boy did I miss NCL

[iluvdoxies]

Just home from CCL Fascination yesterday..............had a great time. but I kept comparing everything to NCL

 

Food was good, but dinners were painfully slow - our waiter was sweet, but just had too many tables

 

Had a suite------------no butler. waaaa lol

 

Heck in ladies in VIP area were quite rude, but the staff on the ship was awesome

 

We did this cruise cause friends were going, but no more CCL for us

[che5904]

Welcome home :)

[nu2cruzin03]

We have a similar situation...My wife and I are having pre-cruise anxiety....we really prefer crusing with NCL and have had a great time during all of our NCL cruises. However, our friends really like Carnival and asked us to go with them on the Miracle. We gently tried to persuade them to book an NCL Gem or Jewel cruise leaving around the same date, but they really wanted to book Carnival. We said "OK"...since we have never cruised Carnival we decided to try something different.

 

Of course, we have made our final payment. We're wondering if we made a big mistake.

[turbo321]

We have a similar situation...My wife and I are having pre-cruise anxiety....we really prefer crusing with NCL and have had a great time during all of our NCL cruises. However, our friends really like Carnival and asked us to go with them on the Miracle. We gently tried to persuade them to book an NCL Gem or Jewel cruise leaving around the same date, but they really wanted to book Carnival. We said "OK"...since we have never cruised Carnival we decided to try something different.

 

Of course, we have made our final payment. We're wondering if we made a big mistake.

 

My experiences say you will still have a great time but you will be longing to get back to NCL. Enjoy have fun, it still a great vacation.

[sheila59]

We did a RC back in May and all I did was compair it to NCL, we hated the plastic plates in the buffet, and anyone complaining about smoke near the casino wants to visit The Promanade on RC, the smoke was really bad? We enjoyed the cruise but not half as much as cruising with NCL, I cannot wait for our cruise on the Epic in a couple of weeks time.

[Hopes4]

We have a similar situation...My wife and I are having pre-cruise anxiety....we really prefer crusing with NCL and have had a great time during all of our NCL cruises. However, our friends really like Carnival and asked us to go with them on the Miracle. We gently tried to persuade them to book an NCL Gem or Jewel cruise leaving around the same date, but they really wanted to book Carnival. We said "OK"...since we have never cruised Carnival we decided to try something different.

 

Of course, we have made our final payment. We're wondering if we made a big mistake.

 

Go with an open mind and a positive attitude. If you think you won't have a great time....you won't.

It won't be the same but that doesn't mean it can't be good (or even great).

You'll be on vacation and with friends, you'll make your own good time. :)

[weltek]

 

Of course, we have made our final payment. We're wondering if we made a big mistake.

 

No way-you'll still be on a cruise! There are things Carnival will outshine NCL on somewhere...enjoy those things! From what I hear from Carnival cruisers, at least you'll enjoy the chocolate melting cake. :-)

[Warm Breezes]

We have a similar situation...My wife and I are having pre-cruise anxiety....we really prefer crusing with NCL and have had a great time during all of our NCL cruises. However, our friends really like Carnival and asked us to go with them on the Miracle. We gently tried to persuade them to book an NCL Gem or Jewel cruise leaving around the same date, but they really wanted to book Carnival. We said "OK"...since we have never cruised Carnival we decided to try something different.

 

Of course, we have made our final payment. We're wondering if we made a big mistake.

 

I find that the 2 lines both have their pros/cons, but in the end, are more alike than different. I give the edge to NCL for better buffet, Blue Lagoon/O'sheehans and the entertainment. DH gives the edge CCL for larger rooms, MDR food & desserts, comedy club, ship layout, and usually price. Kids like them both and we have had great vacations on both. You won't know that you won't like it until you actually try it yourself and form your own opinions. Try not let other peoples opinions of food, entertainment or service sway your opinion before you even experience it. Those subjects are all subjective and rely heavily on that persons actual experience, as well as their own likes/dislikes, which may very well be quite different from yours. Go with an open mind and most of all have fun.

[nu2cruzin03]

Thanks to all for the re-assurance. Our initial thoughts were basically "how bad could it be". Reading alot of "Carnival Horror Stories" can make you a bit apprehensive.

 

I'm sure we will have a good time, but will still look forward to returning to NCL.

