Rating / Review for this cruise we paid 82.00 EUR per night at the Cat BA including U.S. travel insurance. As friends of Dorothy, the company went back on course by Dorothy
cruisebrothers.com .
I think it is a very good value.
course come back to those who say now, like a mantra that you can drive for the same price ... Celebrity yes in the Caribbean ... only because we wanted this time not out.
beautiful ship / Nice hardware : CELEBRITY EQUINOX
come back of course those who think like I do, that Holland America and Cunard or Princess but a lot better, but what I would get, for example, that daily price there, and we would have had to fly to the Caribbean.
course again come those who drive for 64,00 EUR / night prefer MSC, but only for a nice car and good coffee, it was too little, what else was offered.
We have a chance in Alexandria this coffee maker from the MSC to the SPLENDIDA NORWEGIAN JADE missed creating / We missed the chance to move this coffee machine from MSC to SPLENDIDA NORWEGIAN JADE
For this price, we have a very good product and get the experience was definitely one of the most beautiful ship we have ever had.
We have so deliberately booked a cruise, which had five days at sea and only an unknown port. The ports and our activities, we have not written in the blog.
ship - was in very good condition.
- Only the chair in the Star Bar was served something, but otherwise we had nothing to criticize.
- maybe they do it so at some point the shop area to rebuild so that you do not always feel that you are in for a 1-EUR-dime store.
- somehow we have neither a Central Park, ice or Aqua Show, a Flow Rider Zipline still missing. For us it was just the right size and the right offer.
The one night stands with drawers for each of the two of us would have been nice, like here on WESTERDAM. / Each of us with a night table drawers incl like on WESTERDAM would be nicer.
cabin -. They had the disadvantage that is always something down flew from the deck 12, but we had sun loungers (you have to think sometimes it anyway, that if the reclassification is whether such a high surcharge is justified, we it definitely will not pay)
-. Very small defects, the our lives are not affected.
- instant repair, as something serious with the air conditioning was.
- Our Pearl Elizabeth, who has really kept the car very clean.
Eating - In the main restaurant and the Garden Café, I had the impression that was saved in the selection. I am now even "flesh eaters", but not just lamb. Therefore noticed that there are times in a row at the grill station at the Garden Café and lamb were the same in the evening card.
- That noon, the card has not been changed and it is not really a soup of the day, but has a month or even years, where soup, so the waiters were unpleasant than me, which is certainly not more trusted to give an answer when I asked. I personally could live well with the corn soup, because I quite like to like. But with five days at sea plus Alexandria 2nd Day, in which many are indeed back and from Cairo, is the was very unimaginative.
- In general, however, the trend should be noted that means for the Zuzahlrestaurants, everything was expensive, and some show and experience that now was deleted. The anti-pasta-car is gone. Nothing is more flaming. Salads are not prepared at the table. Let's see, when El Pipo flies from the map.
- Shabu Shabu: from the food very good. For my taste a little bit for the money.
- Le Bistro: Very good. Nice that it is back in this high level.
- Paniolo: still good. Maybe even check the sharpness of the tuna.
- Pappa's Italian Kitchen: still angry that only the starters (no longer on the car) and then the cards are removed. Unchanged, since I know it. Why you can not just take the order, so that the cards will go. The new card I think otherwise fine. The classic Primo (pasta intermediate course) has been deleted. Is there now as a main course alternative. Should we stop asking.
- Teppanyaki: Show position unchanged, but it is absent in the Lobster Land and Sea. Nett was the Martini, which I personally do not have.
- Personally, I would like to see them in October for us a couple of kiwis and strawberries on board to garnish the fruit platter again and a different type of green tea. I can not drink this passion fruit type. I also like to pay for it.
- A water package that can use anywhere I would like celebrity class.
- Bruno, as usual, his muffin as grievance and will last, that leaves Eric Cousins times Holland America to taste me, taste must be like a really good muffin.
- And last but not least: the coffee. No problem to pay for it. There are certainly better than Lavazza coffee. But with Lavazza in all restaurants advertise, but to demand money and then use these beans in a coffee machine that can handle it impossible to really good coffee, is a kind of misnomer. We will compete well with its own espresso machine, but the next trip ...
A mint leaves and other cutting edge technology and already it looks from high-quality, like here on the OCEAN PRINCESS. / One leaf of mint and a different cutting technique and it looked much more like upgraded on OCEAN PRINCESS.
Shows - what we have seen was very good and certainly an occasion for us in October 2011 our tables so as to Book that we will not miss.
- the conversation clearly bears the signature of one of the best Cruise Directors, I was able to experience so far.
- Annoying were therefore only the error between the German and the English program, in which the times were different and that there was no single place and time for the FOD meetings and "Fountains" (but even that is a matter of taste and persölichen benefits).
