NCL Cruiser trying out RCCL... what will I miss?

[Sammae]

Hi guys!

My husband and I have been on 3 NCL cruises in the last few years. NCL is the only line we've sailed with and we loved, loved, LOVED all our vacations! We enjoy freestyle cruising, the upbeat atmosphere, and the attention to detail that NCL puts into their cruises.

 

We've always found the food excellent (we usually do room service & buffet for breakfast, a mix of everything for lunch, and about 3 specialty restaurants with O'Sheehan's and MDR thrown into the mix for dinners). We do enjoy getting dressed up for dinner, although never to the extent that DH has brought his suit.

 

We love coming down the pier after a day in port and seeing how welcoming our ship is compared to the others in port, with the crew out to say hi and the water and towels available.

 

All in all, we've had amazing experiences on Norwegian. However...

 

For our next cruise, we are going with some family. For a number of reasons, we're booking Oasis of the Seas: DH insists on newer ships, we wanted a new Itinerary, and the price is right since we qualify for a massive discount because of my job.

 

We're really looking forward to trying out this ship. It's got great reviews and looks like a lot of fun. We are, however, worried about being away from "home", which is what NCL feels like to us since we know the ropes there now. From those who have experienced both lines, and love Norwegian, what did you find were the biggest differences, both good and bad, about being on RCCL ships, particularly if you've experienced the Epic and the Oasis or Allure?

 

Put our minds at ease! And no worries! We'll be back to NCL for Getaway or Escape in 2015!

[MeHeartCruising]

I've sailed both and find them more similar than different. You'll probably find the crew and their relationship to you to be quite similar. I have not been on the Oasis, but based on what I've read, you'll find it full of things to do (some free and some up charge, just like NCL). The food and drink offerings and quality are very similar in my opinion. The cabins are of similar size, quality and decor style, although this varies with the ship. Royal does still have a "formal" night, but I found that wearing a jacket and nice slacks was just fine for that -- or I just eat in the buffet that night. After dinner, it's fine to go to other events/locations on the ship in less formal clothes. In summary, I love NCL. But I also like Royal Caribbean and would not hesitate to sail them again. I'm sure I will.

[2girls2]

We sailed Oasis last year. The ship is beautiful, with lots to do, but I thought the food was just ok. I did not like that the only thing you can get late at night was mediocre pizza. Specialty restaurants were not so special either.

 

My kids (13 yo girls) had a blast and want to return. More than likely, we will.

[smeck]

I bet you'll find the entertainment fantastic I doubt NCL will come close. On RCL you have more room service options including hot breakfast. During formal night you can wear slacks and a button down shirt and your wife can get away with capris, we did no problem. Having sailed both lines you should love RCL as much if not more than NCL, the Oasis is beautiful.

[mpk218]

Your dooomed..

 

We'll be waiting for your return ;)

 

Good luck :D

[Sammae]

I bet you'll find the entertainment fantastic I doubt NCL will come close. On RCL you have more room service options including hot breakfast. During formal night you can wear slacks and a button down shirt and your wife can get away with capris, we did no problem. Having sailed both lines you should love RCL as much if not more than NCL, the Oasis is beautiful.

 

We have loved the entertainment on the Epic! It's become our number 1 reason why we love cruising over land vacations (there are about 21 other reasons too). So I can't imagine just how awesome the entertainment will be on Oasis. Very exciting!

 

Your dooomed..

 

We'll be waiting for your return ;)

 

Good luck :D

 

Hahaha... I feel that way at times! We're going with very open minds. We are always just happy to be on vacation.

[Sammae]

I've sailed both and find them more similar than different. You'll probably find the crew and their relationship to you to be quite similar. I have not been on the Oasis, but based on what I've read, you'll find it full of things to do (some free and some up charge, just like NCL). The food and drink offerings and quality are very similar in my opinion. The cabins are of similar size, quality and decor style, although this varies with the ship. Royal does still have a "formal" night, but I found that wearing a jacket and nice slacks was just fine for that -- or I just eat in the buffet that night. After dinner, it's fine to go to other events/locations on the ship in less formal clothes. In summary, I love NCL. But I also like Royal Caribbean and would not hesitate to sail them again. I'm sure I will.

 

From what I've read, Royal seems most similar to Norwegian out of all the lines. Thanks for this info! Very helpful and it's put me at ease.

