NCL Experience for RCI and Carnival Crusiers

[pajazz28]

My DW and I have been on 6 cruises 3-RCI and 3-Carnival. We prefer RCI classier, service and bigger ships but travel Carnival for the obvious reason savings $$$. But after our last 3 cruises on Carinval and RCI the are really do not seeming all that different to us for what we enjoy doing. So we heard some good thing from RCI loyal customers on the Allure about their recent cruise on NCL. So we would like to hear from RCI lovers and Carnival cruiser that have taken an NCL cruise to compare the three cruise line and give us some guidance because we may be taking NCL on our next cruise.

[mrobstad]

I've only cruised the Carnival Paradise thirteen years ago, but I'm one trip from diamond on RCCL and I now, more often, choose NCL. I switched from RCCL to NCL for the studio cabins, which may not apply to your situation also. My first NCL trip was on the Epic. There were so many innovations! Great water slides, fantastic entertainment, super speciality restaurants.....the only thing I really missed was the solarium, found on Radiance class ships. The decor is also hip and funky, if anyone uses that word anymore. Last year, I cruised on the Getaway. All the same great features with the added bonus of being able to dine outside in the speciality restaurants. On NCL, there's lots for kids to do, but I'm guessing that's true on newer RCCL ships, too. Finally, I have a great PCC and I think NCL appears better at upgrading if the price drops....but, RCCL treats repeaters better, if that matters.....

 

 

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[cot427]

My DW and I have been on 6 cruises 3-RCI and 3-Carnival. We prefer RCI classier, service and bigger ships but travel Carnival for the obvious reason savings $$$. But after our last 3 cruises on Carinval and RCI the are really do not seeming all that different to us for what we enjoy doing. So we heard some good thing from RCI loyal customers on the Allure about their recent cruise on NCL. So we would like to hear from RCI lovers and Carnival cruiser that have taken an NCL cruise to compare the three cruise line and give us some guidance because we may be taking NCL on our next cruise.

 

I am a loyal to Royal Caribbean cruiser (20+, working my way to Diamond Plus) and have been on 3 regretable Carnival cruises. I can honestly say after trying NCL I will never sail on Carnival again. It's now either RCI or NCL.

 

With that being said, I booked a 7-night E. Caribbean cruise on the Getaway for the summer. I jumped ship from the Oasis because the price was just too high for the summer and I'm already scheduled to sail her in the fall. A couple weeks ago I saw the Breakaway's 2 night CTNs and I just had to go. Found a great price for the 1/30 sailing and booked! Glad I did! It was a great 'teaser' for what to expect.

 

The Breakaway is a great and beautiful ship. The service on NCL Breakaway is what I was used to on Royal years ago, however it has gone way down over the past few years. I grew tired of the increasingly poor service, dining, and entertainment (still love the ships!) But with Breakaway, it's all new. The ship is laid out well, it is very open and bright, lots of attractions, bars, restaurants, lounges, etc. I have to say that the food, service, and entertainment on NCL were top notch. I enjoyed all of the shows from the comedy club to Rock of Ages, Cirque ($) and the sneak peak of Burn the Floor in the Manhattan Room.

 

The only thing I was concerned about was the pool area (which I obviously didn't get to use last weekend.) There are only two pools, one main and one near the slides, presumable for kids. But I shall test that out on the Getaway in the summer.

 

Feel free to ask any questions you may have for comparing the 3.

[JemzRoo]

The service on NCL Breakaway is what I was used to on Royal years ago, however it has gone way down over the past few years. I grew tired of the increasingly poor service, dining, and entertainment (still love the ships!) But with Breakaway, it's all new. The ship is laid out well, it is very open and bright, lots of attractions, bars, restaurants, lounges, etc. I have to say that the food, service, and entertainment on NCL were top notch.

 

Glad you enjoyed Breakaway. I had a different experience but would be more than willing to try NCL again. I've got my eye on Bliss/Escape.

 

I found Breakaway, after being only a year old, dated with many signs of excessive wear and tear. And entire column of tiles was missing at Spice, for example - it looked tacky. The layout drove me insane needing to walk through the Casino to get almost anywhere, and the service was horrendous - I never once saw my cabin steward the entire 7 days, the dining waiters seemed to not care about service and the food was cold on at least three occasions. I did have positive experiences with a few bartenders, however. I also have no complaints about the entertainment.

 

Given Royals switch to the Dynamic Dining I'm hoping it comes out better than Freestyle - Given how much more time NCL has had to perfect it I can only pray.

Edited February 3, 2015 by JemzRoo

[cot427]

Glad you enjoyed Breakaway. I had a different experience but would be more than willing to try NCL again. I've got my eye on Bliss/Escape.

