NCL vs. RCCL???

[mlmoss]

We have gone on 3 RC cruises and loved them all...we were considering trying another cruise line just to experience something else? How do they compare?

[madison_J]

NCL's "FreeStyle" Cruising concept is a big difference from RCCL. It is very relaxing and gives you the freedom to choose and I would suggest you take your first experience of NCL S.T.Y.L.E. cruising in one of their new ships. Try it and be your own judge.;)

[mrsfunfamily]

Having just returned from NCL MAjesty I have to say RCCL wins hands down! We found the food on RCCL better with a wider variety of food at the breakfast and lunch buffet. Dinners seemed to linger on forever. One night it took over 2 1/2 hours from start to finish! Not a big fan of freestyle dining.

Although the shows at night were good, we found the overall activities to be lacking unless you wanted to play Bingo and slot tournaments throughout the week.

We did find most of the staff to be friendly and helpful with the exception of some of the girls working the coffee stations on the pool deck. Our room steward did his job, but took us two days to finally meet him, and he wasn't as friendly as past stewards. Towel animals wre good though!

On a positive note, we found the Captain to be more down to earth than most, loved the hand sanitizer stations at the enterance of each restaurant ( now if only everbody would use them), and the hour or so of free rum punch on the pool deck on a sea day was a very generous gesture.

[shoreguy]

Same question and answers fron 2 days ago -

 

http://boards.cruisecritic.com/showthread.php?t=243461&highlight=rccl

[emcemt]

RCCL is defenitely the better of the 2 IMHO. Heres a link to my review of the Dawn as a first time freestyler. We choose to cruise NCL only because they leave from NY year round and my familly has started a tradition of cruising for Thanksgiving. Since we all live around NY it is very convienent. If leaving out of another port (Florida for example), I wouldnt consider NCL. Just My 2 cents.

[emcemt]

RCCL is defenitely the better of the 2 IMHO. Heres a link to my review of the Dawn as a first time freestyler http://boards.cruisecritic.com/showthread.php?t=105368. We choose to cruise NCL only because they leave from NY year round and my familly has started a tradition of cruising for Thanksgiving. Since we all live around NY it is very convienent. If leaving out of another port (Florida for example), I wouldnt consider NCL. Just My 2 cents.

[electricron]

They're much the same, except for the size of their ships, and dining options.

 

I can't believe that the food the cafeteria serves makes one cruise line superior than another. NCL's main and speciality restaurants food is just as good, or even better than RCCL.

 

With it's larger ships, RCCL provides rock climing walls, skating rinks, and other trinkets to keep teenage kids entertained. But their program isn't any better than NCL's for smaller children. Most will say NCL's programs for smaller children are better.

 

The shows on NCL ships are much better. The Cruise Directors on NCL ships are much better. Adult activites on NCL ships are much better. NCL organizes activities to keep their passengers entertained, while RCCL relies on their ship to keep their passengers entertained.

 

RCCL uses Traditional Dining with set dining times, seats, and table mates. It's virtually impossible to find a romantic table for two in the main dining room. Instead, you're dining with up to six other strangers at your table. Many falsely claim that's why they cruise, to meet new people, but we all know that's a lie. Most diners on NCL ships sit in pairs or with family groups when given the choice. The truth is that most prefer not to dine with strangers.

NCL uses Freestyle Dining where passengers can choose when, where, and with whom they dine with. That''s a choice RCCL doesn't give its passengers in the main dining rooms.

The rooms are basically the same size, with the same gizmos in each cabin, while NCL provides on its newest and largest ships, for those who can afford it, huge Garden Villas and Courtyard Suites that RCCL doesn't have anything close to.

For low cost cruises, NCL usually provides more ports to visit on a cruise than all the other lines, including RCCL.

I prefer NCL over all the other cruise lines because I get more value for my money. Choices is never bad for consumers, and NCL provides the most choices you can have on a cruise. More ports, more restaurants, more freedoms, and more organized activities, all for the same or lesser price.

[newmexicoNita]

this question has been asked on another thread. Like Shoreguy said: 2 days ago, same answers from the same people mostly. As for comparing the 2 lines, it depends on the ships: we did the Majesty of the Sea about 5 years ago, no way can she match up to any of the newer NCL ships nor should anyone compare the Dream or NCL Majesty with the newer RCI ships. If you are comparing like class, such as the Dawn or Jewel with the Vogager class ships you will find very little difference. We do like the food much better on NCL, infact the worst food we have had out of 19 cruises was on our 2 RCI ships. Again, this is a matter of opinion only as food is a subjective topic at best. The buffets aren't good on either line or any line for that matter. NCL will give you the relaxation only offered through freestyle cruising plus so many choices for dining. Service wise, we have found the service in the dining rooms to be similar and our room stewards slightly better on NCL but certainly no real difference. If you like the physical activities, RCI will offer more, but the entertainment is better on NCL. The casinos are about the same. Judge for yourself and have a good cruise regardless of which line you choose. NMNita