Norwegian Getaway Review

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Review for the Western Caribbean Cruise on Norwegian Getaway
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Grandie1313
6-10 Cruises • Age 70s

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Sail Date: Feb 2019
Cabin: Mid-Ship Mini-Suite with Balcony

Having sailed on NCL before, I had no reservations about choosing this line again. The Getaway is a huge ship. Therefore, embarkation is a rather long adventure. The ship is beautiful, and I would say that nearly half the guests we spoke with had been on her before. We found the staff to be cheerful and helpful at every turn. We had a few breakfasts and most of our dinners in the included restaurants. The Tropicana was our favorite, because of the live music and the overall decor. Our service was outstanding, and the food was really, really excellent. I had read reviews which said otherwise, but they were wrong. The soups were exquisite, and we tried them all! If I asked for salmon on the well done side, I received salmon on the well done side. We are in the restaurant business, and I would give the food and food service on this ship 5 stars. Our mini suite was comfortable, and the bathroom was the largest we have had on a cruise ship. The balcony was small. That didn't keep me from enjoying morning coffee on it, or watching the sunset over the sea. We saw most of the shows and highly recommend the following: The Million Dollar Quartet (make a reservation and don't miss this!), Burn the Floor, and the Comedy Shows, both comedians. The Cirque show is mind blowing. We purchased floor seating, and I would not pay the extra for it again. The regular seating was three feet behind us (booths) and I think that they were more comfortable and could see just as well. The Atrium entertainment is OK. Mostly things to have you spend more money. Disembarkation was smooth. We enjoyed the ports, especially Belize (gorgeous, and the Monkey River Tour is something you will talk about for a long time to come). Costa Maya had 3 jumbo ships in port and it was very crowded and just an island shopping mall. We probably should have planned a tour for that day. Cozumel is beautiful. We did the Dolphin Encounter. We loved the Dolphins, but the $15 charge for a locker was a rip off. Harvest Caye was an eye opener. Honduras is a poverty country, and I hope that you will choose to spend a few bucks when these people approach you with their trinkets, Consider what you have been blessed with, and help them out with a non haggled purchase of something. I spoke with a friend who visited the National Park in Cozumel and it sounded like an wonderful way to spend the day. I mean, once you have seen one diamond shop, you have seen the other 25 of them! Get away from the Mall in Cozumel is what I am saying. I remember that port when it was new, and the town was right there, and you could visit the church and have a meal on the beach with people who spoke no English. It has changed, and not for the better.

This ship is huge, and requires a lot of walking. In one week there were parts of the ship that we still had not discovered. The adult pool is small and crowded. The staff was wonderful. The food was wonderful. The Casino was tight, but large and entertaining. Having said all of this, I must admit that I prefer a ship not so large. My next cruise will be on a large ship, but not a gigantic ship like the Getaway. If you have kids, this ship is probably a fabulous choice for you. Safe travels my friend!

Cabin Review

Mid-Ship Mini-Suite with Balcony

Cabin MA

large enough, spic and span clean, large bathroom, very small balcony, plenty of cupboard and storage space, great location

Port Reviews

Harvest Caye

This port is gorgeous and was our favorite! It is close to paradise here. We chose the Monkey River Tour, and it was excellent! You may get wet on the boat ride over to the mainland, but you will enjoy the thrilling trip and dry off in 5 minutes, so no worries. The guides were excellent, and they worked very hard to make our trip exciting. We learned so much about the flora and fauna. We departed the boat for a walk through the jungle, where we saw tarantulas, and Holler Monkeys (sp?). We saw a crocodile from the boat, as well as many beautiful exotic birds. We loved this tour. Tip: book an early tour so that you can return to the island and enjoy a swim in the sea or in the huge wandering pool. There are many chairs available, and this port was not crowded. It was by far the most beautiful and relaxing port we visited. And, no cruise is complete until you have enjoyed a cool colorful beverage from the swim up bar. Ahhhhh....this is island living!

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