Looking for a second cruise!!!

[alabamajenn]

I am looking at this cruise line, I've only been on Carnival. Can anyone tell me what the pros and cons are of this line? Thanks!

 

 

 

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[JVilleGal]

The Pros, it sails on the oceans of the world with you on it.

The Cons when the cruise is over they make you get off the ship, now that really makes me mad! Oh and they make you pay[emoji15] and here I thought the best things in life were free!!

 

 

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[mugtech]

From what I have read, there are more a likes than differences. Many claim NCL entertainment is better. I am very itinerary driven, that is why I prefer NCL. If I were in Alabama I would try a Western Caribbean out of New Orleans.

[Quilting_Cruiser]

If you go to the home page of the NCL forum and locate the search box then type "Carnival" in the search box, you'll find numerous threads comparing the two cruise lines. That should give you some insight. As mugtech said, the two lines are more alike than they are different. I'm platinum on Carnival and have sailed three times on NCL with two more NCL cruises booked.

 

What I prefer about NCL (in order):

 

• Far more specialty restaurants
  
• Freestyle: no set dining time and no need to sit at a table of strangers
  
• Far fewer announcements trying to get you to go to this sale or that
  
• Meet and Greets are better, including officers coming to talk to CCers and answer their questions
  
• Better buffet
  
• Less garish decor
  
• Better entertainment
  
• I don't spend time by the pool, so this doesn't really matter to me, but I surely don't miss things like hairy chest contests
  

 

 

What I prefer about Carnival:

 

• Steakhouses are slightly better than NCL's Cagney's
  
• Larger cabins
  
• Being platinum I get free laundry, which is nice :)
  
• I actually enjoy the dancing waiters
  
• Towel animals are in the cabin more consistently
  
• MUTS
  

 

 

What I find no difference in:

 

• Service
  
• MDR food quality
  

 

All of this, of course, simply MHO. I prefer NCL, but I would be fine sailing Carnival again if the itinerary and price were right.

Edited October 24, 2016 by Quilting_Cruiser

[xlxo]

Hawaii..... it's the only boat that sails in Hawaii with no sea days.

[SuiteTraveler]

If you sail in suites, there is no comparison. NCL does suites better than almost every cruise line out there with butler service and luxury bathrooms and The Haven. If you can afford it, definitely sail in a penthouse or above on NCL - you'll probably have a hard time going back to Carnival after that.

 

Decor of the ship overall on Epic, Getaway, Breakaway, and Escape will remind you of a new Las Vegas Casino Hotel. Nothing comparable to that on Carnival, not even on the Vista - although I found Magic and Breeze at least more modern than other Carnival ships. The spa on these ships is unbeatable by Carnival.

[Nola26]

I have not sailed Carnival, but have enjoyed the 3 NCL cruises and will soon take my 4th, all Caribbean. Two have been family trip and two solo.

 

In general I have found NCL's customer service to be quite good. The crew is friendly and appears to enjoy their work/environment. My two recent cruises have been in balconies on the two newest ships, very comfortable for the 3 of us and nicely appointed. We had towel animals almost daily. NCL cleans the cabins twice a day, not sure if Carnival is now only doing this once/day?

 

My teen nephew LOVED the teen club, the ropes course, basketball court, etc. We loved the dining room that includes live entertainment (Tropicana or Manhattan depending on the ship, Getaway or Escape). Waterfront areas on those ships are quite nice too, relaxing place for reading, watching or napping.

 

If you enjoy casino play be sure to sign up for the NCL card. That program has helped us book each of our cruises. Also be sure to go to a Cruise Next presentation onboard. I think it is a great program to help get an onboard perk for buying a certificate useful for a future cruise.

 

NCL no longer allows beverages to be brought onboard either at the start of the trip or from a port. There is water available from dispensers in the buffet area and some passengers say they also drink from their cabinet faucet.

 

Be sure to understand the terms and conditions of your promotion/booking. Many talk about NCL as nickel and diming, but that hasn't been my experience. I have paid for the features I've wanted in my cruise booking and added things onboard. I've never felt nickel or dimed, just had a choice of things that cost extra. I think the value is fair and I've be able to have a great time and stay within our budget.

 

We aren't a family that values Specialty dining so I've never paid for it or taken it as a perk, but many indicate this as a highlight for NCL. We have been impressed with the range and quality of the buffet and appreciated the complimentary dining restaurants.

 

NCL charges a service fee for room service, I'm not a fan of that. There is a breakfast menu that is exempt from this fee and I've used it, but have not paid the service charge for a meal from the broader menu to be delivered to the cabin. That said I think NCL is quite clear on the charge and the "free" menus.

 

While not a compare and contrast, I hope my comments are helpful.

[luckyinpa]

I am looking at this cruise line, I've only been on Carnival. Can anyone tell me what the pros and cons are of this line? Thanks!

 

 

 

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my 1st cruise was on breakaway last week. CLEAN is one word i can use for sure. i went looking for something dusty and only found one hinge inside a cabinet was dirty. i saw the steward on the hallway floor with an angled brush doing the corner of the carpeting. they take this seriously

 

all the stairwells have HUGE mirrors and not a single time did i see any of them dirty or stained. considering the kids and amount of people using the stairs this is amazing.

 

so one pro is the cleanliness

 

also i found 99.8% of the staff to be super friendly and efficient. i felt so welcomed and i was actually embarrassed because they usually stepped into the alcoves to let the NCL passengers pass in the narrow cabin halls (we were on bridge level so got a lot of employees up there)

 

so friendliness and welcoming is another pro

 

if you are a drinker the free booze package will be for you.

 

i found the free internet on the breakaway pretty reliable last week.

 

if you want cheap bottled water this is not the place for it.nor can you bring it on board

 

if you want a sanctuary from the hustle of the ship the haven is for you.

[alabamajenn]

Norwegian has a free booze package[emoji15][emoji15] we spent 360 on our last cruise and we aren't even big drinkers!! This is definitely a plus! How does the package work?

 

 

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[Quilting_Cruiser]

Norwegian has a free booze package[emoji15][emoji15] we spent 360 on our last cruise and we aren't even big drinkers!! This is definitely a plus! How does the package work?

 

Drinks up to $15 are covered. If you order a drink over the $15 threshold, you pay the difference and 18% gratuity on the difference. When you get the UBP (Ultimate Beverage Package) as a booking promo, if you book in the U.S. you pay 18% gratuity on the package, which comes to about $95 per person for a 7-day cruise. In addition to alcoholic beverages, it covers fountain soda, but does not include bottled water or specialty coffee drinks.

[BirdTravels]

While the smaller ships are not "new", Ncl is spending a lot of money putting every ship in dry dock and modernizing the interiors. Clean. New. Fresh.