Review of my SKY cruise May 3-7 2010

[Venus4NU]

Background information: This was my 7th cruise. Carnival Imagination 2003, NCL Pearl Nov 2007, NCL Jewel Nov 2008, NCL Sky Aug 2009, NCL Pearl Nov 2009, NCL Pearl Jan 2010.

 

As you can see I have taken quite a few cruises and have previously been on the Sky just 6 months ago. I will do some comparing between the cruises and what has changed. In our group was two couples. We are in our 40’s and the other couple was in there 60’s.

 

Arrived at the Pier at noon. Was able to use the VIP check in as we booked through CAS. Was on the boat in under 20 minutes. Decided we weren’t in the mood for crowds and remembered there is not much seating in the buffet area so we went to the Palace for lunch. Only a handful of people were in the dining room. Had a nice relaxing lunch. While eating dinner they announced state rooms were ready. After lunch we proceeded to our staterooms. We had an inside cabin and was prepared for it to be small. I had checked online and knew out room was one of the smallest on this ship, HOWEVER, I had no idea it would be this small. Basically you opened the door and could turn sideways to access the small bathroom or take a leap and land in the bed. No real walking room around the bed so to speak. The other couple in our group had a comped cabin through CAS which was also an inside cabin. For an inside cabin it was very spacious with a small couch and desk. They had plenty of space. With out CAS discount we paid less than $200 a person so I am really not complaining. You get what you pay for.

 

We have always booked our cruises through CAS as they give us a nice discount and perks. YIKES!!! Some of those perks are gone. No longer do you get the coupon booklet where you can buy $10 in chips and get $15, nor the buy $10 in slot play and get $20, nor the spin the machine for a chance for a free cruise. However, they still have it advertised on the ship. It is on the LCD display on the slot machines, on the NCL television channels in the staterooms and in the Free Style Daily. When I asked the casino host about it she simply said “It’s not so easy to remove those things but we no longer offer it”. Huh? I even suggested to her that they throw a table cloth or something over the free cruise slot machine that has a huge sign on it stating you can spin between 7:00pm and 11:30pm. Can’t they remove the portion of the pre-programmed TV with the casino promotions? Speaking of the casino, we found the service horrible. My travel companion lost his players club card and asked for a new one. He was told they would replace it this one time and not again. This was said in a very rude voice. I will add that the cards were waiting for us in our rooms when we arrived and they still had the free drink card attached, however, we are not drinkers and did not take advantage of the free drinks. We also found the machines were very tight. I had put $40 in a two cent machine and won a total of 74 cents on that $40 when betting the minimum with all lines covered (80 cent bet). The casino did send some nice snacks to our room. Cookies were waiting when we arrives, mid cruise we had chocolates and a chocolate covered strawberries and the same thing on the last day of our cruise. A nice note from the CAS was delivered with each snack. On a better note, on Wednesday evening I put $20 in a gold fish machine and played for an hour before losing it. That was the best I did the entire trip in the ships casino. The rest of the time it just took my money with no play time. My travel companions are bigger gamblers and quit playing after the second night because they would lose $100 on the penny machine when betting the minimum with all lines covered in less than 10 minutes. The machines were just tight. I saw a lady lose $900 in 20 minutes on the penny machine with low bets. Never saw her hit anything worth getting excited about.

 

Food. We all know food is subjective. In my opinion the food on the Sky is sub par compared to 5 and 7 day cruises. It was still very good and I always found plenty to eat and never went hungry. I just don’t think they offered the variety nor taste and flavor that the longer cruises offer. We ate in the Palace dining room every evening. Did not go to specialty restaurants. Ate breakfast at the grill on the back of the ship and lunch either at the same grill or the buffet. The buffet is hard to navigate compared to the Pearl or Jewel because it is one long line versus the action stations. The buffet does not have the variety or volumn of food compared to the Pearl and Jewel. The food was still very good. Did not try room service. Ate at the 24 hour restaurant around midnight a couple times. They took the cheese sticks off the menu. BUMMER. Service was slow but good. The tomato soup and hamburgers are to die for. Did not eat in the Crossing dining room because we didn’t want to get out of our shorts and it is a no short dining room with the same menu as the Palace.

 

Ports: First day we stopped in Freeport. We choose to take a taxi into Lacuya on our own. Walked around the shopping area, went across the street to the casino. At the pier they were handing out a card for $10 in free slot play if you signed up for there players club card. The line was very long so we passed on it. I stuck $20 in a machine and decided to make a $10 donation. Was pleasantly surprised when won $20. High tailed it out of there while I was ahead. Went to the beach and took a little dip in the ocean. The air was hot and humid but the water was cool. Felt we were getting burned so we went back to the shopping area and bought a few little things (linens). Jumped on a cab and took it back to the ship ($5 each way).

 

Nassau: Busy day at port. 5 ships were in. Docked next to the Jewel. I was surprised that the Sky is not that much smaller when sitting next to each other. 2 Carnival and a RCCL ship were also in port. Took the water taxi over to Atlantas ($3 each way). Last time we took a cab. The cab is more expensive, HOT and takes longer. Really enjoyed the short water taxi. Decided to make a $40 donation to Atlantas but won $110 instead. WHOOPEEE that makes me even for what I had lost in the casino on the Sky. Went down to the digs and enjoyed that and walked around the balcony on the back of the resort. Walked through the marina before catching the water taxi back to the pier. Went through the shopping district and into the steaming hot tent at the straw market. I had planned to go in there and haggle away and buy some knock off purses. Back in August I had a hard time getting them to come down on the purses. They wanted $80 a piece and very few would come down to $40 on the ones I wanted. Totally different this time around. They started at $50 and with little effort came down to $30-35 range. Bought 5 of them. I still prefer shopping in St. Thomas for my knock offs but am happy with my purchases. The purses I bought are of good quality and not cheap looking. Didn’t buy anything else.

