I'm thinking of trying NCL....a few questions

[Avril]

I'm thinking about trying NCL for my next cruise (it would be my 1st NCL cruise)!! :D I just have a few questions if you don't mind. :o I'm a smoker but I try and be considerate of the non-smokers so, where on the ship can/can't you smoke? What public areas/decks and can you smoke on your cabin balcony? What sort of activities, events, parties are there onboard? Do they have a Deck Party (up on the main pool deck) at least once per cruise? What's the "White Hot Party" I hear/read a lot about? What other things are there to do at night (dance club, piano bar, etc)? Do they have a steel drum band (or something similar) on the main pool deck on sea days or is it a DJ? What's the food like? I think I understnad how the dining works but can you sit with others (I love having tablemates) or do you have to sit with only who you came with? What's the alcohol policy? What can/can't you bring onboard? Can you bring non-alcoholic drinks? What's the atmosphere onboard (is it a party/scoial environment with young(er) passengers or more laid back/quiet/keep to yourself with more old(er) passengers)?

I'm thinking of trying the Gem if it makes a difference (I've heard she's a great ship)!! :D

Anyone have any shipboard pics?

Sorry for all the questions (and I'll probably have lots more)!! :o

Thanks a lot!! :D

[johnmpcny]

No smoking in rooms but your balcony is fine. The aft seems to be most smoking area's. Some ships you can smoke at the "great outdoors" there. Also the there is open walking track on floor 6, 7 or 8 that you can smoke, along with the parts of the pool deck and of course the casino you can also.

 

You sit at your own table or friends at MDR and anyplace you want at the buffet and other spots.

 

Food is fine, we order extra appetizers as they are in our view tastier. The better restaurants are extra, we love the french one Le Bistro.

 

They have big shows and small, some are just a piano player or guitar player others full bands. The White hot party is DJ party amped up with lights, show dancers, ice sculpture, drink and shot specials. Wear something white, it is a lot of fun- They sell white hot party T shirts.

 

Bring your own water or soda, we bring a case and slap a luggage tag on and check as luggage they bring to your room.

 

You can bring wine you pay $15 per 750ml bottle and $30 for magnum's "corkage fee". Any other booze is a no no and you will get a trip to the naughty room where they hold it to the end of the cruise.

[2Cruise4Ever]

Welcome to NCL! I can answer most of your questions:

 

Regarding smoking: you can smoke on your balcony, but not your cabin (new this year); you can smoke on one side of most open decks, just not near food venues; and you can smoke in the casino and the cigar bar (some ships don't have an enclosed cigar bar). You CANNOT smoke in any of the other indoor venues.

 

Yes, there is a steel drum band on deck during sea days (at least there has been when we've cruised)

 

Yes, there are deck parties at night (in fact most - if not all- lounges will be partying every night). The White Hot party is a deck party where everyone wears white.

 

There is usually at least one piano bar and one karaoke bar for nightlife.

 

I have loved all the shows we've attended.

 

Food is subjective. You can pretty much eat where you want when you want with whom you want. In the main dining rooms you can request to sit with other people or dine with your own group... your choice.

 

Yes, you may bring non-alcoholic drinks on board. Although, NCL will tell you "no." We bring a case of Diet Dr. Pepper and Tonic Water with us every time with no issue.

 

I have found many people on board to be very friendly and out-going.

 

And, sailing out of NYC is a real treat!!!

 

Lots of ship-board pictures on this board. You can search for them pretty easily.

[Philob]

With regards to Main Dining Room dining; you treat it like any restaurant on land, except that you may be asked or you can request that you would like to be seated with another party. They will do their best to accomodate your request.

 

There's a corkage fee for each bottle of wine you bring aboard. Hard liquor/beer, if found :cool:, will be held until the end of the cruise. It has been reported that people bring a case of soda or water and they just slap on a suite/luggage tag at the dock and it gets delivered to their cabin, YMMV.

 

There's usually a sail away party with a bbq/grill on the pool deck with a live band. Weather permitting something is always going on on the pool deck. Burgers/hot dogs/chicken/adult beverages are the main food groups ;)

[gra2172]

NCL just started a no smoking in the cabins policy. There are several open air places and some ships have a cigar bar and a casino. (Not all ships have a casino)

 

Each ship has its own parties and events. Some have Sponge bob for the kids during the day and a deck party at night.

 

The white hot party is a late night club party where everyone wears white.

 

The dining is freestyle. Like any restaurant on the land. Some you have to make reservations for, some you dont. You dont sit with strangers for dinner unless you want to appear weird. :p

 

I wouldnt consider myself "older" (unless 40 is older :eek:), but the thing I like about NCL is that you can pick and choose how you want the atmosphere to be. Like I said, you can have Dora the explorer during the day, and drinking at night. It all depends on what youre looking to do. For us, we like excursions and the active life, so we dont stay up for the parties. We're looking for the more active things to do and we're up with the sun.

 

So they have something for everyone, and all at once! But its not like its a mess. You encounter the people who have your interests. The ships are big enough for everyone to do their own thing. :D

[fergusonvt]

And even if you don't ask to be seated with someone else in the MDR you could possible be seated in an area where there is a small gap between yourself and the next table allowing for conversation if both parties are interested. We had several nice chats with other couples on our cruise on the Star just because we were seated near them.

