Norwegian vs Celebrity

[SuiteCruiser]

The one woman who said on X they called them sir and ma'am and on NCL they used their Christian names.....ok, so on X they didn't bother to remember them, and on NCL they did, and it's being used as a shot against NCL.

 

Very funny!

 

I've never sailed Celebrity, but my father does and loves it. He also loves the vibe and the entertainment, which makes me pretty sure I would not like it ;)

 

He's almost 80, often crotchedy and feels at home there. I'll never say never, but it's not tops on my list right now.

[SteveH2508]

Having read some of the posts on that Celebrity thread I couldn't help thinking "what a crowd of miserable stuck-up gits".

[Warmer Climes]

Having read some of the posts on that Celebrity thread I couldn't help thinking "what a crowd of miserable stuck-up gits".

 

Yeah, some of them are very hard to take.

 

My travel agent alternates between NCL and Celebrity for her own cruises, and keeps saying that Celebrity would be great for my husband and me when we're not cruising with our kids anymore. After reading some of the very insulting posts (dirty Days Inn, etc) I guess I'll stick with NCL.

[4774Papa]

Having read some of the posts on that Celebrity thread I couldn't help thinking "what a crowd of miserable stuck-up gits".

I think there is a bit of hype involved. We did not find the other passengers on Celebrity to have their noses in the air. I like both cruise lines for different reasons. We have cruises booked on both lines in the future.

 

Celebrity has a far better range of cruises. They cruise South America, Australia, NZ and Asia. Also, they are coming out with some Black Sea cruises tomorrow. NCL has none of these. Holland America has a wide range of cruises, but their prices are a notch higher, as well as Princess.

 

For most cruises, the prices between Celebrity and NCL are close.

[elwood_98034]

NCL was good in our experience. We are sailing again next month on the Jewel, and really looking forward to it.

 

I have previously posted regarding X, and wouldn't sail with them again. Ever.

 

Take a look at my previous posts if you want additional information.

[cruiser12]

I have cruised both plus other cruise lines as well --- There have been many changes since I took my first---now working on number 34 --- We will be taking a break from NCL --- it is time for a change -

 

We like to leave from the NewTork Port --- we live close ---- but NCL sailings have become stale --- and as of late -- just one to many mis haps --- not that we may escape from any on the other lines --- but we always would go back ---

 

I love Celebrity - enjoyed Royal, had a lot of fun Carnival --- sometime it was just the 2 of us and then there were times we had sailed with family and friends----

We sailed to Bermuda on Dawn-we were a group of 37---we party-ed for 7 days and nights

our son was married at "Nine Beaches Resort " -- reception was held at Cagney's Steak House -- NCL took very good care of us--- not easy to switch --- but it is time ---

[clean1owner]

NCL's Freeystyle Concept brings a lighter atmosphere on the ship. IMO stress free, no worries. :)

 

 

I guess I don't understand how designated dining times and tables causes stress or worries.

[filbo132]

As a solo traveler, I would say NCL cost much cheaper for a single person than other company

[smeyer418]

I have traveled on both lines...I will be going on my third X cruise next year and have 16 on NCL. My first cruise was on X and I hated it. It was a 10 day through the Panama canal surrounded by death(my son's words not mine)...We were the among the youngest people on the ship. The food was ok but the ports were not good. It was a mistake. I loved my first NCL cruise but these have mostly been what I call local cruises as I leave from NY and love the convenience. I also love freestyle. My second X cruise was a South American cruise and I loved it(although didn't love the dressing up-so I didn't go to the dining room on formal nights).

The food is similar- no matter what any one tells you its just food. The service was similar(I had a problem with X's anytime dining as they just do it differently than NCL-it was also the first cruise that anytime dining was on this particular cruise) Loved the ports. Loved the people except some pushy(literally) charming Quebecois.

X does some exotic cruises and we are taking the Australia/NZ one next...

but I still do one or two NCL cruises per year...and one X about every three years...

[camz]

I guess I don't understand how designated dining times and tables causes stress or worries.

 

NCL's Freestyle Concept is much more than designated dining times. Although the concept stems around anytime dining. You can dress up or not. No need for formal attire if that is what you desire. Many, many activities, entertainment and dining options you can choose, or not. You don't need a watch or clock on this cruiseline. NCL is definately a don't worry, by happy line. The crew is extremely friendly which also adds to the vibe. Once you experience freestyle, you will understand. :D

[Ghengis Klown]

I do get a much better vibe on this forum to be honest. Maybe I just don't fit in on the other one.

 

and smeyer, I went on that X 10 day Panama cruise as well.. I didn't like the ports at all.. half way through I was just staying on the boat.. IMO the ports were just as annoying as border towns.

 

but thats another reason I've always wanted to do the Alaska. Regardless of the ports, ti should be beautiful to cruise.

[pris993]

I guess I don't understand how designated dining times and tables causes stress or worries.

 

I see no one has responded to your question yet. We have done traditional late setting for the most part - have cruised about 45 times over the past 30 years. So like you I am not sure what is so stressful.

 

Even though we usually do traditional late setting, since we have cruised a lot, if we don't find the service or food quiet what we want, we have started having a late lunch in the buffet and skipping dinner entirely on some cruises. We then are free to dress for the evening and go out an enjoy the entertainment. We find this a very relaxing way to enjoy the evening. We always follow the dress code.

 

We prefer a table for 2 when we do go to the MDR, so socializing or meeting others for dinner is a non issue if we decide to skip dinner.

 

Some folks my find no dress code relaxing.

[DCT61]

"Some folks my find no dress code relaxing"

 

Especially on vacation.

[Warmer Climes]

I guess I don't understand how designated dining times and tables causes stress or worries.

