Celebrity Elite Plus does NCL

[kelmac]

Hello Everyone!

 

My wife and I just returned from a seven day cruise on NCL's Jewel. NCL, right?:eek: The Jewel leaves from Bayport in Houston, TX -- which is a short nonstop flight for us. We were originally going to cruise the Reflection out of Florida, but spring time flight costs were sky high and we were ready to try something different.

 

Little background:

 

Our last NCL cruise was in 2001, out of NYC. I've always thought we would never again cruise with NCL as the food was very mediocre and the whole "Freestyle" thing was lame. A couple of friends recommended we give them another try, as their new ships offered so much more than the "old days" of Norwegian. I agreed my negative thoughts of NCL may be just a bit dated, so off we went. In addition, we've stopped cruising Princess and HAL for a variety of reasons (another thread), so we needed more lines to fill our "rotation".

 

Here is my quick review of our experience:

 

The Good:

 

-- Using the UDP (ultimate dining package, $119 p/p) the food was excellent! We ate three nights in Le Bistro, two nights in Cagney's, one night in Teppanyaki, and one night in La Cucina. This is very hard for me to say, but the beef in Cagney's and Le Bistro was better than anything Celebrity is offering these days. :o I know, very hard to believe.

 

-- We did lunch in the MDR (Tsar's Palace) and it was very good. We also made a couple of visits to O'Sheehan's; basic, but good.

 

-- Entertainment was top notch! After 53 cruises we rarely go to the main theater, but this cruise we only missed two nights. Kind of refreshing. It was packed, and people were in to it! Show times really worked for us.

 

-- Cabin was a little smaller, but well designed. Bright colors; nice bathroom; king size bed! Balcony was standard.

 

-- Over all cost of the cruise was less than other lines, but the "perks" can add up fast. The Haven is off the charts expensive; sort of like the best house in the worst neighborhood.:rolleyes: Can you tell, we aren't suite people?

 

-- A 360º wrap around promenade deck!!!!! :D Celebrity's epic failure -- no true promenade deck. This is a big deal to us! We can only hope the Edge class of ships adds this excellent feature.

 

-- Pleasant, happy and for the most part, professional service thoughout the ship. Great CD and onboard activities.

 

-- No more smoking on their balconies!

 

-- Carry off disembarkation was the best we've experienced. Out our cabin door, off the ship and to a taxi -- 20 minutes total.

 

The Bad:

 

-- Too many people on the ship. There were many areas that felt private, but at times the crowds were ever present.

 

-- Smoking in the Casino, but not as bad as Holland America or Princess.

 

-- The Freestyle still causes problems with the cabin steward matching up with your habits. Many times our cabin was not cleaned until late morning and turn down service was later than we usually returned to our cabin. He was good, but there was no "flow" like you get on Celebrity.

 

-- Smoking stations all over the ship. Seemed like there was one every twenty yards on the promenade deck. Having said that, it wasn't that much of a problem on our cruise.

 

-- Loads of kids, but we expected that. Younger cruisers overall, but it's nice to have that energy. They handle kids better than most lines.

 

-- Everything about the buffet. Stay out of there!

 

The Ugly:

 

-- Embarkation is "en masse" and a very slow.

 

-- NCL is offering it's version of the 1,2,3 Go package. Many families end up with the UDP and are dragging their kids to the alternative restaurants. Not a major problem, but a two year old can change the atmosphere in these venues. Worst night was in Teppanyaki, with seven of the 24 spaces occupied with children under the age of 10.

 

-- The cabin toilet stall -- I'm 6'2" and it's a good thing there was a "pull up bar" or I might have been pinned in there. I'm sure the really big people don't even attempt this space? :eek:

 

Overall, we were very pleased with our experience on the Jewel. It makes the grade and we will be returning to NCL in the future!

 

Enjoy!

Kel

Edited April 9, 2015 by kelmac

[deise17311]

We went on NCL Dawn (sister to Jewel) to New England a few years ago and loved it...we only ate in the specialty restaurants and believe they are the best we have had including Celebrity, Princess, and Azamara...with that said, we don't like lots of kids and families and prefer Celebrity as you do but would do NCL again (except EPIC) if the itinerary was right. We liked the bright colors - made if more fun and less "W" hotel which it seems Celebrity has become...We are also Elite on X.

