Looking for objective comparison

[kennyken14]

We have been exclusively RCCL cruisers. It was our first cruise and since then they have always been so good that we never looked elsewhere. However after many years of only Royal I have a bit of curiosity to see what others have to offer. I am not looking for anyone to tear down RCCL because I quite simply won't buy into it. Perception is reality. But mine has always been good. That said I am interested in some objective comparison for those who may have done both Royal and NCL on what each one may do better or worse than the other. We will be traveling with a 5 and 3 year old as well. Looking at Getaway 7 day Western. Thank you.

 

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[Cuizer2]

I haven't been on Gateway yet (booked for last quarter of 2019). I have been on three NCL cruises (with two more booked) and I am D+ on Royal Caribbean.

 

You can read my reviews and decide for yourself ...

 

1) NCL Star 2005 - http://boards.cruisecritic.com/showthread.php?t=246777

 

2) NCL Jade 2008 - http://boards.cruisecritic.com/showthread.php?t=728733

 

3) NCL Pearl 2016 - http://boards.cruisecritic.com/showthread.php?t=2439655

[Kfamilycruise]

We have sailed both Norwegian and Royal.

 

We loved the Getaway so much we sailed on her twice. Right before that we had sailed on the Oasis of the Seas. Our kids enjoyed the Getaway kids program better than Royal and there was a lot more for all of the kids to do on the Getaway v Oasis because they loved the water slides, mini golf, etc..

 

I think the food is comparable. We didn't enjoy the steak restaurant on Oasis, but loved Cagney's on Getaway. I don't think the Main Dining Room food or service is as good on Getaway as it is on the Oasis, but buffets are definitely comparable.

 

Room is smaller on Getaway than on Oasis, but I hear they fixed that on Escape -- which we will be going on this June.

 

If you loved Central Park, I think you'll love the Waterfront even more -- quiet, relaxing and can watch the waves go by.

 

Biggest difference between Royal and Norwegian is no Promenade-type area. I actually don't mind the loss of the shopping mall feeling, but to others, it is a big deal. You can get specialty coffee (for a fee) in main area near guest services, you can get pizza at the buffet and there are many, many bars to choose from.

 

For adults only time, there is Spice H2O for free and if you think the kids will do the Splash Academy a lot, there is always Vibe -- the pay area that is adults only. I do miss the lovely Solarium with little Solarium bistro on Oasis.

 

For luxury, Norwegian is unmatched with the Haven. Separate bar and restaurant, pool and hot tubs. Butler for every cabin. I didn't stay in suites on Royal, but I've read that Haven service is far better.

 

Hope that is helpful. Please let me know if there are any other questions that you have if I didn't touch on what you'd like to know.

[kennyken14]

Excellent feedback thank you

 

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[phoenix1181]

Royal was our first & we stayed with them for a long time. We tried NCL in 1999 (I think) & hated it so stayed clear until DH retired in 2012. We got an offer we couldn't refuse & have happily sailed NCL Dawn several times since then. The largest ships we've been are Royal's Voyager class and only Dawn with NCL but hopefully I can be of some assistance.

 

We don't cruise with children so I have no information on the programs on either line.

 

The cabins on RCCL are roomier & IMHO have a better layout and more storage space.

 

Food is comparable in MDR's & buffet but the Windjammer has a much better design. It flows better, and it's easier to see what's available without actually getting in line. Neither line uses trays anymore & NCL has napkins with silverware at the tables which means you have less to carry which is good. Royal staff in the MDR's & buffet are better. In the MDR's it may be because on Royal even when we had My Time Dining we always stayed with the same table & staff which isn't an option on NCL. BUT, NCL does freestyle dining much better than Royal does My Time.

 

Specialty dining staff on both lines is comparable. We prefer Cagneys over Chops but Portofino (I think the name has changed) over La Cucina. Love Le Bistro but have no other specialty restaurant comparisons because of the ships we've been on. The 24 hour food availability at O'Sheahans on NCL is much better than anything Royal has.

 

Shopping is better on Royal even on the ships that don't have a promenade.

