Princess cruiser trying NCL

[DeRon]

Okay guys. I'm trying NCL. Taking the NCL Gem out of NYC to Bermuda. And yes, nervous. Ha!!

 

We've read so many iffy reviews on food, etc. But now I will be able to report 1st-hand.

[PatriciaF]

We did the cruise around Hawaii a few years ago on NCL as it is really your only choice these days. We thought the food was acceptable. The cabin good. The itinerary wonderful. But--this was during their "do it your way" campaign. People were in the dining room on "formal" night in clothes I wouldn't wear dog walking--and that is a very low standard. People on this board complain about men on formal night without a tie--what about stretchy bike pants and oversized t shirts on people 250 pounds plus--man and woman?!?

 

But--look at it this way--you are on vacation going to a beautiful destination.

[Sunny AZ Girl]

Have fun! Any vacation is what you make of it, land or sea. We also did the Hawaii island cruise on NCL. We just did it this last May and it was wonderful. I must say that NCL really takes note of Cruise Critic and takes it's comments seriously. We had a Roll Call Meet & Greet on embarkment day and every top officer, including the captain was present. They asked us to come back and report our reviews of the ship in person on the last day of the cruise. Many of us attended. Even though that ship had iffy reviews in the past the reviews have improved tremendously in the last couple of years. The Captain attributed that in a large part to CC and the feedback coming from all of us. They provided a nice room for us to use as long as we like and a nice spread of cookies, finger sandwiches and non-alcoholic beverages in addition to a bar tender. That really impressed me. Princess barely even gives us a couple decanters of peanuts. On one cruise they told us we had to leave the room after 45 minutes so they could set up for a wedding.

 

Our NCL cruise had some of the best service we have experienced in a long time. The food was good and we did not eat in the specialty restaurants. I would rate the dining room as average cruise fare and the buffet as above average. We did not experience people dressing poorly on what is now "Dress Up or Not Night", or if they did I did not notice. Only 20% or so of people dressed formally and the remainder were dressed in resort casual, like us. I would cruise NCL again if the itinerary was right.

[cattolica]

NCL does not have formal night. They have "dress up or not" nights. Formal clothes are never required it is completely up to the guest. However, I know for a fact that NCL does not allow shorts of any kind in the dining room. We were traveling with friends and the man was turned away from the dining room for wearing shorts.........very nice shorts with a nice button down shirt. The only time we ever saw shorts in the dining room on an NCL cruise was when the guy was dropping thousands of dollars in the casino every night. That guy got whatever he wanted.

 

To the OP please go on your cruise with an open mind. NCL is a great cruise line. We have sailed with them many times. We are platinum on Princess and Gold on NCL. So we can tell you that both lines are good, but of course different. We chose our cruises based on itinerary, timing and price. That usually makes it either Princess or NCL.

 

We did the cruise around Hawaii a few years ago on NCL as it is really your only choice these days. We thought the food was acceptable. The cabin good. The itinerary wonderful. But--this was during their "do it your way" campaign. People were in the dining room on "formal" night in clothes I wouldn't wear dog walking--and that is a very low standard. People on this board complain about men on formal night without a tie--what about stretchy bike pants and oversized t shirts on people 250 pounds plus--man and woman?!?

 

But--look at it this way--you are on vacation going to a beautiful destination.

[gelo7]

We did the cruise around Hawaii a few years ago on NCL as it is really your only choice these days. We thought the food was acceptable. The cabin good. The itinerary wonderful. But--this was during their "do it your way" campaign. People were in the dining room on "formal" night in clothes I wouldn't wear dog walking--and that is a very low standard. People on this board complain about men on formal night without a tie--what about stretchy bike pants and oversized t shirts on people 250 pounds plus--man and woman?!?

 

But--look at it this way--you are on vacation going to a beautiful destination.

It's a different world.....

[itsjb1]

Okay guys. I'm trying NCL. Taking the NCL Gem out of NYC to Bermuda. And yes, nervous. Ha!!

 

We've read so many iffy reviews on food, etc. But now I will be able to report 1st-hand.

 

 

Budget extra for eating in the specialty restaurants, where the food is not even that good, but is better than the food in the MDR. After a couple of nights in the MDR, we ate the rest of the week in the different restaurants.

