My view of NCL cruises

[unionhall]

We are just back from the 5 day Bermuda cruise on the Getaway. These are my comparisons from cruises this past year. We never had a bad meal on Virgin Scarlett Lady and we never had a great meal on the Getaway. The food was cold in American Diner and in the Garden Cafe consistently. The salad bar and dessert were better than the meat in Moderno. This was the first cruise for me where there was always a half hour wait when we went to OSheehans and we tried all different times. I believe there were 4400 passengers sailing so it was a busy ship. The food was not once worth the wait.  The best meal we had was at Teppanyaki and we all joked it was because it was hot when we were served. The entertainment is lacking during the day. The worst was a Scattergories game where  the host didn’t give a letter for the question so it went on for way too long listening to over 30  people read out their answers.(ie.. the way the game is played the question is name 5 countries that begin with C. When people write the same country you get knocked out but when your not given a letter there are way too many options.) There were no afternoon shows in the theater. There was a time when you could see a magic show, a juggler or a mentalist but now it’s bingo. There was more daytime entertainment on the  RCL Oasis and definitely more evening shows. Million dollar Quartet was enjoyable but we have seen it many times. Rumors was not on this week in Syds.  I liked the late night  pizza on Oasis over the wings in Osheehans. Watching a football game in Playmakers is fun watching the games on Getaway with no sound not so much fun.  The casino could do with the glassed in section for smokers that other NCL ships have. Oasis wins there with its non smoking casino in a different area.  Getting a drink while playing slots in the casino was almost impossible some nights. The worst was when they took your card and then didn’t come back for twenty minutes holding you hostage to the area. We had previously booked the ten day Caribbean cruise on the Getaway  for February and for the first time in over 45 years of cruising I am not looking forward to a cruise. I was platinum on Carnival when I stopped cruising that  line in 2016 because of the poor quality of food. I am Sapphire on NCL and I do enjoy the dinner with the officers but that isn’t enough to get me to book NCL again. We sailed on the Prima in January out of Port Canaveral and then in March to Bermuda. The ship isn’t for me. I liked the cabins and the food hall. The outdoor space was amazing when you could use it but out of NY in the cold weather there wasn’t much time. It was too crowded  inside on the bad weather days. The point of my post is we are lucky  that there are so many options to chose from when you want to cruise. When your usual line no longer makes you happy don’t be afraid to try out another brand.. I am booked on Royal and Celebrity this year and I am looking forward to finding the line that suits me now. If Virgin would home port in the NYC area that would be the front runner.

[Anoynmous Phoenix]

"Don't choose a book by its cover".   To look at NCL by that one cruise and decide not to travel with them again would be a mistake.

 

Could I suggest a 12-14 day cruise somewhere where there is a mixture of port and sea days, where there are very few under 5s and the passenger count is about 2000.

[KeithJenner]

19 minutes ago, Anoynmous Phoenix said:

"Don't choose a book by its cover".   To look at NCL by that one cruise and decide not to travel with them again would be a mistake.

 

Could I suggest a 12-14 day cruise somewhere where there is a mixture of port and sea days, where there are very few under 5s and the passenger count is about 2000.

I think (although I couldn't see it in the mass of words when just checking now) that they said they were platinum on NCL, so I think that they have other NCL experience.

 

Although I could be wrong. It wasn't the easiest read.

[schmoopie17]

23 minutes ago, KeithJenner said:

 It wasn't the easiest read.

To the OP...paragraphs are your friends.

[UKstages]

i believe i read that they were platinum on carnival.

[AlexandNessa]

I agree, very difficult read but i think they said they are Sapphire. Using paragraphs probably would've gone a long way for readability. 

 

Funny because we were on Oasis end of September/beginning of October and were so disappointed in the night life (seriously, Sorrento's was the only happening spot at midnight AND the pizza was terrible to add insult to injury) that we booked Getaway while onboard the Oasis and we had an amazing time on a full ship during Thanksgiving week. 

 

Different strokes and all that.

 

 

[hallux]

1 hour ago, UKstages said:

i believe i read that they were platinum on carnival.

And Sapphire on NCL. 