 

I found Breakaway, after being only a year old, dated with many signs of excessive wear and tear. And entire column of tiles was missing at Spice, for example - it looked tacky. The layout drove me insane needing to walk through the Casino to get almost anywhere, and the service was horrendous - I never once saw my cabin steward the entire 7 days, the dining waiters seemed to not care about service and the food was cold on at least three occasions. I did have positive experiences with a few bartenders, however. I also have no complaints about the entertainment.

 

Given Royals switch to the Dynamic Dining I'm hoping it comes out better than Freestyle - Given how much more time NCL has had to perfect it I can only pray.

 

It's so odd how service can greatly vary depending on who and when. As I said, it was only a 2-night sailing, however I saw my cabin steward more times than my 9-night Explorer of the Seas cruise back in October. He constantly said hi to us, said our names, and asked if we needed anything. Not much you need for 2 nights but great guy.

 

I was so excited to hear about Royal's switch to DD, as the main dining rooms (service and menu) are very tired. However, they scrapped it because of how bad the Quantum is doing with it. They are implementing Classic Dynamic Dining, which is sort of like Disney's Rotational Dining. I am a bit concerned about this too. I think the whole thing is embarrassing for them. They can't even implement a dining experience similar to freestyle without the whole thing going up in flames. I am very disappointed it won't be on my Oasis cruise in fall, even after the redid the main dining rooms to the new dynamic restaurants. Such a shame.

[Alegeeter]

You said Carnival and RCI are pretty comparable for "what you enjoy doing." I ask, what do you enjoy doing on a cruise? That will help us in answering your question.

 

As you can see from my signature, I started out a Carnival cruiser, with a few RCI splashed in, but tried NCL in 2011 and have pretty much stayed with it since. I'll go ahead and tell you what I cruise for and what I enjoy and hopefully some of it resonates with you.

 

Don't get me wrong, I enjoyed my Carnival and RCI cruises but what I noticed after my first NCL cruise on the Gem that what I liked about the other lines, NCL offered too and then some.

 

I cruise for the entertainment, the destinations, the staff, the convenience, and the price. For me, the entertainment on NCL surpasses the other lines. There is something more genuine and family-like about NCL crews. The destinations I've been looking for are comparable (though if you're looking for more exotic itineraries, NCL may not be the best). Having two ships out of NYC that are priced well is an added bonus. I also love the freestyle way - eating at my own time and dressing very casually. It just adds another layer of relaxation to my vacation.

 

The one drawback could be the food in the main dining rooms. I do think Carnival's "free" food is better but I have always found something very good to eat on NCL, and it's usually better than what I'm making myself at home so I have no complaints. Options for specialty dining are numerous and nice to try.

 

I recently tried Carnival again, and while I enjoyed it, there was something missing. I found myself bored more, on a schedule more, and I felt less like a friend and more like a passenger. My personal preference is to NCL but definitely understand that others have different tastes.

 

I think it's best to try it out once and make a decision for yourself. Carnival and RCI will be waiting for you afterwards should you want to go back. :D

[punkincc]

Glad you enjoyed Breakaway. I had a different experience but would be more than willing to try NCL again. I've got my eye on Bliss/Escape.

 

I found Breakaway, after being only a year old, dated with many signs of excessive wear and tear. And entire column of tiles was missing at Spice, for example - it looked tacky. The layout drove me insane needing to walk through the Casino to get almost anywhere, and the service was horrendous - I never once saw my cabin steward the entire 7 days, the dining waiters seemed to not care about service and the food was cold on at least three occasions. I did have positive experiences with a few bartenders, however. I also have no complaints about the entertainment.

 

Given Royals switch to the Dynamic Dining I'm hoping it comes out better than Freestyle - Given how much more time NCL has had to perfect it I can only pray.

 

Word is that Dynamic Dining was a dismal failure and after only a short trial, they are dumping it in favor of a rotational system ala Disney. So, still will be telling you where and when and, I assume, with whom to eat.

[sixesandeights]

My wife and I started as RCCL cruisers. The service and offerings on RCCL started going downhill very fast. Nothing to do after 1am. No where to get food late. Rude service on trip after trip. The final straw for us was them shutting down the dance club (and everywhere else) on a night of our cruise for a crew party. There was literally nothing to do after about 10pm on that night as they shut everything down. We tried NCL and have never looked back. The services is amazing. The food is great. The entertainment was much better. All around NCL beats RCCL for us hands down.....EXCEPT NLC only carries Pepsi....I have no idea why....mixed drinks made with Pepsi IMHO are abominations...fortunately they let you bring soda on board, so a few bottles of Coke and I am good to go. I would 100% recommend NCL to an RCCL cruiser. Your experience will certainly not be worse, and I have every confidence you too will enjoy NCL more. Either way enjoy your cruise.

