Disappointing

[justhappy]

You sound like us. We have done 11 on DCL and now we are just tired of it. Plus I have felt like the quality is going down (and, of course, the price is going up. But that's across the board with all cruise lines).

 

I think you will like NCL. Our getaway cruise had tons to do and we loved all the shows and lounges. Our favorites were the mojito bar (and when it was too crowded inside it was usually pretty empty outside) and the Key west bar. Have a great time! :)

 

Thanks! We look forward to the Mojito bar, having heard so many great reviews. We'll have the UBP so we plan to visit early and often, lol!

[eroller]

Having cruised a number of times with Disney and RCL and also have a couple more booked (Wonder and Oasis!) We decided to try NCL .........Now although it's hard to put a finger on what it's missing it is definitely missing something! The foods not AMAZING!!!! The ambience is average and the staff are adequate! I shall stay with Disney and RCL in future as they are guaranteed AMAZING!!! Albeit in different ways!!!! We met a couple who had cruised 15+ times with NCL and loved it but wouldn't try the competition.......sad as they are missing out on something very special!

 

 

I'm a big fan of Disney and Royal Caribbean as well, and vowed never to sail on EPIC (hideous looking!). Anyway I sailed on GETAWAY and was totally impressed. Then I actually sailed on EPIC and really enjoyed that too. This is after an absence of many years on NCL due to very mediocre experiences.

 

One thing I will say that you may have missed on NCL is the "wow factor" with the ship itself. They are really lacking that. Even NCL's newest ships don't have that wow factor like Royal Caribbean and Disney have. I'm talking about the impressive atrium as you enter, the Royal Promenade, ice skating rinks, three level dining rooms, massive show rooms, etc. Everything on NCL is smaller and doesn't drop your jaw in awe. This being said, especially on GETAWAY I didn't miss it. The ship had such a great vibe and flow, and it made up the physical wows in many other ways. GETAWAY also seemed upgraded in decor and appearance to EPIC. Just overall more refined and much brighter with far more windows and of course an outdoor promenade that EPIC lacks. EPIC was a one-off experiment with NCL. Sort of a failed design to be honest. Many aspects are repeated on newer NCL ships but they are refined, enhanced, and perfected.

 

Perhaps give NCL another try (provided they don't continue to add on more fees and restrictions). I think you might really enjoy the new NORWEGIAN ESCAPE. I really think this ship will be a winner provided NCL's new management doesn't screw it up royally.

[Cauzneffct]

I'd say give it another shot if there is an itinerary that appeals to you and if the price is right. You might have a completely different experience.

 

I think you framed this the right way. I frequently see people who suggest that people just "give it another shot" or, following some of the recent changes, to go ahead and take the cruise to see how the changes affect them, as if we're talking about trying a candy bar and not a (potentially) multi-thousand dollar vacation. If someone didn't have a good time on a ship or a line, I'd suggest they try something else rather than giving it another shot. If a price or itinerary can't be passed up, sure, maybe try again.

[eel]

We have sailed mostly RCL and Celebrity. We tried NCL two years ago on a nearly new Breakaway and had a mixed experience. On the one hand the Breakaway had some very innovative features such as the outdoor dining area, water slides and such. Specialty restaurants were good and the entertainment was as good as anything I have had on a cruise ship (although our recent Quantum cruise was slightly better in that department). We had a really good cruise director who made a real effort to connect with guests which we liked.

 

However I did not care for the food and did not appreciate getting a pager when we checked in for dinner at one of the dining rooms. Also the balconies where tiny, the hallways were narrow and crowding seemed to be an issue. Like the OP we just did not feel the wow factor we did on RCL and Celebrity. Maybe it is just what we are used to. In any case we are giving NCL another chance and cruising on Gem in a few weeks.

 

Like some people mentioned, different strokes for different folks! But I do think you should give a cruise line another shot if you are able to and the price/itinerary fit.

Edited May 11, 2015 by eel

[Sparkygirl]

We met a couple who had cruised 15+ times with NCL and loved it but wouldn't try the competition.......sad as they are missing out on something very special!

 

 

Did you ask them why they won't try the competition? In our case it is "sad" that we can not sail RCL or Disney. These "Amazing" cruise lines have told us they can not accommodate our daughter's latex allergy and food allergy in their kids clubs and onboard their ships. We sail NCL and will not choose another line as NO other cruiseline has even considered how they could accommodate a now 4 year old child. I have called, emailed and spoken with the access desk and kids club staff of every mainstream cruiseline. Please don't make judgements against others unless you know the story. We choose our daughter's life over experiencing a Disney cruise! Place yourself in our shoes...sailing on the NCL Dawn docked along the Disney Magic and explain to your 4 year old she will not cruise with Mickey, as it is not safe for her!

