Jump to content
Cruise Critic Community

Norweigan 5 Day Sky Review 11/12 - 11/16 with Pix

beachpearl

By beachpearl,
in Norwegian Cruise Line

Recommended Posts

Jersey_Bill

Jersey_Bill

Posted
Posted
Loving your review BP !!

We did a cruise on Sky - the last of 2012 returning on New Year's Eve - which was a three-day to Stirrup and Nassau - and it was "almost" our first cruise. We had done one 12 years ago (on Disney) with the kids way too young, making it far less fun for them and for us (we both remember it as too much work). This time it was simply wonderful, not only the experience but we loved the Sky and the crew (Archie was cruise director too). I don't have a frame of reference but Norwegian seems to have things nailed. Not too much to complain about at all - it turned us around and I am already planning for our next cruise.

I would seek out the Sky again in a moment. In Nassau, we had four ships moored the day we were there - from the biggest ship in the world (NCL's Oasis of the Seas right next to us) to the same other NCL ship you saw and a Carnival boat as well. It was funny but our boat was the only one with music and wet towels and a drink to welcome people back. The just kept looking for ways to make the moment a bit happier. I liked that a lot.

Your trip report is not only bringing back wonderful memories but is very nicely written and presented. Thanks so much !

Jersey Bill
Link to comment
Share on other sites
meltingmoments

meltingmoments

Posted
Posted
[COLOR=DarkOrchid][SIZE=3][FONT=Comic Sans MS]Great review......loving the pictures!
[SIZE=3]Bringing back happy memories of our first cruise on the lovely Sky! A great introduction to cruising and to NCL. As a previous pos[SIZE=3]ter said, we too were moored up beside a Carnival ship and Oasis of the Seas[SIZE=3]! The Sky looked TINY in comparis[SIZE=3]o[/SIZE]n, but we too noticed the Sky was the one welcoming people back onboard with music, cold drinks and towels.......so it's not true that biggest is best!!! ;)[/SIZE][/SIZE][/SIZE]
[/FONT][/SIZE][/COLOR]
Link to comment
Share on other sites
beachpearl

beachpearl

Posted
  • Author
Posted
[quote=philly50's;36742921]Your review is really great and I'm loving the photos. It must have been great to take that cruise with your mom. Thanks for taking the time to post your comments and pixs. BTW I'm from Philly too.[/quote]

Hey - Phillly in the house :p

It was great to take a cruise with my mom. It was her 1st time out of the country. I had to show her something else beyond the Jersey shore.
Link to comment
Share on other sites
beachpearl

beachpearl

Posted
  • Author
Posted
[quote name='meltingmoments'][COLOR=darkorchid][SIZE=3][FONT=Comic Sans MS]Great review......loving the pictures! [/FONT][/SIZE][/COLOR]
[SIZE=3][FONT=Comic Sans MS][COLOR=darkorchid][SIZE=3]Bringing back happy memories of our first cruise on the lovely Sky! A great introduction to cruising and to NCL. As a previous pos[SIZE=3]ter said, we too were moored up beside a Carnival ship and Oasis of the Seas[SIZE=3]! The Sky looked TINY in comparis[SIZE=3]o[/SIZE]n, but we too noticed the Sky was the one welcoming people back onboard with music, cold drinks and towels.......so it's not true that biggest is best!!! ;)[/SIZE][/SIZE][/SIZE][/COLOR][/FONT]
[/SIZE][/quote]


It was great coming back to music, cold drinks and towels!
Link to comment
Share on other sites
beachpearl

beachpearl

Posted
  • Author
Posted
[quote name='Jersey_Bill']Loving your review BP !!

We did a cruise on Sky - the last of 2012 returning on New Year's Eve - which was a three-day to Stirrup and Nassau - and it was "almost" our first cruise. We had done one 12 years ago (on Disney) with the kids way too young, making it far less fun for them and for us (we both remember it as too much work). This time it was simply wonderful, not only the experience but we loved the Sky and the crew (Archie was cruise director too). I don't have a frame of reference but Norwegian seems to have things nailed. Not too much to complain about at all - it turned us around and I am already planning for our next cruise.

I would seek out the Sky again in a moment. In Nassau, we had four ships moored the day we were there - from the biggest ship in the world (NCL's Oasis of the Seas right next to us) to the same other NCL ship you saw and a Carnival boat as well. It was funny but our boat was the only one with music and wet towels and a drink to welcome people back. The just kept looking for ways to make the moment a bit happier. I liked that a lot.

Your trip report is not only bringing back wonderful memories but is very nicely written and presented. Thanks so much !

