With all sailings featuring free unlimited open bar and with frequent weekend cruise itineraries, Norwegian Cruise Line’s 2,004-guest Norwegian Sky might be easily pigeonholed as a “party ship.” Bahamian cruises are not necessarily known for high quality service, elegant dining, luxury accommodation options and short lines at the bars, but the Norwegian Sky has managed to exceed expectations for even the most seasoned cruisers and cruise professionals, due now in part to the addition of Havana to its itineraries.
Nearly one year has passed since the Norwegian Sky’s first Cuba sailing in May 2017, giving her ample time to grow into the superior product she is today. With cultural experiences and one-of-a-kind shore excursions in Havana, the Sky is evolving.
The ship now attracts adventure-seekers on her newer four-day Cuba & Bahamas cruises, which stay overnight in Havana, in addition to those looking for fun and sun on three- and four-day Bahamas cruises. With 12 bars and lounges and a stop in Norwegian’s private island Great Stirrup Cay (also including free unlimited beverages), along with shore excursions and overnights in Havana, the Sky offers the best of both worlds: fun in the sun and a rich cultural experience.
As one of two ships from Norwegian’s Sun Class that offers free unlimited open bar on all sailings, Norwegian Sky carries preconceived notions and low expectations for seasoned cruisers, a favorable setting that can surprise and delight her guests. “I was pleasantly surprised with my recent experience aboard the Norwegian Sky,” says David Crooks, senior vice president-product and operations at World Travel Holdings, about his recent cruise to Havana. “Due to the open bar concept, I expected a party cruise atmosphere. My experience was far from that and I actually experienced the opposite.”
The addition of Havana, a destination that is proving to be one of the most popular in cruising, has increased the average fare on the Sky and simultaneously transformed the onboard experience. “Because of the higher cost of the cruise, I found the crowd to be more upscale and more interested in experiencing the very unique culture of Cuba than crowding the bars,” says Crooks. “Overall the Norwegian Sky certainly exceeded my expectations.”
At the same time, cruise guests who have want to enjoy partying on the Sky can rest easy, or “party easy,” since the ship’s three-day weekend cruises to the Bahamas at lower fares are still sailing year-round out of Miami.
Guests on Sky might be surprised at the relaxed atmosphere around the ship on a Cuba sailing. “I saw no lines at the bar which is another benefit to the open bar concept,” says Crooks. “One could quickly get a drink without long lines since there was no need for a cost transaction. I also was impressed by the several choice—many of which were top shelf liquors.”
Accommodations: The Sky offers accommodations ranging from suite, balcony, oceanview and inside staterooms. While the private luxury of The Haven by Norwegian, the line’s luxury ship within a ship concept, cannot be found on the Sky, the well-appointed suites are a great alternative for guests seeking premium accommodations.
Sky Suites sleep three to five guests and feature king- or queen-sized beds, luxury baths, private balconies. They are attractively sized from 402 to 835 square feet. The most impressive of these suites is the 835-square=foot Owner’s Suite with large balcony, which includes a walk-in closet, living room, dining room, and a separate bedroom with a king-size bed.
Another perk is the butler and concierge service that accompanies all suite accommodations. Guests lucky enough to have Kadek Astawa as their concierge on the Sky frequently joke that he is so good at exceeding expectations that he magically and unexplainably appears when needed.
The ship’s 245 balcony staterooms with floor-to-ceiling glass doors opening to a private balcony are 202 to 226 square feet and sleep up to three. The Family Oceanview large porthole window staterooms sleep up to four and feature two lower beds that convert into a queen-size bed and two pull down beds, making it perfect for bringing the kids along. There are 313 Oceanview staterooms and 429 Inside staterooms, practical accommodation options for guests who say they use their stateroom for just one thing: sleeping.
Dining: The Sky offers seven specialty and seven complimentary restaurants as part of Norwegian’s Freestyle dining concept. “The dining experience on the Sky far exceeded our expectations,” says Greg Coiro, CEO of Direct Line Cruises, Inc. “With evenings in Cagney’s Steakhouse, Il Adagio Italian Restaurant, Le Bistro French restaurant and the main dining room, every meal was presented in an attractive manner and more importantly the quality of food was superb.”
The ship’s two main dining rooms are more elegant than expected for complimentary dining options, with beautifully crafted daily menus featuring expertly prepared Chef's Signature Dishes and cheery wait service. In fact, the Sky’s onboard service rivals that of a luxury cruise product.
“My wife and I were thoroughly impressed with the five-star service we received while sailing on the Norwegian Sky to Cuba,” says Coiro. “Whether it was our cabin steward, waiter or waitress, or bar tender, we were always greeted with a warm, friendly smile. This in my opinion is a key factor in any vacation experience and the Norwegian Sky’s superb staff set the tone for an excellent trip.
