Carnival Conquest VS NCL Getaway

[Cruisermom2nick]

NCL vs Carnival

 

For the purpose of this review I will be comparing the 7 day Carnival Conquest, which we did in May of 2014 with the Norwegian Getaway, 7 day, which we did last week (May 2015) We have done 4 Carnival cruises and one NCL cruise.

 

Cabins-

 

Conquest- we got a great deal on a SPA floor cabin, right next to the steamroom (1102). While there is no special for pay spa on the Conquest we had very easy access to the saunas, steamrooms and gym. The floor smelled really nice as well, and there was no smoking allowed. The balcony was nice, but uncovered and very sunny. We were lucky to have nice weather the whole week. Being at the very front of the ship and so high up it was nice- we did not feel much movement at all. The steward we had was excellent-very attentive and knew our names on day one. We got towel animals and chocolate each night (they gave chocolate then) and our favorite animal was a monkey!

 

Getaway- we were considering a spa balcony but we found out our son (15) would not be permitted to use the facilities, as you needed to be 18 and up. He really like the steamroom, sauna on the Conquest so we opted for a family balcony, deck 12. Our room was forward (12730) and was very modern and new. While we were lacking drawers (like the Conquest) there were closet shelves which was just fine. The balcony was a wee bit smaller than the Conquest balcony, but we all felt the room seemed a little bigger. Perhaps the modern touches and layout made it seem that way. Our steward was okay- he was not overly friendly and he needed a few reminders (like we were out of soap!), which I felt he should have noticed when cleaning. Other than that service was fine for our cabin. We got 3 towel animals throughout the week, a dog, an elephant and a really cute gerbil in a glass.

 

Choosing a winner is tough, but the Getaway takes the top spot for balcony accomodations overall as it is simply a newer and nicer ship. The Conquest room steward takes the lead in terms of passenger care. however.

 

Entertainment-

 

Conquest- Our CD was a last minute replacement for Gary Brierly (who we had on the Liberty in November 2014 and he was just ok)- and his name was Noonan. He was a CD for a while and was pulled from the Entertainment division for our one week cruise. We got lucky! Noonan was fantastic! J He was personable, friendly and energetic. We enjoyed the shows The Brits, Divas and the Hasbro Game show. The comedians were funny and the trivia was enjoyable too. However, that was really all the entertainment options. Additionally, the shows were not performed more than a few times and the times were hard to get to, like 7:30. Our early dinner seating was 6pm and we had to really rush to make it to the shows. The comedy shows were often totally booked so we missed some family comedy we really wanted to see. I am unsure of why Carnival doesn’t utilize their theater for other shows and events, other than Bingo and shopping presentations. My husband didn’t care for The Brits, and neither did my son, as they felt it was too much video and less live performance. Divas was good and I really liked the Hasbro game show (Family Game Night). If you and your kids have watched Family Game Night before on cable it is just like that and they give away games to all contestants. I did not play but I enjoyed watching. We did a lot of trivia,and I won my 4th ship on a stick, for TV theme trivia. Noonan even sent a bottle of champagne to the winners rooms when they won. There was live music and a deejay, but there was also a lot of downtime after dinner. There should have been 2 shows each night in my opinion. We didn’t realize how much Carnival’s entertainment is lacking until we went on the Getaway.

 

Getaway- Joel “Jersey Boy” was the MOST AMAZING CD ever! He had high energy, humor, charisma and you could tell he was giving 200% to his job every day. The shows, Legally Blonde and Burn the Floor were broadway caliber, and the additional performances of the Burn the Floor troop in the Tropicana dining room was such a treat! There were multiple shows offered throughout the week at various times, and you could reserve your spot if you wanted to have a seat a specific one online or via the easy touchscreens throughout the ship. You could also get an app for your I Phone to schedule show and dinner reservations. The comedians performed many times in a smaller theater, but there was also a family comedy show in the large Getaway theater with all new material from the comedians which was wonderful! In addition to these shows there were nightly performances by a grammy winning artist in The Grammy Experience, dueling piano bars/performances, a plethora of shows at the Atrium stage, including the fabulous Celebrity Dance off. This was better than Dancing with the Stars and so funny!!!! There were parties every night for families to enjoy, fireworks, lots of Nickelodeon character meet and greets, a kids pj party ($), a magic show and dinner at the illusionarium ($), the usual fun pool contests, line dance classes, ballroom lessons with the Burn the Floor troop, live music in the Tropicana dining room, daily activities like origami and scrapbooking, cupcake decorating ($), a family party with face painters, pizza making and treats the last night, and more that I am forgetting to mention!! There was an art gallery show/auction. just like on Carnival, as well.

