NCL - Downhill ?

[carolknj]

The last time we went on an NCL Cruise was in 2007 and we had a great time. We heard that NCL has gone downhill. Is this ture?

We heard that they nickel and dime you for everything and they took away the coin laundry and they constantly nag you to buy this or that.

 

Is this any different from other cruise lines?

[terrymtex01]

The last time we went on an NCL Cruise was in 2007 and we had a great time. We heard that NCL has gone downhill. Is this ture?

 

We heard that they nickel and dime you for everything and they took away the coin laundry and they constantly nag you to buy this or that.

 

Is this any different from other cruise lines?

 

Yes.. NCL IS HORRIBLE and if I were you I would book with other lines.. I would suggest anyone who reads this thread to book with other lines.. That way the fares will go down and down.. LOL. Just kidding.

 

We have sailed with NCL since 2006 and while we have seen changes and a few things discontinued here and there, I can't say the line has gone downhill, but rather responded to the current economy in a way to survive it and still provide a good product for it's pax. There are a few things we miss, but we still get the great service and amazing cruises. I do have to say that the casinos have become the tightest we have ever experienced and the perks for playing in the casino do not seem to be as freely given as they once were.. but.. it's still the best at sea.

[willysgrandma]

My understanding is there are no coin operated laundries on NCL.

 

There is no more nickle and diming on NCL than any other cruise line.

 

As far as going downhill - NCL has never been known to have the best food or service but their food and service is fine for me - I don't need to be overly pampered and there will always be something to eat. I had worse experiences on a Celebrity shop than I ever had on NCL.

[LivingLifetotheFullest]

Never have and never will sail anything but NCL - love the freestyle!!!

[che5904]

I've only cruised with NCL since 2009 so I can't speak for any changes they have made. But I certainly didn't feel like they were nickel and diming me, or pushing to me buy anything.

 

Thoroughly enjoyed both cruises I went on.

[C Cruise Dude]

The last time we went on an NCL Cruise was in 2007 and we had a great time. We heard that NCL has gone downhill. Is this ture?

 

We heard that they nickel and dime you for everything and they took away the coin laundry and they constantly nag you to buy this or that.

 

Is this any different from other cruise lines?

 

OP, you use the term, "nickel and dime" in your post, someone used this the other day in a Carnival post. What, specifically, does that mean? It is a broad term that can have different meaning to different people. Thank you. Another reason that I ask this, you can purchase your cruise, pay your auto tips and that I can think, not have to spend one additional penny on the ship. :confused:

[quercus alba]

So the chief sign that the line is "going downhill" is the lack of a laundromat on board???? :confused:

:rolleyes:

[Hobbsey]

My last NCL cruise may be my last ever. It was in 2009 on Star to Mexico. It is such a beautiful ship in my opinion and they cheapen it. I love the spa, luckily, since we stayed in there most of the week to escape the noise and announcements. This ship might have one of the most beautiful lobbies and atrium of any and yet who can enjoy it with all the tables set up to sell, sell, sell. They even staged Karioke in the atrium every night which just caused traffic jams galore.

 

I'm all for free style, and I loved the choices and the venues but I hated the mis use of what should have been restful space for hawking of wares.

 

Back to HAL for me.

[che5904]

So the chief sign that the line is "going downhill" is the lack of a laundromat on board???? :confused:

:rolleyes:

 

:D Doesn't bother me much, I don't like to do laundry at home, I'm certain I wouldn't be doing it on vacation. Vacation to me: no cooking, no cleaning, no dishes, no laundry and all included, gotta love it. Sorry didn't mean they included laundry.

[WinterSky]

We love NCL and are unlikely to ever cruise with another line. Just like everything else, we expect things with NCL to change from time to time. Nothing in this economy is static.

 

Just like every other product out there, there are a variety of options in cruising and each meets the needs of a different set of clientele. For us, its NCL all the way! Perfect fit!

[BadKitteh]

People find really weird stuff to complain about!

[HPINE1]

I just did a cruise last month in march. I loved the Pearl. I have tried other cruiselines. I just like NCL better. As far as nickle and dimeing (sp) i just don't let it get to me. Instead i enjoy the cruise.

[Bobbye]

The last time we went on an NCL Cruise was in 2007 and we had a great time. We heard that NCL has gone downhill. Is this ture?

We heard that they nickel and dime you for everything and they took away the coin laundry and they constantly nag you to buy this or that.

 

Is this any different from other cruise lines?

 

Unless you go to the higher priced lines you'll find this on all lines. We were just on the Allure of the Seas last month (Royal Caribbean) and they do the same things and have no coin laundry.

[swedish weave]

My last NCL cruise may be my last ever. It was in 2009 on Star to Mexico. It is such a beautiful ship in my opinion and they cheapen it. I love the spa, luckily, since we stayed in there most of the week to escape the noise and announcements. This ship might have one of the most beautiful lobbies and atrium of any and yet who can enjoy it with all the tables set up to sell, sell, sell. They even staged Karioke in the atrium every night which just caused traffic jams galore.

 

I'm all for free style, and I loved the choices and the venues but I hated the mis use of what should have been restful space for hawking of wares.

 

Back to HAL for me.

 

Your post interests me.

 

If the majority of the guests did not like the sales and karioke, there would not be a traffic problem. Also, the noise and announcements do not go into your cabin unless you want them to, so that is a refuge from the occasional announcements.

 

Perhaps the more sedate HAL would be a better choice for you, but for me NCL is my first choice. I LOVE it !!!!

[halos]

The last time we went on an NCL Cruise was in 2007 and we had a great time. We heard that NCL has gone downhill. Is this ture?

 

We heard that they nickel and dime you for everything and they took away the coin laundry and they constantly nag you to buy this or that.

