Another question - NCL vs. RC

[KarGaro]

My friend called me last night and told me that her family is book on Norwegian Cruise Line out of NY the same week we are going on the Mariner out of Port Canaveral. She is trying to convince me to jump ships so our families can go together. Neither one of us has ever been on a cruise so we have no basis of comparison! Leaving out of NY would be very convenient for me - about an hours drive from NJ. But leaving out of NY in February? Anybody done it? How does NCL compare to RC? Thanks!

 

Karen

[skipsu14]

My husband and I have sailed twice - one on RC, Voyager of the Seas out of Bayonne (June 2004) and one on NCL Dawn out of NYC (March 2006). Both were easy commutes from Ocean County NJ. Wahoo - no airfare!!!!! Here are our opinions - and again, they are only our opinions and others may think differently.

 

Embarkataion: Both ports were underwhelming in terms of atmosphere. In NY, there were no signs to direct you, we weren't sure where to go and port people were brief with no explainations given as to why we were being directed to go up a flight of stairs to wait. Also, traffic getting there was horriffic, as NYC tends to be. The spirit and dawn were both returning that morning and sailed that night - thank God we had a limo service - to have had to drive in that mess would have ruined the start to our vacation (and the mimosas we were driking took the edge off a bit). As for Bayonne, it is set up amidst shipping containers and the sign in area is pretty much an old warehouse. Though, everyone there was very quick to point you in the correct direction and we moved through the whole process very quickly. You also have to take a shuttle bus from the sign in area to get to the ship which is docked a bit down the pier. It was a small wait to wait to board the bus (everyone got a number of when to board)

 

The ships themselves: Both were beautiful and had ammenities that we liked and appreciated in different ways. Both were very clean and well kept.

Voyager: we loved the mini golf, the ice show, rollarblading, some of the quiet bar areas to chill out, rock climbing wall, the helipad where you can walk out to the VERY front of the ship, and most importantly, the adults only pool and hot tub area - We lived in that hot tub!

Dawn: We loved the ourdoor chess games, the decks you could walk all around the ship, the casino that was not in the middle of a major walkway, the different dining rooms (more in a minute), hot tub on the front of the ship!

 

Service: - Here is where we noticed the biggest difference. While NCL was okay, we just did not feel overly "taken care of" by many of the staff. To ask a question at the pursers desk, the staff was polite, but did not seem to care to put forth any extra effort. It seemed like a lot of forced smiles - maybe they were just having a bad week, but it seemed like across the ship, service was okay at best and did not get better until the surveys and tips were about to be due. Als, Since dining is freestyle and you don't have a set table, we did not get the classic cruise service where the waitstaff know you and your tastes. Service was quick and polite all over, but we missed not getting to know a waiter and them knowing us. Room stewards were efficient and did a great job, but only 2 towel animals in 11 nights :( Nothing outstandingly wrong, but nothing over the top either.

RC VOyager: Staff seemed like they couldn't stop smiling. Towel animals every night. Made fast friends with staff at purser's desk (they made reccomendations for things to do in port, and found us after wards to see how it turned out - best experience of the trip). Our waiters at dinner were AMAZING and knew exactly how I like my tea and what to reccommend. We also still talk about our new "cousin Calvin" (our cordials waiter) whom my now-DH's uncle "adopted" because we didn't want to leave him at the end of the cruise. Overall, we felt VERY taken care of on our entire trip.

 

Food: Both lines were equal for us: We loved some items and anything that we didn't, the staff was happy to bring us something else. We ate very well and enjoyed dining on both. Buffets were good on both with some things better than always, but always found something good to eat. NCL had warmed crossants on the Windjammer breakfast buffet every morning. YUM!!! While we missed the better service from RC in the dining room, we did enjoy the freestyle option to eat at whatever time we pleased and in any dining venue we pleased, with whomever we pleased. Since we were not with a large group, this worked well (it was our honeymoon and dinner for 2 was exactly what we wanted most nights). We did notice on NCL that larger parties had to worry about reservations most nights to ensure they all got to sit together. That may be an issue for you if you decide to join your friends on the NCL cruise. You need to plan ahead to have a large group eat together. Oh yeah - however, on NCL, we loved the Blue Lagoon open at all hours for random food like chicken wings and chillie and wonton soup at 3am after the casino. RC has Johnny Rockets, but now you have to pay for it, which I think is yet another silly nickel and diming scheme by the cruise line.

 

Hmmmmm, that is all I can think of for major comparisons at this point. Pretty much - we had fantastic times on both cruises, with each line being better for certain things. but RC wins overall for us. We are planning a major family trip on Explorer out of Bayonne for some of the reasons we listed above. Good luck, let me know if you have any questions!

[Retired not Expired]

I've sailed both and enjoy what both have to offer and will sail both again, I'm sure. However, I'm not into games and since I've worked so much both in and behind the scenes with production shows, I don't do that much on ships either so others may advise you better on those activities.

 

I've always found service to be about equal on both lines but others on both sides will argue that point. For a lot of people, it comes down to traditional vs freestyle. I can and do enjoy both but lean more heavily towards freestyle because I'm a go with the flow type who doesn't like to watch a clock. I've also found ways to make freestyle more like traditional when I chose to do so. I see nothing wrong with people who can only go with one way of dining on a ship rather it be traditional or freestyle. Both have plus or minuses that can fit some people more than others.

