11-Time Carnival Cruiser Sails NCL--A Comparison Review!

[Tom-n-Cheryl]

Muster Drill:)

 

...While I have heard that Carnival takes attendance also, I have never seen it, nor has anyone ever asked our cabin number when we arrived at our muster station.

...

 

Celebrity takes roll as well. Thus I am led to believe that Carnival does not take it as seriously as they seem to act - which is one reason why we have SKIPPED it on Carnival several times. I have also not seen any attendance taken in almost 50 Carnival sailings. Now, before someone comes on here and tries to read me the riot act about skipping the drill - get a life! ;)

 

Our worst muster drill experience was on a Fantasy class ship (can't recall which one) where a large group of people met in one of the aft lounges. We were all told to have our vests on for the duration of our wait time (which was considerable). When I put mine on there was an extremely foul (like vomit) smell on my vest. I started to take it off when I was singled out and told to put it back on - I pointed out the problem I was having and asked for another vest, NO LUCK. They basically shamed me into putting it back on. In retrospect, prior to that drill - we had never missed one... :rolleyes:

 

Tom

[Tom-n-Cheryl]

..It was a nice relaxing day, sipping Coronas and reading my book.

 

That sounds a lot like many of our sea days!:D Glad you had a good time!!

 

Tom

[Tropicalgurl]

Thanks so much for letting me know! Now, I'll definitely have to consider it.

 

The beds on the Epic are wonderful...One of the best cruises I have taken. I love everything about the ship.. I was in the solo cabin... did not feel like I was in an inside room at all... I was tired of the same old shows and believe it or not.. thought I would not like the anytime dining... (cruise with them back in the 80's) but luv it... luv it... luv it.. I am platinum on Carnival and will be going on the Valor next month.. I have not been on Carnival in the last couple of years, due to going on NCL and would have been on NCL if the prices had been better. I think Carnival will have to kick it up a notch.. Love the 24 hours restuarants they have.

Also the OP talked about the showers... NCL have real doors... sorry but I love that instead of those nagging moving shower curtains.... but I will still enjoy my cruise on Carnival in spite of the difference I have enjoyed on NCL.

[JaniceB]

I have found that if you use the cruise ship towels you may be asked to leave a beach area but if you pack and bring your own towels you are usually not bothered.

 

Thanks for the review, I am really enjoying it!

[alreadypacked]

I have found that if you use the cruise ship towels you may be asked to leave a beach area but if you pack and bring your own towels you are usually not bothered.

 

Thanks for the review, I am really enjoying it!

 

That is a good point. The lifeguards seemed to have built-in radar for ship towels. I don't know if I feel like lugging my own towels though, but still something to think about. $20 was a bit steep considering that the weather turned on us. Had we been there the entire day, it would have been more worth it.

[oncruisecontrol]

Our worst bedding experience (in a suite on Celebrity Century) - this picture speaks for itself: :eek:

 

 

... and guess which side I normally sleep on!!

 

Tom

 

Wow! I am wondering if you complained to Guest Services about this bed and if they did anything about it? On a separate note, I have a friend who just boarded Century today. She's a first-time cruiser and extremely nervous. I hope everything goes well for them.

[Tom-n-Cheryl]

Wow! I am wondering if you complained to Guest Services about this bed and if they did anything about it? On a separate note, I have a friend who just boarded Century today. She's a first-time cruiser and extremely nervous. I hope everything goes well for them.

 

Nope - I did not bring it to their attention, though I probably should have.

 

The Century is nice older ship, they will likely have a GREAT time. I hope they give Murano a try (great atmosphere and food)!

 

Tom

[oncruisecontrol]

 

The Century is nice older ship, they will likely have a GREAT time. I hope they give Murano a try (great atmosphere and food)!

 

Tom

 

I'm sure they will as they "won" this cruise (all expenses paid) thru her boyfriend's job for being a top producer.

[Tom-n-Cheryl]

I'm sure they will as they "won" this cruise (all expenses paid) thru her boyfriend's job for being a top producer.

 

NICE !

