Western chosen, but which ship? NCL or Carnival?

[mtsnd1900]

I am posting this same message on Carnival and NCL boards to get the full spectrum of opinions.

 

My wife and I are looking at cruises the fall, 2014 with stops in Costa Maya and Roatan. I have found a few cruises and wanted some insight. We have never sailed NCL, but have sailed Carnival, Royal, Princess, Premier, etc. We are price conscious and will shop around for a good deal / perks. Not in a hurry to book, open to various weeks over a three month span (Sept, Oct, Nov 2014) based on price.

 

Here is what we would like from the ship:

1. Spa – we like to purchase a “spa package” which allows unlimited access for a week to things like the thealosal pools, saunas, steam rooms, mineral baths, stone beds, etc. We did it most recently on the CCL Dream and loved it! This could be a deal breaker if not available.

2. Fun bars – Karaoke is good, dueling pianos is best! Sports, Irish pubs with live music, Margarittaville, etc. We hate cigarette smoke, especially when enjoying a drink. Again, wife loves the high energy piano bars, not the black tie guy sitting there as background noise. Comedy clubs are also a frequent stop.

3. Descent entertainment – not looking for Allure of the Seas or NCL Epic quality, but I do not want a ship talent show and baton twirler. Production shows are okay.

4. Fun on board – waterslides are okay, but not necessary; unique, simple fun things are more than enough.

5. Price Conscious – we like to cruise, so are on a budget. I factor in everything from transfers, airlines, local hotel fees, even the tips (14 days with kids is a lot more than 7 days without!) sailings when doing a price comparison.

6. Alcohol purchase options (liked buying bottles from Bon Voyage; all inclusive packages w/ 4 islands is not worth it in my opinion, we will be on shore too much to enjoy ).

 

Sailings we have found:

· NCL Sun, about $750 balcony, October / November from Tampa (inexpensive flight, free hotel night before)

· NCL Dawn, $750 or $950 for balcony, early / late November, from New Orleans

· CCL Conquest, $700 balcony, Sept, from Miami

· CCL Dream, $750 balcony, just did this sailing in 2012, Sept, from Canaveral

· RCI Navigator, $???, typical fashion, Royals web page shows the ports and options on some pages, and then on others show different ports for the same dates - Currently, not reliable.

 

So, I have read online reviews of these ships, but how are they? I do not expect them to compete with many of our recent sailings (Most recent have been aboard the Allure of the Seas, Carnival Dream, Freedom of the Seas, and Adventure of the Seas) but want to know we are getting something worthwhile.

 

The big port we are looking to hit is Costa Maya to do Maya Chan (love it there). The Dream, though possibly the best ship of the bunch, is in port from 7-2. The Sun is there 8-5. The other ships are there from 8-4. Does the 3 hours matter - Last time we went via The Dream, we felt like we had to leave to soon! In Roatan, we have a private guide take us around for the day.

 

 

The Dawn, we would have reason to spend a night in New Orleans, though it would be far and away the most expensive, especially with flights. For the cumulative price, we could do a lot on the other ships.

 

Is the NCL Sun any good? Spa packages? Things to do? It would be less expensive than the Dream, but at what cost? Does it have an old feeling?

 

 

 

On the Dream, we loved the Spa and the Cove Balcony, liked the dining room, and the pasta bar. Never went to the casino, took in some shows, and relaxed. The pool deck was way too crowded for us most days. How does The Conquest compare?

 

 

Thank you all for your input!

[beshears]

This is only MY opinion.

 

We did a brand new ship, Star on the NCL, and to say the least, we/as well as most of the ship were very unhappy with the cruise. This has been several years ago, and things may be better now. I call NCL the "lazy" ship. In otherwords, you can relax, and YES, I know that is what you want to do, but they gave us very few things to do on the cruise. I like lots of things to choose from, if if want to do it , or not.

 

As for Carnival, one of the best things I like is their rooms. They are a tad larger than most ships.

[kybluecruiser]

Conquest has 2.0 which includes guys burgers. That and I didn't like "freestyle crusing" but that's just me.

[Jimmy Geegitz]

The NCL Sun looks really boring to me.