 

The teen clubs, in my son’s opinion were similar. He said Carnival provided water and sodas to the kids during the dance parties, which he wished NCL Entourage did. He ended up stepping out to get water from lots of dancing! However, he said NCL had more of a hangout for the teens, with foosball, games, etc, while Carnival had a club more or less. He said the people on board really made it fun-so he liked both! J

 

The winner for Entertainment hands down is NCL!!! Carnival needs to make changes to their entertainment if they want passengers to return to their ships-especially now that they are charging just as much as other lines for balcony rooms!

 

Food & Drink-

 

Conquest- we had the early seating and did find the dinners to be tasty. The issue of time was apparent, as they were slow to serve food and we were trying to rush to see the only show of the night! The addition of Guys Burgers and The Blue Iguana Cantina were super, though. We really enjoyed the yummy burgers and burritos. The breakfast burritos were my favorites. The buffet was okay-nothing stood out. The pizza was crispy and good-but with one poor guy working it took forever to get a slice! Pizza was the only option for dining after 10pm. There was a fish and chips spot hidden on the deck above the buffet, which was actually quite good. They had ceviche, fried oysters and fish and chips. The hours were limited however, with lunch being the only option on sea days. Guys and Blue Iguana were also open limited hours, which makes the lines for both long and frustrating. The 24 hr ice cream/froyo machines were great as always. We also had a “tea time” on one afternoon of the cruise. You have to really scan your daily for the day/time. It was nice with a sit down tea and carts with traditional scones, cakes, etc. As for drinks we do like to indulge so we brought our allotted 2 bottle of wine. We did buy a few mixed drinks on board, usually the drink of the day or the one featured at the Taste bar, which was $5. We wished the package wasn’t so pricey or we would have gotten it. Maybe a few types of packages would be better to offer, like a certain # of drink coupons, etc.?!

 

Getaway-complimentary dining is top notch- the dining rooms Taste, Savor and the Tropicana all have the same menu, which changes nightly (specials). People usually choose which dining room they prefer or which one fits their time frame best. We loved the live entertainment in the Tropicana so we went there 3 times! Savor and Taste are also open for breakfast and lunch on sea/embarkation days. They have a unique menu that has special items daily. My son really liked their Heuvos Rancheros for breakfast one day and the “English” breakfast another day. O’sheehans is open 24/7 and offers typical pub fare, along with some great corned beef hash for breakfast (according to my hubby). The burgers, fries, wings, etc. were good and reminded me of a TGI Fridyas or Applebees fare. The Garden Café is the buffet which is really great! I was surprised that the food choices were so varied, especially for lunch. The had ice cream machines and hard scoop ice cream, yogurt and sherbert as well. There is a bar to get drinks (alcoholic and sodas) in the buffet also. My son and hubby liked the Indian selection of food, as well as the Asian options. Their pizza is actually really good too and there is no wait! The buffet times were changed to be open to meet the needs of guests based on port times, etc.I found there was always a time to go there- even for their late night snack buffet from 9:30-11:30!! Hot dogs, salads, cookies, etc are all available for your late night cravings! The Flamingo Grill is another complimentary option for breakfast and lunch. This buffet has yummy Latin themed cuisine and the lunch specials vary a bit day to day. You can also get an omelet there, which is the case at all the dining spots for breakfast! I highly recommend the Banana Caramel panacakes in the main dining rooms for breakfast- and don’t wait till the last day to order them as their debarkation breakfast is streamlined and they don’t offer it then, Shanghai’s was yet another complimentary dining spot- and the food was excellent! We ordered at least one of everything throughout the cruise and every single dish was delicious! Now, there are also paid ($) dining options-specialty restaurants you can go to by either purchasing a dining plan or paying individually. We opted to pay one night for Moderno, the Brazillian meat restaurant and it was extraordinary!! The others restaurants include a steakhouse, French food, Italian, Japanese and seafood. Food Network’s chef Geoffrey Zakarian has his Ocean restaurant on board, along with a waterfront location with appetizer/tapas sized goodies to buy ($). We splurged on the lobster roll, calamari and crab toasts and they were all fantastic! Oh! There is also a sushi bar ($) and a cupcake bakery ($)-Carlos’s! As for drinks we received the UBP (Unlimited Beverage Package) from NCL as a perk- and it was fabulous!!! We really didn’t end up drinking what the package was worth, but since it was a bonus we really enjoyed it. We got to try new drinks, excellent Mojitos from The Chocolate Cowboy at Sugarcane and every drink of the day! Our son got the soda package which while he is not a big soda drinker, he enjoyed the Pepsi products offered daily.

