Sky Feb 8th - 12th 4 day...more than you want to know!!

[nseagirl]

Hello all! I just returned from the 4 day cruise. It was my first solo cruise and I loved it overall. I wish I had remembered to take a notepad to write down all of my impressions as I had them...but I didn't. I'll try to remember the important ones here.

 

I'll start with landing at FLL. As I walked off the plane I received a call from SAS just checking to see what my status was. He told me to get my luggage and go right outside and call him. I did and he picked me up within minutes. I was very impressed with him. He took me to Holiday Inn - POM. Even though it was Super Bowl Sunday, we made excellent time.

 

Check in at HI was effortless. I had a king suite on the 2nd floor (212 I think). The room could have used a little facelift but it was fine overall. The only issue I had was that there was no cold (that's right, I said COLD) water in the sinks. The bed was wonderful!!

 

I walked over to Bayside Marketplace which was right across the street. I found a little outdoor bar where I sat with a glass (or two or three) of wine and listened to the music while I read on my Kindle. My server was awesome! They weren't very busy because most people were in the sports bars watching the game so she came and sat with me and we talked about books that we had read and would recommend. She was in college and we talked about her dreams for the future. She was a very sweet girl and I tipped her well. I enjoyed walking around Bayside and wished I had gotten there earlier so I could have explored a little more.

 

Got a taxi to the port in the morning. Somehow it came up that I had just had a birthday so he sang to me. He had a wonderful voice...almost made me cry!

 

We got to the port at about 11:20, I handed off my larger suitcase and went inside. Check in was amazingly quick. I was onboard in nothing flat! Once onboard, there were the usual tables set up to do everything from make reservations for the speciality restaurants, to joining the casino club. I went to the ones that I was interested in and walked right by the others. No hard sell that I saw. After I got through there, I found my way to the Palace Restaurant for lunch. I had goat cheese ravioli and it was wonderful.

 

I then went out to the pool deck on deck 11 and had a Bahama Mama. Rooms were ready at about 1:45 so I went and checked out my stateroom. I had a balcony (9253) and sat out there until it was time for Muster. We didn't have to take our life vests which was nice. The drill lasted about 3 minutes...much, much shorter than any that I've been to before. It consisted of having a crew member show how to put on the vest.

 

After the muster, I met 3 of my roll call friends (small roll call) up on deck 12, Champs Bar, just to get aquainted. Then 3 of us went down to deck 11 for sail-away. After we left port, there was a cookout (southern for BBQ). That was my supper. I didn't do much that night except spend a little time in the casino (more about that later) and wander around.

 

My room steward came and introduced himself to me right after I got in my room but that was the last I saw him that night. No turndown on the first night.

 

I put out my breakfast room service card before I went to bed with service request for 8:00. They called me at about 7:55 to let me know that they were on their way. I already knew from reading these boards that NCL doesn't deliver hot breakfasts but it was still a disappointment. However, the pastries held me until I could do better.

 

I was awake to watch us pull into Freeport. I took a taxi to Port Lucaya. The casino there was aweful. A full 3/4 of the slots were out of order. I went and wandered around the marketplace but every single stall sold the same stuff. I took a taxi back at about noon. I will say that the taxi drivers are a lot of fun. The rate was $5 +tip (please tip) each way.

 

I took a nap when I got back then went to supper at LeBistro at 5:30. I was very disapointed in my steak. It was over cooked and dry; I like mine medium rare and juicy. The potatoes that came with it were very good. The Creme Brulee was out of this world!

 

I went to the comedy show at 9:00. I'm not a big fan of stand-up but I thought Rich Purpura was really funny! Then came the Newlywed/not so newlywed game. I have seen this before on my last cruise on RCCL but totally enjoyed it this time also. Now bed time...

 

The bed was like sleeping on a hard board. I know that some people prefer that to a softer bed..I don't. I know I should have asked for a eggcrate pad but I didn't, so I just dealt with it.

 

Into Nassau...I woke up again to see us enter port. My room service breakfast was on time once again. I took my time getting ready for the day then took a taxi to Atlantis. What a beautiful place! The casino was much more friendly also! Food was very expensive!!

 

Went back to ship and took a nap so I could manage to stay up for a basketball game that I really wanted to see. It was supposed to be on ESPN. I went to Longboards but their ESPN feed didn't have that game. Talk about upset! Not that it was their fault at all! It was just a verrrrry important game for us DUKE fans (found out the next day that we won!! Yay!!)! I ate supper in the Palace. I had the beef stroganoff (sp?). It was nothing to write home about at all. I thought it was tough and stringy, but I didn't go on this cruise for the food!!

 

We missed Great Stirrup Cay because it was too rough. I was up early and watched the tender try to load supplies and it was not a pretty sight. I was glad that wasn't my job! We had a day at sea. It was chilly and very windy. People by the pool were wrapped up in towels to keep warm. I found a chair at a table where the sun was on me but I was out of the wind....perfect! Just a relaxing day. I ate supper in Longboards. I had the fish and chips and thought they were really good.