 

I agree - it was a difficult read due to the lack of paragraph spacing.  Sounds like it was a full (double-occupancy and then some) ship, that's part of the issue.  

[DavidOrawan]

6 hours ago, unionhall said:

We are just back from the 5 day Bermuda cruise on the Getaway. These are my comparisons from cruises this past year. We never had a bad meal on Virgin Scarlett Lady and we never had a great meal on the Getaway. The food was cold in American Diner and in the Garden Cafe consistently. The salad bar and dessert were better than the meat in Moderno. This was the first cruise for me where there was always a half hour wait when we went to OSheehans and we tried all different times. I believe there were 4400 passengers sailing so it was a busy ship. The food was not once worth the wait.  The best meal we had was at Teppanyaki and we all joked it was because it was hot when we were served. The entertainment is lacking during the day. The worst was a Scattergories game where  the host didn’t give a letter for the question so it went on for way too long listening to over 30  people read out their answers.(ie.. the way the game is played the question is name 5 countries that begin with C. When people write the same country you get knocked out but when your not given a letter there are way too many options.) There were no afternoon shows in the theater. There was a time when you could see a magic show, a juggler or a mentalist but now it’s bingo. There was more daytime entertainment on the  RCL Oasis and definitely more evening shows. Million dollar Quartet was enjoyable but we have seen it many times. Rumors was not on this week in Syds.  I liked the late night  pizza on Oasis over the wings in Osheehans. Watching a football game in Playmakers is fun watching the games on Getaway with no sound not so much fun.  The casino could do with the glassed in section for smokers that other NCL ships have. Oasis wins there with its non smoking casino in a different area.  Getting a drink while playing slots in the casino was almost impossible some nights. The worst was when they took your card and then didn’t come back for twenty minutes holding you hostage to the area. We had previously booked the ten day Caribbean cruise on the Getaway  for February and for the first time in over 45 years of cruising I am not looking forward to a cruise. I was platinum on Carnival when I stopped cruising that  line in 2016 because of the poor quality of food. I am Sapphire on NCL and I do enjoy the dinner with the officers but that isn’t enough to get me to book NCL again. We sailed on the Prima in January out of Port Canaveral and then in March to Bermuda. The ship isn’t for me. I liked the cabins and the food hall. The outdoor space was amazing when you could use it but out of NY in the cold weather there wasn’t much time. It was too crowded  inside on the bad weather days. The point of my post is we are lucky  that there are so many options to chose from when you want to cruise. When your usual line no longer makes you happy don’t be afraid to try out another brand.. I am booked on Royal and Celebrity this year and I am looking forward to finding the line that suits me now. If Virgin would home port in the NYC area that would be the front runner.

Where is everything getting this cold food? Just off a week on the breakaway and the only cold food I got was supposed to be cold.

Edited January 21 by DavidOrawan

[wncretired]

I’ve been on most major cruise lines, (several times on each), and only started sailing NCL last year. So far, I have taken 4 NCL cruises. Loved NCL so much, that I have 3 more booked in 2024. 
 

No problems at all with NCL. Or any of the other cruise lines, as far as that goes. 

[Asawi]

Interesting read! 

I have not been on Getaway or any other of the big ships.. I've been on Spirit, Star and Gem. Out of those Star was my least faviourite when it came to food, but not even there did I come across any cold food that wasn't supposed to be cold. Entertainment isn't a priority for me, but I do prefer shows with the production cast to any other kind. It seems like NCL is cutting back on those and that's a bit sad.

I would be happy to go on another cruise line if they had itineraries to my taste and good solo pricing. Unfortunately I've been unsuccessful finding any, so my next few cruises will be NCL. Trying out a couple of the big ships with studios and studio lounge with good coffee. That's a good way to keep me happy. 😄 
 

[Beer Belly]

We are somewhat newbies to cruising, only cruised NCL (3x), each cruise seemed worse than the last (Escape, Getaway, then Prima). Booked RCCL in April, then right back to NCL to Alaska (Encore).....doing a little comparison shopping, but not giving up totally on NCL.

[EllieinNJ]

So did you get to Bermuda?  We didn't on the Getaway last Feb.  They gave us $250 OBC so with the original OBC we had used it to order lobster in all the dinner venues each night along with the regular meals.