 

Great Stirrup Cay: Took a tender at around noon over to the island. Found beach chairs right away. (Every other time I have been on the island I either have to wait or settle for the sand). They have really cut back on the hours they serve the BBQ lunch. It was only 11-2 and they closed it down promptly at 2 although we were there until 5. I think back in August they served until 3:30 or 4. Lunch was good. The water was bitter cold. It was nearly as cold as in January. In January on the Pearl the water was so cold that after 15 minutes in it you were still not use to it and just had to get out. Hypothermia was setting in but the snorkeling was awesome if you could handle the cold water. This time after 10 minutes you felt cold but not like your body was going to shut down on you. We only waded out to about our waist or a little bit more. The air temp was hot and humid so it did feel good.

 

Funniest comment I heard: While wading into the ocean on the private island there were tons of schools of very small transparent fish. Very pretty and small. I heard this female (maybe around thirty) tell her friend/relative that the beach is all man made and any fish that were there they had to bring in and put in the water,. She said she just did not understand why they would bring in fish that swam so close to shore and why so many. WHAT??????? I have never laughed so hard. I wanted to tell her that the island and beach are real as is the water and fish. I figured she was to dumb to understand that this was a real ocean. Still laughing as I think about it.

 

Disembark: We did the express where you carry off your own luggage when you want. We walked off at about 9:30. The line off was about 5-10 minute wait and very effortless.

 

Entertainment: No Jean Ann Rimes (?) shows this time. They had 4 singers (2 male and 2 female). Outside the Stardust Lounge was a write up about the 4 performers and their backgrounds. They were hit and miss. Two of them sang wonderful and one guy was just plain terrible and one of the females had a very obvious attitude that was like we should be privledged that she was gracing us with her presence. First night was a rock and roll review type show. It was good. They had some back up dancers and singers but they weren’t introduced so not sure who they were. We skipped the broadway review show. Saw the singers again at the farewell show. Again hit or miss depending on the song they were singing. The cruise director (Rob Sugar) and his staff did the wonderful Fountains show and it was hilarious. (more on Rob later). Comedian was Rick Purpura was ok and I enjoyed his show but I don’t care for him as an individual (more on that too). Watched the Newlywed Not So Newlywed Show. Had I not seen them pick the couples randomly (lottery type drawing out of a cup) I would have thought it was all staged. The couples were great!!! All three of them were very entertaining. The best Not So Newlywed show I have seen on any ship. Skipped on the Liars Club but watched it on TV late one night. Glad I didn’t waste the time to go to it. It was HORRIBLE. Rich Purpura was having a side conversation with someone standing off to the side and he obviously was not interested in doing the show. He was constantly rolling his eyes at the other 2 people who were participating and missed the majority of his cues. Rob Sugar talked so fast with his heavy accent and made numerous errors off of his script. It was very poorly pulled off. The show can be great entertainment when the staff have enthusiasm and have fun with it. Also went to the Adult Quest Show that we always enjoy. It was fun to watch. (We didn’t participate. We usually do but we won it on the Jan cruise and felt we would have to much of an advantage knowing what they were going to ask). One thing to note, in 7 cruises team 69 ALWAYS wins.

 

About the cruise director. The Sky has a new Cruise Director named Rob Sugar. Because of him alone I won’t cruise on the Sky again. I just plain do not care for him. We have always had great CD, some of them have been wild and some very mellow, some men and some woman. The CD can make or break a cruise. Rob is just plain rotten. (My personal favorite was Shona from the Pearl Nov ‘09 and Julie Pearl Jan ‘10). In August Matt Baker was the CD on the Sky and we really enjoyed him. Matt was on this cruise but in the back scenes *mentoring* Rob, or so we were told. I did see Matt at the Adult Quest and I asked where he was headed. He said in July he goes on the Gem out of NY. Back to Rob Sugar. He constantly let us know this was his first cruise and kept say “Give up for me if you think I am doing a great job”. I guess I was turned off the first night when he said after the singers and dancers performed “Weren’t they just great? They have hard bodies and all covered with sweat and that is just talking about the guys.” Ok, now I don’t have a problem with gays. In fact, I can’t tell you in the past which CD were straight or which were not. Sexual orientation really does not matter. Rob took every opportunity to let everyone know he prefers men and it got annoying and uncomfortable to see him keep talking about guys IN THE MICROPHONE! At the Adult Quest show one of the quest was for a guy on each team to take off his shirt. Rob made a point to say they needed to come to him in order to get the team point. The next quest he said “Fair is fair, one female from each team needs to come up and flash Rich Purpura in order to get their point because ‘I am not interested in seeing them.” Some young girl came up and flashed him, after the quest he called the girl back up there and said into the microphone “Dear, you need to flash Rich, you and I don’t ride on the same bus.” Again, had to verbally let everyone know in the room that he is gay. I felt really bad for that girl as she was put on the spot with no come back lines. Yes, I know the Adult Quest can get offensive and I enjoy that type of fun but to put her on the spot about not being interested in her because she was a female, and a nice looking one at that, is just wrong. It got really really old that he took every opportunity to let everyone know he was gay.

 

Let’s move on to the white hot party. We are not interested in this type of dance music but it is fun to watch sometimes. In August we sat on the upper deck (it is held around the pool) and watched it for a couple hours. This time we walked through to the way back area of the dance area to where the bar was. There is Rob Sugar with his angel wings on (like all CD wears at the white hot party) surrounded by his staff in there staff shirts, drinking and having a good time. They were not mingling with the guest and they were not approachable. It was obvious they were having there own party. Several times when Rob was on the stage introducing a show or after a show he would make comments about staying up late with so and so (members of his staff) and drinking and partying so late that they were surprised they made it the shows.

