PasseNorwegian Sea
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Ship Details
Began service: 1988
Guest capacity: 1,518
Total staff: 630
Length: 700 feet
Passenger decks: 9
CDC
inspection score: 92
Norwegian Sea Overview
The Norwegian Sea cruise ship departs from Houston
(Galveston), TX. Throughout the year, she offers ocean cruises to Western Caribbean.
Check Dates &
Prices for cruises to Western Caribbean.
Norwegian Sea was built in 1988 and made its
debut with Norwegian
Cruise Lines under the name Seaward. Renamed
and newly refurbished, the 42,000-ton, 1,518-passenger
Norwegian Sea has undergone a multimillion dollar
renovation. Improvements include the addition of the Pasta
Cafe, brand-new fabrics and carpeting, granite
floors and countertops, and new upholstery in selected
public rooms.
Norwegian Sea is the third ship in NCL's line
to embrace Freestyle Cruising;
passengers can eat whenever they want with whomever -
at the eatery of their choice. Dining attire is resort
casual and flexibility also extends to nonexistent disembarkation
times.
Norwegian Sea has a new year-round home: since
November it has been sailing seven-night "Texaribbean"
itineraries, with stops in Cozumel, Roatan, Belize City,
and Cancun -- out of Houston.
Cabins
Staterooms are small and could use a renovation.
However, you'll find plenty of storage space and you can
move about comfortably -- with one exception: the bathroom.
At 5'9", I was feeling claustrophobic with the low
ceilings in my deluxe oceanview stateroom. Anyone approaching
the 6'4" mark will probably have problems standing
up straight inside. The ventilation system also had a
constant hum that was slightly irritating at first, but
blended into the background noise after a few hours.
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Norwegian Sea features 243 inside
cabins (114 square feet), four of which are wheelchair accessible
and equipped for hearing impaired (248 square feet). There's 216
outside cabins including oceanview cabins
with portholes (116 square feet); deluxe/superior cabins
with picture windows (125 square feet); and suites
(285 square feet). No connecting cabins exist. All staterooms, except
six, have twin beds that may be combined to form a queen-sized bed.
All have TVs, radios, telephones, and hair dryers.
Norwegian Sea has very few suites; be sure to book early
if you'd like one. They have been completely redecorated with new
carpet, new draperies, and new chairs. You'll find marble tiling and
a full bath (along with a goody basket full of shower gels and other
toiletries) and a spacious sitting area featuring several large windows.
Dining
The Seven Seas Dining Room, located on the
Main Deck, serves as the ship's main dining room.
In keeping with NCL's Freestyle Cruising concept,
passengers are neither assigned tablemates nor a specific dining time.
Seven Seas was recently redone and dress is always
casual.
The Big Apple Cafe, the ship's buffet restaurant
located on the Pool Deck, is open
for breakfast, lunch and dinner. It's the best option if you want
to grab a quick bite before heading into port, but you're sacrificing
quality for speed in a big way. The food here was institutional and
didn't offer many options.
For a genuine gourmet experience, head to Le Bistro.
Reservations are necessary and a $12.50 per person cover charge applies,
but it's worth it for an unforgettable meal at least once onboard.
Small, dark, and intimate, the restaurant has many tables for two,
low lighting, a great wine list, and features the most attentive dining
staff onboard. Menus change daily, though we always recommend filet
mignon -- also don't miss the striped sea bass.
Other dining options include the brand-new Pasta Cafe,
which seats 40 and serves basic Italian cuisine. Also arrive early
for a popular sushi sampling in Oscar's. The sushi
is great and lines tend to form quickly. Lickety Splits
sells Haagen Daz.
Entertainment
The main show venue, the newly refurbished Stardust Lounge,
has the newest feel and the refurbishment is quite evident. The Stardust
Lounge hosts Big Band music, karaoke, and comedy.
The Cabaret Lounge is the ship's swanky theater.
Here you'll find the ship's production numbers (shows are produced
by longtime cruise entertainment company Jean Ann Ryan Productions),
along with the typical entertainment options: karaoke, comedy, etc.
