Worst Norwegian ship?

[craig01020]

I've never sailed on Norwegian before (but I'm trying!).  I have read many brutal reviews of some of NCL's ships, but I thought I'd ask the experts: Have you sailed on any of NCL's ships that you would now avoid at all costs? Thanks.

[Gatordad1967]

The Dreamward, but that was 1997.  Been on a few, not a bad thing to say about any of them.

 

[The Traveling Man]

The Star.  It has absolutely the worst record for propulsion maintenance.  It has missed more ports than all the other NCL ships combined because it was running at half-speed with one of it's Azipods offline.  It has had more cruises cancelled because of propulsion problems than all the other NCL ships combined.  So far as I know, it is the only NCL ship to have ever lost power and end up adrift in the ocean.  We were on it in the Tasman Sea when it just simply stopped.  Two days later, we finally were towed back into Melbourne, where we spent another three days for them to fix the Azipods.  NEVER AGAIN!

[Travelers56]

The Epic-  did not like the layout,  did not like the outdoor spaces-   including Spice H20-  which was billed as adults only -  but constant parade of kids thru the bar area from the basketball courts one deck up.

 

The ships we prefer are the Sun and the Spirit.

we like the smaller more intimate ships

 

 

 

 

 

 

[rfkeith10]

5 minutes ago, craig01020 said:

I've never sailed on Norwegian before (but I'm trying!).  I have read many brutal reviews of some of NCL's ships, but I thought I'd ask the experts: Have you sailed on any of NCL's ships that you would now avoid at all costs? Thanks.

We are about to sail on our 16th NCL cruise.  We have sailed on many of the ships in their fleet and have not had an issue with any of them.  I’m not sure I would sail on the Sun or the Sky but that’s just because of size and age of those two ships.
Take the plunge and book a cruise on NCL. You’ll be happy that you did… 
 

 

[Shellbelle28]

That's a hard one to answer because the things that make it the worst ship in the fleet to one person might be the things that make it the best for someone else. The Traveling Man's comment about mechanical reliability is a more objective way to evaluate, but I've been on the Star twice with no problems, so it wasn't my experience. 

I'd have to say if I was sorting all the ships I'd put the Gem at the bottom because my non-scientific and unproven judgement that she historically does short trips out of NYC and has a different vibe than the other ships. 

[prov2727]

22 minutes ago, Travelers56 said:

The Epic-  did not like the layout,  did not like the outdoor spaces-   including Spice H20-  which was billed as adults only -  but constant parade of kids thru the bar area from the basketball courts one deck up.

 

The ships we prefer are the Sun and the Spirit.

we like the smaller more intimate ships

 

 

 

 

 

 

Poor Epic. Seems like it is either loved or hated. The only thing I didn't like was having to walk through a smoky casino to get to the main dining room level, but I don't have much to compare it to as it was only my second cruise and I'm still waiting on my third.

[craig01020]

32 minutes ago, rfkeith10 said:

Take the plunge and book a cruise on NCL.

I've booked a lot of them in the last year, but have yet to sail. Stupid covid!

[aubreyc1988]

the only "older" NCL ship I've been on is the Jewel, thought it was nice.  

 

My favorite ships are Bliss or Encore because of the observation lounge, and the non smoking casino. I also love the Getaway and Getaway may be my favorite if they ever convert the casinos to non smoking as well

 

the non smoking casino is a huge factor for these ships because even if you do not gamble, the casino is open to decks 6-7-8 on Breakaway, Getaway, and Escape which makes walking around the ship a smoke filled experience in this high traffic area. This problem was corrected on Bliss/Joy/Encore whenever they made the main casino non smoking and created an enclosed smoking casino room. 

[bkrickles1]

Definitely the Minnow.

Damn 3 hour tours!

[kodos]

I can relate to the Star's Azipod problem having been on a 2 week cruise going at half speed missing ports but due to itinerary choices I have been on a Star/Dawn class ship for almost half my cruises and find it familiar. The new ships always bring improvements but I also pay attention to refurb date. Even a newer ship will seem trashed if you are on it right before it goes in for refurb. 

[craig01020]

3 hours ago, The Traveling Man said:

The Star.  It has absolutely the worst record for propulsion maintenance. 

I read that the Star was scheduled for drydock/repair in 2020. Did they ever fix the propulsion issues?

[Crazy planning mom]

This is a very subjective topic.  I have sailed on the Epic and the Pride of America.  Both get mixed reviews but I enjoyed them both. We knew going in about the Epic's bathroom layout so that didnt bother us.  Some people also felt it was too inward facing but we had a balcony so we got our ocean time sitting on the balcony.  The Pride of America was our family's favorite vacation because we loved Hawaii.  My least favorite cruise was on the Carnival Victory and I still enjoyed that one.

[Turtles06]

3 hours ago, Shellbelle28 said:

I'd have to say if I was sorting all the ships I'd put the Gem at the bottom because my non-scientific and unproven judgement that she historically does short trips out of NYC and has a different vibe than the other ships. 