 

 

 

So, the winner for Food and Drink is without a doubt Norwegian Getaway!!!!! I am dreaming of all the amazing food and drink I had on board and I cannot wait to get on the Getaway again and try all the eateries I didn’t get to! J

 

As you can see the overall winner here is Norwegian Getaway!!! We were surprised to see that the a comparable cruise on Carnival would cost the same as NCL, and we would get no perks! We were excited to turn Gold on Carnival to go to the past guest party and enjoy cocktails but I just found out they took that benefit away from Gold members. L My husband said it looks like we won’t be getting gold status with them after all! L I look forward to cruising with NCL again and perhaps trying another cruise line as well. Now that we have branched out I see there are lots of fun cruises available to take! J

__________________

[k2excursion]

Thank you for an excellent & thoughtful comparison of the ships. Just further evidence that Carnival is really falling behind. It is sad, because I have always loved Carnival, but it sounds like these new NCL ships are the place to be.

[Tapi]

I look forward to cruising with NCL again and perhaps trying another cruise line as well. Now that we have branched out I see there are lots of fun cruises available to take!

 

 

We branched out from Carnival a few years ago and haven't repeated the same cruise line ever since. It has been such an enjoyable experience to try new cruise lines and to experience what makes all of them different. It has taken our cruising to a new level. Every time that we set foot on a cruise line that we haven't sailed on before, we feel like first time cruisers all over again.

 

Thanks for your very detailed review about NCL, a cruise line that we haven't tried yet. It makes me want to sail on them now! I've looked at the Getaway but found the itinerary a bit uninspiring. But maybe I should overlook the itinerary and focus on what the ship has to offer.

[sirfuller]

Thanks for your very detailed review about NCL, a cruise line that we haven't tried yet. It makes me want to sail on them now! I've looked at the Getaway but found the itinerary a bit uninspiring. But maybe I should overlook the itinerary and focus on what the ship has to offer.

 

Exactly. I felt the same way about NCL's itineraries until I realized that perhaps the ship is supposed to be the destination. So I went ahead and put a deposit down for a studio on a January 2016 Getaway sailing. I'm looking forward to the change of pace from Carnival. While I never had a bad cruise on Carnival, I felt it was time to branch out a little bit.

[legion3]

Thanks for the comparison but to be honest I would compare the Breeze and not a lowly ;) conquest ship to the NCL Away class of ships.

 

Our last cruise on NCL was a smaller older ship, we had a good time but considered the food on Carnival better. That was two years ago.

 

Our recent cruise on the Breeze the food was good to excellent, service good and the bells and whistles of the Breeze compare more apples to apples to Getaway across the board. We had a Spa cabin on Breeze and the thermal suites and T-pool were great to have.

 

That said I hope NCL is all that better at food as we planned our family cruise next year on the NCL Escape, the soon to be built bigger sister of the Getaway. The Escape has the same things that made our Breeze cruise rock and a whole lot more food option. The Breeze set the bar high for overall family entertainment and fun, counting on the Escape to top that. Even without free room service. :p

Edited May 12, 2015 by legion3

[legion3]

I really liked the Hasbro game show (Family Game Night). If you and your kids have watched Family Game Night before on cable it is just like that and they give away games to all contestants. I did not play but I enjoyed watching.

 

 

Have to add a proud papa moment here, My DD 8 won the final game offered on the Breeze of Hasbro, and won a $150 gift card to Hasbrogames.com

It was cool to see her excitement and her sister cheering her on. We had to miss tea on that last sea day but it was worth it. (did tea the other two days and agree with you about tea time)

 

Do you know how much $150 buys at a web site that the majority of items are 9.99 to 14.99 :eek: 10 items in the cart and still not finished.

