Any Carnival loyalist, like NCL too?

[dallas52]

They are cheaper for third persons in room and if you can find a good rate to the place you are wanting to go then take it. It is better than staying home. We had a great time.

[spacewoman]

Our cruises have been Carnival Pride, Carnival Legend, NCL Dawn, NCL spirit, Crown Princess, Carnival Miracle, Carnival Miracle. Really like the freestyle dining because we didn't want to have to look at a watch, we wanted to eat when we were hungry. Carnival now offers anytime dining which works great for us. On the Dawn we ate at La Trattoria often. No extra charge. Mom and I ate at asian specialty one night for $10 each while the men hit the buffet. We got miso soup, all you can eat sushi and green tea ice cream. Great deal. Love the supper club on the Miracle but didn't try cagney's steakhouse on the dawn so can't give comparison. Hated the Spirit - it's a refurb from Orient lines. I'm 5'6" and my knees hit the wall when sitting on the throne. The bed was small in length for me as well and balcony area very small. Staff, however, fantastic. Even had servers and bartenders who were with us on Dawn prior year and they even remembered our names! For me, NCL and CCL are kind of even, I may like one thing better on one than the other but for very minor reasons. Food great on both lines IMO.

 

I have to give one up to Princess over both though. Food on Princess (once again in my opinion) was like 5 star restaurant in a big city. I felt balcony in balcony cabin on Crown was larger than Carnival although square footage wise it may not have been. Our cabin steward on Princess was able to open partitions between our balconies for us with no issue. On CCL all of you have to go to pursers desk to sign off on permission and you are at the mercy of maintenance dept for them to open. They also close partitions on the afternoon of your last day as well. "that ain't right".

 

Would I say any of the 3 again? You betcha! I look itinerary we want, then ship info, then prices. Have to say Carnival in the last two years has been the cheapest and offered the best discounts.

[MississippiMom]

I wouldn't really consider myself a "loyalist" to Carnival, although I have been on their ships 3 times. But I do have comments about them versus NCL (1 time on the Sun).

 

For a family vacation, with children, I preferred our experience on NCL. Our children seemed to enjoy the kids' club planned activities better, and I liked their staff better. (I'm sure this could vary by ship and from week to week, though.) And the freestyle concept works amazingly well, if you prefer to eat in a dining room, which we do. I found it very hard to get three children ready for dinner at a specific time to get to the dining room on Carnival, although we still did it. And I hated coming back from on-shore excursions when it was too late for my assigned dining time and getting stuck eating at the over-crowded Carnival buffet.

 

I can say that the Carnival cabins (we book two connecting) were definitely larger than the NCL cabins, but I can't remember the difference in the bathrooms, so it must not have been significant to me.

 

I would still cruise either line, if the prices were comparable. And, let's face it, Carnival does tend to offer better deals, at the times that I've looked.

[mushroomgav]

NCL includes the balcony in their advertised cabin size, Carnival does not. The NCL minisuite was actually a bit smaller inside than a Carnival balcony cabin.

 

MMMMM you seem to have not read post #21

The only difference is 15 sq feet

NCL balcony 167 + 38 balcony = 205

Carnival balcony 185 + 35 balcony = 220

Thats 15 sq feet difference which is Nothing.

NCL mini suite is 231 + 54 = 285 which means it has 65 sq feet difference

These are the official sizes of cabins comparing the Jade and the Carnival Freedom ships. Site below to help compare :)

http://www.cruisedeckplans.com/DP/Main/home1.php

[mushroomgav]

That is not totally true.

 

I have been researching NCL as well for quite sometime and I find that to be the opposite on certain ships. for instance the "SKY" and the "DAWN" on certain cabin catagories.

 

I listed the current ship sizes for both the Carnival freedom and NCl Jade you will also find smaller ship cabins on carnival ships and also larger cabins on NCL. These two ships are of similar year and size. All ships have different sizes and is unfair to generalize any cruise line unless you try all:) you can see cabin sizes below to dispel all your myths.

 

http://www.cruisedeckplans.com/DP/Main/home1.php

[scperk]

What made you sail that ship 4 times? Were you in a standard stateroom? Those rooms were SO small DW and I couldn't dress at the same time. And I couldn't fit my whole body in the shower at one time. :eek:

 

Years later, my mom took a repositioning cruise on her. Already booked, I was NOT going to influence her. She came back YELLING at me!