[kylenyc]

We did a RC back in May and all I did was compair it to NCL, we hated the plastic plates in the buffet, and anyone complaining about smoke near the casino wants to visit The Promanade on RC, the smoke was really bad? We enjoyed the cruise but not half as much as cruising with NCL, I cannot wait for our cruise on the Epic in a couple of weeks time.

Just returned from the Star (link to on going review below) and there were plastic plates at the buffet. The plates were clean and unscratched, and I can't blame them for easing the weight of ceramic plates off of the shoulders of the clean-up crew. The smoke leaving the Stardust Theater to Gatsby's was unbearable at times and people were grumbling on the way through. I had to run back to change my shirt once.

 

Going in Carnival in Nov. Hope to keep an open mind and enjoy it.

[Warm Breezes]

Thanks to all for the re-assurance. Our initial thoughts were basically "how bad could it be". Reading alot of "Carnival Horror Stories" can make you a bit apprehensive.

 

I'm sure we will have a good time, but will still look forward to returning to NCL.

 

I have never had any experience on Carnival (or any of my other cruises) for that matter that could be classified as "horror stories". Forget about what you read and enjoy your cruise.

[OnTheGoMom921]

We also prefer NCL, but have cruised on the Miracle (hey, if it leaves from NYC, we're on it!!) a few things to look forward to:

 

1. Definitely the warm melting cake.

2. The fun, kitschy decor. We loved all the little details in all those wild room decors.

3. The deck plan..."yes, you can get there from here" as the decks don't have something blocking along the way...something I've not mastered on NCL ships yet.

4. Try (at least) one dinner at Nick & Nora's Steakhouse. Food/service was good and really nice sitting in the funnel.

5. Great trivia games. They format theirs differently and we really enjoyed them...except you only win a plastic ship on a stick...but the games are very entertaining.

6. Your room will be larger

7. ...Did I mention that warm chocolate melting cake.

 

Enjoy your trip, when you come home, you can book another on NCL!

 

~Michele

[PhotoGal07]

As long as you go in with the right attitude you'll have a blast. We've taken two cruise on Carnival and had fun both times. Even our two day cruise out of NY when the weather was horrible. The ship was rolling and it rained the whole time.

 

Did we go to the art auction and sip champagne in our fluffy bathrobes cause it was freezing, absolutely! Did we make it a point to eat as much food (and get our money's worth) as possible? Absolutely! We had soft-serve ice cream morning, noon and night, we had sushi before going to the MDR, and routinely stopped at the buffet for a second helping of dessert. We also decided to have a contest between ourselves and the other couple. We competed mercilessly, in battleship, trivia games, air hockey in the arcade, and anything else we could find, and fought and gloated over each and every victory. We had a little plastic ship trophy that we won at one of the trivia games that we passed back and forth to whomever won the latest game, that might have well been an Olympic gold medal given how much we coveted it.

 

Honestly I have more fond memories of that cruise than any of our previous ones. It had nothing to do with the quality of food, size of our room, or the service we received, and everything to do with our own determination to have a good time. As long as you're willing to have fun, you'll enjoy yourself.

[SASA13]

We have a similar situation...My wife and I are having pre-cruise anxiety....we really prefer crusing with NCL and have had a great time during all of our NCL cruises. However, our friends really like Carnival and asked us to go with them on the Miracle. We gently tried to persuade them to book an NCL Gem or Jewel cruise leaving around the same date, but they really wanted to book Carnival. We said "OK"...since we have never cruised Carnival we decided to try something different.

 

Of course, we have made our final payment. We're wondering if we made a big mistake.

 

We truly loved the Miracle. She is a beautiful ship. Enjoy youself.

After all, variety is the spice of life

[SASA13]

Just returned from the Star (link to on going review below) and there were plastic plates at the buffet. The plates were clean and unscratched, and I can't blame them for easing the weight of ceramic plates off of the shoulders of the clean-up crew. The smoke leaving the Stardust Theater to Gatsby's was unbearable at times and people were grumbling on the way through. I had to run back to change my shirt once.

 

Going in Carnival in Nov. Hope to keep an open mind and enjoy it.

 

Plastic plates--wow---no plastic plate on any CCL ship I have been on.