 

6&8

Edited February 3, 2015 by sixesandeights

[CruiseAtude]

My wife and I started as RCCL cruisers. The service and offerings on RCCL started going downhill very fast. Nothing to do after 1am. No where to get food late. Rude service on trip after trip. The final straw for us was them shutting down the dance club (and everywhere else) on a night of our cruise for a crew party. There was literally nothing to do after about 10pm on that night as they shut everything down. We tried NCL and have never looked back. The services is amazing. The food is great. The entertainment was much better. All around NCL beats RCCL for us hands down.....EXCEPT NLC only carries Pepsi....I have no idea why....mixed drinks made with Pepsi IMHO are abominations...fortunately they let you bring soda on board, so a few bottles of Coke and I am good to go. I would 100% recommend NCL to an RCCL cruiser. Your experience will certainly not be worse, and I have every confidence you too will enjoy NCL more. Either way enjoy your cruise.

 

6&8

 

Is that correct? NCL allows you to bring coke on board? If so you just saved me a bunch of money!!!

[dolita22]

Is that correct? NCL allows you to bring coke on board? If so you just saved me a bunch of money!!!

 

Yes, you can bring Coke onboard. We just did that two weeks ago on the Epic. We taped our room tag to three 12-packs (which were all taped together) and they arrived in our room after most of the luggage. We don't drink Pepsi products, so appreciate that NCL allows us to do this.

[Bird in Jersey]

I have done 2 cruise with Carnival and this year will be my 3rd with NCL. I also did a cruise out of NY 32 years ago(can't remember the cruise line)- that type of customer service is long gone with all cruise lines. One of the biggest reasons for my switch is live music. I thought that people were crazy on other threads, when they talked about DJ and live bands or singers. I love music and there is no comparison to live music vs dj. The live music is fantastic on NCL. I also feel that the buffet on NCL is by far above carnival(dinner time). It is an afterthought on carnival. Love freestyle, even though I do dress to go to dinner(non buffet) most of the nights on the cruise.

[dolita22]

My DW and I have been on 6 cruises 3-RCI and 3-Carnival. We prefer RCI classier, service and bigger ships but travel Carnival for the obvious reason savings $$$. But after our last 3 cruises on Carinval and RCI the are really do not seeming all that different to us for what we enjoy doing. So we heard some good thing from RCI loyal customers on the Allure about their recent cruise on NCL. So we would like to hear from RCI lovers and Carnival cruiser that have taken an NCL cruise to compare the three cruise line and give us some guidance because we may be taking NCL on our next cruise.

 

I've sailed RCCL twice, Carnival three times and NCL three times.

NCL has been my favorite line mainly because of the Freestyle concept -- eat when you want, where you want and with whom you want. Other lines just don't do their version of Freestyle as well as NCL does, IMO.

 

Also, on NCL we don't have to take dress clothes for dinner. On our Epic cruise a couple weeks ago, I wore sundresses and my DH work shorts and Hawaiian shirts. So much easier to pack (we have to fly to port)!

 

Entertainment has always been very good and with plenty of options on NCL. On our RCCL cruise last year on the Indy, we felt quite limited entertainment-wise and like they were always pushing you to go to bars and drink for entertainment. We are drinkers, but appreciate the shows and other non-bar focused offerings on NCL.

 

NCL is a good balance of Carnival and RCCL. There were some things we appreciated on our RCCL cruise last year (love those hot tubs that hang off the side of the ship!) and on my Carnival cruises, but NCL fits our cruise persona better at this point in life.

 

Whatever you decide, have a great trip!

[graphicguy]

Been on CCL, and RCCL, and HAL, and Celebrity, and NCL. I'm not loyal to any one cruise line. To me, I don't know how one can have a bad time on ANY CRUISE!

 

Distinct differences, though. Carnival won't have the best entertainment, not the best free food. What they do offer is a lot of "bang for the buck". They won't have the big entertainment productions that RCCL and NCL offer. But, they will have smaller entertainmen productions that are fun, but not quite as polished as the rest. CCL and RCCL food is comparable, at least in the buffet and Dining rooms. Service is similar on both, too.

 

If you want to dress up for "formal nights", RCCL is probably your best bet, but even there, suits and dresses are in the minority on RCCL these days. And, they're becoming a smaller and smaller minority. I felt way overcrowded on the Allure. That doesn't irritate me as much as it does others. But, I was keenly aware there were 6,000 passengers on board.