 

We also were going to swear off NCL but we still had one 'CN and 10 percent off so we booked the Prima for December.  If we dislike it it will be the end for us with NCL.

[graphicguy]

Kind of skimmed OP's post....tough read.

 

Some I understand.  Some I don't.

 

Drinks in the casino....I find a $5 bill with the first drink keeps them coming quick and often.  I do agree about the smoking in the Break/Get-away ships.  While they have improved the filtering quite a bit.  It's still not as good as it is on the B+ ships with their enclosed smoking areas.

 

Never have had cold food that wasn't supposed to be cold.  Let's say one of the meals was served cold.  A quick mention to the restaurant manager would have rectified it quickly.

 

Day time shows are everywhere.  There are solo and duo performances throughout the ship.  And, the never ending parade of trivia and the afore mentioned geography quiz shows always going on in the Atrium.  Now, if it's too hard (as the OP suggests), that's more of an issues with the participants' ability than anything else.

[UKstages]

ok, i'll weigh on the great cold food debate of 2024.

 

in my experience, MDR food is typically served room temperature, whether it's supposed to be a hot entree or a cold dish, such as a salad or dessert. (the exception: ice cream, which typically does arrive cold... not frozen solid, but cold.) i've found this to be true across all ships of all cruise lines, not just NCL. the stuff comes out of an industrial kitchen and they're serving hundreds or a thousand or more of the same dish. they're not made to order and service being what it is, the plated food will often wait a few minutes before its picked up and brought to your table. the most egregious example of this on NCL is the prima (again, in my experience). so, when people say the food was "cold," i interpret that to mean "room temperature" and i would have to wholeheartedly agree.

 

specialty restaurant food is hot (when it's supposed to be) and dishes from the indulge food hall are always served fresh at the correct temperature (yet again, in my experience).

[poohdreaming]

I have been on some NCL cruises (Gem/Breakaway). For some reasons, I disliked the Getaway the most of all the NCL cruise ships I cruised with. I dislike the layout of the ship. For example, NCL Gem have the spinnaker lounge which I enjoyed.

[hallux]

3 minutes ago, poohdreaming said:

For example, NCL Gem have the spinnaker lounge which I enjoyed.

For that you may be looking at the Bliss, Joy, Encore or a Prima class ship, they all have observation lounges...

[poohdreaming]

1 minute ago, hallux said:

For that you may be looking at the Bliss, Joy, Encore or a Prima class ship, they all have observation lounges...

 

Yes, thank you for saying this. I know these cruise ships have an observation lounge. I was just mentioning it that one NCL cruise ship does not represent all other ones.

 

Speaking of food - it is either hit or miss. If cold food mean room temperature, then I agree with you.

 

The op would have to define cold food/poor quality of food. Op stopped sailing on Carnival since 2016. Perhaps should give Carnival another try. It been a long time that perhaps things have changed on Carnival. Op should continue to find the correct cruise line. Mentioning of RCL, hopefully RCL will have something for the OP to like. As a matter of fact, the news is talking about their new cruise ship: Icon of the sea.

[schmoopie17]

44 minutes ago, UKstages said:

i've found this to be true across all ships of all cruise lines, not just NCL. the stuff comes out of an industrial kitchen and they're serving hundreds or a thousand or more of the same dish. they're not made to order and service being what it is, the plated food will often wait a few minutes before its picked up and brought to your table.

And this is why we will never order room service on a ship.

 

If it's cold getting to your table in a dining room, imagine the temperature if it is wheeled down the hall...up or down an elevator...then wheeled down another hall...before it finally gets to your cabin.