[k2excursion]

Thanks for the comparison but to be honest I would compare the Breeze and not a lowly ;) conquest ship to the NCL Away class of ships.

 

Our last cruise on NCL was a smaller older ship, we had a good time but considered the food on Carnival better. That was two years ago.

 

Our recent cruise on the Breeze the food was good to excellent, service good and the bells and whistles of the Breeze compare more apples to apples to Getaway across the board. We had a Spa cabin on Breeze and the thermal suites and T-pool were great to have.

 

That said I hope NCL is all that better at food as we planned our family cruise next year on the NCL Escape, the soon to be built bigger sister of the Getaway. The Escape has the same things that made our Breeze cruise rock and a whole lot more food option. The Breeze set the bar high for overall family entertainment and fun, counting on the Escape to top that. Even without free room service. :p

 

The Breeze's entertainment is just as lacking as Conquest's, as they do the exact same shows & games. Getaway will still be an enormous winner there. Breeze has a couple more food options than Conquest (Cucina del Capitano / pasta bar instead of fish & chips, lanai BBQ), but not much extra. Breeze is much better than Conquest with waterslides, along with the addition of the ropes course. The OP did not compare outdoor daytime activities of the 2 ships. Getaway will beat Conquest there, but Breeze might be up for the challenge in that category. Breeze does have the nice Cloud 9 Spa that Conquest doesn't have, but the OP wouldn't be able to compare that to the Getaway's version, since they didn't take that on the Getaway. The Breeze also has the age limit for the Cloud 9 Spa. For the OP's experiences, I think that it is definitely a fair comparison, especially regarding the categories they chose.

 

For entertainment comparisons, Dream would be the best Carnival ship to compare to.

Edited May 12, 2015 by k2excursion

[sc4125]

I will be on the Conquest in July - first time on this ship. I've been on the Breeze 3 times - I did love it, but I'm getting the Pack & Play rate which is basically paying taxes & port fees only, so I'm sure I'll be fine with the Conquest & am looking forward to trying a different ship.

 

I would also love to try the GetAway, but unlike the OP I can't find the comparable pricing with CCL. For example a cruise for 2 in September on the GetAway in a balcony is over $500 more than the Breeze in a balcony. It's also a 7 day Western as opposed to an 8 day Eastern.

 

I know that's not a great deal of $$ but considering it's 8 days as opposed to 7 and for me much better ports, it's kind of hard to justify for me.

 

That being said, I know it's time for me to get out there & try another line. I'm very satisfied with CCL and they hold a special place for me because I use to work onboard - brings back fond memories of being young & crazy! But, it would be nice to try something different, and the OP has done a great job of convincing me to try the GetAway one of these days.

[legion3]

The Breeze's entertainment is just as lacking as Conquest's, as they do the exact same shows & games. Getaway will still be an enormous winner there. Breeze has a couple more food options than Conquest (Cucina del Capitano / pasta bar instead of fish & chips, lanai BBQ), but not much extra. Breeze is much better than Conquest with waterslides, along with the addition of the ropes course. The OP did not compare outdoor daytime activities of the 2 ships. Getaway will beat Conquest there, but Breeze might be up for the challenge in that category. Breeze does have the nice Cloud 9 Spa that Conquest doesn't have, but the OP wouldn't be able to compare that to the Getaway's version, since they didn't take that on the Getaway. The Breeze also has the age limit for the Cloud 9 Spa. For the OP's experiences, I think that it is definitely a fair comparison, especially regarding the categories they chose.

 

For entertainment comparisons, Dream would be the best Carnival ship to compare to.

 

Fair enough.

 

Matt the CD on Breeze was everything that was mentioned of the Getaway's CD.

 

I would sail the Getaway, I doubt I would now sail the Conquest. I will try the Vista and maybe the Magic when she comes over to Florida.

[legion3]

I will be on the Conquest in July - first time on this ship. I've been on the Breeze 3 times - I did love it, but I'm getting the Pack & Play rate which is basically paying taxes & port fees only, so I'm sure I'll be fine with the Conquest & am looking forward to trying a different ship.

 

I would also love to try the GetAway, but unlike the OP I can't find the comparable pricing with CCL. For example a cruise for 2 in September on the GetAway in a balcony is over $500 more than the Breeze in a balcony. It's also a 7 day Western as opposed to an 8 day Eastern.

