NCL Cruises - What are they like overall?

[Rickster50]

Hi,

My wife and I are thinking of taking a cruise next year with NCL probably around 15 days or thereabouts.

We have previously sailed with Holland America, MSC and Princess cruises.

We are both in our sixties and would like some feedback regarding NCL...eg Food, Nightlife, Excursions etc.

Thanks

[newmexicoNita]

Hi,

 

My wife and I are thinking of taking a cruise next year with NCL probably around 15 days or thereabouts.

We have previously sailed with Holland America, MSC and Princess cruises.

We are both in our sixties and would like some feedback regarding NCL...eg Food, Nightlife, Excursions etc.

Thanks

 

Let me say, and I am sure you know this: all the answers you get will be based on opinions only but at least you will get a cross section of opinions.

 

We have sailed princess and HAL but not MSC. people we know and there have been quite few did not care for MSC. particularly. None would sail them again.

 

NCL is much more laid back than Princess or HAL

 

Food quality: HAL would be our first choice when dining in the MDRS. We are not terribly impressed with the food on Princess whether main Dinning rooms or specialty. NCL has by far the best specialty dining rooms.

 

Service: I would put HAL toward the top. NCL is much more relaxed and friendly, while HAL is more formal. Princess has good service as a rule as well.

 

Entertainment: We have cruised so much, we no longer do a lot of the after dinner shows. I would say NCL and Princess are probably similar, with HAL being a little bit too much geared to the oldsters and by that I mean much older than 60s

Princess always has a great piano bar player for that after dinner drink which is what we like but NCL has usuallly more than one. We give the entertainment edge to NCL.

 

Looks wise, both HAL and princess are prettier ships. I have heard MSC ships are beautiful. Again, NCL is just more relaxed.

 

excursions: we do most of ours privately, but the ones we have done with cruise lines are all similar: bit overpriced but it is nice to know you will be back on ship on time and know exactly what you are getting. I don't think any of them have an advantage over any of the other lines.

 

We like the overall experience of sailing on NCL the best. One of the positives for us is the line is the closest to multi generation sailing. 20 or 80 there is always something to do and people who will fit into your age group. As a friend put it once: NCL just has more energy than some lines. I would rate the lines this way: People on NCL overall are just friendlier.

 

NCL first, HAL second and Princess third.

[dam64]

We have cruised a lot with NCL once Princess and RCCL. I would say the food is so much better on Princess but entertainment is boring compared to NCL. We found Princess overall boring. NCL ships the newer ones are modern gorgeous. More laid back less formal which we prefer.

 

 

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[tallnthensome]

We have sailed Carnival,

Royal, NCL, Holland, Princess, and MSC this past April. We enjoy NCL as its very well rounded. We like the atmosphere and there is plenty of fun. We enjoyed the food in both the MDR and buffet on the Escape. We like the freestyle dining where it is relaxed and show up for dinner when it's convenient for you. We are sailing the new Bliss with my kids for 15 days in March to the Panama Canal. When taking longer cruises like this one getting the drink package promo from NCL really saves us a ton of money. It was a $450 service charge. The Carnival 14 PC cruise had an $1800 cost just for their Cheers drink package. This made the deal on NCL way better. We find the best overall deal is on MSC and NCL next. You'll enjoy it as there's no reason you wouldn't.

[PelicanBill]

NCL will definitely feel less formal and less traditional than your other experiences. Entertainment and nightlife will probably seem more contemporary and appeal to a wider range of ages. Just the fact that you don't have an assigned dinner time or assigned seat may seem strange to you. There is a "dress up or not" night and there will be few people dressed up. Food quality will be comparable in NCL's specialty restaurant but the dining rooms and buffet may seem less. Service on NCL will probably seem of lower quality. Even in the specialty restaurants, I found many misses on NCL: Water not refilled promptly, removing/placing dishes by reaching instead of moving to the correct side.

[cherrypop]

We have sailed on NCL, Princess, Holland, Carnival and Royal Caribbean and found that each cruise line will have something different that we like. A couple of years ago we cruised on Holland and the food was to die for the next year, same ship, same itinerary the food wasn’t so good. We enjoy Princess and have had great times on them as well. If you could take a few good points away from each cruise line you would have a great cruise. They all have something that makes them unique. For sure you will find the passengers on Holland older and I am almost 60. We enjoy NCL and tend to go to the Specialty dining which compared to the other lines doesn’t cost an arm and a leg. Sure people can go on a cruise and find something that wasn’t quite right, but at the end of the day I am not cooking or making the bed!

