Princess vs. NCL - can you compare?

[aborshch]

Hi,

 

We are 2 families in their 30s, with 5 to 7 year old kids.

 

We did a Princess cruise to Mexico from LA 2 years ago, and really enjoyed. We like the Personal Style dining, and were impressed by food/service quality, enjoyed a brand new ship.

 

We are now considering another cruise in April, and NCL Star on April 2nd looks interesting. However, I heard from several people that we should really lower our expectations, that the food on NCL is lower quality, not as much variety in their buffet, not as available around the clock as on Princess, which was very convenient in terms of feeding our kids.

 

For those of you that have taken a cruise with both lines, can you compare your experiences?

 

Thanks a lot in advance.

[cynbar]

We are big Princess fans but cruised on the NCL Sun a couple of years ago because the itinerary was great. We enjoyed it, and for that week anyway, we were pleased with the quality of the food and the staff and the activities. But I do have to say that the buffet was more limited in selections, with no separate grill and pizzeria running all day -- NCL just brought out some pizza and burgers from the back, and not all the time. Also, the hours were limited, and this caught up with us one afternoon when we got back late from a tour. If these things are important to you with the kids, Princess is probably a better bet.

[CruiseCtrl]

Having cruised NCL a few times for their interesting itinerary and cheaper prices we will never travel them again. The staff is rude and unhelpful. The anytime dinning works much better on Princess than NCL. Princess was a much more relaxing pleasant cruise. Who wants to spend their cruise pissed off at unhelpful and rude staff? Carnival had an amazing Kids Club compared to NCL. We'll find out if Princess is as good this March.

[RM Cruiser]

Sailed NCL SPIRIT S. Carribean last March with 2 kids 7 and 8 and the food was good. The buffet was not as good as the dining room. But with the personal choice dining it was easy getting in to dining rooms. They also have a resturant called Blue Lagoon that had good hamburgers,chili, hot dogs and stuff open 24 hours a day. Kids Club was also very good on NCL.:)

[Netnurse31]

I think you will probably receive many varied responses to your question as it was a subjective one. Everyone has a much different taste when it comes to food and service.

 

We sailed on NCL Dawn this past August and were not crazy about the food in the main dining rooms. One night we decided to eat in the buffet because we got back late from a shore excursion. The food in the buffet was inedible. Luckily we were in a suite and ordered some decent hot food to be delivered to the room.

 

We did find the service to be exceptional. I have heard others complain about service. As I said before, we were in a Penthouse Suite so I'm not sure how that impacted our experience.

 

My 10 year old was not interested in their kids club. She looked at the plans for the day and said they appeared "boring". She never did make it there so I can't comment on the quality of the program just that it didn't peak her interest.

 

We have a multigenerational cruise booked with Princess for August 2006 and are hoping that our dining experience will be better. Im looking foward to relaxing and hopefully having my daughter join some of the activities on board.

[marial]

We sailed the NCL Star last year on the 8 night Mexican Riviera, and did the 10 night princess this year. My 8 year old daughter liked the water slides on the Star and the kids pool area at the back of the ship. The food was not as good as Princess, but they had many more alternative restaurants (most fee based) and a small cafe with great fish and chips and food like that. My biggest complaint with NCL was overall service, as well as having to wait in a line to get seated for dinner for probably 30 minutes..it felt like a cattle call..the service level was my biggest complaint with them..Their shows on the other hand were great, and were far better than the ones on the Dawn this year, in my opinion of course!

 

Maria

[zydecocruiser]

When I pre-ordered a liter of JW Black Label on NCL it was $55 + $3; on Princess it is $40. That is one difference!

[flypaper]

I am considering my first Princess Cruise. I've gone on NCL a few times and feel they just get better and better...never had a bad cruise on that line. I'd say that my June 2005 on the Norwegian Dawn was one of the best cruises ever. The staff was exceptionally helpful and friendly. Food was very good and teh staff was so nice to us. Entertainment was good and plentiful. Casino staff were talkative and friendly. Cabins were EXCELLENT. The ship was really fantastic in every way.

 

Sounds like most people here agree Norwegian is pitiful and yet I really enjoyed it. So... I am likely to be blown away by Princess. I am a lot closer to deciding to go on Princess now!!! Thanks!!!!!

[zydecocruiser]

I think you might get a different answer if you ask the same question on the NCL forum. Each cruise line has its cheerleaders and equally true is each cruise line has strengths and weaknesses. Ships within a line vary as do cabins on a specific ship.

 

Personally, I think life is too short to limit one's choices when cruising - they all have something to offer the others don't.

[jennew]

We have done both. NCL is fine, the Spirit was a nice ship and the food was "good". It was my kids first cruise and they ALL loved it. (ages 6, 14, 16, 17 and 21)

 

My DH and I cruised Princess prior and we felt NCL was not as good, however we still enjoyed the cruise. The food was not as good and the service was just ok. We don't even remember our room stewards name, but we have pictures of our first steward on the Grand. (Tavi, we loved him) .

 

Our next cruise is on Princess again. However, I would sail NCL again if the price was right.

[S.S.Oceanlover]

I think you might get a different answer if you ask the same question on the NCL forum. Each cruise line has its cheerleaders and equally true is each cruise line has strengths and weaknesses. Ships within a line vary as do cabins on a specific ship.

 

Personally, I think life is too short to limit one's choices when cruising - they all have something to offer the others don't.

 

The OP has taken your advice and posted on the NCL board. No negative comments about NCL yet.;)

 

Bill

[aborshch]

Thanks to everyone for their responses - gives us something to think about...