Freestyle cruising

[mildavis]

Interested to know how everyone likes the freestyle cruising? I have never cruised with NCL but might be interested. Would love to hear from those who have cruised with NCL since they have incorporated this "new" style of cruising.

[BeachBumMama]

Isn't 'new' they've been doing it for awhile now.:) You'll find many who love it and many who hate it. It seems to evoke that love/hate thing. Since you are on the NCL board you'll find most here prefer it over traditional style dining but if you ask on another board you'll get those who like to know their waiters etc.

 

Personally, I enjoy not having set dining times of 6:00 or 8:00. I like my vacation on my terms. Most ships offer a variety of restaurants to choose from. Some require reservations and a surcharge and some just require reservations because they are smaller venues but no surcharge. There are always the 2 main dining rooms where, for the most part, you show up when you want to eat. Whether it be 5:00 or 9:00 at night. Go when you're hungry. As a matter of fact, you can go to one for dinner, go to a show, then go to another one for dessert and coffee later.

 

I've read reviews where people hated it, and I've read reviews where some thought they would never, ever sail NCL or like freestyle, and now they have another NCL booked.

 

You won't know if you'll like it by reading reviews, your only chance to see what it's like is if you sail it for yourself.:)

[pascalburns]

i enjoyed it.:cool: :cool:

[2Cruise4Ever]

If you have kids Freestyle is definitely the way to go!!! It's very difficult to get me, DH, and 2 kids under the age of 10 ready at the same time for dinner. When there is no set time, Freestyle makes it very easy. We love Freestyle!!!

[deb5217]

This was our first cruise and we traveled with 5 kids (10-16) The freestyle was great. Two kids in our group are very picky eaters and they were in the Garden Cafe all the time and loved it. We loved the food and the variety was wonderful. I don't think I tasted anything I didn't like. I liked everything so well I put on 6 lbs and my husband put on 11! Back to salads tomorrow...

[greywillow]

Cannot imagine going back to "traditional" dining. Why should someone tell me when, where, and with whom I am to have dinner every night on my vacation, and what I must wear in order to eat it? The concept is preposterous.

[jeannep]

We went back to traditional dining last year on RCCL. We had a wonderful time but really missed freestyle. There are so many different places to eat. There is food at every moment somewhere on the ship. The buffet has early morning coffee and, breakfast, lunch(different stations for different things as hot, cold, salads, stir fry, deli sandwiches, vegetarian)

afternoon snacks, dinner, 11:00 pm buffet of sandwiches and desserts.

At 11:00 pm everynight there is snacks and cookies in the casino. 24 hour room service. 24 hour Blue Lagoon with very good snack food. Just remember to try and take the stairs instead of the elevators to walk off some of the great food.

 

Jeanne:p

[Cosmopolitan]

This was our first cruise and we traveled with 5 kids (10-16) The freestyle was great. Two kids in our group are very picky eaters and they were in the Garden Cafe all the time and loved it. We loved the food and the variety was wonderful. I don't think I tasted anything I didn't like. I liked everything so well I put on 6 lbs and my husband put on 11! Back to salads tomorrow...

 

Great post;) ..we use the stairs and I stop at each picture and talk to it...to drive DH crazy:)

 

Great tip for the kids!

[Cosmopolitan]

Interested to know how everyone likes the freestyle cruising? I have never cruised with NCL but might be interested. Would love to hear from those who have cruised with NCL since they have incorporated this "new" style of cruising.

 

We love Freestyle and would never cruise traditional.

 

My only suggestion, research here and on the NCL site so that you completely understand the freestyle concept.

Best way to relax on your cruise and NOT watch the clock;)

[johnql]

I love Freestyle. I can't imagine going back to traditional, but I guess I would do it if the itinerary and price were right.

[beachchick]

Well, we're pretty easy going and flexible, so Freestyle was a good fit for us. OTOH, RCI is our favorite line overall (at least so far). On NCL, we thoroughly enjoyed having so many choices for meals, especially dinner. OTOH again, we don't plan our cruises around food (not that we don't like good food, of course we do; we just don't make it a focus of the day).

 

The overall experience was similar to that on the other mass-market lines we've cruised with. The food was fine (and some was excellent); the crew were helpful, professional, and pleasant (with a few exceptions, just like we've found on other lines); the ship was nicely laid out and nice (although we do find RCI to be more elegant and "refined").

