NCL Freestyler on Celebrity?

[Cloudyrain]

Sorry if this has been asked before, I have done some searching but can't seem to answer my question!

 

We crusied on the NCL Epic and Spirit last year and have fallen in love with cruises! We loved the bars, the casino (Craps is our new fave game!), the relaxed dining, and the shows. We also quite enjoyed the odd bit of bingo and the karaoke and silly shows. We are in our early 30s and although we aren't party animals we liked the nightlife (probably more so on the Epic than the Spirit).

 

However, I love the look and itinery of the Equinox Istanbul to Rome in June (and the price is fab!) but my husband is worried about it being too "posh" for us and concerned that it will be quiet in the evenings (some reviews seem to suggest it's an older demographic). He is more jeans, trainers and polo shirt than tux! :rolleyes:

 

Has anyone been on the Epic and the Equinox (especially the Med) and can advise me - I'm tearing my hair out at the minute being so indecisive! Though it's a good problem to have! :D

 

Thanks in advance!x

[hcat]

Celeb will be more dressy, esp formal nights. Euro itins are port intensive so lack of lively late nites probably won' t be an issue Celeb .....Equinox is a beautiful ship.

[bearette]

I always say try it, even the worst cruise is still a fun vacAtion. I would just not do the traditional dinning if you like the freestyle of NCL.

 

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[We're The Groupnors]

We were on NCL years ago, and are regular Celebrity cruisers. NCL definitely has a much more laid back atmosphere, and it's "busier". I don't want to use the term Party Atmosphere, because I don't feel that's quite right as lots of families enjoy NCL. If your guy does not like to at least dress in chinos, or nice jeans with a nice shirt and dressier shoes than trainers he might not like Celebrity. We cruise with my BFF and her husband who cruise Celebrity with us and NCL with their kids. They love both, but admit they are two different experiences. They love to dress in a tux and gown on a "couples cruise" on Celebrity, but would never do that with their kids on NCL.

 

All this being said, if you love the itinerary, and your guy is willing to at least give it a shot with an open mind I say go for it. You may just have the time of your life!

[CruisingGatorGirl]

Simply put, yes, you will find X to be dressier.

 

We have done both Mediterranean (Celebrity) and Caribbean (Celebrity, Carnival, Royal Caribbean) itineraries. The Med. was definitely dressier. You can always skip the MDR and eat in the buffet :) We like to dress up, that is part of the reason we cruise on X (we are in our mid 20's). We just booked another Celebrity Med. cruise for 2015. X is great for a couples cruise, few kids, etc. Very relaxing, you will not find the late night parties on X like the other lines I have cruised.

Edited May 10, 2014 by CruisingGatorGirl

[Project_gal]

Sorry if this has been asked before, I have done some searching but can't seem to answer my question!

 

We crusied on the NCL Epic and Spirit last year and have fallen in love with cruises! We loved the bars, the casino (Craps is our new fave game!), the relaxed dining, and the shows. We also quite enjoyed the odd bit of bingo and the karaoke and silly shows. We are in our early 30s and although we aren't party animals we liked the nightlife (probably more so on the Epic than the Spirit).

 

However, I love the look and itinery of the Equinox Istanbul to Rome in June (and the price is fab!) but my husband is worried about it being too "posh" for us and concerned that it will be quiet in the evenings (some reviews seem to suggest it's an older demographic). He is more jeans, trainers and polo shirt than tux! :rolleyes:

 

Has anyone been on the Epic and the Equinox (especially the Med) and can advise me - I'm tearing my hair out at the minute being so indecisive! Though it's a good problem to have! :D

 

Thanks in advance!x

 

You do not say where, in the world, your other cruises have been. We have not cruised [much] in the Med [just beginning or end of repositioning cruises] but I understand that these can be quieter in the evenings because our "colonial cousins" tend to have long and hectic shore excursions. You have to remember that, for them, it may be a rare visit to that part of the world where we can just on a budget airline and do the same "stuff".