 

Went to Dazzles at 10:00 for adult comedy. I didn't really care to see that but wanted to be there early for Quest. It turns out that I should have gone earlier. It was standing room only. Fortunately, someone left and I all but flew to their chair! I just want to say that Quest is not for everyone, and they warn you of that at the beginning. If you are easily offended, don't go!!!!! Seriously!! Take my word for it!! I laughed until I cried but others were appalled!! Enough said!! :D:D Don't say I didn't warn you!!

 

The night is over and it's time for bed for the last time. Bitter-sweet! I had planned for this trip for so long....now it's over...

 

Debarkation was a breeze! I decided to do the express walk off thing because I was essentially too lazy at that point to have my suitcase out by midnight. I got up early and went to the buffet for breakfast. When I got back to my room at about 8:10, they had moved my suitcase off of the bed on to the love seat and made the bed for the next cruise. I wasn't crazy about that. It they needed to make up the room, they should have told us to vacate our staterooms.

 

Debarkation was the easiest I've ever seen.

 

My personal thoughts which will not apply to all...

 

The food was just mediocre at best...but like I said, I didn't cruise for the food.

 

I was disapointed in the service I received from my steward. There was one day that I didn't get my room "cleaned" until after 3:00.

 

The comedian was really funny.

 

The Newlywed/not Newlywed game was funny.

 

Quest is not for anyone that is in any way prudish, but funny as **** for anyone else (get there reallllllly early).

 

Bed was hard.

 

Any questions???:confused:

[amistad]

Thanks for taking the time to post your thoughts on your cruise. I've always thought it would be very relaxing to go on a cruise alone, you can do what you want when you want. Glad you had a good time.

[coka]

Thanks for writing your review! Kudos for going solo! Would you do it again? Who was your cruise director?

 

coka

[nseagirl]

I would go solo again in a heartbeat! It was wonderful! My CD was Matt Baker. He did a great job!

[coka]

I am glad you had Matt. I used to chuckle to myself when I read posts about cruisers selecting a ship based on the cruise director. I never really understood it until my Sky cruise last August. It takes a lot to impress me these days and he certainly had me laughing out loud.

 

I am also glad the solo experience was a good one for you.

 

coka

[lostatjfk]

We just got back from the Sky cruise that followed yours, and our stop at Great Stirrup Cay was also cancelled (due to weather). The captain did not announce the decision until 7:30 Sunday morning, and he seemed nervous about negative reactions from the passengers. So we also spent a day at sea. Wondered why we could not have gone to Freeport or Key West instead.

[smeyer418]

We just got back from the Sky cruise that followed yours, and our stop at Great Stirrup Cay was also cancelled (due to weather). The captain did not announce the decision until 7:30 Sunday morning, and he seemed nervous about negative reactions from the passengers. So we also spent a day at sea. Wondered why we could not have gone to Freeport or Key West instead.

 

 

Key West is 260 miles from the Bahamas....Miami is closer...way too much fuel. Nassau or Free port is pretty close(70 miles) by but for the short cruisers and what the people pay they don't want to pay port fees....

[nseagirl]

The captain gave quite a speech about it being his decision. He didn't want anyone to take it out on the crew. I knew the night before that we wouldn't be making it to GSC. It was way too windy even then. Nobody should have blamed them for that decision!

 

Key West is one of my favorite places. I'm pretty sure that my next cruise will have a stop there!

[nseagirl]

I read the most recent reviews of the Sky today and was amazed by some of the comments...one person was really upset because they elected to

"upgrade" to a higher deck just below the pool deck and there was noise above them. Whatever did they expect???:confused::rolleyes:

[sparks1093]

I read the most recent reviews of the Sky today and was amazed by some of the comments...one person was really upset because they elected to

"upgrade" to a higher deck just below the pool deck and there was noise above them. Whatever did they expect???:confused::rolleyes:

 

Thanks for the review and glad you enjoyed it. We are booked in two cabins right below the pool deck but I'll bring earplugs before I complain about it. Heck, I don't want to sleep the cruise away so the sound of moving deck furniture at oh-dark-thirty may do the trick:rolleyes:.

[Jrabbit128]

Great review! Was on the Sky in August and had a blast as well. Matt was really fun and had my, my nieces and nephew constantly saying "Floor number 3-eeeeeee" and "gOOd time." The Quest show was by far the greatest part though and I agree about getting their early. My niece and I had nothing to do before the adult comedy show so we went to the area with a deck of cards about 1/2 hour before and hung out. Good thing because it did get packed their during the adult comedy show and Quest. But it was worth the wait because we won!

[alwalaska]

Thanks for the review. Glad you had a good trip.

 

Do you remember what types of activities they had when GSC became a sea day?

 

Also, I noticed you only ate in the dining room one evening. Did you get a chance to look at the menus to see if they have changed?

 

Any other words of advice or wisdom to share with us?