 

I know that's not a great deal of $$ but considering it's 8 days as opposed to 7 and for me much better ports, it's kind of hard to justify for me.

 

That being said, I know it's time for me to get out there & try another line. I'm very satisfied with CCL and they hold a special place for me because I use to work onboard - brings back fond memories of being young & crazy! But, it would be nice to try something different, and the OP has done a great job of convincing me to try the GetAway one of these days.

 

Our Escape Mini Suite is the same price as our Breeze Spa cabin in starting price. What I will miss is the very likely ES price drops that Carnival has. Almost $900 on our Breeze cabin. NCL might go down but its not as sure and right now our very same cabin and deck has shot up $880 since booking, with far less attractive specials.

 

So as a base cost I have always found NCL a little more than Carnival but not a whole lot. But the jump of 800 is more in line with RCCL prices.

[quickrate]

Hi Alissa! We are the couple you met in the water at St. Thomas at Megans Bay and shared the taxi ride with back to the ship. glad to hear your cruise was wonderful!

Pat

[riffatsea]

Thanks for writing! The one NCL cruise we have been on had such terrible food in the MDR and at the buffet that I said I'd never sail with them again! I am wondering if they have improved their offerings or if your taste buds and mine are just different? I suppose we'll never know unless I try NCL again one day. Will consider it.

[Rottweiler Puppy]

Thanks for writing! The one NCL cruise we have been on had such terrible food in the MDR and at the buffet that I said I'd never sail with them again! I am wondering if they have improved their offerings or if your taste buds and mine are just different? I suppose we'll never know unless I try NCL again one day. Will consider it.

 

I dont know about the OP but I normally HATE buffets of any type, especially Carnivals but the buffet on the Getaway was done pretty well.

[tiggerman101]

The Getaway is the best ship I have been on in terms of overall fun and quality. It blows away the Conquest class and is still a ways above the Breeze.

[Cruisermom2nick]

Thank you for an excellent & thoughtful comparison of the ships. Just further evidence that Carnival is really falling behind. It is sad, because I have always loved Carnival, but it sounds like these new NCL ships are the place to be.

 

I also feel disappointed in Carnival now-hopefully they will read the reviews and change some things to get better!

[Cruisermom2nick]

We branched out from Carnival a few years ago and haven't repeated the same cruise line ever since. It has been such an enjoyable experience to try new cruise lines and to experience what makes all of them different. It has taken our cruising to a new level. Every time that we set foot on a cruise line that we haven't sailed on before, we feel like first time cruisers all over again.

 

Thanks for your very detailed review about NCL, a cruise line that we haven't tried yet. It makes me want to sail on them now! I've looked at the Getaway but found the itinerary a bit uninspiring. But maybe I should overlook the itinerary and focus on what the ship has to offer.

 

Yes I am excited to continue trying other ships and lines!

[Cruisermom2nick]

Exactly. I felt the same way about NCL's itineraries until I realized that perhaps the ship is supposed to be the destination. So I went ahead and put a deposit down for a studio on a January 2016 Getaway sailing. I'm looking forward to the change of pace from Carnival. While I never had a bad cruise on Carnival, I felt it was time to branch out a little bit.

 

The Getaway itinerary is changing once the Escape comes out- and the Escape will take the Getaway's route. The change of pace for us was really nice and made us look at cruising differently!

[Cruisermom2nick]

Thanks for the comparison but to be honest I would compare the Breeze and not a lowly ;) conquest ship to the NCL Away class of ships.

 

Our last cruise on NCL was a smaller older ship, we had a good time but considered the food on Carnival better. That was two years ago.

 

Our recent cruise on the Breeze the food was good to excellent, service good and the bells and whistles of the Breeze compare more apples to apples to Getaway across the board. We had a Spa cabin on Breeze and the thermal suites and T-pool were great to have.

 

That said I hope NCL is all that better at food as we planned our family cruise next year on the NCL Escape, the soon to be built bigger sister of the Getaway. The Escape has the same things that made our Breeze cruise rock and a whole lot more food option. The Breeze set the bar high for overall family entertainment and fun, counting on the Escape to top that. Even without free room service. :p

 

I wanted to do the Breeze (still do) but the NCL Getaway had an offer we couldn't refuse...so I know the Conquest isn't a totally fair comparison but that was the only 7/7 Carnival/NCL ship comparison I had. Maybe after LOTS more cruises I'll be able to compare them all more equally!

