Favorite NCL itinerary??

[crusingici]

Not counting Alaska or Hawaii -- what would be your favorite NCL itinerary or even embarkation port?? ... and why......

 

Just curious where NCLers love to cruise -- does it depend more on the ship or ports for you to have a favorite?

 

As you can tell from my sig - I have my first NCL cruise coming up in January but am already looking ahead for another! :D

[mpk218]

Deep southern Caribean out of either Miami or when possible San Juan. :D

[weltek]

The Southern Carribean routes are most appealing to me. The combined Western & Southern Carribean routes look cool and someday I'd like to do that. South American trips are also high on my list.

 

The European trips aren't as appealing to me, as I'd rather do them land-based. Hawaii is nice, but I've heard such mixed NCLA reviews. I haven't been on the Mexican Riviera yet (January 09), but I imagine the Carribean is still going to be my favorite. The Bermuda cruises hold no interest for me, and I'd rather do New England by land.

 

Oh, and for me the destinations are most important to me. I'm a pretty basic ship girl. I just want a resonably comfy bed, lots of dining choices, some good drinking venues and bartenders, and a quiet place to read. Anything else is just a bonus.

[welikepalms]

Not counting Alaska or Hawaii -- what would be your favorite NCL itinerary or even embarkation port?? ... and why......

 

Just curious where NCLers love to cruise -- does it depend more on the ship or ports for you to have a favorite?

 

As you can tell from my sig - I have my first NCL cruise coming up in January but am already looking ahead for another! :D

 

Hi cruisingici,

 

My favorite would be leaving out of Philidelphia. It is so easy to get too, not overly crowded and a quick drive for us. I loved Bermuda I would recommend it to anyone. The Florida/Bahamas itinerary was nice too. Leaving out of NYC was a challenge but we managed.

 

Hope that answers your question

Happy Cruising.

[Heytoots]

I LOVE leaving from NY in the middle of winter, heading to the Carribbean!! Anyplace warm is wonderful....but I do enjoy Barbados, and St Maarten, so I grab up those cruises!!

 

Nothing beats a frosty beverage poolside in 82 degree sunny weather, when all your friends are freezing their socks off up North!!! :D ;)

[floridacruiser63]

The Southern Caribbean, leaving out of Miami.:)

[mbisson]

Not counting Alaska or Hawaii -- what would be your favorite NCL itinerary or even embarkation port?? ... and why......

 

 

I would answer, but your terms forbid me listing either my first or second favorites! :eek: ;)

[cruzeluver]

Of the three NCL cruises I have taken, San Pedro was the best organized embarkation port. And I looooooved the 8 night Mexican Riviera itinerary. Such a shame it is to be no more, although I understand the financial reasons for dropping it, it was nice to not be doing the typical 7 day itinerary.

[annie m]

In 2005 we did the Spirit for 8 days - It went to St. Thomas, St Maarten and Bermuda from New York - that was our favorite

[chrisbd1]

Any cruise that stops in St Thomas :) . I wish NCL would come back to Texas but I'm not that into the Western Caribbean-St Thomas is in the Eastern Caribbean :D .

[TallGuy and the Redhead]

We are also leaving in January for our first NCL cruise. We picked this cruise specifically for the ports, including the embarkation port of New Orleans-then going western Caribbean.

I like cruising, but definitely consider the ports most important. I am SO excited to go to New Orleans too! I've told the TallGuy that in our one full day there before we get on the ship that I have about a hundred things I want to see, and he'd better prepare for a busy day. He can rest on our next day at sea!

 

 

~The Redhead

[Len3]

We just love the southern caribbean cruises out of NYC. We've done the same itinerary twice - first on the Spirit and then on the Gem. We drive to NYC, leave the car right at the port and sail away.

[electricron]

My favorite NCL itinerary was the Texacaribbean that sails from Houston. Sadly, NCL doesn't do it anymore. :(

[cruzeluver]

Yeah, the Texaribbean was great! And on the Norwegian Sea! what a great old ship she was. :)

[ute_fan]

Another vote for the Texaribbean itinerary from Houston. We loved the diversity of beaches and Mayan ruins -- plenty of options for shore excursions.