[BirdTravels]

We are in the same age group and sail 5-6 times a year, primarily on NCL and RCCL right now (we have diamond-level status on multiple lines).

 

NCL continues to lead the industry in catering to the contemporary cruiser (vs people like traditional cruising). People who don’t want to pack gowns, shoes, tuxes for formal nights. People who want to eat when they want, where they want, and how long they want. On the bigger ships, watching Broadway shows vs the not-so-funny comedian and the magician who can’t find his rabbit.

 

We grew up sitting in fancy dress listening to a string quartet in the evening. Now we’re in casual clothes singing along with the dueling pianos and moving from bar to bar listing to contemporary (for us) performers.

 

Food is ok. We fully understand that the galley is turning 2500 covers a night in the main dining room. Some is excellent. Some not-so-much,,, but that is the time you just ask for something else. And some of that is because we are trying things that we would not normally order (if we had to pay for it).

 

Shore Ex. Ok. Cruise lines don’t run their own tours. They hire local tour companies to provode tours in each port. Each cruise line basically hires the same/similar tour providers. For example, we currently have two cruises booked on two different lines that Both stop in Cosumel. The shore ex list is almost identical (down to the words in the description). The tours are ok. They are more expensive than doing it yourself. For us, even if NCL is $20 per person more than doing it your self, we would rather just pay the money than doing the research and coordination of booking it ourselves. Small money compared to what we have invested in the cruise.

[havanadaydreaming]

I've been on Carnival, MSC and NCL.

 

Loved them all, for different reasons.

 

Carnival has a ton of different options, can go almost anywhere from the US. It's a fun vibe. TONS to do on sea days. I liked their food and entertainment least of the three I've sailed, but I wasn't dissatisfied.

 

MSC - really cool, more of a European vibe. I like a diverse crowd so it was nice. Best entertainment. Really good buffet. Not exactly a party ship but you certainly could find pockets of that if you were looking, I did. Slow service in MDR, but that's the way they do it. I expected it and enjoyed dinners, at a set time was new to me. Not too many different sailings from the US now, but that is changing in next few years with more ships being built.

 

NCL - right now they're my favorite. Best food, hands down, especially with the specialty restaurants. I enjoy their entertainment options too. Love the Free at Sea promotions.

 

 

I don't worry too much about cruise line excursions. I can always find plenty of options myself online.

[Nola26]

I am rather new to cruising, just 4 years, but sold on it as a true get away from it vacation.

 

I have sailed only on NCL (and a defunct Hawaiian operator 20yrs ago) and really, really like their product. I have sailed on the Sky, Dawn, Getaway and Escape and have trips on the Pearl and Bliss in the next 6 months. I have sailed solo and as a 3 person multi generational family: Active grandmother, 50ish aunt and teen boy. We have all LOVED our NCL vacations.

 

I have an interest in trying RCCL, Celebrity and perhaps Princess but not Carnival.

 

Dinners: All in the MDRs, never specialty and enjoy the food and have loved the entertainment with our dinners in the Manhattan room on the Getaway and Escape.

 

Breakfast: my favorite is actually the Pub, O'Sheehan's great omelet, french toast and fruit served quickly

 

Buffet: variety and quality, especially for lunch, post excursions and dinner are really good; the flow of the lines allows for you to get food and get to your table to enjoy it while it is still hot. Rolls of napkins and silverware are kept on the tables so you're not to juggling that with your plate. There is staff constantly clearing, cleaning and refreshing tables so the atmosphere is pleasant and tidy and tables are turned quickly

 

Late night(the Pub is 24hrs): if I want food I'll order fish and chips (caesar with grilled salmon was a great lunch choice), snack nachos and my most consistent late night option: apple pie ala mode, yum. The casino also has a small spread late night and the buffet has something, but isn't 24hrs

 

Room service: I only use the complimentary continental breakfast and loved the tea, breads, cereal, fruit and juices that we've ordered. Unless you're booked in a suite there is charge for room service at other times.

 

Cabins: generally inside as a solo traveler and balcony as a family happy with all cabins

 

Suites: I have never enjoyed a suite on NCL, but depending on your budget it is my understanding that NCL has the best suite experience in the business.