Jersey Bill[/quote]

Thanks, JB :)
I would definitely take a Sky cruise again. My next one or two I am thinking a bigger ship and compare it to the Sky & smaller ship experience.
Link to comment
Share on other sites
beachpearl

beachpearl

Posted
  • Author
Posted
DAY 4

GREAT STIRRUP CAY

I waited all week to have one of these waffles. The wait at the buffet for them was entirely too long. I went to Il Adagio to get it to avoid the ling line. They also have omelets and a few other offerings, i.e., bacon, sausage, etc. You can also take your plate from the buffet and eat in there if you want a quieter area to eat in.


[IMG]http://i565.photobucket.com/albums/ss98/cbeato1013/DSC01197.jpg[/IMG]


Pix of the tender boats from the balcony.


[IMG]http://i565.photobucket.com/albums/ss98/cbeato1013/DSC01194.jpg[/IMG]



[IMG]http://i565.photobucket.com/albums/ss98/cbeato1013/DSC01196.jpg[/IMG]


[SIZE=3][FONT=Calibri]Tickets for the tender boats are given out in Dazzles and are called out in groups. I don’t know why they called groups together – when I reached the area to get in line, the line was snaking up two staircases. When they started filling the tender boat, that took a little while as well. [/FONT][/SIZE]

On the way to GSC


[IMG]http://i565.photobucket.com/albums/ss98/cbeato1013/DSC01203.jpg[/IMG]


[IMG]http://i565.photobucket.com/albums/ss98/cbeato1013/DSC01210.jpg[/IMG]


Finally there:


[IMG]http://i565.photobucket.com/albums/ss98/cbeato1013/DSC01213.jpg[/IMG]
Link to comment
Share on other sites
beachpearl

beachpearl

Posted
  • Author
Posted
[IMG]http://i565.photobucket.com/albums/ss98/cbeato1013/DSC01250.jpg[/IMG]


[SIZE=3][FONT=Calibri]Upon reaching the island, there was no shortage of chairs. I wish I had gotten there earlier, though, because there was no shade and the spaces under the palm trees were already taken. I also didn’t want a clamshell. I hear it is hot inside them and I didn’t want my view to be another clamshell in front of me. [/FONT][/SIZE]
[FONT=Calibri][SIZE=3]Though I wanted to, I didn’t do any excursions, I just felt like there wasn’t enough time and I didn’t even see the areas where they were being held. There was a desk to sign up, but I didn’t bother.[/SIZE][/FONT]
[FONT=Calibri][SIZE=3]I instead participated in the games they had – mambo dancing, beach Olympics, limbo contests, etc.[/SIZE][/FONT]


Various pix of the island:


[IMG]http://i565.photobucket.com/albums/ss98/cbeato1013/DSC01214.jpg[/IMG]


[IMG]http://i565.photobucket.com/albums/ss98/cbeato1013/DSC01216.jpg[/IMG]


[IMG]http://i565.photobucket.com/albums/ss98/cbeato1013/DSC01217.jpg[/IMG]


[IMG]http://i565.photobucket.com/albums/ss98/cbeato1013/DSC01218.jpg[/IMG]


[IMG]http://i565.photobucket.com/albums/ss98/cbeato1013/DSC01219.jpg[/IMG]
Link to comment
Share on other sites
beachpearl

beachpearl

Posted
  • Author
Posted
The edge of the water was unbelievably rocky. I even continued to step on rocks while I was further out into the water. You NEED water shoes if you want to go into the water. It was very uncomfortable going in the water, but I didn't let it stop me. There will be a few pix of this shortly.

[IMG]http://i565.photobucket.com/albums/ss98/cbeato1013/DSC01222.jpg[/IMG]


Some of the bars:


[IMG]http://i565.photobucket.com/albums/ss98/cbeato1013/DSC01223.jpg[/IMG]


[IMG]http://i565.photobucket.com/albums/ss98/cbeato1013/DSC01224.jpg[/IMG]




[IMG]http://i565.photobucket.com/albums/ss98/cbeato1013/DSC01226.jpg[/IMG]



They had these cute wooden(?) monkey heads made to look like a coconut that they were putting drinks in. They were $17 or $18.00. and yes, I bought one. but my buddy bartender from the Plantation bar was there and made it extra strong for me :o



[IMG]http://i565.photobucket.com/albums/ss98/cbeato1013/DSC01227.jpg[/IMG]
Link to comment
Share on other sites
beachpearl

beachpearl

Posted
  • Author
Posted
[IMG]http://i565.photobucket.com/albums/ss98/cbeato1013/DSC01229.jpg[/IMG]



Me & my monkey head :)


[IMG]http://i565.photobucket.com/albums/ss98/cbeato1013/DSC01232.jpg[/IMG]



[IMG]http://i565.photobucket.com/albums/ss98/cbeato1013/DSC01225.jpg[/IMG]



Beach volleyball


[IMG]http://i565.photobucket.com/albums/ss98/cbeato1013/DSC01233.jpg[/IMG]


The food on the buffet was very good. I liked it better than the buffet in the Garden Cafe.



