My Indy cruise re-cap/NCL comparison

[Debde]

Been a bit busy but finally had time to give thoughts to my 5 day Indy cruise back in January.

Sailed in the RFS and it was my Moms first cruise.

I am also doing this as a comparison to the suite/Haven perks on NCL. Now that I have done both recently, I can give an objective comparison.

 

Embarkation. Hands down NCL wins. Haven guests get a private area with snacks and drinks and are escorted first on the the ship. For Royal we entered the suite priority line and were quickly checked in but then taken the regular line which took us quite a while to get on the ship.

 

Stateroom. Royal wins here. The family suites on NCL are just too small. Really made for small children. No issues with our room on Indy and no soot on balcony.

 

Food-objective but for me NCL wins. I love freestyle. Hated having to go back to the timed sit down but wanted my Mom to experience things we stopped doing. Loved NCL and being able to wing it each night. Trust me, if you are in a suite, you do not have to pre-book a thing. Everyone knows I am a WJ/buffet fan and they let me down this time. the selection was very poor. Don't get me wrong, no one can go hungry on a cruise but this time it was just ehh. After NCL and the dining options the have, Royal-you loose here too IMO.

 

Entertainment- NCL again wins. Took my mom to some of the shows and the ice show. All were just OK.

 

Suite perks. Oh Dear-the Haven just blows the doors off Royal. All suite guests on NCL get a drink package and in the Haven you have a private bar area. Royal-3 hours of drinking with limited choices in a small inside room. oh, and lets not forget the free specialty dining package too.

Private haven restaurant. We did have the cooked to order breakfast in Chops which was great. For breakfast or lunch not fighting for a table in the WJ is a really nice touch. That I have always liked.

Private pool area on NCL. Although I must say, the tiered suite section by the pool is a real nice spot on Indy. Still, nothing campares to your own pool area.

Labadee. Royal here blows the doors off NCL. The cabana's and service there are tops! Our concierge Sunil-who was wonderful considering the work load these guys have was there to greet us and made sure all that worked there took care of all his guests well.

Debarkation. Now that was smooth. Sunil got us off early but so did the concierge on NCL too.

 

From a suite guest birds eye view. It is NCL first now. Royal needs to do some improvements and not just to some of the ships and those Royal prices are outrageous at times. For my husband and I-we will cruise NCL now. When it is the family-I may choose Royal just for the nicer family suite rooms.

 

Also-it is very refreshing in the Haven area not to hear the word diamond plus or Pinnacle. Sorry to some of you as I know this is very important to some. To me, it's all about that cruise that week and those people that day. Not everyone talking about who have how many points and what perks may be taken away. The "pin wearers " get a bad rap here. They are always talked about and scowled at. There was a large group who had them on and they bothered no one but also spoke to no one else and got there early every night to claim the section of choice. They seemed to want to have no interaction with no one else. That was the group I encountered. No harm no foul! They were not rude at all, just non interactive with anyone else. I made no lifelong friends with them :p, but met many nice people that we all had some good laughs with. To each his own!!

 

Never made it to the diamond club as we had suite guests with us who could not go. Luckily, there was a seat to be had every night in the CL and we were welcomed by many to sit with them often.

 

Just some thoughts, that's all. Oh, and Mom loved it!! Seeing a cruise from a first timers eyes is something some of us need to see again to remind us what this is really about. She was just so darn cute!! :)

All in all-it was not horrible but not great enough to say only Royal for me now.

 

I'll defend myself to anyone now!!! LOL :D

[Clarea]

Thanks for the comparison, curious about NCL.

[OfTheSeasCruiser]

Thanks for the comparison. The NCL suite experience seems really nice. It's a shame that my cruise in a 'regular' stateroom on the Epic was subpar at best.

[Fostelo]

Im sailing indy in july and we have also booked the royal family suite im a platinum member and it would be much appreciated if you could tell what perks/ extras we will have for booking the royal family suite. Thanks for your review i to have sailed ncl epic and found it much the same really. And much appreciated for any replys

[Clarea]

Im sailing indy in july and we have also booked the royal family suite im a platinum member and it would be much appreciated if you could tell what perks/ extras we will have for booking the royal family suite. Thanks for your review i to have sailed ncl epic and found it much the same really. And much appreciated for any replys

Perks for suite guests:

 

http://www.royalcaribbean.com/contentWithHero.do?pagename=enhanced_program_for_suite_guests

[Debde]

Im sailing indy in july and we have also booked the royal family suite im a platinum member and it would be much appreciated if you could tell what perks/ extras we will have for booking the royal family suite. Thanks for your review i to have sailed ncl epic and found it much the same really. And much appreciated for any replys

 

you will have:

Priority check in. look for the suite/pinnacle line

Cooked breakfast in Chops. Breakfast and lunch may also bring your food from the Windjammer to eat where its quiet

Concierge lounge access light breakfast set up in the morning. All day use of coffee machine. Free drinks from 5:00 to 8:30 any help you may need from the concierge.

Priority seating. For the ice show-still go early because we went like 20 minutes prior and they were all taken.

Tiered seating by the pool for suites only

Access to barefoot beach if going to Labadee

Full dinner menu available for in suite dining.

Treats dropped off daily to your room from various top officers.

welcome large bottle of water plus your platinum drink choices and welcome snacks.

 

That's all I can think of off hand. I'll try to answer any questions you may have! enjoy. It's a great stateroom for a family bonding week!!! :)

Edited February 6, 2016 by Debde

[George C]

NCL is only line that I will not sail again, but everything I read about there suites do sound tempting, but I think I will stay with RCCL

[Fostelo]

Are the free drinks between 5-8:30 in any bar or just the concierge lounge. Thanks for the quick replys

[Debde]

Are the free drinks between 5-8:30 in any bar or just the concierge lounge. Thanks for the quick replys

 

I'm packing for a work trip so home for the day!!!

 

No-only in the lounge. no issue taking them out of the lounge though. This used to be a no no but now-many do it. Including us this sailing!! :)

[cb at sea]

You do know that anyone can get a "cooked" breakfast in the MDR....WJ is NOT the only choice for non-suite guests!

[Debde]

You do know that anyone can get a "cooked" breakfast in the MDR....WJ is NOT the only choice for non-suite guests!

 

Of course I know that as does probably everyone else here. I was only answering a question on suite amenities.

[Fostelo]

Thank you so much Debde you have been a great help[emoji106]🏻

[Debde]

Thank you so much Debde you have been a great help[emoji106]🏻

 

You are very welcome!!