NCL to RC

[STARFISH*4]

After 15 years with NCL giving RC another try-last sailed 15 years ago Legend of the Seas.

What does a former Free-Style cruiser need to know for a smooth sailing with RC Navigator of the Seas.  Any tips would be helpful and appreciated. Thanks

[Biker19]

1 hour ago, STARFISH*4 said:

What does a former Free-Style cruiser need to know for a smooth sailing with RC Navigator of the Seas.  

Search the Navigator threads and other NCL comparisons.

[xcell]

Go in with an open mind, be happy to be cruising, it will be fine....  to me, a cruise is a cruise, I've jumped ships.  Started with RCCL, then to NCL, didn't like disney, and now into MSC. 

[footzz]

11 hours ago, STARFISH*4 said:

After 15 years with NCL giving RC another try-last sailed 15 years ago Legend of the Seas.

What does a former Free-Style cruiser need to know for a smooth sailing with RC Navigator of the Seas.  Any tips would be helpful and appreciated. Thanks

The Navigator of the Seas has a "Peek-A-Boo Bridge". It's an observation area where guests can view the action taking place on the ship's navigation bridge. It's located at the very front of the ship on deck eleven.

[smplybcause]

There's more similarities than differences between the two. You can choose My Time Dining if you'd rather eat when you want like on NCL. But other than the dining differences I honestly can't think of anything I miss on Royal or visa versa. I'm a bit of a go with the flow type person though. Quest is pretty fun on Royal - not sure if they're changing it a lot in covid times though. 

[kwokpot]

12 hours ago, STARFISH*4 said:

After 15 years with NCL giving RC another try-last sailed 15 years ago Legend of the Seas.

What does a former Free-Style cruiser need to know for a smooth sailing with RC Navigator of the Seas.  Any tips would be helpful and appreciated. Thanks

If you choose My Time Dining you can pre-schedule your whole cruise dining ahead of time. Does that negate the purpose of My Time Dining? Not really, if the purpose of choosing it is you don't like the set seating dining times. Otherwise you can still walk right up for a table assignment. 

Production shows are not as good as NCL (Burn The Floor one of my all time favorite cruiseship shows) but checkout the Ice skating shows. Navigator no longer has any steam or saunas facilities, no amazing Thermal suites like NCL ships. Otherwise about the same.

[Itchy&Scratchy]

3 hours ago, smplybcause said:

There's more similarities than differences between the two. You can choose My Time Dining if you'd rather eat when you want like on NCL. But other than the dining differences I honestly can't think of anything I miss on Royal or visa versa. I'm a bit of a go with the flow type person though. Quest is pretty fun on Royal - not sure if they're changing it a lot in covid times though. 

Food is better on Royal, and the smoke smell doesn't permeate the whole deck like it does on NCL ships.

[smplybcause]

2 minutes ago, Itchy&Scratchy said:

Food is better on Royal, and the smoke smell doesn't permeate the whole deck like it does on NCL ships.

 

Meh, there's some food I like more on Royal some I like more on NCL. Nothing enough to overly sway me, though I do like the lobster night. On some Royal ships the casinos aren't as tucked away - one was right next to Schooner which I hated because smoke would waft over. But NCL has a few ships where smoking in the casino is in an enclosed area so no smoking taking over anywhere inside (only ship I never had an asthma attack on) and others where it's far enough away from other stuff. Though I agree on some it can get pretty bad. 

[broadwaybaby123]

Service overall is better than on NCL, in my opinion.  I went on the Bliss and had a HORRIBLE experience, but on Royal, I'm treated like ROYALTY!

Edited June 30, 2021 by broadwaybaby123

[Russ Lomas]

18 hours ago, STARFISH*4 said:

After 15 years with NCL giving RC another try-last sailed 15 years ago Legend of the Seas.

What does a former Free-Style cruiser need to know for a smooth sailing with RC Navigator of the Seas.  Any tips would be helpful and appreciated. Thanks

I think you should find both lines quite similar.  We mainly cruise RCCL but have done a couple of NCL cruises and enjoyed them very much as well.  Personally, we like RCCL's pricing strategy works better for us since we know far in advance when we want to cruise and book far in advance.  NCL seems to charge an awful lot because of all of those "freebies" they include.  I typically find RCCL offers lower prices originally and then if they are selling well, prices will go up.  NCL starts very high and only lowers the price near actual sail date, which we cannot be patient enough to wait until since we only cruise in prime time when our kids are out of school.

 

NCL does some things I love that I wish RCCL would do - MDR open on embarkation day, free pub food in O'SheeHan's pub.  RCCL does many things better - flowrider, great shows - especially the ice skating shows for a small rink on a rocking ship.  Don't see it on the menu in the MDR, ask for it and you may get it the next night - this especially works for their cold soups which are no longer on their menus.

 

I find the service and food comparable with both cruise lines - they both are hit and miss at times.

 

If you have not seen or tried a Flowrider, be sure to check it out and try it on your RCCL ship.  It is a blast and one of the reasons I primarily sail RCCL.