 

All in all I was just really put off by the guy. I know as a new CD he has some kinks to work out and needs to grow into the job. I can see that with the way he sometimes stutters in the microphone or how he forgot to explain what the Adult Quest show was about and the rules or when he forgot questions with the Not so Newlywed game show. Those are bloopers you expect to see with someone new. I can handle those. The other stuff was just to much TMI and to stuck on himself and his new found authority. NCL please get rid of him he is just going to bring the ship down!!!

 

We usually always buy a future cruise certificate and than watch for good sales and book. The terms have changed again. Now they are only good on 6 day sailings or longer. We didn’t buy one this time around as we never know what we might want to do. I can understand them putting a limit on them but 5 day sailings would have been nice too.

 

As I said in the beginning I probably won’t go on the Sky again. I do not care for Rob Sugar. He does not need to make his jokes about being gay or inform us of his sexual orientation anymore than I need to inform others of mine. Being gay is not part of his job. Also, after doing a few 5 day and 7 day cruises I am spoiled. The Sky is port heavy with not much time to enjoy the ship. She is a beautiful ship with lots of nice spaces that you can’t enjoy with such a port heavy itenerary. The Captain Cook’s lounge and Longboarders Lounge (I think that’s the name - the lounge on deck 11 on the bow of the ship) are beautiful public areas worth spending some time in. The library and game rooms are very unique. I enjoyed using the game room to make a few phone calls while in port as it was quite and no one else was in there.

[sparks1093]

The Jewel was inport when we were on the 4/26 sailing and the Sky looked a lot smaller, here's a stern shot with the Sky on the left. Rob was the assistant CD and while I didn't see him a whole lot I wasn't impressed. He definitely has big shoes to fill taking Matt's place. Thanks for the review.

[david_sobe]

Nice review but did you write or post in the review section? I was on this exact cruise in January. It is a busy schedule to keep. There are no sleep in days with you waking up in a new port every morning. Freeport, Nassau, Great Stirrup Cay, Miami.

The ship is small enough that after 4 nights, you do see it all. I LOVED the Sky but the ONLY thing I did not like about the Sky was the entertainment and theater. But for the price of the cruise, I was not expecting a Vegas act.

The line about the fish was funny. Would the fish not swim away? :) But it is a man made beach. It would be very rocky if it was not poured with sand.

 

The only concern I have with your review is your reason for not sailing the Sky again. The CD should never be a reason why you dont sail again. I think he was trying to be funny with the gay jokes. You dont have to find them funny but to be so turned off to not sail again because of gay jokes is a bit crazy. Dont let it ruin your vacation. Being a cruise director is a tough job. I would give the guy a break since it was his first cruise as a cruise director.

When I was on the Jewel, the CD got on my nerves but it would never allow me to not sail the Jewel again. They have one of the most difficult jobs ever. I think he was just trying to be funny and sorry you were so offended.

 

;)

[Venus4NU]

Nice review but did you write or post in the review section? I was on this exact cruise in January. It is a busy schedule to keep. There are no sleep in days with you waking up in a new port every morning. Freeport, Nassau, Great Stirrup Cay, Miami.

The ship is small enough that after 4 nights, you do see it all. I LOVED the Sky but the ONLY thing I did not like about the Sky was the entertainment and theater. But for the price of the cruise, I was not expecting a Vegas act.

The line about the fish was funny. Would the fish not swim away? :) But it is a man made beach. It would be very rocky if it was not poured with sand.

 

The only concern I have with your review is your reason for not sailing the Sky again. The CD should never be a reason why you dont sail again. I think he was trying to be funny with the gay jokes. You dont have to find them funny but to be so turned off to not sail again because of gay jokes is a bit crazy. Dont let it ruin your vacation. Being a cruise director is a tough job. I would give the guy a break since it was his first cruise as a cruise director.

When I was on the Jewel, the CD got on my nerves but it would never allow me to not sail the Jewel again. They have one of the most difficult jobs ever. I think he was just trying to be funny and sorry you were so offended.

 

;)

Having sailed the Sky twice now and not having any sea days and being so port heavy is my primary reason for not doing the Sky again. I like those lazy sea days.... BUT, if the price is right I probably would have considered it prior to Rob Sugar. He just tipped the scale too far for me.

 

Yes, the cruise director has a tough job. I can give the guy slack for the blunders he made. I can give the guy slack for talking so fast and forgetting stuff. It was the attitude and gay comments that got to me. I ran into someone at the 24 hour restaurant and her group was feeling the same way. I have many gay friends and have never seen anyone flaunt it the way he did. It was like a mission he had to come out of the closet on his opening cruise.

 

I wish I could remember the whole conversation verbatim with the lady about the fish. It was so stupid it was hilarious. I laughed about it all day. And no the fish didn't swim away but they were so tiny they just kinda stayed there - maybe moving a foot or two off to your side. Her whole conversation was so convincing that NCL built this island, the beach, brought the ocean in and than the fish. I wanted to ask her how NCL got the ship from the ocean into the man made water on the man made island in the middle of the ocean. Her friends/family just stood there and agreed with her. It was all so surreal. And she was NOT drunk! (she wasn't blond but she didn't look to be the sharpest knife in the drawer).

[luvmysox1]

Venus,

 

I was on this cruise too. It was 1st on NCL and I won't return to them. I did love the ports of call. I did a review in review section but for cc to approve it.

 

I noticed that the staff was more into each other then taking care of us. In alot of public areas pool deck and buffet the employees were hanging on each other in a romantic sense. I thought it put NCL in bad light. I acted like that on my job wearing my uniform, they would have probably fired me. I thought their areas were away from the guest. I never seen that on a "fun ship" (CCL).Their crew party was more happening than any of our parties. We walked up there but got kicked out. I thought there was a club up there. Oh well.