[IMG]http://i565.photobucket.com/albums/ss98/cbeato1013/DSC01235.jpg[/IMG]
Link to comment
Share on other sites
beachpearl

beachpearl

Posted
  • Author
Posted
Pretty fruit carving at the buffet:


[IMG]http://i565.photobucket.com/albums/ss98/cbeato1013/DSC01236.jpg[/IMG]


[IMG]http://i565.photobucket.com/albums/ss98/cbeato1013/DSC01239.jpg[/IMG]


[IMG]http://i565.photobucket.com/albums/ss98/cbeato1013/DSC01238.jpg[/IMG]


When the tide ebbed, it showed all the rock that I had been stepping on:


[IMG]http://i565.photobucket.com/albums/ss98/cbeato1013/DSC01241.jpg[/IMG]



[IMG]http://i565.photobucket.com/albums/ss98/cbeato1013/DSC01248.jpg[/IMG]


Saying goodbye to GSC:


[IMG]http://i565.photobucket.com/albums/ss98/cbeato1013/DSC01253.jpg[/IMG]
Link to comment
Share on other sites
beachpearl

beachpearl

Posted
  • Author
Posted
Upon returning to the room, this cutie was waiting for me:


[IMG]http://i565.photobucket.com/albums/ss98/cbeato1013/DSC01264.jpg[/IMG]


I caught this amazing shot from the balcony:


[IMG]http://i565.photobucket.com/albums/ss98/cbeato1013/DSC01265.jpg[/IMG]


when the sun dropped, it left this pretty pink sky:


[IMG]http://i565.photobucket.com/albums/ss98/cbeato1013/DSC01266.jpg[/IMG]


[FONT=Calibri][SIZE=3]DINNER AT IL ADAGIO[/SIZE][/FONT]
[SIZE=3][FONT=Calibri]Dinner was very good. The bread was soooooo good – I know I sound crazy raving about the bread like that, but it was that good. It had a nice crispy crust and was pillowy soft inside. [/FONT][/SIZE]


[IMG]http://i565.photobucket.com/albums/ss98/cbeato1013/DSC01269.jpg[/IMG]


[FONT=Calibri][SIZE=3]The Caprese salad was good, fresh and beautifully presented.[/SIZE][/FONT]
[FONT=Calibri][SIZE=3][/SIZE][/FONT]
[IMG]http://i565.photobucket.com/albums/ss98/cbeato1013/DSC01267.jpg[/IMG]


[FONT=Calibri][SIZE=3]The calamari was average.[/SIZE][/FONT]
[FONT=Calibri][SIZE=3][IMG]http://i565.photobucket.com/albums/ss98/cbeato1013/DSC01268.jpg[/IMG][/SIZE][/FONT]
[FONT=Calibri][SIZE=3][/SIZE][/FONT]
[FONT=Calibri][SIZE=3][/SIZE][/FONT]
Link to comment
Share on other sites
beachpearl

beachpearl

Posted
  • Author
Posted
Bruschetta:


[IMG]http://i565.photobucket.com/albums/ss98/cbeato1013/DSC01270.jpg[/IMG]


[FONT=Calibri][SIZE=3]The lobster fettuccini was good, but could have had more lobster in it.[/SIZE][/FONT]
[FONT=Calibri][SIZE=3][/SIZE][/FONT]
[FONT=Calibri][SIZE=3][/SIZE][/FONT]
[IMG]http://i565.photobucket.com/albums/ss98/cbeato1013/DSC01272.jpg[/IMG]


[FONT=Calibri][SIZE=3]The shrimp risotto was creamy and rich.[/SIZE][/FONT]
[FONT=Calibri][SIZE=3][/SIZE][/FONT]
[FONT=Calibri][SIZE=3][/SIZE][/FONT]
[IMG]http://i565.photobucket.com/albums/ss98/cbeato1013/DSC01273.jpg[/IMG]


[FONT=Calibri][SIZE=3]The flourless chocolate cake was crazy good – smooth, rich and decadent.[/SIZE][/FONT]
[FONT=Calibri][SIZE=3][/SIZE][/FONT]
[FONT=Calibri][SIZE=3][/SIZE][/FONT]
[IMG]http://i565.photobucket.com/albums/ss98/cbeato1013/DSC01275.jpg[/IMG]


[SIZE=3][FONT=Calibri]We went to check out the casino later. It was small and as expected. I also did a little bit of shopping in the gift shop, which doesn’t open until 6:00 pm every night. [/FONT][/SIZE]
[SIZE=3][FONT=Calibri]We also caught the last three acts of the staff talent show and the staffs’ Fountain show. [/FONT][/SIZE]