 

Well, I have to say that my wife and I loved our 20-day cruise on the Gem out of NY to San Francisco, and really enjoyed 10 days on the Gem from NY to the Caribbean.  Hardly short trips in my book.  As for the "vibe," we love the Gem.  I realize everyone's reaction is subjective.

[Treasure Hunter]

The Gem out of NY is great because they have a covered Haven pool. It opened when we got down around Orlando but we could use it from the first day

[complawyer]

we were on the star on a southeast asia cruise from hong kong to singapore back between dec 2016 and jan 2017. not until we actually got on board ere we advised of the propulsion issues. while  we missed 3 ports that were important to me, they offered us a full refund if weleft the ship (no brainer since we were already in hong kong and airfare booked from singapore 2 seeks later, of a fare reduction of 50% on this cruise and another 50% off any future cruise.  we had a forward facing penthouse for 3 of us so the fare ended up being $3750, and the following year i booked a 2 bedroom suite on the epic for my wife, myself , my grandson and a friend of his, for less than $4000.

 

so in spite of the mechanical problems, i really cant complain about the star.

 

actually, we have been on a number of ncl ships (other than the much newer ones) andso far i havent had any problems on any of them. that being said, our favorite is the getaway.

 

we are currently booked on the epic in jan, the jade in apr and once again the star (keeping my fingers crossed) nov 2022.

 

i have read traveling man's comment for a number of years, and he is usually spot on!.

since its been 4 years since ive been on the star, i would cut them a little slack

[marktwothousand]

Encore. It’s New, but bad decisions about constructing huge water slides, race tracks and play areas on the roof have resulted in little Space up top for crowds and being up there is not atall enjoyable

[The Traveling Man]

3 hours ago, craig01020 said:

I read that the Star was scheduled for drydock/repair in 2020. Did they ever fix the propulsion issues?

I know that they have worked on the problem since 2017, but I’m not sure they have fixed it.  The problems have occurred many times over a number of years, so I would be very leery of chancing it.

[ClevelandCruisin]

Epic..... I'll leave my remarks why out. Many mixed reviews and gets heated.

 

People will say POA also, which has no casino on board. I've never been on it yet, so I can't relate.

[RaftingJeremy]

There are bad ones?

[bluesea777]

4 hours ago, craig01020 said:

I read that the Star was scheduled for drydock/repair in 2020. Did they ever fix the propulsion issues?

 

Yes, completely repaired in 2020. Major drydock.

 

We are due on her in July 2022.

 

[brad0576]

1 hour ago, The Traveling Man said:

I know that they have worked on the problem since 2017, but I’m not sure they have fixed it.  The problems have occurred many times over a number of years, so I would be very leery of chancing it.

I was booked on the Star our of Port Canaveral for a 9 day southern Caribbean for late March 2020 - the day after final payments were do the took Bonaire off the agenda and replaced it with Nassau (because that's an even swap lol) due to the issues with propulsion.  The entire reason for the Star to even be cruising out of Port Canaveral is that it was headed to Freeport after for a short dry dock - not sure if that was to address the propulsion or not.

 

Anyway the cruise was cancelled less than 2 weeks prior due to COVID - so by now they have had PLENTY of time to address the issue.

[bluesea777]

We have been on all the NCL ships except two: the Joy and the Sky.

 

I do not have a particular favourite but each ship has their own pros and cons. Maybe, since our last cruise was on the post-drydock Spirit, I'm thinking she is now my new favourite.

 

I have enjoyed all the cruises we were on, and now we will do any ship based on the itinerary.

 

The cons: the shower on the Sun and Pride of America - tiny with curtain. No walk round promenade on the Epic - it's a joke. Le Bistro on Breakaway, Getaway, Escape - down on deck 6, small and cramped, close to the stairs. (NCL wised up and put the Le Bistro up on deck 17 with fantastic sea view on the newer ships Bliss and Encore). For us oldies, the race track & laser tag on some new ships. No aft Spice H2O on Encore. No forward observation lounges on Dawn, Star, Epic, BA, GA, Escape. No casino on Pride of America.

 

 

Edited September 1, 2021 by bluesea777

[complawyer]

as an after thought, none of them can be categorized as the "worst" some are just better then others, but i believe one can have a great time regardless of which ncl ship you are on.

 

with everything offered, you can make your own good time. when not in a port, i even dont mind just chilling out on my balcony with a cold beer and my kindle. 

 

with so much to do, none of them can be called the worst.  that poa doesnt have a casino, doesnt make it a bad ship, look at all the money you save. besides they probably have to abide by the u.s.a laws about territorial waters. remember youre still sailing in the usa.

[hernando52]

The Star, but for different reasons than propulsion problems.  On Day 5 of a 7 day cruise a few years back, the toilets in many places stopped working.  Inconvenient and after a while, pretty stinky.