[alwalaska]

Venus,

 

I was on this cruise too. It was 1st on NCL and I won't return to them. I did love the ports of call. I did a review in review section but for cc to approve it.

 

I noticed that the staff was more into each other then taking care of us. In alot of public areas pool deck and buffet the employees were hanging on each other in a romantic sense. I thought it put NCL in bad light. I acted like that on my job wearing my uniform, they would have probably fired me. I thought their areas were away from the guest. I never seen that on a "fun ship" (CCL).Their crew party was more happening than any of our parties. We walked up there but got kicked out. I thought there was a club up there. Oh well.

 

I know you were really looking forward to this cruise. I'm sorry that it wasn't all you hoped it would be.

 

We didn't see any of the staff hanging on each other and our service was really good, but things can definitely change over a couple of months. We heard many of the staff saying they were near the end of their contracts. I also think the leadership can set the tone for the other staff.

 

We sat through the end of Bingo one day so that we could get decent seats for the show that evening. They were running pretty much back to back in the same location. I was not impressed with Rob Sugar. I was kind of shocked when I heard he was going to be the new CD. I really enjoyed Matt Baker as CD.

[eroller]

He constantly let us know this was his first cruise and kept say “Give up for me if you think I am doing a great job”. I guess I was turned off the first night when he said after the singers and dancers performed “Weren’t they just great? They have hard bodies and all covered with sweat and that is just talking about the guys.” Ok, now I don’t have a problem with gays. In fact, I can’t tell you in the past which CD were straight or which were not. Sexual orientation really does not matter. Rob took every opportunity to let everyone know he prefers men and it got annoying and uncomfortable to see him keep talking about guys IN THE MICROPHONE! At the Adult Quest show one of the quest was for a guy on each team to take off his shirt. Rob made a point to say they needed to come to him in order to get the team point. The next quest he said “Fair is fair, one female from each team needs to come up and flash Rich Purpura in order to get their point because ‘I am not interested in seeing them.” Some young girl came up and flashed him, after the quest he called the girl back up there and said into the microphone “Dear, you need to flash Rich, you and I don’t ride on the same bus.”

 

 

 

Hmm. Now you can see what I have to put up with on almost every cruise with the straight CD's. I have to listen to them make the same type of comments, suggestions, corny jokes, and chauvinistic remarks towards the girls. It gets old.

 

I wonder if the same type of comments from a straight CD towards the girls bothers you as much, or if it was just because the CD was gay and his comments were directed towards other men?

 

I have a feeling you don't even realize it when the straight CD's make the same type of remarks, because you are so used to it and perhaps you don't find it offensive?

 

I'm just saying it goes both ways.

 

Ernie

[OceanDreaming2]

With Matt Baker gone as CD, I have second thoughts about our August cruise on the Sky. He "made" the cruise for us in the past.

[alwalaska]

Hmm. Now you can see what I have to put up with on almost every cruise with the straight CD's. I have to listen to them make the same type of comments, suggestions, corny jokes, and chauvinistic remarks towards the girls. It gets old.

 

I wonder if the same type of comments from a straight CD towards the girls bothers you as much, or if it was just because the CD was gay and his comments were directed towards other men?

 

I have a feeling you don't even realize it when the straight CD's make the same type of remarks, because you are so used to it and perhaps you don't find it offensive?

 

I'm just saying it goes both ways.

 

Ernie

 

Although I did not hear these comments from Sugar, he just annoyed me for the few minutes I was at Bingo waiting for Bingo to end and the show to start with his overall attitude. I didn't even realize he was gay. Although, looking back on it, if I was going with stereotypes, I probably could have guessed it.

 

I can honestly say, I am equally annoyed by CDs making comments at girls. I think this is one of the reasons I liked Matt Baker. Yes, he made one or two comments (I'm sure there are people who would be disappointed if he didn't), but it was not a normal part of his comments. We had one CD that I pretty much tuned out at all times because he was constantly offensive to me.

 

I'm not speaking for anyone else, just me.

[djmike]

You have no idea how much pressure it is to perform under the lights. Especially when another CD is in the back watching and it's your first cruise.

 

Ernie makes a great point and although comments either way don't really bother me I think you need to cut him some slack as opposed to writting a 3 paragraph article cutting him down. I know Rob reads CC and this type of review would rip his heart out.

 

As CD's we try our very best, when I was first promoted back in 2005 I am sure I made a ton of errors, constructive feedback is the best way to correct not the "off with his head approach".

 

So if you didn't care for him say that but it seems you had a personal agenda.

 

Mike

[sjnyc323]

You know everyone is entittled to his opinion but seems like a lynch mob out here. i personally think Sugar is great. he was the assistant CD on the Gem Transatlantic cruise and he really made it fun.

 

 

You have no idea how much pressure it is to perform under the lights. Especially when another CD is in the back watching and it's your first cruise.

 

Ernie makes a great point and although comments either way don't really bother me I think you need to cut him some slack as opposed to writting a 3 paragraph article cutting him down. I know Rob reads CC and this type of review would rip his heart out.

 

As CD's we try our very best, when I was first promoted back in 2005 I am sure I made a ton of errors, constructive feedback is the best way to correct not the "off with his head approach".

 

So if you didn't care for him say that but it seems you had a personal agenda.

 

Mike

[david_sobe]

If you dont cruise again because of a cruise director or a cruise director made you have a bad cruise, you should not be cruising.

There was something that annoyed me with a CD on the Jewel once. However, it made no impact on how I enjoyed my cruise or decision to go back.

I think every cruise I have been on, the CD was gay or seemed gay. Big deal. I am there to enjoy the vacation. I do feel for them because they have to create excitment and try to be funny all the time. That can be a hard task.