We did our first NCL cruise 2 years ago, after many Princess cruises. While IMHO the food quality on Princess has gone down since we first started cruising, it is far better than on NCL. Will be curious on what your views will be.

[sunshine nana]

Keep watching for a drop in price of a suite, that makes an NCL cruise ok because you can eat in Cagnyes for breakfast and lunch. Then take the above advice and eat dinner in a specailty. You will have a great time, it's only the MDR food and service that are not good.

[fabby50]

I am a NCL cruiser that is getting ready to go on my first Princess cruise on October 1st.

 

Do you have any questions about NCL?

 

I have heard so many raves about Princess from friends and family that we had to try. We do like NCL though and the freestyle concept. Also, never take formal wear, so we are doing specialty restaurants on formal nights. I guess we have concerns about the same things, just in the opposite direction :)

[DeRon]

I am a NCL cruiser that is getting ready to go on my first Princess cruise on October 1st.

 

Do you have any questions about NCL?

 

I have heard so many raves about Princess from friends and family that we had to try. We do like NCL though and the freestyle concept. Also, never take formal wear, so we are doing specialty restaurants on formal nights. I guess we have concerns about the same things, just in the opposite direction :)

 

Probably our expectations are everything (both ways). Ha! My biggest concerns for the NCL Gem is the following:

• Food quality
  
• Slow service in MDR
  
• Extremely crowded areas such as pool
  

[fabby50]

Hmm - OK - food being subjective, I'll give my opinion.

 

I think NCL has the best buffet (we've been on Carnival, HAL, Royal and NCL). They have a great selection of Indian food, which I love. I am a vegetarian, so that sways my opinion. They have the "station concept", so you can get fresh made sandwiches, carving board, stir-fry, last time we cruised with them, there was even a guy making fresh juices and juice blended drinks. You must try the cinnabon and pecan type rolls at breakfast - they are the best and miniature size. I love all the fresh baked breads, etc.

 

We normally eat in the specialty restaurants. I have a little different concept about the "fee restaurants" - I guess being an NCL supporter. I don't mind paying it. My overall fare usually comes out lower and I usually book when there's an on-board credit special. Like next cruise, we have $450 on-board credit. I like the specialty restaurants because they are smaller, more intimate, we usually get an ocean view seat (unlike in a MDR where I have never had an ocean view), and they have the specialty menus, so we can pick what we're hungry for at the time we're hungry. Never had to wait - maybe because we never cruise during a holiday or the summer. Cagney's is a great treat.

 

As far as the MDR, we sometimes eat lunch there, I think we've eaten dinner in one once. They do do the thing where, if you are eating at a larger table, they will wait for the table to be full before taking orders. So, yeah, I guess there could be a delay there. Solution - ask for a table for the number of members in your party.

 

I haven't really found that dinner in any restaurant takes longer than dinner on any other cruise ship. It always seems to be at a slower pace than a restaurant at home - probably because there are more courses and they encourage a lesiurely meal. If you're in a hurry, just tell your server. Again, we usually eat in specialty restaurants and since the servers seem to have less people or tables to service, it's a little more attentive.

 

Crowds - don't seem to be any worse than crowds on any other line we've taken. Still have the same chair-hog folks, etc.

 

Hope this helps some -

[jnc411]

Okay guys. I'm trying NCL. Taking the NCL Gem out of NYC to Bermuda. And yes, nervous. Ha!!

 

We've read so many iffy reviews on food, etc. But now I will be able to report 1st-hand.

 

Hi , I would be interested in your views when you return. Thanks

Cori

[DeRon]

It does help...thanks! Who knows...we may like the food better than other lines.

[HJH]

We are on our last day of the Hawaii cruise aboard the Pride of America, our only NCL cruise after 17 on Princess. Food and service have been very good. There is no fixed seating dining, everything is "Freestyle" and no reservations. There are two "free" dining rooms, Skyline and Liberty. Skyline allows shorts and casual shirts/sandals and the Liberty requires resort casual (no shorts). No formal nights anywhere.

 

The downside is by 6:45 you should expect to wait for a table. There are five "surcharge" ($10-$25) restaurants and the alcohol and soft drink card charges are considerable higher than Princess.