[cruzfiend]

Thanks for your review. We are trying NCL Getaway in Dec. for a family cruise. Like you said with their special (kids were free) we thought it was too good not to go. :)

[monicajay]

Thanks for your fair and honest review. I'm always surprised that NCL gets such a bad rap.

 

With our limited experience we preferred Celebrity but would certainly consider another NCL cruise in the future. Especially since they have now added a Bevy plan.

 

Yes, love those rap around Promenade Decks! It is something I really miss when not there.

[Texed]

Kel,

 

Thanks for posting. We might have to try the Jewel, she is right down the road. ;)

[4774Papa]

We cruise X and NCL, enjoying both. Celebrity is our first choice, but Celebrity's prices seem to be growing faster.

Celebrity has better food and consistently better service. I would agree that the NCL specialty restaurants are excellent, but we find the food is about on the same level as Celebrity's MDR. The difference is that you have to pay extra for the specialty restaurants.

 

NCL's shore excursions tend to be higher, but we usually book private tours.

 

NCL's entertainment is slightly better than Celebrity.

[rjrpar]

We cruise X and NCL, enjoying both. Celebrity is our first choice, but Celebrity's prices seem to be growing faster.

Celebrity has better food and consistently better service. I would agree that the NCL specialty restaurants are excellent, but we find the food is about on the same level as Celebrity's MDR. The difference is that you have to pay extra for the specialty restaurants.

 

NCL's shore excursions tend to be higher, but we usually book private tours.

 

NCL's entertainment is slightly better than Celebrity.

 

 

Everyone is different but we find Celebrity food in the MDR to be good but on a par with other cruise lines. To compare it to specialty restaurants on other lines seems a real stretch

[helen haywood]

Thanks for your review! We, too, are Elite Plus and are going to try our first NCL cruise on Getaway in September. Celebrity doesn't sail the Caribbean in September and I was intrigued by the Waterfront concept on this ship.

[portofrome]

Thanks for your review. I will try my first NCL on May.

[CruisingChick]

Thanks for your review. I'm glad you enjoyed the food with the UDP, but you did have to pay extra for it. I would love to know what NCL's MDR food is like for dinner as I heard very negative things about it.

 

Glad you to hear you enjoyed your sailing.

[Algebralovr]

Thanks for the update.

I looked at a NCL Panama Canal cruise that had an awesome price, but didn't pull the trigger. In my case, glad I did not. The continuation of the smoking being allowed inside (it cannot be completely avoided when it is) and the multitude of smoking stations outside let me know I should stick to X for now.

 

I'm glad they banned it on balconies - it is a start. I look forward to the day when I can sail on more than X with my intolerance for smoking.

[ISABELLA]

Being Elite plus, here is my 2 cents on NCL.

We took NCL Jewel to Bermuda from Boston about 3 years ago.

Negative:

Value: expensive ( balcony cabin)

Furniture in the cabin is cheap and unattractive.

Food in free venues is not eatable.

Very crowded, especially around the pool area.

Ship layout is odd.

Positive:

Entertainment was very good.

Convenient sailing from Boston - 20 min from home.

Result: For the price - would not sail with NCL.

[ECCruise]

Will chime in here since we have done around 35 days on NCL (Dawn and Jade) and 36 days on Celebrity (Eclipse 3 x) in the last year or so.

 

Most recent experience was on the Jade last month for 21 days.

 

Food: Still find Celebrity's MDR food a notch above NCL in quality but for sure not variety. NCL had up to 13 main choices every night (some ships have up to 15) and about a dozen starter choices nightly. Made it much more enjoyable on a long cruise, since we did on both Jade and Eclipse. Buffet setup on =X= is better but better variety on NCL including more theme nights based on where we were sailing (Greece, Turkey, Mediterranean nights, e.g.). Specialty restaurants slightly better on =X= but we feel the prices (in the $50 range) are absurd. NCL restaurants less than half that price and more than adequate.

