Am I wasting my hard earned dollar???????

[housepeepers]

Hi there, I have been cruising with NCL for 8 yrs now. I have never gone on another cruise line so I am unable to comment about that. But, what I do know is that I have read those same comments and have been "nervous" as well when I booked my last cruise to Bermuda. I have to say that we are very simple people and it does not take a lot to make us happy. I do not complain unless warranted and I think that everyone works hard on the ships. we do not expect people to wait on us hand and foot and we don't expect much; maybe this is why we have never had a bad experience. I love NCL. I recently booked and traveled to Aruba. We found the same type of comments. I almost changed hotels, but you know, I enjoyed where we stayed and our vacation was wonderful. Think positive!!!:rolleyes:

 

We should cruise together, we sound very much alike. We just want to relax and have a good time and we have never been disappointed by NCL. We took 2 of our sons and their significant others on the Spirit to Bermuda in May and now they love it too!

[newmexicoNita]

You're right there's no comparison.....the Century is much better...:p

 

Matter of opinion my friend, I know a few people that would disagree with you, but that is what makes these boards so much fun and informative, as long as people keep an open mind.

 

Nita

[cod]

We have just booked our 4th cruise on the Spirit for January '12. We've cruised many times but 4 cruises on one ship is a record for us....and this will be our 8th NCL cruise.

 

We like NCL - and especially the Spirit - and I am sure you will all enjoy yourselves. She (the Spirit) is not big and glitzy but she is one-of-a-kind, easy to navigate and the crew is outstanding. Don't worry!

 

Have fun!!!!!

[NMLady]

Seems to be alot of negative comments in general about NCL and freestyle cruising that I have read in various places on the web. Things like no service in the cabins, long lines for dinner, unfriendly crews. I am booked on the Spirit, leaving in 63 days, so I can't cancel my trip. I am booked in a suite that is supposed to have concierge and butler service if I choose to use it. I'm getting VERY worried that I am wasting my money on this cruise. Just got back from seeing the ship docked in New Orleans. I have only cruised on Disney before NCL and I must admit the Disney boats look much cleaner and better kept on the outside than the Spirit. Someone tell me I'm not wasting ALL of my money!!!! Will anything on the cruise be positive????

 

You are not wasting your money. First, keep in mind that for every negative review there's probably a dozen positive ones that weren't posted. When people enjoy a product they don't think to say anything, but if there's a problem, then it's complained about.

Will every cruise go perfectly? Probably not. But if folks would concentrate on the things that did go right rather than the few things that didn't, then there'd be a lot more happy cruisers.

 

We've cruised on several cruise lines and we like NCL as much as any of the others. We LOVE freestyle. We don't have to stop what we're doing to go to dinner. We don't have to dress formally for any dinners. We have never experienced long lines at dinner, but

we don't ask for a table for two at prime dining time. We always ask for a 'shared' table and we've always been seated within a

few minutes, no matter what time we go to dinner.

 

Cabin service can vary if you're talking about cabin stewards. On the Jewel we had problems getting our room serviced in a timely manner. However, the rest of the crew that we dealt with was fine. On the Sun our cabin stewards were outstanding as was the rest of the crew that we dealt with. Cabin service bringing food was always fine. We ate breakfast in our cabin almost every morning and it was prompt and accurate. I've also had a mid-afternoon snack brought to the cabin, and we've had a pre-dinner snack. That was two different ships and both times it was within the 45 minute time that's to be expected.

 

Keep a positive attitude and that will come across to crew and passengers and you'll have a wonderful time.

[mainecooncat]

Seems to be alot of negative comments in general about NCL and freestyle cruising that I have read in various places on the web. Things like no service in the cabins, long lines for dinner, unfriendly crews. I am booked on the Spirit, leaving in 63 days, so I can't cancel my trip. I am booked in a suite that is supposed to have concierge and butler service if I choose to use it. I'm getting VERY worried that I am wasting my money on this cruise. Just got back from seeing the ship docked in New Orleans. I have only cruised on Disney before NCL and I must admit the Disney boats look much cleaner and better kept on the outside than the Spirit. Someone tell me I'm not wasting ALL of my money!!!! Will anything on the cruise be positive????

 

If you want to think negatively, you could always give your cruise to me:p. Or think positively and go and have fun:)

[Zeno]

If you go on ANY vacation with a negative attitude - you are absolutely wasting your money. My advice - if you still feel negative - cancel your cruise.