[Smitheroo]

On 1/20/2024 at 4:36 PM, unionhall said:

We are just back from the 5 day Bermuda cruise on the Getaway. These are my comparisons from cruises this past year. We never had a bad meal on Virgin Scarlett Lady and we never had a great meal on the Getaway. The food was cold in American Diner and in the Garden Cafe consistently. The salad bar and dessert were better than the meat in Moderno. This was the first cruise for me where there was always a half hour wait when we went to OSheehans and we tried all different times. I believe there were 4400 passengers sailing so it was a busy ship. The food was not once worth the wait.  The best meal we had was at Teppanyaki and we all joked it was because it was hot when we were served. The entertainment is lacking during the day. The worst was a Scattergories game where  the host didn’t give a letter for the question so it went on for way too long listening to over 30  people read out their answers.(ie.. the way the game is played the question is name 5 countries that begin with C. When people write the same country you get knocked out but when your not given a letter there are way too many options.) There were no afternoon shows in the theater. There was a time when you could see a magic show, a juggler or a mentalist but now it’s bingo. There was more daytime entertainment on the  RCL Oasis and definitely more evening shows. Million dollar Quartet was enjoyable but we have seen it many times. Rumors was not on this week in Syds.  I liked the late night  pizza on Oasis over the wings in Osheehans. Watching a football game in Playmakers is fun watching the games on Getaway with no sound not so much fun.  The casino could do with the glassed in section for smokers that other NCL ships have. Oasis wins there with its non smoking casino in a different area.  Getting a drink while playing slots in the casino was almost impossible some nights. The worst was when they took your card and then didn’t come back for twenty minutes holding you hostage to the area. We had previously booked the ten day Caribbean cruise on the Getaway  for February and for the first time in over 45 years of cruising I am not looking forward to a cruise. I was platinum on Carnival when I stopped cruising that  line in 2016 because of the poor quality of food. I am Sapphire on NCL and I do enjoy the dinner with the officers but that isn’t enough to get me to book NCL again. We sailed on the Prima in January out of Port Canaveral and then in March to Bermuda. The ship isn’t for me. I liked the cabins and the food hall. The outdoor space was amazing when you could use it but out of NY in the cold weather there wasn’t much time. It was too crowded  inside on the bad weather days. The point of my post is we are lucky  that there are so many options to chose from when you want to cruise. When your usual line no longer makes you happy don’t be afraid to try out another brand.. I am booked on Royal and Celebrity this year and I am looking forward to finding the line that suits me now. If Virgin would home port in the NYC area that would be the front runner.

I was on this same cruise, One thing you said that I identified right away was the lack of space if the crowds couldnt use the decks comfortably. I think not having an Observation Lounge or other large area is a big minus. The Garden Cafe was more of a feeding frenzy than other cruises I've been on.  Since I travel alone, or when I'm with a travel partner  we often split up for periods of time, I dont bother much with daytime entertainment but would just relax somewhere quiet which was hard to do. I found the Atrium to be loud and stifling.  I was pleased with the nightime entertainment. Dont do specialty dining so cant comment on that. The MDR (savor and taste, never got to the tropican) was more than adequate for my taste. The food I received was well prepared and presented to me, always hot it it was supposed to be.  If this sounds like I didnt enjoy this cruise that's not true. I did but I think it wouldnt be my first choice unless the itinerary was enticing.  I really did miss an Observation Lounge. What did you think of the rough seas on Friday night and Saturday?  Dont know how rough they were as I dont have a lot of experience with rough seas.  I forgot to add I really enjoyed the pool deck on Sunday.  I am bordering on elderly and there I was jumping in from the side.(yes jumping, like a cannonball)  Must have been quite a sight getting back out as another passenger extended a hand to help me. I had an enjoyable time making friends with a boy of about 10 yrs old as he demonstrated his swimming skills and encouraged me to jump in. Sorry to say that the hot tubs are a complete turn off with all those bodies in warm water together. 

Edited January 22 by Smitheroo

[Smitheroo]

On 1/20/2024 at 5:43 PM, KeithJenner said:

I think (although I couldn't see it in the mass of words when just checking now) that they said they were platinum on NCL, so I think that they have other NCL experience.

 

Although I could be wrong. It wasn't the easiest read.

Point noted. I dont use paragraphs when I write comments either. I will

[Smitheroo]

On 1/20/2024 at 11:23 PM, DavidOrawan said:

Where is everything getting this cold food? Just off a week on the breakaway and the only cold food I got was supposed to be cold.

