Meet Jabbit's Cruise Expert!

Here I am with Norwegian Sky on NCL's private island.
Photo Credit: Mona Shen

About six months ago, I joined a blogging community and was named their resident cruise expert. I know there are many other cruising experts out there doing what I do, so this was a complete honor. Everything I share on my cruising social networking sites, I post to this site too on something called smart-boards. The site just got a huge make-over and makes accessing my posts very easy. I love the format of this site and encourage you to read some of the things I have shared on Jabbit!

Check out the press release (it came out one day after my birthday), and read some of the smart-boards I have published to date! Here's what I said about Jabbit in greater detail, “I’ve been using Jabbit to bookmark cruise sites and blog posts from around the web–in addition to sharing information from The Ocean Escape with other Jabbit users.  It’s a visually attractive way to display a plethora of information with other passionate cruisers, and a whole new way to connect with others on the web and share information!”


I have lots planned for the Jabbit Community, hoping to share in the near future more tips for first time cruisers, a highlight of home-port cruising (ships that leave from the Northeastern United States), and various cruise law cases of which come from Jim Walker's site, Cruise Law News. Be sure to check me out on Jabbit, and dive into more cruisetacular information! Your ship awaits, Bon Voyage!

Cruise Ship Review: Norwegian Epic



Norwegian Epic docked in Nassau, Bahamas
Photo Credit: Shon "Cruise Man 3000" Ford

 She weighs 153,000 gross tons, can hold over 4,000 passengers, has bowling allies, a rock-climbing wall, and a full size aqua park! Only one word can describe a vessel of this magnitude: E-P-I-C! Issued into service in July 2010, this innovative vessel has become the newest attraction to an array of cruisers all over the world. For Norwegian Cruise Line (NCL), this is a ‘cruisemendous’ leap, for they did not even have a cruise ship that ranked in the world's top twenty largest cruise ships, and Norwegian Epic debuted at number two! There are twenty different and unique dining options offered on-board (most, not all, require a reservation and a cover charge fee). The food was pretty decent on-board, but I could definitely taste the food was "cooked for the masses."

Norwegian Epic has absolutely the best entertainment on any cruise ship from any cruise line in the entire world—some refer to Norwegian Epic as an entertainment Mecca. The Blue Man Group, Second City Comedy Troupe, Legends Live in Concert, and many other entertainment acts head-line every night on-board keeping passengers of all ages asking for more. Norwegian Epic also sails with Nickelodeon at Sea on-board! This is a great addition allowing kids of all ages to see some of their favorite cartoon characters. Norwegian Epic does require something other ships within the Norwegian Cruise Line fleet do not, and that is reservations in excessive amounts. In order to attend any of the fabulous shows I mentioned above, dine in one of the specialty restaurants, attend the circus, or chill-out in the 17 degree ice bar, reservations are needed.

If you don't make reservations, then you’ll be put on standby for some of the events you want to enjoy (standby doesn't guarantee you a seat in the performance, but give it a try—they got me in to see Blue Man Group with no problems even on standby). The reservations for the shows do not cost anything, but it’s something you want to plan within the first couple hours you are on-board. I think because of the people traffic on-board, NCL has reservations in place to keep things under control and monitored both effectively and with great efficiency. (The Ice Bar and Circus require cover charges, those are not free).

On the entire cruise it was hard to get a chair on the deck; there were multitudes of people all the time everywhere on the ship. The crew was one of the best I have ever experienced at sea, and truly made the cruise a ‘cruiserific’ experience. The amenities on board are truly amazing! Norwegian Epic sails with a bowling alley (2 of them), a rock climbing wall, rappelling wall, an open-air ice skating rink, basketball court, spider web obstacle course, and an adult only zone (Spice H20). The only things that I did not see on-board were a golf course and library. I give Norwegian Epic 4.25 out of 5.00 stars. Be sure to check out this immense innovative vessel, and see the word E-P-I-C redefined!

Cruise Ship Review: Norwegian Sky

Norwegian Sky at sea.
Photo Credit: http://www.ncl.eu/agents/bildmaterial.php?g=55&show=1

Issued into service in 1999, Norwegian Sky has been a gracing the high seas, dazzling thousands, for a little more than a decade. In 2004, Norwegian Sky was renovated and transformed into Pride of Aloha. While Pride of Aloha, she operated under NCL America Line sailing the Hawaiian Islands all year round. After servicing NCL America for four years, she was transferred back into the Norwegian Cruise Line fleet and rechristened with her original name. Upon her return to Norwegian Cruise Line, she has been servicing the Bahamas from Miami alternating three and four night cruises.

Sister to Norwegian Sun, Norwegian Sky boast a very vibrant décor and sails with a vivacious and inviting staff and crew. When she returned to the Norwegian cruise Line fleet, she kept the design she acquired when she was Pride of Aloha—the Hawaiian themed motifs truly make you feel you’re sailing the paradise of the pacific (including the hull work on the exterior of the ship which is a beautifully designed lei). Norwegian Sky offers ten dining options as well as ten bars and lounges. In addition to those great amenities, she sails with five hot tubs [Jacuzzis], two swimming pools, and even a separate children’s pool. If you ever plan to voyage to the Bahamas, Norwegian Sky would come as my top recommendation.

Norwegian Sky’s cruise rates are extremely reasonable—the perfect place to have a weekend getaway for the right price. I have seen prices for three night Bahamian voyages, as low as $109.00 per person (four night cruises have been priced as low as $129.00 per person)! Be sure to check out the Norwegian Cruise Line’s website (www.ncl.com) for the latest deals they are offering for sailings on Norwegian Sky. Overall, Norwegian Sky gets 4.4 out of 5.0 from me and is one of my all-time favorites, hands down. Take a cruise on this beautiful vessel to the Bahamas, and begin to enjoy nothing but sky!