Pros and Cons of NCL

[mbisson]

I like traditional dining because it takes 2 hours to eat, involves many courses, and makes me feel pampered. When we cruised last November, our average dinner was 45 minutes long and we usually felt like we were being hurried out of the restaurant. No lingering after eating!!

.

 

Interesting you say that. On our most recent cruise (last week) we would usually head for dinner between 5:30/5:45 eat, have a cup of cappuccino afterward, leave the dining room about 7, grab a drink and head to the showroom. Didn't feel rushed at all. One of the big complaints in recent months has been people saying they couldn't eat in less than 2 hours.

 

jmo

-Monte

[cruise2much]

We were on the Dawn 4 of 05 and upon returning I had no complaints, we were satisfied in every way, I mean I was not blown away by the food but it was typical of what I expected from a large cruise ship. I am not comparing my most recent experience to another line but the same ship, 9 of 06 and they dropped their food quality dramatically. And we paid about 20% more for the same category on the same deck. In fact it was the highest fair we paid to cruise on the Dawn. No matter how much you like NCL there is no excuse for presenting its guests with dishes like that, and it’s throughout the ship. Like I said before, No more desert station, only hamburgers and hot dogs available at the deck cookout, in general most of the food presented was warm at best. I agree with cutting back to keep prices down but on this cruise I would have to say I felt like I was on the K-Mart of cruise lines. Great deals but every thing was cheap. I’ve never felt this way about NCL in the past; they upgrade to computerized bingo$$$ and degrade to Home Town Buffet :(

[mbisson]

And we paid about 20% more for the same category on the same deck. In fact it was the highest fair we paid to cruise on the Dawn.

 

I wouldn't get too carried away with the price (although they certainly do seem to climbing the further away 9/11 gets-people seem more willing to travel now so demand is up). Just a whole lot of factors that influence the price. Time of year, how far in advance you booked (and the biggie) how well the cabins are selling-etc etc

 

jmo

-Monte

[cruise2much]

I wouldn't get too carried away with the price (although they certainly do seem to climbing the further away 9/11 gets-people seem more willing to travel now so demand is up). Just a whole lot of factors that influence the price. Time of year, how far in advance you booked (and the biggie) how well the cabins are selling-etc etc

 

jmo

-Monte

 

We booked April 3rd 06:confused:

[mbisson]

We booked April 3rd 06:confused:

 

That's one thing that should've worked in your favor

[gxchan]

I've only been on NCL, not NCLA.

 

CONS out of the way first:

 

Land-based customer service is really unacceptable. The website was put together by Luddites, doesn't get properly updated, and misses a lot of chances to promote key NCL strengths. Phone CS is spotty and slow, with inconsistent responses given (though almost always from friendly people). My mom and I laugh that NCL sells cruises in spite of itself, just because many people want freestyle and are willing to go through hell to get it.

 

I've only sailed once and it was on NCL (second cruise in 2 weeks, also on NCL) but I loved everything about the cruise itself. I'm not a foodie so my opinion regarding the food wouldn't be worth much. What I can say is it was o.k. with me, except a bit salty. The crew were most attentive and friendly, I remain impressed with their dedication and service; the ship, although older and smaller, was clean and well-maintained. Entertainment was entertaining. Is that generic enough? :D I think a lot depends on what you are looking for in a cruise/vacation and what you bring with you (think attitude). If you are prepared to have a good time, odds are on that you will. There will always be inconveniences in life but vacation is a time to let go of whatever those inconveniences are and enjoy your time anyway, JMHO, which is not to discount anyone else's unfortunate experiences.

 

I had one contact with NCL corporate before my cruise and it was a very small matter, no problem. There have been issues with NCL corporate customer service re the second cruise that they just can't seem to respond to. Again, the request isn't huge (and, no, I'm not going into details) but it is what Droopy Sails is referring to. It seems to me that if the customer service starts to go down hill (for a particular PAX), it picks up speed and becomes very frustrating. But if you can negotiate through that and leave the frustration at the dock, you will find NCL's on-board service (as many others have noted) to be excellent.