 

 

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[klr6773]

We are trying NCL simply because as much as we loved both DCL sailings, we don't have the travel budgets that makes the huge price differences something to ignore. We took our kids out of school in Oct 2 years ago to sail the Fantasy,as there was simply no way to justify paying their rates when kids were out of school. We agreed as they get older, pulling them out of school isn't something we are comfortable doing.

 

We are hoping to love NCL,as it's pricing would allow us to save up and travel much more quickly ( we don't use credit cards for vacations). I swore I would never try Carnival,but I'm even starting to be be willing to try one of their newer ships. We aren't picky eaters,nor do we enjoy dressing up. NCL may land up being a perfect fit for our needs. We will know next month :)

[dadroy]

Comparing cruise lines and ships is difficult, especially when dealing with WOW!!!

 

The first time I went to Las Vegas and checked out the casino's, it was like WOW!

 

Now, I don't even notice the architecture of the new casino's. Or to keep it to Disney, the first time I took my grand son to DisneyLand, he was thrilled. Now, after 10 times, its like okay, I guess I will go.

[fishin' musician]

I personally don't understand the loyalty to any one brand. I've sailed several mainstream lines (MSC being the only exception on ships that call on the US), most multiple times. There are far more similarities between lines than differences and I do have some preferences... but if you didn't care for NCL, so be it, move on to another brand. Some day in the future you may be inclined to check them out, if for nothing else than to confirm your initial impression.

[SissasMomE]

NCL does not have that Wow! factor. That is very true. Not like Princess and RCCL. Disney, I am sure, is over the top with Wowness :D

[maryisme]

Interesting. We've tried a lot of the major lines. We always sail in suites and in comparison to RCCL, NCL does suites waaaaaaaay better! We sailed in an Owner's Suite on RCCL Allure of the Seas last November and thought it was just OK and the service was, at best only average. I also thought the RCCL buffet was very mediocre. The Spa on Epic is drastically better than the spa on RCCL Allure of the Seas. In fact, having now experienced owner suites on both lines, I would never pay extra to be in an Owner's Suite on RCCL again as they don't do anything special for their suite guests: no flower arrangement, no butler service, no bottles of alcohol, no welcome aboard champagne, no afternoon hors d'ouerves, no special breakfast area for suite guests. There was nothing special at all. We just had a bigger cabin. The concierge lounge on Alllure was a zoo at cocktail time and the white wine they served was awful - so bad, after trying it the first night and finding nowhere to sit, we never went back! Very disappointing experience in terms of the suite. We liked the entertainment on the ship and the specialty restaurants. But if I went on RCCL again, I would never get more than a Grand Suite as the larger suites are not worth the extra money.

 

 

 

We just got off the NCL Getaway Saturday morning and were in a Haven Spa Suite. We had a beautiful rose and orchid flower arrangement, champagne on ice, nightly hors d'ouerves, butler service, concierge service, The Haven Restaurant, The Haven bar and lounge, access to the spa. The employees we encountered were excellent, our cabin was beautiful. It was a WONDERFUL experience and worth the extra money!

 

 

Had the same suite experience! Sailed in a two bedroom suite on the Quantum in February and was really under wowed by the whole suite experience. Never again will I spring for a suite on RCCL. However, the ship itself is a beauty. Best cookies at sea [emoji1].

 

April we sailed on the Breakaway in a Haven suite and absolutely loved the experience. They know how to treat their suite guests! This was our first time cruising NCL. We have 3 more cruises booked on NCL as a result.

[fishin' musician]

Had the same suite experience! Sailed in a two bedroom suite on the Quantum in February and was really under wowed by the whole suite experience. Never again will I spring for a suite on RCCL. However, the ship itself is a beauty. Best cookies at sea [emoji1].

 

April we sailed on the Breakaway in a Haven suite and absolutely loved the experience. They know how to treat their suite guests! This was our first time cruising NCL. We have 3 more cruises booked on NCL as a result.

 

Is a Haven suite experience relevent if the OP was in a standard stateroom.

[gwsster]

I think every vacation is different and I choose the cruise line depending on my budget, itinerary, and mood of the vacation I am wanting. I am generally wanting peace and quiet, sitting on my balcony (if I am lucky). Sometimes I am blessed with a suite, sometimes an inside cabin, I don't really care as long as I get on the boat! I have sailed on different cruise lines and like something different about each one. With NCL I can travel more often and in a casual atmosphere due to lower cost. I do compare my vacation plans with other cruise lines and the one with the lowest cost for the most amenities wins my patronage.

[LrgPizza]

Wow. I think I had 5 cruises completed before I joined CC. Now I have to go back and find my 1st post and see if it was "negative." I wonder if the moderators can post a "sticky" thread saying "if your first post is negative, your integrity may be questioned. "

Wow. Speaking about a less-than-positive experience = questionable credibility?