 

We sailed Oasis last year. The ship is beautiful, with lots to do, but I thought the food was just ok. I did not like that the only thing you can get late at night was mediocre pizza. Specialty restaurants were not so special either.

 

My kids (13 yo girls) had a blast and want to return. More than likely, we will.

 

I would have figured they had more than just pizza available 24 hours. We love O'Sheehans for that reason. Darn. I did, however, notice that the MDRs are open later, which is good for us. We've been caught before where we were having too much fun and forgot about dinner until it was too late. Thanks!

[mizLORInj]

I hope to try out Oasis or Allure sometime too.

 

I've been on RC and other lines and I like all of them.

Hope you have a great time!!

Edited December 31, 2013 by mizlorinj

[rstout]

There is also a little cafe with small sandwiches, pastries, etc open 24 hours on RCCL ships. There are multiple free dining options besides the MDR, as well as the many specialty restaurants. The Oasis is an amazing ship...just go with an open mind rather than trying to look for the differences and I'm sure you'll have a wonderful time!

 

 

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[barnacle_boy]

I've sailed both Epic and Oasis/Allure in several different cabin categories, and I have to disagree. Cabins on Oasis are considerably larger and they come with enormous balconies. Epic's "wave" cabins are radically different from anything on other ships. They are also the most cramped and poorly designed in the industry. Although I find them frustrating, they exude a sort of chic, eccentric charm that is slowly being lost amongst today's prefabricated cabin units. Oasis's cabins are spacious and conventional, albeit far from rational. Of course there was the infamous issue with the electrical outlets; situated in a position that required you to be adept at yoga to plug in a phone charger or hairdryer. The Owner's Suite has all of the storage space in the living room and not enough room to walk around the bed in the bedroom.

 

Food is subjective, but I believe that Oasis provides a better dining experience, both for the MDR and specialty restaurants. Central Park 150 is about as close as you can get to fine dining on a mass-market megaship (which is still very, very, very far away). The Park Café has fantastic roast beef sandwiches and paninis. Giovanni's Table blows La Cucina out of the water. If you're a fan of fried eggs and bacon for breakfast, you can't beat Johnny Rockets. Their breakfast service is complimentary and delicious. However, I thought Epic had superior buffet setups with higher quality items.

 

Oasis, and RCI more generally, has considerably better entertainment choices. Hairspray, Oasis of Dreams, and Come Fly With Me are superb. I don't want to speak ill of BMG and Legends, but they really aren't in the same sort of class. Unfortunately, the trend will continue, with Getaway getting Legally Blonde: The Musical (ugh) and Quantum getting Mamma Mia (hmm).

 

Epic has the largest spa at sea, and it is wonderful. There is a small outdoor lounging area located at the stern overlooking the ship's wake. As far as I am aware, this area is unique amongst megaships, and it's indescribably wonderful to breathe in fresh sea air after some time in the sauna. Of course, there are also NCL staples such as the saunas with floor to ceiling windows that look out to sea and an immense hydrotherapy pool. Oasis's spa is surprisingly small. Buried deep within the ship (forget about even seeing the sea), the thermal suite is terribly cramped. It becomes unbearably crowded during peak hours, to the point that it's difficult to find space in any of the tiny saunas, steam room, or on the handful of hot tile loungers.

 

I cruise both NCL and RCI because they are at the cutting edge of defining what cruising should be for the mass-market for different reasons. I'm booked on both Quantum and Getaway next year, and I'm looking forward to both equally, again, for different reasons. That being said, my heart belongs to NCL for the way that they treat their passengers. There is intense emphasis, from the highest levels, to treat passengers like family, and you can really feel that aboard. I've always found RCI crew to be professional, but cold and distant, by comparison.

[tiffygirl]

Well, when i sailed royal caribbean, i missed the washy washy song.

 

I missed the dancing, singing and cold towels when we arrived back from port from a day in port.

 

I missed the friendly passengers that NCL has. The one thing i can say is NCL passengers know how to have a party...regardless of age. The main reason i keep coming back. White hot Parties I saw 70's and 80' year olds out on the dance floor having a ball. I found Royal passengers to be a lot more reserved (at least on my sailing) Royal caribbean (some) passengers are big on 'status'..so once they find out this is your first cruise, dont be surprised to looks by some. No one really cares on NCL...i guess because NCL doesnt have a 'private' lounge for platinum and gold members as Royal has for diamond and diamond plus membesr.