[IMG]http://i565.photobucket.com/albums/ss98/cbeato1013/DSC01278.jpg[/IMG]


[SIZE=3][FONT=Calibri]There was a little bit of down time before we went to the Outrigger Lounge to go see the comedian. He was just okay. He also didn’t work the stage enough and stood mostly to one side with his back to the other side. [/FONT][/SIZE]


[IMG]http://i565.photobucket.com/albums/ss98/cbeato1013/DSC01281.jpg[/IMG]
Link to comment
Share on other sites
beachpearl

beachpearl

Posted
  • Author
Posted
FINAL MORNING:

Final pix - Miami skyline taken from the Garden Cafe:


[IMG]http://i565.photobucket.com/albums/ss98/cbeato1013/DSC01292.jpg[/IMG]


[IMG]http://i565.photobucket.com/albums/ss98/cbeato1013/DSC01294.jpg[/IMG]


[IMG]http://i565.photobucket.com/albums/ss98/cbeato1013/DSC01296.jpg[/IMG]



[FONT=Calibri][SIZE=3]DEBARKATION[/SIZE][/FONT]
[FONT=Calibri][SIZE=3]I left two of my larger suitcases in the hall for pickup.[/SIZE][/FONT]
[SIZE=3][FONT=Calibri]Liquor pickup was located on the same deck as customer service. [/FONT][/SIZE]
[FONT=Calibri][SIZE=3]Debarkation was quite easy. I was one of the last groups to leave the ship. My luggage was where it was supposed to be upon leaving before getting in the customs line. The line seemed long, but it moved quickly.[/SIZE][/FONT]
[FONT=Calibri][SIZE=3]OVERVIEW:[/SIZE][/FONT]
[FONT=Calibri][SIZE=3]STAFF: Most of the staff was friendly, pleasant and courteous – I would give them a 9 out of 10.[/SIZE][/FONT]
[FONT=Calibri][SIZE=3]FOOD: I would rate it an 8 out of 10[/SIZE][/FONT]
[FONT=Calibri][SIZE=3]DRINKS: The lemonade was excellent, but the orange juice was not 100% juice. I thought that was too much of cutting corners from NCL – they could at least supply regular orange juice. The alcoholic drinks were very weak. I would give an overall rating of a 6 for the drinks. They tasted good, but if I can drink 3 – 4 drinks within a two hour time span and not feel tipsy or have a buzz, then either the liquor is watered down or they are pouring very little of it.[/SIZE][/FONT]
[FONT=Calibri][SIZE=3]ENTERTAINMENT: There was plenty to do; I would give that a 9[/SIZE][/FONT]
[FONT=Calibri][SIZE=3]CABIN: Small but okay for two people – would give that a 7.[/SIZE][/FONT]
[SIZE=3][FONT=Calibri]I would recommend the Sky for either a first time cruiser or someone who just wants a short cruise. It’s not a huge ship, so you’re able to get your bearings quickly. There were plenty of things to do, even if you didn’t leave the ship to go into the port. The Sky gives you a taste of cruising, long enough to be a nice little vacation, but not so short that you feel like you just got started when it’s time to leave. [/FONT][/SIZE]
[SIZE=3][FONT=Calibri]Please feel free to ask me any questions, and I’ll be happy to answer them. [/FONT][/SIZE]
Link to comment
Share on other sites
Jersey_Bill

Jersey_Bill

Posted
Posted
[quote name='beachpearl']Hey - Phillly in the house :p

It was great to take a cruise with my mom. It was her 1st time out of the country. I had to show her something else beyond the Jersey shore.[/QUOTE]

Hey BP -

Ain't nothing that can match the Jersey Shore, ignoring that little embarassment that was "Jersey Shore"!!

Glad that you and your mom had a special trip !

Jersey Bill
Link to comment
Share on other sites

Archived

This topic is now archived and is closed to further replies.

Go to topic listing
  • Forum Jump
    • Categories
      • Welcome to Cruise Critic
      • Hurricane Zone 2024
      • Cruise Insurance Q&A w/ Steve Dasseos of Tripinsurancestore.com June 2024
      • New Cruisers
      • Cruise Lines “A – O”
      • Cruise Lines “P – Z”
      • River Cruising
      • ROLL CALLS
      • Cruise Critic News & Features
      • Digital Photography & Cruise Technology
      • Special Interest Cruising
      • Cruise Discussion Topics
      • UK Cruising
      • Australia & New Zealand Cruisers
      • Canadian Cruisers
      • North American Homeports
      • Ports of Call
      • Cruise Conversations
×
×
  • Create New...