 

Not a complaint, because who in their right mind would complain being on a cruise. But, the Allure lay out pushes people inward. Even a lot of their balcony cabins don't overlook the water, but what they consider the "boardwalk" area. If I'm on a ship, nothing pleases me more than to sit on my balcony, overlooking the water, the sunrise, the sunset and whatever port the ship happens to be in. Otherwise, I'll take a land based vacation.

 

In fairness, only the Oasis class ships seem to do that. My FOS cruise did not.

 

CCL and NCL have wonderful outside areas for dining, drinking, just hannging out. One of my favorite things to do on my Epic and Breakaway cruises was to go to Fat Cats for entertainment after all the "main shows" were over, and to just sit in the outside area, listening to the band while watching the water drift by.

 

Cabins on all are similar. You'll find some who don't like one little thing or another on their ship regarding their cabin. But, overall they're pretty much the same. Great beds, small toilet/shower area. Plenty of storage, at least for me.

 

The trump card with NCL is their solo cabins, if you aren't traveling with someone else. And, their Haven Suites. The level of service I had on the Breakaway Haven Suite was indescribable. I've been to 5 star hotels and restaurants and never had that level of service....simply outstanding!!!!!!! Of course, you pay for that. The cabins are generally nicer. The Haven restaurant is better than what you get with the Main Dining rooms or the Buffet, but it's wonderful.

 

The ships themselves...at least the newer ones, are all top notch. Allure is a ship to behold. You can walk around for 3 days and still not cover everyhting that makes up the Allure. Service was good. But, find one or two drinking or dining places where you befriend the crew. With a ship that big, you won't receive any personal service unless you do. We had our favorite bartender, who treated us well. Same for the staff at Giovanis, where we really enjoyed dining.

 

CCL, same thing. Find a batender and dining waitstaff person and befriend them (tipping helps immensely). Go to them consistently, and you'll have a great experience.

 

NCL....touched on their service. It was good when I was a solo cruiser. IT was above and beyond in the Haven Suite.

 

I happened to like the entertainment better on the NCL cruises more than on any other ship I had sailed. Blue Man Group, Burn the Floor, Cirque, Fat Cats, Rock of Ages, etc.....better than anything we had ever experienced at sea.

 

RCCL is good with their big productions. Enjoyed them. Enjoyed NCL more.

 

CCL, as mnetioned, doesn't quite try to compate on entertainment. They do have a lot of it, though. So, you're bound to find something for everyone.

 

Specialty restaurants on both NCL and RCCL are comparable....that is to say, very good. CCL, I limited my dining to their MAin Dining Room and buffet. While good, it's not as good as NCL and RCCL's specialty restaurants.

 

Last I checked, an ocean view balcony on RCCL's newer ships cost more than a Haven Suite on NCL. That's a no brainer to me....NCL. NCL ships are beautiful, just a tad smaller than RCCL's biggest. CCL's newest ships aren't slouches. They're quite nice, too. I just prefer having the ocean just a glance away, which you won't get on the newer RCCL ships.

 

This is getting long winded. If you pinned me down to a favorite, it would have to be NCL. But, I like them all.

 

I'm looking to NCL for our next cruise, however.

[PatfromPa]

I just cruised on the NCL Getaway and I absolutely had a wonderful experience.

As a VIP of Carnival,I can honestly say The Getway was the best ship I have been on. It is a new ship 2014, and I wasn't sure if I would like this size ship, but I never felt crowded or had to stand in any lines. The buffet area is set up in stations which is a great way to have the buffet. The only drawback of the ship is the balconys are very small and I mean small.Only two straightback chairs and a tiny table. Another thing I was not familiar with is you have to make reservations for the complimentary shows, so do this either on line or as soon as you can when you board, this was not explained to me and thank goodness I heard another passenger talking about making reservations or would have probably missed out on some really fantastic shows. I really like NCL and would definately cruise again. I will still continue with Carnival but if the itinerarys are similiar for the cruise I want I will probaly book NCL. As an avid cruiser any cruise is a good cruise some are just better than others

[mrobstad]

Good job graphic guy.

 

 

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[graphicguy]

Good job graphic guy.

 

 

Sent from my iPad using Forums mobile app

 

Thanks...hope it helped at least one person.