[cliffd64]

I'm thinking about trying NCL for my next cruise (it would be my 1st NCL cruise)!! :D I just have a few questions if you don't mind. :o I'm a smoker but I try and be considerate of the non-smokers so, where on the ship can/can't you smoke? What public areas/decks and can you smoke on your cabin balcony? What sort of activities, events, parties are there onboard? Do they have a Deck Party (up on the main pool deck) at least once per cruise? What's the "White Hot Party" I hear/read a lot about? What other things are there to do at night (dance club, piano bar, etc)? Do they have a steel drum band (or something similar) on the main pool deck on sea days or is it a DJ? What's the food like? I think I understnad how the dining works but can you sit with others (I love having tablemates) or do you have to sit with only who you came with? What's the alcohol policy? What can/can't you bring onboard? Can you bring non-alcoholic drinks? What's the atmosphere onboard (is it a party/scoial environment with young(er) passengers or more laid back/quiet/keep to yourself with more old(er) passengers)?

I'm thinking of trying the Gem if it makes a difference (I've heard she's a great ship)!! :D

Anyone have any shipboard pics?

Sorry for all the questions (and I'll probably have lots more)!! :o

Thanks a lot!! :D

 

Smoking is limited to one designated side of open decks, the casino, some ships have cigar lounges, and passenger balconies. You are not allowed to smoke in cabins, or any other public indoor area.

 

Here are a few Freestyle Dailies from the Gem in December that,might give ou an idea of all the actiiviities on a sea day or a port day...

 

http://db.tt/lp0lytq5. Sea Day

 

http://db.tt/wEawyMxc - Port Day

 

They have sail-away parties from most ports... Some are later than others at night.

 

The white hot party is a dance party held with the ships dancers and cruise directors staff. The dancers are usually dressed in white angel wing costumes,(think Victorias Secret) and everyone else wears all white and they use fog machines and black lights... It's fun!

 

At night there's all sorts of entertainment options (again, check out the freestyle dailies)

 

Without doubt there will be a reggae/calypso band on the pool deck.

 

Food is very subjective... I enjoy it.

 

You may ask to be seated with others if you like.

 

No alcohol except for wine may be brought board. If you bring wine it will be subject to a 15 dollar per average size bottle corkage fee.

 

Soft drinks can be brought on board.

 

Atmosphere on board is largely dependent on the passengers on any given cruise... There will be all types. You will easily find people who share the same level of excitement you have.

[namaste1223]

One other thing to mention about dining, although you didn't specifically ask, is that there are no required formal nights. Since it's Freestyle Cruising, you choose whether or not you want to dress up. They have one or sometimes two nights that they call "dress up...or not." Although most people I've seen on those nights tend to dress more towards the "or not," I have seen a few people who still adhere to the traditional "cocktail dresses and tuxes." That's what is so nice about Norwegian: you can do what is comfortable for you.

[TomCruises]

I'm thinking about trying NCL for my next cruise (it would be my 1st NCL cruise)!! :D I just have a few questions if you don't mind. :o I'm a smoker but I try and be considerate of the non-smokers so, where on the ship can/can't you smoke? What public areas/decks and can you smoke on your cabin balcony? What sort of activities, events, parties are there onboard? Do they have a Deck Party (up on the main pool deck) at least once per cruise? What's the "White Hot Party" I hear/read a lot about? What other things are there to do at night (dance club, piano bar, etc)? Do they have a steel drum band (or something similar) on the main pool deck on sea days or is it a DJ? What's the food like? I think I understnad how the dining works but can you sit with others (I love having tablemates) or do you have to sit with only who you came with? What's the alcohol policy? What can/can't you bring onboard? Can you bring non-alcoholic drinks? What's the atmosphere onboard (is it a party/scoial environment with young(er) passengers or more laid back/quiet/keep to yourself with more old(er) passengers)?

 

I'm thinking of trying the Gem if it makes a difference (I've heard she's a great ship)!! :D

 

Anyone have any shipboard pics?

 

Sorry for all the questions (and I'll probably have lots more)!! :o

 

Thanks a lot!! :D

 

 

IT"S A CRUISE MAN!IT"S GONNA BE VERY SIMILAR TO THE CRUISES THAT YOU HAVE ALREADY BEEN ON!IT"S A BOAT ON THE WATER WITH FOOD & BOOZE AND LOUNGE CHAIRS!WHAT ELSE DO YOU EXPECT FOLKS TO EXPLAIN TO YOU....YOU ALREADY KNOW THE DEAL!:rolleyes:

[Educators2]

If you choose Norwegian, sign up for the Meet and Greet. That way you can meet others. Also, if you join activities, you'll get to know people and perhaps, tablemates for dinner. There are many activities at night-game shows, dancing, theater productions, casino, piano bar, etc. The various restaurants are fun, too, and not too expensive.

[RickinNYC]

IT"S A CRUISE MAN!IT"S GONNA BE VERY SIMILAR TO THE CRUISES THAT YOU HAVE ALREADY BEEN ON!IT"S A BOAT ON THE WATER WITH FOOD & BOOZE AND LOUNGE CHAIRS!WHAT ELSE DO YOU EXPECT FOLKS TO EXPLAIN TO YOU....YOU ALREADY KNOW THE DEAL!:rolleyes:

 

Winner for least helpful post on this thread!

[Mur-cruiser]

http://boards.cruisecritic.com/showthread.php?t=1581264

 

check out this review w/pics

[camz]

NCL's "Freestyle Cruising" concept is amazing and IMO the reason some sail exclusively with NCL. The Gem is a beautiful ship with a great electric atmosphere. IMO if you are accustomed to Carnival, you will love NCL. The entertainment on NCL is top notch as well. As far as the food topic. I truly believe that the food on most cruise ships is comparable. There is always something you can find that you will like. The Gem has the Blue Lagoon which has a great assortment of quality burgers, wings, fries and such. I can not help you with the smoking issue, as I am not a smoker. However, I see other posters have addressed that issue for you. Other than that, you are already accustomed to the basic cruise ship atmosphere, so you know the basics.

[2Cruise4Ever]

Winner for least helpful post on this thread!

 

Winner for the most helpful post on this thread! ;)