 

you will miss the freestyle. Although i like traditonal dining of the waiter's personal attention. but if you are late on the island, the idea of trying to rush back shower, dress for dinner became a hassel.

 

Yes, they do have a place that gives you finger sandwiches and cookies...but its not blue lagoon or oh sheehans 24 hours dining in which you can get some 'real' food.

 

Sorrento's pizza on Royal....absolutley the worst. IMHo....I prefer the buffet pizza on NCL.

 

My biggest mistake is going on the cruise making comparisons. I got to caught up with what I was missing instead of enjoying what Royal was offering. Royal is royal. NCL is NCL.So just enjoy the product that they are offering, knowing you will see somethings that you like better about NCL somethings you will prefer with Royal. Its all about variety.

 

Have a fabulous cruise!!! You spent way to much money NOT too!:D

Edited December 31, 2013 by tiffygirl

[gra2172]

My last RCCL cruise was in 2005 on the Grandeur of the seas and I had no choice in MDR seating or dining times. Ive seen this has changed some. How different is it now?

We really like just showing up and eating, which is one reason why we like NCL, but will probably start cruising other lines because NCL isn't going to any new places (at this point in time).

[mugtech]

My last RCCL cruise was in 2005 on the Grandeur of the seas and I had no choice in MDR seating or dining times. Ive seen this has changed some. How different is it now?

We really like just showing up and eating, which is one reason why we like NCL, but will probably start cruising other lines because NCL isn't going to any new places (at this point in time).

 

Ditto that. RCCL was our first cruise, had the best soups ever, and got us interested in cruising. NCL allows for more rewards sooner for us common folk, we will be platinum after six cruises. We will go back to RCCL when we cruise from Hong Kong or to South America unless NCL expands the possibilities.

[trish1c]

It will just be different. Since Oasis has things like ziplining, you might miss the quiet or the intimacy of an NCL ship.

 

Before everybody adopted some sort of anytime dining that used to be the biggest difference; with other lines you went back to being regimented.

 

We usually find the entertainment better on NCL.

 

We love the cabin / bathroom layouts. When sticking to the shower curtain in your tiny cylinder you will miss NCL the most. :rolleyes:

[barnacle_boy]

My last RCCL cruise was in 2005 on the Grandeur of the seas and I had no choice in MDR seating or dining times. Ive seen this has changed some. How different is it now?

We really like just showing up and eating, which is one reason why we like NCL, but will probably start cruising other lines because NCL isn't going to any new places (at this point in time).

 

Actually, RCI has taken a page from NCL and now offers "My Time Dining," something akin to Freestyle, in addition to set meal times. Instead of having a set meal time, you get to choose to come anytime between 6-9:30pm for dinner. However, it is not nearly as refined as Freestyle. You're "strongly recommended" to make dinner reservations, which requires you to think ahead about what time you'll want to have dinner the next day. Even with reservations, you still have to wait to get a table during peak hours.

Edited December 31, 2013 by barnacle_boy

[barnacle_boy]

It will just be different. Since Oasis has things like ziplining, you might miss the quiet or the intimacy of an NCL ship.

 

If the comparison is being made with Epic and Oasis, then NCL is not considerably more intimate. In fact, I will go as far to say that Epic, due to her horrendous passenger flow, feels considerably more crowded much of the time. When Epic is at maximum capacity, with 5,000+ aboard, you almost need a helmet to venture out into the public areas. Oasis has fantastic passenger flow and divides passengers amongst a variety of different "neighborhoods." Except during embarkation/disembarkation and shows, you'd never think you're aboard a ship with 6,200+ other passengers.

[Sammae]

Thanks again everyone for your replies! I have to say that we loved the Epic a lot and didn't find problems with the things most people complain about with her. We like the weird cabin layout, the casino in the middle of the action, and didn't find her overly crowded. Since all these things sound like they're done even better on Oasis, sounds like we're really in for a great trip!

 

I know here will be things we miss about NCL, but I think a bit of variety will do us some good. The more I read about this ship, the more at ease I feel.

 

Can't wait for the getaway reviews in a few weeks so I can start getting excited about that trip too!