 

Enjoy your cruise!

[Guest LoveMyBoxer]

This could be true, like the other lines as well. Almost all have one major complaint or two: nickel and diming everyone and food. there is no reason why you can' t 2 at once or 2 entrees: DH always does. I don't know how long you have been cruising, but the thing that those of us who have been doing the ship thing for 10 years or more keep saying (to deaf ears I am afraid) if the prices are staying almost steady and inflation is going up something has to give. I know, they could raise the prices for cruising and up the quality of food etc, but then, think of how many may not be able to cruise if this were the case? Another factor, which I don't think is pointed out very often, 10 years ago there weren't many ships sailing with 2000 plus passengers, the bigger the ship, the more likely the food will be like banquet quality. By keeping prices down passengers are given choices: they can eat in the main dining rooms or spend a few extra dollars and try the alterntive dining experience. With that being said, I still don't think the food is bad on NCL or any other line. Of course it isn't Ruths Chris, you aren't paying for it.

NMnita

Since 1992! And no, the food is not the whole cruise experience. We cruise because we love the ocean/ship/destination. We seek out the smaller/older ships because we like the traditional cruising, as it was meant to be, and not a floating hotel. However, unless people step up and and complain about all these cut-backs, pretty soon it will be a "floating hotel" with everything else costing extra. I am not saying that all the other cruise lines aren't cutting back as well, but at least see the "cons" and maybe if everyone fills out those comment cards, something will change for the better.

[uneamie]

unless people step up and and complain about all these cut-backs, pretty soon it will be a "floating hotel" with everything else costing extra. I am not saying that all the other cruise lines aren't cutting back as well, but at least see the "cons" and maybe if everyone fills out those comment cards, something will change for the better.

 

Not sure those comment cards ever work.:rolleyes: What does work is not booking your cruise with a cruise line that has consistantly disappointed you. It is a company and companies compete for customers. When there are millions of customers they don't need to work as hard to lure them in.

When sales go down they usually go into the "people pleasing mode" and you see more bargins and perks added to your vacation. Right now I think they are not hurting for passengers with any cruise line. They are filling these ships regardless of all these complaints so I doubt the quality of food and entertainment is heading up any time soon.

[Guest LoveMyBoxer]

Oh, well! Miss the good old days (and I'm not that old!)

[mbisson]

Reminds me of an interview I saw on TV once of Prince Charles with the Spice Girls (yep, those spice girls). The interviewer asked something of HRH about if he liked their music even though there is such an age difference. He had his arm around one of the girls (don't remember which one) and she spoke up before he had a chance "You're only as old as the person you feel". The Prince seemed to go into shock!

 

-Monte

[newmexicoNita]

Pros: I happen to think that NCL's romance package is one of the best I have come across for what is important to me and DH. It's also a good value.

 

I also appreciate the reasonably varied ports of call.

 

My DH also loved having milk with every meal, and it was included in the cost of the fare.

 

 

Cons: I love to eat. I love to dine. For me, dinner IS the event of the evening. This event was far from spectacular for me on NCL, and I don't just mean the quality of the food. I like traditional dining because it takes 2 hours to eat, involves many courses, and makes me feel pampered. When we cruised last November, our average dinner was 45 minutes long and we usually felt like we were being hurried out of the restaurant. No lingering after eating!!

 

Service for us was ok. We had a great room steward, but even on a small ship like the Dream, we didn't get to know anyone else because there was no consistency.

 

Seating. I do like sitting with strangers. I'm not a very forward person, so it's one of the only chances I have to meet people while on vacation. That being said, our last cruise was our honeymoon, so we wanted a table for 2. We got dirty looks at every meal from the hostess, who would quote us a large wait time, and then come and ask if we're sure we don't want to sit with 6 other people for dinner. I didn't like having to put my foot down and fight for a table for 2 for our honeymoon.