[4774Papa]

18 hours ago, STARFISH*4 said:

After 15 years with NCL giving RC another try-last sailed 15 years ago Legend of the Seas.

What does a former Free-Style cruiser need to know for a smooth sailing with RC Navigator of the Seas.  Any tips would be helpful and appreciated. Thanks

We have cruised on both lines and find that both have great entertainment.

Royal has better MDR dining, but NCL's buffet is a little better.

Royal is generally cheaper now, since NCL had gone to price bundling with perks that we don't want.

 

[smplybcause]

25 minutes ago, Heymarco said:

Fully agree with this! I went on two NCL cruises with open mind. Was greatly disappointed during both, luckily to get a drink at dinner if not in a speciality. Love Royal’s ship designs a lot better too.

 

All in all, lots of things are the same. Was almost disappointed to see same 70s dance party, love and marriage game, other game shows, etc. Come on cruise lines, at least try to  differentiate a little bit more. 🤷‍♂️ 90s night anyone, cough cough.

 

On the off chance you go NCL again wine gets served faster at the table. I've taken to having a drink with me when I get seated and order upon sitting, but that's more a factor of waiting at the bar up front for people - though it just so happens to negate the wait for a drink!  It's taken a while for drinks at dinner on royal before. NCL just gets slammed more often with more having the package. 

[broadwaybaby123]

21 hours ago, Heymarco said:

Fully agree with this! I went on two NCL cruises with open mind. Was greatly disappointed during both, luckily to get a drink at dinner if not in a speciality. Love Royal’s ship designs a lot better too.

 

All in all, lots of things are the same. Was almost disappointed to see same 70s dance party, love and marriage game, other game shows, etc. Come on cruise lines, at least try to  differentiate a little bit more. 🤷‍♂️ 90s night anyone, cough cough.

I get what you're saying, but I work in recreation, and events like that take A LOT of time to plan and prep for.  I'm not defending them, but it's just a little detail some people forget.

[I am cruising]

like most people have said, I think they are both very similar... for teens and kids Royal is probably better as more choice during day especially to do but NCL is fine too...just we prefer Royal for day entertainment however NCL we felt was more variety of entertainment at night that we enjoyed. Food similar standard ... royal probably just beats it for me but my husband preferred NCL food. Service on NCL was great , royal was too in beginning but I did notice it declined from when we first started cruising but not to a terrible standard just the little things like choc on pillows etc stopped but they were just a wee nicety but hey ho it doesn't bother me that I dont get a choc on my pillow no more. RCI is probably more dressy but it can be casual too but for me I felt NCL was more casual ... but this is not a negative. You will enjoy your cruise im sure.... have a great holiday

[STARFISH*4]

Thanks everyone it sounds like the 2 lines are pretty similar but looking forward to the Ice Show!

Definitely will be asking for something I don’t see on the menu.  Chicken Cordon Bleu but maybe they offer it.

Again thanks for all the input.

[kearney]

It is amazing what an experience with Noro virus will do to your view of a cruise line. We had it on our last NCL ship and haven't been back since. I don't blame them..but for some reason..it comes to mind whenever I am planning a cruise.

 

Someone is missing the chocolate on the pillow... One of my first cruises... I did not notice the chocolate.. well that is until the next morning when it was melted all over the pillow case and my hair.. so.. there is that... 🙂   I am trying to remember just when..ice sculptures, midnight buffets and the flaming baked Alaska stopped...but it seems rather sudden. I don't miss the late night buffets..but the ice sculptures were nice touch... and well fire on a ship...probably not a good idea... but it was fun.

[Crazy planning mom]

5 hours ago, STARFISH*4 said:

Thanks everyone it sounds like the 2 lines are pretty similar but looking forward to the Ice Show!

Definitely will be asking for something I don’t see on the menu.  Chicken Cordon Bleu but maybe they offer it.

Again thanks for all the input.

If your cruise goes to Coco Cay, get the Crispy Chicken sandwich at the Snack Shack on Coco Cay.

[Crazy planning mom]

Navigator food

http://www.royalcaribbeanincentives.com/ship/navigator-of-the-seas/dining/

[STARFISH*4]

11 hours ago, Crazy planning mom said:

Navigator food

http://www.royalcaribbeanincentives.com/ship/navigator-of-the-seas/dining/

Thanks much for the link.   Looks like a lovely fun ship!

[STARFISH*4]

11 hours ago, Crazy planning mom said:

If your cruise goes to Coco Cay, get the Crispy Chicken sandwich at the Snack Shack on Coco Cay.

Not this time Navigator to MR but thanks for the tip~ maybe next cruise!

[tallnthensome]

If you've sailed any of the newer ships on NCL like the Escape, Bliss, Joy or Encore you'll find that the Navigator is an old piece of junk .... just saying to lower your expectations. 

[Crazy planning mom]

6 hours ago, tallnthensome said:

If you've sailed any of the newer ships on NCL like the Escape, Bliss, Joy or Encore you'll find that the Navigator is an old piece of junk .... just saying to lower your expectations. 

Navigator is an older ship but she got a big refurbishment in 2019.