Seasoned NCL er Opinions Please

[biker@sea]

Can you be more specific? Is it the additional price increases/fees? The experience on board? Family changes? We are new to NCL and cruising for the first time at the end of this month. I have a big family cruise for Thanksgiving 2016 and want to make sure it is a great experience.

 

Let's just say I don't like the way the current H.D. runs a ship .

 

I have seen a much happier crew before him . :(

Edited May 13, 2015 by biker@sea

[Abear2]

Hey kjquilts!!! I will be on that October cruise with you!!!! :D

[biker@sea]

Have you sailed her this year or is your disappointment based on what you have read, because as someone who was recently on the Dawn you will not notice any change except the delivery fee for room service.

 

I noticed a change when the best of the best of Dawn's crew was sent to open a new ship .

 

Then put 117 new trainees on my cruise to fill in .

[kjquilts]

Hey kjquilts!!! I will be on that October cruise with you!!!! :D

 

So looking forward to it. See you on the roll call thread :)

[NMLady]

Hello,

I am interested in hearing from people that have cruised NCL at least 5 times in the last 5-6 years including a recent cruise for comparison.

 

We have cruised on NCL about 8 times over the last 8 years. We have always enjoyed our cruises. Our last cruise was just over a year ago. I check the board here periodically and have been alarmed with the negative comments of late.

 

My question to you is, would I be disappointed with NCL if we to cruise with them again?

 

Thanks in advance for your insight.

 

Our most recent cruise was last month on the Jewel before all this brouhaha started.

 

Even with all the recent changes I would not hesitate to cruise with NCL again.

In fact we purchased a Welcome Back FCC after returning from our cruise, and even after reading negative posts about room service charges, and other items. We are in the process of choosing an NCL cruise for next year to celebrate landmark birthdays.

 

Do I like the way the changes were not really communicated, having to learn about them on this board instead of from NCL first? NO! But if I were to stop cruising with NCL because of that, I would be the one to suffer, not them.

 

NCL has a product we like: no formal evenings, no part of dining room is reserved for traditional dining. We are Platinum cruisers and enjoy the perks.

 

Since you have always enjoyed your NCL cruises, there is no reason to think you won't enjoy the next one too. Same friendly, helpful crew.

Edited May 13, 2015 by NMLady

[flipper32]

I have been on NCL 3 times in the last 12 months and I am booked in January. I think most of the complaining on this board are people that don't like change. IMHO I think the room service issue is no big deal, the simple breakfast I always had on deck is free, I didnt go on a cruise to sit in my room and eat all my meals. As far as bringing food back to the room, I have only brought cookies etc back, I can certainly understand why NCL doesn't want people bringing plates of food back to their room.

[Carnac767]

We've yet to be disappointed by an NCL cruise, and we're booked for three more.

[Markanddonna]

I have gone on NCL for most of my cruises with two very long ones (14 and 19 days) this past year. The newly implanted increases did not affect or bother me as I think a small increase in the gratuity is just fine. We also rarely drink and only used room service the one day they offered a special Panama Canal breakfast. The room service charge had not started in April on our ship.

 

That said, I would look elsewhere if this "no food allowed back to room" is implemented. When you are onboard for almost 2-3 weeks, you start to get a bit more particular. I liked going to O'Sheehans for breakfast but they had NO fruit at all on the menu so I brought back a small bowl very early to eat before we went. I also go to the buffet in the early morning to fill our travel mugs with coffee and tea because I only drink almond milk and bringing my supply to the buffet is more cumbersome and we like to have our coffee/tea way before breakfast. Will that be stopped?

 

I think about the folks on the longer trips who have some physical issues and one of the spouses brings back food to the cabin for them. I think about the folks who get sick with a cold/sea sick and their spouse knows exactly what they might like rather than choosing from a few room service items. $8.00 each time puts an unnecessary dent in their travel budget. So many GOOD and LEGITIMATE reasons to take food back to the cabin. I never saw a hallway or deck spill outside of the buffet area so the idea of passengers making a mess is rather bogus.

 

I can see the outside buffet areas (pool deck and Great Outdoors) becoming an escape zone for those who want to take food back. Going up and down decks to avoid the no food patrol or staff will likely cause spills.

