Why NCL?

[indychristine]

Hi! As you can see from my signature line I've sailed a few different lines, but I haven't been on NCL since 2005 and that was my first cruise! We loved it!

 

Anyway, we have sailed CCL on our last 2 and next 2 cruises. We want to try something else on our next cruise and I'm getting ready to book. We want to travel out of either Port Canaveral or NOLA in March of 2017. Right now I'm looking at Port Canaveral on either the Epic or RCI Oasis of the Seas.

We (only me not husband) cruised RCI once before and it wasn't great; but in fairness it was an old ship retiring the next year- I really disliked that ship! And I'm

Pretty easy going about my cruises.

Also we have never been attracted to cruising on the big ships that resemble towns. We love the look of ships! We also are not fans of CCL and their gaudy deco but we still have had great cruises on their ships.

To help explain my preference - I would love to try Celebrity or Princess because I love the more refined deco, but this time these are the two Ports we need to cruise from so these are our choices. Lol.

Sorry for all the info but I thought I'd I give you some background it may help with advice.

 

Anyway I'm looking for feedback from those that have sailed both of these lines as to which one they would prefer over the other. If your thought is that both are great - that is fine. Lol.

I just don't know which one to pick at this time! As I said we have never been attracted to the really big city looking ships; but we are willing to try anything once especially if the food and ports are good!

I am going to start reading reviews of both ships, but thought I would ask here and see if anyone had any thoughts.

Thanks in advance for any replies!

 

 

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Edited April 18, 2016 by indychristine

[yogi636]

We have always cruised NCL. until last Dec when we cruise RCL on the Oasis of the seas. We have been on the Epic and the Oasis so I can give you my comparison of the two. I enjoyed the Epics aft sun deck and hot tubs. The Epic balcony cabins are probably the worst set up I have seen. The bathrooms are very strange and not really separate from the cabin. The Oasis ship has that WOW effect when you get on. It's so big and different. The Oasis has 4 pools I believe. We always stayed at the beach themed pool. Oasis balcony cabins are average.

Now I don't know if it is because we are so familiar with NCL but I didn't feel at home and I truly missed the NCL crew when I was on the Oasis. Oasis crew was

Great but I feel NCL crew is almost alway exceptional.

[DMH15]

Like you, my only RCI experience was with an older ship, (Monarch). But as far as food, service, etc. I would say it wasn't awful, but it wasn't great. It was good.

 

I first tried NCL when it was the innovator of 'freestyle" and that really suits me. Other lines have copied to an extent.

 

What keeps me on NCL? The NCL suite life which I discovered and have become used to. Just a really nice way to cruise.

 

I have yet to be on a NCL megaship... but that may change soon. As my Jade cruise is going to be cancelled due to a full charter, so I am going to be flexible and might find myself on one of those big boats!

[Jim The Lizard]

I like the casual freestyle cruising NCL offers. Feels like I'm on vacation rather than getting dressed up for a set time dinner seating.

[indychristine]

We have always cruised NCL. until last Dec when we cruise RCL on the Oasis of the seas. We have been on the Epic and the Oasis so I can give you my comparison of the two. I enjoyed the Epics aft sun deck and hot tubs. The Epic balcony cabins are probably the worst set up I have seen. The bathrooms are very strange and not really separate from the cabin. The Oasis ship has that WOW effect when you get on. It's so big and different. The Oasis has 4 pools I believe. We always stayed at the beach themed pool. Oasis balcony cabins are average.

Now I don't know if it is because we are so familiar with NCL but I didn't feel at home and I truly missed the NCL crew when I was on the Oasis. Oasis crew was

Great but I feel NCL crew is almost alway exceptional.

 

Thank you so much for your honest and fast feedback! I really appreciate it! You reminded me that I think I had seen a video of the cabin set up on Epic, I thought it was strange. I will be viewing some videos to help me make up my mind. I did watch an Oasis video a few minutes ago, while it is an amazing ship.... I felt, as I watched it, that I would miss the feeling i get on the smaller ships, which is a feeling of being on a ship! LOL if that makes sense! Having said that I know we want to try one of these RCI ships at least once.

[indychristine]

Like you, my only RCI experience was with an older ship, (Monarch). But as far as food, service, etc. I would say it wasn't awful, but it wasn't great. It was good.