This was all before I tried Carnival, I was on two of those cruises...The others were wifes all-girl cruises....I've been on the Conquest 4 times I think,Triump twice and Liberty 3 times...I'm running out of ships....We are sailing on the Elation thru the canal, my first cruise on a Fantasy class ship......Dennis

[Jamie301]

We love NCL actually better than Carnival but thought we would try one more cruise with them on the Miracle Feb. 24th. We have stayed in a balcony room and a suite. love the choices of the places to eat. You will love it!!

[AZ Karaoke Girl]

Per Spacewoman "Hated the Spirit - it's a refurb from Orient lines. I'm 5'6" and my knees hit the wall when sitting on the throne. "

 

Clarifying this is NCL Spirit not the CCL Spirit. Just didn't want anyone confused about that. CCL Spirit class ships your legs face the sink not the wall.

[agmakar]

I listed the current ship sizes for both the Carnival freedom and NCl Jade you will also find smaller ship cabins on carnival ships and also larger cabins on NCL. These two ships are of similar year and size. All ships have different sizes and is unfair to generalize any cruise line unless you try all:) you can see cabin sizes below to dispel all your myths.

 

http://www.cruisedeckplans.com/DP/Main/home1.php

 

With all due respect I believe you may be mistaken. I too subscribe to that link. I don't see that, and I sailed the Imagination, A smaller ship. The Imagination's O/V and Balcony rooms are 185 sf as well. CCL is quite consistent.

 

But when you look at the NCL ships they do vary. But one coonsistency there is that the rooms are smaller in the O/V rooms and most Balcony rooms. I noticed on NCL that they price their rooms based on certain decks the Balcony rooms sizes, all on the same ship. O/V I had seen was the same size no matter where you are located. Which to me is too small. That means I need to pay more for a comparable room size.

 

Again Carnival's room sizes are quite consistent on all of their ship based on room catagories and deck levels they price based on room locations solely not on sizes. I have booked 4 cruises with Carnival on 4 different ships I had to cancel one which was the FREEDOM because I had to go to Iraq. Of the 4, 2 were O/V and 2 were Balconies all 185 sf

 

I am not generalizing, I am just making an observation while trying to book NCL. True they vary based on ship when dealing with NCL, but CCL is quite consistent.

 

I submit to the OP that they should put pen to paper when comparing rooms and they will see that the rooms sizes will change on the same room balcony catagory which are located on different decks. I want them to go in eyes wide open.

"Objects In Mirror Are Closer Than They Appear" :D

 

I draw my conclusions researching SKY, DAWN, and the GEM.

[dustyroad]

i love carnival but went with the ncl pearl to alaska in may and loved it. the staff was great, the food was wonderful and i really enjoyed the anytime dining. i would cruise on ncl again.

[LHP]

NCL sails outta NOLA.. lots here love that line.. are the prices that much more OVER THE TOP???

 

Since NCL only sails out of New Orleans from November to March (or April)....I don't know if that effects their pricing.

 

Carnival is the only cruise line that is in New Orleans 12 months of the year.

[FLCRUISINGCPL]

We cruise on both lines.

 

Here are some things we like about NCL Jewel Class ships compared to Carnival:

1. Entertainment - Jean Ann Ryan Company productions blow Carnival away

2. Food - subjective, Carnival great in Dining Room, not as good on buffet

3. Ship decor and flow - we like NCL ships better, Carnival is still like being inside a Casino

4. Showers - much nicer, rectangular shape with sliding glass door

5. Freestyle choices - 10 different resteraunts, yes you have to pay extra

6. Coffee makers in each room

 

Here are some things we like about Carnival compared to NCL:

1. Cabins - Carnival is larger across the board for inside, outside, standard balcony

2. Serenity area - adults only section

[LemurCat]

I've cruised both. My biggest criticism of NCL is their treatment of their older ships. We were last on the Majesty right before she went out of service and she was a bloody mess. I've sailed CCL ships that were about to go out of service, and while they weren't pristine, they were clean, comfortable, didn't leak, and didn't make me worry about getting Legionnaire's Disease. That said, I loved my cruise on the Gem. Very comparable to the CCL experience.

[halos]

Hubby and I love Carnival. But we have never cruised NCL. We were thinking about giving them a try. I am interested in the specialty dining venues. Hubby is interested in the freestyle concept.

 

Anyone sail NCL that was not in a suite? I checked the NCL board and lots of people talk about the suite perks. But I didn't see too many responses for those of us who purchase the balcony cabins.

 

We are thinking about the EPIC for July 10 or another newer NCL ship cruising the carribean in December 2010.

 

Any Carnival loyalist like NCL too? Any information is greatly appreciated.

 

I love both lines. Lately, my NCL cruises have topped my CCL ones by a little. I love the differences of the lines and enjoy sailing both for the variety.

