found a place to sit down to eat, your food was cold. It may have been August but most passengers had to wear sweater or jackets after leaving NYC

The former first class dining room was beautiful but very noise. Like feeding time at the Zoo. Food there however was quite good. We ate most of our meals there but the service seemed to be hurried in the morning and grudging in the evening. There were exceptions of course.

Our cabin was a converted closet I think. Plumbing was bad. For the first three days we had hot hot water only. Air conditioning could not be turned down in spite of two controls in the cabin. Others complained of COLD water all the time and NO air conditioning. The carpeting and spread were faded and tattered. The walls drab and repair patches here and there. We had a tiny closet and a small three drawer stand for clothing. Not to good for a 16 day cruise.

With the exception of one singer the entertainment was very poor. In spite of a beautiful theater the shows were held in a lounge which was so cramped people had to clime over one another to get out if the wanted to before the show was over and many of them did. Entertainment during the day was almost non existent.

I do not consider people selling life renewing capsules and "Art" entertainment or activities. We loved Ports. That was the best thing about the whole cruise. The so called library was too small and a mess most of the time. Half of that room was supposed to be for card players. It could probably hold 4 tables. However there were many people trying to pass the time and many days the tables spilled out into the corridor with as many as 16 to 18 tables, mostly bridge players, who didn't like any one disturbing them by trying to get to the books. The Purser desk personnel were short tempered and often rude. All thru the cruise there were many people disturbed about misinformation, poor service, indifferent service and on and on.

People who have believed the stories of the Great France go on this ship. First time cruisers might think it's ok but then they have nothing to compare it to. Most of the people were old to very old. Some children and a sprinkling of young people. The cruise was boring the ports were wonderful thank goodness or I would have thought I wasted a lot of money.