The TERRIBLE State of Norwegian Cruise Line in 2024

[tgloersen]

On 10/3/2024 at 10:22 PM, kasimir said:

You can think of Ben and David what you want, but they are stating some obvious facts and its no secret that NCLH is trying for some time to get financially in a better situation. Here are some of the obvious and blatant cost cutting measures that come to mind that have been implemented during the past 2 years: 

- Cuts in entertainment

- Removal of second turn down service

- Lowering of food quality, very noticeable in their meat/fish dishes 

- Complete removal of higher valued food items in MDR, Buffet and Indulge Food hall.

- Increase in service charges

- Lower staff count (this really is noticeable)

- Nickel and diming getting worst. 

These are just a few that come to mind, but what really gave us a sour taste that very recently their cruises are getting more expensive on top of all the cost cutting. I mean if you want to increase prices, fine, but don't aggressively cut your product and service at the same time. 

There are a lot of NCL cruises for 2025 that are being priced equally or more expensive than Celebrity or Princess. And I am afraid that this way NCL will upset their loyal customers. 

 

Again, you might not like Ben and David or their style of content, but you must be blind (or haven't been on an NCL ship in the past 2 years) to have not noticed that NCL is going in the wrong direction at a very fast pace. 

I think he is spot on!

[graphicguy]

Personally, it depends on what I'm in the mood for.

 

The larger ships , on every cruise line, are stuffed with things to do.  Getting to those things and actually doing them is a different issue.

 

At some point, curiosity will get me to sail something like Royal's Icon.  Right now?  Not quite in the mood to fight that sort of crowd, especially for the fares they're charging right now.  I'm sure the fares will come down to the point I'll jump on the Icon at some point.  It's just not in the foreseeable future for me to fight that sort of crowd just to be on a Humongous ship.  It's just not that important to me.

 

To this day, Liberty of the Seas and Allure of the Seas are my faves on Royal..both are more than 10 years old.

 

I like the Breakaway Plus ships, too.  Again, I have to be in the mood to sail them, though.

 

Personally, I like the layout, the look and the size of the Prima class ships on NCL.  I like their entertainment options.  I like the way they offer such a variety of dining options.

 

Obviously, you look at all these threads for all these cruise lines, no matter how much the cruise lines try to be all things to all people, someone...somewhere is not going to like something they do or have done.  That's just the nature of the beast.

 

It is great we have so many choices.NCL has been scratching my cruising itch for a while.  I like them.  I keep booking them.  In general, I don't agree with some reviewers and some I do agree with.  I find I follow the "lack of drama" cruise vLoggers than those who make it obvious all they are looking for.  I don't find those folks credible....especially when my personal experiences aren't anywhere close to theirs.

 

Not everyone likes Princess, or MSC , or Royal, or Carnival, or......

 

It's great having choices.

[wncretired]

11 hours ago, graphicguy said:

Personally, it depends on what I'm in the mood for.

 

The larger ships , on every cruise line, are stuffed with things to do.  Getting to those things and actually doing them is a different issue.

 

At some point, curiosity will get me to sail something like Royal's Icon.  Right now?  Not quite in the mood to fight that sort of crowd, especially for the fares they're charging right now.  I'm sure the fares will come down to the point I'll jump on the Icon at some point.  It's just not in the foreseeable future for me to fight that sort of crowd just to be on a Humongous ship.  It's just not that important to me.

 

To this day, Liberty of the Seas and Allure of the Seas are my faves on Royal..both are more than 10 years old.

 

I like the Breakaway Plus ships, too.  Again, I have to be in the mood to sail them, though.

 

Personally, I like the layout, the look and the size of the Prima class ships on NCL.  I like their entertainment options.  I like the way they offer such a variety of dining options.

 

Obviously, you look at all these threads for all these cruise lines, no matter how much the cruise lines try to be all things to all people, someone...somewhere is not going to like something they do or have done.  That's just the nature of the beast.

