From :    dpaulson@wcu.edu (Debbie)
Subject :    Review
Date :    Mon, 6 Jan 2003 11:07:48 -0500
 
My husband and I were on the Nordic Empress the week of Christmas and had a fabulous time! The ship was in immaculate condition, the food was tremendous, and the service extraordinary. This was our 7th cruise, but our 1st on Royal Caribbean and we will definitely cruise with RCCL again. Embarkation and de-embarkation can be trying times, but both went very smoothly. Security was tight and we had to show our photo ID's at least 3 times before we boarded the ship. We arrived at the pier around noon, my husband dropped me off with our luggage which was taken right away by a porter, and then we parked the car in the ramp garage across the street ($10/day payable when you park). We were in our cabin before 1pm and eating lunch in the Windjammer Cafe soon afterward. Our luggage arrived by the time we finished lunch. The casino was very good to both of us! We have travelled in the Caribbean and Mexico at least twice a year for the past 10 years and I think the best Pina Coladas we ever had were on the Nordic Empress. Our cabin was an inside on Deck 3 and Sterling was our cabin attendant....did a great job keeping our cabin clean and in order.  We had second seating and had a terrific wait staff of Edwin and Steve.  Again, I can't say enough about the attentive service we received. The Cozumel stop was chaotic because there were 11 cruise ships in port, so about 20,000 passengers vying for taxis, food, beach clubs, etc....we went to the Playa Sol Beach Club, but it took an hour just to find two lounges near the water. Just too many people! We did the Stingray City Swim and Snorkel in Grand Cayman and it was great fun. Shopping in GC is wonderful and we always stop to buy some Lladro porcelain in a store near the harbor. Two of our tablemates did the jungle walk and cave tubing in Belize and had alot of fun. My husband went shopping in Belize City and I stayed on board to sun and swim in the relative peace and quiet. Three negatives are the Cozumel stop because of too many other ship passengers in a small town, too many kids running wild in the pool area and splashing/jumping in the water (where were the parents???), and ignorant people taking your stuff off from lounge chairs around the pool and taking the lounges for themselves! I was gone for less than 15 minutes and a man had moved my stuff onto the lounge chair next to mine which was already claimed and he swore up and down he didn't do it. In general, trying to find a lounge chair on "at sea" days is very trying. We will definitely do another RCCL cruise again and I wholeheartedly recommend the Nordic Empress!

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