I am a little surprised at your comment about eating with others: we have never had to put out foot down: DD and I only ate with another couple once on our last cruise and DH and I not at all on our Jewel cruise. In the past, it has been rare that we have even been asked. In fact we enjoy others and sometimes ask if we can sit with another couple. Never have we been approached with a suggestion to eat with 6 others: most of the ships have very limited group tables. As for the length of time it took to eat: it usually takes us about an hour with freestyle: you complain cause you were rushed, most complain because freestyle is too slow; we were rushed on Celebrity last Dec: it was really awful. I don't mean to pick your remarks apart but some seem to be a little contradictory: you are not very outgoing so you prefer a table for 2, but even on the Dream you didn't get to meet others. If you want to sit alone how do you expect to meet others? NMNita

[newmexicoNita]

Since 1992! And no, the food is not the whole cruise experience. We cruise because we love the ocean/ship/destination. We seek out the smaller/older ships because we like the traditional cruising, as it was meant to be, and not a floating hotel. However, unless people step up and and complain about all these cut-backs, pretty soon it will be a "floating hotel" with everything else costing extra. I am not saying that all the other cruise lines aren't cutting back as well, but at least see the "cons" and maybe if everyone fills out those comment cards, something will change for the better.

i hope everyone does fill out the cards and although I wouldn't think they would give us room to write a book or even as essay, I wish we had a little more room to write praisers where deserved and complaints were deserved. As for cutting back, again some are missing the point: as long as the prices stay down food as well as other things will not improve. Prices rise, 2 things will happen; the ships will not fill up and 2-many who can afford to cruise today will not be able to in a few years. NMnita

[Guest LoveMyBoxer]

i hope everyone does fill out the cards and although I wouldn't think they would give us room to write a book or even as essay, I wish we had a little more room to write praisers where deserved and complaints were deserved. As for cutting back, again some are missing the point: as long as the prices stay down food as well as other things will not improve. Prices rise, 2 things will happen; the ships will not fill up and 2-many who can afford to cruise today will not be able to in a few years. NMnita

Yes, I agree with you. But if they do keep cutting back why would anyone want to cruise anymore? The whole thing with cruising is to get the "ultimate" vacation. If they keep charging extra for everything, you may just as well go on a land vacation. People go on cruises to get spoiled and pampered. I don't think that paying an extra $100.00 per person to get those little things that are special to cruises would stop anyone from cruising.

[bulgargirl]

This isn't a complaint, but a serious question.....

 

I understand people saying that something's gotta give....inflation.... but the prices of cruising has remained low and affordable so therefore cutbacks in things like quality of food....

 

 

Why can't the prices of cruiselines rise? Bigger ships mean more people which means less cost per person, but if that isn't enough to keep the price of cruising down, why not raise the costs? I pay for inflation in everything else. Hotel rooms go up. Restaurants go up. Plan fares go up. I don't understand why we're working with the assumption that cruises are at a point where a higher cost makes them unaffordable and therefore paying for restaurants, classes, exercise rooms is the only way to do it. Cruising is cheap compared to a lot of trips -- pay a little more and make it truly all inclusive.

 

Or am I missing some point? Because I really am not well-informed on this. Have prices been going up or getting too expensive or something I'm missing?

[bulgargirl]

Oh - and the other reason I ask is because all of the food posts. People complaining about "banquet style" food. All the banquets I've been to are at least 20 bucks per person. The nice restaurants I've been to (that have michelin stars) have been AT LEAST $150 per person. But I'm only paying $500 per person for an 8 day cruise.

 

7 dinners times $150 - Thats $1050. Even for banquet food - It would be $280 or over half of what I'm paying just for the dinners. I think I just confused myself.

[mbisson]

Oh - and the other reason I ask is because all of the food posts. People complaining about "banquet style" food. All the banquets I've been to are at least 20 bucks per person. The nice restaurants I've been to (that have michelin stars) have been AT LEAST $150 per person. But I'm only paying $500 per person for an 8 day cruise.

 

7 dinners times $150 - Thats $1050. Even for banquet food - It would be $280 or over half of what I'm paying just for the dinners. I think I just confused myself.

 

I don't think you're confused at all.

