Weekend Cruises out of NY, have some questions

[CruiseAdict218]

Are these a good way to have a first cruise with NCL, we never sailed with them before. I've read mixed reviews but I wanna get some opinions from those who do it often or maybe once. And if you don't mind sharing how cheap can these cruises get?

[LoraJ]

We did a one night cruise to nowhere on the Gem last month and really enjoyed it. It gave us an idea of what NCL is about and I felt confident enough to sail with them again in the future and booked a cruise for next year with them. However, I do wonder if the staff is extra nice knowing that there would be people like us on board checking them out since the reviews for the cruises before and after ours had mixed opinions on the staff when I thought they were the friendliest and most helpful of any ship that I have been on.

 

It also gave us a good idea of what their freestyle cruising is about. The other cruise lines have any time dining, however that is different than what NCL provides. Like on Princess you have the traditional dining room, the any time dining rooms and one or two specialty restaurants with an up charge. On NCL, there are a lot more restaurants, some with up charges, some without and you pick and choose which to go to. I actually like this concept over the traditional way because you get to choose the type of food you want.

 

When we did the CTN, it was not very expensive because it was winter and cold. I see they have one in May and it is about twice as much. It was worth every penny. I had a really good time and would do it again.

[peg013]

As long as you realize that most venues will be busier than usual because everyone wants to experience as much as they can in less than one day. (You board around noon and disembark around 10am the next morning.) I was also on the CTN in Feb. We had a blast and probably went to bed around 2:30 or 3 am. Needless to say, I wouldn't make it that late 7 nights in a row. But you can definately check out the ship, the entertainment and the food and see what you think. Two spectacular sights we never miss no matter how many times we have sailed from NYC is passing the Statue of Liberty and sailing under the Veranzano Bridge.:)

[DMH15]

A few years ago I did a 2 nighter on the Dawn out of NYC.

 

Yeah, I would prefer a longer cruise, for the relaxation factor, but I enjoyed the cruise very much. The casino was crowded and smoky and table minimums were high. Yeah, the spa filled up fast (I got in my mom didn't). Yeah, the specialty restaurants were booked fast.

 

But... still got that tingly feeling at sailaway... and sailing past Lady Liberty is awesome.

[smeyer418]

Are these a good way to have a first cruise with NCL, we never sailed with them before. I've read mixed reviews but I wanna get some opinions from those who do it often or maybe once. And if you don't mind sharing how cheap can these cruises get?

 

I've done three one day cruises. People try to cram a weeks cruise into a weekend so most of the venues are very crowded.

 

How cheaply can you get them? not as cheaply as they used to be. I paid for 4 people under $250 a long time ago($49 per person plus port charges for the first two and the last 2 port charges only)...I doubt that you would ever see that again.

[CruiseAdict218]

Thanks we probably wouldn't do a 1-Day but I had interested in the 2-Days on the Star & Pearl hopefully they won't sell out by the summer

[Partyatsea]

We've also done 3 CTNs, had a great time on each and would do it again in a heartbeat BUT the prices seem to have sky rocketed and I don't think they are worth the money NCL is now getting for them. The May 1 night CTN out of NY is $319 pp for a balcony gty and NY taxes and port fees are very high. Add in $30 parking, $24 DSC, 4 or 5 cocktails each and your now talking a lot of money for less than 24hrs. For that kind of money we would rather put it towards our 7 day cruise.

 

Are they fun tho? Definitely!

 

Cat. BX for 2 people May 7th 1 night CTN is currently $812.44 with taxes and fees. We have an aft balcony for June 2, 2012 on the 7 day Gem for $907 pp before taxes and port fees.

[Cubechick]

I enjoyed the one two-nighter I went on. As stated, anything you'd make reservations for books up fast. But I enjoyed that one sea day and that made it feel more like a "real" cruise.

 

As far as price goes...well they've gotten more expensive. I didn't book one last year because the price never came down...I'm watching one out of Boston in October, but at over $300 pp (which is double what we paid last time), I don't think we'll end up booking that one either.

[fridaythe13th]

We did two of them and to be honest after the first one I said I'd never do another one. I gave it a second chance and then remembered just how much I didn't like the first one. Everywhere was crowded and it was just too much of a party atmosphere for me. I would never do it to make a decision on a cruiseline as it's just not the same. Go with open mind and hopefully you will love it. It just wasn't for me.