NCL becoming Haven+Carnival?

[ocdb8r]

Have just got home after a very mediocre cruise on the Breakaway out of Miami.  We are very long time cruisers, having cruise on most of the big lines (Carnival, RCCL, Holland America, Princess and NCL) as well as some smaller lines (American Hawaii, Disney) but have been almost exclusively loyal to NCL for the past 7-8 years, finding them striking the right balance for us of food, fun, entertainment, value and itineraries.  

 

However, this cruise proved to be quite a struggle.  I think my topic title says it all...I felt like NCL had become a combination of Haven (where everything is private, exclusive and you are catered to) + Carnival (where the masses are appeased with volumes of salty food and copious booze).  NCL seemed quite intent on pushing the popularity of the current promotion and the included drink package.  At every turn the cruise director, cruise staff and even entertainment were encouraging everyone to just have another (free) drink to solve whatever problem they were having...and the masses seemed all to happy to partake.

 

To be fair, we also took advantage of the drink package promotion and enjoyed several drinks a day, including a glass of wine or two at dinner, but I find it totally unacceptable to be encouraging such crowds to drink to the point of near incapacity.  The number of people being held up and assisted to their rooms by 9 or 10 at night was much higher than I have ever seen on previous cruises.  We even had problems in the Thermal Suite where a group of people was ordering drinks and being repeatedly served (getting progressively louder).  When we left we asked the front desk if drinking alcohol was ok in the Thermal Suite and she replied "yes, is there something I can order for you".  When we clarified we were asking if it was allowed per the policy, she said we should talk with the supervisor on duty....who promptly told us it was absolutely not allowed.  Clearly a communication issue, but just served to reinforce the impression we had begun to form that NCL was very aggressively promoting taking advantage of the drinks packages.

 

I also think the volumes of people with specialty restaurants now included in their fare has also taken a toll on quality.  Nothing was horrible, but certainly nothing was up to the standard we would expect for the up-charge prices quoted.  We had a wonderful steak in Cagney's but the sides were very mediocre (and service was horrible, receiving our drinks 25 minutes after ordering them...and before being asked to order anything else). Teppanyaki was a total salt and garlic bomb (but again the steak was wonderful and tender...must have an excellent meat shipment this cruise). Ocean Blue was the sole exception, but that cost us an extra fee on top of our dining package credit.  The buffet has definitely decreased in quality over the past several years and I now generally tend to avoid it except for an occasional snack (and breakfast, which they still seem to manage well).

 

Finally, we had an absolute horrible disembarkation which I mentioned here in another thread.  Short story - late customs clearance and poor people management resulted long, timely lines to get off the ship, worse than I have ever experienced before on NCL or otherwise.

 

We're not abandoning NCL...entertainment is still at the top end of the spectrum for cruises.  We've been fairly well swept up in the mega ship trend, generally really enjoying the additional options and variety the larger ships offer, but I think it's time for us to return back to the Jewel class for a few cruises to see how things are going on those ships.  It'll give us the opportunity to look at some more unique itineraries and see if perhaps NCL is striking the right balance for us on the smaller ships.  Just sad to see what was hitting such a sweet spot for us cruising morph into something not as pleasant (and, really, not as reliable).  Wondering if we're in the minority as we heard many other people raving about the great time they had on NCL for the first time (I won't lie...we chalked them up to Carnival refugees).

[graphicguy]

Just trying to understand...are you upset that NCL has the Haven?  You do, or do not like that?

 

You do not like people drinking in the Thermal Suite?

 

Overall, it's tough to impose your will on what, and how much, someone should drink if they don't align with your norms.  The good news, those you saw who were being helped to their room weren't getting in a car and driving.

 

Customs can throw a huge monkey wrench in disembarkation.  The U.S. Customs Service tends to be pretty "touch and go" as to the amount of agents and/or how quickly they process you.  Drop a line to the U.S. Customs Service and let them know what you think.  Can't hurt!

 

I have sailed the NCL GEM.  I liked it quite a bit.  As you say, perhaps you're burned out on the mega ships.  Might try booking one of the Jewel class.

