Carnival v Norweigen

[Sfdtiller]

Just sailed the Getaway in Sept. While we liked NCL we prefer CCL for the public spaces and the food. My comparisons are between Getaway and Breeze

1. We love the pool and just hanging at a bar or lounger poolside. This was nearly impossible on the Getaway. There is only one main "adult" pool and it was PACKED. We spent most of out time in the Vibe (think pay version of Serentity) and we loved it there.

2. MDR food on CCL blows away NCL, and I think CCL food is so-so at best. When it comes to Specialty dining Getaway had lots more in the way of offerings and we did love Le Bistro. Steakhouses and Italian were equal. We did not eat in any other NCL spots because we did not like the fact we felt the MDR food was poor on purpose so people would pay for specialty. We also did the Magic show, food was BLAH but the show was great.

3. Entertainment, Loved the NCL shows in the main theatre but prefer CCL comedians. As stated above, Magic show was great on NCL.

4. Water slides and Rope Courses are pretty equal on both lines.

5. One other issue we had was the smoking on NCL. We could find no outdoor bars that were non smoking. I asked at the Mojito bar if the smoking could be downwind (there were 2 smokers sitting upwind and 4 non smokers with bar seating for about 10, we could share the bar) non smokers upwind away from the smoke, and was told no. If I wanted Non smoking I had to go inside (per bar staff). Luckily at some bars when I asked, the smokers were happy to oblige and we all had great times. Just thought common sense would dictate this at all bars outside.

 

We would consider another cruise on NCL if the price was right, but may look at a smaller ship for the pool areas.

[travelerblue]

Last month was our first CCL cruise. We have been on many NCL cruises and it is hard to start back at the bottom with no perks but we managed. :) My DH was not looking forward to CCL at all having heard stories from co-workers. But we were meeting friends from GA and hey, a cruise is a cruise! It turned out absolutely fine.

 

I would say we prefer NCL but we had a lot of fun on the Sunshine. I asked my DH if he would sail on CCL again and his answer was that he would never sail on ANY ship where cruisers mention the temperature on the ship being warm. It was very HOT in some areas. I am ALWAYS cold on ships and in life in general. I never once had to put on my sweater or jacket. We had to get a fan for our cabin. My DS and his friend also requested a fan for their cabin.

 

Also, the buffet area was terrible.The first morning was pure chaos due to the 2 small island stations. The line must have wrapped around the stations 4 times. We would have stood in line for hours it seemed. We ended up at the Havana Bar for omelets. We pretty much skipped the buffet for lunch on the Sunshine because there was not a thing I would eat (or my DS). I know I am picky but I never have a problem finding several things I like at NCL's buffets. Thank God for Guys Burgers. Between that and the WCMC, I gained about 8 pounds! I love NCL's caesar salad and actually look forward to it. I tried CCL's on 3 different occasions and couldn't even eat it. Big bummer! And the cheese they use in the omelets was not even eatable. Maybe over processed. Not sure, but we are a cheese loving family and by day 3 I was eating fruit for breakfast and I never eat fruit. I always look forward to my omelet and home fries on a cruise. So another bummer for me. However, dinner in the MDR was enjoyable every night. The desserts were far better than NCL's. The service was great and the food was hot and tasty. We definitely missed the Blue Lagoon on NCL for late night snacks.

 

Our cabin steward was the best we have ever had. His name was Michael and he was fantastic!!

 

The spa was not nearly as nice as the ones on NCL, no pool or hot tubs. We loved the Serenity area but the pool was tiny. The regular pool area was small as well for the number of people on board. And we missed the live music during the day.

 

We only saw 2 shows at night in the theater. They were ok. We LOVED the comedians! We went to several shows and always got there 30 minutes prior and had no issue getting good seats.

 

I loved the movie under the stars. They only had that on one NCL ship we have been on (the Breakaway) but they only showed one movie all week and only a couple of times. I think it is nice that they showed 2 movies and I think it was every night, or almost. My 26 year old DS and his buddy were very bored with the nightlife. Usually my DS is coming back to the cabin anywhere between 3 and 5 am. It was his buddy's first cruise so he had been telling him about how much fun the clubs are at night. This ship closed down around midnight so they were disappointed in that. DS said his friend could see the potential for a good time and would cruise again, but it was not the party atmosphere that you envision from Carnival.

 

All in all, we would try CCL again but NCL is our favorite. I just love being on a cruise and I think you make your own fun.

[happy cruzin]

We have sailed both, DH and I prefer NCL for the entertainment options. We really enjoyed the Blue Man Group, Cirque show, 2nd City comedy etc on NCL in December last year.

 

Its been a few years (5 actually, it was our honeymoon) since we've been on CCL but neither of us was impressed by the entertainment on the Legend when we were on board.

 

On both ships we enjoyed the food, yes on NCL there are several food options you pay for, but we mainly ate in the buffet and liked it quite a bit (nutella crepes, pretty much I'm sold at that point). The nights we ate in the MDR we didn't find the service slow, it wasn't lightning speed but we weren't in a hurry, so we were fine. We ate in the brazillian steak house and also had a few sushi rolls while we were on board and felt that for the addl cost the food was wonderful and great quantity per $$ spent.