 

Casino is bigger and better designed on NCL

 

Shows are comparable

 

We love the Schooner lounge & were okay with Pearly Kings on the Dawn but it's now a wine bar since she went to dry dock & there's just no other bar that really works for us. We thought the Mojito bar might work, but that's a tiny bar in Moderno & a big disappointment.

 

Staff seems happier on NCL but they're definitely overworked on both lines. They keep cutting staff & it shows just about everywhere.

 

We love the casual atmosphere on NCL & their freestyle dining but as I said, we've only been on Dawn. What I read about the big girls seems to indicate freestyle has gone by the boards since people need to reserve shows.

 

I hope some of this helps.............

[tidygirl]

We have cruised with Norwegian 1 time and are booked on the Getaway ( the Baltic) the end of May.

We have been on Royal and Carnival. I'd rate Norwegian right under Royal I would say the food including the buffet was pretty comparable (my young adult son gained 12# mostly from the pretzel bread:eek:) We thought the shows were decent too.

I chose Norwegian for our next trip as 3/4 guest cruise free so our 2 adult children will stay with us and the grandbaby with our daughter and her hubby.

They only had to pay the daily service charge and port fees saving me a boat load of money!

[kennyken14]

Thanks again for everyone's feedback so far. The promotion that is really catching my attention is 3/4 guests free in a balcony and a choice of Specialty dining, free drinks etc included. Right now a large NCL balcony on getaway is running about $850 less than our preferred Boardwalk Balcony on Allure.

 

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[Still Dreaming]

We did the boardwalk balcony on royal! We loved it but nothing compares to a balcony looking at the ocean!!! We love the casual atmosphere on NCL!

[dinkydee718]

Hard to give an objective opinion about something so subjective, but I'll try. Disclaimer...I've never been on Getaway, but was on the somewhat comparable, Breakaway, three times. Only RCL ship I've been on is Quantum, and in fairness, it was new at the time. That said, there was no comparison for my family. We hated RCL so much I actually wrote the one-and-only complaint letter I've ever written. Got back several thousand to use towards another RCL cruise, but I couldn't convince my husband to give RCL a second chance, so the $ expired. I really wanted to try Oasis. Maybe one day!

 

Here's my comparison...The lines on RCL were almost unbearable. We literally waited for everything. One night they sat us after 9:15pm for an 8:00pm reservation! on our 4 NCL cruises, lines have never been an issue.

 

The check-in process on RCL took three hours (I wish that was an exaggeration but I assure you it is not). Typical check-in on NCL (when we don't go in a suite) is maybe 10-15 minutes. Less when we book a suite. Also, the cabins on RCL weren't ready until AFTER dinner the first night,

 

The service was incomparable. The Guest Service line on RCL took an hour-and-a-half...EVERY TIME! RCL lost my luggage for a day and seriously couldn't have cared less. Despite our having changed the card to charge, RCL managed to charge the wrong card and again, couldn't have cared less. In fairness, when we were on the NCL Star they overcharged for something, so they're not perfect, but their screw-up required me to wait on a five minute line and it was rectified.

 

 

I find the staff to be much more pleasant, approachable and helpful on NCL.

 

 

My kids don't like either kids' club, (they are obsessed with DCL's kids' clubs though).

 

 

I prefer the buffet and food on NCL.

 

 

Quantum's internet was like being on land! NCL's pales in comparison.

 

 

Water went out on the Quantum three times during cruise. On RCL had issues with cabin safe and virtual balcony in my daughters' cabin. Literally took two days, and several phone calls before they came to fix it. The virtual balcony was screaching such loud static for two days before they fixed it, that my girls basically didn't sleep and their ears were ringing. Never had technical issues on NCL.

 

 

Prefer the entertainment options on NCL.

 

 

My kids love Breakaway's waterslides. Personally I loved Quantum's sky diving and flow rider.

 

 

Also, if comparing balcony to balcony, I'd give the cabin to Quantum, though the Suite-life on NCL is ahh-mazing!

 

 

Don't know if that helps. Also, as I said, Quantum was a new ship at the time, so presumably they've worked out some of the issues. (Though to be fair Breakaway was only like two months old the first time we sailed).

 

 

I have been told that Oasis class ships outshine Quantum, but just can't get my family to try them. They were really turned off by Quantum's staff.