Edited June 12, 2019 by graphicguy

[Georgia_Peaches]

I think you might find a quieter, more subdued crowd on Celebrity or Princess.  While I do not put NCL in the same category as Carnival, I do think people book an away-class ship with the intention of living it up and taking full advantage of the perks associated with the free-style cruising.  I also think it has a lot to do with the time of year, port of embarkation, and frankly, luck of the draw on who booked the same cruise as you.  I embark on Breakaway for the second time on June 23rd.  I'm prepared for the party atmosphere but find there to be lots of hidden hide-aways, including the Haven, for when we want to escape it for a bit.  

[expectthebest]

I think that the average passenger tries to get their ‘monies worth’ out of cruise vacations... they drink more.. eat more.. sleep more.. tip more (kidding) and basically see a cruise vacation as an escape. 

I know how you feel with the whole (2) classes of passengers ( those who want to party and live it up... and those who want to be catered to)  but that is the future of cruising. 

Muhammad Ali said it best... roll with the punches... or get punched.

 

NCL I believe is the only line offering extended promos of endless booze. I think it’s obvious that word of this has gotten out and it’s attracted people who normally would not consider cruising in the first place. Maybe to the cruise brand demise.. guess we will wait and see.

[ocdb8r]

I wasn't clear probably because I'm not entirely clear how I feel.  All I know is that the atmosphere on this cruise was a real bummer for me.  I've done both Princess and Celebrity and found them to be a bit too much subdued.  I like that the NCL entertainment is a bit more up to date and occasionally edgy and generally in the past there seemed to be certain venues that were clearly for hard partying (pool deck, Bliss, Spice) and others where it was a more collegial atmosphere (Atrium, Syd Normans, Maltings).  This cruise just felt like every single venue was packed with people looking to get plastered as quickly as possible.  We couldn't even escape in the Thermal Suite (where I find serving alcohol totally unacceptable as the whole point of this venue is to have a mellow place to relax and rejuvenate).

 

As to the Haven, not upset at it so to speak.  We tried it when it first came out on the Epic and enjoyed it but didn't find sufficient value for the up-charge.  I guess I'm a bit frustrated that the middle ground has been eliminated for a completely bifurcated experience and that NCL has begun to rely so heavily on these drink and dining package promotions to fill the ships, rather than innovating like they did with the whole freestyle cruising concept and other products that hooked me on them years ago.

[GA Dave]

I really think the time of year affected your cruise as well.  I know of many people who now take extensive vacations, including cruises, right after they graduate college or finish the regular school year (I know the Orlando theme parks have been crazy busy the last few weeks).  This tends to add the "Spring Break-like" crowd to many destinations.  That is why my wife and I almost always vacation in mid-to-late September, when all schools are in session, summer family vacations are over, etc.

[TPgal]

 

 

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1 hour ago, Georgia_Peaches said:

  I also think it has a lot to do with the time of year, port of embarkation, and frankly, luck of the draw on who booked the same cruise as you. 

 

YES!  We are booked on the Breakaway for the 8/30-9/6 (2020) NY to Halifax and I'm optimistic that our fellow pax won't be in the "party cruise" state of mind because of the itinerary,  and the fact that many of the east coast folks have already gone back to school.   However, we are ready for anything but are certainly NOT into the idea of a more traditional line like HAL because there is whining from the DH when it comes time to put long pants on during a vacation. 

[rattanchair]

In the Haven at this moment. I believe that the 'ship within a ship' is exactly worth the up charge to stay in the Haven.  I know exactly what you are expressing and why we never have been on a Carnival cruise. We have not been on NCL for 20 years. But now with all the hype about the Haven we thought we would give it a try. We venture out only to get walking exercise. Our 236 sq ft balcony is the envy of the ship and are trying to use it to the max. Oh yes we have to venture out to get to the Haven proper, a long walk along deck 9, all cabins, then up to deck 16. When there is too much sun on our balcony , it is off to the Haven pool deck, an enclosed, air conditioned, quiet, lounged retreat. We get reserved seating for the shows and with bookable shows a concierge escort on separate service elevators, and entrance to these shows before the general population. We enjoy the perks. The 3x specialty dining perk we have not yet used and will probably not use because we got the same impression you expressed so well. We have priority debarkation. We just happened upon Syd Norman's Pour House last night and lucked out to find two seats near the exit for a fantastic show 'Switch'. We had to put up with being pushed and shoved around by all the drunks and my chair being kicked repeatably by the standing room only crowd behind me, but we enjoyed the first set and left. We choose not to fly any more and feel fortunate to live near the two South Florida ports and take advantage of the few lines that provide this concept.  Otherwise we would be on Viking, Regent, Seabourn, etc.. Thank you for your post, its nice to know there are kindred spirits on these CC boards.

