Norwegian Cruise Lines
Norwegian Dream Cruise Review
Baltic Capitals

Helen
For the most part the cruise was great. The one disappointment was that we were not notified that Sitka would be cut from the itinerary until a few days before we were to leave. Some on the cruise were not notified at all until the cruise was underway. Our excursion in Sitka had been approved by the cruise line, and then cancelled a few days before we left. We were not given any credit for the port cancellation, not even for the port fees that would have been in our cruise costs. When we wrote them about a credit, they referred us to the small print on the contract that states they can change the itinerary (even cutting out port stops). Their reasoning was that one motor was not working and therefore they could not travel up to normal speed. I understand they had this trouble months before the departure date, and long before we booked our cruise.

The excursion to the Tsimshian Museum in Prince Rupert was booked as easy walk. When we got there we found it only a couple of blocks away, but up a very steep hill. Many of us were not able to tackle it. They did agree to take us up in taxis after we questioned how we would get there, but the walk back down was still difficult.

Because of the delay in getting into port, one of our excursions was to begin before we were in port. They told us not to worry, that they would wait for us. We got to an area near the door, but the line had already started, so we went to the back of it. When they started letting us off, they didn't just take those with excursions first, they opened it up to everyone and those who started coming did not go to the back of the line as we did. They merged into it in front of the line. By the time we got down there, the last bus was leaving. One girl ran to the bus at the opposite side of the parking lot and stopped it just in time to ask him to wait for us -- two people in our 70's and one disabled son -- all unable to get there in time. If it weren't for her we would have missed that excursion. Many others were still trying to get off the ship. I don't know who may have missed it altogether. The scheduling of port excursion group meeting places and departures was very unorganized. Two years before, we took a Hawaiian cruse on the Norwegian Wind. They would have groups meet at a certain time and place and a leader would take them all at once to the correct place for that excursion. Others were not allowed off at that time at that place. It was super organized and we expected the same this time. We were greatly disappointed.