- The rows in the theater, which went to the wall.
element could compete with shows like the Equinox CELEBRITY EQUINOX. / element could compete to shows like Equinox on CELEBRITY EQUINOX.
Spa - would in the gym but once a few products will be repaired, "said Bruno.
- The spa area we liked, so was our spa pass for 150 USD for the whole trip worthwhile
Crew - We felt more comfortable than anywhere else, because just to feel a general warmth was. Linked to helpfulness, kindness, etc.. Overall, it was so that we felt with 99.9% of the crew very well. With other ships, it was often the case that 49% was top notch and grottenschlecht 49% and therefore the feel-good feeling was not as high as I can just access each. Everyone is greeted and smiled. Whether a sailor or officer.
- When I think about it, it really has been only one case in which it was dependent on the daily form, whether it ran or not. Since Mon-Cheris have helped. But 1 / 1000 ... that's nothing ...
- We were of course welcome, because we have many met again that we have identified. Since we usually have a reputation for treating the crew very well, which was welcome and usually sincere and it shows. All names and why they have made our cruising so special, are described in the blog. Others like it do not care, but it is important to us.
- And it was not hard to find new friends and hopefully take on board any ship of the NCL fleet someone we know and to feel at home.
- The senior management and his block - that was fantastic, no matter who you spoke to: Block out everything listed, solved problems.
- Hotel Director Les anticipate everything, for his passengers, AT ANY TIME was there. The announcement of his phone number during the cruisecritic.com-M & G was not an empty promise but a living reality. Once I dialed the number, who promptly caught captain. Its representatives as Mirsad (F & B) or Alex (Housekeeping) were just as competent and approachable when they are seen anywhere added.
- Last but not least, Captain Kim - you just have to experience the ... I would imagine that he has a fan base that always posts the ship on which he operates. Maybe I will also a member.
Limited availability of the hotel manager and the captain for the guests on board / Limited availability of Hotel Director and Captain for the guests on board : WESTERDAM
So it is no wonder that we already booked for 2013. For the end of 2012, everything is open. We first have to survive the 14 days with our parents on the ZAANDAM early 2012. Then we decide for 2012. And October 2011, we pay you more than the 82.00 EUR / Night: 1 because it is an unusual route and 2 because we know what we get for a great product.
We liked it very much. Above all was the great thing about the crew who had the major contribution to a successful trip. But thank you. 
love at first sight / Love at the first sight : NORWEGIAN JADE in Barcelona 2008
For this cruise we had a cabin in Cat. BA for Which We payed 111.00 USD per night including travel insurance. As Friends of Dorothy we booked of course with Dorothy of cruisebrothers.com .
I think that this is a great value.
Of course those will come and argue again and again that you can go for this price also Celebrity... maybe in the Caribbean... but we did not want to go there. 
Schöne Größe / Nice size : WESTERDAM
Of course those will come and argue that Holland America or Cunard or Princess are much better but what would I get for the daily rate and we need to fly to the Caribbean again.
Of course those will come and argue that you can go for 64.00 EUR per night on MSC but just for a nice a cabin and good coffee it was too less what else they offer. 
Einfach mit dem Auto nach Genua wie bei MSC /
Simply embarking in Genoa by driving your car like with MSC
For this price we got a very good product and the ship experience was one of the nicest we ever had.
We booked knowingly a cruise which had 5 days on sea and only one unknown port. All ports and activities you can read in the blog.
Ship
- was in a very good condition.
- only the chairs in the Star Bar were somehow outworn but there was nothing else to talk about.
- maybe they make it one day to re-design the shop area that you do not have the feeling to be in a 1 dollar discount stores.
- somehow we did not missed a Central Park, ice or Aqua Show, a zipline or Flow Rider. It was the right size and the right offer. 
hand shower is not a normal standard balcony cabins on higher-value vessels / Hand Shower is no standard balcony cabins on standad in higher class ships : CELEBRITY EQUINOX. Will You had the Disadvantage that you find always something from Deck 12 but you had the deck chairs (You need to think if paying a much higher price after re-Categorizing is fine for this cabin We -
Cabin
. not pay the higher price.)
- Only small thinks which did not occur problems in our life.
- Immediate repair when we had a serious problem with our air-condition.
- Our pearl Elizabeth who kept our cabin super clean.
Food
- In the main dining rooms and in the Garden Café I had the impression that they reduced the number of options. I am a "meat lover" but not lamb. That why I had the impression that they had at the scarving station lamb on consequetive days in the Garden Café and again in the main dining room.
- As there were no changes for lunch and they did not have a soup of the day but month or year it was not comfortable with the waiters who did not dare to give me an answer. Personally I could live with the corn chowder as I like her. But with 5 days on sea and the 2nd day in Alexandria when many returned from Cairo it was somehow very uninspired.
