NCL - $99/$199 for 3rd/4th person in cabin - Bermuda

[crusinmama06]

I always bring any 3rd/4th person in cabin deals over to the Family Board because I know that means cheaper rates for the kids.

 

This is for NCL - 7 days to Bermuda

 

http://www.ncl.com/nclweb/cruiser/cmsPages.html?pageId=bermuda022009DirMar&utm_source=pastguests&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=BER022009

 

I did a mock booking for June 09

Insides for 1st/2nd person was $729pp - then kids would be $199 (3rd/4th)

Outside for 1st/2nd was $899pp - then kids $199

Balcony for 1st/2nd $1,249pp - kids $199

[rccruiser06]

Cruisinmam06 - I've seen many of your posts and you are always giving great advice! :) I was wondering what you thought of NCL (I see from your signature you have done one)? I am Diamond with RCCL, but am thinking of booking a cruise with NCL for 2010 due to the prices and to try something different. Thanks in advance for any insight!!

[rgjarrell]

I went on a 7-day NCL Spirit Feb 1 cruise out of new orleans to costa maya, belize, guatamala, and cozumel.

 

I thought NCL was great overall, but there were a lot of little issues:

Cabins were nice. My wife, our 2yr old son, and I were in an inside cabin. This worked really well. But because there's no "chain" on the door up high, our son could open the door himself and wander out.

My in-laws had a balcony across the hall. Their room was much nicer than ours, and would have worked well with our son, but because they paid for the more expensive cabin, we got to appreciate their views every once in a while.

The childcare program was great for our 2-yr old. He had huge separation anxiety at first, but the counselors asked us what they could do when we brought him back. And they basically didn't force any planned activities on him. They just read disney books and showed pixar movies.

 

But it was annoying when they said, "this is a no adults area". They weren't the best at making the younger kids feel welcome because the parents weren't welcome to go in.

 

Drawbacks: Freestyle dining was great because it meant show up when you want. What wasn't "freestyle" was they way they served the food. They have a procedure, and they take a while to get through their serving procedures. For example, it was very hard to get "special" requests that didn't involve buying a drink. Only about half the time did I get coffee when I asked for it at the beginning of dinner. But they were very good about it at the end of the meal. You can't get soup and salad together, or any of the courses together. They bring it out separately, and if it takes them a while to bring out your entree, it may have sat under lights for a while. It just wasn't like service at a Family Casual restaurant (think Fridays, chili's, olive garden, etc...). It was more like eating at a wedding reception. The upcharge premium restaurants were much more like eating at a nice restaurant.

The buffet was inferior quality to the dining rooms, but was adequate. The problem here was a layout that didn't move crowds, but just always felt crowded, and a lot of food sits around for a while.

The burger restaurant made a good burger.

 

Overall, the dining drawbacks didn't outweigh the convenience of freestyle. On other traditional dining service ships, if you don't show up at the right time, you're out of luck. And who knows how long dinner takes on those ships. Probably just as long.

 

Other small issues: When they started activities, if you were late because of your kid, then you were out of luck. Even if it was easy to accomodate you. For example, I showed up late to a ping pong tournament. They wouldn't put me in the 2nd round and give me a bye. They just said, sorry too late.

Also, they threatened that if the childcare center was overwhelmed by a lot of kids, they would resort to planned activities, and if our son became too difficult they would page us. But it never happened because they just always did something our son wanted to do.

 

The kids pool was really nice on this boat, but didn't see a lot of action with as few kids as there were on board.

 

Our cruise was 90% 55 and older crowd.

NCL apparently has a reputation for being attractive to retirees, and not to families. But there are probably more families on the shorter weekend cruises or busier times of the year for family vacations.

 

Because dinner took so long, we rarely had time to do evening entertainment stuff, even though it was pretty good.

 

Also, they were fairly typical of the overpriced drinks, photos, internet, spa, excursions, and anything else you had to charge to the cabin.

 

So, we had a nice time with our son, and we generally enjoyed it. Little things would annoy us, but I'm not sure how that compares.

 

We would definitely consider NCL again, but we're thinking about Disney next (which is not comparable as it's almost twice as expensive.) But I really want to see the pirate ship from Pirates of the Caribbean at Castaway Caye.

[crusinmama06]

Cruisinmam06 - I've seen many of your posts and you are always giving great advice! :) I was wondering what you thought of NCL (I see from your signature you have done one)? I am Diamond with RCCL, but am thinking of booking a cruise with NCL for 2010 due to the prices and to try something different. Thanks in advance for any insight!!

 

Ok, I'll be honest...lol. ;) I am not a huge NCL fan. Now granted, our own personal experience was on an OLD NCL ship. But I have been around enough to read all of the experiences and most of them read like the one above. They had an ok time. It was good enough. Not the best.

 

When my inlaws went to Hawaii, they sailed on an NCL ship. Then the next cruise was with us (on Carnival no less) and they couldn't believe the difference in ship/service. They thought they had liked NCL until they went on another ship with us and saw how the other cruiselines do it.

 

And our table mates on Independence went on NCL for their last cruise...they were blown away by Indy. And every dinner they would tell us about it...lol. The service wasn't as good. The ship wasn't as wonderful. The list went on and on.

 

It seems to me - and this is MY OPINION ONLY - that some of those who love NCL haven't been on others to make a comparison. And once they sail on others, they see the difference in service and difference in ammenities.

