so, has anybody been on NCL, and why would you not do it again?

[tcsmithh]

was just looking at NCL's 8 night mexico trip and was looking for some feedback from everbody :)

 

thanks

[Cotton]

It's been a very long time since I was on an NCL ship. About all I recall is that I had a great cruise - but then I always do! I don't believe I would go on NCL again, mainly because of the free-style dining. I wouldn't want to wait in lines to have dinner in a dining room, as some friends did on their New Year's cruise on NCL's Dream. ;)

[MrPete]

I ventured out on my sophmore cruise on the NCL Seaward. Hated the ship, and everything I did was compare it to my first cruise, which I realize you can never recreate. I met some great people, so I had a good cruise, but I ran back to Carnival the next time around.

[bethm214]

I found it to be more of an 'adult' type of cruising. They have a kids program..i guess they all do now...but in general there aren't as many 'active' activities, not as much public drinking, just a little more 'grown-up' if you can understand what i mean. I actually found myself a little bored after being on other lines...but it was a great chance to read a lot of books and really come home feeling refreshed and relaxed.

I last sailed on the SS Norway in November 2002. It did not have freestyle dining so i cannot comment on that.

Gather as many opinions as you can...perhaps mine was unique.

[tef43]

One word: Freestyle. :mad:

[Diamond Graham]

I have been on NCL both pre and post "freestyle" I was not crazy about my first experience on the NCL Wind....found the ship to be less than what I expected in the cleanliness department. Second experience on the Dawn out of NYC, newer ship in fantastic shape, loved the freestyle dining, but on both ships the nightlife was not up to "par" that I expect on a Carnival ship. Nightclubs were not great in fact if they existed at all, casinos were smaller and cramped on NCL. So in a nutshell, unless the $$ is really great on NCL....I will prefer to sail Carnival.

Just my 2 cents....

[tef43]

Let's just say that the *only* motivation that I would have ever had to return to NCL is now rusting away at a berth in Bremerhaven. :(

[judyf]

I agree with some of what was posted. I loved free style dining and that's a reason I would cruise NCL again. I've only been on one NCL ship the Sea and it was a 14 day cruise and it was an older crowd. I've been looking at the NCL Dawn out of NY if the price and dates are right I will booked it.

[kiberkid]

I love Freestyle. We never had to wait in line for dinner. I enjoyed the fact that if we were involved in something we did not have to quit early because we were on the early seating or waste time until the late seating.

 

We are not real night club people but did enjoy the entertainment offered all over the ships.

 

When we were on the NCL Sea we never ate in the dining room because we enjoyed the stir fry stations or bbq's on deck. We did eat in the dining room on the Sun & found the service to be exceptional. I think it was in part because the wait staff did not have to serve everybody @ the same time.

 

With that said (or rather typed) I am very much looking forward to our 1st Carnival cruise and a little more formality. If the people on this forum are any indication of the people on the ship..... How can you not have a great time!!

 

I don't think you can go wrong with NCL or Carnival. Both have a great reputation & let's face it.... you make your own enjoyment!!

 

Happy Sailings

[davy jones]

The primary difference is freestyle. Some like it and some don't.

 

From the information that I have, freestyle works best on the newer ships that were built for freestyle. I never had to wait for a table on the Norwegian Dawn. If you want, you can request the same table at the same time every night, but I liked eating when I wanted to and trying different restaurants. On debarkation, I was able to relax in my cabin with room service food until it was time to leave the ship.

 

I agree that the atmosphere on NCL may be more subdued than Carnival, but the food was very good and the shows were first rate.

 

They're both good products. With a good attitude, you will enjoy either one.

[Rdabadie]

Had the most awful experience with NCL. They overbooked the ship (NCL Sea out of NYC) and bumped me off my cruise less than 2 weeks prior. Me and TA had to fight with them, got rebooked on another ship (Norway) into a low-end suite to make up for what happened (Airfare to MIA was out of my pocket). Then they tried to take the upgrade away, TA had to fight that. I arrived at the port and no tickets were ready for me, took 45 minutes to sort that out. Then I go to check in, the agent is confused by my visa status (Funny, it was my 7th cruise on the same status and Carnival and RCCL figured it out) and she denies my boarding, sends everything off to a supervisor. I sat for 45 minutes, no tickets, no one talking to me. Finally someone walks up to me says "Here's your boarding pass..."

 

AND THEN SHE TURNS AND WALKS AWAY!!!!!

 

No sorry for the delay, no explination, nothing!!! I RUN up to her, demand to see the port supervisor who is very sympathetic and says the hotel manager will contact me once I'm onboard. Well I get onboard (furious) and by day 3 no contact. I everntually go see the hotel manager myself (who naturally knew nothing of my situation) and who promised to send something to my cabin which was never done.

 

In the end I was sent a $150 onboard credit for my next NCL cruise which I never used.

 

It's not that I'm not tempted to try NCL again (this all happened about 4 years ago) I just value my vacation time too highly to risk it with NCL again.