 

However, my first choice was eliminated like Monte's. Alaska all the way!

[electricron]

Yeah, the Texaribbean was great! And on the Norwegian Sea! what a great old ship she was. :)

 

The Sea sails today as the Superstar Libra. I've heard rumors that she'll have some interesting itineraries after this summer's Taiwan sailings. We'll just have to wait and see what they may be. They might be worth a long flight to the Far East to sail on the Sea (Libra) once again.

 

Here's one of my favorite ship photo locations, the Punta Langosta pier at Cozumel with the Sea docked.

 

 

The Sea could do all the standard cruise ship activites well. It's a shame it couldn't do any extra activities so many expect of cruise ships today.

[crooster]

We have done this one 4 times on the Majesty and will be on the Dream at the end of July.

 

Its a real shame that this is the end of the road for this particular cruise. The Spirit will go to Dockyard but it looks like you will get a full day less on the island. At this point I'm not sure whether we will take that option or fly out and stay on the island since we love Bermuda.

[Gabgab]

The Best is Eastern Med: Turkey, Greece, Egypt. Excotic placecs with gorgouse beachs and ancient history with wonderfull food and shopping. Diffently alot more intersting then a noraml curise. There is somthing for everyone on this internity form hsirtory buffs, to thirill seekers, to beach people, scuba dive people, food, people, etc... And the shopping cant be beet I got the best Tiffanys nockoff at the fraction of the price in Istabuls famous bazzar.

[ddakrt]

I loved the 9 days Southern Caribbean to Samana, Antigua, Tortola, Barbados, and St. Lucia.

 

The Dawn will do this itinerary late next year, except swapping Barbados for St. Kits. I didn't like Barbados so it'll be even better than the current itinerary. :D

[crusingici]

This has been interesting reading for me since I have not yet sailed NCL - I like hearing other's opinions...so sorry to have knocked some out of writing! :o

 

I figured HI would wins hands down and / or Alaska - I was more interested in other parts of the world to see what ports folks enjoy....but if some want to vote for A or H - go right ahead! :)

 

Crooster, does your comment mean the Spirit is being upgraded soon --if so, before I sail on her in Jan 09???

[crusingici]

We are also leaving in January for our first NCL cruise. We picked this cruise specifically for the ports, including the embarkation port of New Orleans-then going western Caribbean.

~The Redhead

 

Which sailing are you on in January? If you have never been to New Orleans you WILL have a very busy day trying to see it all!! Are you from out of state?

[Ms belp]

I have NEVER been anywhere as beautiful as that cruise! And, that's including my land based vacations. Barcelona, Sicily, Positano, Sorrento, the Amalfi coast, Rome (including the Vatican City), Florence, Pisa, and Nice, Monte Carlo, Monacco. It was breathtaking, wonderful; my words simply can't do it justice.

 

If I could only take one cruise, including my latest to Alaska, I would choose that one!

[WinnieinWA]

I like to cruise anywhere it is warm when it is cold and rainy in Washington that I can afford the single supplement! My destination is the ship. :)

[retiredonthesea]

Here is another vote for Texaribbean itinerary and the NCL ship The Sea.:D We had one of the best cruises on her. One of our most memorable snorkel adventures was in Roatan, on an NCL excursion that took us out on a catamaran. We where suppose to have a 4 hr excursion, but landed up being 6 hrs. Awesome!!!! Yes, we did make it back to the ship in plenty of time.

[EileenN]

I LOVE leaving from NY in the middle of winter, heading to the Carribbean!! Anyplace warm is wonderful....but I do enjoy Barbados, and St Maarten, so I grab up those cruises!!

 

Nothing beats a frosty beverage poolside in 82 degree sunny weather, when all your friends are freezing their socks off up North!!! :D ;)

 

Heytoots,

I would have thought that you would have said any ship with a Casino! We spent many nights in the Dawn casino at the penny machines fighting to get the machines. Oh, the fond memories!!! We will be on the Gem 2-4-09. Would have loved the chance to sail with you again.

My favorite itinerary is anything NCL 10 days or longer!