Anybody Sail NCL and RCI that can help me with my decision?

[rolloman]

Ok here is the scoop. I have narrowed down between Royal Caribbean Jewel of the Seas and the new NCL Jewel. I have never sailed NCL before. For the same money Royal Caribbean offers an 8 day D1 Balcony and NCL offers a 7 day Mini Suite which gives you conceirge service. IF the concierge is the same as RCL concierge offers on its suite purchases which is free happy hour in the lounge I would lean towards NCL. I am also worried about the comparison of food NCL vs RCL. I have heard NCL is brutal. Thanks for any help/opinions provided!

 

P.S. the Itinerary is virtually the same.

[brigidfreeman]

Rolloman: NCL's Freestyle dining has good points and bad. Pick when it's convenient to dine but have new tablemates and waiters each time. Food is okay, nothing special. I've noticed that the room stewards have more rooms to clean now, so it might be afternoon before cabin is cleaned for the day.

Don't know about concierge service.

[smeyer418]

Ok here is the scoop. I have narrowed down between Royal Caribbean Jewel of the Seas and the new NCL Jewel. I have never sailed NCL before. For the same money Royal Caribbean offers an 8 day D1 Balcony and NCL offers a 7 day Mini Suite which gives you conceirge service. IF the concierge is the same as RCL concierge offers on its suite purchases which is free happy hour in the lounge I would lean towards NCL. I am also worried about the comparison of food NCL vs RCL. I have heard NCL is brutal. Thanks for any help/opinions provided!

 

P.S. the Itinerary is virtually the same.

 

 

NCL is not brutal but the NCL Jewel will be a brand new ship. Since may be near the frist cruise you should take that into consideration. I have been on both RCCI and NCL. They are very close. Some of it depends on what you like. No rock walls on NCL. No traditional eating ---its freestyle. Much different. The food is vitually identical(IMO). No Johnny Rockets on NCL but the NCL Jewel will have a 24 hour grill to get hamburgers from(with no extra charge). So you need to decide what you like and if the price is the same take the one that meets your lifestyle better. If the price is not the same I would go with the lower priced one. Unless NCL changes what it does the conceriege does not get you a free cocktail hour.

[pharmdawg]

is much better to me. I do like the breakfast on NCL better (dining room). Other than breakfast, RCL wins hands down in the food category. We are not buffet fans. It was hard to find a good lunch on NCL. What is brutal is the entertainment on NCL. In my opinion, it is horrible. RCL was very good. At night on NCL, there was nothing to do because of the bad entertainment except taking my kids to the pool. I do not enjoy going to the pool every night on a cruise. I can do that at home. Freestyle dining is convenient but I enjoy getting to know my waiter. After the first 2 nights, I never had to tell him my drink order for any of us 4 on RCL. My family would choose Rcl hands down.

[Ella2]

I LOVED the NCL Star, a sister ship to the Jewel. Absolutely LOVED the food as well; and enjoyed having a choice between two main dining rooms and LOTS of alternative restaurants each night (some with cover charges, well worth it). I am not one that is big on having to eat at the same time each night, so freestyle was perfect for us.

 

As for concierge service on the Jewel...I'm not sure if there is a concierge lounge or not, but the mini-suites do include concierge service.

[cuppy]

I have sailed 3 times on RCCL and 2 times on NCL.

 

The only reason I did a 2nd NCL cruise was the itinerary & price. NCL service and entertainment in my opinion does not compare to RCCL. The food was fine on both lines (RCCL has a better buffet though) room stewards were great on both.

 

Unfortunately NCL doesn't offer all the amenities RCCL does. My husband & I joke that NCL is the SouthWest Airlines of cruising. They are adequate - but no frills.

[sally r]

Tough question.

 

We just did a 21 day b2b on NCL (Sun) and really, really enjoyed free style. It was so less stressful than a set dining time. We went whenever and never waited more that a few minutes even with a large group. Had excellent service, too. DH and I agreed that NCL food was very good. The buffet had good days and bad. Prefer RCL in that area. We had a mini suite on NCL and consierge service but it is nothing even remotely like RCL's concierge benefit (we are diamond). We had wonderful cabin attendants. We had champagine in our cabin. We had a special lounge at embarkation and an escort on to the ship. The concierge did stop by our mini and check in with us. He also introduced us (remembered our names) to the Captain. The mini was small but very well designed with an awesome bathroom. Lots of nice touches, like a coffee maker! D1's are poorly designed (IMHO) with the bed by the balcony. Makes the rest of the cabin seem dark.

 

BUT Royal Caribbean is a notch up on NCL. Best loyalty program for repeat passengers. Consierge privledges are awesome on RCL, the lounge is wonderful. Always a happy staff and crew. The NCL crew were very cool and reserved. Went very strictly by the book.

 

Okay, I would book the RCL Jewel...no, maybe the new NCL Jewel...nope, definately RCL. Longer cruise.