Same here and I was on that cruise on the Getaway. I did eat once in American Diner when I was too late for the MDR and while I didnt care too much for what I ordered (too salty) it was hot. Some women I got talking to didnt care for O'Sheehans

Edited January 22 by Smitheroo

[Smitheroo]

On 1/21/2024 at 5:30 AM, Asawi said:

Interesting read! 

I have not been on Getaway or any other of the big ships.. I've been on Spirit, Star and Gem. Out of those Star was my least faviourite when it came to food, but not even there did I come across any cold food that wasn't supposed to be cold. Entertainment isn't a priority for me, but I do prefer shows with the production cast to any other kind. It seems like NCL is cutting back on those and that's a bit sad.

I would be happy to go on another cruise line if they had itineraries to my taste and good solo pricing. Unfortunately I've been unsuccessful finding any, so my next few cruises will be NCL. Trying out a couple of the big ships with studios and studio lounge with good coffee. That's a good way to keep me happy. 😄 
 

The studio lounge on the Getaway was lovely except there was rarely anyone in it (when I checked)  I heard the coffee was great but I would first have had to figure out how to use the coffee maker lol.  There was a bar but never once saw a bartender.  Looked like a nice little place with nice seating. I helped myself to cookies on several nights. I've complained about the coffee in the MDRs before. Not that it was bad but that it didnt have any zing to it and I found myself craving Starbucks mid morning. But this time on the Getaway it seemed fine to me, no complaints. 

[Smitheroo]

On 1/21/2024 at 10:22 AM, UKstages said:

ok, i'll weigh on the great cold food debate of 2024.

 

in my experience, MDR food is typically served room temperature, whether it's supposed to be a hot entree or a cold dish, such as a salad or dessert. (the exception: ice cream, which typically does arrive cold... not frozen solid, but cold.) i've found this to be true across all ships of all cruise lines, not just NCL. the stuff comes out of an industrial kitchen and they're serving hundreds or a thousand or more of the same dish. they're not made to order and service being what it is, the plated food will often wait a few minutes before its picked up and brought to your table. the most egregious example of this on NCL is the prima (again, in my experience). so, when people say the food was "cold," i interpret that to mean "room temperature" and i would have to wholeheartedly agree.

 

specialty restaurant food is hot (when it's supposed to be) and dishes from the indulge food hall are always served fresh at the correct temperature (yet again, in my experience).

Never noticed any of my food on any of the 3 NCL ships I've been on to not be the temperature it should be.  Not steaming hot but not room temperature. 

[david_sobe]

Comparing Virgin Voyages with NCL cruise line is like comparing apples and oranges.  NCL is a generic mass market cruise line catering to families.  Virgin is a smaller line and ship catering to young adults with no children.  Their restaurants are all creative and not the generic buffet kind of meal.  Remember that night by night Virgin would be more expensive.  As they say you get what you pay for.  Are there better specialty restaurants on NCL?  Maybe?  But I would expect the "average" food be better on Virgin.  Every cruise review I watch the vlogs rave about the food.

[Smitheroo]

I've been on 3 NCL ships in the past year, soon to be 4.  One thing that I notice to be excellent on a consistent level is the crew. (and not that many people mention that in their reviews which are usually about food and entertainment)  I have never met one rude or grouchy crew member. They, male or female, have always been very pleasant to me, with a warm smile and greeting.  The staff at places like Guest Services might be more formal but the crew with the every day jobs to do have been a delight to deal with. 

 

One incident stands out to me. I had just come out of Burn the Floor and ordered a drink at the Mixx bar. Then I headed down to Headliners to wait for the comedian (I left before the show started) I was there a few minutes when I felt a presence at my side, looked up and there was one of the bar staff (from the Mixx) handing me my key card which I had left behind. Then turned and left. He must have followed me all the way to the club.  He didnt have to do that. He could have left it at the side of the monitor "when she comes back looking for it"  I would have had to figure out where I had used it (realizing that I didnt have it when I tried to get into my cabin).  I left him a Hero card, no name but the location, date and time the action occurred. Who knows if he will get it but I thought it was worth a try.

 

THinking back, I forgot about the crew member who threw a rude passenger's key card at him when checking out of the ship.  It wasnt directed at me so I found it  entertaining. That guy deserved it. (the passenger)

Edited January 22 by Smitheroo