NCL vs RCI

[jmele999]

We need your help deciding between two different itineraries on two different cruise lines during the same week.

We were initially booked on the Norwegian Star from Tampa to the Western Caribbean (Roatan, Belize City, Costa Maya and Cozumel) in January 2012. We were initially attracted to this cruise because of the new and cheap family suites (there is only two of us, but we enjoy the big room). Since booking with NCL using a cruise reward credit, I have also booked another cruise with RCI during the same week on Adventures of the seas from San Juan to the Southern Caribbean (St. Thomas, St. Kitts, Aruba and Curcacao).

We are now trying to decide between the two cruises. NCL will be cheaper by about $300 total for the two of us (including airfare) – We are booked on a balcony room for both cruises. However, we have never been to the southern Caribbean. We enjoy the NCL freestyle concept but also enjoy meeting and having dinner with others. Adventure of the seas is a bigger ship with more amenities, but we also enjoy the drink special on NCL (2-4-1 on most nights)

Please help us. We would appreciate any help with information about the ports.

Here are the schedule for the two cruises.

 

NCL

Day

Port

Arrive

Depart

1/22/2012Tampa, Florida4:00 PM1/23/2012At Sea1/24/2012Roatan, Bay Islands, Honduras1/24/2012Roatan, Bay Islands, Honduras5:00 PM1/25/2012Belize City, Belize1/25/2012Belize City, Belize5:00 PM1/26/2012Costa Maya, Mexico1/26/2012Costa Maya, Mexico5:00 PM1/27/2012Cozumel, Mexico1/27/2012Cozumel, Mexico6:00 PM1/28/2012At Sea1/29/2012Tampa, Florida

 

RCI

1/22/2012San Juan, Puerto Rico8:30 PM1/23/2012Saint Thomas, US Virgin Islands8:00 AM5:00 PM1/24/2012Saint Kitts and Nevis (Basse Terre)8:00 AM5:00 PM1/25/2012Cruising1/26/2012Oranjestad, Aruba, Netherlands Antilles8:00 AM8:00 PM1/27/2012Willemstad, Curacao, Netherlands Antilles7:00 AM6:00 PM1/28/2012Cruising1/29/2012San Juan, Puerto Rico6:00 AM

[dwjoe]

I pretty much concur with your assessment - freestyle vs larger ship.

 

Something to consider for that time of year (January) is that the risk of bad weather for Southern Caribbean is lower than Western Caribbean.

[my_crib_too]

RCI looks like a better vacation, especially if you believe they offer a superior ship experience. I've been on a Western Caribbean cruise. Nothing extra special about that.

[stevea36]

We need your help deciding between two different itineraries on two different cruise lines during the same week.

We were initially booked on the Norwegian Star from Tampa to the Western Caribbean (Roatan, Belize City, Costa Maya and Cozumel) in January 2012. We were initially attracted to this cruise because of the new and cheap family suites (there is only two of us, but we enjoy the big room). Since booking with NCL using a cruise reward credit, I have also booked another cruise with RCI during the same week on Adventures of the seas from San Juan to the Southern Caribbean (St. Thomas, St. Kitts, Aruba and Curcacao).

We are now trying to decide between the two cruises. NCL will be cheaper by about $300 total for the two of us (including airfare) – We are booked on a balcony room for both cruises. However, we have never been to the southern Caribbean. We enjoy the NCL freestyle concept but also enjoy meeting and having dinner with others. Adventure of the seas is a bigger ship with more amenities, but we also enjoy the drink special on NCL (2-4-1 on most nights)

Please help us. We would appreciate any help with information about the ports.

Here are the schedule for the two cruises.

 

 

NCL

Day

 

 

Port

 

 

Arrive

 

 

Depart

1/22/2012Tampa, Florida4:00 PM1/23/2012At Sea1/24/2012Roatan, Bay Islands, Honduras1/24/2012Roatan, Bay Islands, Honduras5:00 PM1/25/2012Belize City, Belize1/25/2012Belize City, Belize5:00 PM1/26/2012Costa Maya, Mexico1/26/2012Costa Maya, Mexico5:00 PM1/27/2012Cozumel, Mexico1/27/2012Cozumel, Mexico6:00 PM1/28/2012At Sea1/29/2012Tampa, Florida

 

RCI

1/22/2012San Juan, Puerto Rico8:30 PM1/23/2012Saint Thomas, US Virgin Islands8:00 AM5:00 PM1/24/2012Saint Kitts and Nevis (Basse Terre)8:00 AM5:00 PM1/25/2012Cruising1/26/2012Oranjestad, Aruba, Netherlands Antilles8:00 AM8:00 PM1/27/2012Willemstad, Curacao, Netherlands Antilles7:00 AM6:00 PM1/28/2012Cruising1/29/2012San Juan, Puerto Rico6:00 AM

 

I haven't cruised on NCL yet (going on the Pearl, western caribbean,similar itinery to yours (Roatan, Belize, Costa Maya, Key West) at the end of Jan), but have taken a similar itinery on AOS (Aruba, Curacao, Dominica,St Thomas), We really enjoyed the cruise on Adventure. Its a larger ship, but you'd never know it. The only time that we experienced crowds was if we wanted to go to the parade on the ship, but otherwise you rarely were aware of the number of people on board.

 

And.... San Juan is a great place to cruise from. If you haven't been there before I would suggest that you take a couple of extra days, either before or after the cruise, and explore.... Old San Juan, the rainforest, the forts, etc.

 

Hope this helps,

 

Steve