Overall Score

BERLITZ'S RATING
	Possible	Achieved
Ship	500	371
Accommodation	200	145
Food	400	235
Service	400	282
Entertainment	100	73
Cruise	400	267

How this score is created

Built before its sister ship, Norwegian Wind, this vessel has a fairly handsome profile (despite its large, square funnel) that was better balanced before it underwent a “chop and stretch” operation in spring 1998. A completely new mid-section was added, and the funnel was adapted so that it could be “folded” over to allow the ship to pass under the low bridges on Germany’s Kiel Canal. Following the “stretch” its exterior shape is not as handsome. Included in the 131-ft (40-meter) mid-section were 251 new passenger cabins and 50 crew cabins, together with several new or enlarged public rooms (although there simply are not enough) and a 60-seat conference center.

Some innovative features were incorporated in the original design, and these have been enhanced. The passenger flow is generally good – indeed, the ship absorbs people well except at peak traffic periods around meal times.

The lifeboats are inboard. There is a blue rubber-covered wrap-around promenade deck outdoors. The tiered pool deck is neat, as are the multi-deck aft sun terraces and all the fore and aft connecting exterior stairways.

The overall exterior design emphasizes a clever and extensive use of large windows that create a sense of open spaces, although the interior design provides many smaller public rooms rather than the large hangers found aboard so many other ships. However, there is no big atrium lobby, as one might expect. The pastel interior colors used are quite soothing, and it is considered by many to be a pretty ship inside. The entrance lobby is not at all attractive, and feels rather confined for a vessel of this size.

This ship has been highly successful for Norwegian Cruise Line’s younger, active sports-minded passengers (when the ship operates Caribbean itineraries), and provides a good alternative to the larger ships and their larger passenger numbers, although there are still plenty of people around.

The ship is full of revenue centers, designed to part you from your money. You will be subjected to a stream of flyers advertising daily art auctions, “designer” watches and other promotions, while “artworks” for auction are strewn throughout the ship.

Gratuities for staff (cabin attendants, dining room waiters, etc) are automatically added to your onboard account at $10 per person, per day. You can, however, reduce or otherwise amend these if necessary before you disembark, but in May 2005 the gratuity became a non-adjustable “service charge.” In addition, a 15% gratuity is added to all bar and spa treatment accounts. The onboard currency is the US dollar.

The room service menu is limited and could be improved. The ship’s layout is quite disjointed in places, and outdoor stairways are numerous and confusing. When the ship was “stretched” this reduced the amount of outdoor space per passenger, and this is now reflected in increased density around the pools. Standing in line for embarkation, disembarkation, shore tenders and for self-serve buffet meals is an inevitable aspect of cruising aboard all large ships.

Berlitz Guide © Apa Publishing 2008