 

-Monte

[Guest LoveMyBoxer]

Oh - and the other reason I ask is because all of the food posts. People complaining about "banquet style" food. All the banquets I've been to are at least 20 bucks per person. The nice restaurants I've been to (that have michelin stars) have been AT LEAST $150 per person. But I'm only paying $500 per person for an 8 day cruise.

 

7 dinners times $150 - Thats $1050. Even for banquet food - It would be $280 or over half of what I'm paying just for the dinners. I think I just confused myself.

People who have cruised over the years have come to "expect" certain things, like food, service, etc., on cruise ships. The reason we are "complaining" about certain things, is because you still expect these things on a cruise. If it means I have to pay an extra $100, I will because if I only have one 7 day vacation a year, I expect to be pampered.

[newmexicoNita]

This isn't a complaint, but a serious question.....

 

I understand people saying that something's gotta give....inflation.... but the prices of cruising has remained low and affordable so therefore cutbacks in things like quality of food....

 

 

Why can't the prices of cruiselines rise? Bigger ships mean more people which means less cost per person, but if that isn't enough to keep the price of cruising down, why not raise the costs? I pay for inflation in everything else. Hotel rooms go up. Restaurants go up. Plan fares go up. I don't understand why we're working with the assumption that cruises are at a point where a higher cost makes them unaffordable and therefore paying for restaurants, classes, exercise rooms is the only way to do it. Cruising is cheap compared to a lot of trips -- pay a little more and make it truly all inclusive.

 

Or am I missing some point? Because I really am not well-informed on this. Have prices been going up or getting too expensive or something I'm missing?

Most of whata you say is very true; everything does go up, but there was a time and not many years ago when cruising was for the upper middle class only, then the bigger ships came along and the baby boomers had more spendable income so it became an attractive vacation for the middle income but still primarily the older set. About 10 years ago the trend changed and the marketing started to attract families; that is when everything started going down hill. Now the price has to stay low to continue to fill the ships. I really don't think $150 per person would hurt business but I also am not certain that we would get what we want for that. If we are willing to pay $150 per person more, why not spend it on the part of cruising you enjoy the most? If this happens to be food, go to the specialty restaurants every night. I just think the entire industry has changed. It is still a great way to see a lot in 7 or 10 days, even if the food isn't quite what it used to be. You know it still isn't bad. We get appitizers, soup, salad, entree and dessert; all served attractively, we can ask for more if we want, it isn't bad and much of it is pretty good. NMnita

[mbisson]

About 10 years ago the trend changed and the marketing started to attract families; that is when everything started going down hill. NMnita

 

Thanks loads Nita. Looking back on when I started cruising, I guess you're saying that "everything started going down hill" when I started cruising. I see the connection you're making :(

 

lol

-Monte

[newlywedcruisers]

we are willing to pay $150 per person more, why not spend it on the part of cruising you enjoy the most? If this happens to be food, go to the specialty restaurants every night.

 

I think this is a great idea, but then you really run the risk of lowering service to a point where people view you as an easycruise type liner. How often can you scale back on food in the main dining rooms in order to compensate for rising costs. Eventually something is gonna have to give, and I'm betting it is the cruise price. But for right now, as you say, save the $150 and put it into something you want to improve your cruise, mines going to the food and paying off NCL's casino. :D

[Droopy_Sails]

Yes, I agree with you. But if they do keep cutting back why would anyone want to cruise anymore? The whole thing with cruising is to get the "ultimate" vacation. If they keep charging extra for everything, you may just as well go on a land vacation. People go on cruises to get spoiled and pampered. I don't think that paying an extra $100.00 per person to get those little things that are special to cruises would stop anyone from cruising.

 

Hmmm...my perspective is different. I don't consider cruising an "ultimate" vacation; I consider it a reasonably priced way to get from point A to B to C to D (and so on), with decent (not top-of-the-line) food and accommodations and entertainment. If I want stellar food and a luxury hotel, I'm going to look for them on land, not a mass-market cruise line that's trying to feed, bed down and entertain thousands. The low price of NCL cruising is very much a factor in our decision--we pay only for the extras we want--and allows us to have $ left over for (usually more expensive) land vacations.

