Anyone sailed NCL and HAL?

[Cruise_More_Often]

Okay, you've sold me on no formal wear.

 

I wish any cruiseline had cruises out of San Francisco!

[mommyto2girls]

Okay, you've sold me on no formal wear.

 

I wish any cruiseline had cruises out of San Francisco!

 

You won't be sorry!

 

Andrea

[Down-Unders]

Pretentious? Are you kidding me? With that kind of attitude I think HAL is lucky you have chosen NCL.

 

 

:):):):):)

[NMLady]

I'm a new cruiser (had one amazing Western Caribbean cruise on Epic. We loved it - check my out review on the review page.)

 

We're already planning our next one. There's a HAL cruise on their new ship the Nieuw Amsterdam that looks like a great itinerary and price. I know posting this on the NCL board will give me NCL's fans perspectives, but I'm worried I'm jaded by my initial great experience. We're in our 40's, not party-ers, but we still enjoy shows, casinos and some nightlife.

 

Anyone cruised both lines that could give me their two cents?

 

Thanks!

 

We have 2 cruises on HAL and 7 cruises on NCL. There are positives and negatives for both cruise lines but if you're pleased with your HAL price, I'd say go with HAL.

[GigCrusier]

Okay, you've sold me on no formal wear.

 

I wish any cruiseline had cruises out of San Francisco!

 

 

Princess does Alaska out out of San Francisco.!!!!!

 

Bon Voyage...

[romarambler]

My wife & I have cruised twice on NCL, 33 days Miami to Buenos Aires, and 35 days back-to-back Med cruises, staying aboard for the transatlantic crossing to Miami. Entertainment was not set up for long time cruising, as it repeated several times. The Med & crossing were on the Jewel, and the freestyle dining was a disaster. We anticipated this and booked a table for 6 at the same time every evening for the 35 days. People were lined up every night , being given lighted buzzers , just like Outback or Olive Garden, with waits up to an hour. People saw us bypass the lines and started asking to join our table, so we met lots of new friends. We did enjoy both NCL cruises very much, but there were some rough edges. In Sep 08 we were on HAL's Amsterdam for the 65 day Asia & Australia Grand Voyage. We found it superior in most aspects, although the NCL Jewel was more lively, and sparkling new, while Amsterdam was showing a little wear. Entertainment on HAL was much better, and was not repeated, since the majority were aboard for the full 65 days. You should be able to have a great cruise on either line, with the right attitude.

 

We leave Jan 19th on the 107 day World Cruise on Pacific Princess. As you can see we don't have a blind loyalty to any cruise line, but look at the itinerary as much as the line.

[NMLady]

My wife & I have cruised twice on NCL, 33 days Miami to Buenos Aires, and 35 days back-to-back Med cruises, staying aboard for the transatlantic crossing to Miami. Entertainment was not set up for long time cruising, as it repeated several times. The Med & crossing were on the Jewel, and the freestyle dining was a disaster. We anticipated this and booked a table for 6 at the same time every evening for the 35 days. People were lined up every night , being given lighted buzzers , just like Outback or Olive Garden, with waits up to an hour. People saw us bypass the lines and started asking to join our table, so we met lots of new friends. We did enjoy both NCL cruises very much, but there were some rough edges. In Sep 08 we were on HAL's Amsterdam for the 65 day Asia & Australia Grand Voyage. We found it superior in most aspects, although the NCL Jewel was more lively, and sparkling new, while Amsterdam was showing a little wear. Entertainment on HAL was much better, and was not repeated, since the majority were aboard for the full 65 days. You should be able to have a great cruise on either line, with the right attitude.

 

We leave Jan 19th on the 107 day World Cruise on Pacific Princess. As you can see we don't have a blind loyalty to any cruise line, but look at the itinerary as much as the line.

 

Our freestyle dining experience on the Jewel in 2008 was completely different. We never had more than a 5 minute wait. There were two of us and we always asked for a shared table.

 

We just finished b2b2b cruises on the Sun for a total of 33 days and there was very little repetition of entertainment in the main theater. On the few nights when there was repetition there was always entertainment in a smaller lounge or a piano player in another lounge or a combo in another. So there was always different entertainment available.

[npsh]

my views almost exactly, the NCL crew seems much more down to earth.

 

Nita

 

Just got back from a 12 day repositioning NCL -Dawn NYC to Miami. It was our first time with NCL as we previously cruised with Carnival and Princess. NCL was our best cruise to date and are completely sold on freestyle concept. Passengers/ crew seemed relaxed, more so than on Princess and Carnival we found. Formal nights (shirt tie and dress) isn't an issue with NCL which probably suggests the reason atmosphere on board is relaxed.