[kennyken14]

Hard to give an objective opinion about something so subjective, but I'll try. Disclaimer...I've never been on Getaway, but was on the somewhat comparable, Breakaway, three times. Only RCL ship I've been on is Quantum, and in fairness, it was new at the time. That said, there was no comparison for my family. We hated RCL so much I actually wrote the one-and-only complaint letter I've ever written. Got back several thousand to use towards another RCL cruise, but I couldn't convince my husband to give RCL a second chance, so the $ expired. I really wanted to try Oasis. Maybe one day!

 

Here's my comparison...The lines on RCL were almost unbearable. We literally waited for everything. One night they sat us after 9:15pm for an 8:00pm reservation! on our 4 NCL cruises, lines have never been an issue.

 

The check-in process on RCL took three hours (I wish that was an exaggeration but I assure you it is not). Typical check-in on NCL (when we don't go in a suite) is maybe 10-15 minutes. Less when we book a suite. Also, the cabins on RCL weren't ready until AFTER dinner the first night,

 

The service was incomparable. The Guest Service line on RCL took an hour-and-a-half...EVERY TIME! RCL lost my luggage for a day and seriously couldn't have cared less. Despite our having changed the card to charge, RCL managed to charge the wrong card and again, couldn't have cared less. In fairness, when we were on the NCL Star they overcharged for something, so they're not perfect, but their screw-up required me to wait on a five minute line and it was rectified.

 

 

I find the staff to be much more pleasant, approachable and helpful on NCL.

 

 

My kids don't like either kids' club, (they are obsessed with DCL's kids' clubs though).

 

 

I prefer the buffet and food on NCL.

 

 

Quantum's internet was like being on land! NCL's pales in comparison.

 

 

Water went out on the Quantum three times during cruise. On RCL had issues with cabin safe and virtual balcony in my daughters' cabin. Literally took two days, and several phone calls before they came to fix it. The virtual balcony was screaching such loud static for two days before they fixed it, that my girls basically didn't sleep and their ears were ringing. Never had technical issues on NCL.

 

 

Prefer the entertainment options on NCL.

 

 

My kids love Breakaway's waterslides. Personally I loved Quantum's sky diving and flow rider.

 

 

Also, if comparing balcony to balcony, I'd give the cabin to Quantum, though the Suite-life on NCL is ahh-mazing!

 

 

Don't know if that helps. Also, as I said, Quantum was a new ship at the time, so presumably they've worked out some of the issues. (Though to be fair Breakaway was only like two months old the first time we sailed).

 

 

I have been told that Oasis class ships outshine Quantum, but just can't get my family to try them. They were really turned off by Quantum's staff.

Thanks for your feedback. Quantum class on Royal seems to be very polarizing even among loyal Royals. Many longtime RCCL fans dislike those ships. It seems as if you are fighting an uphill battle to ever try Royal again but Oasis Class ships out of Fort Lauderdale are finely tuned operations. The terminals they built for those vessels are extremely efficent. We like to get to the port early but for those who arrives after boarding begins generally experience boarding times from arrival to boarding of maybe 15 minutes. Generally it's however long it takes to pick up your seapass, get your boarding photo taken, and walk up the gangway. Also once on board and finished with muster it always amazes me how 6k people seem to vanish. Other than the parade nights there are rarely throngs pf people. And on disembarktion day you can do mobile passport and clear customs in a matter of minutes. Oasis class is definitely one to give a shot.

 

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[mdsgu]

Have done Royal, NCL, and Carnival. For us, Royal is top-notch when it comes to service, food, and space. NCL is a close second, but the rooms tend to be smaller. The service doesn't seem quite as good due to the "freestyle" thing (for example, on RCCL you get the same table and same waitstaff at dinner all week and they usually have your preferred cocktail waiting for you at dinner time; on NCL you get whoever you get). NCL tends to have better perks.

 

We have cruised with our kids (now 8 and 6) since the oldest was 6 months old. They don't seem to have a preference as far as the kids' clubs go; they have enjoyed both. One thing Royal will do is "Family Time Dining." It is 6pm every night. They have special kids' menus and the kids can be done with their meals by 6:40. At 6:45, the kids' club counselors appear to pick up the kids and take them to the club while the parents get to continue a leisurely dinner. Quite nice!