Rcl vs ncl

[Jenk0677]

Hi

I want to book a cruise for the first week of April but I need your input. I am looking into the oasis or breakaway. I feel that the NCL offers so much more for your money such as better room, drink package and Internet. What is your opinion about royal vs NCL. I'm looking for a cruise that is relaxing but not to boring, something that would keep my 8 yr old entertained. I really don't care much about ports of call. Any input would be greatly appreciated. :)

[spookwife]

while I had never sailed NCL, many reports I have seen/read indicate that charge you for incidentals that most other lines include in the base fare. for instance, Royal only charges $4.95 for room service and only between midnight and 5 am. NCL, OTOH charges closer to $8-9 ALL day.

 

nothing about NCL marketing inspires me to even think about trying their product. and no one I have spoken to who has sailed them before is overenthusiastic about them either. most are like..yeah, I sail them when the price is right, or they have the itinerary I want. none of them are exclusively NCL and a few are like, I only sail them when no one else has what I need/want.

[Keith1010]

I would read member reviews for each ship.

 

Keith

[SuiteTraveler]

I've been on both of these ships and I like both of them. Given your son's age, I would probably go with Breakaway and then go on Oasis Class when he is middle school to high school age. If Breakaway is less expensive and has more included, I say, choose that ship and don't look back. You will have an awesome time and so will your son.

 

In regards to comparing the two ships - well, I've posted comparisons quite a lot here on various threads. I think the food on NCL is marginally better than on RCCL. Definitely the buffet on NCL is bigger, better and more comprehensive. For specialty restaurants, NCL's Cagney's, Le Bistro, Ocean Blue, Moderno and Teppanyaki beat RCCL's comparable specialty restaurants. RCCL has better sushi and Italian. NCL's spa is far better than RCCL's.

 

With NCL you do need to book your shows and specialty restaurants in advance, but then, if you went on Oasis, you would need to do that, too. I do think the cabins on NCL are considerably nicer than on Oasis, although those cabins are also nice, just more dated. The main pool on NCL is far more crowded on Oasis. This doesn't bother me as I never hang out there, but if that it important to you, then you need to be aware that the main pool on Escape will be mobbed pretty much constantly. I prefer the casino on NCL to RCCL's which feels like it is in a dungeon on Oasis. To me, Oasis class ships feel like I am staying at a theme park with lots of different neighborhoods. NCL Breakaway feels like a Las Vegas Casino Resort - specifically, it reminds me of Aria with the casino at the heart of the ship and restaurants and shops grouped around the sides of the casino.

 

I should mention we always sail in suites on NCL and NCL does suites far better than any other line I've been on including Carnival, RCCL, Princess, HAL, and Celebrity and even Uniworld. There is just no comparison, so if you can spring for a suite, do. Suite guests do not pay for room service. It's an awesome experience with The Haven and The Haven Restaurant and bar. Otherwise, get either a spa cabin or buy yourself a spa pass - they are available online from the NCL website where you book your excursions, restaurant and show reservations, etc. I have met many, many people who ONLY sail NCL. They like it that you NEVER have to get dressed up and love the entertainment and specialty restaurants on the new ships. For us, the spa is a huge draw and I have not found another cruise line with a spa similar to what NCL offers on their newest ships. The other thing about these ships is there is so much to do onboard, you can never do it all in a week. Last cruise on the Getaway, we met a couple who were sailing on Getaway for the third time in 6 months. That tells you how great these ships are that they would want to do that.

Edited February 13, 2016 by SuiteTraveler

[Clarea]

Hi

I want to book a cruise for the first week of April but I need your input. I am looking into the oasis or breakaway. I feel that the NCL offers so much more for your money such as better room, drink package and Internet. What is your opinion about royal vs NCL. I'm looking for a cruise that is relaxing but not to boring, something that would keep my 8 yr old entertained. I really don't care much about ports of call. Any input would be greatly appreciated. :)

I would post this on the Royal and NCL forums:

 

Royal: http://boards.cruisecritic.com/forumdisplay.php?f=83

 

NCL: http://boards.cruisecritic.com/forumdisplay.php?f=107

[daisyh]

We have cruised On both lines and loved our NCL Getaway cruise. We are cruising on it again in a few months. You are only nickeled and dimed if you choose to be. We had a terrific cruise and only paid extra for the Illusionarium.