 

I love Freestyle dining and I thought I'd hate it. My first experience with it wasn't all that great because the sevice was hit or miss (it was a 14 day repo on the NCL Spirit) BUT the cruise was so flippin' great that I could easily overlook the 'iffy' restaurant service.

On all my NCL cruises after that one, service in the dining rooms was much better and the cruises themesleves, as far as activities and entertainment were top notch and the crew on NCL ships is just awesome IMO.

The optional dining venues are awesome IMO too. There are people that are put off because the optional venues have a fee (between $10pp and $25pp). For us, this is not an issue. I love having the option and the variety...especially on the longer cruises.

NCL has a lot of entertainment every day all over the ship. There is a piano player, usually someone on guitar in another area and several bands on board to keep you entertained no matter where you are on the ship. (They do not, however, have a piano bar like CCL does, but they have nice English Pubs on board each ship).

 

We have sailed NCL with large groups and they have consistantly gone out of their way for us. On my last cruise (NCL Dawn) the hotel director (Hugo) was all over the ship, all the time making sure things were running smoothly and that everyone was enjoying themselves....During the day, he wandered all over the pool decks. No matter where we were eating, we'd see him wander in and check with a few tables to see how things were. He was there during the pool parties at night, he was there at embark and he was there at debark. I told him that I thought NCL must have made clones of him, because wherever you looked, there he was.

We fell in love with 2 bar servers on that cruise. I asked one of them if they would be staying on the Dawn for a while. She replied that wherever Hugo was, that is where she'd be. The crew loved this man and it showed in their work. It was a great team, this crew. They seemed to enjoy their work and get along great with each other. This is something I like when I cruise...good energy on the ship. It makes for a smoother sailing IMO.

 

So yeah...I'd say give NCL a try. :D

 

Oh...We usually book balcony cabins. I wish I could do a suite...but then I'd have to cut down to one cruise a year. I'd rather have quantity!! Cabins on NCL are smaller than CCL and it is noticeable. For us it isn't an issue because we don't spend any time in the cabin anyway. I do know that if you do have a suite, you are treated like royalty and get some nice perks (as you should if you're spending that kind of money, IMO)

[halos]

Sorry darlin', but I don't have to swear off something after experiencing to try it again. You ever go to a restaurant and say never again, and then go back? Not me!

 

They didn't have freestyle back then? Well, that's a plus!

 

You should, in all fairness make it clear that your opinion is based on one cruise over 20 years ago. These facts do bare weight. AND, most sane, intelligent people will then give your opinion little thought.

Whenever I give my opinion on my one X or RCCL cruise I make sure to state that my opinion is based on just one cruise. These details make a difference. I don't feel you can judge an entire line on one sailing, and certainly not if that sailing was decades ago.

 

My first CCL cruise (1991) SUCKED.

I'm glad I gave them a second chance, years later.

[martinchem]

We like Carnival 10X more than Norwegian. Sometimes traveling on NCL helps us appreciate CCL so much more.

[LaShelle2]

I sailed ncl Pearl last year. I did not like that most of the dining options cost extra 20-30per person. The main dining room and buffet were free. The anytime dining was cool, and I never had to wait more than 5 minutes for a seat.

 

The main thing that disapointed me was my cruisemates. They were more families, older people, and Europeans. I am a single lady. It seems like Carnival caters more to singles and younger cruisers. IMO the customer service on Carnival was better too.

 

The shore excursions wer more expensive than Carnival, but I always book my own stuff independently after I research Cruise Critic, so this was a non issue.

 

I missed the formal night, since NCL doesn't offer a formal night. This was a 7 day cruise ocean view cabin, upper floor (can't remember which but only 1 flight down from the top) , and I would have liked at least 1 formal night. Very few people dressed up for dinner. So, you got a laid back atmosphere for a pricey price.

 

If you are doing a couples cruise and want a more relaxing time try NCL. If you want to party stick with Carnival.

 

I would like to eventuually try all the lines, and I encourage you to do the same. Your experience would be totally different form mine. That's the cool thing about cruises. You get 2000 people on the same boat and each one has a totally different experience!

[jaja]

I have sailed both.CCL..inside, outside and balcony and NCL inside ---like the atmosphere, and staffs on NCL better , CCL ..cabins roomier, more storage, food similar..(though CCL buffet desserts are much better)-Some NCL ships (Gem for example)--has the station kind of buffet (less lines to wait on and nice selections...love that --and buffet food on Gem..better than Dawn..

 

I prefer NCL....but depending on itinerary and price..would do either..