[eroller]

You have no idea how much pressure it is to perform under the lights. Especially when another CD is in the back watching and it's your first cruise.

 

Ernie makes a great point and although comments either way don't really bother me I think you need to cut him some slack as opposed to writting a 3 paragraph article cutting him down. I know Rob reads CC and this type of review would rip his heart out.

 

As CD's we try our very best, when I was first promoted back in 2005 I am sure I made a ton of errors, constructive feedback is the best way to correct not the "off with his head approach".

 

So if you didn't care for him say that but it seems you had a personal agenda.

 

Mike

 

 

Mike,

Do you know if Rob will be onboard the July 23 sailing? I'll be onboard that weekend and it would be a refreshing change to have a gay CD.

 

Thanks.

 

Ernie

[djmike]

no idea but I know you can find him on facebook.

[judipa]

Background information: This was my 7th cruise. Carnival Imagination 2003, NCL Pearl Nov 2007, NCL Jewel Nov 2008, NCL Sky Aug 2009, NCL Pearl Nov 2009, NCL Pearl Jan 2010.

 

As you can see I have taken quite a few cruises and have previously been on the Sky just 6 months ago. I will do some comparing between the cruises and what has changed. In our group was two couples. We are in our 40’s and the other couple was in there 60’s.

 

Arrived at the Pier at noon. Was able to use the VIP check in as we booked through CAS. Was on the boat in under 20 minutes. Decided we weren’t in the mood for crowds and remembered there is not much seating in the buffet area so we went to the Palace for lunch. Only a handful of people were in the dining room. Had a nice relaxing lunch. While eating dinner they announced state rooms were ready. After lunch we proceeded to our staterooms. We had an inside cabin and was prepared for it to be small. I had checked online and knew out room was one of the smallest on this ship, HOWEVER, I had no idea it would be this small. Basically you opened the door and could turn sideways to access the small bathroom or take a leap and land in the bed. No real walking room around the bed so to speak. The other couple in our group had a comped cabin through CAS which was also an inside cabin. For an inside cabin it was very spacious with a small couch and desk. They had plenty of space. With out CAS discount we paid less than $200 a person so I am really not complaining. You get what you pay for.

 

We have always booked our cruises through CAS as they give us a nice discount and perks. YIKES!!! Some of those perks are gone. No longer do you get the coupon booklet where you can buy $10 in chips and get $15, nor the buy $10 in slot play and get $20, nor the spin the machine for a chance for a free cruise. However, they still have it advertised on the ship. It is on the LCD display on the slot machines, on the NCL television channels in the staterooms and in the Free Style Daily. When I asked the casino host about it she simply said “It’s not so easy to remove those things but we no longer offer it”. Huh? I even suggested to her that they throw a table cloth or something over the free cruise slot machine that has a huge sign on it stating you can spin between 7:00pm and 11:30pm. Can’t they remove the portion of the pre-programmed TV with the casino promotions? Speaking of the casino, we found the service horrible. My travel companion lost his players club card and asked for a new one. He was told they would replace it this one time and not again. This was said in a very rude voice. I will add that the cards were waiting for us in our rooms when we arrived and they still had the free drink card attached, however, we are not drinkers and did not take advantage of the free drinks. We also found the machines were very tight. I had put $40 in a two cent machine and won a total of 74 cents on that $40 when betting the minimum with all lines covered (80 cent bet). The casino did send some nice snacks to our room. Cookies were waiting when we arrives, mid cruise we had chocolates and a chocolate covered strawberries and the same thing on the last day of our cruise. A nice note from the CAS was delivered with each snack. On a better note, on Wednesday evening I put $20 in a gold fish machine and played for an hour before losing it. That was the best I did the entire trip in the ships casino. The rest of the time it just took my money with no play time. My travel companions are bigger gamblers and quit playing after the second night because they would lose $100 on the penny machine when betting the minimum with all lines covered in less than 10 minutes. The machines were just tight. I saw a lady lose $900 in 20 minutes on the penny machine with low bets. Never saw her hit anything worth getting excited about.

 

Food. We all know food is subjective. In my opinion the food on the Sky is sub par compared to 5 and 7 day cruises. It was still very good and I always found plenty to eat and never went hungry. I just don’t think they offered the variety nor taste and flavor that the longer cruises offer. We ate in the Palace dining room every evening. Did not go to specialty restaurants. Ate breakfast at the grill on the back of the ship and lunch either at the same grill or the buffet. The buffet is hard to navigate compared to the Pearl or Jewel because it is one long line versus the action stations. The buffet does not have the variety or volumn of food compared to the Pearl and Jewel. The food was still very good. Did not try room service. Ate at the 24 hour restaurant around midnight a couple times. They took the cheese sticks off the menu. BUMMER. Service was slow but good. The tomato soup and hamburgers are to die for. Did not eat in the Crossing dining room because we didn’t want to get out of our shorts and it is a no short dining room with the same menu as the Palace.

 

Ports: First day we stopped in Freeport. We choose to take a taxi into Lacuya on our own. Walked around the shopping area, went across the street to the casino. At the pier they were handing out a card for $10 in free slot play if you signed up for there players club card. The line was very long so we passed on it. I stuck $20 in a machine and decided to make a $10 donation. Was pleasantly surprised when won $20. High tailed it out of there while I was ahead. Went to the beach and took a little dip in the ocean. The air was hot and humid but the water was cool. Felt we were getting burned so we went back to the shopping area and bought a few little things (linens). Jumped on a cab and took it back to the ship ($5 each way).

