Last March 24, 2016, Marc and I sailed on our fifth cruise leaving from the Port of Miami. For years, I had wanted to do the Panama Canal cruise but did not book any the reason being the itinerary had too many days at sea and there were few ports visited. Nearly a year ago, Norwegian Cruise Line offered one with exactly what I wanted. A trip to the canal during a whirlwind trip to six countries in the Caribbean, Central America and South America with the least number of days spent at sea.

Although we originally booked an inside cabin to cut costs, we got upgraded to an ocean view cabin after we called NCL and informed them that the amount we paid at the time of booking was way more that the price of their ocean view cabins shortly before the cruise date. The cruise line's agents agreed thus the complimentary upgrade. We even got to keep the $200 shore excursion credit they offered us at the time of booking.

We were assigned cabin 8626 up on the 8th floor.

On this particular trip, however, I left wishing our room steward from Jamaica made it a point to keep the carpeting in our cabin cleaner. I realize the fact that the rooms are constantly in use week after week by cruise line passengers. Care, however, should be taken to keep the carpeting in the cabins looking sanitary. Had I not requested that the carpet inside our cabin be vacuumed, it probably would not have been. On another instance, the same steward curtly answered Marc when requested to bring us two beach towels for our trip to the beach the following day. How else do you react when you are given the following reply, "I will bring your towels when I have the time." After five cruises with different cruise lines, I realize not all stewards are the same.

Otherwise, I found the rest of the ship employees very friendly, polite, and respectful.