- Generally we saw the tendency that they cut everything in the alternative restaurants which was a little more time-consuming and which means show and experience to the guests. The Antipasta-trolley was withdrawn. Nothing was flamed. Salads were not more prepared at the table. Let's see when they will withdraw El Pipo from the menu.
- Shabu Shabu: the food was great. But for my taste a little overpriced.
- Le Bistro: very good. Nice to see that it was on a high level again.
- Paniolo: unchanged good. Maybe you should check the spices with the tuna.
- Pappa's Italian Kitchen: it was still angry that you still (since I know the restaurant) need to carry the menu until the orders are taken but antipasta already served (even you did not have the trolley). Why is not it possible to take the orders first? I like the new menu. The classical Primo (intermediate course with pasta) was withdrawn. You had now Pasta as entree. But you still can ask.
- Teppanyaki: Show unchanged good but I missed the lobster with Land and Sea. Nice was the Martini although I did not like it.
- I would like to have some kiwis and strawberries for us to garnish our fruit plate and another sort of green tea. I cannot have the passion fruit sort anymore. I pay extra for it.
- A water package which you can use everywhere like on Celebrity would be great.
- Bruno has as usual a claim regarding the muffins and would like Eric Cousins to go Holland America to see how a true good muffin should taste.
- And last not least: the coffee. No problem to pay for. There are better coffee but Lavazza. But to advertise in all restaurants with Lavazza and ask for payment and only use the beans without machines which can process the good coffee is like false labelling. We would go with our own espresso machine on the next cruise... 
Gibt es leider nicht mehr: die besten Soda- und Kaffeekarten bei Holland America / No more available the best Soda- and Coffeecards with Holland America
Shows
- what we saw was very good and good reasons to make sure that we book our tables in October 2011 that we will not miss any of the shows.
- the entertainment was carried by one of the best cruise directors we ever know so far.
- So angry were only the little mistakes between the German and English programme where you might have different times and that there was no unique place and time for our Friends of Dorothy meetings and "Fountains" (always a question of personal taste and preferences).
- The seat rows in the theater which ended up at the wall. 
Ein klein wenig schöner / A little bit nicer : NORWEGIAN GEM
Spa
- In the gym you need to fix some of the training equipment Bruno said.
- We liked the spa-area so the 150 USD pass was worth for the whole cruise.
Crew
- We felt much more comfortable than anywhere else because of the general cordiality. Combined with helpfulness, friendliness etc.. In total we felt very well with 99.9% of the crew. With other ships we experienced that you have 49% superb and 49% most disappointing and so the well-beeing aspect was not so high like we have access to more or less everyone. Everybody greeted and smiled. No matter jack or officer.
- If I think about there was really only one single case which was depending to the daily form if it works or not. Even Mon-Cheris could not help. But 1/1000... that was nothing...
- Of course we were more welcome because we met many many who remembered us. As we normally have the reputation to treat the crew very nice their welcome back was sincere and you can feel it. All names and why they made OUR cruise very outstanding are mentioned in the blog. Other might do not like this but this is important to us.
- And it was never a problem to find new friends and so it will ease to find somebody on any NCL-ship who know us and make us feeling home.
- The senior-management and their notebook - that was phantastic: no matter whom you talk with: notebook, noted, problem solved.
- Ahead of the them Hotel Director Les who was available for his passengers AT ANY TIME. Telling us the phone number during the curisecritic.com-M&G was no empty promise it was living reality. Once I used the number and caught him with the Captain. His assistants like Mirsad (F&B) or Alex (Housekeeping) had the same compentency and were accessible at any time if you see them around.
- Last not least: Captain Kim - you must experience him yourself... I could imagine that he has a fan community and their member book all ships he is on. Maybe I will apply for membership. 
Der Chef's Table auf der OCEAN PRINCESS. Man stelle sich ein Chef's Table bei Messiah Ritzinger vor - mit Kenntnis über seine Fähigkeiten bei der Crew Show: NCL könnte 150 USD pro Ticket verlangen... / The Chef's Table on OCEAN PRINCESS. Imagine a Chef's Table with Messiah Ritzinger - with knowledge on his abilities during the crew show: NCL could charge 150 USD per ticket...
So it was no wonder that we booked already for 2013. For late 2012 everything is still open. We need first to survive the two weeks with our parents on ZAANDAM early 2012. Then we could decide for 2012. And we are paying more athan 111.00 USD/night and we are willing to do so for October 2011: 1. it's an extra-ordinary itinerary and 2. because we know what for a great product we get.
We liked it very much. Mostly it was because of the great crew who assured their best to make this cruise outstanding.Uns has it very much. Thanks so much for this.