[travelnap]

Seems to be alot of negative comments in general about NCL and freestyle cruising that I have read in various places on the web. Things like no service in the cabins, long lines for dinner, unfriendly crews. I am booked on the Spirit, leaving in 63 days, so I can't cancel my trip. I am booked in a suite that is supposed to have concierge and butler service if I choose to use it. I'm getting VERY worried that I am wasting my money on this cruise. Just got back from seeing the ship docked in New Orleans. I have only cruised on Disney before NCL and I must admit the Disney boats look much cleaner and better kept on the outside than the Spirit. Someone tell me I'm not wasting ALL of my money!!!! Will anything on the cruise be positive????

 

Jenpan,

I think you will find complaints about all the cruise lines from different people as different people like and expect different things. I have never cruised Disney, but I have sailed with NCL, Carnival, Royal Carribbean, Holland America, and Princess, and I can honestly tell you that I have never had a bad cruise on any of them. I do enjoy the free style dining experience as I like the flexible schedule, and I can eat where I want to when I want to. Yes, the specialty restaurants do have an upcharge on NCL, but so do most of the other lines for their specialty restaurants and I have found them to be worth the upcharge. I have found the service to be fine on all the lines that I have sailed with, and the various crews and staff members to be very friendly. I wouldn't let some negative comments ruin your trip for you. If you go with a positive attitude that you are going to have a good time, I think you will, no matter what cruise line you are sailing with. If it makes you feel any better, I have had 9 trips on NCL so if I had a problem with them, I wouldn't keep going back. I would also go back and sail on any of the other lines that I have sailed on. I try to cruise a couple of times a year so I probably look at price and the itineray when I am booking my next trip. Hope you have a great trip.

[Lulubelle6805]

I've sailed Disney and absolutely loved it and want to plan another Disney cruise in the future, but it's a completely different (not worse) experience to sail on NCL, and sailing on the Spirit last May convinced me that NCL had a lot to offer our family. We loved the Spirit so much that we sailed twice that summer, and we're heading back to the Spirit for a third time on the 23rd.

 

It's a beautiful ship with a wonderful crew, and I can also speak to some of the perks you'll be enjoying as a suite guest. Although we didn't stay in a suite, we were granted VIP status both times on the Spirit, so we were able to enjoy everything but the suite itself (and the butler). It starts as soon as you board the ship, as you get whisked away to a separate VIP space and escorted onboard. For breakfast, you are going to LOVE dining in Cagney's while everyone else is standing in line at the buffet. You also get lunch at Cagney's, and though the menu is kind of limited, the food is fantastic, in my opinion, and it's a great place to connect with the concierge. Your concierge will visit your table when you're there, breakfast or lunch, so be sure to ask about things like priority tendering or recommendations if you don't have plans for the day already. You'll get reserved seating at shows, early entrance to the chocolate buffet, and little treats delivered to your room each afternoon. You will truly feel pampered! Like I said, the Spirit won us over immediately-- the decor, layout, and crew are just wonderful (and the suite perks don't hurt, either). Enjoy your trip!

[Ms belp]

I've sailed Disney and absolutely loved it and want to plan another Disney cruise in the future, but it's a completely different (not worse) experience to sail on NCL, and sailing on the Spirit last May convinced me that NCL had a lot to offer our family. We loved the Spirit so much that we sailed twice that summer, and we're heading back to the Spirit for a third time on the 23rd.

 

It's a beautiful ship with a wonderful crew, and I can also speak to some of the perks you'll be enjoying as a suite guest. Although we didn't stay in a suite, we were granted VIP status both times on the Spirit, so we were able to enjoy everything but the suite itself (and the butler). It starts as soon as you board the ship, as you get whisked away to a separate VIP space and escorted onboard. For breakfast, you are going to LOVE dining in Cagney's while everyone else is standing in line at the buffet. You also get lunch at Cagney's, and though the menu is kind of limited, the food is fantastic, in my opinion, and it's a great place to connect with the concierge. Your concierge will visit your table when you're there, breakfast or lunch, so be sure to ask about things like priority tendering or recommendations if you don't have plans for the day already. You'll get reserved seating at shows, early entrance to the chocolate buffet, and little treats delivered to your room each afternoon. You will truly feel pampered! Like I said, the Spirit won us over immediately-- the decor, layout, and crew are just wonderful (and the suite perks don't hurt, either). Enjoy your trip!

 

We had this as well and it was wonderful. They even took care of me in the cabin when my back went out. Karan was the greatest as were our cabin stewards who made my towel animals to keep me company while I was laid up. We have the Spirit booked again for April.