 

It is great we have so many choices.NCL has been scratching my cruising itch for a while.  I like them.  I keep booking them.  In general, I don't agree with some reviewers and some I do agree with.  I find I follow the "lack of drama" cruise vLoggers than those who make it obvious all they are looking for.  I don't find those folks credible....especially when my personal experiences aren't anywhere close to theirs.

 

Not everyone likes Princess, or MSC , or Royal, or Carnival, or......

 

It's great having choices.

Nailed it!!!

[bkrickles1]

19 hours ago, graphicguy said:

Personally, it depends on what I'm in the mood for.

 

The larger ships , on every cruise line, are stuffed with things to do.  Getting to those things and actually doing them is a different issue.

 

At some point, curiosity will get me to sail something like Royal's Icon.  Right now?  Not quite in the mood to fight that sort of crowd, especially for the fares they're charging right now.  I'm sure the fares will come down to the point I'll jump on the Icon at some point.  It's just not in the foreseeable future for me to fight that sort of crowd just to be on a Humongous ship.  It's just not that important to me.

 

To this day, Liberty of the Seas and Allure of the Seas are my faves on Royal..both are more than 10 years old.

 

I like the Breakaway Plus ships, too.  Again, I have to be in the mood to sail them, though.

 

Personally, I like the layout, the look and the size of the Prima class ships on NCL.  I like their entertainment options.  I like the way they offer such a variety of dining options.

 

Obviously, you look at all these threads for all these cruise lines, no matter how much the cruise lines try to be all things to all people, someone...somewhere is not going to like something they do or have done.  That's just the nature of the beast.

 

It is great we have so many choices.NCL has been scratching my cruising itch for a while.  I like them.  I keep booking them.  In general, I don't agree with some reviewers and some I do agree with.  I find I follow the "lack of drama" cruise vLoggers than those who make it obvious all they are looking for.  I don't find those folks credible....especially when my personal experiences aren't anywhere close to theirs.

 

Not everyone likes Princess, or MSC , or Royal, or Carnival, or......

 

It's great having choices.

Exactly! 

I'm also a fan of LOTS. Sailed her when she was new with my wife and (when she was young) daughter, and again some years later with a group. Terrific ship 🛳️! 

Recently, it's been almost all NCL, but that could change at any time. 

Sailing Aqua next summer. 

[graphicguy]

2 hours ago, bkrickles1 said:

Exactly! 

I'm also a fan of LOTS. Sailed her when she was new with my wife and (when she was young) daughter, and again some years later with a group. Terrific ship 🛳️! 

Recently, it's been almost all NCL, but that could change at any time. 

Sailing Aqua next summer. 

LOTS was special for a bunch of reasons.  I took my son on it for his 18th birthday.  It was the first time I had sailed Royal.  I thought the ship, while big, was well kept.

 

Love to hear your impressions of the AQUA!  2025 is up in the air as far as cruises right now.  I'm sure I'll find something that "floats my boat"! 😉

Edited October 14 by graphicguy

[bkrickles1]

6 minutes ago, graphicguy said:

LOTS was special for a bunch of reasons.  I took my son on it for his 18th birthday.  It was the first time I had sailed Royal.  I thought the ship, while big, was well kept.

 

Love to hear your impressions of the AQUA!  2025 is up in the air as far as cruises right now.  I'm sure I'll find something that "floats my boat"! 😉

After sailing Getaway for 10 days in April (excellent cruise!!), my wife and daughter did not want our next sailing to be with NCL. Really only because we had done 5 in a row with them and they were looking for a change.

Then, a couple of weeks ago, my wife and daughter walk in the house and tell me that they want to do Aqua next summer to celebrate my 60th! 

I never say no to a cruise and Aqua is way different than the breakaway/breakaway+ ships and it's new, so we're in.

Prima and Viva have very mixed reviews, but Aqua is supposedly improving on those ships, so we'll see how it goes.

We enjoy every cruise, so I'm sure it will be terrific!

[graphicguy]

3 minutes ago, bkrickles1 said:

After sailing Getaway for 10 days in April (excellent cruise!!), my wife and daughter did not want our next sailing to be with NCL. Really only because we had done 5 in a row with them and they were looking for a change.