[david_sobe]

I really enjoyed this thread. I hope the OP checks back with us to let us know her comparison :)

[Sammae]

Will do! Maybe I'll do a mini-review for the NCL audience to help other people out that find themselves with the same questions/concerns we're having.

[Markanddonna]

Enjoy the small differences. To me, the biggest difference will be your choice in MDR dining options. NCL doesn't have the dancing/singing waiters, which I find VERY painful to watch.

 

I loved our RCL transatlantic and thought they did an excellent job with a full ship of discerning, experienced cruisers. I'd take either cruiseline in a heartbeat.

[Barb Nahoumi]

After many NCL cruises which we loved, we'll be trying RCI for the first time soon. From what I can gather, RCI does not open the MDR for lunch at embarkation time as NCL does. Having the MDR open at lunch time, eliminates going to the buffet, waiting for tables, and self service, while bogged down with your carry-ons.

[seaotter15]

Happy New Year! This is a very interesting thread as we just sailed with the Breakaway last week, and had been on Allure of the Seas in April. On the drive home, hubby and I could not help but talk about what we liked about each ship. We decided on the following:

 

Benefits of RCCL ( Allure of the Seas) that we really liked but were unavailable on the Breakaway:

1. photo package deal - we could preorder a CD and got ALL of our digital prints on it - we came home with about 150 pictures from all around the ship and formal portraits

 

2. "My Family Time Dining" - our son was given his meal right away and was then picked up at entrance to MDR by the youth staff and taken to the kids club so we always had "date time" at dinner and thereafter.

 

3. No additional charges for kids staying in club until closing

 

4. Breakfast with the characters (Dreamworks) were free - had three different breakfasts to cover all the characters

 

5. unlimited internet package deal for $150.00 (never had to worry about minutes and hubby needed this for work)

 

6. No water slides on the Allure, but the kids pool area we found better on the Allure - we had lounge chairs and son was always in view - on the Breakaway the pool was lower than splash area - pool was out of view

 

7. Two cafés on the ship had free sandwiches, soups and pastries all day - could not find anything like this in the Atrium area of the Breakaway

 

Though I have mentioned all these things above, we found the Breakaway to be a great ship and we had lots of fun. We did like:

 

1. Heated pools!

 

2. very friendly staff

 

3. Entertainment was very good (dueling pianos!)

 

4. Never had a bad meal (ate at Buffet, MDR, one specialty restaurant )

 

5. BIGGEST bonus - no need to fly - could drive to NY

 

We are glad we tried NCL, but will be going back to RCCL (Quantum) next year.

[Sammae]

Thanks for that comparison! Since the Breakaway is pretty similar to Epic in a lot of ways, that was really helpful! Sounds like we can't go wrong here.

 

I have to say that in the future when we have kids, the My Family Time Dining sounds like it'll be an amazing perk to have on a ship! What a great idea!

 

I'm wondering if we'll end up liking the 24 hour Café with soups and sandwiches as much as 24 hour O'Sheehan's... I'm guessing there will be perks to both. I don't think hubby's made the connection yet that no O'Sheehan's = no mozzarella sticks. I can honestly say that was his biggest gripe about the Gem. Hopefully the free pizza will make up for it.

 

I'm really interested to try out 150 Central Park. It's a very different dining venue to anything the offer on NCL ships.

[Sammae]

After many NCL cruises which we loved, we'll be trying RCI for the first time soon. From what I can gather, RCI does not open the MDR for lunch at embarkation time as NCL does. Having the MDR open at lunch time, eliminates going to the buffet, waiting for tables, and self service, while bogged down with your carry-ons.

 

I agree with this. We always try to avoid the Buffet at Embarkation - I really don't like crowds. The elbows come out! Haha.

 

After some digging I found a review with Compasses (The RCL version of Freestyle Daily) from the Oasis. It looks like there are a bunch of other venues open like Sorrento's (pizza), Park Cafe, and the Solarium Cafe. It may not be a 3 course meal like the MDR, but at least it should beat the crowds!

[ce2000]

I was on the Oasis of the Seas in August and October of 2013. You will have a great time on this ship, but you should make you show reservations before boarding ship. Do Not Miss the Ice Skating Show, I believe it is called Frozen in Time. All of the shows on the oasis are very good but you will see some very amazing things in the ice show.