 

Nassau: Busy day at port. 5 ships were in. Docked next to the Jewel. I was surprised that the Sky is not that much smaller when sitting next to each other. 2 Carnival and a RCCL ship were also in port. Took the water taxi over to Atlantas ($3 each way). Last time we took a cab. The cab is more expensive, HOT and takes longer. Really enjoyed the short water taxi. Decided to make a $40 donation to Atlantas but won $110 instead. WHOOPEEE that makes me even for what I had lost in the casino on the Sky. Went down to the digs and enjoyed that and walked around the balcony on the back of the resort. Walked through the marina before catching the water taxi back to the pier. Went through the shopping district and into the steaming hot tent at the straw market. I had planned to go in there and haggle away and buy some knock off purses. Back in August I had a hard time getting them to come down on the purses. They wanted $80 a piece and very few would come down to $40 on the ones I wanted. Totally different this time around. They started at $50 and with little effort came down to $30-35 range. Bought 5 of them. I still prefer shopping in St. Thomas for my knock offs but am happy with my purchases. The purses I bought are of good quality and not cheap looking. Didn’t buy anything else.

 

Great Stirrup Cay: Took a tender at around noon over to the island. Found beach chairs right away. (Every other time I have been on the island I either have to wait or settle for the sand). They have really cut back on the hours they serve the BBQ lunch. It was only 11-2 and they closed it down promptly at 2 although we were there until 5. I think back in August they served until 3:30 or 4. Lunch was good. The water was bitter cold. It was nearly as cold as in January. In January on the Pearl the water was so cold that after 15 minutes in it you were still not use to it and just had to get out. Hypothermia was setting in but the snorkeling was awesome if you could handle the cold water. This time after 10 minutes you felt cold but not like your body was going to shut down on you. We only waded out to about our waist or a little bit more. The air temp was hot and humid so it did feel good.

 

Funniest comment I heard: While wading into the ocean on the private island there were tons of schools of very small transparent fish. Very pretty and small. I heard this female (maybe around thirty) tell her friend/relative that the beach is all man made and any fish that were there they had to bring in and put in the water,. She said she just did not understand why they would bring in fish that swam so close to shore and why so many. WHAT??????? I have never laughed so hard. I wanted to tell her that the island and beach are real as is the water and fish. I figured she was to dumb to understand that this was a real ocean. Still laughing as I think about it.

 

Disembark: We did the express where you carry off your own luggage when you want. We walked off at about 9:30. The line off was about 5-10 minute wait and very effortless.

 

Entertainment: No Jean Ann Rimes (?) shows this time. They had 4 singers (2 male and 2 female). Outside the Stardust Lounge was a write up about the 4 performers and their backgrounds. They were hit and miss. Two of them sang wonderful and one guy was just plain terrible and one of the females had a very obvious attitude that was like we should be privledged that she was gracing us with her presence. First night was a rock and roll review type show. It was good. They had some back up dancers and singers but they weren’t introduced so not sure who they were. We skipped the broadway review show. Saw the singers again at the farewell show. Again hit or miss depending on the song they were singing. The cruise director (Rob Sugar) and his staff did the wonderful Fountains show and it was hilarious. (more on Rob later). Comedian was Rick Purpura was ok and I enjoyed his show but I don’t care for him as an individual (more on that too). Watched the Newlywed Not So Newlywed Show. Had I not seen them pick the couples randomly (lottery type drawing out of a cup) I would have thought it was all staged. The couples were great!!! All three of them were very entertaining. The best Not So Newlywed show I have seen on any ship. Skipped on the Liars Club but watched it on TV late one night. Glad I didn’t waste the time to go to it. It was HORRIBLE. Rich Purpura was having a side conversation with someone standing off to the side and he obviously was not interested in doing the show. He was constantly rolling his eyes at the other 2 people who were participating and missed the majority of his cues. Rob Sugar talked so fast with his heavy accent and made numerous errors off of his script. It was very poorly pulled off. The show can be great entertainment when the staff have enthusiasm and have fun with it. Also went to the Adult Quest Show that we always enjoy. It was fun to watch. (We didn’t participate. We usually do but we won it on the Jan cruise and felt we would have to much of an advantage knowing what they were going to ask). One thing to note, in 7 cruises team 69 ALWAYS wins.

 

About the cruise director. The Sky has a new Cruise Director named Rob Sugar. Because of him alone I won’t cruise on the Sky again. I just plain do not care for him. We have always had great CD, some of them have been wild and some very mellow, some men and some woman. The CD can make or break a cruise. Rob is just plain rotten. (My personal favorite was Shona from the Pearl Nov ‘09 and Julie Pearl Jan ‘10). In August Matt Baker was the CD on the Sky and we really enjoyed him. Matt was on this cruise but in the back scenes *mentoring* Rob, or so we were told. I did see Matt at the Adult Quest and I asked where he was headed. He said in July he goes on the Gem out of NY. Back to Rob Sugar. He constantly let us know this was his first cruise and kept say “Give up for me if you think I am doing a great job”. I guess I was turned off the first night when he said after the singers and dancers performed “Weren’t they just great? They have hard bodies and all covered with sweat and that is just talking about the guys.” Ok, now I don’t have a problem with gays. In fact, I can’t tell you in the past which CD were straight or which were not. Sexual orientation really does not matter. Rob took every opportunity to let everyone know he prefers men and it got annoying and uncomfortable to see him keep talking about guys IN THE MICROPHONE! At the Adult Quest show one of the quest was for a guy on each team to take off his shirt. Rob made a point to say they needed to come to him in order to get the team point. The next quest he said “Fair is fair, one female from each team needs to come up and flash Rich Purpura in order to get their point because ‘I am not interested in seeing them.” Some young girl came up and flashed him, after the quest he called the girl back up there and said into the microphone “Dear, you need to flash Rich, you and I don’t ride on the same bus.” Again, had to verbally let everyone know in the room that he is gay. I felt really bad for that girl as she was put on the spot with no come back lines. Yes, I know the Adult Quest can get offensive and I enjoy that type of fun but to put her on the spot about not being interested in her because she was a female, and a nice looking one at that, is just wrong. It got really really old that he took every opportunity to let everyone know he was gay.