[STARFISH*4]

we LOVED the Spirit and her unique ASIAN decor...she is a LOVELY ship but no matter what a CRUISE/VACATION is what you make of it...make your mind up no matter what happens or doesnt happen you will have a GOOD TIME you are on VACATION!!!

started out cruising on X...just bit "stuffy" for us...we found our cruising home on NCL...love the laid-back relaxed FREE~STYLE cruising...where it is MY CHOICE!! will be going on my 9th cruise with NCL next month with

the 10th/11th booked for December and my 12th booked any day now for 2012!!!

dont believe all the NEGATIVITY too there are ALOT OF US NCL FANS here so there has to be some POSITIVE sides too!!!--but you have to look for them and decide for yourself but dont go with the NEGATIVE attitude that you posted here....

you can have the BEST TIME or the WORST TIME...that part is up to YOU!!!

[BlueJai]

17 days on a cruise ship will be amazing! I am sure there are lots of plus and minuses whenever you compare cruise lines, however, since you have made the decision to go NCL, go have a blast!

 

I read a post recently that talked about someone going to the buffets on a cruise so that he/she could get in and get out fast so they could get back to cruising. I didn't quite get it, but then I realized that every person envisions a different vacation on a cruise since it offers so much. What one person loves, another can't fathom. That's what makes us all unique.

 

So, read what you can, do whatever research you need, but at the end of the day, just go and have a great time!

Jai

[sjbdtz]

OP, we're just off the Spirit 3 days ago.... had a fantastic time, the crew were excellent, and Prem (HD) is always available if things aren't fantastic.

 

Have a great trip!

[Cruisingaway1]

I hope everyone doesn't call me too negative, but recently took a NCL and wasn't happy. I had cruised with them a lot before and this trip felt they didn't do the right thing. They changed the itinerary on us, and elminated the port of Nassau, Bahamas, and gave us very "unsatifactory" compensation. I thought I would have cruised on NCL a lot more in the future, but this kind of soured my opinion of them. I feel there are other cruise lines out there waiting to be tried now.

 

We went in December, and yes weather is weather, but the only hope of sunshine would have been in the Port of Nassau. At first NCL eliminated the private island and then put it back on the schedule and took away Nassau. There was poor communication when the ship was leaving and many people were confused. Many of us were forced to come in a day ahead of time to meet the ship, then NCL changed plans on us again making all this expense of staying in NYC a waste. So maybe I'm not the best person to say "think positive". We asked NCL for a better refund and were only refunded $2 port charge for Nassau which seemed very low for what we paid for our cabin.

 

We do want to try to Solstice after what we've been through with NCL a cruise line that again we thought we would be sailing on in the future over and over.

[jenpan]

Hey Crusingaway1,

You better be careful on this post about being negative. The posters will flame ya!!!!:D I'm already feeling burn't to a crisp!!!;)

[Cruisingaway1]

Thanks for the warning. I guess I just had to vent some since I guess I shouldn't expect much of a response from NCL about our bad experience. We met with them on the ship and followed up aftewards and no real response.

 

I like cruising, and obviously many people on this website do too.

 

I'll think I'll be okay once I get to Nassau on my own (flying), and taking a cruise on another line, and hopefully the bitterness will go away - I full expect it to.

 

Flaming, feeling crisp. Ahh, I wish I felt that way on my cold, wet 7 day cruise! ;)

[DMH15]

Cruisingaway- did you read your cruise contract? Even the brochures say * itinerary subject to change. Too bad you let it ruin your trip. Better luck next time.

[lusitanica]

Seems to be alot of negative comments in general about NCL and freestyle cruising that I have read in various places on the web. Things like no service in the cabins, long lines for dinner, unfriendly crews. I am booked on the Spirit, leaving in 63 days, so I can't cancel my trip. I am booked in a suite that is supposed to have concierge and butler service if I choose to use it. I'm getting VERY worried that I am wasting my money on this cruise. Just got back from seeing the ship docked in New Orleans. I have only cruised on Disney before NCL and I must admit the Disney boats look much cleaner and better kept on the outside than the Spirit. Someone tell me I'm not wasting ALL of my money!!!! Will anything on the cruise be positive????

 

I cannot say about the Spirit, but our recent cruise on NCL Epic was the worst ever in terms of value for money.

We got less comfort, less food, less sea, less shows, less pools, less space, less pleasant fellow travellers on the Epic than we had on the Ruby Princess shortly after for the same money.

[newmexicoNita]

Hey Crusingaway1,

You better be careful on this post about being negative. The posters will flame ya!!!!:D I'm already feeling burn't to a crisp!!!;)

 

Give an example of anyone who has flamed you. Most have just tried to reassure you and forewarned you, if you think negatively you will not have a good time. That is not flaming you.

 

NIta

[grandmajackie]

I have taken 2 NCL cruises and enjoyed both. Relax and enjoy the experience.