[vols_159]

Been on the SUN 2x and the dawn once.. LOVED Both ships had awesome cruises on both.. The sun is older the dawn is newer... I would cruise on both again... If the same price i would choose the DAWN just bigger and newer but for a price difference..like you would have to pay i would sail the SUN again.. The sun have the biggest inside rooms Of all our cruisers.. There not a water slide or bowling but lots and lots of shows always something to do unlike a previous poster stated.. Plus NCL ships have one this CCL doesnt a Brizilian steakhouse.. I would pick NCL of CCL just for the Brizilian Steakhouse... Plus freestyle dinning.. Go to dinner when you want to No Table mates No singing waiters... Average MDR dinner is around 35 to 45 minutes.. (my experience) Plus I like the laid back dress code... I can wear shorts to the less formal MDR every night.. No need for a suit a tie.. But if you want that theres 2 dress up or not nights.. where you can have your picture taken and dress to the nines but I DONT HAVE TO.. Plus by the end of the week you have a new saying stuck in your head washy washy happy happy...

[vols_159]

The NCL Sun looks really boring to me.

geez i guess well you know what they say opinions are like butt holes... But really Have you sailed on the SUN? I have 14 days Loved the SUN... Does it have bells and whistles of a new ship NO but that doesnt mean its boring.. Hey theres still a 4 pieces steel band playing on the pool deck.. Unlike the new djs on CCL

[kybluecruiser]

geez i guess well you know what they say opinions are like butt holes... But really Have you sailed on the SUN? I have 14 days Loved the SUN... Does it have bells and whistles of a new ship NO but that doesnt mean its boring.. Hey theres still a 4 pieces steel band playing on the pool deck.. Unlike the new djs on CCL

 

Ncl is like tennessee basketball. May look good but still sucks. Go big blue and go carnival. Lol sorry couldn't resist ;););)

[vols_159]

Ncl is like tennessee basketball. May look good but still sucks. Go big blue and go carnival. Lol sorry couldn't resist ;););)

 

 

Sorda like Ky football? But really we both made the dang NIT and lost in the 1st round.. But didnt TN kill KY toward the end of the season?? 30 or 40 point blow out?

[S.S.Oceanlover]

This is only MY opinion.

 

We did a brand new ship, Star on the NCL, and to say the least, we/as well as most of the ship were very unhappy with the cruise. This has been several years ago, and things may be better now. I call NCL the "lazy" ship. In otherwords, you can relax, and YES, I know that is what you want to do, but they gave us very few things to do on the cruise. I like lots of things to choose from, if if want to do it , or not.

 

As for Carnival, one of the best things I like is their rooms. They are a tad larger than most ships.

 

One of their requirements is decent entertainment. CCL entertainment is anything but decent and only 3 nights of shows on a 7 night cruise.

 

Just got off an NCL ship 2 weeks ago and there was plenty to do.

 

In the last couple of years while CCL's quality has been going backwards, NCL's has taken giant strides forward.

 

IMHO :)

 

Bill

[kybluecruiser]

One of their requirements is decent entertainment. CCL entertainment is anything but decent and only 3 nights of shows on a 7 night cruise.

 

Just got off an NCL ship 2 weeks ago and there was plenty to do.

 

In the last couple of years while CCL's quality has been going backwards, NCL's has taken giant strides forward.

 

IMHO :)

 

Bill

 

If that is true then you are overlooking all their other requirements which carnival fit especially the Conquest. 1) fun bars. The conquest has all 2.0 upgrades which include red rum bar , blue iguana tequila bar, alchemy bar, red frog pub, and many more. 2) spa they are already accustom to carnival spa. 3) fun onboard. Carnival isn't called fun ships for nothing. 4) price..... Again carnival has some of the best prices right now. 5) alcohol purchase.... Many great reviews on here of the cheers program and they are already accustomed to Bon voyage. So it looks like carnival has most of what they are looking for. Now as far as entertainment. That is in the eye or ear of the beholder. I'm in my 30s and love the dj's and guitar soloist on lido. Also being from a visual generation love the playlist productions concept. But to each their own I guess.

[spencercoop]

If the expanded spa with the thermal suites and pool are a deal breaker than the Conquest would not be the ship to choose because she does not have the expanded spa like the Dream has.

 

NCL does have a lot more speciality restaurants than Carnival, so if you are into specialty dining that would be something to think about.