I also had 5 cruises completed before I joined (or even heard of) CC. I'm not sure why that matters either.

[LrgPizza]

I think you framed this the right way. I frequently see people who suggest that people just "give it another shot" or, following some of the recent changes, to go ahead and take the cruise to see how the changes affect them, as if we're talking about trying a candy bar and not a (potentially) multi-thousand dollar vacation. If someone didn't have a good time on a ship or a line, I'd suggest they try something else rather than giving it another shot. If a price or itinerary can't be passed up, sure, maybe try again.

No, it's not like a candy bar. I'm saying that my cruise on Spirit in 1999 (with the worst service and crew one could imagine) was completely different than my cruise on Getaway in 2014 (with some of the best service I've ever had). Glad I didn't give up. That'd be like watching a show on NBC that sucks and deciding you should never turn on that channel again.

[Kingofwylietx]

NCL does not have that Wow! factor. That is very true. Not like Princess and RCCL. Disney, I am sure, is over the top with Wowness :D

 

Disney can charge what they want because they are Disney. We like them and will definitely do another cruise with them because we have young kids. I think where Disney excels in wow factor is with the kids. We can get into a Haven suite on NCL for a similar length (and destination) cruise for a veranda room on Disney. I wouldn't put them on a podium, but they do a great job.

[maywell]

I think it is great that everyone likes something different. Could you imagine what it would be like if everyone liked the same cruise line. One, there would be a huge waiting list to sail on them and most likely none of us could afford to cruise on that line.

 

It would be a boring vacation with everyone rushing to the same thing /place - that was one of the sticking points of why I'm not too wild about traveling on the Carnival Splendor again (maybe the other ships in the fleets of the Conquest / Breeze variety). Different strokes for different folks is what I like about NCL - there's like 2-3 different live entertainment in different parts of the ship in the evening happening at the same time with people branching off. Its wonderful.

 

Personally, if I was the OP, I would try the Jewel-class ships like the Jade - that seems to fit people who like large balconies and attentive service. Or keep sailing with DCl & RCL which makes them happy and that what a vacation is all about- doing things that make you happy.

Edited May 12, 2015 by maywell

[mr.jdm]

Having cruised a number of times with Disney and RCL and also have a couple more booked (Wonder and Oasis!) We decided to try NCL .........Now although it's hard to put a finger on what it's missing it is definitely missing something! The foods not AMAZING!!!! The ambience is average and the staff are adequate! I shall stay with Disney and RCL in future as they are guaranteed AMAZING!!! Albeit in different ways!!!! We met a couple who had cruised 15+ times with NCL and loved it but wouldn't try the

competition.......sad as they are missing out on something very special!

 

 

Thanks for your input. But i think we will stick with RCL and Princess. Disney if price is right(which never happens). Still have to gice Celebrity a try one day.

[dolita22]

After two cruises with RCCL, I still don't understand the WOW factor everyone talks about with them. We've never been WOW'd by the service or the ship on either RCCL sailing. The ships have been nice and we've enjoyed the itineraries, but never were WOW'd...and we're not all that hard to impress either! We didn't sail in the Oasis or Quantum class, so maybe there's more WOW on those ships vs. other RCCL ships. I have no idea. One of these days, we'll sail on the Oasis or Allure, but for now NCL is perfect for us.

 

Sorry you didn't enjoy the Epic, OP. It's nice that there are different lines for everyone's tastes!

[Jade Cruise]

I have just returned from my first NCL cruise on the Jade and we really had a wonderful time.

 

Would love to hear about your experience on Jade - will you be posting a review?

[NH Cruisers]

Having cruised a number of times with Disney and RCL and also have a couple more booked (Wonder and Oasis!) We decided to try NCL .........Now although it's hard to put a finger on what it's missing it is definitely missing something! The foods not AMAZING!!!! The ambience is average and the staff are adequate! I shall stay with Disney and RCL in future as they are guaranteed AMAZING!!! Albeit in different ways!!!! We met a couple who had cruised 15+ times with NCL and loved it but wouldn't try the competition.......sad as they are missing out on something very special!

I understand fully what you art talking about. But my "missing something" cruiseline is Princess. Sailed them 3 times. Don't know what it is. They do do Alaska good. The Skywalkers lounge and observation decks over the bridge. But yeah, "something missing".

 

I love NCL though, for me it is missing not too much. Really got used to the "suite life". Just love all the specialty resturants. Nice outside promanade deck, and the spa pass. My favorite cruiseline at present.

 

But... RCCL definitly for me has WOW factor. I will sail a Quantum class ship at sometime.

[spotfish]

See Ya!