Then, a couple of weeks ago, my wife and daughter walk in the house and tell me that they want to do Aqua next summer to celebrate my 60th! 

I never say no to a cruise and Aqua is way different than the breakaway/breakaway+ ships and it's new, so we're in.

Prima and Viva have very mixed reviews, but Aqua is supposedly improving on those ships, so we'll see how it goes.

We enjoy every cruise, so I'm sure it will be terrific!

Leaving on the Getaway on December 1 out of New Orleans.  Really looking forward to that as it's been eons since I've been to New Orleans and I love both Away ships.

 

Got some surgeries coming up the first of the year.  So, don't know how long recovery will be.  But, once recovered, I'm going to splurge on some cruise, to somewhere, on a ship that I haven't sailed yet.  Could be Aqua, could be Icon.  Who knows?

[RocketMan275]

9 minutes ago, graphicguy said:

Got some surgeries coming up the first of the year.  So, don't know how long recovery will be.  But, once recovered, I'm going to splurge on some cruise, to somewhere, on a ship that I haven't sailed yet.  Could be Aqua, could be Icon.  Who knows?

Wish you well.  

[cruiseny4life]

On 10/12/2024 at 1:22 PM, david_sobe said:

NCL is not mentioned that much in this video. 

NCL isn't mentioned, but NCLH is! Both Oceania and Regent scored very poorly within their markets. Apparently Oceania has a "MORE" Program and Regent just isn't hitting the right boxes for their upscale clientele. Based on how Gary positioned Royal and where MSC fell, it seems that NCL must have been in third position. While third isn't normally that bad, it's worse when you know there were only four contenders in that mass market lineup. Based on what he said, it's 1. Royal, 2. Carnival, 3. NCL, 4. MSC. 

 

On 10/12/2024 at 8:24 PM, Sizzlechest said:

 

It sounds like customers would do well to pick the cruise line that is building the newest and biggest ships. The longer one stays with a "loser" cruise line, the more cognitive dissonance will set in.

The loser cruise line is for me! Why? It has the Haven and doesn't require me to dress up. Perhaps I'm a loser for wanting a suites-only space that allows me to go to dinner in a t-shirt and shorts. The Retreat on Celebrity requires a more upscale dress and MSC's Yacht Club does as well, though it seems to be not quite as stuffy as The Retreat. 

 

So, I'll take that loser cruise line, so long as I don't have to dress up and can have a quieter experience with a pool, hot tub, and restaurant that serves better food than any other venue on the ship. 

 

22 hours ago, graphicguy said:

At some point, curiosity will get me to sail something like Royal's Icon.  Right now?  Not quite in the mood to fight that sort of crowd, especially for the fares they're charging right now.

I'm so going to sail on Icon! Someday. I love the whimsical look of the ship and while it doesn't have as good a space for suite's guests as The Haven, I'm sure I'll survive going on the "winner's" cruise line. Does Royal allow losers onboard? Hmm.

[schmoopie17]

43 minutes ago, cruiseny4life said:

Does Royal allow losers onboard? Hmm.

I guess so...they let me on in 2006.

But haven't been back on since. So maybe they're telling me once is enough.

[graphicguy]

47 minutes ago, cruiseny4life said:

 

 

I'm so going to sail on Icon! Someday. I love the whimsical look of the ship and while it doesn't have as good a space for suite's guests as The Haven, I'm sure I'll survive going on the "winner's" cruise line. Does Royal allow losers onboard? Hmm.

You and me both can sail as "co-losers" on the Icon.  I am sailing as a loser on the Getaway, and looking forward to it.

[graphicguy]

57 minutes ago, RocketMan275 said:

Wish you well.  

Thanks!  I appreciate it.  I'll be fine.  I'm at an age where they have to start replacing worn out parts.  LOL!