 

That's not to diminish the opinions of those who sail only on NCL. But for someone, like you, who has sailed on Royal Carribean, you will notice a big difference between the two lines. And that's not necessarily a good thing. ;)

[loveysbydesign]

I just checked into their cruises to Bermuda yesterday (sailing from NYC)

but since we have 3 kids we'd have to book a suite to get them for $99 each...it would cost us $7000!!! That's way too much for us!

[cruisinreunion]

we are in the same predicament, family of five is not easily accommodated for sure. We were thinking of the Boston to Bermuda cruise this summer, but don't know if there is enough for the kids to do on the islands. I am assuming the kids programs will be closed while in port, which is quite a bit of the time for NCL. Any ideas

[loveysbydesign]

we are in the same predicament, family of five is not easily accommodated for sure. We were thinking of the Boston to Bermuda cruise this summer, but don't know if there is enough for the kids to do on the islands. I am assuming the kids programs will be closed while in port, which is quite a bit of the time for NCL. Any ideas

I know....I guess we'll keep an eye out for other Bermuda discounts...I'm unsure if RCCL has many cabins that sleep 5 either. I can take 2 Disney cruises for what it would cost us to sail on Dawn in a suite(and that's for the cheaper sailing dates).:confused:

[crusinmama06]

I just checked into their cruises to Bermuda yesterday (sailing from NYC)

but since we have 3 kids we'd have to book a suite to get them for $99 each...it would cost us $7000!!! That's way too much for us!

 

Wow...yeah you needed to divide up the booking into two connecting cabins. :eek: You don't need a $7,000 suite...lol.

 

we are in the same predicament, family of five is not easily accommodated for sure. We were thinking of the Boston to Bermuda cruise this summer, but don't know if there is enough for the kids to do on the islands. I am assuming the kids programs will be closed while in port, which is quite a bit of the time for NCL. Any ideas

 

I thought NCL kept the club open during a port day but charged a fee? I have looked into Bermuda a few times and there looks like enough to keep the kids busy in port.

 

I know....I guess we'll keep an eye out for other Bermuda discounts...I'm unsure if RCCL has many cabins that sleep 5 either. I can take 2 Disney cruises for what it would cost us to sail on Dawn in a suite(and that's for the cheaper sailing dates).:confused:

 

RCCL does have family cabins. But you don't need a family cabin...just get a connecting. Then you can leave the door open between the 2 cabins.

[reallyitsmema]

We are looking at the NCL Spirit out of Boston too since we are going to have to book last minute. I can drive there in less than a half hour so we wouldn't have to worry about flights or a hotel.

 

I am just concerned about whether there is enough to keep my 18 yr old busy. I really don't want him hanging out in the casino the whole time and he will not be allowed in any of the kid activities since he is now 18.

 

The ship is much smaller than anything he has ever been on too, he has done RCL Mariner twice.

 

I am so used to Royal Caribbean's website and find that NCL's website not very helpful at all.

 

Not sure if the cheaper price is going to be worth it.

[O_2_TRAVEL]

Ok, I'll be honest...lol. ;) I am not a huge NCL fan. Now granted, our own personal experience was on an OLD NCL ship. But I have been around enough to read all of the experiences and most of them read like the one above. They had an ok time. It was good enough. Not the best.

 

 

We have sailed NCL several times, but it has been our only line. We have been loyal because we like the "Freestyle":

• No set dinner times
  
• Business / Resort Casual
  

We would consider other lines, but DH wears a suit 3 - 4 times a week, so he will not wear one on vacation.

 

Do you know if other lines offer something similar without eating at the buffet everynight?

 

I value your opinions.

[crusinmama06]

We have sailed NCL several times, but it has been our only line. We have been loyal because we like the "Freestyle":

• No set dinner times
  
• Business / Resort Casual
  

We would consider other lines, but DH wears a suit 3 - 4 times a week, so he will not wear one on vacation.

 

Do you know if other lines offer something similar without eating at the buffet everynight?

 

I value your opinions.

 

Awww thanks. :D

 

Royal Caribbean just started (fleetwide) "My Time Dining". It is exactly like Freestyle. On ships like the Freedom class (Freedom/Liberty/Independence) they use the upper level of the 3 tiered dining room for My Time Dining. You can reserve one time for the whole week or you can make daily reservations. You can even reserve the same table/server/time for every day...but you decide the time you want.

 

As far as not wearing a suits on ships. I can tell you that in no way, shape, or form does everyone wear a suit or a tux on Formal night. ;) Pants and dress shirt is more than acceptable in most dining rooms on formal night. Even pants/golf shirt. The key is no shorts. You will see all ranges of dress on ships like Carnival, Royal Caribbean, Disney and Princess. It's when you start to get to ships like HAL, Cunard, Celebrity that the dress overall is more formal.

[O_2_TRAVEL]

Thanks, Michelle. We'll consider that for our next cruise.

[patsnails]

I just finished NCL's Freestyle specialist program and i am impressed with what they are trying to do, They are really working hard to get their image and service up to par, it takes time, As a TA i would have never recommended them based on client satisfaction, but the last few clients have come back with very good reviews, not perfect but improving all the time and NCL is listening to their customers, There are some who love the freestyle cruising experience, its not for everyone but worth a try... We are doing Bermuda in May of 2010, on the Dawn.. cant wait

Pat