Edited February 4, 2015 by graphicguy

[pe4all]

We have sailed on 17 CCL's (#18 coming up next week), 1 RCCL, 3 NCL's (#4 coming up this summer - not booked yet, #5 for NYE 2015) and have enjoyed each and every cruise. Every line has its' own positives. We began to "wander" from Carnival to get new experiences after the same old same old. We loved the entertainment and atrium on Royal. Service was comparatible - did not see any major differences. Dining room food (for us) was worse than Carnival. Ate literally only 1/2 of every meal - and we are not foodies - very easy to please. Buffet was set up nicely. For the price we paid, we will not sail Royal again unless we hit a good deal.

 

We absolutely love NCL. Their entertainment/shows blows Carnival away. Cabins are a bit smaller on the newer ships. Love their buffet setup, and love O'Sheehans on the newer ships. Their ropes course (newer ships) and slides are also great. Believe it or not - we have never eaten in the dining rooms on NCL. We swore we would never pay for a restaurant on any ship - but tried it on NCL, and love the free-style dining idea. On Carnival's newer ships you have the Steakhouse and La Cucina (LC is free at lunch - pay at dinner only). Love Howl at the Moon on NCL! (Carnival also has piano bar - but it is not dueling pianos, and entertainers are hit and miss)

 

We have been to all ports so many times already, we use the ship as a destination. NCL's Casino at Sea treats us very nicely with prices - so that is a major deciding factor in which line to cruise. (Carnival also sends us offers - but not at times I can sail - while NCL will honor the price on pretty much any sailing anytime - hence Epic this past Christmas and Getaway next NYE).

 

While Carnival will give you more bang for your buck, I am starting to really like NCL. I will not sail the same ship over and over, as I enjoy seeing different entertainment - and NCL's newer/bigger ships seem to offer that!

Edited February 4, 2015 by pe4all

[funat55]

You said Carnival and RCI are pretty comparable for "what you enjoy doing." I ask, what do you enjoy doing on a cruise? That will help us in answering your question.

 

As you can see from my signature, I started out a Carnival cruiser, with a few RCI splashed in, but tried NCL in 2011 and have pretty much stayed with it since. I'll go ahead and tell you what I cruise for and what I enjoy and hopefully some of it resonates with you.

 

Don't get me wrong, I enjoyed my Carnival and RCI cruises but what I noticed after my first NCL cruise on the Gem that what I liked about the other lines, NCL offered too and then some.

 

I cruise for the entertainment, the destinations, the staff, the convenience, and the price. For me, the entertainment on NCL surpasses the other lines. There is something more genuine and family-like about NCL crews. The destinations I've been looking for are comparable (though if you're looking for more exotic itineraries, NCL may not be the best). Having two ships out of NYC that are priced well is an added bonus. I also love the freestyle way - eating at my own time and dressing very casually. It just adds another layer of relaxation to my vacation.

 

The one drawback could be the food in the main dining rooms. I do think Carnival's "free" food is better but I have always found something very good to eat on NCL, and it's usually better than what I'm making myself at home so I have no complaints. Options for specialty dining are numerous and nice to try.

 

I recently tried Carnival again, and while I enjoyed it, there was something missing. I found myself bored more, on a schedule more, and I felt less like a friend and more like a passenger. My personal preference is to NCL but definitely understand that others have different tastes.

 

I think it's best to try it out once and make a decision for yourself. Carnival and RCI will be waiting for you afterwards should you want to go back. :D

 

After reading the quoted post, I thought, wow that sounds like what I would have written. I like the size of the cabins on Carnival but when I saw my cabin on the NCL Pearl I thought, wow how luxurious even for a small cabin. For the most part, I find the lines more similar then different although I prefer the larger ships. I love the "mall" shopping area on Royal.

[Iluvcruising2]

After 7 with Royal, we sailed on the NCL Jade for the first time last Dec in a 2 bedroom penthouse suite (non-haven) and loved it! The suite life on NCL is fantastic.

 

We squeezed 6 pax into the suite (4 adults and 2 kids) so it was very good value. All of us could get suite perks!

 

[YOUTUBE]POIy0VzgXGw[/YOUTUBE]

[mbglib]

Hello, I have seen reference to booking shows on some Norwegian ships. Do I need to do this on the Star? I have looked online to book and there seems to be no way to do this online.

Also, for CCL cruisers, if you have used Carnival's Funville where one can set up his on forum and post for free while onboard and family members at home can reply, can you tell me if there is anything similar on the Star?

Thank you!

[mrobstad]

I think booking entertainment is just for the newer ships that have more upscale entertainment. On NCL, I've only cruised on the newer ships, but on RCCL! I've cruised older ships with the typical college singers and dancers.....to me, it's a key factor in choosing newer, and thus more expensive, ships. Sorry I sound like an entertainment snob, but I love venues like Legends, BMG, Fat Cats Jazz and premium comedians....

 

 

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