 

Tom

[DGP1111]

Embarkation:)

 

We arrived at POM just before 11am to absolutely no line at security, so we breezed right through. There was no line at the check-in counter and within minutes we were checked in and given Zone Number 4. After a short wait in the terminal, we boarded the Sky around 11:50am.

As NCL first-timers, we were impressed that embarkation was just about as easy as Carnival VIP boarding!

 

:D Ain't that the truth!!! ..It was basically equal to recent CCL Milestone embarkations, and better than some.

 

I was on the same recent Norwegian EPIC cruise as Tom-n-Cheryl. I arrived at Port of Miami fully aware that since it was my first-ever sailing on NCL, I would be boarding as the lowest common denominator passenger. I put on my best pair of 'patience pants' and reminded myself it might take a while.

 

Security was quick-n-easy, and then I was in the queue for official check-in. There were two couples in front of me, and everything moved quickly. Every single embarkation staff member I encountered made eye contact and said Hello (just like the entire onboard crew for the duration of the sailing, with one small exception).

 

Then to a brief sitting area (purgatory) for about five minutes.

 

No waiting for the boarding picture offering the face recognition.

"Cheese" <click>

 

Amazingly fast, and organized, process.

 

On the NCL post-cruise survey*, I gave Embarkation the highest marks possible. :)

 

[ * note: for several of my 2010 CCL sailings, I would have also given high makes for embarkation process, but that line barely recognizes my existence, and I never received post-cruise surveys ]

[alreadypacked]

:D Ain't that the truth!!! ..It was basically equal to recent CCL Milestone embarkations, and better than some.

 

I was on the same recent Norwegian EPIC cruise as Tom-n-Cheryl. I arrived at Port of Miami fully aware that since it was my first-ever sailing on NCL, I would be boarding as the lowest common denominator passenger. I put on my best pair of 'patience pants' and reminded myself it might take a while.

 

Security was quick-n-easy, and then I was in the queue for official check-in. There were two couples in front of me, and everything moved quickly. Every single embarkation staff member I encountered made eye contact and said Hello (just like the entire onboard crew for the duration of the sailing, with one small exception).

 

Then to a brief sitting area (purgatory) for about five minutes.

 

No waiting for the boarding picture offering the face recognition.

"Cheese" <click>

 

Amazingly fast, and organized, process.

 

On the NCL post-cruise survey*, I gave Embarkation the highest marks possible. :)

 

[ * note: for several of my 2010 CCL sailings, I would have also given high makes for embarkation process, but that line barely recognizes my existence, and I never received post-cruise surveys ]

 

 

Strangely enough, I am Platinum on CCL and I don't get the post cruise surveys either. DH gets them, and he's only sailed CCL 3 times. I wonder what's up with that.:confused:

[oncruisecontrol]

Strangely enough, I am Platinum on CCL and I don't get the post cruise surveys either. DH gets them, and he's only sailed CCL 3 times. I wonder what's up with that.:confused:

 

I wonder if there is a way to download the survey from Carnival's website.....anyone know if there is a way to do this?

[Tom-n-Cheryl]

I wonder if there is a way to download the survey from Carnival's website.....anyone know if there is a way to do this?

 

The last I heard on that was a "nope"...

 

Tom

[alreadypacked]

Debarkation:)

 

Debarkation was a breeze. We have done the self-assist debarkation on Carnival and were off the ship and in our car by 8:30am. With the Sky’s Easy Walk Off, you line up on deck 6 outside by the gangway; when debarkation began, we dinged our room cards one last time and were off the ship. There was no line at customs, and we were back to our car by 7:30am! We give the highest marks to NCL for their debarkation!

 

Would we sail NCL again?

 

We had a wonderful time on this cruise; it was really nice to try a new line and experience something other than same old, same old. Would we sail NCL again? Absolutely, but definitely in a different cabin category!

[paper1122]

Do you have a picture of your stateroom?

I've been tempted by the NCL deals both out of Tampa and PC but decided to stick with Carnival for my next cruise.

[alreadypacked]

Do you have a picture of your stateroom?

I've been tempted by the NCL deals both out of Tampa and PC but decided to stick with Carnival for my next cruise.