Edited October 14 by graphicguy

[Gatordad1967]

that's the beauty.  sail what makes you happy.  i like MSC and NCL, but have sailed RCCL, Celebrity, Carnival..... I would go back on all but Carnival

 

[Goldenknight]

On 10/14/2024 at 6:54 AM, cruiseny4life said:

 

 

 . . . . 

 

. Perhaps I'm a loser for wanting a suites-only space that allows me to go to dinner in a t-shirt and shorts. The Retreat on Celebrity requires a more upscale dress and MSC's Yacht Club does as well, though it seems to be not quite as stuffy as The Retreat. 

 

 

 

 

Strange, you think the Haven is "suites-only".   Hmm.  For example, courtyard penthouses on Bliss are definitely small, and definitely not suites.  

Going to dinner in a tshirt and shorts (or swim trunks) . . .  well at least that is factual, saw that on Prima.  Hmm.

[cruiseny4life]

3 minutes ago, Goldenknight said:

Strange, you think the Haven is "suites-only".   Hmm.  For example, courtyard penthouses on Bliss are definitely small, and definitely not suites.  

Going to dinner in a tshirt and shorts (or swim trunks) . . .  well at least that is factual, saw that on Prima.  Hmm.

Welp, call me corrected! Penthouses and Suites, they are! 

Awwwwwwww, you remember!!! 🤩

Edited October 17 by cruiseny4life

[Goldenknight]

Unforgettable.  . . 

 

[graphicguy]

Have sailed a lot of Haven Suites…from the Spa Suites to 2BR Haven Suites.  They were all larger than the  balcony or solo cabins I’ve sailed in!

 

Haven’t been in every single Haven Suite, but the ones I’ve been in have all been nicer than the regular cabins I’ve also been in.  

 

Mode of dress?   Never saw any swimsuits or t-shirts in the Haven Restaurant!  Shorts are welcome.  That said, the Haven Restaurant really accommodates all Haven Suite guests..  If you are dressed neatly and respectfully, you are welcomed in the Haven Restaurant!

 

[complawyer]

graphicguy... fyi while the haven complex is wonderful, you will find that by and large, any ncl ship that offers both a haven suite and a suite (not the club balcony of course)the rooms are almost identical. but  the price for a suite is between $3,000-5,000 cheaper. you just give up the lounge, haven pool and restaurant, you still get all the other amenities, consistent with a suite.

also breakfast for non-haven suite guests, is in moderno, and lunch is in cagney's. Dont worry, the menus are identical for both meals, but the haven restaurant serves dinner and if  you're in a regular suite you're on your own.

 

by the way, ive sailed in both. i'd rather save the 3-5 grand

[BirdTravels]

On 10/14/2024 at 6:54 AM, cruiseny4life said:

 

 

I'm so going to sail on Icon! Someday. I love the whimsical look of the ship and while it doesn't have as good a space for suite's guests as The Haven, I'm sure I'll survive going on the "winner's" cruise line. Does Royal allow losers onboard? Hmm.

Royal’s suites are nothing like NCL Haven. 
 

We were just on RCCL’s newest ship, the Utopia of the Seas (oasis class ship - 6000 passengers) a am in a grand suite. Each night, we ate in the suites restaurant and also toured the buffet. It was kinda funny that the featured entrees in the suites restaurant were also on the buffet. The difference is that they were on pretty plates in the suites restaurant and lounge. 

[cruiseny4life]

On 10/19/2024 at 9:29 PM, graphicguy said:

Mode of dress?   Never saw any swimsuits or t-shirts in the Haven Restaurant!  Shorts are welcome.  That said, the Haven Restaurant really accommodates all Haven Suite guests..  If you are dressed neatly and respectfully, you are welcomed in the Haven Restaurant!

I think @Goldenknight was speaking about what my husband and I were actually wearing when they saw us in the Haven Restaurant (it was lunch, btw, not dinner). We had our athletic shorts and t-shirts on. Since it was Pr1ma we actually had sneakers on as I didn't pack my flippy floppies and my husband was wearing sneakers most of the cruise. So much for our flippy floppies ethos!

 

So yes, we were allowed in as we looked decent, but didn't seem to fit @Goldenknight's expectation of who diners in the Haven Restaurant should be. 