[kochleffel]

5 hours ago, TPgal said:

8/30-9/6 (2020)

 

Most school districts in the northeast don't resume until after Labor Day, which is September 7 in 2020. It may be different in 2020 because the first Monday in September is so late, but if schools stick to opening later in that week, you could find some families trying to squeeze in one more trip. On the other hand, the itinerary is one that draws many retirees - when I did it last year on the Gem (while schools were in session) I thought for a moment that I was on Holland America.

 

5 hours ago, GA Dave said:

I really think the time of year affected your cruise as well.

 

Both time and itinerary. I was on a Mediterranean cruise last year on the Epic during what was spring break in most of the northeast, and while the majority of passengers seemed to be from that region, it was a serious-minded group, with far more passengers  interested in visiting historic sites than in partying.

 

 

[wdsted]

We haven’t noticed this over the 15 years we’ve been sailing on NCL.  Caribbean cruises are not the only cruises they offer, but are certainly the standard by which most folks on here and most cruisers tend to base their cruise 

line choices.  We do maybe one Caribbean cruise each year and always do so in the winter only because we need to escape winter.  Try other destinations and you’ll probably think differently about NCL’s product.  

[willsears94]

 

 

1

6 hours ago, ocdb8r said:

  I guess I'm a bit frustrated that the middle ground has been eliminated for a completely bifurcated experience and that NCL has begun to rely so heavily on these drink and dining package promotions to fill the ships, rather than innovating like they did with the whole freestyle cruising concept and other products that hooked me on them years ago.

 

You aren't wrong, @ocdb8r. Bundling in the service industry almost always created an inferior product over time.

 

NCL was really impressive from 2013-6 entering in their Breakaway class with the bundling product. Now, upcharges, services charges, and increased pricing get you reduced quality, drink selection reduction, and reduced general services in the bars and restaurants. 

 

I would certainly encourage the Jewel class where while drink selection remains an issue, at least you can pay for the premium plus beverage packaging, and receive a better degree of general service and quality. 

[Greenpea2]

7 hours ago, ocdb8r said:

I wasn't clear probably because I'm not entirely clear how I feel.  All I know is that the atmosphere on this cruise was a real bummer for me.  I've done both Princess and Celebrity and found them to be a bit too much subdued.  I like that the NCL entertainment is a bit more up to date and occasionally edgy and generally in the past there seemed to be certain venues that were clearly for hard partying (pool deck, Bliss, Spice) and others where it was a more collegial atmosphere (Atrium, Syd Normans, Maltings).  This cruise just felt like every single venue was packed with people looking to get plastered as quickly as possible.  We couldn't even escape in the Thermal Suite (where I find serving alcohol totally unacceptable as the whole point of this venue is to have a mellow place to relax and rejuvenate).

 

As to the Haven, not upset at it so to speak.  We tried it when it first came out on the Epic and enjoyed it but didn't find sufficient value for the up-charge.  I guess I'm a bit frustrated that the middle ground has been eliminated for a completely bifurcated experience and that NCL has begun to rely so heavily on these drink and dining package promotions to fill the ships, rather than innovating like they did with the whole freestyle cruising concept and other products that hooked me on them years ago.

I get what you are saying. I love the Haven,  although not because I want to be catered to, but rather for the lack of noisiness and crowds. I think all the dining packages have taken a toll on the specialty dining too. It’s now a total hassle getting reservations (and the only reason I have enjoyed having a concierge when in a suite) and from what I am hearing, often the service. I’m not sure the drink packages have changed much though. On almost every cruise I have been on before the drink packages, a number of people were obviously drinking too much, being loud and sloppy, etc. the pool area did not appeal for that reason.  (Another vote for the Haven). It has been my experience on Royal, Carnival and on NCL that too many people don’t know when to stop and getting louder and louder, belligerent, and sloppy just kind of sucks for everyone else. 