 

Both lines have a customer service that leaves a lot to be desired. I always get a good laugh when people change lines because of this. It normally ain't no better where they are going.

 

Since neither of you have sailed before and have nothing to compare, I'm sure you will enjoy which ever you chose. Just don't lock yourself in with the first one you try and try the other. You may find you like one better than the other or you may be like me and can enjoy both but for different reasons. Have fun no matter which you chose.

[Jamielps]

I have not been on those exact ships, however, i have sailed both cruise lines. I MUCH prefer RCL and would not go on NCL again. I feel that RCL has more to offer.

[RachelD]

DH and I cruised out of Boston on NCL and were not impressed with it. We almost ave up on cruising all together. We were bored most of the time and found that there was not much for us to do as we are very active people.

 

We took a chance on RCL last summer and loved it so much. Never a dull moment. From the moment we were on the ship, we were having fun.

 

I also found that the air temp is much colder up north when you are out at sea. Not many people were at the pools for the first few days, too cold. i like leaving from warmer climates where we can get into our swimwear right away if we want to. Leaving NYC in February will be very cold.

 

So, it all depends on whether or not you want to travel with friends on NCL or go it alone on RCL. Good luck with your choice.

[ILoveScotland]

So far we've only sailed NCL with RCCL coming up in November so I can only tell you that we have expectations that RCCL will be better. I'll say why in a minute.

 

Our NCL cruise was on the Majesty, and we just returned from the Dawn. Now we got a major upsell for a pittance to an Owner's Suite on the Dawn, so we had excellent accommodations with lots of space, two balconies and great service with butler and concierge. But we wound up staying in the suite a lot mainly because it's summer, and there were a gazillion kids.

 

The teenagers were great and polite and curteous to my DH who's older and uses a walker. I can't say the same for the younger children who were rude, unruly and undisciplined. A couple we know were also on the ship, and they've sailed a lot. They said they'd never seen kids act like these did last week. But I also figure kids can be like that on any ship or on land as well.

 

I actually preferred the cruise on the Majesty even though it's older and smaller. I think we got better service from reception to wait staff to other crew members. I also thought the food was better, and we rarely had to wait in line and were always given the option of sitting at a large table with other people.

 

The Dawn is gorgeous and has many more amenities and restaurants so what you're getting is purely MHO.

 

I'm expecting RCCL to be better primarily because it's a transatlantic in November when the passengers will primarily be adults. Also we have a great roll call already going with over 70 people signed up for meet 'n mingle and lots of posting on the roll call. So, I already feel like I have a bunch of friends. DH's physical limitations will mean he'll stay in the cabin (no suite this time) more than I'd prefer, so now I'll have people to see shows with or sit over a drink into the night or whatever.

[MistressPhyllis]

Unfortunately, I am one of the people with a strong opinion on the subject. I cruised RCI and NCL within a few months of each other, and sadly, I went on RCI first, so NCL was just a disappointment. It may be best to determine what kind of person you are: active vs. relaxed, social vs. quiet. My husband is not the type to enjoy sitting with others at dinner, so I thought that Freestyle would be up his alley, but when we'd ask for a table for 2 (also our Honeymoon) the hostess would try every night to "upsell" us to a table with other people. Yuck, I felt like a pain standing up for my request after awhile.

 

There were also many more activities on board the Navigator, and I'm sure that it was a Voyager class ship helped, but DH and I were planning our days around "smoothie" tastings on NCL, and when we arrived, we were given a tongue full of one flavor and told to come back the next day for a different flavor. We looked at each other like, "what are we supposed to do with the rest of our day?" <no comments on the honeymoon please- I've heard them all!>

 

So, ultimately it's up to you, and bringing friends on a cruise is a great way to chill and kill time, but on the Mariner... you're gonna have a blast and I wouldn't trade that for anything in the NCL fleet- even a cruise to Hawaii!

 

Good luck with your decision!

[mdeane]

I realize that I am prejudiced because we only sail RCCL but it is so much more fun to embark in a lovely and warm surrounding. We usually sail in Jan. or Feb. for the warm sun and I love flying down a day early to Miami or Puerto Rico to enjoy the pre-cruise day. I will miss the warm weather as we are embarking in Istanbul in Oct. for a 14 night Med. cruise of course on RCCL Brilliance of the SEas.

[frogfuzz]

My 2 cents.....

 

I agree with poster that going out of Florida is better in the winter

We took NCL out of Charleston February during a cold spell and it was a good day and a half before the weather was bearable to not wear a coat outside on deck.

 

We did NCL because it is only driving port, would only again for that reason if we could get away for a quicky cheap cruise

 

NCL was very clean & housekeeping exceptional. but disorganized at many other departments. The food was not good, RCL much better. Everyone has their own opinions on the freestyle dining. personally I would rather be served and treated like a queen everynite at the same table with same people same time with entertaining staff, rather than NCL sub par food, anytime I want with wait staff who are not giving personalized service and have to sometimes wait for a table become available or wait to order food until a table filled . Some nights people at freestyle dining were 2 people eating alone at a table for 10 because no one else came in around same time

 

Mariner is definately more impressive decor , lot more to do for people of all ages.

 

If this were my problem, I would do it solely on if I wanted to be with the other people or not. I am sure whatever cruise you do you won't have a bad time but feel RCL is better.