We're looking at 3 week cruise next year on NCL, having never sailed with them prior. We've heard about the flaws of bedding and MDR food, but figure we can go around that by booking a mini suite, and getting the dining package. Should we expect any letdowns, or pleasant surprises? Based on the itinerary, cost, and perks included, it would not take much for us to be impressed.
Our 2 week cruise on the Carnival Pride last year, was underwhelming to say the least. Major maintenance issues, poor food options (especially for lunch, or if you didn't order sea food in the MDR), and a condescending, politically vocal - cruise director. They also completely dropped the ball placing or stocking hand sanitizers in the Buffett, which is a horrible idea on a 2 week repo. Of course this portion is a review of the ship or the cruise line itself, but it becomes more bothersome on a 14 day cruise, over let's say a 5 day.
The major problem with the length of that cruise, was that not everyone could handle being on a cruise ship for 2 weeks. About halfway through, when all the major ports were behind us, at least 25% of the passengers got visibly grumpy, restless, and spiteful. The F bomb became common discourse around the pool area, spousal abuse went public, and tensions increased over seats in the comedy club. By day 14, people were literally pushing, shoving, and shouting their way to cut in line in the buffet area. Someone threw a plate at staff. Some were purposely coughing and sneezing on each other, or grabbing buffet food with their hands, that they had just wiped their nose with.
We're hoping to not repeat anything like what we experienced.
We have sailed NCL a few times, albeit not in the few years and that is only because of the dates and itinerary. I see the last time was actually way back in 2010, Norwegian Gem out of Venice. As a fussy vegetarian I can tell you their food buffet is very good and it was the ONLY buffet where the salads and vegetables were totally separate from the meat and fish. (Something I bitch about on the other cruise lines that they have tuna, shrimps, polony etc slap bang in the middle of the salad buffet and of course, people use the same utensils for both).
Don't really find much difference in the cruise lines as long as you are 4 star or above, except age difference on HA and Cunard - much older and Carnival always has lots of kids - but it really is the fun liner.
Have any Celebrity cruisers done a 2 week+ on NCL?
in Celebrity Cruises
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We have sailed NCL a few times, albeit not in the few years and that is only because of the dates and itinerary. I see the last time was actually way back in 2010, Norwegian Gem out of Venice. As a fussy vegetarian I can tell you their food buffet is very good and it was the ONLY buffet where the salads and vegetables were totally separate from the meat and fish. (Something I bitch about on the other cruise lines that they have tuna, shrimps, polony etc slap bang in the middle of the salad buffet and of course, people use the same utensils for both).
Don't really find much difference in the cruise lines as long as you are 4 star or above, except age difference on HA and Cunard - much older and Carnival always has lots of kids - but it really is the fun liner.