 

I ‘I am checking out the Bliss in February after a 4 year hiatus from cruising. It will be interesting to see what it us like. My favorite ship is the Gem, but I also liked the BA so I’m sure I will have fun. 

[Tammyd549]

9 hours ago, ocdb8r said:

I wasn't clear probably because I'm not entirely clear how I feel.  All I know is that the atmosphere on this cruise was a real bummer for me.  I've done both Princess and Celebrity and found them to be a bit too much subdued.  I like that the NCL entertainment is a bit more up to date and occasionally edgy and generally in the past there seemed to be certain venues that were clearly for hard partying (pool deck, Bliss, Spice) and others where it was a more collegial atmosphere (Atrium, Syd Normans, Maltings).  This cruise just felt like every single venue was packed with people looking to get plastered as quickly as possible.  We couldn't even escape in the Thermal Suite (where I find serving alcohol totally unacceptable as the whole point of this venue is to have a mellow place to relax and rejuvenate).

 

As to the Haven, not upset at it so to speak.  We tried it when it first came out on the Epic and enjoyed it but didn't find sufficient value for the up-charge.  I guess I'm a bit frustrated that the middle ground has been eliminated for a completely bifurcated experience and that NCL has begun to rely so heavily on these drink and dining package promotions to fill the ships, rather than innovating like they did with the whole freestyle cruising concept and other products that hooked me on them years ago.

I'm sorry I haven't had a chance to read all the replies but, I totally relate and understand where you are coming from. I really do think this was probably a one off because of the time of year. I swore after my Breakaway cruise last August that I would never cruise again when college kids were out. 

 

I don't think the "free" drink pacakge doesn't make the difference because it really isn't free, if you compare the cost of a Carnival or RCL cruise with no drink package, the NCL one is significantly more - in my experience - but that's just my opinion.

 

I love NCL for many of the same reasons as you but I always cruise based on where and when I want to go and who has the best deal, on the newest ships (or newly renovated) and it usually is NCL (as I would always buy a drink package anyways)

 

 

 

Maybe try a different ship on NCL and a different time of year and see if it's the old NCL you rememeber....

[Ryanryanryan]

Carnival has turned into a ghetto cruise line.  If NCL starts to attract the Carnival clientele, I’ll move on to another cruise line.  

[OC SeaPA]

1 hour ago, Ryanryanryan said:

Carnival has turned into a ghetto cruise line.  If NCL starts to attract the Carnival clientele, I’ll move on to another cruise line.  

I disagree.  We've been on over 50 cruises, including Disney, Oceania, Carnival, Celebrity (our favorite) and NCL (our most used).  On our last Carnival cruise (4 day getaway over summer) they were polite but firm with anyone who overindulged.  But had alot of families, and  are really pushing families on their new ships.  we are taking our family on a 7 day on the Panorama.  

I love to drink and party, although as a senior can't do quite as much as I used to.  But on our last NCL did have some drunks out of control (one vomited next to DH in lounge), another passed out in hallway and had to get someone to get them to their cabin, etc. We have a TA booked on NCL specifically for the drink package with all those sea days, and will see how it goes.  Hopefully will bid & get a Haven, but  would rather do more cruises then pay those prices!  

[ocdb8r]

Thanks all for the posts and comments.  As mentioned in my original post, no immediate plan to give up on NCL and am indeed planning on returning to the Gem class for the next cruise to see how things play out.

 

I'm a long time cruiser and have done all kinds of itineraries.  I know the itinerary, time of year and luck of the draw can heavily influence the "feel" of any cruise but what really struck me on this cruise was how much NCL staff seemed to be encouraging the overindulgence behavior.  That, combined with lower service quality overall, just left a bad taste in my mouth.

 

We may also try the Haven out again.  

[newmexicoNita]

19 hours ago, ocdb8r said:

Have just got home after a very mediocre cruise on the Breakaway out of Miami.  We are very long time cruisers, having cruise on most of the big lines (Carnival, RCCL, Holland America, Princess and NCL) as well as some smaller lines (American Hawaii, Disney) but have been almost exclusively loyal to NCL for the past 7-8 years, finding them striking the right balance for us of food, fun, entertainment, value and itineraries.  