 

This has been our experiences with traditional dining on our two RCI cruises. Our waiter on the first one was so stressed out about us not showing up at our table because we weren't hungry that he went on and on about it the next night. I found it difficult to get our family of six spread out in three cabins ready to go at our set time. My youngest- seven at the time- did not want to sit through a long meal because she was missing kids club activities, so one of us would leave the table and take her go the cabin to change and then to the kids club.

 

Second cruise- five of us cruising, seated with another family of five who may be the most obnoxious people I have met. Difficult to change tables because we saw them everywhere because our kids were the same age. Third night on DH refused to go to dinner.

 

We dress for dinner every night so that isn't an issue for us.

 

Now here's how it goes on NCL: DD suggests the sports bar for dinner because she's not very hungry. We talk about it and her brother decides to go with her and DH and I think we might like Italian food- a date! The next night we decide to eat late at Moderno's because we had a late lunch ashore. The next night we all go to the MDR at 6:00- I have never waited more than 10 minutes for a table. The rest of the week is the same.

 

We are not always hungry or ready to eat at a set dining time. The flexibility to eat on our schedule reduces the stress we experienced with traditional dining.

 

Barb

[graphicguy]

Awesome reviews people. I posted this same thing on the Celebrity forums, and NCL is getting blasted. I'm starting to think it's just a different kind of people. From what I've read about NCL, I think I'll really enjoy this cruise. Great information though, I get more and more excited everyday.

 

Yeah....I'd expect that.

 

Was on Epic about a year ago. Was on Solstice for New Years. Epic's entertainment was a whole step above the Solstice (whose best entertainment I experienced was a glass blowing exhibition). In The Solstice buffet a third of it was closed down all week with one of those yellow tapes around it for all meals.

 

MDR was average on Solstice. Service on Solstice was actually way below par.

 

At the time, I posted this on the Celebrity boards and I was chastised.

 

I never have a bad time on a cruise. But, there wasn't one area that I preferred

Celebrity over NCL.

 

So far, EPIC, is the best cruise I've ever taken.....for entertainment, service, food, cabin, beauty of the ship.....Freestyle is the way to go.

[Nalagh]

Well, after reading both threads, I hope you recognize which one has the kinder and more helpful vibe.

 

Most of us here on NCL respect the differences and maybe just prefer the NCL freestyle way. But some of the posters on X are a little mean spirited. There are ways to give negative feedback and still be nice. Makes me wonder.

 

Look at it this way. Are NCL and X the same price? Probably not. I'll bet you are paying less on NCL. So maybe it is more fair to get a real comparison to compare a balcony on X with a suite on NCL. It seems everyone (just about) admits NCL is great with suites... however, the way some people speak of that makes me suspect they did not experiance that firsthand. Sounds like they think the NCL suite life is just a better room. Actually, for mainstream cruise lines, nobody provides the suite amenities like NCL does. Independent sources like Frommers (cruise books) agree.

 

One poster commented on the Sun. Personally, I loved it and booked my fave aft penthouse again for next year. But just check out the Haven on NCL. Does X have something comparable?

 

NCL's suite life is great, that keeps me coming back... but I enjoyed X a lot too and would like to sail X again and experience their smoke-free casinos.

 

No cruise line is perfect, every cruise for every pax... but hey, they all sail the same big ocean. And I wouldn't turn one down on any line. With the exception of a disaster, a cruise is mostly what YOU make it. ATTITUDE goes a long way.

 

Please come back and let us know what you thought afterwards.

 

Yes, what you said!! :)

[elwood_98034]

For us it is pretty easy. When hungry - go eat. That is a far simpler thing on NCL than X. It just takes away the clock watching, and feeling that you must be somewhere at a certain time. Might as well be back at work.

[dutchess43]

I have sailed on X 5 times & NCL 2 times I agree with most of what the other posters have said. The one thing that X lacks is the perks for full suite guests. No one treats suite passengers better then NCL, this is one reason why I booked a NCL NE/Canada cruise for the fall.

[buckirj1]

Perhaps it's because I've read too much pretentious twaddle on the CC X-board over the years, but X is one of the very few cruise lines that I'm not interested in sailing. Well, that and the fact they don't do a Canada/NE RT cruise of reasonable duration.

[SFO-F/A]

We've been on 3 X cruises and 4 NCL.

 

For us, NCL is the one we prefer. We like "freestyle", eating where and when you want we also like the more relaxed dress code. I think the passengers seem to be a bit younger than the X crowd.

 

I believe the MDR on X is superior to NCL's.

 

NCL's specialty restaurants are outstanding and well worth the extra $.

 

One thing I like about X, smoking is more restrictive.

 

The suite life on NCL is wonderful and above anything on X.

[graphicguy]

Perhaps it's because I've read too much pretentious twaddle on the CC X-board over the years, but X is one of the very few cruise lines that I'm not interested in sailing. Well, that and the fact they don't do a Canada/NE RT cruise of reasonable duration.

 

Like you, I just don't understand the "pretentious twaddle" (love that term:D) over on the X boards, either. In fairness, I didn't see those types who post over at X on my Solstice cruise. I ran into one "twaddler" who was easy to ignore on the cruise. I saw quite a few older "sauced" people, who were actually funny to observe.

 

But, for the most part, the best way to describe my time on X is.....ummmm.....vanilla. I think some really like that. I'm not one of them, but clearly some are.

 

It's all good, though. It was sunny the whole time. I didn't starve. And I wasn't working at the time. So, it was good.

 

EPIC was a whole other level above the Solstice, however. Everyone was uber courteous. Food (even in the MDR and the buffet) were a step above Solstice. Entertainment was no contest in favor of EPIC.....Blue Man Group, Cirque, Legends...all of it top notch and several rungs above what X offers.