 

Let’s move on to the white hot party. We are not interested in this type of dance music but it is fun to watch sometimes. In August we sat on the upper deck (it is held around the pool) and watched it for a couple hours. This time we walked through to the way back area of the dance area to where the bar was. There is Rob Sugar with his angel wings on (like all CD wears at the white hot party) surrounded by his staff in there staff shirts, drinking and having a good time. They were not mingling with the guest and they were not approachable. It was obvious they were having there own party. Several times when Rob was on the stage introducing a show or after a show he would make comments about staying up late with so and so (members of his staff) and drinking and partying so late that they were surprised they made it the shows.

 

All in all I was just really put off by the guy. I know as a new CD he has some kinks to work out and needs to grow into the job. I can see that with the way he sometimes stutters in the microphone or how he forgot to explain what the Adult Quest show was about and the rules or when he forgot questions with the Not so Newlywed game show. Those are bloopers you expect to see with someone new. I can handle those. The other stuff was just to much TMI and to stuck on himself and his new found authority. NCL please get rid of him he is just going to bring the ship down!!!

 

We usually always buy a future cruise certificate and than watch for good sales and book. The terms have changed again. Now they are only good on 6 day sailings or longer. We didn’t buy one this time around as we never know what we might want to do. I can understand them putting a limit on them but 5 day sailings would have been nice too.

 

As I said in the beginning I probably won’t go on the Sky again. I do not care for Rob Sugar. He does not need to make his jokes about being gay or inform us of his sexual orientation anymore than I need to inform others of mine. Being gay is not part of his job. Also, after doing a few 5 day and 7 day cruises I am spoiled. The Sky is port heavy with not much time to enjoy the ship. She is a beautiful ship with lots of nice spaces that you can’t enjoy with such a port heavy itenerary. The Captain Cook’s lounge and Longboarders Lounge (I think that’s the name - the lounge on deck 11 on the bow of the ship) are beautiful public areas worth spending some time in. The library and game rooms are very unique. I enjoyed using the game room to make a few phone calls while in port as it was quite and no one else was in there.

 

I cannot understand this post. I was on a TA with Rob Sugar, as Asst CD, for 13 days and found him to be great fun and very responsible in his job to make our trip FUN. He was terrific and i wondered at the time why NCL had not made him a CD yet. I would cruise with Sugar any time!!!!

[Venus4NU]

You have no idea how much pressure it is to perform under the lights. Especially when another CD is in the back watching and it's your first cruise.

 

Ernie makes a great point and although comments either way don't really bother me I think you need to cut him some slack as opposed to writting a 3 paragraph article cutting him down. I know Rob reads CC and this type of review would rip his heart out.

 

As CD's we try our very best, when I was first promoted back in 2005 I am sure I made a ton of errors, constructive feedback is the best way to correct not the "off with his head approach".

 

So if you didn't care for him say that but it seems you had a personal agenda.

 

Mike

 

I give him slack for the nervousness and mistakes he made. It was funny that he completely started the Quest game and forgot to tell the audiance what the game was about. The assistant CD interupted him and told him to explain what the game was about before starting it. I chucked at that and dismissed it as being new. He misintroduced people a few times and once he couldn't get the words out. Those are things I would expect from someone new. In a few months those type of mistakes will be gone and running smoother for him. I am sure all new CD's have those issues as dones anyone put on the spotlight. Those are not the ones I was complaining about.

 

If a cruise director made similar comments like Rob Sugar did towards girls I would be equally upset. One or two is one thing but to go on and on like Rob did was done in a disrespectful manner and with no tact. Actually, I would probably be more upset.

 

I have been on cruises were I couldn't tell you who the cruise director was because they did there job and made no impact what-so-ever. (example Nov '08 on the Jewel I had a great cruise but can't tell you who the CD was). Other cruise directors make an impact (Simon Pearl Nov '07 - I will never get the "Have a SMASHING good time"). My personal favorite was Shona Pearl Nov '09, I was disappointed when just 2 months later she was no longer on the Pearl, however, I equally enjoyed Julie during that cruise. In fact, we so much loved the itenerary with the sea days that we are going to repeat that cruise again this November. I hope either Julie or Shona will be on that ship.

[Venus4NU]

If you dont cruise again because of a cruise director or a cruise director made you have a bad cruise, you should not be cruising.

There was something that annoyed me with a CD on the Jewel once. However, it made no impact on how I enjoyed my cruise or decision to go back.

I think every cruise I have been on, the CD was gay or seemed gay. Big deal. I am there to enjoy the vacation. I do feel for them because they have to create excitment and try to be funny all the time. That can be a hard task.

 

I agree 100% with you. I said I probably woundn't sail on the Sky again because of the heavy ports and lack of sea days. However, now with Rob Sugar on the ship it tipped the scale a little to much for me. I am still devoted to cruises and NCL. In no way did ruin the cruise. We had a great time. He was just very annoying and I was offended at times when he wouldn't lay off his comments. He did a great job with the Not So Newlywed game. As the cruise profgressed I did notice I was dreading him coming on the stage before and after the shows and hearing his gay comments. He did an awesome job with Fountains.

 

I have had CD's that I don't remember (Jewel Nov '08) and others that make an impact (never forget Simon Pearl Nov '07 saying "Have a smashing good time"). Others I have just enjoyed. I really enjoyed Shona on the Pearl Nov '09 and was disappointed when two months later I took the exact same cruise and Julie was on there BUT I ended up likeing her just as much. We loved that itenerary so much that we are booking the cruise a third time for Nov '10. I hope either Julie or Shona will be on that ship. Likewise, I really really enjoyed Matt Baker on the Sky Aug '09.