 

Freestyle: now that I've experienced NCL a number of times I know that I enjoy freestyle my way. I don't bring gowns or cocktail dresses on the cruise, but I almost always wear a dress for dinner in the main dining rooms. I've traveled during Thanksgiving and Christmas so I make dinner reservations for those nights and sea days and generally winging it at other times.

 

Activities: until my cruise on the Dawn last Thanksgiving week I'd actually never dipped into a pool onboard. I have used the water features in Spice H2O (free adult only outdoor area) and some hot tubs, but never the main ship pool. I've played some basketball, napped in a wicker chair on the Waterfront and enjoyed many scheduled activities. My most appreciated activities are the variety of live music and shows throughout the ship. I was a chicken once up on the ropes course, and look forward to the race track on the Bliss.

 

Spa Thermal Suite: no part of the Spa or Thermal Suite is complimentary to guests you either book a spa level cabin or purchase a pass for the Thermal Suite, buying spa services does not provide access to the area. I have enjoyed the suite on the Dawn and bought my mother a pass on the Getaway. I especially liked the tile heated loungers, shower area and various whirlpools. The variety of options is greatest on the newer ships where things like a salt and snow room are available.

Edited September 30, 2018 by Nola26

[sunsetsoon]

I just got home last night after an Alaskan cruise on the Bliss. I have cruised on Disney 3 times, RC Oasis one time and twice on NCL. Full disclosure - I am 89 years old so that puts me way out of your age range but felt compelled to tell you about my experiences anyway. I was 77 on my first cruise, my husband was 84. It took that long to persuade him to try cruising.

 

 

We loved those first cruises so much. We always had a balcony but never did excursions and I really don't remember much about the food but we were treated like royalty on Disney ships and had a great time on Oasis but at that time there were occasions when we were required to dress up more than was comfortable for us.

 

 

I wish my husband had lived to sail on NCL. My daughter and son-in-law took me with them on the Jade out of Houston Port. I was newly widowed and that cruise was so special to my mind and heart. It was our fist Haven experience and it was wonderful - but doesn't compare to the Haven experience on the Bliss. The service and food were beyond wonderful. My daughter has mobility problems and I am very old so we don't do many excursions but it works well for us. My son-in-law does an excursion in every port and has a grand time. It's fun to listen to him tell us all about it..

 

 

I can't tell you much about the night life either as we don't do many shows. But will say Jersey Boys on the Bliss was the very best production I have seen on any cruise. We dine mostly in specialty restaurants - some are great, some not so much but we all have different tastes in food. We like to try stuff we wouldn't eat at home and sometimes it's a pleasant surprise and sometimes not. But it's fun to try.

 

 

 

As I read what I have written it occurs to me that I can't be very helpful maybe because of my age. But just wanted to say I don't think you can go wrong with NCL. And I'm aware that I am now labeled as an NCL cheer leader - but so be it.

[BaWBarmy]

So many things I disagree with on this post

 

Hi Rickster50,

 

As you know from your experience with HAL, MSC or Princess, the product quality differs from ship to ship like day and night.

Your cruising experience depends on the ship you choose. Cruise line vs cruise line comparison does not make sense.

 

Speaking of the NCL best ships (Getaway & Breakaway)...

 

Food

This is something you need to know and accept.

It's a norm to eat in MDR and occasionally visit specialty restaurants on HAL and Princess.

On NCL ships the norm is different: specialty restaurants is the main place for dining. You must have them booked (preferably in advance). Forget about MDR. Is it the norm to eat in Speciality Restaurants? Do you have figures? The MDR's are fine. Yes you do need to book Speciality because they have limited capacity you can just walk up to any MDR and be seated within a few minutes.

Depending on your choice, the food quality level may be close to MDR Gala menus on HAL / Princess, and surpass other days options.

This is how your dining must be set up if you want to have a real NCL experience. Exactly what is the real NCL experience?

The buffet isn't as good, but not bad at all.

All dining venues are either "any time" dining or by reservation (walk in is rarely possible in the most popular venues).

 

Nightlife

The main shows have the same schedule as on all cruise lines. The quality varies. For example, "Burn the Floor" show it a top quality performance that you have never seen on HAL or Princess.

Other entertainment options are wider, but you won't lose much if you skip them. The shows on NCL are excellent and skipping them would be a mistake. Book one, if its not for you then don't try another. The entertainment provided in bars and other venues is top notch most of the time.

90% of the passengers go to bed at the same time as on large HAL or Princess ships. There will be a very visible minority that like to drink and dance late (after midnight). How do you know this? Do you go round and check?

