We were on the Norwegian Sky for a seven-day cruise of Northern Europe (Bruges, Belgium; London; Amsterdam; and Hamburg). The route started in Le Havre and ended in Copenhagen. This was our third cruise with NCL and our first time on the Sky. While it was smaller than the ships we had cruised on previously (the Dawn and Pride of America), we were pleased with its overall appearance and condition as well as the service provided onboard. Since we cruise as an inexpensive method of travel, the destinations are our primary focus and we are not that picky about the ship itself. Our inside cabin was quiet and had a very comfortable bed, but the cabin had a little less space than those on our previous cruises. The primary challenge we faced was having only one power outlet in the main cabin and one in the bathroom, but we came prepared with multi-outlet adapters. We thought the dining on the Sky was good overall. Breakfast in the Garden Cafe (the buffet) was very good with a large selection, and the made-to-order omelets were quite good. We also found plenty to eat at the lunch and dinner buffets with most options tasting good (some very good). The Garden Cafe on the Sky was much smaller than on the Dawn, but it did not seem overly crowded except on embarkation day and on one morning when the arrival in port was early. We ate several times in the two main dining rooms (The Palace and Crossings). The food was good enough that we kept going back. Some of the entrees were very good (for example, the lamb shank was tender and cooked just right, and one of the shrimp dishes was especially notable). Service by the waitstaff was professional at all times. Our one specialty dining visit was to La Cucina, the Italian restaurant. We both thought the lasagna was excellent - we still talk about it. Though the ship was relatively small by today’s standards, it did not feel small to us. Because of the lower temperatures and wind on the one sea day, there were not many people on the outside decks or in the pools. Still, it was fairly easy to find a quiet lounge. We spent a lot of time in the Spinnaker Lounge at the front of the ship when we were not in port. We really enjoyed the cruise itinerary (Bruges, London, Amsterdam, and Hamburg). We were most surprised by Hamburg. We arrived with no particular expectations, but it turned out to be a great destination. The downtown area of this large city was attractive and very walkable, with much to see. We were there for two days: the first day we had a guided tour, and the second day we explored on our own - that combination worked great. Overall, we were pleased with this cruise - the ship, the itinerary, and the service. We have already started planning our next one, with Norwegian as our starting point.

Wife and I did 12 days southern Caribbean in balcony cabin, deck 10 forward. The itinerary was our main reason as it included the islands we had not yet visited after 20+ cruises. We prefer smaller/older ships and the Sky is both. Overall the ship is in good shape and the crew constantly doing upkeep even though it’s sold and leaving the fleet later this year. The one place the ship did show its age is the cabin. Very limited storage, obvious signs of quick fixes in the bathroom, and occasional toilet issues. It was always spotless and all issues were promptly corrected. We did ship excursions 8 of the stops and with the exceptions at St. Kitts and St. Marteen they were a bit disappointing. Long waits in lines, rushed treatment from local tour providers, and the most annoying was almost a total lack of NCL staff once we disembarked. In fact, this was an issue at embarkation too. Activities onboard were the usual trivia and extra cost game shows that we did not attend. Lots of pool chairs, cool sat water pools, and good beverage staff coverage kept us on the lido deck. Food was better than expected in the MDR’s, and we ate in all the specialty restaurants and they were very good. The buffet was typical (a bit of a zoo) but the standout disappointment was The Local. Small, very limited hours and menu, so bring back O’Sheehan’s!

Embarkation: Great experience. Everything was quick and smooth and we were on the ship earlier than expected. We stopped by our muster stations and then to the reservation desk. Booked our additional two nights of Specialty dining. Cabin: We booked an inside cabin and it was the smallest we have ever had. With 16 days of clothing, it took some organizing to make it work. There was a small issue with the shower not draining on the first night. We called guest services and they got it fixed. We also noticed an odor near the door of the cabin. Guest services and our room steward followed up to make sure everything was fixed. There were some indications the room had had water on the floor in the past (it is an older ship). We spoke to our room steward and he took care of it right away (steam cleaned and dried the entrance carpet). The TV in the room stopped working a few days in. We left a note and it was fixed right away. Cruise staff: Everyone working on the ship was amazing. We didn't spend a lot of the time in the ports and got to know some of the workers while things were less busy on the ship. It was great to hear about their homes and travels. Food: The food was great in all the dining venues. The steak in Cagney's needed a touch of salt, but it was there on the table to add as needed. Le Bistro was amazing. There were 5 in our group and we almost always had breakfast in the main dining room. All the food there was so good. We had wings in The Local on several evenings (buffalo sauce was delicious, but not the buffalo sauce typical in my area). Sea days: There were activities going on all over the ship on all the Sea days. The Sky is a smaller ship, but had more than enough to do. It also had a lot of great spaces to relax. Spinnaker Lounge was one of the best places on the ship. Rarely crowded and full of comfortable seating and big windows. Entertainment: The comedian was my least favorite of all the acts on the show. The rest of the shows were really good. The volume was a little louder than I like (not a problem as I have ear plugs to dampen the sound). Ports: They were all good with the exception of Disembarkation in the Dominican Republic. They had pushy people in where you collect your luggage. There was a language barrier and they insisted on taking our luggage even though they couldn't understand us. They wouldn't stop where we asked them to and insisted we had to go to the end of the parking lot. Once he was gone we found our shuttle was waiting near the other end of the parking lot. When we got to the airport another group tried to grab our luggage to bring it into the terminal. It took several times explaining we would carry our own bags to get them to leave us alone.

Overall, we had a wonderful experience on the NCL Sky. Going into the cruise, we knew that the aging ship has already been sold and will leave the NCL fleet next year. As a result, we tempered our expecations and enjoyed our time on the ship. Barring a great itinerary, I don't think we'd choose the Sky again, but it delivered an overall enjoyable experience. As always the staff was wonderful. We did feel that they were understaffed in the crossings dining room and didn't get the usual attentive and quick service that we often experience on NCL. Food options on board were good, but not exceptional (don't order the brisket!). Le Bistro and Cagney's delivered great meals. La Cucina was underwhelming and not worth the upcharge (assuming it's not part of your package). We had a balcony room and while it felt small compared to other ships we've been on, the balcony seemed bigger. The bathroom seemed especially small with just a shower curtain instead of a door. We had a problem getting the water temperature to adjust correctly. Again, we knew it is an old ship and didn't let it bother us. While there are less than two thousand cruisers on board, it didn't feel particularly cozy or less crowded. In fact, we sailed the Viva last year and it felt more intimate than the Sky. Getting on board in Lisbon was very easy. We were in the first hour and spent just a few minutes going through the embarkation process. We always do a walkoff at the end, and that was also quick and easy. The Sky has an updated internet system and we found it worked just fine on the ship. Entertainment was good enough. Having enjoyed full broadway shows on some other NCL ships, the offerings on the Sky were more traditional. Two of the ensemble singers had absolutely amazing voices and definitely delivered great performances. Again, keep your expectations in check, and the shows are good enough. If you're sailing the Sky before it leaves the NCL family, just remember to keep your expectations reasonable. It's still a fun experience, just not at the level you're going to get from one of the newer ships.