 

Is this any different from other cruise lines?

 

My first NCL cruise was in 2007 as well...and every NCL cruise I have taken since then, has been better than the one before.

Just my opinion based on my experience. ymmv :)

[Educators2]

We've been on RCL (Explorer) and NCL (Jewel) this year. Both have had cutbacks but the entry price for cruising now is much lower than 12 years ago when we took our first cruise. Service on all lines (we've also been on HAL, Celebrity and Princess) has always been very good to excellent. I really don't know what all the food complainers eat at home but I love to cook and have no complaints with NCL buffets. We like the specialty restaurants and don't mind paying. If you add up the price of extra dinners (for two--a family would be very expensive) it's still much less than cruising years ago. Freestyle and no formal nights are big positives for us. I do like to wear nice casual clothes but don't care to bring gowns along for the trip.

Susan

[Got2Cruise]

Yes, soon some will be complaining that there is no hotplate for cooking.;):p:D

So the chief sign that the line is "going downhill" is the lack of a laundromat on board???? :confused:

:rolleyes:

[NeilD]

Cruised the Dawn in February and loved it....Just booked the Epic for next February. Freestyle is great for us and I am just happy to sit at the pool bar and watch the world go by. Got hooked on the 'suite life' though. Can't wait to explore the Epic.

[housepeepers]

My first NCL cruise was in 2007 as well...and every NCL cruise I have taken since then, has been better than the one before.

Just my opinion based on my experience. ymmv :)

 

 

I agree. Our first cruise was 2006 on NCL and each and every cruise has been better than the last. The food has improved 1000% and the service is better and better.Just like us ...they are not getting older, they are getting better. The Epic was superlative, so much so that we immediately booked the Epic again for next year.

[2Cruise4Ever]

The last time we went on an NCL Cruise was in 2007 and we had a great time. We heard that NCL has gone downhill. Is this ture?

 

We heard that they nickel and dime you for everything and they took away the coin laundry and they constantly nag you to buy this or that.

 

Is this any different from other cruise lines?

 

We have sailed NCL 9 times (10th in 2 months)...and other lines a few times. We haven't found the nickel-and-diming to be any more or less than other lines.... definitely NOT downhill!!! In fact, we feel NCL has gone uphill... offering more for the money than some of the other lines... you'll have a GREAT time!

[nbsjcruiser]

We are hearing this on every line. Just read the RCI or Carnival board and you'll hear the same thing. My experience with Carnival is that they are indeed going downhill. The food is not as good as it used to be that much I can attest to first hand. As far as nickel and diming goes, they all do it. You can always say no.

[Azure Moon]

Downhill? No way!

 

While I do miss the self-serve laundries (yes, I know, I'm weird :p) and do miss the self-serve cappuccino machine in the buffet, I learned to survive without both in the two - three cruises where they weren't available :D.

 

The selling of things - Bingo, t-shirts, watches, etc. doesn't bother me as I usually tune out most of the announcements, immediately throw out the shopping papers left in the cabin by the steward, and don't spend much time in the on board shops. I do agree that the atrium area gets too congested with the tables in there so we try to use desk services at other times. And we take a deep breath and go for it, weaving our way through the throngs of people or use a different route to get from one area to another.

 

I love the pay restaurants and special brunches! While we dine mostly at the main dining rooms and buffets, we still enjoy selecting a couple of specialty meals per cruise. The buffets are excellent in my book! I know many people don't like eating at them, but NCL's buffets attract me to booking a cruise with them. The food selection is very good and it's not greasy, which is a huge plus over another cruise line I've sailed on.

 

Though I did prefer the production numbers more on the other cruise line I've sailed on, the rest of the entertainment on NCL blows me away! I love, love, love the number of entertainers, the quality of the entertainers, and the amount of entertainment during each day. While my hubby's not sure he'd like to do more than 2 sea days on a vacation, I'm coming to believe I could if it's on NCL - because of their entertainment.

 

So no, I don't think NCL's going downhill :):cool:.

[vols_159]

I didnt feel nickel and dimmed last month.. Like one poster already stated after the orginal sale price and your auto tips You choose to spend the rest of your bill.. Want Alchol you will pay for it.. Want soda thats a charge.. If you are ok with drinking water tea juices coffee than those are free.. Or u can bring your own soda.. I choose to eat at the Brazilain steakhouse 2x was the best 20$ i spent on a meal was amazing. But i choose to eat there they had 2 mdrs 2 buffets and a sports bar which was free.. I just wanted the brizlian steakhouse.. I also to go on shore excurison did i have to no.. But i wanted to it was a fare price of 50$ I will continue to book with NCL if they have the cheaper price and for the cruise i wanna book.. We love NCL have had a great time on both cruises we have been on! I love the freestlye and the all inclusive.. Seems to me a cruise i cheaper than let say a week at disney world or myrtle beach..

[Azure Moon]

We are hearing this on every line. Just read the RCI or Carnival board and you'll hear the same thing. My experience with Carnival is that they are indeed going downhill. The food is not as good as it used to be that much I can attest to first hand. As far as nickel and diming goes, they all do it. You can always say no.

 

I agree with you on Carnival. I was getting disappointed with their lack of live music performances and the number of entertainers. I also disliked that one of the live entertainment venues was/is a smoking area (the piano bar).

 

NCL is definitely better in the entertainment area with their number, quality, and amount of music and activities...and the inclusion of more passengers being able to participate due to the cleaner air inside the ships. :cool:

[TakinAChance]

I just got off NCL Star on Saturday and had the worst cruise experience I have ever had. It doesn't even compare to RCI and the food and service were horrible (food almost inedible).

 

NCL is the Dollar Tree of cruise lines.