what are the differences in NCL ships

[JBuffettPH]

Being intrigued by the freestyle cruising concept and interested in trying something new we are looking at NCL for a cruise. What are your favorite ships and why?

 

Are the newer ships niceer what about the streched shipes that have been refurbed?

 

Thanks for the insights.

 

We very much enjoy good food more than entertainment on a cruise and aren't particularly big drinkers.

 

Thanks

[Joanne G.]

The newer ships, like the Dawn and the Star, have more dining rooms, meaning more choice. Asian, Italian, Tex-Mex, steakhouse, French, and traditional cruise-type meals. Whether that makes the food on these ships "better" is definitely subjective, but it gives you more options than the older ships that typically only have French (Le Bistro) and maybe Italian besides the tradtional-style meals in the main dining rooms. (You may already know this, but some of the alternative dining rooms have an extra charge and some are included in your cruise fare.)

 

Another food-related issue is the buffets. The newer ships have bigger and more extensive buffets compared to the older ships that were built when most meals were taken in the dining rooms. If you are a fan of buffets, better choose one of the newer ships.

 

I've been on the Wind (after the stretch), the Dawn, and the Star (as well as the dearly-departed Norway). I don' t have a favorite; I liked them all. But some differences come to mind . . .

 

The Wind (and her twin sister the Dream) have two distinct outdoor pool areas. One typically had the live music, the poolside games and such, and the other was quieter. So if you like quiet outdoor pool time, the Dawn and the Star are not good choices. They have just one big, noisy, typically crowded pool area. On the other hand, the Dawn and the Star have indoor lap pools. They are small, but if you like to swim laps, you'll have an adults-only pool in which to do so.

 

The Dawn and the Star have delightful kids' pool areas. Separate little pools away from the main pool area, with little water slides, even a little hot tub, and lounge chairs for Mom and Dad to relax in while keeping an eye on the kiddies. So if you have small children, you might like that.

 

The Dawn and the Star have movie theaters. The Wind doesn't - or at least it didn't when we were on it in 1999. The Dawn and Star also have refrigerators, hot-water pots for instant coffee or tea, and safes in all cabins. On the older ships, these are only available in certain cabin categories.

 

I like the theaters better on the Dawn and the Star. They are real theaters, not show lounges. I don't like bar waiters roaming around during shows, as happened on the Wind.

 

Not as many balcony cabins on the older ships. So if that's important to you, choose a newer ship or book early on one of the older ones.

 

Older ships don't have as much glitz - no glass elevators or soaring atruim. The Wind has an understated decor with subdued colors in the public areas and the cabins. The Dawn and the Star are bright, bright, bright. Are they garish or are they festive? It's in the eye of the beholder.

 

Lastly, size. Bigger ship means more people. More people lining up to get on the ship, more people lining up to get off the ship. More people on the private island beach. More people filling the tenders in tender ports. Big ship also means - well, big. Longer walks to get from point A to point B. It's not a big deal, but if your past experience is on smaller ships, you'll notice the difference.

 

Hope this helps!

[chip brady]

We have sailed on three different NCL ships. The only one that had been stretched was the Dream. We just returned from the Baltics on the Dream and it was the smallest ship we have ever sailed on, but have decided we prefer smaller.

 

However had we been unfortunate enough to have had our cabin up in the front

third of the ship, I would have been very unhappy. When they stretched the ship, it left the people in the front only 2 ways to get to the rest of the ship. Either through the 4 seasons dining room or through the Stardust lounge!! Many times the lounge is closed for rehearsal and you must go up and through the dining room while people are eating.

Because of the stretch, they no longer have a library, but overall it was a great cruise. We took it for all the great places to visit!

 

Chip Brady

[newmexicoNita]

As for the ships now in the water, I have cruised the sea, Sky (POA) star, and Sun. The Sun is my overall favorite ship. It has the dining options, a wonderful Tapa bar, nice sized cabins, friendly crew, nice casino and busy itinerary. Next would be the Sea. It offers the opposite; an older ship,the only downfall is the unbelievable small cabins, but when we cruised her we had never had a big cabin so didn't really notice. The crew is the best at sea in my opinion. The ship has not glitz and not much glamour, but great entertainment and regardless of which ship, Le Bistro is always a must. I haven't done the Majesty or Dream catagory and they do get mixed reviews. What one chooses has alot to do with expectation and desires. If you want a more detailed review you can email me.

