Princess vs NCL

[CrusinAgain]

I was on the NCL Dawn in November 07. We waited 4-5 minutes to get into the main dining room at 7-ish. I made reservations for the next night-once for Cagney's for 6:30 and once for Le Bistro for 6. Both reservations were made at 4pm the day before. I never had to stand in line to make a reservation and never called at 8am. I wasn't in a suite. Our ship was sold out, so I was sharing the ship with a whole bunch of people.

 

I had the same Prime Rib at the main dining room that I had at Cagney's, the one at Cagneys was MUCH larger, though. Both were perfectly medium rare BTW. I'm still wondering what I was doing right, since so many people have problems with dining.

 

Main dining rooms were not a problem although the selection was very very limited. It was the other free dining rooms. Mambos was very good food and we would have gone again had we had a chance but having to book 24 hours in advance was not freestyle. On the fee based restaurants, we did not see a thing we wanted on the menus that was worth paying the extra money for at the fee dining rooms except the steakhouse and that would have been the regular fee plus an extra fee to get the better meal. I believe that would have been $40 each which we could get at our local restaurants for less. Our voyage never had the 2 for 1 specials either. I had always heard to watch for earlybird or late night specials. The buffet/action stations were good but they got old serving the same thing at each station day after day.

 

And even if we had eaten at the other dining halls, the entertainment was poor so we would not take a NCL ship again.

[Cruisin' Chick]

We do not do the extra charge specialty rest. The prices for the specialty rest.on NCL were about the same or cheaper than other lines. My biggest complaint was that we couldn't get reservations in the non paying specialty rest. They are small and book up very fast. If you have a garden villa or a suite you can get the conciere(SP?) to make your reservations and you will be guarenteed a reservation. I had one lady look at me like I was trailer trash and say "It pays to stay in a suite" Very nasty. But that was the only person on the entire cruise who was like that.

So the article states the following within it:

 

-- Balcony and mini suites

-- A distinctive colored key card for ship wide recognition;

-- An "at your service" hotline;

-- A separate check-in for balcony and mini suite guests;

-- A personal escort to stateroom;

-- Priority disembarkation.

 

That is a cause for concern to me. Its nice that the balcony people get recognition but it sounds like a start to a class type system that the cruiselines tossed years ago except for one - Cunard.

 

After my one and only cruise on NCL last month, I honestly feel like joining the Princess cheerleader's squad as I know the Princess product has always treated me well and I can depend on good entertainment and good food. I cannot wait until my April cruise on the Crown that says "Welcome Back" as I think "Welcome Home".

 

Excuse me but I did my homework for the freestyle restaurant reservation system. You had to go to deck 8 and wait in line or call in. You could only make them for 24 hours in advance. They were full by 8:30 a.m. after experiencing a busy signal continuously. What type of freestyle do you call this? They had time slots at 5:30, 7:30, or 9:30. We do not blame ourselves and I don't feel a true freestyle dining experience is getting up early and running down to deck 8 to make reservations is truly free to eat what you want when you want as they advertise. That is a a rigid timeschedule.

 

Hubby was looking at some link that a Cruise Critic member had to his photos on some NCL ships and was intrigued. He likes newish, big ships (we're talking about the size of the Sapphire Princess, which we went on in its third month of sailing). He liked the bright colors on the Gem, etc. And the idea of Freestyle seemed to intrigue him too.

 

As for me, I like traditional dining. I know when I'm going to eat, without having to wait for a beeper to go off and without fussing about early in the morning to make reservations. I like that the waitstaff gets to know fussy little me. Else, it would be like going to restaurants here at home, making reservations or just showing up hoping there's a table available. What's so special about that? So I just don't get the idea of anytime or freestyle as that means I need to make a choice in the morning to guarantee eating where I want to, or having to wait a while.

 

Another concern (now that I'm reading the above) is that we don't book suites, usually just insides. At least with Princess, I'm not treated differently in ways that matter to me.

 

As for entertainment, I don't have complaints about Princess, other than it would be nice if the shows change more often.

