Norwegian questions about kids

[In2why]

I know next to nothing about NCL other than the recent TV shows I watched, and that my kids are begging to go on one because of the Nick Jr commercials and the "marble spin" water slide.

 

Are all the NCL cruises kids programs Nick based?

 

Based on what I read, Carnival is the most all inclusive with just about everything included in the cruise price, and RC is the least and you need to pay extra for just about everything. Where does NCL fall?

 

Thanks in advance

[Sauer-kraut]

Nickelodeon is not on ALL ships, you have to check, I think the Jade is one, but I can be mistaken.

 

The crazy waterslide is on the EPIC

 

I don't know how Carnival is more inclusive than NCL, although NCL offers more choice in dining venues of which some will have a surcharge IF you choose to eat there. There are plenty of free offerings as well, so there are no 'extra' fees for things that are standard cruise fare.

 

Shore excursions will be extra, spa treatments, babysitting, arcade games, these all have charges associated with them but that is standard on 99% of all cruise lines.

[nathand95]

NCL is a great line for kids. The Epic was best entertainment and has awesome children and teen areas.

The one area were I think NCL fails is that they do nickle and dime you alot, but you DO NOT have to do all the extras. It will still be an awesome cruise without the specialty restaurants and other stuff and you can still have an AWESOME cruise. I love Carnival, but they are just don't add the same UMPH that NCL adds.

Back to your original question,both are great for kids,can't go wrong either way. When you are searching for cruises, book a cruise for it's amenities and itenerary. Price is also an obviously understood factor;)

[beachchick]

I believe you are misinformed about Carnival being so much more inclusive than RCI or other mainstream cruise lines. They all include roughly the same things (main dining, buffet, outdoor grill, room service, and sometimes other dining venues; regular coffee, tea, ice tea, milk of various types; most onboard entertainment; basic gym use, sports courts, and such; and more) and have additional charges for roughly the same things (specialty restaurants; alcohol, soda, and specialty coffee; photos; spa treatments; casino, bingo, and arcade; excursions; various specialty activities such as golf simulator; and also more). Carnival is really no more inclusive than RCI or NCL.

 

Believe me, you will have just as many additional charges on Carnival as you will on other lines. I think that Carnival does include their premium ice cream shop, while RCI has extra charges for Ben & Jerry's and NCL doesn't have an ice cream shop at all. OTOH, all offer ice cream in the dining rooms and/or casual diner, and most have soft serve dispensers in a few locations. I believe that Carnival offers only one or two specialty restaurants (which is perfectly fine), while RCI's newer ships offer more and NCL offers several on all ships. However, RCI and NCL include at least as many dining venues as Carnival. For some reason, having more choices for specialty dining, while still including all the usual options, is seen as "nickel and diming" by some people. I don't understand that logic at all. No passenger needs to pay another penny for food; it's a choice, an option, and a personal decision.

 

No, not all NCL cruises are Nick based. For us, that is followed by a "thank goodness" because we do not cruise with children and would not enjoy such a cruise. I believe that Epic has Nick-based activities on all cruises, but I'm not sure. It is the only NCL ship with the crazy slide, so if that's a "must have," then you should know that Epic is likely to have higher fares because it is the newest, largest NCL ship with more "wow" factors and activities.

 

IMO, you can't go wrong with any of the three cruise lines.

 

beachchick