 

Entertainment: NCL wins easily here. Much better overall in style, theme, variety and execution. The production show "Elements" was by far the best show we have seen on 60+ cruises. Nothing on =X= compares. Also, more individual entertainment throughout the ship every night in different venues. Celebrity's entertainment is fine, but simply, in our opinion, cannot compare.

 

Service and marketing: Celebrity still better overall but the gap has shrunk considerably in the last 4-5 years. MDR service definitely better on =X=. That will probably never change. Specialty restaurant service definitely comparable, so combined with the excellent food and the huge price difference, we give the nod to NCL there. There also was the intangible feeling, somehow, that we were more appreciated on NCL than on =X=. Can't exactly say why, but felt more like a customer than a "mark" for being sold something. Yes, there are lots more announcements on NCL than =X= but the Captain doesn't become a shill for the Jewelry store (the big "ribbon cutting" ceremony, e.g. which we consider beyond bush league). One page insert in the NCL Freestyle Daily basically listing upsell opportunities as opposed to a barrage of paper (including the obnoxious "letters" that are nothing but marketing spin). No marketing emails on the interactive TV on NCL (well, that would probably be because they don't HAVE interactive TV :)) They don't stand outside the buffet trying to sell Specialty dining (or worse, approach you in other venues).

 

The "Smoking Thing": Yes, more opportunities for smokers but never an issue for us (and we are very sensitive). Never walked in the casino once, so no issue. Used the promenade deck but a very slight problem. Really feel that the "problem" is overstated. Plus, we were last on a European based NCL ship (Jade) with a large percentage of European passengers (and thus a much higher incidence of smokers than Americans and Canadians).

 

Summing up: We've sailed Celebrity and NCL both fairly frequently over the last dozen years (20+ on Celebrity and 12 on NCL) and will continue to do so without qualms (3 long cruises booked on both in the next couple years). Never was able to see the reason for the NCL bashing that sometimes goes on here, especially from those who have very limited (or worse, NO) experience sailing the line.

[kelmac]

Kel,

 

Thanks for posting. We might have to try the Jewel, she is right down the road. ;)

 

Hi Ed,

 

The waffle situation may be a problem. Not up to Celebrity standards. :rolleyes::)

Since the ship is just down the road from the "T"man, it may be worth a check out? Bayport is a nice terminal.

 

Enjoy!

Kel:)

[kelmac]

Thanks for your review. I'm glad you enjoyed the food with the UDP, but you did have to pay extra for it. I would love to know what NCL's MDR food is like for dinner as I heard very negative things about it.

 

Glad you to hear you enjoyed your sailing.

 

Hi CC,

 

To Celebritise an NCL cruise, the UDP is a must. We never did an evening meal in the MDRs, but that's the point. Our balcony cabin price was less than our CAT 10 inside on the Reflection (same dates), but like I said, the up charges to improve the experience, start bringing the price up. This version of NCL is better than standard HAL, Princess or RCL. (IMHO)

Celebrity is always going to be our first choice, but this a pretty darn good alternative.

 

Enjoy!

Kel:)

[CruisingChick]

Hi CC,

 

To Celebritise an NCL cruise, the UDP is a must. We never did an evening meal in the MDRs, but that's the point. Our balcony cabin price was less than our CAT 10 inside on the Reflection (same dates), but like I said, the up charges to improve the experience, start bringing the price up. This version of NCL is better than standard HAL, Princess or RCL. (IMHO)

Celebrity is always going to be our first choice, but this a pretty darn good alternative.

 

Enjoy!

Kel:)

 

Thanks Kel. That's what I thought that in order to cruise NCL we would have to do the Specialty Restaurants.

 

I was not overly impressed with RCL MDR food, but didn't think it too bad. Definitely not as good as Celebrity. We have not sailed Princess or HAL.

[kelmac]

Thanks Kel. That's what I thought that in order to cruise NCL we would have to do the Specialty Restaurants.

 

I was not overly impressed with RCL MDR food, but didn't think it too bad. Definitely not as good as Celebrity. We have not sailed Princess or HAL.

 

Hi CC,

 

We had kind of given up on RCL after our 2004 Vision cruise, but tried the Radiance in 2009 and things seemed much better; tried the Allure in 2012 and it was great; did the Navigator this past Thanksgiving and we were impressed -- so we are going to try the brand new Anthem this June. They have a new dining system called Dynamic Dining, and it sounds similar to the UDP deal we had with NCL.

