Overall Score

BERLITZ'S RATING
	Possible	Achieved
Ship	500	377
Accommodation	200	145
Food	400	237
Service	400	282
Entertainment	100	73
Cruise	400	267

How this score is created

Norwegian Wind is the sister ship to Norwegian Dream, and, as such, has a moderately handsome profile (despite a large, square blue funnel), that was actually rather better balanced before the ship underwent a “chop and stretch” operation in 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 transit the Kiel Canal in Germany. Included in the 130-ft (40-meter) 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 seems to absorb passengers quite well for much of the time, except at peak traffic times between dinner seatings. 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 her 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 is considered by many to be a pretty ship inside. The entrance lobby is not at all attractive, and feels rather confined for a ship of this size.

This ship has been highly successful for Norwegian Cruise Line’s younger, active sports-minded passengers, and is a good alternative to the bigger ships and their larger passenger numbers, although there are still plenty of other passengers to keep you company. The dress code is casual, and there are no formal nights when you have to dress up.

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 hustling for passengers to attend art auctions is aggressive and annoying, as is the bombardment for revenue activities and the daily junk mail that arrives at one’s cabin door. The room service menu is poor. The outdoor stairways are numerous and confusing. The carpeted steel interior stairwell steps are quite tinny. When the ship was “stretched” it reduced the amount of outdoor space per passenger, and this is reflected in increased density around the pools. There simply are not enough public rooms to absorb the increase in passengers well. Standing in line for embarkation, disembarkation, shore tenders and for self-serve buffet meals is an inevitable aspect of cruising aboard all large ships. Note that, in April, this ship will be transferred to the Star Cruises fleet, as the renamed SuperStar Aquarius for service in south-east Asia.

Berlitz Guide © Apa Publishing 2008