[Jetswdo]

I have been on th Island Princess a couple of years ago--Hawaii. And recently I did a NCL Jewel over Xmas and New Years. I enjoyed both. I will be back on Princess (Saphire) for Alaska this July. So far, I have found Princess to be a "calmer" line, between the subdued colors, etc. I will say though that I found NCL food, much better than Princess overall, and yes I was surprised. I liked the show choices a bit better on NCL. Also the beds were wonderful on NCL. However, what I didn't care for, was I felt like the ship was seperated by the "haves and the have-nots." We were in a mini-suite, and at the time, had excellent concierge service which arranged for us to eat at whatever restaurant we chose. Without this service, we would not have been able to do the freestyle the way it is promoted. Princess gives a more relaxed package for everyone which, I personally prefer. I just wish the beds would be better.

[CrusinAgain]

We do not do the extra charge specialty rest. The prices for the specialty rest.on NCL were about the same or cheaper than other lines. My biggest complaint was that we couldn't get reservations in the non paying specialty rest. They are small and book up very fast. If you have a garden villa or a suite you can get the conciere(SP?) to make your reservations and you will be guarenteed a reservation. I had one lady look at me like I was trailer trash and say "It pays to stay in a suite" Very nasty. But that was the only person on the entire cruise who was like that.

 

 

 

Hubby was looking at some link that a Cruise Critic member had to his photos on some NCL ships and was intrigued. He likes newish' date=' big ships (we're talking about the size of the Sapphire Princess, which we went on in its third month of sailing). He liked the bright colors on the Gem, etc. And the idea of Freestyle seemed to intrigue him too.

 

As for me, I like traditional dining. I know when I'm going to eat, without having to wait for a beeper to go off and without fussing about early in the morning to make reservations. I like that the waitstaff gets to know fussy little me. Else, it would be like going to restaurants here at home, making reservations or just showing up hoping there's a table available. What's so special about that? So I just don't get the idea of anytime or freestyle as that means I need to make a choice in the morning to guarantee eating where I want to, or having to wait a while.

 

Another concern (now that I'm reading the above) is that we don't book suites, usually just insides. At least with Princess, I'm not treated differently in ways that matter to me.

 

As for entertainment, I don't have complaints about Princess, other than it would be nice if the shows change more often.[/quote']

 

I suggest that now you have insight about the dining that you now look at the entertainment between Princess and NCL. Princess keeps you busy all day and evening with a selection of activities. NCL becomes dead after the evening show unless you want to go to the bar or casino. There are no choices of shows like Princess - it is one show with 2 showings. Daytime was horrible. Don't let people tell you they keep you busy as that is all they kept telling me. Let them show you the Dailies and you can decide if you want to chance it.

[newmexicoNita]

 

I suggest that now you have insight about the dining that you now look at the entertainment between Princess and NCL. Princess keeps you busy all day and evening with a selection of activities. NCL becomes dead after the evening show unless you want to go to the bar or casino. There are no choices of shows like Princess - it is one show with 2 showings. Daytime was horrible. Don't let people tell you they keep you busy as that is all they kept telling me. Let them show you the Dailies and you can decide if you want to chance it.

 

We have always found the daytime activities on all lines except HAL about the same. What does Princess offer that you couldn't find on NCL? Maybe I just missed something here.

 

Nita

[newmexicoNita]

 

I suggest that now you have insight about the dining that you now look at the entertainment between Princess and NCL. Princess keeps you busy all day and evening with a selection of activities. NCL becomes dead after the evening show unless you want to go to the bar or casino. There are no choices of shows like Princess - it is one show with 2 showings. Daytime was horrible. Don't let people tell you they keep you busy as that is all they kept telling me. Let them show you the Dailies and you can decide if you want to chance it.

 

We have always found the daytime activities on all lines except HAL about the same. What does Princess offer that you couldn't find on NCL? Maybe I just missed something here.

 

Of course NCL is usually a litle more port intensive and yes, on port days there is little to do on the ship.

 

Nita

[whale-watcher]

...As for me' date=' I like traditional dining. I know when I'm going to eat, without having to wait for a beeper to go off and without fussing about early in the morning to make reservations. I like that the waitstaff gets to know fussy little me. Else, it would be like going to restaurants here at home, making reservations or just showing up hoping there's a table available. What's so special about that? So I just don't get the idea of anytime or freestyle as that means I need to make a choice in the morning to guarantee eating where I want to, or having to wait a while.