 

Now which ones were gay and whcih were straight??? I am fairly sure Shona was straight. Not sure about the others and it really doesn't matter either way. It is not about being gay it is about having class and his ongoing comments had no class.

[luvmysox1]

You have no idea how much pressure it is to perform under the lights. Especially when another CD is in the back watching and it's your first cruise.

 

Ernie makes a great point and although comments either way don't really bother me I think you need to cut him some slack as opposed to writting a 3 paragraph article cutting him down. I know Rob reads CC and this type of review would rip his heart out.

 

As CD's we try our very best, when I was first promoted back in 2005 I am sure I made a ton of errors, constructive feedback is the best way to correct not the "off with his head approach".

 

So if you didn't care for him say that but it seems you had a personal agenda.

 

Mike

 

Come on. :eek:I meet Rob. He's pretty tough. He was okay but lacked pizazz for me. I did not go to the Quest show. I am glad I did not now. CD's do not have to be raunchy to be good in my op. I think on my cruises I have had 2 gay CD and 2 straight CD. They are even on my account. I think the should watch how the talk because they have alot families especially on the SKY, as seen.

[luvmysox1]

I agree 100% with you. I said I probably woundn't sail on the Sky again because of the heavy ports and lack of sea days. However, now with Rob Sugar on the ship it tipped the scale a little to much for me. I am still devoted to cruises and NCL. In no way did ruin the cruise. We had a great time. He was just very annoying and I was offended at times when he wouldn't lay off his comments. He did a great job with the Not So Newlywed game. As the cruise profgressed I did notice I was dreading him coming on the stage before and after the shows and hearing his gay comments. He did an awesome job with Fountains.

 

I have had CD's that I don't remember (Jewel Nov '08) and others that make an impact (never forget Simon Pearl Nov '07 saying "Have a smashing good time"). Others I have just enjoyed. I really enjoyed Shona on the Pearl Nov '09 and was disappointed when two months later I took the exact same cruise and Julie was on there BUT I ended up likeing her just as much. We loved that itenerary so much that we are booking the cruise a third time for Nov '10. I hope either Julie or Shona will be on that ship. Likewise, I really really enjoyed Matt Baker on the Sky Aug '09.

 

Now which ones were gay and whcih were straight??? I am fairly sure Shona was straight. Not sure about the others and it really doesn't matter either way. It is not about being gay it is about having class and his ongoing comments had no class.

 

I loved the fountain skit:p It was the best part of that show.

[bigal3967]

I tend to agree with the gay jokes being a bit much. Just as well if a guy went on and on about women, it would also be offensive. As a father of a 16 and 13 year old, I don't want the cruise director going on and on about being gay or straight. He is there to entertain and if he has to stoop to "sex" jokes all the time, he must not be much of an entertainer. We are sailing the Sky in June and I really hope he is not still using this type of humor at all the shows.

 

Big Al

[DMH15]

It's possible that Rob was nervous so he chose to be funny with redundancy. I am sure he will find his comfort zone soon.

 

Someone mentioned families, isn't Qwest an adult show and prone to be NOT G or GP rated?

 

It wouldn't matter what the sexual orientation of the CD is but I'm not flashing any of them to win a tshirt or luggage tag.

 

Pedro Serna is a straight CD, his lovely wife is on his staff. But it wouldn't matter to me either way.

[david_sobe]

Yes Quest is an adult only show. They make that clear from the start. Remember that the cruise line trys to give everyone some sort of entertainment. Some find Quest funny and fun and would find the other stuff boring and vice versa.

It is funny because I find really gay cruise directors who pretend to be straight and make straight jokes the most annoying LOL In my mind, I am thinking, yeah, right :)

 

What, there are gay cruise directors? What is next? Allowing black guys in the NBA?

Amazing ;)

[Venus4NU]

It's possible that Rob was nervous so he chose to be funny with redundancy. I am sure he will find his comfort zone soon.

 

Someone mentioned families, isn't Qwest an adult show and prone to be NOT G or GP rated?

 

It wouldn't matter what the sexual orientation of the CD is but I'm not flashing any of them to win a tshirt or luggage tag.

 

Pedro Serna is a straight CD, his lovely wife is on his staff. But it wouldn't matter to me either way.

 

 

Yes, the Adult Quest game is for adults only. When we were on the Sky in August my son and his friends went to it and they were 20 - 23 year old. I still felt a little uncomfortable with that. However, I always go. Sometimes I participate and sometimes I don't. On this past cruise had Rob made the sexual comments only during the Adult Quest show than that would have been one thing. His comments were at all of his appearances. The very family Rock and Roll review show was on the first night where he made the first comments. Something like.... "WOW, weren't they just great. Those dancers with hard bodies and sweat all over them... and that's just guys that I am talking about!" Younger kids probably would not have picked up on it but the tweens and teenagers would have. At the Adult Quest show = appropriate; at a family show = not appropriate.

 

Being a good CD has nothing to do with being gay or straight. Sexual orientation is not part of the job. A comment here or there at events like the Adult Quest is one thing but comments all the time at all events makes it uncomfortable for many in the audience.

[eroller]

I'm more excited than ever to sail NORWEGIAN SKY and experience Rob as the CD for myself. For the most part the CD has virtually no bearing on my enjoyment of the cruise. I rarely pay attention to them and most remind me of a cheesy Las Vegas lounge act.

 

If Rob stands out in the crowd great! I'll judge for myself if I think his comments are inappropriate.

 

I've sailed on over 80 cruises and only one CD has really stood out, and that is Richard Spacey of Royal Caribbean. He is fantastic and can also be a bit racy. I could not even name any others except for John Heald of Carnival, but that is only because he has a very successful blog ... which can also be inappropriate at times but I'm a big boy and can take it.

 

Ernie