[Cruisermom2nick]

The Getaway is the best ship I have been on in terms of overall fun and quality. It blows away the Conquest class and is still a ways above the Breeze.

 

:) Glad to hear we didn't miss the Breeze for no reason!

[Cruisermom2nick]

I dont know about the OP but I normally HATE buffets of any type, especially Carnivals but the buffet on the Getaway was done pretty well.

 

I am not a huge buffet fan, mostly for cleanliness reasons. The sinks and washy washy stuff on the Getaway makes the buffet experience so much nicer and cleaner! The selections and quality really surprised me- and we eat out a lot on land!

[Cruisermom2nick]

Hi Alissa! We are the couple you met in the water at St. Thomas at Megans Bay and shared the taxi ride with back to the ship. glad to hear your cruise was wonderful!

Pat

 

Hi Pat!! SO glad to "see" you here! Thanks again for sharing your ride with us- I hope to check out your hubby's awesome sailings in Fort Myers!

[Cruisermom2nick]

Our Escape Mini Suite is the same price as our Breeze Spa cabin in starting price. What I will miss is the very likely ES price drops that Carnival has. Almost $900 on our Breeze cabin. NCL might go down but its not as sure and right now our very same cabin and deck has shot up $880 since booking, with far less attractive specials.

 

So as a base cost I have always found NCL a little more than Carnival but not a whole lot. But the jump of 800 is more in line with RCCL prices.

 

Thanks for the financial insight- I know cruise prices have jumped for every line...:eek:

[Cruisermom2nick]

Have to add a proud papa moment here, My DD 8 won the final game offered on the Breeze of Hasbro, and won a $150 gift card to Hasbrogames.com

It was cool to see her excitement and her sister cheering her on. We had to miss tea on that last sea day but it was worth it. (did tea the other two days and agree with you about tea time)

 

Yay for your daughter! :) The prizes were really nice I think!:)

[Cruisermom2nick]

The Breeze's entertainment is just as lacking as Conquest's, as they do the exact same shows & games. Getaway will still be an enormous winner there. Breeze has a couple more food options than Conquest (Cucina del Capitano / pasta bar instead of fish & chips, lanai BBQ), but not much extra. Breeze is much better than Conquest with waterslides, along with the addition of the ropes course. The OP did not compare outdoor daytime activities of the 2 ships. Getaway will beat Conquest there, but Breeze might be up for the challenge in that category. Breeze does have the nice Cloud 9 Spa that Conquest doesn't have, but the OP wouldn't be able to compare that to the Getaway's version, since they didn't take that on the Getaway. The Breeze also has the age limit for the Cloud 9 Spa. For the OP's experiences, I think that it is definitely a fair comparison, especially regarding the categories they chose.

 

For entertainment comparisons, Dream would be the best Carnival ship to compare to.

 

Thanks for sharing your thoughts- I was only able to use what I thought was comparable as I have only been on 5 cruises now! I have a long way to go! LOL!

[Cruisermom2nick]

I will be on the Conquest in July - first time on this ship. I've been on the Breeze 3 times - I did love it, but I'm getting the Pack & Play rate which is basically paying taxes & port fees only, so I'm sure I'll be fine with the Conquest & am looking forward to trying a different ship.

 

I would also love to try the GetAway, but unlike the OP I can't find the comparable pricing with CCL. For example a cruise for 2 in September on the GetAway in a balcony is over $500 more than the Breeze in a balcony. It's also a 7 day Western as opposed to an 8 day Eastern.

 

I know that's not a great deal of $$ but considering it's 8 days as opposed to 7 and for me much better ports, it's kind of hard to justify for me.

 

That being said, I know it's time for me to get out there & try another line. I'm very satisfied with CCL and they hold a special place for me because I use to work onboard - brings back fond memories of being young & crazy! But, it would be nice to try something different, and the OP has done a great job of convincing me to try the GetAway one of these days.

 

Thanks for your comments! :) I still really like Carnival- and I am hoping they send me an offer via VIFP that I just can't refuse! Your pack and play offers are awesome-but we don't gamble really so unfortunately I don't get those offers. Are you quoting travel prices for 1, 2 or more people? With 3 of us the NCL price was less for a balcony as we got the KSF (Kids sail free) promo as well as the UBP (Bev package).