 

If people insist on the special stuff you mention, there are higher-level and luxury cruise lines available--although $100 is a way low estimate for some of the things being talked about in this thread.

 

I'm sure a travel agent or two could verify this, but I'm guessing all the cruise lines have figured out exactly how much they can charge as a base fare without losing customers. It's crazy, but a $50 higher cruise fare will turn off people who wouldn't think anything of dropping hundreds in alcohol or even more in the casino. It's all in the mindset, I guess.

[Retired not Expired]

 

If people insist on the special stuff you mention, there are higher-level and luxury cruise lines available--although $100 is a way low estimate for some of the things being talked about in this thread.

 

How true. One guy on another board said the trend will continue until the cruise lines raise the prices to keep out the lower class of cruisers. Real nice, huh. His words, not mine.

 

Why should the mass market lines raise their rates just because some people expect the Ritz while paying the price of a Days Inn and sometimes a Motel 6. The Ritz cruise lines are out there, you just have to pay the Ritz price. It seems like some want the Ritz, just don't want to pay the Ritz price. Mass market is mass market. It's a very good value for what you pay.

[Guest LoveMyBoxer]

How true. One guy on another board said the trend will continue until the cruise lines raise the prices to keep out the lower class of cruisers. Real nice, huh. His words, not mine.

 

Why should the mass market lines raise their rates just because some people expect the Ritz while paying the price of a Days Inn and sometimes a Motel 6. The Ritz cruise lines are out there, you just have to pay the Ritz price. It seems like some want the Ritz, just don't want to pay the Ritz price. Mass market is mass market. It's a very good value for what you pay.

I agree, and it seems that's what we'll do from now on. But having cruised since 1992, this is what was (up to a couple of years ago) the standard, even for "mass market cruises". "They've come a long way DOWN baby!"

[asoutherngal]

I am a fairly loyal NCL customer and have never been on a "bad" cruise. Like many of you, if I want a first class vacation, I book a room at a four or five star hotel (and I am lucky enough to be able to do this at least once a year) but if I want a week of reasonably priced relaxation and leisure, I book a cruise. And, I can assure you that a week at the hotel with food and entertainment will cost 2-3 times that of a cruise. There is no better deal out there than a cruise!!! When I pay $1000 for my balcony for a week, I get to see 2, 3 or 4 places, I have my choice of many different dining venues (and the premium restaurants are as good as some of the best "land" restaurants--worth every penny of it), and if I simply want to sit on the balcony and do nothing, they will bring food to me!!!

Plane tickets alone to three or four destinations in a week would cost twice the cost of the cruise.

 

If you want special treatment you can get it on a cruise ship--book Seabourn, Crystal, etc--but you will pay 3, 4 or 5 times as much as your typical cruiseline. I am just thankful that we have the mainstream cruises available. There is no such thing as a bad cruise!!! It is what you make it!!!

[Guest LoveMyBoxer]

I am a fairly loyal NCL customer and have never been on a "bad" cruise. Like many of you, if I want a first class vacation, I book a room at a four or five star hotel (and I am lucky enough to be able to do this at least once a year) but if I want a week of reasonably priced relaxation and leisure, I book a cruise. And, I can assure you that a week at the hotel with food and entertainment will cost 2-3 times that of a cruise. There is no better deal out there than a cruise!!! When I pay $1000 for my balcony for a week, I get to see 2, 3 or 4 places, I have my choice of many different dining venues (and the premium restaurants are as good as some of the best "land" restaurants--worth every penny of it), and if I simply want to sit on the balcony and do nothing, they will bring food to me!!!

Plane tickets alone to three or four destinations in a week would cost twice the cost of the cruise.

 

If you want special treatment you can get it on a cruise ship--book Seabourn, Crystal, etc--but you will pay 3, 4 or 5 times as much as your typical cruiseline. I am just thankful that we have the mainstream cruises available. There is no such thing as a bad cruise!!! It is what you make it!!!

I totally agree with what you're saying. My question to you is (since you've been cruising for a while), aren't you a little dissapointed with the way some of the cruise lines are going?