If guests wish to have their dining arranged in advance, they can use Norwegian’s dining reservation system available fleetwide on NCL.com for nearly all restaurants. For relaxed dining, guests can choose between two complimentary buffets, the indoors Garden Café or the Great Outdoors Café, where they dine al fresco overlooking the ocean.
They can even enjoy the Sky’s dining from the comfort and privacy of their stateroom with 24 hours a day complimentary room service. In order to avoid the room service convenience charge of $7.95, guests must be sailing in a suite—one of the many on board perks suite guests enjoy on the Sky. A 20 percent gratuity and specialty service charge is added to all beverages and special occasion menu items.
Bars & Lounges: A standout of among the low-key spaces where you can enjoy free cocktails is the Outrigger Lounge, enclosed by floor-to-ceiling windows and with seating for 187. The lounge offers a roomy and peaceful atmosphere combined with a captain’s view of the ocean.
The Champagne Bar, which offers a premium selection of champagne and vodka, caviar, pate and foie gras, offers an even more sophisticated atmosphere. In Captain Cook’s, guests an unwind and savor sips of cognac, martinis and malt whiskeys.
But the beauty of the Sky is that guests can still opt for nighttime celebrations at venues like Dazzles Nightclub, a disco and bar with a 155-seating capacity and the longest Cabaret Bar at sea. Nightly entertainment includes comedy routines, shows, and dance parties.
These include Norwegian’s classic White Hot Party where guests dress in all white for a black light glowing party. Alternatively, they can kick back and relax on the pool deck with a beverage from Breakers Bar, the Sky’s energetic poolside bar on Deck 11, or opt for the more relaxed Champs Bar, which overlooks the lively pool deck from above on quieter Deck 12.
Entertainment: The crew are mindful of keeping certain venues more mellow than others, while also preserving Norwegian’s entertainment standard. The two-story Stardust Theater on Deck 6, with a seating capacity for 930, stages “Rock You Tonight,” a production where guests can travel back in time paying tribute to rock icons like Queen, Journey and The Who, and a fitting experience before cruising back in time to Old Havana.
Those who prefer to be the entertainment can head over to Dazzles Nightclub and join in on nightly game shows like Battle of The Sexes or head to Karaoke Madness in the Plantation Club on Deck 12. Outrigger Lounge stays mellow with special events like Canvas By U, a painting class, or live music. Guests also can try their hand at the Sky Club Casino on Deck 7 with Roulette, Blackjack and Craps.
Spa & Pools: Voted World's Best Cruise Spa by World Spa Awards, the Mandara Spa on Deck 11 offers Elemis Aroma Stone Therapy, a hot-stone massage and one of the many specialty treatments by well-trained massage therapists. Guests might be surprised that the Sky’s “Ladies Night” isn’t arranged at a bar of any kind, but instead at the spa. Ladies Night is a low-key special event where guests can play with professional skincare products in a DIY facial guided by an expert. The event is priced at $39, which guests can use as a spa credit toward any 50- or 75-minute treatment booked that night.
Two large outdoor swimming pools are surrounded by sun beds, deck chairs, five hot tubs, and the longest poolside bar at sea. Kids can enjoy their own private pool, Splashes Kid's Pool, which features a waterfall and a children's only hot tub nearby.
Activities: The ship has a surprising number of venues for active travelers. For example, sports enthusiasts can be found on the basketball/volleyball court, or even swinging off a tee at sea at the golf driving nets. The Body Waves Fitness Center includes state-of-the-art machines available 6 a.m. to 11 p.m.
Floor-to-ceiling windows with ocean views in the fitness center make physical exercise on vacation just a little more appealing. Athletic travelers who want to “party” together can join group spinning or aerobics classes in the fitness center. The outdoors jogging/walking track that circles Deck 6 is a great place to squeeze in a little workout before indulging in the Sky’s many dining venues.
Kids ages 3-12 also can dive into fun at Splash Academy on Deck 7, where parents can sign up and drop-off their kids at a complimentary youth program featuring arts and crafts, games, sports and more. The Zone is the Sky’s designated zone for teens ages 13-17 with Wii consoles, flat screen TVs, air hockey and an exclusive disco by night.
Fares & Pricing: Four-day Cuba & Bahamas cruises out of Miami on board the Norwegian Sky start at $399 for Inside staterooms to $2,799 for suites. All Sky sailings include Free Unlimited Open Bar, plus Norwegian’s Free at Sea promotion, which includes one, two or five free offers depending on stateroom category.
Contact: Call +973 17 216 411 or visit 24x7cruise.com.