 

Balcony room smaller than on any Princess ship we have sailed on but manageable.

 

Yes, it is different and we prefer the Princess style.

[cruiser113]

cattolica

To the OP please go on your cruise with an open mind. NCL is a great cruise line. We have sailed with them many times. We are platinum on Princess and Gold on NCL. So we can tell you that both lines are good, but of course different. We chose our cruises based on itinerary, timing and price. That usually makes it either Princess or NCL.

 

 

We have not sailed NCL in a while , think I have bronze status.

Have platinum with Princess.

 

We are going on the EPIC next spring.

 

Would you mind emailing me some of the differences b/t the lines. I think I read we can bring on wine / champage from the NCL site??

I don't recall laundry facilities??

 

Thanks

 

chemo_joyce@yahoo.com

[Wormy53]

Don't be nervous! We took the NCL Dawn to NE a couple of years ago and had a good time. We got an excellent price. Here are some of the differences I noted:

 

MDR - Princess has a much better dining venue here. However - the price was so much better that it was no problem paying for the specialty restaurants - which we did. (They are great, and it's nice to have those alternatives every night.)

 

Buffet - might even give the edge to NCL. Liked their NY Deli area and salad bar. Good Indian food. Tried the Blue Lagoon once. Not my kind of food - not into chicken wings, pot skins, chili, etc.

 

Shows - good on each. I would love to go on the Epic and see some of their shows they perform.

 

Suites - loved my Princess experience, but it sounds like NCL really has it "going on" with that private pool area and butler.

 

Hawaii - would never consider anyone but NCL here. Don't want all those sea days when I could be on the islands!!;)

 

Drink prices - found them to be a bit higher on NCL

 

Service - Good on both

 

Itineraries - Princess wins here for us because we usually like to take longer cruises to new places. If NCL was going where I wanted to go - I would not hesitate to sail with them.

[Sapphire723]

 

MDR - Princess has a much better dining venue here. However - the price was so much better that it was no problem paying for the specialty restaurants - which we did. (They are great, and it's nice to have those alternatives every night.)

 

 

Definitely budget to eat at a specialty restaurant every evening. I was not expecting that the MDR food would be as bad as it was, so I was pretty annoyed that we ended up having to pay for every dinner. If you go in expecting it, it shouldn't be a problem.

 

Specialty coffee I liked better on NCL.

 

Service is far superior (for me) on Princess. We didn't have a suite, so a nicer cabin might get you better service. However, some of the service we had was downright rude while other was just incompetent. Others have experienced no problem, so hopefully we just got an off week.

[gerryl12]

Leaving on Sunday on NCL for the first time. We thought that we should give them a try after hearing so many positive and negative things about NCL. Will definately be in comparison mode.

[DeRon]

Leaving on Sunday on NCL for the first time. We thought that we should give them a try after hearing so many positive and negative things about NCL. Will definately be in comparison mode.

 

Yep, us too...But I have to caution myself not to be in comparison mode too much...every time I do this on a cruise, I don't enjoy it as much. The ol' "grass is always greener" cycle.

 

But we are anxious to live on the ship and feel their vibe, eat their food, and experience all they offer. Then I will come back here and tell all our feelings. :)

[fabby50]

We have cruised on several different lines and I think everyone compares things, it's just human nature. What I try to do is not think in terms of "better" or "worse" but just "different". Different cruise lines do things differently - that's what makes all of them a little unique. I like unique things and that's why we're trying Princess for the first time in a week. I am eager to see what's new to me (a hot baked cookies and milk cart in the afternoon - yoo hoo!).

 

Some folks are uncomfortable with uniqueness - they want the same types of things and are disappointed when one line doesn't have something that another does or does something differently. It's probably good if people who like "sameness" stay with the same line, and maybe even the same ship, heck, maybe even the same cabin and same table at dinner.

 

We are platinum cruisers on RCL because they used to have several ships out here on the left coast. Getting on board was like "home territory". RCL has now left us lefties and I do miss the comfort of knowing exactly where I was going on the ships and the types of things to expect, even the shore excursions never seemed to vary.

