lolo26

2 hours ago, peteukmcr said:

We've sailed 21 times on RCI (Diamond +) but have now moved to NCL. Don't get me wrong, we still have 3 RCI sailings in the pipeline but that's basically because of the ships we want to sail on (Anthem, Allure) and itineraries (Transatlantic and South Pacific). We have now completed 4 NCL sailings over the past few years, 3 since 2018 (Epic TA November 2018, Breakaway April 2019 and just off Escape in September this year).

 

However, there are many similarities as they are both mass market cruise lines and both have great entertainment in terms of broadway shows on the bigger ships (RCI with Hairspray, Mamma Mia, Grease, Saturday Night Fever etc and NCL with Priscilla, Rock of Ages, After Midnight, Choir of Man).

 

What has become a big plus for us is the Freestyle Dining options, the sheer number of speciality restaurants, and the variety and number of complimentary dining venues. The 24 hour opening of table service venues such as O'Sheehans gives something RCI just does not offer. The lack of pressure to share tables when there's only 2 of you and in most cases on NCL, where you are given a table for 4 and 2 place settings removed, and the tables are not crammed in next to the next table for 2 which is tiresome on RCI as you might as well be sharing a table for 4 or even 6 with 2 couples on either side of you!

 

On the Breakaway and Breakaway Plus ships, the Waterfront is fantastic in our opinion with bars and restaurants having outdoor areas in addition to the numerous seating areas designated as quiet zones.

 

There are so many nice touches in the cabins too. Coffee maker provided as standard, pool towels in the room, no need to 'check out' towels on the pool deck, toiletries in the bathroom and separate shampoo and body wash dispensers in the shower and hand washer over the basin. Robes provided without asking and even for us as relatively new NCL cruisers. Complementary bottle of sparkling wine for all returning guests in your cabin, regardless of loyalty level.

 

As for food, although I've mentioned the number of speciality restaurants, we enjoy the complimentary food, and definitely the burgers in the buffet and O'Sheehans beat RCI's pathetic offerings hands down. We think the buffet food to be of a better quality as in our opinion RCI's Windjammer offerings have declined over the years with the desserts awful. NCL's are far superior. Although to be fair, food is so subjective it should not be the only thing to convince someone to sail NCL.

 

The disembarkation process is also so uncomplicated at the end of the sailing. If you want NCL to transfer your bags to the terminal, you decide on the time and go and pick the appropriate luggage tags, they are not decided for you like on RCI (and then you have to go and change them!). You can stay in your cabin for longer on NCL than has been the case on RCI. Table service breakfast is also available on NCL but you're not forced to share a table like on RCI on that final morning which is something we detest!

 

There are only a couple of things we don't like, such as the $15 per bottle corkage charge for taking bottles of wine/champagne onboard during initial embarkation even if you are consuming them in your cabin (to be fair I've only been charged on 1 occasion over 4 sailings though). The beverage packages don't include bottled water nor speciality coffees.

 

There also seems to be far fewer announcements on NCL compared to what seems to be continuous advertising of Bingo, Art Auctions, $10 sales and Pool games on RCI which seem to interrupt your relaxing time during the day.

 

I have 2 reviews from our recent NCL cruises, the latest of which is here

 

https://highseasescapades.co.uk/ncl-escape-from-new-york-to-new-england-and-canada/

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Amazing review very nice and helpful im glad your on this board as we need more friendless here 🙂

On 4/14/2019 at 2:05 PM, tomservo said:

Day 1 - Suite 11908

We finally arrived in the room. My wife noted that the room number had the word "Suite" above it. I think it started to dawn on her but I played dumb. She was very surprised we when walked in. I was very surprised that I was able to kept it a secret until we got to the room.

 

In-room table and chairs

 

Welcome champagne and bottle of water

 

Living room

 

Tea and coffee

 

Mini-fridge (requested it to be emptied)

 

Plates, napkins, and utensils

 

Contents of the mini-fridge (presumably)

 

Outer (guest?) bathroom

 

Bedroom

 

Master bathroom

 

Toilet room

 

Shower

 

Balcony

 

love your photos ! what room type was this i love it

12 minutes ago, GA Dave said:

OP, here are some food pics for you from the Getaway.  Some are Haven, but you will get the idea.

 

Wonderful thanks 🥳🥳🥳

10 minutes ago, AlohaLivin said:

We sail on both and love both. Little beats the Haven on NCL, we would have a hard time giving that up (the Royal service, the similar tier with RCL, is a “bit much” or over the top in our opinion). There are positives about both (for example, on average I prefer the entertainment on RCL, but NCL has better food in my view and then there is the free drink package that is usually included).  I am a little confused on the “nervous” part... NCL is just as nice as RCL. If you were trying something entirely different, say MSC or Costa I could understand, but BOTH RCL and NCL are wonderful lines. 

can you share some food pics?

5 minutes ago, AlohaLivin said:

We sail on both and love both. Little beats the Haven on NCL, we would have a hard time giving that up (the Royal service, the similar tier with RCL, is a “bit much” or over the top in our opinion). There are positives about both (for example, on average I prefer the entertainment on RCL, but NCL has better food in my view and then there is the free drink package that is usually included).  I am a little confused on the “nervous” part... NCL is just as nice as RCL. If you were trying something entirely different, say MSC or Costa I could understand, but BOTH RCL and NCL are wonderful lines. 

Thanks you are very kind i do feel better now 🙂 our last cruise and trip cost 15k its allot of money we trusted celebrity and it was a let down to say the least alot went wrong on that crusie including technical things  shows were cancelled and the tour vendors were just awful for the Mediterranean cruise..we have done 15 Mediterranean cruises....it was a very depressing ship very run down..buffet was worst then dog food lol , avoid the constellation regardless of itinerary. 