[Georgiagolfer]

Just home from CCL Fascination yesterday..............had a great time. but I kept comparing everything to NCL

 

Food was good, but dinners were painfully slow - our waiter was sweet, but just had too many tables

 

Had a suite------------no butler. waaaa lol

 

Heck in ladies in VIP area were quite rude, but the staff on the ship was awesome

 

We did this cruise cause friends were going, but no more CCL for us

 

DW and I are Platinum on CCL and were on this same cruise. Too bad we missed Half Moon Cay due to weather, it is a beautiful beach. You have 2 CCL cruises booked in your signature. Are you planning to cancel these? I agree with some of the comments, especially the time at dinner each evening. Another area lacking was in live entertainment (music) in the public areas. Had to go to a club to dance, and that was with a DJ and a lot of music I don't like.:(

[DMH15]

After my 1st CCL cruise (Ecstacy) said NEVER AGAIN. Well, last year circumstances led us to another (Paradise). It was basically easier and more economical to cruise than stay in a hotel in LA and eat out.

 

Ended up being pleasantly surprised. Loved the Chef's Table! I still love my NCL and especially their suite life, but if friends invited me to join them on CCL I would do it.

 

BTW, the choc melting cake we were served was like raw cake batter. Bstan, the awesome Maitre D made sure we got perfect ones after that. Yum!

[DG2007]

I haven't sailed on NCL . . . yet, we hope to soon though. We also just got off the Fascination yesterday. I was disappointed with a few things - especially the soupy mess called warm chocolate melting cake, nowhere near as good as it was on our first Carnival cruise. So sad for me. We ate at the MDR for breakfast one morning and the food and service was terrible. The other passengers often raised eyebrows and were often rude/inconsiderate. We loved our MDR dinner staff and room steward, and the bar staff was fantastic. We'll most likely never do a 5 day or less cruise again. Can't wait to try NCL.

 

 

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[Luanne]

We are NCL'ers too, but you can't beat the warm chocolate melting cake and self service laundry on the Carnival ships. Plus another private island would be nice to try since we have been to GSC twice already.

[gertiesmom]

I have sailed only once on RC, but 5 on carnival. I am not a cheerleader, but I do believe people exaggerate their "horror" stories on carnival. Maybe because I stick to the longer cruises, but all the the bad stuff I hear, we have never experienced. Also, when we told some friends we were booked on NCL, their response was " good luck, you're gonna need it." I asked why, they said it was the worst cruise line ever. So, I will be sailing NCL with an open mind, doing my best to not compare too much, and just enjoy the vacation I am blessed to have. I truly believe that we live in a "Me" society where people expect to be treated like kings and queens, when really we are all the same. I am just happy to be cruising and getting the chance to see the world. I don't expect my dinner on a silver platter, just hot and tasty! And I can't wait to experience another cruise line!

[soccersharon]

I have sailed only once on RC, but 5 on carnival. I am not a cheerleader, but I do believe people exaggerate their "horror" stories on carnival. Maybe because I stick to the longer cruises, but all the the bad stuff I hear, we have never experienced. Also, when we told some friends we were booked on NCL, their response was " good luck, you're gonna need it." I asked why, they said it was the worst cruise line ever. So, I will be sailing NCL with an open mind, doing my best to not compare too much, and just enjoy the vacation I am blessed to have. I truly believe that we live in a "Me" society where people expect to be treated like kings and queens, when really we are all the same. I am just happy to be cruising and getting the chance to see the world. I don't expect my dinner on a silver platter, just hot and tasty! And I can't wait to experience another cruise line!

 

 

Very well said :)

[beetle9]

Any cruise has its ups and downs we have been on 16 ccl 3 ncl 1 rcl and enjoyed diff things about each one ccl dinning room seems that they have given waiters more so they are rushed compared to yrs ago but the other stuff makes up for the time waiting. The deli is always good and will make any sandwich you want just ask.:)

[bonvoyagie]

All it takes anymore is one crewmember who is having an off week - a server, a steward even a butler and every passenger they touch is now affected - then one or two of those passengers come back and post something on the internet and soon we have an epidemic of poor service reports.

 

Also we seem to get only the love it or hate it crowd anyway.

[sandygal]

We've been on the Miracle 5 times (loved the rotating 8 day itinerary), as well as Princess, Celebrity, HAL, and Costa. Loved them all, (except maybe Costa, although still a nice cruse). We are excited to try NCL, but have never had anything but a lovely time on the Miracle.

[ID Cruiser]

It is nice to see all of the positivity about NCL, without tearing down other lines. My wife and I booked the Epic for Nov. 10 this year after only cruising on Carnival. We have never had a bad cruise, there have been some that were better, and the Epic looks amazing.