 

We choose our cruises based on itinerary, price, and then ship/cruise line. We'd cruise with NCL again, no problem at all.

 

beachchick

[packercruising]

Yeah this might not be the most objective forum to ask about freestyling. :) I agree with Jeanne. We did an RCI cruise this year and had a terrific time but prefer Freestyle.

[welikepalms]

Hello,

 

Here are 2 perspectives.

 

1. My Wife, Son and I love Freestyle. This is our 2nd cruise with NCL and we enjoy most all of the aspects of it. I don't think I would like the structured dinning and such.

 

2. My Parents first time on Freestyle, they have cruise Holland many times and Carnival once before this cruise. My Mom really likes the set times for dinner with friends, but the mostly cruise with large groups. She did admit that with the 5 of us Freestyle dinning was good.

 

Hope this helps.

[coffeebean]

I'm an NCL Cheerleader although RCCL is right up there with us too. We love NCL for the Freestyle dining. NCL's newest Jewel class ships are gorgeous but still a hair below RCCL Voyager class and Freedom class ships which is the reason we love RCCL.

 

Another poster mentioned RCCL is more elegant and refined. I would describe Celebrity and HAL as more elegant and refined. RCCL is on the same page with NCL in my book. NCL does have, however, more vibrant colors and textures in their ship decor which makes it more fun.

 

When DH and I sail RCCL or any other mass market tradititional line we always request a table for two. We have been there and done that with sitting with strangers and we do not prefer to do that. To be accomodated for the table for two, nine times out of ten (we've been on 25 cruises so far) we settle for the late seating. Seems the early seating never has tables for two available because they are extremely limited in the traditional cruise line dining rooms.

 

NCL has plenty of tables for two everywhere on their ships and it is such a pleasure to dine either early OR late. We do that to avoid the lines during the prime time dining times. NCL has several dining venues, mostly with additional surcharges, and it is a wonderful dining experience in these venues. RCCL has specialty restaurants also with surcharges and they are wonderful too, however, NCL just has alot more specialty venues to choose from, all with different cuisines, atmospheres and decors.

 

Enjoy your cruise!!!

[neverthought]

DH & I will only cruise freestyle! Aside from the deverse dinning experiences, we enjoy resort casual dressing and formal when we want. In our opinion freestyle is the only way to go;) !

Neverthought

[gamecockmom]

We were on the Jewel in March - my first NCL and DH first cruise ever !! LOVED Freestyle. Love the flexibility of dining options. Staff was friendly and ship was very clean, bright and cheerful. One of most relaxing vacations we've taken in our 11 years of marriage. I'm not going to say we'll never try another cruiseline, but after our wonderful NCL experience it's hard to imagine doing anything but Freestyle.:)

[CTCruisers]

We love the freestyle concept of no set times for dining and not having to sit with the same group of diners every evening.

 

But on each cruise we have sailed, there are fewer and fewer choices of dining for "free". They have added surcharges for the majority of restaurants on the ships. We just got off the Gem and the only "free" dining rooms were the Grand Pacific, Magenta, Blue Lagoon, and the Garden Cafe buffet. Eating at Cagney's for two can add an additional $50 or more a day to your bill. As long as you are aware of this and you can budget for the extra costs, you will not have any issues.

 

 

We just remember when cruising on NCL was all inclusive except for your bar tab, excursions, and tips for the stewards.

[greywillow]

We just remember when cruising on NCL was all inclusive except for your bar tab, excursions, and tips for the stewards.

Were there specialty restaurants at that time you "remember" NCL being "all-inclusive," or were your choices limited to main dining room and buffet?

 

If so, then there's no difference today (main dining room and buffet are still "all-inclusive," plus there's Blue Lagoon), except that today you may choose to pay additional for specialty restaurants. Did I like it when the Tex-Mex and Italian restaurants were free while Bistro, Cagney's, etc., were extra-charge? Sure. But is it any different now in terms of "free" choices than HAL, Celebrity, etc.? I don't think so. Celebrity doesn't even offer a dinner buffet...at least not on Galaxy. RCCL even charges for burgers and fries.