There is no formal nights (same as on HAL). Most people dress up for dinner (same as on HAL or Princess). No they don't. People may elect to dress a little better if they are dining at Speciality venues but otherwise the majority don't dress up for dinner, based on my observations.

Excursions

Same thing as on all cruise ships.

 

Unfortunately there is no observation lounge on the ship. There is on the Bliss

 

The worst

Insane crowded poolside parties that make the pool usable only for a limited time. You'll have to stick to that time if you want to use a pool.

 

The best

We like and cruise on these two ships for an excellent spa (although not as great as on HAL top ships), breathtaking water slides, very good food in specialty restaurants, acceptable openness to the sea (outside promenade, rather private forward sun deck), excellent shows.

 

Overall (based on the top ships):

HAL Nieuw Amsterdam 5*

Sapphire Princess 4*++

NCL Getaway 3.5* ++

MSC Preziosa 3.0*

 

Happy cruising! I'll agree with that

[Rickster50]

Hi Everybody,

I would just like to thank you all for your worthwhile and very interesting comments. They are very much appreciated.

We haven't yet decided where we will go on our next cruise, but places like the Mexican Riviera, Cuba,

Caribbean and South America are kind of appealing.....decisions...decisions!!:):cool:

Thanks again.

[newmexicoNita]

I just got home last night after an Alaskan cruise on the Bliss. I have cruised on Disney 3 times, RC Oasis one time and twice on NCL. Full disclosure - I am 89 years old so that puts me way out of your age range but felt compelled to tell you about my experiences anyway. I was 77 on my first cruise, my husband was 84. It took that long to persuade him to try cruising.

 

 

We loved those first cruises so much. We always had a balcony but never did excursions and I really don't remember much about the food but we were treated like royalty on Disney ships and had a great time on Oasis but at that time there were occasions when we were required to dress up more than was comfortable for us.

 

 

I wish my husband had lived to sail on NCL. My daughter and son-in-law took me with them on the Jade out of Houston Port. I was newly widowed and that cruise was so special to my mind and heart. It was our fist Haven experience and it was wonderful - but doesn't compare to the Haven experience on the Bliss. The service and food were beyond wonderful. My daughter has mobility problems and I am very old so we don't do many excursions but it works well for us. My son-in-law does an excursion in every port and has a grand time. It's fun to listen to him tell us all about it..

 

 

I can't tell you much about the night life either as we don't do many shows. But will say Jersey Boys on the Bliss was the very best production I have seen on any cruise. We dine mostly in specialty restaurants - some are great, some not so much but we all have different tastes in food. We like to try stuff we wouldn't eat at home and sometimes it's a pleasant surprise and sometimes not. But it's fun to try.

 

 

 

As I read what I have written it occurs to me that I can't be very helpful maybe because of my age. But just wanted to say I don't think you can go wrong with NCL. And I'm aware that I am now labeled as an NCL cheer leader - but so be it.

well you do have us beat age wise by a few years but not so much that I can't identify with everything you say. We have never had a suite or been in the Haven. Otherwise we do share your experiences. we do to very few shows anymore: love the Jersey Boys: like to eat in specialty dining rooms the majority of the nights and do spend more time on the ships than off as we get older.. Mobility certainly does enter into the picture. We like to sit by the pool when the ship is close to empty and visit with others. We try to spend a little while in the sun, but mostly enjoy the shade. Keep cruising as long as you can. You have a great attitude.

[newmexicoNita]

So many things I disagree with on this post

I know these responses are a matter of opinion, but I have to say I agree more with you than with the poster you are referring to. I sometimes wonder if some have cruised just once on a particular line and judging their response on one experience. As we know or most of us anyway, the experience on a particular line has more to do with the ship sometimes than the line.

 

As for entertainment, I think NCL is rated among the very top of the line.

[Peachypooh]

We have cruised on NCL, Celebrity, Royal Caribbean and the now defunct Home Lines. We are Platinum on NCL. It is a good fit for us but if it will be a good fit for you will depend on what is important to you.

 

NCL lets you be you and doesn't force you to dress a certain way, eat at a certain time, etc. They even have a choice when it comes to the Haven cabins. You have a choice to stay in the Courtyard complex or on one of the other decks with Haven access. All of this freedom does create an atmosphere that those who like everyone dressed up and who like assigned dining tables perhaps wouldn't choose. On dress up or not night I wore a pretty dress and my husband wore a Hawaiian shirt LOL.