[luvtheships]

We enjoy our ncl cruises and have another booked

 

Will you enjoy them? That depends but for us all

 

I have to say that ALL of the recent changes do not bother or effect us at all as we no longer:

 

 

 

Get balconies or ovs...only insides from now on

 

We don't smoke so I don't care about where or how small the smoking areas are

 

We don't gamble and figure out on day 1 how to avoid the smoky casino area

 

Never ever ordered room service and don't expect to as we think its disgusting in an inside cabin

 

Don't bring food from the buffet as we dont need that much food

 

or eat wings at 2 am

 

or need to get a snack just because its free ...you know for later. Lol

 

Don't care that the dsc went up .95

 

Don't care about 3/4 pax half price because we know its a scam and know to look for a true ksf deal which we found from our home port

 

Don't care about the phoney freebies because we are done with the specialities except for possibly a once on a cruise thing if we feel

Like it and will just pay

 

Don't care about beverage freebie because we like the buffet iced tea and don't mind getting the exercise to go get a drink there

 

Don't drink much alcohol but we have no issue getting a bottle of wine if we want at dinner or paying out of pocket for the maybe 5 or less drinks we will have

 

We just love the cruising aspect....the ports....the convenience of NYC...the weather....oh and the great deals I always seem to find....because I don't buy into the scam freebies ncl "offers"😏

 

Oh and my very nice and competent online TA adds $50 obc to the $25 ncl gives the insides

 

Life is good!!!!

 

Note: if I want to take a cruise to a certain place on a particular ship and Itin and I couldn't snag a really great deal.... I would just do the best I could....because I wanted to go....and then just book it but keep an eye on the prices

 

Case in point ... Ncl spirit was doing the exact same Itin in the med as the ruby princess but the differential was $3000 for my family of 6

 

We wanted the bells and whistles of the ruby so we did it.....and never looked back

 

As it turned out my online TA saved me $1500 at final payment on our 2 cabins together with a "downgrade " from an inside high up forward to an ov low midship

 

Btw it was a much better location!!!

 

 

Sent from my iPhone using Forums

Edited May 13, 2015 by luvtheships

[garycarla]

....We have cruised on NCL about 8 times over the last 8 years. We have always enjoyed our cruises. Our last cruise was just over a year ago. I check the board here periodically and have been alarmed with the negative comments of late.

 

My question to you is, would I be disappointed with NCL if we to cruise with them again?....

 

Sorry, but nobody here can answer your question better than you.

 

Some people would be disappointed after one cruise with NCL. That would not be you of course based on your history.

 

Many people have and will continue to sail with NCL and will be very happy.

 

Some will not.

 

No idea which of the above categories would fit you. Anyone that says otherwise is only guessing with little to no information.

[Single Cruiser]

Hello,

I am interested in hearing from people that have cruised NCL at least 5 times in the last 5-6 years including a recent cruise for comparison.

 

We have cruised on NCL about 8 times over the last 8 years. We have always enjoyed our cruises. Our last cruise was just over a year ago. I check the board here periodically and have been alarmed with the negative comments of late.

 

My question to you is, would I be disappointed with NCL if we to cruise with them again?

 

Thanks in advance for your insight.

 

For me I've not noticed any obvious deterioration in service. Ok so in March my latitudes welcome box of chocolates shrunk. I always buy or get the UBP so not been affected by bar price rises, I still drink more that I pay :)

 

However some of the key features that attracted me to my dozen or so NCL cruises in the last 5 years are now appearing in Royal Caribbean, quantum class has solo cabins (including balcony ones!! Which NCL doesn't!) and dynamic dining so I've started mixing a bit to keep my options open.

 

The only disappointment I have with NCL is their policy for all the new ships to be based year round from the U.S. Another reason I'm moving towards Royal.

[fishin' musician]

I certainly meet the qualifications the OP set forth. Last month I was on the Dawn and last summer on the Sun. I'm not a cheer leader for any brand, but do prefer the Princess experience if all things are equal (which they never are). It used to be Princess first, then it could be RCL, HAL or NCL competing for second. But I think based on the current money grubbing strategies and my recent experience on the Dawn (personnel cutbacks were painfully obvious ) NCL will now fall into 3rd place and I will move X into the second place share.

[SuiteTraveler]

We just got off the Getaway. We were in a The Haven Spa Suite. This is now my new favorite ship. I'm only disappointed I didn't schedule a back to back because there is so much to do on this ship you cannot possibly do it all in one week. The food was awesome, the restaurants were great, the spa was wonderful our spa cabin excellent, it's just a great experience.

 

I don't understand all the negativity about NCL. IMO they are positioned to become the market leader in the Caribbean. They are a great cruise line in every way.

[KeithJenner]

Hello,

 

I am interested in hearing from people that have cruised NCL at least 5 times in the last 5-6 years including a recent cruise for comparison.

 

 

 

We have cruised on NCL about 8 times over the last 8 years. We have always enjoyed our cruises. Our last cruise was just over a year ago. I check the board here periodically and have been alarmed with the negative comments of late.

 

 

 

My question to you is, would I be disappointed with NCL if we to cruise with them again?

 

 

 

Thanks in advance for your insight.

 

 

Our last cruise was on the Getaway a month ago (just after the room service charge was introduced on that ship). We generally take about 3 NCL cruises a year, since we restarted cruising in 2012.

 

Firstly, I can say that I haven't noticed any change in the service onboard.