 

NMNIta

[Dolphins]

Have only been on two NCL ships. Norwegian Dawn has lots of balconies, Norwegian Sea has none. Really liked the Dawn, 10 restaurants, great lounge musicians. We have booked her again.

[JBuffettPH]

for those of you who have sailed several lines how would you compare teh food on NCL? better than carnuival Wrorse than Clelbrity?? and what are the charges for the specialty restraunts.

 

 

thanks

 

ps NMNITA your email is unavailable through cruise critic I tried to email you directly.

[newmexicoNita]

for those of you who have sailed several lines how would you compare teh food on NCL? better than carnuival Wrorse than Clelbrity?? and what are the charges for the specialty restraunts.

 

 

thanks

 

ps NMNITA your email is unavailable through cruise critic I tried to email you directly.

Wow, it used to be: wonder what happened. Anyway here it is: my3springers@aol.com

[ACruisingWeWillgo]

Just returned of the Dawn July 4th, had a great time with my family. Was pleasantly surprised how good the service and the food was, we had reservations about trying a different line, we normally cruise with Royal Caribbean and Celebrity. We loved the freestyle dining and the food was very good.

 

The alternative dining prices are Bamboo $12.50 per person

Cagney's Steak house $20.00 per person

Le Bistro French $15.00 per person.

 

 

 

 

We will cruise the Dawn again.

[Fran0521]

Chip,

 

I believe the Norwegian Wind was also stretched. It was stretched before the Dream. We were on the Dream in the fall of' 97, the Wind was in the process then of going thru the stretching process.

 

Norway '86, 88, 89, 91, 93, 95

Dream ' 97

Sun 11/04

[Fran0521]

NMexicoNita, tried to email you as your post said, the message I received, was you are not receiving email in CC. Have some Sun question, could you email me, thru CC. We are sailing on the Sun in November 2004.

 

Thanks

[newmexicoNita]

NMexicoNita, tried to email you as your post said, the message I received, was you are not receiving email in CC. Have some Sun question, could you email me, thru CC. We are sailing on the Sun in November 2004.

 

Thanks

 

 

Fran, I don't have a clue what is going on, but you are the second person who has told me this and I have never put a block on my email. I just tried to email you and got the same response. Email me at: my3springers@aol.com Would be glad to answer any of your questions if I can. NMnita

[davy jones]

The newer ships (Dawn, Star) were built for freestyle, so they have more dining options. Freestyle works very well on them. From some posts, I'm not sure that it works as well on the smaller ships that were built for traditional cruising (ie. dining room waits).

 

After that, it comes down to whether you like the options availabie on large ships, or the feeling of smaller ships. That's a matter of persona preference.

[shoreguy]

The newer ships (Dawn, Star) were built for freestyle, so they have more dining options. Freestyle works very well on them. From some posts, I'm not sure that it works as well on the smaller ships that were built for traditional cruising (ie. dining room waits).

 

After that, it comes down to whether you like the options availabie on large ships, or the feeling of smaller ships. That's a matter of persona preference.

 

As usual folks leave the Sun out of the list of ships built for freestyle. It has become my favorite. I have been on the Sea, Dream(2), Wind, Dawn(3) and Sun(1+).

 

In my opinion there are two NCL's what was and what will be.

 

What was are the older smaler ships cruising great intineraries - Sea, Majesty, Crown, Dream, Wind. In general they don't work as well for freestyle but you get all the benefits of a smaller ship. They all have a loyal following.

 

What will be starts with the Sky/Aloha being a first step, and then the Sun, Dawn, Star and the newbuilds as true freestyle ships. A little flashier but still ship like with lots of wood. Great size, many resturants, still great itineraries.

 

Unlike a lot of lines NCL varies greatly in the product from ship to ship. Everyone seems to have its own character