 

However, this cruise proved to be quite a struggle.  I think my topic title says it all...I felt like NCL had become a combination of Haven (where everything is private, exclusive and you are catered to) + Carnival (where the masses are appeased with volumes of salty food and copious booze).  NCL seemed quite intent on pushing the popularity of the current promotion and the included drink package.  At every turn the cruise director, cruise staff and even entertainment were encouraging everyone to just have another (free) drink to solve whatever problem they were having...and the masses seemed all to happy to partake.

 

To be fair, we also took advantage of the drink package promotion and enjoyed several drinks a day, including a glass of wine or two at dinner, but I find it totally unacceptable to be encouraging such crowds to drink to the point of near incapacity.  The number of people being held up and assisted to their rooms by 9 or 10 at night was much higher than I have ever seen on previous cruises.  We even had problems in the Thermal Suite where a group of people was ordering drinks and being repeatedly served (getting progressively louder).  When we left we asked the front desk if drinking alcohol was ok in the Thermal Suite and she replied "yes, is there something I can order for you".  When we clarified we were asking if it was allowed per the policy, she said we should talk with the supervisor on duty....who promptly told us it was absolutely not allowed.  Clearly a communication issue, but just served to reinforce the impression we had begun to form that NCL was very aggressively promoting taking advantage of the drinks packages.

 

I also think the volumes of people with specialty restaurants now included in their fare has also taken a toll on quality.  Nothing was horrible, but certainly nothing was up to the standard we would expect for the up-charge prices quoted.  We had a wonderful steak in Cagney's but the sides were very mediocre (and service was horrible, receiving our drinks 25 minutes after ordering them...and before being asked to order anything else). Teppanyaki was a total salt and garlic bomb (but again the steak was wonderful and tender...must have an excellent meat shipment this cruise). Ocean Blue was the sole exception, but that cost us an extra fee on top of our dining package credit.  The buffet has definitely decreased in quality over the past several years and I now generally tend to avoid it except for an occasional snack (and breakfast, which they still seem to manage well).

 

Finally, we had an absolute horrible disembarkation which I mentioned here in another thread.  Short story - late customs clearance and poor people management resulted long, timely lines to get off the ship, worse than I have ever experienced before on NCL or otherwise.

 

We're not abandoning NCL...entertainment is still at the top end of the spectrum for cruises.  We've been fairly well swept up in the mega ship trend, generally really enjoying the additional options and variety the larger ships offer, but I think it's time for us to return back to the Jewel class for a few cruises to see how things are going on those ships.  It'll give us the opportunity to look at some more unique itineraries and see if perhaps NCL is striking the right balance for us on the smaller ships.  Just sad to see what was hitting such a sweet spot for us cruising morph into something not as pleasant (and, really, not as reliable).  Wondering if we're in the minority as we heard many other people raving about the great time they had on NCL for the first time (I won't lie...we chalked them up to Carnival refugees).

We have only cruised the Breakaway once and were not terribly impressed so part of what you are saying rings a bell, but not all of it. We also experienced some of what you said on the Dawn a few months ago. You mentioned service in the specialty restaurants, we also had crappy service, a terrible location and really less than interesting and tasty sides, but our entree was very good. 

It also appears the mega ships just can not compare, overall with the mid sized ships. We have done mega ship cruises on NCL and Princess. Princess was worse than NCL plus the passengers were really rude. We had a terrible debarkation on the Breakaway, but i never blame that on the poor cruise line. It is the fault of customs and the port authority. 

 

Overall we still prefer NCL. But, in our case, as we are older, the mad house of the mega ships is just to much for us. Give us the Dawn, Sun and the Jewel class ships. The reason we choose the Breakaway for Oct simply was: timing.  It worked out the best for the 4 of us who are cruising together. 

[tomk3212]

We've experienced the same on the last 3 or so NCL cruises we've taken on the Breakaway (twice) and the Getaway.  The folks "enjoying" their beverage packages weren't as out of control, as you described, on your cruise, but we HAVE noticed folks drinking a LOT more now that NCL has these unlimited drink packages.  We haven't seen the behavior that's sometimes attributed to Carnival pax on an NCL cruise yet but we do wonder whether that's the next step on NCL.