Boomer's is the ship's disco. The dance floor is
in the center of a circular room, with rows of seating all around.
Arrive early as it became difficult to move across the room by about
11:30pm.
Fitness & Recreation
A moderate-sized fitness center
is hidden away on Sun Deck (look for the white doors
past Coconut Willy's) and is open 24 hours a day.
Athletic activities begin with a Sports Afloat orientation
the first evening. Besides stretching and aerobics classes (there's
a $5 charge for some classes), other options include cardio kickboxing,
basketball tournaments, Wacky Olympics, and more. You'll find the
unobstructed jogging track on Deck Six, the ship's
promenade deck. A golf driving area is nearby; there is also a basketball/volleyball
court and ping pong tables.
The ship's pool area consists of two pools, two hot tubs, and
a platform for sometimes-too-loud live music. The deck in this area
has been refinished, adding teak-like flooring around the pool.
The Mandara Spa facilities are a bit on the clinical
side; treatments are given in tiny rooms in the respective locker
rooms in the gym facilities. Think less Balinese relaxation, more
doctor's office exam room with a few throws and piped-in New Age music.
Treatment prices are fairly standard (50-minute massages range from
$99 to $180), and include everything from basics like manicures to
more exotic hot stone massages.
Public Areas
The ship's atrium, Crystal
Court, spans two decks and features a large crystal sculpture
in the center. Embarkation and disembarkation are the only reasons
to go to the atrium.
The "Internet Cafe" is comprised
of ten computer stations placed in the hallway outside the duty free
stores on International Deck. As this is a major
traffic area, don't expect to conduct many confidential or personal
affairs here. Instead, if you can, take advantage of Norwegian
Sea's Wi Fi wireless access. You can check email, send messages,
and get work done at your leisure without having to be wired to your
cabin. Stop by the Purser's Desk for more information upon check-in.
A Wi Fi network card costs $10 per day for rental. Usage charges are
by the minute, but packages are available in 33, 100, and 250-minute
increments. Same prices apply for regular Internet usage.
The Monte Carlo Casino features seven blackjack tables,
one craps table and roulette wheel, and over 100 slot machines.
The best public areas onboard are Gatsby's Wine Bar
and Oscar's Piano Bar. Gatsby's
is perfect for pre or post dinner cocktails. Oscar's
i is a perfect place to unwind with a glass of champagne. Note: expect
pricey drinks in both establishments - upwards of $8.50 for martinis
or other top-shelf libations.
Other areas include the Butterfly Room, the ship's
library/card room; All Around the Town, the ship's
sports bar; and Coconut Willy's Pool Bar, a great
place for sipping a frozen drink and people-watching.
Kids
NCL's Kids Crew
program is organized by age group: Junior Sailors
(ages 2-5); First Mates (ages 6-8); Navigators
(ages 9-12); and Teens (ages 13-17). Activities include
arts and crafts and treasure hunts for the younger set, pool parties
and trivia competitions for older kids. There's also a video arcade
that will make any kid happy.
While the vessel doesn't have extensive, family-oriented, state-of-the-art
facilities found on huge megaships, the size and number of passengers
permits personalized attention. The Porthole, the
children's facility, is the only public room on Atlantic Deck.
It's small, has no windows, but is decorated cheerfully.
Expert Norwegian Sea reviews are edited by Michelle, and provided by Ian and Cruise Critic.com,
an award-winning cruise community. This objective information can
help you choose just the right ship for your next cruise vacation.
Check Dates & Prices
for cruises to Caribbean.
Norwegian Sea cruise reviews
Cruise
Ship Inspection Report
All passenger cruise ships arriving at US ports are subject to unannounced
CDC inspection. Norwegian Sea Score:
92
Cruise
Critic: Norwegian Sea
The Cruise Critic gives NCL's Norwegian Sea a 3-ribbon rating.
Web links
NCL
Cruises
Request a brochure, or find a travel agent who represents Norwegian
Cruise Line at the company's official Web site.
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