4 minutes ago, tomservo said:

 

Whats the age makeup of your group? What are the things you enjoy most about cruising? (restaurants, shows, activities, etc)

AGES ARE 30 TO 45 OF OUR GROUP- WE WANT ALL SHOWS- AND NOT SURE IF NCL HAS CHEF TABLT?

1 minute ago, tomservo said:

 

Which NCL ship are you looking at? This will help us better help you. 

GETAWAY AND MAYBE JADE

35 minutes ago, swmichigan cruiser said:

If you are that nervous in my opinion you might want to stick with Royal and Celebrity. Why stress about it. I am Diamond Plus on Royal 28 cruises and Platinum Plus on NCL 21 cruises so I like them both  but if I had any doubts I would stick with the one I already say I love. Just my opinion.

WELL WE SPENT 15K LAST EUROPE TRIP-  7 DAYS ON THE ROYAL CARIBBEAN HARMONY AND THEN 11 DAYS CONSTELLATION - LOTS OF MONEY LOST ONLY TO BE REALLY UNSATISFIED-  PERHAPS YOU HAVE NOT BEEN TO EUROPE IT COSTS ALLOT

17 minutes ago, GA Dave said:

One more plus for NCL:  They have Rebellious Fish!!!

 

do you happen to have photos on ncl main dining ( free food) you can post?

9 minutes ago, GA Dave said:

One more plus for NCL:  They have Rebellious Fish!!!

 

oh this drink looks sooooooo good

Just now, lolo26 said:

prefer pepsi lol

 but i drink water 99% of the time 1% cocktails when at a function or travelling

3 minutes ago, noobcruiser said:

This may not be an issue for you but:

NCL = Pepsi products

RCCL = Coca Cola products

prefer pepsi lol

2 hours ago, newmexicoNita said:

Well first of all and I will not be the only one to comment here: why are you  booking the cruse if you already think you will be disappointed and what makes you think you will. Most mass marketed lines are very similar, but each with its own personality. What ship are you cruising on? 

For us and this is just personal: we favor NCL but partly because we are Plat Plus and get our little perks. We also have found service a little better on NCL but not a huge difference. The dining choices is a winner for us as well, but if food is not an issue the food and I am talking specialty not MDR offers a lot more choices then RCI> The beauty of the  ships and activities may be a little better on RCI. All in all you will only be disappointed if you look for the negatives or something drastic goes wrong. That is pretty unlikely. You will find the passenger types pretty similar. 

the tours and ports for europe are looking the best on ncl this is why

35 minutes ago, FLAHAM said:

I like NCL and preferred it over my cruise on RCI's Allure.  However, I'm a soda drinker, and I do prefer the Allure's "Freestyle" self-service machine's to NCL's "ask a bartender" practice.  

HELLO THANKS HOW DID YOU PREFER NCL AND WHICH SHIP OVER ALLURE ? OMG LOVED LOVED THE ALLURE STILL RAVE ABOUT HER

31 minutes ago, Deeliteful said:

I am Diamond on RCL and have cruised mainly with them and Celebrity but also tried others.

my first cruise with NCL was in June this year on the Breakaway, as I had no choice with the dates I had to cruise.
Like you I had some concerns but overall I had a great cruise and am off on the Getaway in December!

Positives - lots of great dining options, plenty of good bars and entertainment. The waterfront, such a great idea, have a drink or eat and watch the sea from outdoors. More adult feeling overall.

Negatives - tiny, tiny pool. Very, very casual dress (to the point of scruffiness sometimes ) but I am a Brit! 😂

I don’t see much to dislike - give it a go!

THANKS SO MUCH WONDERFUL REVEIW 🙂

24 minutes ago, FLAHAM said:

I like NCL and preferred it over my cruise on RCI's Allure.  However, I'm a soda drinker, and I do prefer the Allure's "Freestyle" self-service machine's to NCL's "ask a bartender" practice.  

Which ncl trip did you do and can you explain more about the comparisons ncl vs royal

Hello please give us the differences- will we be disappointed

Have you sailed royal caribbean? how does ncl differ better or worse? how does the main dining food compare on both

please please photos and comparisons of main dining room ncl vs royal

See we were on the celebrity constellation and the food in buffet was horrible we are not even picky eaters now lol the main dining was great but that ship needs to retire forever- we were not impressed at all

Hello can someone tell me who the food compare in main dining for norwegian vs celebrity and the service and the tour operators for europe

Wow amazing looks soooooo much better then royal carb

Hello can someone please post photos of food pictures for ncl thanks

On 8/20/2019 at 6:07 AM, newmexicoNita said:

MDR yes, HAL is far above the other two, the buffet as well, but the upcharge dining room on HAL was a huge disappointment. RCI has been our least favorite all the way around. I have to be honest it has been many years since we sailed RCI and food is, as other have said very subjective. For the most part we love NCLs food,, especially O'Sheehans for lunch or a late night snack. Also think their upcharge dining is superior to the others. I believe they were the first line to offer specialty dining, and that was about 20 years ago.

 

For excursions we nearly always book or we did private tours, not through the cruise lines, so there isn't a way to compare. Since NCL has started offering the $50 discount and we get our Plat Plus discount we are more inclined to go through the cruise line: some very good experiences and some not so good. 

im used to 100% free drinks no tips for rccl and celebriy as it should be so to say free and charge tips on the drinks its not free

oh i forgot- the drink package is free but have to pay for tips for it- thats not free is there a way we can get out of paying for the tips for the bar