 

As for cruise line: we have only been on NCL once and would not return. Celebrity is our line of choice. We may have been unlucky but, to us, NCL Freestyle was more an excuse for NCL not bothering. For example, they refused to sell me a glass of champagne [any champagne!] in the Champagne Bar because they did not have an opened bottle. On Celebrity, they will open a new bottle if they think the one they have has been open too long. They will go to another bar to get the champagne you prefer from another bar.

 

OK, there may be a dress code on Celebrity but, then, you usually get better service at home in the places where they expect you not to wear torn jeans and dirty trainers, don't you?

 

So it boils down to what you want from your cruise. The itinerary you are interested in may be quiet in the evening but it probably would be on any ship in the eastern Med. If you prefer partying over receiving great service you may prefer NCL. However, if you want a beautiful ship, partying AND good service, try a New Year cruise on Eclipse but you do not get the itinerary you like to look of. As you say, it is a great problem to have!

Edited May 10, 2014 by Project_gal

[gek]

 

OK, there may be a dress code on Celebrity but, then, you usually get better service at home in the places where they expect you not to wear torn jeans and dirty trainers, don't you?

 

 

The OP made no mention of "torn" jeans or "dirty" trainers. In fact, good quality jeans and clean trainers are perfectly fine on Celebrity (except, of course, in the MDR on formal night). I agree that Celebrity tends to be a little dressier than some other lines (e.g. NCL, Carnival) but not so much that you'd necessarily feel out of place dressing more casually.

[lori-annk]

We cruised on NCL 5 times and would again. We enjoyed many of the same things as you. My husbands not a suit/tux fan either. We took our first Celebrity cruise last year. We're sailing to Bermuda on Celebrity tomorrow.

 

We did miss karaoke. It's fun on NCL. But after hours there was great music, lively parties, a great comic and the shows were fun. The casino was also fun each evening. We are in our 40s and didn't find this to be an older crowd. Tip on formal night the specialty restaurants are always smart casual! No tux required.

 

Happy Cruising

[TMLAalum]

Most evenings the dress code is "Smart Casual" except for formal nights.

However, there are options for avoiding the formal night dress code on Celebrity!

1. Book Aqua Class for dining in Blu which is anytime dining & smart casual every night.

2. Dine in the specialty restaurants on formal nights as the dress code there is smart casual at all times.

3. Room Service

4. Last (and least) is to have dinner in the Oceanview Café; however, choices are limited in the evening.

[Project_gal]

The OP made no mention of "torn" jeans or "dirty" trainers. In fact, good quality jeans and clean trainers are perfectly fine on Celebrity (except, of course, in the MDR on formal night). I agree that Celebrity tends to be a little dressier than some other lines (e.g. NCL, Carnival) but not so much that you'd necessarily feel out of place dressing more casually.

 

I never said that the OP mentioned torn jeans or dirty trainers and did not think that that is what they wanted to wear.

 

My point was that Celebrity was not stuffy and somewhere that they may feel uncomfortable. [but believe me, we saw much worse dress at the formal night's private Captain's reception on NCL.] In other words having a dress code does not mean that Celebrity is somewhere where they would feel uncomfortable by referring to a dress code [i.e. no torn jeans, no dirty trainers]that the OP may be familiar with in the UK [where the OP is from].

Edited May 10, 2014 by Project_gal

[cynbar]

Celebrity is different from NCL, no question. You will find many posters here who say they will NEVER sail NCK, but we don't feel that way -- we just know going in that we are going to have a different experience. Celebrity is quieter, more sedate and more dignified and more elegant too. Most everyone will observe the posted dress code, you can always go to the buffet or order the MDR menu from room service. That sounds stuffy but I don't feel that way when I am onboard. Specialty restaurants and Blu are always smart casual but not sloppy or super casual. You will also find the entertainment to be more limited than on NCL. Our cruises have not been particularly lively, have not had a lot going on late night, but that could well vary from cruise to cruise. However, the food and service on Celebrity are excellent. We generally pick a cruise based on itinerary, but only you can decide if the quieter atmosphere would be a deal breaker.