Baltic Cruise comments

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Baltic Cruise comments
Reviewed By: Montriou, South Croydon on 3rd Jul 2009
Cruise Line: NCL Cruises	Times cruised before: 0
Cruise Ship: Norwegian Jewel	Sailed: May, 2009
Destination: Baltic	Age: 65+

This was our first cruise so we had nothing to compare our experience with. We weren't entirely happy with Freestyle Cruising - too much like Butlins on sea. The food was adequate but not brilliant. We were disappointed that so many of the restaurants required a cover charge. All the staff in the restaurants and elsewhere could not have been more friendly and helpful. Our cabin was up to expectations and the cabin staff friendly and efficient. The quality of entertainment varied but overall was OK. Our biggest disappointment was the tours. In copenhagen there was a marathon on the day we went ashore. As this had no doubt been arranged many moons before the tour should have been amended accordingly. The only good guide we had was in Helsinki. The one we had in Stockholm was very boring and those in St Petersburg not much better. Not having been in the Baltic before we didn't know our way around and so took the tours. Apart from St Petersburg when visa restrictions made it impossible to go ashore except with an organised tour, I would advise travellers to go ashore on their own steam and pick up a hop-on hop-off bus - probably cheaper and better. Overall a not unhappy experience but we would have to think twice before cruising again.
Quality of Food

Entertainment

Shore Excursions
Helsinki best. Copenhagen least.
Staff
All staff were very good
Children's Facilities	n/a

Onboard Activities

Cabins

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Opinion: Disagree Comment by Brett, St. Ives (04 Jul 09 11:39) about this REVIEW

As I said in my review, I don't really know what some people expect. You knew it was freestyle before you went. You didn't need to use the restaurants that required a cover charge, and you didn't need to go on the excursions, apart from in St. Petersburg. We had never been to the Baltic before, but easily found our way round on the city tour open top buses, so this is what you should have done.

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Opinion: Agree Comment by Malcolm Oliver, Essex (03 Jul 09 22:26) about this REVIEW

NCL are mass-market and their non-surcharge food can be mediocre. You just picked the wrong cruise line. If you go again look for something more upmarket, maybe a bit more formal, like Celebrity or Cunard. If you want something with a British atmosphere and intimate ships, try Fred Olsen.

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Comment by Riddle, 29700 Velez-Malaga (04 Jul 09 18:26) about a COMMENT by Malcolm Oliver (03 Jul 09 22:26)

NCL are hardly "mass market" and we have always found the food in the formal Restaurants (not the surcharge ones) to be excellent. If you want "formal"there are a lot of People who do just that on NCL!

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Comment by defendor , of fairplay (04 Jul 09 01:53) about a COMMENT by Malcolm Oliver (03 Jul 09 22:26)

hmmmm you really dont like ncl.........i suspect you work for another cruise line, you never fail to attempt to twist the knife when a a less than supportive review appears.....fred olsen is like gods waiting room, cunard is trading on past heritage, check the more current reviews and celebrrity is another mass market american offering....

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Comment by Walker, Seascale, Cumbria (04 Jul 09 15:47) about a COMMENT by defendor (04 Jul 09 01:53)

Actually, I've always found M.O.'s comments to be fair and honest-and I AM an Ncl supporter-but there's no escaping the fact that everyone has different requirements, and the ships I prefer are not right for some others.-Jo.

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