[Cruzinnana47]

We have sailed on other cruiselines as well as NCL and have had great cruises, good cruises and even a "cruise from hell"--in our case, it wasn't so much the fault of the cruiseline or individual crewmembers as it was other passengers (some of whom were actually family members in OUR GROUP...:eek:)

 

Don't dwell on the negative reviews or comments by others. As several others have advised, go with a positive attitude--relax and be determined to enjoy yourself and have the best time possible. After all, being on a cruise is your vacation.

 

As far as the NCL Spirit is concerned, specifically, we sailed on her last May and enjoyed the experience. Yes, the balcony cabin (and balcony) we had was quite small, compared to others we had on other ships, but we appreciated the different look and feel of the Spirit--the teak promenade deck being one, and the bridge observation room being another. The Asian decor was something we found unique. Although the food, and on a few occasions, dining room service, was not at 100%, we took this in stride and still had a great cruise.

 

Hopefully you will have a great cruise and should find the suite perks that NCL provides to be a big "plus".

[newmexicoNita]

We have sailed on other cruiselines as well as NCL and have had great cruises' date=' [b']good [/b]cruises and even a "cruise from hell"--in our case, it wasn't so much the fault of the cruiseline or individual crewmembers as it was other passengers (some of whom were actually family members in OUR GROUP...:eek:)

 

Don't dwell on the negative reviews or comments by others. As several others have advised, go with a positive attitude--relax and be determined to enjoy yourself and have the best time possible. After all, being on a cruise is your vacation.

 

As far as the NCL Spirit is concerned, specifically, we sailed on her last May and enjoyed the experience. Yes, the balcony cabin (and balcony) we had was quite small, compared to others we had on other ships, but we appreciated the different look and feel of the Spirit--the teak promenade deck being one, and the bridge observation room being another. The Asian decor was something we found unique. Although the food, and on a few occasions, dining room service, was not at 100%, we took this in stride and still had a great cruise.

 

Hopefully you will have a great cruise and should find the suite perks that NCL provides to be a big "plus".

 

you have discribed my opinion of the Spirit almost to a tea!! We love the bathroom tiles and yes, the decor. We too had mixed service in the dining room, some nights outstanding and a few nights, a little hit or miss. The sur charge dining rooms offered great service and quality food.

 

Nita

[jenpan]

Give an example of anyone who has flamed you. Most have just tried to reassure you and forewarned you, if you think negatively you will not have a good time. That is not flaming you.

 

NIta

 

 

Read the comments. That should be enough evidence. Happy Crusing!!:D I guess I just have tender skin that burns real easy!!!;) OMG! People, let it go!!!!

[Zeno]

Hey Crusingaway1,

You better be careful on this post about being negative. The posters will flame ya!!!!:D I'm already feeling burn't to a crisp!!!;)

 

Given that you interpret the many positive comments and advice this way, I think I stand by my advice - you really should cancel this cruise - no-one should go on a vacation with negative presumptions and feelings.

[newmexicoNita]

Given that you interpret the many positive comments and advice this way, I think I stand by my advice - you really should cancel this cruise - no-one should go on a vacation with negative presumptions and feelings.

 

Probably good advise.

[rstackjd]

My wife and I have cruised on three lines, Disney (2x), Carnival (1X) and NCL (2x and one more in 5 weeks).

 

Our first cruise was Disney and we were, frankly, spoiled. Unfortunately for the other lines, subsequent cruises were judged by that standard, and frankly, at first we were disappointed. However, as you can tell, we are going on NCL again so . . . . .

 

Disney does everything right, the ship is beautiful, clean, the food is outstanding, the entertainment first class (assuming you like Disney entertainment). The crew and staff provide astounding service.

 

Out first NCL crusie we felt disappointed becasue the service didnt' mirror Disney which was our expectation. However, when we adjusted our attitudes (and looked at our costs) we quickly realized that NCL offered a very good product at a very good price. The staff was good, the ship was very nice and the entertainment was overall very good. We don't actually like the freestyle dining bacause we've enjoyed sitting with the same people and making new friends, so at dinner time we've felt a little isolated. our last NCL crusie and the upcoming one were with a group of friends so that isn't an issue anymore. Odds are if we are crusiing alone we would stay with Disney or another line that has traditional dining.

 

NCL is a very nice line and we've been impressed with the responsiveness of the crew and the corporate offices. If you go expecting Disney, you will be disappointed. If you go expecting to have a nice cruise, a fun ship, good entertainment, and a great cruise director staff, you'll be pleased.

 

As an aside - I liked Carnival in general - their food and serive was, I thought, very good. But, the "drunk 20 something crowd" took away from the experience and the entertainment was, we thought, mediocre. Probably do another one someday, but not in a rush. Probably stick mostly with NCL and DCL.

 

My 2 cents

 

Bob