 

It is like going to a land based resort where everyone does their own thing. I found people to be much friendlier and it was easier to meet new people and make friends due to the relaxed atmosphere. The ships I have been on have had extremely friendly crew and were very, very clean.

[4774Papa]

We have done 7 cruises on NCL. Their entertainment is excellent. Food quality is moving up in recent years. Ship design with some ships, like the Epic, Star and Sun are not the greatest, but Gem and Jade are good.

 

We have done 10 cruises on Celebrity and 1 on Royal C. Royal C has great entertainment, and if your ship has an ice rink, you get ice shows that are wonderful. Royal's food is not quite as good as Celebrity, but on par with NCL.

 

Price bundling has jacked up prices a lot on Celebrity and NCL, which we dislike very much. We don't want drink packages.

 

Celebrity's entertainment is usually good, but not on par with Royal or NCL. Still, Celebrity's service is the best and its servers are always well trained. There is more nickel and dime stuff on NCL, but it is not extreme.

 

We look at those three lines and compare itinerary and price. We never did HAL due to its terrible smoking policy. HAL changed its policy to be more in line with the others, but since we have loyalty benefits on the other three, we stick with them. Celebrity and Royal have great happy hours with free drinks that keep down the bar tab.

[derek005]

Amazing!!!!

[JamieLogical]

I haven't cruised on any other line and I have only cruised NCL twice, but I will say, whatever they are doing, they are doing it right, because they got me completely hooked! I already have three more cruises booked on NCL (one is just two weeks away!). I sailed on the Escape and the Gem so far. I am only in my late 30s, but one of teh things I immediately observed on my first NCL cruise is that they really have something for everyone. There is just SO MUCH going on at any given time, you can definitely find something that suits your interests. And you can do as much or as little as you want.

 

Food-wise, I find all of the food to be great. The buffet fills a very specific niche. The MDRs are nice for a more "sit down" experience. O'sheehan's is always great for breakfast, lunch, or a snack. I have had nothing but positive experiences at all of the Specialty Dining I've tried. Really looking forward to Food Republic and Pincho Tappa Bar on the Escape this month, because I skipped both of those my first time on the Escape and have heard nothing but good things about them since then.

 

There's always live music happening somewhere on the ship, which is so nice to enjoy while having a drink. Oh, don't even get me started on how much I love the Ultimate Drink Package!

 

Staff is always super cheery and friendly.

 

I really have nothing but positive things to say. I may eventually try other lines, but right now, it ain't broke, so I'm not going to fix it!

[Mike_DeA]

I just got home last night after an Alaskan cruise on the Bliss. I have cruised on Disney 3 times, RC Oasis one time and twice on NCL. Full disclosure - I am 89 years old so that puts me way out of your age range but felt compelled to tell you about my experiences anyway. I was 77 on my first cruise, my husband was 84. It took that long to persuade him to try cruising.

 

We loved those first cruises so much. We always had a balcony but never did excursions and I really don't remember much about the food but we were treated like royalty on Disney ships and had a great time on Oasis but at that time there were occasions when we were required to dress up more than was comfortable for us.

 

I wish my husband had lived to sail on NCL. My daughter and son-in-law took me with them on the Jade out of Houston Port. I was newly widowed and that cruise was so special to my mind and heart. It was our fist Haven experience and it was wonderful - but doesn't compare to the Haven experience on the Bliss. The service and food were beyond wonderful. My daughter has mobility problems and I am very old so we don't do many excursions but it works well for us. My son-in-law does an excursion in every port and has a grand time. It's fun to listen to him tell us all about it..

 

I can't tell you much about the night life either as we don't do many shows. But will say Jersey Boys on the Bliss was the very best production I have seen on any cruise. We dine mostly in specialty restaurants - some are great, some not so much but we all have different tastes in food. We like to try stuff we wouldn't eat at home and sometimes it's a pleasant surprise and sometimes not. But it's fun to try.

 

As I read what I have written it occurs to me that I can't be very helpful maybe because of my age. But just wanted to say I don't think you can go wrong with NCL. And I'm aware that I am now labeled as an NCL cheer leader - but so be it.

 

I have to disagree with you on one thing... your comments ARE very helpful for many! I certainly like to hear from all different age groups and CC is meant for people to share their experiences. Thank you for posting. I wish you many more cruises in your future!