A few ideas Royal should steal from NCL

[crisndeefromde]

Thanks for a great review. I am on the sky for 7 night charter next friday with the Country Cruising folks with Neal McCoy and Trace Adkins. Can't wait. As a D+ person have been on two carnivals and one celebrity which was the summit. Very loyal to royal and my trip on the summit was to bermuda the same inaugural as the Breakaway. Never heard so many unhappy folks in my life...said self remember this when you are tempted to stray. Well no choice on ship for this charter but excited to hear your great points.

[celly]

Another Cruiser that would like to see RCCL have a pool side grill. Huge success on Celebrity and Princess as well.

 

Same here, would love to see a poolside grill!

[Cruzaholic41]

Many, including my friends, have said that besides the Aqua show & In The Air, ice show, there's not much else to do on the Oasis/ Allure.. I have read this quite often..Boleros is great, British Pub is good, though too smokey at times..Schooner Bar is OK..whereas on the Breakaway, ALL I know said they were not bored for one minute- always something to see or do..and they LOVED the Oasis, as I do..but, I do agree the Burn The Floor, Rock Of Ages, Jazz Club were simply fantastic...I think the specialty restaurants on the new NCL (& even some older ships) blow away RCI's venues, but food is subjective...Le Bistro was always my fav, and Teppanyaki was a blast, and all my friends agreed Moderno was superb & as was Cagney's...MDR food is hit n' miss , but no one cruises NCL for the MDR food...everyone knows to get the specialty dining package , which has been offered for free now for a while...ALL pools on cruise ships are pretty small & never are big enough, but few cruise because of pools..I do think the Solarium on Oasis is great, but waaayyy too hot from May to Nov for me...

 

Our opinions differ, so I won't go into that further, but it should be noted that RCI banned indoor smoking (except casino) a while ago. There is no smoking in Boleros or the pub - or any other bar anymore.

[dorisis]

I would like to try NCL again after reading some of the advantages over RCCL. I have also read that their suites are a good deal better than other lines.

[Debde]

One thing I do notice is that NCL lacks in offering longer than 7 night cruises to the Caribbean during Nov & Dec. Plus very few NCL cruises cruise to Aruba and Curacao (which I have been dying to go back to)

 

Yes, very good comparisons. thank you again!!

 

Funny but this is one thing I'd love to see more of on Royal which is those 7 or even 5 night get a ways in the winter months. Being we work and can not get away for very long periods of time and winter is our only time of year to get a few holidays in.

[Lowcountrygal]

I would like to try NCL again after reading some of the advantages over RCCL. I have also read that their suites are a good deal better than other lines.

 

For the past 2 days, my husband and I have been mulling over the same! We've been loyal to Royal for some time.

We just booked the Epic for Jan 2017. She will arrive Port Canaveral being newly refurbished. She won't be here but 5 months and then will then return to Europe in April of 2017.

 

We didn't book the Haven, but got a mini-suite for the same price as a balcony and that doesn't happen too often! We were able to get a 5% AARP discount and dining package as well.

 

Looking forward to trying something new! Also, so many new ships will be arriving Port Canaveral in about a year: Oasis of the Seas, Epic, a couple different Carnaval ships. Great for us to have increased choices and who knows, perhaps the increased competition will reflect in better pricing!

Edited October 14, 2015 by Lowcountrygal

[rncruiser]

Posted to wrong thread

Edited October 14, 2015 by rncruiser
Posted to wrong thread

[Tarnished45]

The pricing is just so affordable when you put it alongside Royal Caribbean.

 

In January 2016 we are doing a 10 night Canary Island cruise and the price - INCLUDING premium drinks package AND specialty dining package was a total of $1346 for 2 adults including fees and taxes in a balcony cabin.

[Trainman-2]

They all look like good ideas...

[JKrise]

We have sailed with NCL in the past, liked their product. Just keep an open mind to differences.

[pspercy]

That's almost a $1,000 retail difference, assuming a 7-nighter!

Yes, and it's now after final payment and NCL has dropped prices further ($699 balcony) but is keeping the drink package offer for balconies :)

[brookie848]

I would like to try NCL again after reading some of the advantages over RCCL. I have also read that their suites are a good deal better than other lines.

 

I think most of Royal's suites are actually nicer than NCL's, but the perks (especially if you are in a Haven suite), are much better. Every suite gets a butler and there is a concierge staff. Haven suites (not on all ships) have private pools and restaurants. Plus, if you book a suite you get all the promos that are currently being offered.

 

Royal's suites look amazing, but the benefits don't match what we get on NCL for less money.

[Lionesss]

We have developed a comfort zone with RCI.

But, it is nice to see what other cruise companies offer.....

 

Thanks all for taking time to post.

 

The Haven does sound suite (sweet).

 

Sea Ya

[LMaxwell]

A few other things from notes as I toss them out:

 

Sometime I don't know if Royal does, perhaps I've simply missed it, but on NCL one of the lounges was designated to drop off carry on luggage until rooms were opened. You checked luggage in/out and they had staff watching over things. We only had 1 backpack as carry on this time so did not use it, but that makes getting around much easier until rooms open up.

 

Does Royal do this as well and I have missed it?

[Clarea]

A few other things from notes as I toss them out:

 

Sometime I don't know if Royal does, perhaps I've simply missed it, but on NCL one of the lounges was designated to drop off carry on luggage until rooms were opened. You checked luggage in/out and they had staff watching over things. We only had 1 backpack as carry on this time so did not use it, but that makes getting around much easier until rooms open up.

 

Does Royal do this as well and I have missed it?

I've never seen any kind of carry-on checking system on Royal.

[LMaxwell]

I've never seen any kind of carry-on checking system on Royal.

 

If Royal had a carry on bag check that would change my thoughts on MDR being open at embarkation. For me MDR open at embarkation would mean not dragging bags through the Windjammer. But if I could drop my carry ons at a secure location and head to Windjammer it makes things less chaotic and easier to manage.

[Clarea]

If Royal had a carry on bag check that would change my thoughts on MDR being open at embarkation. For me MDR open at embarkation would mean not dragging bags through the Windjammer. But if I could drop my carry ons at a secure location and head to Windjammer it makes things less chaotic and easier to manage.

I agree, that would be a nice touch. Lots of bags in WJ on boarding day.

[sparks1093]

Thanks for the comparision. I must not be able to cruise at the right time because every time I look both RCCL and CCL are lower than NCL by hundreds.

[JimAOk1945]

on NCL one of the lounges was designated to drop off carry on luggage until rooms were opened. You checked luggage in/out and they had staff watching over things. We only had 1 backpack as carry on this time so did not use it, but that makes getting around much easier until rooms open up.

 

Does Royal do this as well and I have missed it?

This sounds like a brilliant idea! I hope RC reads this thread. A lot of great ideas here!

[tinkr2]

Spent all last night looking at the NCCL sky for a short cruise or the Independence. The sky was such a great deal. A free drink package and 3 and 4th sail free. A really great value and the ship seemed old but nice. The dates did not work so we are doing Independence again. Its a shame bc I could have taken my college age kid along for free on Sky and had free drinks...for about 50 more. But they have my full attention with their great promos.

[travelbuddies]

I agree, that would be a nice touch. Lots of bags in WJ on boarding day.

 

And instead of lugging around those two bottles of wine until you can drop it off in the cabin.