 

I first tried NCL when it was the innovator of 'freestyle" and that really suits me. Other lines have copied to an extent.

 

What keeps me on NCL? The NCL suite life which I discovered and have become used to. Just a really nice way to cruise.

 

I have yet to be on a NCL megaship... but that may change soon. As my Jade cruise is going to be cancelled due to a full charter, so I am going to be flexible and might find myself on one of those big boats!

 

Thank you Donna! I am glad your Monarch experience was better than mine! It is the only ship I have ever been on where I was disappointed in the service and condition...not condition of the ship really, that didn't bother me, it was old.. no problem, it was the staff and their lack of caring about many things, so the place was rather dirty. But ya know what, I still had a good time! :)

 

I have heard about the NCL Suite life! I am going to do more checking on that. :) Thanks again!

[indychristine]

I like the casual freestyle cruising NCL offers. Feels like I'm on vacation rather than getting dressed up for a set time dinner seating.

Thanks Jim! The one thing I remember really enjoying about our one and only NCL (and first cruise ever) was the Freestyle dining! We loved it. Funny thing is we were with a group of 50 and most of them had cruised before, some many, many, times....well those old timers really tried their best to ruin it for us first timers! They didn't mean to but they were! They went on and on during the entire cruise how we wouldn't know it, because it is our first cruise, but this ship is terrible! I kept hearing "oh well, this isn't Royal!" "You really have to try Royal" I am like "let me enjoy this cruise first!" ha! We hated that about the cruise and it is the only thing we hated about the cruise! Of course it is true, we had nothing to compare it to.

Anyway, thanks for the reply!

[graphicguy]

No one does FreeStyle as well as NCL.

 

Someone mentioned the Epic's bathrooms....I liked the layout. I could be shaving or brushing my teeth while my SO could be using the toilet or taking a shower, given the sink is seperate. We really liked that.

 

We were also on the Allure. Liked it, too. But, when we cruise, we like the idea of having the water as a focus of the ship. Allure (and Oasis) tended to push you "in the middle" of the ship, where there weren't views of the water. Plus, I know it's a huge ship, but there were times we felt like we were being herded, shoulder to shoulder, on the ship. That's something we didn't experience on the Epic.

 

Personally, I've never had a bad cruise. And, I was on the Anthem last December (another beautiful ship) that had more of a focus on the water vs "mall" that Allure and Oasis has).

 

I bought a cruise on RCCL while on the Anthem, but am planning on going on NCL as my next cruise.

 

If you can swing it, sail in the Haven on NCL. There's nothing else like it (in a good way).

[beerman2]

Mostly Carnival with 1 Royal ( Freedom) and 1 NCL (Epic) with the Escape coming up in Oct.

 

Right now with the UBP and SDP included NCL is the best value.

 

Really enjoyed our RCI cruise, aft balcony that was fantastic. Bartenders on Freedom were great and friendly.

 

NCL Epic last year was good, however thought the bartenders weren't as good or efficient as RCI.

 

Food is so Subjective , so all I'll say is we have never gone hungry. I do think RCI staff in main dining room was better.

 

Loved the adult pool area on RCI Freedom, NCL Spice/H2O area is very nice but no pool.

 

With that being said we have enjoyed ALL our cruises!

[derek005]

We love NCL! This is a great company and the many options that they have are just perfect for us. We have cruised other lines, but love the NCL experience. The employees are motivated and fun to be around.

 

We are booked on the Getaway on 29 May and cannot wait!

 

Hope this helps as well as the other comments.

[indychristine]

No one does FreeStyle as well as NCL.

 

Someone mentioned the Epic's bathrooms....I liked the layout. I could be shaving or brushing my teeth while my SO could be using the toilet or taking a shower, given the sink is seperate. We really liked that.

 

We were also on the Allure. Liked it, too. But, when we cruise, we like the idea of having the water as a focus of the ship. Allure (and Oasis) tended to push you "in the middle" of the ship, where there weren't views of the water. Plus, I know it's a huge ship, but there were times we felt like we were being herded, shoulder to shoulder, on the ship. That's something we didn't experience on the Epic.

 

Personally, I've never had a bad cruise. And, I was on the Anthem last December (another beautiful ship) that had more of a focus on the water vs "mall" that Allure and Oasis has).

 

I bought a cruise on RCCL while on the Anthem, but am planning on going on NCL as my next cruise.