 

I have pictures of our room and tried to upload them as thumbnail attachments, but the upload failed because the pictures are too big. I need to resize them, and I don't know how to do that. I have posted photos on cruisecritic before, but I have a new camera now, and I guess the photo sizing is different, because I can't post any photos that I have taken with my new camera.:(

[Chigirlcruzin]

:D Ain't that the truth!!! ..It was basically equal to recent CCL Milestone embarkations, and better than some.

 

I was on the same recent Norwegian EPIC cruise as Tom-n-Cheryl. I arrived at Port of Miami fully aware that since it was my first-ever sailing on NCL, I would be boarding as the lowest common denominator passenger. I put on my best pair of 'patience pants' and reminded myself it might take a while.

 

Security was quick-n-easy, and then I was in the queue for official check-in. There were two couples in front of me, and everything moved quickly. Every single embarkation staff member I encountered made eye contact and said Hello (just like the entire onboard crew for the duration of the sailing, with one small exception).

 

Then to a brief sitting area (purgatory) for about five minutes.

 

No waiting for the boarding picture offering the face recognition.

"Cheese" <click>

 

Amazingly fast, and organized, process.

 

On the NCL post-cruise survey*, I gave Embarkation the highest marks possible. :)

 

[ * note: for several of my 2010 CCL sailings, I would have also given high makes for embarkation process, but that line barely recognizes my existence, and I never received post-cruise surveys ]

 

What time do you recommend arriving at the port? It's my turn on the Epic on 4/9!

[paper1122]

I have pictures of our room and tried to upload them as thumbnail attachments, but the upload failed because the pictures are too big. I need to resize them, and I don't know how to do that. I have posted photos on cruisecritic before, but I have a new camera now, and I guess the photo sizing is different, because I can't post any photos that I have taken with my new camera.:(

 

You can upload the pics to somewhere like webshots, they'll automatically resize the photos and then provide you with the source code you need to post them here, it is so easy even I can do it! :D

[Tropicalgurl]

What time do you recommend arriving at the port? It's my turn on the Epic on 4/9!

 

 

Hey chigirlcruzin...

 

Wish I was going on the Epic... I luv that ship... What type of cabin r you in? Can you believe I was on the ship in November and I can not remember what time I boarded ??... I know I checked out of the hotel around 11:00 and took the rental car back and I think it was maybe before 1:00 ish??? when I got on the ship??? The room was not ready and the 1st thing I did was head up to the spa to get a week pass.

[MMastell]

One must keep in mind that the Sky is one of their older ships - actually built for Hawaii (obvious in the decor of some parts of the ship), and without a casino... until they added one in a later dry dock (and it does feel "added"). This ship is on par (age/size wise) with Fantasy class ships.

 

 

The Sky was not one of the ships that was "built" for Hawaii. The unfinished hull was purchased from Costa and is "technically" the sister ship of the Costa Victoria. It was in service for four years as a regular NCL ship with Alaska and Caribbean cruises until it was moved to Hawaii as Pride of Aloha in 2004. This was done because of damage sustained to the hull of Pride of America while it was being finished at Lloyd Werft shipyard.

 

The Sky's "retrofit" in 2004 was done hastily (2 months) and there were a number of problems. At that time the casino was removed and the ship redecorated to allow it to cruise the Hawaiian Islands until 2008 when it was pulled from Hawaii and relocated to cruise the Bahamas.

 

The two ships that were specifically built for Hawaii are: The Pride of America and Pride of Hawaii (Now the Norwegian Jade).

 

The Sky has a very interesting history from when it ran aground in 2000 on the St. Lawrence Seaway to it's many renditions and renovations. I will say that the inside cabins on the Sky are some of the tiniest I've seen.

 

I will always have a soft spot for the Norwegian Sky since it was the cruise I did, in 2000, with my brother and his wife who are now gone.

 

Take care,

Mike

[Tom-n-Cheryl]

The Sky was not one of the ships that was "built" for Hawaii. The unfinished hull was purchased from Costa and is "technically" the sister ship of the Costa Victoria. It was in service for four years as a regular NCL ship with Alaska and Caribbean cruises until it was moved to Hawaii as Pride of Aloha in 2004. This was done because of damage sustained to the hull of Pride of America while it was being finished at Lloyd Werft shipyard.

