megan

Hi, I just booked a cruise on NCL'S NORWAY that heads to St. Maarten, St.John, Great Stirrup Cay. Can anyone tell how the cruise is and describe the ship, activities, excursions, food,cabins etc. Also any recommendations as to what to do/not do etc. would be appreciated. Thanks for the feedback!

Michael

Megan,<BR><BR>What cabin did you book? It makes all the difference on SS Norway!<BR><BR>Make you you request the Windward dining room.... it's much nicer than the Leeward!

Renegade4

Although the Windward dining room is indeed "nicer" than the Leeward, due to its domed ceiling, it is also much noiser (especially if you are seated under the dome.)<BR><BR>Since every voyage of every ship is different, any critiques offered are an opinion of the writer.<BR><BR>My wife and I have cruised the Norway 3 times and have enjoyed each in a different way. I have read reviews by others who were on the same cruises and thought it must have been a different cruise.<BR><BR>If you go with an open mind and don't let trivial problems upset you, you will have a great time. <BR><BR>All ships have occasional problems, as do land-based hotels, restaurants and entertainment spots...<BR><BR>Feel free to email me directly with any specific questions and I'll do my best to answer them.<BR><BR>Say "Hi" to the Club Internationale for us while on board.

megan

Thanks for the replies! Can you offer descriptions of what there is to do onboard and the shore excursions? Thanks@

Linsley

My husband and I sailed on the Norway same itinerary last year for our honeymoon. For our first cruise I thought it was wonderful. St Maarten we shopped and hung out at the bars and restuarants. St Thomas and St John I would suggest doing some of the tours the ship offers and they do offer a lot. The ship is beautiful but try to get a room in the upper decks. Ours was on the Biscayne deck and to this day everytime I smell fried foods I think of the Norway. The staff was exceptionally friendly and the art auction a lot of fun!<BR>Good Luck and have fun, this ship is an experience!!!

spacehound

Dear Megan,<BR> I sailed on the Norway two years ago and am taking another group back for Thanksgiving this year. The ship is graceful and laid-back. Some of the cabins are showing their age, but the public rooms are wonderful and classy. I thoroughly enjoyed the butterfly farm tour on St Maarten. The beaches are some of the best, but the beach on Stirrup Cay is more convenient and relaxing. Shopping is very good too, but the is very little in St Maarten that you cannot get in St thomas. The shopping is fantastic on St Thomas, and because it is a U.S. protectorate, you are allowed to bring back more duty-free goods from there. Of course, if shopping is not your thing, then i would go to St John and enjoy the tropical beauty and snorkelling. At any rate, relax, be pampered, and have a wonderful time

Gerry

Megan:<BR>We were on the Norway in '97 and had a great time. It's still just about the longest cruise ship in the world at 1,035'long. Only small negative is that not all elevators go to all decks and all ports have to be tendered which can be time consuming.

kellie

just wanted to alert you about what happened to my husband and i on St marrten last week while we were travelling on the Norway. This letter was published in The Daily Herald the St Maarten newspaper which you can view online. Be careful!<BR>Hello, <BR><BR>I just wanted to alert your organization about an attempted murder/scooter jacking that occurred on St. Maarten while I was visiting. I was visiting the island on Wednesday, September 4th and had rented a 2 person scooter from Antillean Car Rental located on Sucker Garden Road. My husband and I had visited Orient Beach and were on our way to Baie Rouge. We were driving on the main road in front of the Union Road Medical Clinic when the attempted murder and moped stealing took place. <BR><BR>Two black teenage youths drove up beside our scooter on the left side. The person on the rear of the scooter started violently kicking me and our scooter, causing us to loose control of the scooter and consequently falling off at 35 miles per hour. Unbelievably, one youth ran over to our scooter while we were lying injured in the road and picked it up and jumped on it. At this point we realized that his intent was not to help us, but to steal the moped and we jumped up. My husband was able to grab him from the back and I punched him in the face until he jumped off our scooter and ran back to where his partner in crime was waiting for him and they drove off. We sustained major injuries and were treated by Dr. G. Van Osch at the Union Road Medical clinic. <BR><BR>The two black police officers who showed up at the clinic to take our report were unconcerned and unaffected after this tragic tourist attack. They did not even fill out any paperwork while we were there. We were informed by them and the scooter rental man that this is the fourth time recently that this very same type of attack has taken place. <BR><BR>Needless to say, my husband and I were and still are in severe pain and unable to move due to the road rash and injuries. Our entire vacation was ruined by these thugs on St. Maarten. I am writing this letter in hopes that word will spread that this is a very dangerous life threatening island, and people who continue to visit St. Maarten need to be on alert so they will not have to endure the same experience we did. <BR><BR> <BR><BR>

Rhea

Kellie, your Moped experience is very unfortunate. I personally have always felt safe on St. Maarten. Suspect this has alot to do w/the haves vs. the have-nots.<BR>To answer Megan's query: IMHO, She's a very old ship w/classic lines but no "glitz". Le Bistro is not worth the extra dollars & the wine prices are jacked-up. The Lido Buffet is sub-par.<BR><BR>However, w/all these negatives noted, you can still have a very enjoyable experience at a very reasonable cost if you go w/the flow & don't expect a Sea<BR>Odyssey cruise. One caveat: I hope you booked a cabin on the Norway dock or above & do try to be assigned to the Windward DR. Noisy - yes; esthetically more appealing: also yes.