 

If you can swing it, sail in the Haven on NCL. There's nothing else like it (in a good way).

 

I can relate to so much of what you have said here. I am glad to hear your thoughts on the bathroom layout. I watched another video and between that and reading your thoughts I am not too concerned.

 

You described my feelings exactly when I view videos of the Oasis. My focus wants to be on the water. I am not one that enjoys being inside unless I have a window near me. This is what I am afraid of by cruising the RCI ships, that I will feel that way.

 

Anyway..... regardless of what I wrote above regrading my one RCI cruise, I still had fun! I just was less than impressed. I always have fun wherever I go! I am not going to spend this money on a vacation and let things ruin it! At least I try not too! :)

Thank you for your thoughts!

[indychristine]

Mostly Carnival with 1 Royal ( Freedom) and 1 NCL (Epic) with the Escape coming up in Oct.

 

Right now with the UBP and SDP included NCL is the best value.

 

Really enjoyed our RCI cruise, aft balcony that was fantastic. Bartenders on Freedom were great and friendly.

 

NCL Epic last year was good, however thought the bartenders weren't as good or efficient as RCI.

 

Food is so Subjective , so all I'll say is we have never gone hungry. I do think RCI staff in main dining room was better.

 

Loved the adult pool area on RCI Freedom, NCL Spice/H2O area is very nice but no pool.

 

With that being said we have enjoyed ALL our cruises!

 

Thanks for your thoughts! I too have enjoyed all of our cruises; even if I did have the one where I was not impressed! I still had fun :)

 

I agree about the food! It is so subjective. I go with an open mind and try not to read too many reviews on food :)

 

Thank you so much for all your info! I appreciate it!

[indychristine]

We love NCL! This is a great company and the many options that they have are just perfect for us. We have cruised other lines, but love the NCL experience. The employees are motivated and fun to be around.

 

We are booked on the Getaway on 29 May and cannot wait!

 

Hope this helps as well as the other comments.

 

Derek,

Thank you for the feedback! It certainly helps, all of the replies have helped :)

I appreciate hearing your feelings on the staff! I love when staff seems as though they want to be there! I think on my one cruise where it was obvious there were issues (RCI) the main thing was the staff, they seemed pretty miserable. It does make a difference ! I still had fun, but would have liked to feel as though they enjoyed their job!

 

Anyway- thank you!

[cruisebie]

Since you don't like the larger ships, have you considered the Dawn sailing from NOLA? This is one of the ports you listed & certainly is definitely not one of the city sized ships?

[punkincc]

I can relate to so much of what you have said here. I am glad to hear your thoughts on the bathroom layout. I watched another video and between that and reading your thoughts I am not too concerned.

 

You described my feelings exactly when I view videos of the Oasis. My focus wants to be on the water. I am not one that enjoys being inside unless I have a window near me. This is what I am afraid of by cruising the RCI ships, that I will feel that way.

 

Anyway..... regardless of what I wrote above regrading my one RCI cruise, I still had fun! I just was less than impressed. I always have fun wherever I go! I am not going to spend this money on a vacation and let things ruin it! At least I try not too! :)

Thank you for your thoughts!

 

 

Just a couple thoughts. I have not been on the Oasis. Biggest RCI ship for us was the Freedom. While the Epic is not as large as the Oasis, it is certainly a very large ship, and a 'one of' design for NCL, so you are really considering two mega ship options rather than big ship vs small ship. While tastefully decorated, that "no connection to the sea" complaint is frequently voiced about the Epic. The later builds, Breakaway, Getaway and Escape, with their Waterfront concept design sounds like it would be more to your likeing. That said, and although we prefer the Waterfront ships, we thoroughly enjoyed the Epic. All the NCL ships are beautifully decorated.

 

We have found that NCL is a much more enjoyable experience for us, primarily because of Freestyle and the great choices in entertainment and dining options on the ships both large and small.

Edited April 18, 2016 by punkincc

[indychristine]

Just a couple thoughts. I have not been on the Oasis. Biggest RCI ship for us was the Freedom. While the Epic is not as large as the Oasis, it is certainly a very large ship, and a 'one of' design for NCL, so you are really considering two mega ship options rather than big ship vs small ship. While tastefully decorated, that "no connection to the sea" complaint is frequently voiced about the Epic. The later builds, Breakaway, Getaway and Escape, with their Waterfront concept design sounds like it would be more to your likeing. That said, and although we prefer the Waterfront ships, we thoroughly enjoyed the Epic. All the NCL ships are beautifully decorated.

