Cruising in the Caribbean... NCL or Royal Caribbean?

[Miffy_Oz]

My husband and I are planning our second cruise for January 2009, and have decided on the Caribbean.

 

We just can't decide between the 4 night Bahamas cruise with Royal Caribbean, or the 7 night Eastern Caribbean cruise with NCL.

 

There are other factors to consider, of course, but does one cruise company generally get better reviews than the other?

 

We cruised on NCL's Pride of Hawaii in January, and loved it. So we're leaning towards NCL again this time, only because we know the company. But what is Royal Caribbean like?

 

Augh, so much to decide!! :)

[99WildcatCruiser]

Hello Miffy Oz,

I have just returned from my first NCL cruise. I was the NCL Sun visiting the Western Caribbean in March 2008. I sailed the Eastern Caribbean on RCL March 2007.

 

I would have to say that NCL has been the worst cruise line that I have sailed. That was my 4th cruise (Princess twice, RCL, and NCL). I thought the staff was rude. To this day, I have NO idea who cleaned my room. I have never been on a ship that when a staff member passed you by in the hallway they would not say hello. I just felt on the Sun that you could tell that NCL was cutting corners. Since the staff was rude, it made me feel that NCL does not treat their staff very well.

 

I would tryout RCL. I think you will be much happier. The food on RCL is not the greatest, but the staff was great. The Cruise Director was the BEST! We saw her all over the ship and her staff was very entertaining. On NCL, it was the first time that I ever heard a cruise staff member complain that it was too early in the morning to be doing activities…it was 10:00am.

 

BUT, the one thing I LOVED about NCL was the freestyle.

 

I hope this helps and Happy Cruising!:D

99WildcatCruiser

[mikepmcm]

My husband and I are planning our second cruise for January 2009, and have decided on the Caribbean.

 

We just can't decide between the 4 night Bahamas cruise with Royal Caribbean, or the 7 night Eastern Caribbean cruise with NCL.

 

There are other factors to consider, of course, but does one cruise company generally get better reviews than the other?

 

We cruised on NCL's Pride of Hawaii in January, and loved it. So we're leaning towards NCL again this time, only because we know the company. But what is Royal Caribbean like?

 

Augh, so much to decide!! :)

 

Miffy,

 

If you like the experience of visiting many islands you might consider taking a cruise that departs from San Juan Puerto Rico. On a typical 7-day cruise you'll see at least 5-6 ports plus arrive a day early and explore San Juan. Here's a typical itineray:

 

7 days departing January 17, 2009 on

Royal Caribbean's Serenade of the Seas

 

ITINERARY

depart SatJan17San Juan, Puerto Rico 10:00pm

SunJan18St. Thomas, U.S. Virgin Islands 7:00am5:30pm

MonJan19St. Maarten, Netherlands Antilles 7:00am5:30pm

TueJan20Antigua (St. John's)7:00am5:30pm

WedJan21St. Lucia 7:00am5:00pm

ThuJan22Barbados 7:00am5:30pm

FriJan23At SeaSatJan24San Juan, Puerto Rico 7:00am

[cullinp]

We really enjoyed our Royal Caribbean experience from start to finish and have booked again for this November!

[cruiser246]

Personally, we prefer Royal Caribbean. Although I don't have that much experience to base this decision on other then the fact that the food was a helluva lot better on RCCL. One of the best things about cruising for me, other then trying to not get sea sick, is the food!

 

Also, I like being assigned a seat with some other people that we may not have had the oppurtunity to meet if we were sitting by ourselves. Just makes it that much more enjoyable to just hang out and make new friends!

 

I also thought the casinos where much better as well....:)

[cruisegirl1976]

My husband and I have sailed both, and we like NCL a little better, we were alway's treated great on both lines but NCL you are able to do what you want when you want, it was more relaxing than RCCL. Hopes this helps.:)