 

As Platinum members we get two freebie meals in two specialty restaurants on each cruise but we cannot attest to the degradation in the specialty restaurant quality you saw on your cruise, at least not at Cagney's, Moderno or La Cucina.  The last several meals we've enjoyed have been outstanding with excellent service as well.

 

We also feel the same way re: the Gem/Jewel class ships vs. the Breakaway/Breakaway-Plus class ships; we like the smaller "feel" of the Gem but we do miss the features on the newer ships.  NCL's new "Leonardo-class" cruise ships (scheduled for 2021, I believe) are supposed to combine the "feel" of the mid-sized Gem-Jewel class NCL ships but still offer all the features of the Breakaway & Breakaway-plus ships.  Haven't seen any deck plans for these ships yet so we'll have to wait and see.

 

My 2 cents.

[Georgia_Peaches]

9 hours ago, Ryanryanryan said:

Carnival has turned into a ghetto cruise line.  If NCL starts to attract the Carnival clientele, I’ll move on to another cruise line.  

I'm not a fan of Carnival, but WOW, that extreme generalization was just harsh.  I know a lot of people who love to cruise but must do so on a budget.  They chose Carnival because it is more budget friendly.  They are not "ghetto"...just good people.

[graphicguy]

Out of all the lines I’ve cruised (NCL, RCCL, Celebrity, Carnival, HAL, MSC), I saw more drunken behavior on my last Royal Harmony Cruise than any of the others....followed closely by my cruise on the Carnival ships.  Different clientele for the different liens? Probably!

 

RCCL and NCL tend to be pretty equal in their clientele.  I sort of write off the Harmony of the Seas drunk fest as a “one off”.  So, won’t ding them for that.

 

With Carnival, it’s a trend.  I talked to a guy who sails Carnival all the time with his GF just a couple of weeks ago.  They just returned from the Cuba cruise the week before Cuban ports were eliminated from cruise itineraries.  He’d never been to Cuba.  Said he got off for an hour, looked around, and got back on the ship.  When I asked him why, he said he hadn’t hit his 15 drink limit for the drink package and wanted to take advantage of it.  I questioned him about that....more important to see a country that we in the U.S. haven’t been allowed to travel to?  Or, make certain to drink enough to reach the drink limit?  He chose the latter without hesitation.  I can’t imagine what I would be like if I hit a 15 drink limit/day, every day, while on a cruise.  But, that’s the thought process on Carnival, it seems. He’s an avid CCL customer.  It seems that’s their target market.

 

Celebrity had a beautiful ship (Solstice).  But, I was literally looking for something to do almost all the time and not finding much (aside from a glass blowing exhibit).  Plus, seemed the crew were overworked, not very friendly, and the ship (as nice as it was) always needed to be tidied up.

 

MSC kind of reminds me of NCL but lacking the superlative entertainment that NCL offers.  In fairness, I have only sailed MSC twice and both times in the Yacht Club (used to be a great deal....not so much anymore).

 

Pricing?  Comparing apples to apples, including all fees, tips, DSC etc, you can get some really good deals on NCL.  I happen to like their “Away” ships.  Haven is an upscale cruising experience that has yet to be equaled (even by the Yacht Club).  I don’t sail Haven all the time. But, when I do, each experience has been better than the last, and they’ve all been wonderful.

 

I keep gravitating back to NCL.  I guess there’s a reason for that as I like their product more.  But, given proper monetary motivation, I will sail other cruise lines.  I keep coming back to NCL, so I guess that’s why I’m now Platinum Latitudes with them.

Edited June 13, 2019 by graphicguy

[vpearlkc]

28 minutes ago, Georgia_Peaches said:

I'm not a fan of Carnival, but WOW, that extreme generalization was just harsh.  I know a lot of people who love to cruise but must do so on a budget.  They chose Carnival because it is more budget friendly.  They are not "ghetto"...just good people.

 

On our last cruise we were in the Haven on the Breakaway and the Haven cruisers seemed about like everyone else on the ship. There were a lot of pleasant people and there were a few rude buffoons.