 

We have found that NCL is a much more enjoyable experience for us, primarily because of Freestyle and the great choices in entertainment and dining options on the ships both large and small.

 

 

 

Thank you! Great to hear your thoughts! I didn't know that about the Epic.

I'm leaning towards NCL AnD may expand our ports to include the eastern ports. Maybe that will open up more options- I haven't looked yet :)

Thanks again!

[mugtech]

If Canaveral is one of your ports, you might look into the Spirit, was a great ship for the Med, it is a nice, smaller ship if the itinerary suits worth a look.

[Jim The Lizard]

I can relate to so much of what you have said here. I am glad to hear your thoughts on the bathroom layout. I watched another video and between that and reading your thoughts I am not too concerned.

 

You described my feelings exactly when I view videos of the Oasis. My focus wants to be on the water. I am not one that enjoys being inside unless I have a window near me. This is what I am afraid of by cruising the RCI ships, that I will feel that way.

 

Anyway..... regardless of what I wrote above regrading my one RCI cruise, I still had fun! I just was less than impressed. I always have fun wherever I go! I am not going to spend this money on a vacation and let things ruin it! At least I try not too! :)

Thank you for your thoughts!

 

 

Love your attitude!. Life's short, and we HAVE to enjoy vacations and time with loved ones!. Enjoy yourselves, happy sailing!

[indychristine]

Since you don't like the larger ships, have you considered the Dawn sailing from NOLA? This is one of the ports you listed & certainly is definitely not one of the city sized ships?

 

Jeanie

I had not! Thank you, I am looking now! :)

[indychristine]

If Canaveral is one of your ports, you might look into the Spirit, was a great ship for the Med, it is a nice, smaller ship if the itinerary suits worth a look.

 

I will take a look, thank you! :)

[bonitaly]

EPIC was wonderful. Spa was amazing. Bathroom setup was not an issue for us. The shower was really large. The sink being in the bedroom area was perfect for putting on makeup while hubby was taking his shower. We expected the ship to feel HUGE but it was spread out and we never felt cramped at all. My Sister and her husband were with us and felt the same. All of the restaurants were wonderful. Service was impeccable. Bed was very comfortable. We were in spa mini suites and they were very roomy and relaxing. We definitely hope to sail her again. In fact our goal is to sail every single NCL ship. We love the relaxing freestyle of NCL it just suits our Leo personalities. Whatever you decide... make the best of it and enjoy your time together :):) !!

[2hearted]

Oasis hands down. There is no comparison. Absolutely top notch in all facets. IMO

 

 

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[sailor05]

 

You described my feelings exactly when I view videos of the Oasis. My focus wants to be on the water. I am not one that enjoys being inside unless I have a window near me. This is what I am afraid of by cruising the RCI ships, that I will feel that way!

 

 

This exactly true of the Oasis class ships. It's tough to find a view of the water from a lot of the areas on these ships. We missed that a lot this last time on it so we're going smaller on our next cruise (thinking Breakaway).

 

 

 

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[Nightengale31]

We just returned from a 10 day Med cruise on the Epic this past Sunday. I was comped a Haven Spa Suite by the casino. After having experienced this cabin, it would not be my choice for future cruises for several reasons but most notably the motion detector light in the toilet stall was so sensitive it would turn on when I rolled over in bed waking up both my husband and myself!! Aside from that fluke, all else about the ship and the cruise we very much liked equal to our cruises on the Star, Pearl, and the Breakaway x 2. Honestly, if we were in a balcony funky bathroom cabin with no Haven perks we would have had just as great a cruise because we really liked the Epic, the NCL freestyle product, and most notable the exceptional service and personable crew members from top to bottom. We were loyal Princess cruises prior to NCL, and have found the line change very refreshing with the overall NCL vibe more suitable to our cruising style.

[FunintheSunFL]

I have been on the oasis and the Norwegian escape. In my opinion they are comparable. You seem to get a better value on the Norwegian ship though. I'd certainly sail oasis again but prefer included perks of Norwegian such as dining and drink packages.

 

 

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