 

Celebrity is still our number one choice, but we will continue to cruise Cunard, Royal Caribbean, and now NCL. Didn't like the food or the atmosphere on Princess, although we keep trying, and Holland America has become the traditional line for smokers and old people. I know Celebrity and Cunard has old people, but their parents cruise HAL.

 

Would love to cruise with Azamara and Oceania more often, but it's too expensive. Crystal, Regent, Seabourne, Silversea……………….some day!:)

 

Enjoy!

Kel

[TommyD3]

Hello Everyone!

 

-- Using the UDP (ultimate dining package, $119 p/p) the food was excellent! We ate three nights in Le Bistro, two nights in Cagney's, one night in Teppanyaki, and one night in La Cucina.

 

Was the $119 per person for the entire 7 night cruise ($17 per night)?

Is that the normal rate or due to some promotion (like Celebrity 123Go)?

Did you have a beverage package - if so was it part of a promotion?

 

It has been many years since I have sailed NCL. The poor cabin service is what caused me to stop sailing with them. I do really like their specialty dining!!!

 

Thanks.

[kelmac]

Was the $119 per person for the entire 7 night cruise ($17 per night)?

Is that the normal rate or due to some promotion (like Celebrity 123Go)?

Did you have a beverage package - if so was it part of a promotion?

 

It has been many years since I have sailed NCL. The poor cabin service is what caused me to stop sailing with them. I do really like their specialty dining!!!

 

Thanks.

 

Hi TD3,

 

We purchased the UDP for $119 each for the entire week (online before the cruise). That's their standard price. They are now offering packages that include the Dining Package and the Drink Package, Plus free gratuities and a small amount of OBC. Like Celebrity, most of the time you chose one of the four. Our balcony cabin was in the $700 range, and so you add the UDP, and you are up to $820, but not bad. Next spring we are on the Reflection + ALL parts of the 1,2,3Go package for about $1240 each. You wouldn't want to cruise NCL without the UDP!

 

Enjoy!

Kel:)

[OCruisers]

Kel .... Really appreciated your review! :)

Seems it's still best to stay in a suite and eat in specialty dining rooms on NCL.

LuLu

[Dr. Cocktail]

Great review! In 2013 after sailing on Celebrity with about 240 days on board, we realized that the product no longer provided what we wanted in a cruise.

 

We found Oceania a wee bitty precious with some of the nastiest cruisers we have ever encountered.

 

We tried both the Breakaway and the Getaway in the Haven last year and were shell-shocked at how good it was. Fabulous suites, butler service, private sundeck, pool, lounge and dining room.

 

In the evenings, entertainment options that leave Celebrity in the dust and specialty restaurants that we found far superior to Celebrity at half the cost.

 

When booking the Haven last year, we were given on board credits and complimentary dining packages. This year, the prices are much higher but they are throwing in open bar, open dining, gratuities and on board credit.

 

We were also leery after all the anti NCL reviews but it is presently our "go-to" cruise line.

 

p

[sunshine nana]

As I recently said on another thread (princess), Ncl is a great choice for Hawaii if you do not want to spend many sea days (for me with motion sickness), fly to Hawaii and go on NCL around the islands. That was how we found NCL. We have been on 3 NCL cruises, Hawaii, and 2 Med cruises. Again, get a suite and eat in the specialties.

[Texed]

Hi Ed,

The waffle situation may be a problem. Not up to Celebrity standards. :rolleyes::)

Since the ship is just down the road from the "T"man, it may be worth a check out? Bayport is a nice terminal. Enjoy! Kel:)

 

Bummer about the waffles. But, if Jewel is pretty good, MAYBE I could make it a week without Celebrity waffles. ;)

[Tall Jersey Girl]

Cruised on the breakaway January 2014. It was horrible. Service was horrendous. The MDR was a joke. Smoke was another problem. The ships common areas were way too crowded. Specialty restaurants and entertainment were good.

 

I will never cruise NCL again.

[Germancruiser]

Not very surprising that many loyal X customers try different brands- X is doing everything they can to send them away. Maybe we got 123 go quite wrong...!