So .. Why NCL?

There are limited choices out of NY. Tried Carnival. It was nice. Got me hooked on cruising. Tried NCL and liked it better. However, it's gotten worse, not better for the customer over the last few years, so I'm looking into other cruising options for 2018. Variety is the spice of life.

 

 

 

We only cruise out of NY -so NCL in winter with a Cas comped cabin and Carnival in summer with a free cabin from the Taj Mahal.:D

Edited June 25, 2016 by boopsahoy

We choose NCL because we love the Haven

 

 

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We chose NCL originally because we can cruise out of NYC without flying. We stay with NCL because of freestyle cruising and we like the freedom to only pay for what we use. Sometimes we add on a lot and sometimes we don't pay much more than the original fare but either way, sea days are the best days for me.

 

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Edited June 25, 2016 by amyben40

Technically I haven't sailed with NCL yet since my cruise is in December. I cruised with Carnival and didn't like it but liked the concept of cruising. I picked NCL because I'm a solo traveler for the most part and liked the solo cabin prices and freestyle dining. I am booked with a couple other cruise lines but if I enjoy the December cruise I can see myself booking with NCL again especially for a TA cruise because of the price. Torn between NCL and Celebrity for a TA.

Technically I haven't sailed with NCL yet since my cruise is in December. I cruised with Carnival and didn't like it but liked the concept of cruising. I picked NCL because I'm a solo traveler for the most part and liked the solo cabin prices and freestyle dining. I am booked with a couple other cruise lines but if I enjoy the December cruise I can see myself booking with NCL again especially for a TA cruise because of the price. Torn between NCL and Celebrity for a TA.

 

Both are fine. If you are looking for activities, Celebrity is pretty quiet, especially after 10:00 p.m. The most exciting thing I found on my Celebrity cruise was a glass blowing exhibit....not really the pinnacle of excitement. I think you'll find service and food to be a bit better on NCL, too.

I think you'll find service and food to be a bit better on NCL, too.

 

 

I think not. IMO food quality is without a doubt better on Celebrity and their bars and restaurants are not (at least as much) understaffed as NCL's. Point in both cases to Celebrity.

NCL is a good fit for us. For the reasons already discussed.

Food opinions are subjective... I didn't find Celebrity food to be all that, and I have to agree that the vibe is older, quiet, and yes the bars weren't too busy, in fact , they were often near empty on our Caribbean cruise (except just before dinner for a couple of hours).

Find your "fit" and keep your options 'open' is our motto.

I love the entertainment and activities... I am never bored!! And when there are things I want to do and don't want to take hours to get gussied up and then eat, I can just pop in to O'Sheehan's or even the dining room for a quickish bite. It works perfectly for me.

I think not. IMO food quality is without a doubt better on Celebrity and their bars and restaurants are not (at least as much) understaffed as NCL's. Point in both cases to Celebrity.

 

Have to disagree with you on food quality. We were on celebrity for 2 weeks and the food was inconsistent at best. The same item ordered on different days was cooked and seasoned at different levels. The menus were uninventive and the salmon was always overcooked.

We have cruised DCL and RCCL in the past, this is our first NCL and first Med...we chose for price and itinerary. The promos were just a bonus, didn't make or break.

 

 

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I think not. IMO food quality is without a doubt better on Celebrity and their bars and restaurants are not (at least as much) understaffed as NCL's. Point in both cases to Celebrity.

 

I'm with Tiffany. Service and food quality was hit or miss on our Celebrity cruise (Solstice). And, it was more miss than hit. That doesn't even begin to address the entertainment differences (with NCL far outpacing Celebrity).

 

Said it before, never had a bad cruise, including the one on Celebrity. But, I'd probably look at NCL, RCCL, or Carnival again before looking at Celebrity, again.

Edited June 27, 2016 by graphicguy

I originally came for Freestyle, when they were the only ones doing it. I had cruised with traditional dining but didn't care for it.

 

Then it became convenience. They were the only ones doing R/T out of NYC in winter at the time.

 

When I run the prices against other lines, NCL is usually a better value.

 

Once when it wasn't we sailed Princess. It was a lovely cruise but not a good fit for us; all the bars closed by 10 except the disco. We also learned that the entertainment options were better on NCL.

Edited June 27, 2016 by trish1c

Will be taking my first NCL cruise on Epic in December. Have sailed multiple times on Carnival and once on RC.

 

What initially drew me to look at NCL was itinerary and port based. Wanted to do eastern Caribbean out of Port Canaveral and had 3 choices.

 

As I started to learn about NCL I ended up being drawn in. The freestyle dining and no formal night stuff was a plus. But what really got me was the solo cabins and the mostly free UBP. Ended up being too good of a deal to pass on.

 

 

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The UBP...when NCL copied Celebrity's perk program but made it even better when you only had to book an inside cabin to qualify, that made me try NCL. Only wish that the UBP included espresso based coffees, bottled water and fresh squeezed juices like Celebrity's does. I have had a drinks package on my last 6 cruises through 3 Celebrity promotions and buying it 3 times on Carnival and Royal. I also have it lined up as a promotion on my next 3, 2016 and 2017 on the Escape and on the MSC Seaside in 2018. I like to imbibe while on vacation, but alligator arms would come into play if I had to pay 25.00 for a round of 2 drinks. :rolleyes:

Our last few years have been between Celebrity and NCL.

We love TA cruises

Since 14

Epic TA Oct 14 - FABuLous Cruise - it was EPIC!!SPA Mini suite - loved loved loved the entire cruise and ship!

 

Celebrity Equinox Oct/Nov 15 hmm. not great - so much illness :( - they closed the nightclub for restoration with no warning to us, and so much FabbaAbba and 50s60s retro is was unbearable..

immediately followed by (same day back 2 belly)

NCL Sky Nov 15 (ooooooooh my - that WAS an experience not to be repeated)

May 16 - Celebrity Solstice -Alaska. It was fabulous and for Alaska we were so glad we made the decision to stick with Celebrity. Solstice did win us back - we weren't so sure after Equinox - but loved our Solstice cruise it was amazing.

Our next three TA cruises are booked and they are all with NCL. Whereas we would for sure return to Celebrity for the right cruises - for TA the demograph is just tooooooo zzzzzzzzzzzzzzing and Norwegian was just so much more fun

That aside - Celebrity Spa is a mega let down - not a patch on NCL - in fact, even the Jade offers better facilities - Celebrity really messed up in their spa design - we DO love their Aquaclass simply for BLU restaurant

But in all honesty - have chosen NCL for our next three TA cruise. Price was terrific + perks + dining packages + spa - no brainer really

And if we wanted to we could (I doubt we will though) dine in a Specialty restaurant every night (aside from the 6 nights we have free) and still have a bundle of £££S left over..

Nightlife - buzz - choices - so much going on and a BIG draw - live music - NCL do it so much better. We are not show fans - never go - but love live music in bars - NCL have it in the bag!

We cruise many lines - only ones we reallly will never cruise are British - not ever ever ever going there again :p

prior to NCL a few years ago, i had only cruised Carnival. We got an insane deal for the 7 day round trip cruise on the breakaway to bermuda, so gave NCL a chance. Really loved their freestyle dining (not into wearing suits when im not working or having to be at dinner at a certain time) and the nighlife/casinos were great. Just seemed like great value. We have another cruise booked on NCL in october, paying a bit more but i think the cheapie cruise got us hooked on NCL