Norwegian GETAWAY full ship review: Food, service, vibes and more. Is it the "MEH" of the seas???
Source: Our analysis of the creator's lived experience, based on what they said in this video.
Creator's Key Takeaways
I am going to use a pretty standard rubric for my ratings five is excellent no notes four is great three is good two is okay not worth writing home about one is bad bad bad bad bad zero disaster needs Improvement find Jesus do better
the food quality has really deteriorated it's so sad it's kind of cheap it's very carb heavy and Norwegian used to have great food
I'm going to say to choose a different line maybe virgin or even celebrity
I'm going to Give It 2 and2 out of five
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Scale: 0–5 strips in half-step increments. 0 = “meh”, 5 = “bacon bliss”. Aggregated from creator-review sentiment, weighted by channel expertise.
About our Bacon Score methodologyYouTube Video Description↓
In this video, I'm giving you a full, no-holds-barred review of the Norwegian Getaway cruise ship. We just wrapped up an eight-night, seven-day adventure, departing from New Orleans with stops at Costa Maya, Harvest Caye (Norwegian’s private island in Belize), Cozumel, and Roatán. Visit NowGoSeeIt.com for port guides and more! Buckle up as I take you through every aspect of our cruise experience, rating everything from boarding and accommodations to food, service, entertainment, and activities using my trusty review scale: 5 - Excellent (No notes), 4 - Great, 3 - Good, 2 - Okay (nothing to write home about), 1 - Bad, 0 - Needs divine intervention. Boarding & First Impressions Smooth sailing from the start! Boarding at the Port of New Orleans was a breeze, taking only about an hour. By 3:30 p.m., we were in our cabins. 5/5 for a seamless embarkation process. Ship Layout & Crowd The Norwegian Getaway is a mid-size ship (max 4,000 passengers) that first sailed in 2014 and was refurbished in 2020. The design felt a bit generic—no grand promenades or glass elevators. The atrium, the ship's central hub, was always loud with trivia, game shows, and jewelry seminars. Layout-wise, it’s easy to navigate but lacks quiet spaces, and the pool deck is way too cramped. The crowd? Mostly older, conservative, family-oriented, and not big on city vibes. If you love vodka, sunshine, and quiet lounging, you may have to work a little harder to find your happy place. But overall, everyone was friendly. Ship Layout & Decor: 3/5Crowd: N/A (depends on personal preference) The Haven If you’re looking for a kid-free, quiet retreat, Deck 16’s Haven is the place to be. Bonus: there was an unexpected fog machine moment—not planned, but I loved it. Food & Dining The ship offers a ton of dining options, from buffets to specialty restaurants, but food quality has declined in recent years. Specialty dining is your best bet. Late-night options? Virtually non-existent. The only real choice is Oceans Pub, serving deep-fried regret with agonizingly slow service. If you're a night owl, grab a to-go plate from the buffet earlier in the evening. Main Dining Rooms: 2/5 (Cafeteria quality, slow service) Buffet: 3/5 (Best place to build a decent meal) Moderno Churrascaria (Brazilian Steakhouse): 4/5 (A favorite—shrimp was delish!) Le Bistro (French): 3/5 (Would make a Parisian weep into their coq au vin) Ocean Blue (Seafood): 4/5 (Expensive but worth it) Shanghai Noodle Bar: 2.5/5 (Mall food court vibes) Oceans Pub: 2/5 (Mediocre bar food, but pretzel bites were decent) American Diner: 3/5 (Great burgers, fun retro outfits) Service Let’s talk about staff energy—it wasn’t bad, but it wasn’t great. There seemed to be fewer crew members, and many were unenthusiastic. Bartenders and waitstaff? Straight-up disengaged—no smiles, no small talk, just a robotic “Who’s next?” vibe. Cabin cleanliness? Yikes. We found dirty underwear and trash left from the previous guests. Major oversight. And the worst part? An overbooked Norwegian excursion turned into an actual passenger-crew fight. No service recovery, no accountability. Service: 2/5 Cabins We had an interior cabin at the front of the ship—basic but functional. Beds were comfortable, bathrooms spacious for a cruise ship, and decor modern enough. Pro tip: If you’re forward, be prepared for a daily trek since there are no elevators at the front. Cabin: 3.5/5 Entertainment & Activities Shows: A Broadway remix show was solid, and Million Dollar Quartet was well performed but felt like a watered-down jukebox musical. Live music: Mostly wedding mix playlists from the 80s-2000s. Where’s the fresh music?! Nightlife: Disappointing. The nightclub didn’t even open until midnight. The much-anticipated ABBA night was literally just a playlist on someone’s iPhone. Norwegian, hire a DJ. Daytime activities: Everything fun costs extra. The spa? Overpriced. Vibe Beach Club? VIP-only with a hefty price tag. Even arcade games, bowling, and painting classes were pay-to-play. Trivia prizes? Hilariously bad. A pamphlet, an uninflated balloon, and a Norwegian tote bag. Come on, at least throw in a keychain. Notable exceptions: Ropes course and water slides? A blast. Entertainment: 2.5/5Activities: 1/5 (Everything fun had a fee) Final Verdict Would I recommend the Norwegian Getaway? If you have kids aged 8-14, sure. The ship is family-friendly, and they'll love the water slides, arcade, and ropes course. But for adults looking for a high-end, immersive cruise experience? Probably not. If you’re a liberal city-dweller who enjoys diverse entertainment, great food, and engaging nightlife, Norwegian might disappoint. That said, if you're getting a great deal and manage expectations, you can still have a decent cruise. Just don’t expect luxury. Overall Score: 2.5/5 👉 SUBSCRIBE for more honest travel reviews! Have you cruised on Norwegian Getaway? Let me know your thoughts in the comments!