 

The Sky's "retrofit" in 2004 was done hastily (2 months) and there were a number of problems. At that time the casino was removed and the ship redecorated to allow it to cruise the Hawaiian Islands until 2008 when it was pulled from Hawaii and relocated to cruise the Bahamas.

 

The two ships that were specifically built for Hawaii are: The Pride of America and Pride of Hawaii (Now the Norwegian Jade).

 

The Sky has a very interesting history from when it ran aground in 2000 on the St. Lawrence Seaway to it's many renditions and renovations. I will say that the inside cabins on the Sky are some of the tiniest I've seen.

 

I will always have a soft spot for the Norwegian Sky since it was the cruise I did, in 2000, with my brother and his wife who are now gone.

 

Take care,

Mike

 

Thanks for the clarification - it never ceases to amaze me how much information we can gather on here. My previous "summary" of the Sky was from reading other posts. Going forward I appreciate having more factual information!

 

Tom

[toyotaford]

We are platinum CCL members and will always enjoy a Carnival cruise but we have gotten spoiled to the perks that come with the NCL suites. I wish Carnival offered the same program. Our last three cruises have been with NCL and we are scheduled for another one in September.

[HappyHappy1]

We (my two sons and I) were on the NCL Pearl and had an outside stateroom that was extremely small. We usually travel in an outside or balcony stateroom on Carnival, but thought we would try NCL. The cruise cost us about 30% more than Carnival...In my opinion...it wasn't worth the extra money.

 

The Main Dining room staff wass not as attentive as on Carnival and I found the food to be not as good either. Some of the choices seemed a bit odd. We did enjoy the Mambo's Tex-Mex restaurant ($10 pp) and the Teppenyaki ($25 pp) were very good. The Italian place was only visited once. Would not return. When I ordered Tomato, Basil, and Mozzarella as an appetizer, I expected fresh tomatos, fresh buffalo mozz., and fresh basil. Instead I got thick lunchmeat style mozzarella that was hard, small pieces of diced tomatos, and dried basil flakes. What??? Not right. Not good. The Blue Lagoon (24/7 restuarant) has the best buffalo wings we have had. We ate there frequently for lunch. We were not fans of the buffet either. The selections were not great. On sea days we did enjoy the BBQ out on the Lido deck. Two huge charcoal grills with chicken, hamburgers, and hot dogs. Lunches were good on this ship (Blue Lagoon & BBQ) and a few of the pay restaurants were good. But I don't feel like I should have to go to a pay restaurant to get a good dinner. Its nice to have the option of the pay restaurants...but it felt more like a necessity for us.

 

 

On Carnival we usually have two twin beds and a convertible sofa. Here is a picture of our outside stateroom. I was standing in front of the door when I took this picture. No seating area and the closets are too small.

 

 

The Lido Deck/Pool area was way too crowded. :mad: All of the activity packed into one small space. The adult only pool and kid pool were only seperated by the gazebo where the band played. When they had and Adult Volleyball tournament (90 minutes long from 2pm-3:30pm on a sea day), they held it in the kids pool. They closed down the waterslide (which is extremely slow and nothing like carnivals). The kids were not allowed in the adult pool. There were kids running all over with nothing to do and no place to swim. Since my sons are older, they went to the sports court to play soccer, but the little kids had nothing to do. Poor planning on the part of the CD.

 

Bowling at sea was very interesting. Think Drunk Bowling.:p You never know where the ball is going to go. We bowled 3 or 4 times and laughed so hard. How could you not. My older son is a pretty decent bowler with a 160+ average. He had trouble breaking a hundred (I think he did once). We only had to wait to bowl once (it was thunderstorming outside). Cost was $5 per person per game.

 

All in all...We had a good time on our cruise. We traveled with friends...which made for a great time in itself. But our Carnival Cruises were definately more to our liking. More activities, more spacious Lido Deck, better food, better shows. I feel like I cheated on Carnival. I'll be heading back to CCL for our cruise on the Carnival Freedom this fall.

 

Just my two cents worth.

 

Happy Happy.