[k2excursion]

I can't help when it comes to the NCL choices, but I should point out some things about the Conquest that you may or may not have noticed. Last fall, Conquest switched over to having no live music at all in their shows, and very few sets. There will be no live music in the theater for anything. It's all piped in music, with fewer performers, asked to do too much, shorter shows, and most of the sets provided by the big screens behind the performers. In the list I found, they do 3 shows: The Brits, Motor City, & Divas. I saw these 3 exact shows on the Breeze. While Divas is decent enough, The Brits was bad, even resorting to using cartoon characters. But again, no live music and 8 or fewer performers. A big part of Carnival's 2.0 movement has been to reduce entertainment, reduce live music significantly, and increase bars & passengers supplying the entertainment. To some people, they're okay with this, and that's fair enough. Both Conquest & Dream would have a piano bar & other bars, but Dream will have more and better entertainment and more live music.

 

Conquest received some 2.0 bars, but other ships also have bars. A different theme or name placed on the same bar doesn't really change much. The Breeze's special 2.0 bars didn't seem to be any different than the unnamed regular bars on other ships I've been on, except for a few added drink options. Plus, like the previous poster mentioned, Conquest doesn't have the special Cloud 9 Spa like the Dream has. Based on what you said, it seems like Dream would have to easily be above Conquest. I'm just not sure where NCL would be in comparison.

[nealstuber]

This is only MY opinion.

 

We did a brand new ship, Star on the NCL, and to say the least, we/as well as most of the ship were very unhappy with the cruise. This has been several years ago, and things may be better now. I call NCL the "lazy" ship. In otherwords, you can relax, and YES, I know that is what you want to do, but they gave us very few things to do on the cruise. I like lots of things to choose from, if if want to do it , or not.

 

As for Carnival, one of the best things I like is their rooms. They are a tad larger than most ships.

 

The Star was new to NCL (and still not new) almost 10 years ago. With a new CEO and a new attitude towards service and entertainment it sure seems like a lot has changed for the better in that time.

 

That having been said-The Sun is considerably older and smaller than any of the other ships on OPs.list and I would pay more than the 50 premium to be on something else.

[nealstuber]

 

In the last couple of years while CCL's quality has been going backwards, NCL's has taken giant strides forward.

 

IMHO :)

 

Bill

 

Getting very excited to try NCL when they come to Houston. Even though I have not sailed NCL since Vtech left-all of the feedback I get from folks who have sailed them recently is that things are SO much better than they were 5 years ago. What Carnivalnis doining is just sad. Cahill must go.

[mikenhe]

just fly to Costa maya and stay there for a week!!!

 

I love that place too...

[vols_159]

just fly to Costa maya and stay there for a week!!!

 

I love that place too...

 

Don't think you can fly to costa maya they said closest airport was 4 hrs away

[vols_159]

Ncl has 4 new ships to come out by 2017 3 officially on order including the new one breakaway that's being delivered to Newyork in the next few days

[steve4031]

I enjoyed the ship and the food. It was definitely more old school in decor. But if you like cruising and travel, it wasn't boring. Eat

[steve4031]

I enjoyed the ship and the food. It was definitely more old school in decor. But if you like cruising and travel, it wasn't boring. The food choices were great. Freestyle worked for me and my dad because he doesn't like groups of people. We always got to sit by ourselves at dinner. If you enjoy traditional meals, you won't like freestyle dining.

[PAPERBKWRITER]

Coke or Pepsi. Boxers or briefs. IMO you can't go wrong with either choice. NCL standard cabins are smaller than Carnival but with the cutbacks Carnival is offering less for entertainment than in the past. Not sure about NCL since it's been years since I sailed NCL. For me if everything is pretty much the same I'd look for a deal...Happy sailing.

[luddite]

Leaving from New Orleans is a plus that overcomes any other of the listed trips plusses.

[mtsnd1900]

Thank you everyone for your insight and opinions on this. We have a lot to muster together and figure out what we find really important and figure out which sailing will be the best - but are better informed now.

 

After sailing on a lot of ships, and across a few lines, the differences are often noticeable when looking for them, but certainly we have always found something unique and enjoyable on all of them.

 

The common trend I found while asking this question on CCL and NCL boards, at the same time was that NCL lacked the spa experience we want, had better food and live entertainment options, coupled with staying in port longer.

 

CCL would offer better alcohol and spa options, while sailing out of places that are more affordable to fly to.

 

A little more waiting and shopping around and we will soon be sailing on the Western route once again, on a new experience.

 

Thank you everyone!