[Markanddonna]

The title and premise of the original posting resonated with me. Some posters' comments (those who hate to leave the Haven) smack of first class and steerage steamship travel from long ago. BTW- the big difference is that the steamship companies started to ban the first and second class passengers from wandering in the steerage areas. Seems the richer folk found the peasant experience entertaining to observe as they looked down their noses at the poorer immigrants.

[NIATPAC29]

Its time to upgrade your choice of cruiselines.Its NCL afterall.

[cruiseguy56]

We sailed the Breakaway out of Miami on the May 19, 2019 sailing. We saw NO ONE drinking in the thermal suite on any of our several visits each day. The ONLY problem we had with alcohol was while sitting in the atrium while they were doing one of their "game shows". Had someone walk past and he knocked two glasses of wine off a table and it went all over my jeans. Being a non-drinker, I wasn't thrilled with this, but I understand accidents happen. That aside, he could have at least had the decency to apologize to me and the people whose drinks he had just knocked over.

 As for the specialty restaurants, I had an amazing meal in Cagney's (no I did NOT order a steak). My wife's steak was equivalent to one you'd get from Golden Corral buffet, which isn't saying much for NCL's steakhouse specialty. While I had good seafood in Ocean Blue, the DW's lobster (supposedly grilled) came out a soggy mess soaking in water. I've NEVER seen a soaking wet "GRILLED" lobster, so despite the "chef's" personal assurance that it was only grilled, I suspect NCL steamed or boiled it first, then laid it on the grill for a few seconds.

Other annoyances:  We were somewhat shocked to find our balcony door curtains, majorly torn near the top in three places since the ship had undergone renovation not too long ago.

 The cabin door card reader didn't like our cards, even after we got new cards done, it would still take 3-4 tries before the reader would read one most of the time. Even a housekeeping officer walking by had trouble getting the cards to read, lol.

As for the thermal suite, was dissapointed that the hydrotherapy pool is no longer saltwater and minerals. It's no a lukewarm chlorinated pool with jets. While the jets are nice, the missing saltwater and mineral combo that has helped alleviate aches and pains on HAL was, pardon the pun, sorely missed. Although I realized before the cruise that the thermal tile lounges were in the same room as the hydropool on NCL, unlike HAL. I failed to think through the logic that there would be no peaceful quietness while laying on the heated lounges. That one is my mistake, although if you've ever experienced the difference between HAL and NCL in that regard, you may also find it to be poor planning on NCL's part as the total experience is SO much less satisfying and relaxing.  

 To be fair, I will say we had absolutely wonderful excursions and very decent food in Savor. I was also happy to find dal or masala or some form of Indian food on the buffet each day. I'm not Indian, but really love their food! 

While there's no such thing as a bad cruise to me, I'm already booked on HAL for my next one. NCL was interesting and I did like the freestyle overall, but our preferences just fall more in line with HAL.

 

Washy Washy!!

Edited June 13, 2019 by cruiseguy56

[Lupush]

Businesses must evolve, cruise lines are no different.  I've seen a constant evolution since I started cruising with NCL in 2009.  The changes in strategy/business practices are not going to suit everyone's tastes.  The Q1 earnings statement shows that NCL's target market clearly likes what they're doing.  So much so that it was a record earnings quarter for the company.

 

Notes below from the Q1 earning statement.

 

 

• The Company generated GAAP net income of $118.2 million or EPS of $0.54 compared to $103.2 million or $0.45 in the prior year.  Adjusted Net Income was $181.8 million or Adjusted EPS of $0.83 compared to $137.8 million or $0.60 in the prior year. GAAP EPS and Adjusted EPS grew 20% and 38% over prior year, respectively.

• Total revenue increased 8.5% to $1.4 billion. Gross Yield increased 2.8%.  Net Yield increased 4.1% on a Constant Currency basis.

• The Company expects to generate record full year earnings in 2019 and has increased its Net Yield growth and Adjusted EPS outlook above the high-end of the previous guidance range.  Adjusted EPS is now expected to be in the range of $5.40 to $5.50, despite an impact of approximately $0.10 from higher fuel prices and unfavorable foreign exchange rates.

• 2019 full year Net Yield growth guidance on a Constant Currency basis increased 50 basis points from the prior guidance to 3.5% to 4.5%.