 

Another concern (now that I'm reading the above) is that we don't book suites, usually just insides. At least with Princess, I'm not treated differently in ways that matter to me.

 

As for entertainment, I don't have complaints about Princess, other than it would be nice if the shows change more often.[/quote']you raise a great point...if you are a big fan of traditional dining (and there are many), then NCL is not a good vacation choice for you. It is nice that princess gives you the option of anytime or traditional (if you book early enough). DW are now fretting about the LACK of freestyle/anytime dining options on our upcoming Pacific Princess cruise:D The ship-wide perks for suite pax on NCL and princess are about the same...easier reservations for anytime dining and priority tendering...otherwise, I don't think that cabin selection makes any difference in quality of service on either line.

[CrusinAgain]

 

We have always found the daytime activities on all lines except HAL about the same. What does Princess offer that you couldn't find on NCL? Maybe I just missed something here.

 

Of course NCL is usually a litle more port intensive and yes, on port days there is little to do on the ship.

 

Nita

 

Nita, I'm sorry I am done with this thread. I have explained myself over and over and posted a days activities on the NCL Pearl and a days activities on the Diamond Princess for comparison over on the NCL forum a couple months back. There is a huge difference in daytime and evening activities. If you are interested, you will find it. Your NCL excuse of it being "more port intensive" all depends on what itineary you are on and I have no idea why you are discoloring the facts like that. You are a NCL diehard fan and I'm sure you have ran across it in your travels on your forum. NCL has not bothered theirselves to e-mail us or mail us thanking us for cruising with them or showing us further offers or give us our latitude numbers - that is how much they value people's business. In the meantime, Princess e-mails me and mails me brochures weekly. They value our business. Enjoy your NCL and I will enjoy Princess.

[newmexicoNita]

 

Nita, I'm sorry I am done with this thread. I have explained myself over and over and posted a days activities on the NCL Pearl and a days activities on the Diamond Princess for comparison over on the NCL forum a couple months back. There is a huge difference in daytime and evening activities. If you are interested, you will find it. Your NCL excuse of it being "more port intensive" all depends on what itineary you are on and I have no idea why you are discoloring the facts like that. You are a NCL diehard fan and I'm sure you have ran across it in your travels on your forum. NCL has not bothered theirselves to e-mail us or mail us thanking us for cruising with them or showing us further offers or give us our latitude numbers - that is how much they value people's business. In the meantime, Princess e-mails me and mails me brochures weekly. They value our business. Enjoy your NCL and I will enjoy Princess.

interesting I and many of us NCL loyalists are willing to give Princess credit for what they do well, and realize NCL isn't perfect, you on the other hand don't seem to be able to see the mountains for the trees. Oh well, everyone to his/her own. BTW, I do like Princess' night time entertainment choices but i think NCL has better shows. To me, this is a toss up.

 

Nita

[CrusinAgain]

interesting I and many of us NCL loyalists are willing to give Princess credit for what they do well, and realize NCL isn't perfect, you on the other hand don't seem to be able to see the mountains for the trees. Oh well, everyone to his/her own. BTW, I do like Princess' night time entertainment choices but i think NCL has better shows. To me, this is a toss up.

 

Nita

 

If you truly want to know my feelings on the good points of NCL, you can read my review on both the main review board on the forum itself. It is a very fair review and everyone who responded said so. Read my review first and then you can respond - its only fair. Here it is for your reading pleasure:

 

http://www.cruisecritic.com/memberreviews/memberreview.cfm?EntryID=36673

[scarlett68]

I'm still curious as to why this is a NCL vs. Princess thing - as evidenced in the title of the thread. I think there are posters here who find the NCL experience superior - just the same as there are for the Princess experience. I still don't see how this is any "comparison." The two products - including the Princess Anytime Dining option - are totally different.

 

Can you explain this? :confused: I am trying to decide between Princess and NCL and the anytime/freestyle dining is a big factor in my choice, so I wonder what is totally different about them.