NCL Norwegian Star or Carnival Splendor in March?

[Roos7500]

My wife and I have only cruised on Royal Caribbean before, but we wanted to do the Mexican Riviera the end of March. We're trying to decide between Carnival Splendor and Norwegian Star. Looking for the positives and negatives from each before we decide.

[big green]

We have cruised on both ships to the Mexican Rivera--most recently the Splendor

 

Balcony cabins are equal in my opinion along with crew member service.

 

Carnival Splendor positives:

 

1. Better food in buffet and main dining rooms in my opinion--Carnival has anytime dining that is as good as freestyle dining.

2. good entertainment

3. better room service menu

4. 24 hour real pizza bar

3. many buffet speciality stations for indian, asian, and bistro food.

4. Cappuccino for free at all meals in Main Dining Rooms

5. two bottles of wine allowed on board for cabin consumption for no fee

6. very new ship

7. lots of at sea activities

 

Carnival Splendor negatives:

 

1. bad embarkation methods in Long Beach

2. bad debarkation methods in Long Beach

3. bad officer interaction and cruise director interaction with passengers

4. MDR closed for lunch when in port

5. No coffee pots in any cabins

7. no comparable suite perks to NCL

8. Carnival speciality steak house was inferior in menu and quality to Cagney's specialty steakhouse on NCL in my opinion.

 

 

NCL Star positives:

 

1. many choices for speciality restaurants---great sushi bar

2. excellent entertainment

3. excellent officer and cruise director interaction with passengers

4. coffee pots in balcony cabins

5. bigger balconies

6. excellent embarkation and debarkation in Los Angles Port

7. best suite perks available with butler and concierge service and vip boarding/debarkation ( if you book a suite)

 

NCL STAR Negatives:

1. no interior forward observation lounge--no aft outside observation area

2. buffet not very good in my opinion

3. no free cappuccino

4. MDR food lacking quality at times

5. older ship

6. must pay fee for brining on wine

7. poor room service menu in my opinion

 

Big Green

[CthyC]

My wife and I have only cruised on Royal Caribbean before, but we wanted to do the Mexican Riviera the end of March. We're trying to decide between Carnival Splendor and Norwegian Star. Looking for the positives and negatives from each before we decide.

 

I have been on both ships and LOVE the STAR. I liked the splendor but would prefer the STAR and love the solitude of the spa. I had a spa ocean view room on the splendor but it does not have the same feeling of the STAR.

[newmexicoNita]

We have cruised on both ships to the Mexican Rivera--most recently the Splendor

 

Balcony cabins are equal in my opinion along with crew member service.

 

Carnival Splendor positives:

 

1. Better food in buffet and main dining rooms in my opinion--Carnival has anytime dining that is as good as freestyle dining.

2. good entertainment

3. better room service menu

4. 24 hour real pizza bar

3. many buffet speciality stations for indian, asian, and bistro food.

4. Cappuccino for free at all meals in Main Dining Rooms

5. two bottles of wine allowed on board for cabin consumption for no fee

6. very new ship

7. lots of at sea activities

 

Carnival Splendor negatives:

 

1. bad embarkation methods in Long Beach

2. bad debarkation methods in Long Beach

3. bad officer interaction and cruise director interaction with passengers

4. MDR closed for lunch when in port

5. No coffee pots in any cabins

7. no comparable suite perks to NCL

8. Carnival speciality steak house was inferior in menu and quality to Cagney's specialty steakhouse on NCL in my opinion.

 

 

NCL Star positives:

 

1. many choices for speciality restaurants---great sushi bar

2. excellent entertainment

3. excellent officer and cruise director interaction with passengers

4. coffee pots in balcony cabins

5. bigger balconies

6. excellent embarkation and debarkation in Los Angles Port

7. best suite perks available with butler and concierge service and vip boarding/debarkation ( if you book a suite)

 

NCL STAR Negatives:

1. no interior forward observation lounge--no aft outside observation area

2. buffet not very good in my opinion

3. no free cappuccino

4. MDR food lacking quality at times

5. older ship

6. must pay fee for brining on wine

7. poor room service menu in my opinion

 

Big Green

 

Big Steve, were you able to bring wine on the Spender and how long ago was this? Reading the Carnival boards I was under the impression, as of not too long ago, no more any booze.

 

Nita

[CruzKnitr]

Big Steve, were you able to bring wine on the Spender and how long ago was this? Reading the Carnival boards I was under the impression, as of not too long ago, no more any booze.

 

Nita

 

You can bring 1 bottle of wine per person over 21 in your carryon luggage. They are cracking down on all other liquor.

[big green]

Big Steve, were you able to bring wine on the Spender and how long ago was this? Reading the Carnival boards I was under the impression, as of not too long ago, no more any booze.

 

Nita

 

From the carnival web site was able to bring it aboard in April:

 

"Wine or champagne/sealed, unopened bottles - beyond the allowable limit of one bottle per adult 21 years of age (brought on at embarkation time only) "

 

 

BG

[newmexicoNita]

You can bring 1 bottle of wine per person over 21 in your carryon luggage. They are cracking down on all other liquor.

 

Thanks good information. I knew one line was not allowing even wine, I guess that is RCI.

thanks to you too, Big Green.

 

I love NCL but I do wish they would relax and allow us just a bottle or two for our cabins. I don't care about the rest. I completely understand the reasoning.

 

Nita