 

The room size on NCL was smaller for the balcony cabin than I remember for CCL, but that wasn't a deal breaker for us, I spend most of my time in the room on the balcony to be honest.

 

On CCL we did more of the ship excursions and we *loved* them, on NCL we did our own thing and so I can't really speak to the excursions. (we've travelled more in the last 5 yrs than we had on our honeymoon so I did more reserach and we booked our own things when we cruised last year)

 

 

 

All things considered they're both great, we're cruising CCL with friends in March and I'm super excited!!

 

 

I would agree that NCL and CCL are more similar than different - EXCEPT for entertainment. NCL wins that one....no question!

 

 

Sent from my iPad using Forums

[Sauer-kraut]

Better activities on Carnival: comedy shows every night ( family and over 18), love and marriage show, karaoke in the cigar bar, of course clubs and bars and a nightly event each night. Mexican buffet at 1130pm, the best ice cream I've ever tasted, late night hot tub parties that led to bathrobe parties on the Lido deck ( they give everyone cushy robes for those cool nights on deck).

I could go on and on.... Researching my next trip, I hope to be on the Breeze next year⚓️

 

Wow! I have never experienced the bathrobe parties on CCL. In fact, I was just off the Breeze and I think you'll be disappointed as they only have soft serve ice cream, unless you want to pay extra for Gelato.

 

Also, you'll find that NCL offers karaoke nearly every night so no difference there with CCL. Not So Newlywed game is also on both lines. As to the dancing and singing waiters....UGH! Just a personal preference that I enjoy fewer theatrics in the MDR

[qianabb]

Wow! I have never experienced the bathrobe parties on CCL. In fact, I was just off the Breeze and I think you'll be disappointed as they only have soft serve ice cream, unless you want to pay extra for Gelato.

 

 

 

Also, you'll find that NCL offers karaoke nearly every night so no difference there with CCL. Not So Newlywed game is also on both lines. As to the dancing and singing waiters....UGH! Just a personal preference that I enjoy fewer theatrics in the MDR

 

 

The night that we sailed after Cozumel was cool and windy. Everyone up on deck kept going back to get their robes. So it was unofficial but once 100 people are wearing the same thing and dancing on deck, I'd call that a party lol.

 

They don't have the same ice cream on the Breeze? That would be a let down. I was looking at the Breeze for the kids. It was rated one of the best for families.

 

 

 

Sent from my iPhone using Forums

Edited November 2, 2014 by qianabb

[Cruising4]

Take care to compare NCL ship to CCL ship, and not just NCL to CCL.

 

Our last two cruises were on NCL and we are looking forward to the Breeze in Feb.

 

AHHH .. entertainment ..... We loved Blue Man, Howling at the Moon. Would have enjoyed a comedian but NCL doesn't have them. On the Epic, I would have enjoyed a movie under the stars.

 

We are easy going, and will make the best of whatever comes along.

 

Change is good, while there is comfort with the familiar.

[gck1249]

We try all different Cruise lines but Carnival is our favorite. We had a chance to cruise on the Getaway last week and while we had a good cruise, for us we can't wait to be back on Carnival in 3 weeks.

 

The cabins were about the smallest we have ever seen. As we are friends and use 2 beds, when they put them apart mine was almost in the closet, i had to sit on my bed to open it. So my friend used the couch as his closet for a week and it was difficult for me to even get to the balcony, a small one at that.

 

The buffet was ok, but most days there wasn't anything I wanted to eat. I had salad most every lunch. We tried a couple of the Specialty restaurants and loved Cagny's, and also the Brazilian steakhouse, really good food. The MDR was decent, slow service but the food was ok. I like Carnival choices for lunch much better.

 

As for entertainment we much prefer Carnival. We loved the NCL shows but hated the system of booking in advance and having each evening scripted out. At this time we were here at dinner, then 8pm is this show this night, way too planned out for me. Then after your one show of the evening there really was nothing. The younger people were all upstairs at the Spice area which was rained out a couple of nights, lots and lots of people at the huge casino, and ending up spending more time in the cabin at night watching TV. We missed having the comedy club almost every night to go to or the Piano Bar where we enjoy going to. Especially missed the deck parties and all of our favorite cruise directors. Here they were present at indroductions, then gone.

 

Always wanting to try new ships i truly think i had build my expectations up so high for this ship and wanting to go on it for so long that when i did it just didn't live up to the hype. All in all a Cruise is what you make it and we had a good time being on vacation but when we talked about it on the drive home we were going around and around about what was missing for us, the cabin was clean, the att was nice when we saw him, the staff very pleasant always saying hello, so what was it, FUN, that was what was missing for us that we always find on Carnival, for us it truly is the Fun ships.

 

That being said i think anything can get stale and it is always a good thing to venture out and try new lines and see for yourself what you like. Opinions are so subjective as we are all different people with different wants and needs and even with myself those change from time to time.