Questions about NCL

[Mrs.G]

Hi everyone! I am thinking about booking the Majesty for the week of March 3, 2007 out of Charleston. I have been on Carnival Fascination and RCI Freedom of the seas, which were both totally different cruise experiences. I don't really know anything about the NCL. My husband and I are in college and this will be over our Spring Break. We are not your typical college students who will disturb others by staying drunk all week and having loud parties but we definitely do want some nightlife onboard. Is this line mainly older ages or is it family oriented like RCI and Carnival? I dont mean to imply that it is, I just dont know anything about this line. I have booked the Fascination out of Miami for Spring Break but Charleston is very close to home and I am pondering switching. Any help would be greatly appreciated!

[electricron]

The median age aboard a cruise ship, even NCL ships, vary depending upon the time of year and the length of the cruise. A 7 day cruise during Spring Break will always have many young adults aboard. Even the Majesty.....

[newmexicoNita]

My response would be just about the same: actually, yes, the age does vary depending on the sailing time: this is true of most cruise lines, but I think NCL probably has the biggest age spread of any line I have cruised. All lines have the kids, the 20 somethings, the families, the baby boomers and the seniors, but NCL has a bigger mixture. NMNita

[ce2000]

I think that you should go ahead and give NCL a try. It is definitely different than Carnival and RCI, but it is not bad. I believe that you will have a good time. I have been on five cruises and have never sailed the same cruise line twice, I like to experience what the different lines offer.

[asoutherngal]

Try it--it is different from most of the other cruise lines in that their freestyle dining is truly more freestyle than most other lines and I like having more choices--no definite seating time, your choice as to whether you are seated with just your group or with others, premium restaurants are first class and excellent. I have sailed several times on NCL and they do seem to cater to all age groups. Of course, if you are going to Alaska, Northern Europe, etc. there will be few, if any, children onboard but this is true of most lines. Have fun.

[cruise2much]

Time of year and itinerary both have baring on age groups. Southern cruises during spring break should have many guests your age and from my experience it seems the Ship conforms to the predominate age group, Nova Scotia during September Older disco after midnight, Bahamas anytime Disco @ 10:00. The drinks can get a little pricey but fun all the same. Hope you enjoy your cruise:)

[newlywedcruisers]

I'd give NCL a shot, we're still in college as well and NCL is our choice for our honeymoon. Good luck with your booking.

[JerseyGem]

My DD and three of her friends took the Majesty last March for their Spring Break (21 yrs old at the time- Pharmacy School students). The cruise was definitely a "college age" crowd- in fact many groups- sororities, frats, etc from some of the southern colleges. You will certainly be in the right age demographic. However, my DD complained about the Majesty being small and old (she'd sailed on the Dawn two months earlier), and the crowds were too wild even for her (and she does drink and party). DD & friends had to study (test when they returned): they were the only ones who brought their textbooks, notes, etc. The ship was at full capacity and frequently ran out of a few things (like clean glasses, Coronas, etc, which really upset them LOL). Very few deck chairs-& many were broken.

 

The one thing that they did right was to pay a little more for a cabin on an upper deck (8). They had more space (important with four girls) and the hallway was quieter (no inside cabins loaded with 4 students per room). The few families and couples on the cruise were also on that deck- so their cabin was very quiet at night, as opposed to decks 3 & 4, where the partying spilled over into the hallways every night- until the wee hours in the morning. (Another friend had an inside there- definitely stay away from those decks!).

 

DD enjoyed the three ports- took NCL's shore excursion to Stingray City in Grand Cayman, spent a day at Paradise Beach in Cozumel (just take a taxi from the dock area) and walked around Key West (and ate and drank, etc). They loved Key West- didn't think it would be a very interesting port but were pleasantly surprised.

 

Even though DD compained about the ship, I think she would tell you to go for it- just realize it's not "new, big, fancy" (her previous cruises were on QE II, Disney Magic, NCL Dawn, RCCL Splendor of Seas, so she's a little biased). The price was right, the location was convenient, the dates fit her break, and the ports were great. Have fun!

[heelfan94]

I've sailed on the Majesty the same week in March and had a great time. I think the college kids make the casino more fun. Like some other posters have mentioned, you'll always find a mix of ages. One very nice thing is the Bar Crawl in Key West. I've never done it, but I've seen them coming back. Looks like fun! ;)