[mildavis]

Thanks everyone. We are getting ready to take our first RCI cruise to the Med in June. We like trying new cruise lines. We've cruised Princess, Holland, and Disney and I think I'll try NCL after RCI. Why not? One of my only complaints when on a cruise, well not complaints because how can you complain when on a cruise, is how I feel like at the end of the day I'm rushing to get to dinner or have to wait around for my dinner time. This just seems like the perfect answer and I was wondering how if they make it work, and work well, why doesn't all the other lines do it? Thanks again for all of your replies.

[Cruise_More_Often]

I first heard about Freestyle on NCL from a travel agent at a cruise show in 2003, so it's been around quite awhile. We told the TA that we really weren't all that fond of dining with the same group of people at the same time every night, and she told us we'd love NCL. And she was right!! We've done 10 cruises with NCL, and unless NCL just doesn't go wherever it is we want to go, then we'll be on NCL. As a matter of fact, we seem to be tailoring our cruising desires to wherever NCL cruises!

 

Long live Freestyle!

[BeachBumMama]

One of my only complaints when on a cruise, well not complaints because how can you complain when on a cruise, is how I feel like at the end of the day I'm rushing to get to dinner or have to wait around for my dinner time. This just seems like the perfect answer and I was wondering how if they make it work, and work well, why doesn't all the other lines do it? Thanks again for all of your replies.

The reasons you stated above are exactly why freestyle works for so many people. It's the perfect answer to enjoy your cruise on your terms. As for other cruise lines, some are coming out with variations of the concept.

 

Have a great time on your Med cruise. :)

[doitallWMB]

My DH and I have been seriously considering the NCL Pearl or Jewel for later this year,, but are truly afraid because of the horror stories associated with the line. If your read the comments on this website in the reviews it will make you think twice. We LOVE the concept of freestyle! we just don't want to regret spending hard earned cash. NCL sounds perfect for me, but the DH likes Princess and RCCL Mariner class. I want to try it and I think she will like the freedom. Is it worth the chance? I love the idea of 2.0.

[jeannep]

My DH and I have been seriously considering the NCL Pearl or Jewel for later this year,, but are truly afraid because of the horror stories associated with the line. If your read the comments on this website in the reviews it will make you think twice. We LOVE the concept of freestyle! we just don't want to regret spending hard earned cash. NCL sounds perfect for me, but the DH likes Princess and RCCL Mariner class. I want to try it and I think she will like the freedom. Is it worth the chance? I love the idea of 2.0.

 

 

TRY NCL!!!!!! We have loved every cruise we have been on. NCL is very lively and the entertainment is alot of fun. The crew has always been very friendly. Eating when and with whom you want is a great perk. We have been on other cruise lines and have enjoyed them all but NCL is definately our favorite.

 

Try It!!!

Jeanne:cool:

[chrisbd1]

As a matter of fact, we seem to be tailoring our cruising desires to wherever NCL cruises!

 

Long live Freestyle!

 

I will look at NCL's website and wonder "Where do I want NCL to take me next?" :)

[BeachBumMama]

My DH and I have been seriously considering the NCL Pearl or Jewel for later this year,, but are truly afraid because of the horror stories associated with the line. If your read the comments on this website in the reviews it will make you think twice. We LOVE the concept of freestyle! we just don't want to regret spending hard earned cash. NCL sounds perfect for me, but the DH likes Princess and RCCL Mariner class. I want to try it and I think she will like the freedom. Is it worth the chance? I love the idea of 2.0.

I'm sure you'll agree that if you go to the Princess and RCI boards there are horror stories there too. There will be about every cruise line. Granted, some people have legitimate complaints, but you have to read reviews with a shaker of salt.

 

It seems to be a love/hate relationship. Some people go into a freestyle cruise with a favorite they are trying to compare it to. You can read it in the review... 'Well, on RCI they had this, or they do it that way', etc. etc. etc. It isn't going to be like RCI or Princess or Carnival or Celebrity or whatever. They're all different and are going to offer a different way of cruising.

 

I have read many reviews where the cruiser was loyal to a certain line and thought they would hate NCL because of things they read. Thought they would never enjoy freestyle. They went on one and they are now booked on another.:)

 

You won't know if you'll enjoy it from anything you read, it's something you'd have to go and decide for yourself. The Pearl or the Jewel are newer ships and I've read great reviews about them. I'm sure you wouldn't be disappointed.