 

I will grant the argument that we did once enjoy time in the hot tub in the Haven Courtyard, and then immediately went to the Haven Restaurant in wet suits and towels. Why? The hostess saw us in the lobby and invited us (rather forcefully, but politely) to dine. That's the only time we went in with a bathing suit (and t-shirt). That was on Getaway, so I'm doubtful @Goldenknight saw us in the restaurant that time. 

[cruiseny4life]

On 10/20/2024 at 1:46 AM, BirdTravels said:

Royal’s suites are nothing like NCL Haven. 
 

We were just on RCCL’s newest ship, the Utopia of the Seas (oasis class ship - 6000 passengers) a am in a grand suite. Each night, we ate in the suites restaurant and also toured the buffet. It was kinda funny that the featured entrees in the suites restaurant were also on the buffet. The difference is that they were on pretty plates in the suites restaurant and lounge. 

Oh, thank you! This is sort of what I picked up on watching reviews. Appreciate you giving the real story. I hope you had a fun cruise!

[graphicguy]

On 10/19/2024 at 11:29 PM, complawyer said:

graphicguy... fyi while the haven complex is wonderful, you will find that by and large, any ncl ship that offers both a haven suite and a suite (not the club balcony of course)the rooms are almost identical. but  the price for a suite is between $3,000-5,000 cheaper. you just give up the lounge, haven pool and restaurant, you still get all the other amenities, consistent with a suite.

also breakfast for non-haven suite guests, is in moderno, and lunch is in cagney's. Dont worry, the menus are identical for both meals, but the haven restaurant serves dinner and if  you're in a regular suite you're on your own.

 

by the way, ive sailed in both. i'd rather save the 3-5 grand

Have done the same.  

 

I was in an Aft Suite on the Gem, which has a Haven, but is very tiny.  No Haven Restaurant or Haven Bar.   But, being in a suite, I still had access to the Concierge and the Butler.  The Concierge set up shop in Moderno (or was it Cagney's?  One of the two).

 

That said, we did a cabin crawl and saw the Haven Garden Suite on the Gem.  Oh my word!  It was spectacular.  The family that hosted us actually had the Butler serve us drinks and hors doeurves.  The suite fit at least 10 of us conformably (probably more).  

 

My Aft Suite was bigger than a Club Balcony Suite and nicer, too.

 

I don't recall the fare being thousands less than the Haven.  But, it was less expensive...a few hundred more than a Balcony Cabin.

 

The "Away" (and Epic) ships and above have the nicer Haven areas with Haven Lounges, Restaurants and Bar areas.  They are much larger than the Jewel Class, too.

 

Been in Solo Cabins, inside cabins, Ocean View Cabins, Balcony Cabins, "Suite" cabins and Haven Suites.  By far, the Haven Suites are nicer than the Balcony Cabins...more room, nicer furnishings, better bathrooms, etc.

 

So, there is a significant difference between Haven Cabins and Balcony or Suite type cabins.

 

Why am I telling you this?  You already know!!!!  LOL!

[Markanddonna]

I have been on about 12 NCL ships since 1998 and have sailed on six other cruise lines. I am currently on the Gem and had low expectations based on recent reviews. We have been quite impressed with the ship and it's offerings thus far. Everything from the embarkation to the food have been fine. 

 

Btw, I write an objective review with lots of details after each trip. It helps me make future decisions and to recall details. 

 

 

[One More for the Road]

6 hours ago, cruiseny4life said:

I think @Goldenknight was speaking about what my husband and I were actually wearing when they saw us in the Haven Restaurant (it was lunch, btw, not dinner). We had our athletic shorts and t-shirts on.

 

Can't wait to show up in my red-checkered pajama pants! (For lunch, of course, not dinner).

 

[ChiefMateJRK]

1 hour ago, One More for the Road said:

 

Can't wait to show up in my red-checkered pajama pants! (For lunch, of course, not dinner).

 

Why not dinner?  It’s all just freakin’ food.  🤣