 

I guess what I'm trying to say is I try to understand both sides of the issue and always wonder when reading reviews if I am reading a review of a "uniqueness lover" or a "comfort seeker".

 

Have a great voyage - I know I am looking forward to mine with great anticipation -

[DeRon]

Well said, Fabby.

[Sunny AZ Girl]

Some folks are uncomfortable with uniqueness - they want the same types of things and are disappointed when one line doesn't have something that another does or does something differently. It's probably good if people who like "sameness" stay with the same line, and maybe even the same ship, heck, maybe even the same cabin and same table at dinner.

 

You just described my DH to a tee! He was not happy having to learn a new ship layout when he first cruised on the Caribbean Princess in 2009. I cruised prior to that with my Mom on the Golden in 2008 & cruised with DD on Carnival last year. However, I like uniqueness and the new experiences were like a breath of fresh air to me. Hopefully, the Princess layout will be more familiar to DH now when we cruise on the Sapphire in May. Just to make sure he is comfortable we will be on the Emerald in 2013! Then I may really shake him up and return to RCI the following year.;)

 

In fairness, he did quite well on the NCL POA this last May. Maybe he's getting more flexible in his old age.:D

[LaCal]

Went on our First NCL Cruise last April and LOVED IT.....We'd only been on Princess and Carnival up to then but were given a FREE CRUISE ON NCL from Harrahs Casino......

 

We jumped on it and Another Great Perk was FREE DRINKS in the Casino the Whole Cruise......Saved DW and I over $500 by weeks end and she hit a $4,000 Jackpot on Video Poker...:D

 

Food Wise I'd say they are Approx the Same....Main Dining Room was Hit or Miss with Some Days being Great others being Just Ok....

 

Room Seemed a Tad Smaller than Princess...We had a Mini-Suite and DW was Very Disappointed in the Size of the TV...It was a Tiny 13 inch...She Loves Relaxing some days and catching some of the Movies they have on but the TV was CRap.....We called and asked if they have Larger Sets and were Told that ONLY FULL SUITES AND ABOVE Have Large Flat Screens...

 

:DService was AWESOME......:DCASINO/AWESOME......:DShows/GOOD.....

 

:DDRINKS/AWESOME......SPECIALTY RESTAURANTS/GOOD COULD BE BETTER FOR THE MONEY.....OVER ALL WE LOVED NCL..

 

Have Fun...We just Booked Another Cruise on NCL for Next May to Alaska....Going Full PH Suite this time...OHHHH YEAHHH!!!!...:)

[srpilo]

Opinions vary..

 

 

 

 

But once was enough for us

Srpilo

[DeRon]

Opinions vary..

 

But once was enough for us

Srpilo

 

What did you not like?

[dr__dawggy]

We have sailed on NCL twice and twice on Princess. In our experience, service is luck of the draw.

 

Cabin Service. The absolute best cabin service we have had was on the NCL Jade but it has been acceptable to very good on all of our cruises.

 

Food. MDR. Princess is the clear winner here. Hands down. Not close.

 

Food. Buffet. NCL is the clear winner here. Hands down. Not close.

 

Specialty Restaurants. NCL Pride of America offered a wine/specialty restaurant package that included eating in specialty restaurants 4 of our 7 nights. Food was excellent in all the venues and the wine pairings very good as well. Our more limited experience with specialty restaurants on Princess was not as good. Food was not noticeably better than in the Coral or Golden MDR.

 

Cabins. NCL Jade had the nicest cabin and most spacious bathroom....Princess Coral the best layout for storing luggage and hanging clothes.

 

Room Service. NCL was prompt and efficient on both our cruises. Selection was better than on Princes and service faster.

 

Entertainment. Good to very good on both cruise lines.

 

Embarkation/Disembarkation. NCL was smoother and took less time on both cruises we took with them than on Princess.

 

Summary....pluses and minuses on both cruise lines. NCL is superior for buffet, specialty dining and embarkation/disembarkation. Princess wins for food in MDR and overall quality of service, although as stated earlier...our favorite cabin service was on a NCL cruise.

 

We would not hesitate to cruise with NCL again....Our next cruise is on Princess due to itinerary and price....but would have equally happy to have chosen NCL.