 

Regarding the recent changes, I can understand why they are an issue to some, but they aren't a major issue to us. Yes, our beer is a bit more expensive, but it was the first increase in this time, so was probably due.

 

The DSC increase and auto tip on speciality restaurants didn't affect us last time, but will on our future cruises. I'd obviously rather not pay more, but in the scheme of things it isn't a huge increase. On the other side, I ate twice in the noodle bar for free, which probably almost covered the drink price increases.

 

If they are stopping food being taken from the buffet then that may have s slight impact on us. Occasionally, if we are going to eat at a speciality restaurant, one of us will go to the buffet to grab some food for our son before he goes to the kids club, which means we can get ready whilst he eats. That's most convenient for us, but not a deal breaker.

 

Basically, at the moment NCL still gives us what we want. We won't go elsewhere based on the extra cost caused by the changes (especially as the recent offers mean that we are saving s few hundred pound on each cruise compared to previous years prices), but there is always the possibility that a future change will be more significant to us.

 

One last point, regarding the room service menu. We never use room service anywhere, but looking at the new menu, I was tempted to order something last time. We didn't, but may do in the future. For us, I think I'd rather have an expanded menu with a charge than a free one without the selection. Again, different things for different people.

[mrobstad]

I understand the changes, am not fond of many, but no real impact except I did notice less prompt service last week on BA. As for room service, I always ordered continental breakfast to eat on my balcony, and that's still free. If it weren't, I'd buy an interior instead of a balcony. Maybe that's what NCL realized. The increase in gratuities on the UDP has most affected me, and I was surprised how quickly the daily gratuities added to my bill. Opening the Noodle Bar as free was a big bonus--ate there once and boy was it good! I'm unsure if the changes are the reason service in Zo'Sheehans was deplorable, but as a previous poster said, all cruising is good cruising, so I'm lucky to be able to cruise as often as I do.

[Happy HALer]

Thanks for all the comments. I know we would have a great time regardless of any changes. It is more a matter of how great of time. We have never had a bad vacation, cruise or land based. It is just our nature.

 

It would seem the reasons we enjoy NCL have not fundamentally changed.

 

We do not often take any food to our cabin, but occasionally some cheese and crackers/pretzel rolls on the balcony at sail away is a good time. I think I will still be able to enjoy that experience. I will just have to pack some "food runners" along with the "rumrunner". :)

[graphicguy]

Haven't cruised in about a year. But, I'm looking at the Getaway now for a Sept cruise date.

 

Not sure what reviews you're seeing as negative OP. Then again, I don't hang on every post here, either.

 

I've cruised across a good cross section of lines....HAL, Carnival, Celebrity, Royal, and NCL.

 

Never had a bad cruise. They're all somewhat different, but none were bad.

 

From what I can gather, most of the complaints ON ALL THE CRUISE LINES surround just a few issues, and they all have them. Smoking (I'm a non smoker, but I'm also not a total posterior when it comes to smokers or non-smokers alleged habits. Don't blow smoke in my face and we'll be fine.

 

The other, as always, is the food. Frankly, if you can't find something on a cruise that you like to eat, I'm of the mind the issue is not with the cruise line or ship, but with you. There is just too much selection to choose from, available nearly all the time, to not like the food.

 

Entertainment on all are different, and generally speaking, much better than when I first started cruising in the '80s. IMHO, NCL has the best entertainment at sea, bar none. Royal is 2nd, But, I have to say, although Carnival's entertainment isn't nearly as over the top or as lavish as those two lines, I enjoyed their entertainment, too.

 

I think the oldest ship I've been on over the last 10 years is the Carnival Conquest, and even that was a nice ship. The new "mega ships" are wonders to behold....NCL Epic and Breakway, RCCL Allure, Celebrity Solstice, etc. All are a tad different. All of them beautiful in their own right.

 

Service has been wonderful (except on the Celebrity Solstice where the crew, overall, seemed to be irritated, during the entire cruise. I'll assume something changed in their work environment that was negative as everyone from the bar tenders, to the servers, to the room stewards, were all surly and service was tepid from all, at best.

 

The converse of that is staying in the Haven on NCL. Just a tremendous experience. No want or need went unmet. Sometimes, the want was unreasonable and still was met with promptness and a courteousness I had never experienced, on any vacation, let alone a cruise. Priced about 2x the typical price of a balcony cabin, it was worth every penny.

 

Speaking of pricing, I was able to stay in the outstanding Haven on NCL for a little less than an ocean facing regular balcony cabin on RCCL's Oasis/Allure. Talk about pricing going out of control. RCCL has definitely gone off the deep end as their experience was nowhere near what we had on NCL's Haven.

 

So, not sure what you're seeing or hearing, but having sailed on many different lines, I think I'm starting to prefer NCL, where I used to be cruise line neutral. No complaints here (at least none that are even worth the time to type them here).

 

Good Sailing.