[Lil Bird]

We've been on NCL twice. We loved freestyle and never waited in a line. Unfortunately, it's just not as fun as Carnival. You sacrifice a bit on quality and service, but you have a heck of lot more fun.

[kkorman]

NCL is quite the equivalent of Carnival in food and service. They have more choices in food, but definitly in the same quality zone. I personally like Freestyle and on the bigger ships (like the Star) it works well. I have been on 3 NCL cruises, including the Star and never had to wait for a meal more than 5 minutes. This is much shorted than when people start lining up outside Carnival's dining rooms. You definitey do get les families and more couples, but I think that is a good thing. Plus, the production shows on NCL are the best I have see on the mass market cruise lines. And I do not like production shows.

[Lil Bird]

kkorman - We were on the Dawn in January and the cookouts on the pool deck were pretty cool. We also thought the quality and selection of restaurants was definitely impressive. That's why I gave them a nudge above. However, we do alot of Carnival because they've always showed us a great time. Hard to go wrong with a cruise in general.

[tcsmithh]

This is great everyone, i have only been on Carnival and loved it, so for our next cruise we were gonna bring the whole family, 5 kids ages 17-11. Is there enough to do for them? I am pretty sure that on the pride they will have fun, but it sounds like they might get board on the star? thoughts?

 

thanks

-tom

[Lil Bird]

Don't mean to change channels on you, but it is hard to beat one of the RCI Voyager class ships for that age range. They definitely won't get bored. We've been on Voyager and Navigator and loved them both.

[L2J]

so, has anybody been on NCL, and why would you not do it again?

 

In a word...."Freestyle". YUCK!

[tef43]

In a word...."Freestyle". YUCK!

Somehow I *knew* you'd say that.

[tcsmithh]

Don't mean to change channels on you, but it is hard to beat one of the RCI Voyager class ships for that age range. They definitely won't get bored. We've been on Voyager and Navigator and loved them both.

but the rci ships do the same ports as carnival in mexico? i would like to go further down......mid april next year is when we are going, and the only cruise that i have found so far that will go past PV is on NCL.......

[teedee]

My first cruise was on NCL and while it wasn't bad I don't feel the need to ever cruise with them again. I don't think I would like "Freestyle" dining, but I didn't find the crew to be very friendly on this cruise, I like Carnival much better.

 

Terri

[L2J]

Somehow I *knew* you'd say that.

:D That doesn't surprise me!

 

Actually, I think I would go on NCL again...if someone purchased the cruise for me then I might consider it and the ship would also be a consideration.

[kkorman]

My first cruise was on NCL and while it wasn't bad I don't feel the need to ever cruise with them again. I don't think I would like "Freestyle" dining, but I didn't find the crew to be very friendly on this cruise, I like Carnival much better.

 

Terri

 

Don't knock unless you try it. I really do not think that people really understand Freestyle and PC dining. YOu still have the oppurtunity to have a set time and waiter... you are just not forced to deal with times that are too early and too late.

 

I am pretty sure that on the pride they will have fun, but it sounds like they might get board on the star?

 

The activities available on NCL and Carnival are pretty comparable. If you are bored on your cruise... probably not the cruise lines fault. I have many times found playing cards on a Carnival cruise more interesting than anything offered throughout the day.

 

The Dawn itinerary is really nice. You get a night in Aculpulco and 4 ports... not to mention you miss Mazatlan. IMO, the worst of the west coast Mexican ports.

[bigmike7]

Yo-

 

As you can see below - we have had much more experience with NCL than with Carnival-

 

HOWEVER - as you can also see - our next cruise is on Carnival - why you ask? - because we have found that the NCL product has gone downhill (except for the "Norway") over the last few years-

 

If you read the threads over on the NCL site you will note that the quality of the service and food has suffered on ALL of their ships - and there is a notible increase in the mechanical problems on ALL ships - which would lead one to suspect that NCL may be in financial problems.......

 

Freestyle has its pluses and minuses - overall I liked the ability to eat when we were ready to eat and the fact that we were able to meet so many other fellow cruisers........

 

My opinion-

 

Happy Cruisin'

 

Mike

[Pie-n-Fudge]

I have cruised on RCCL, Celebrity, Disney and NCL. I loved all my cruises except the one on NCL. I won't go into the details, but in a few words, it was the absolute worst service I've ever experienced with any company at any time. I cannot in good conscience recommend this line to anyone.

 

I think if you cruise the right ship and don't need any assistance, you'll be OK with NCL, but their customer service is so bad and their corporate HQ so unresponsive, that it isn't worth risking when there are so many other lines to choose from.

 

I'm now considering the Carnival Glory for our next cruise. I never thought I would consider this line, but after that NCL cruise, it can only be an improvement!

[lmondrop]

I've been on the Sky. The boat was really nice. Very modern looking. However, the rooms were so tiny and there was very little space to put your clothing. You would have to use your suitcase as a drawer and slide it under the bed.