Norwegian vs Carnival

[catherinemarion2003]

What are the pros and cons??? Have cruised Carnival 5 times, thinking of going Norwegian. Thanks

[Hollyspop]

The only differance I can see ( 5 times on Carnival and 5 times on NCL) are: The cabins on Carnival are bigger for the most part and you can eat whenever you like on NCL. Carnival is now allowing anytime dining on a few selected ships. We did it on the Legend and it was just fine. Also specialty restaurants on NCL are more varied and less expensive and instead of just one there are several.

[LOWTYD]

No corn hole on NCL:rolleyes:

I have been on both and I do love the whole fresestyle, no formal night, choice of resturant thing. Not that Carnival is bad, I've always enjoyed crusing with them. Someone I know just came back from a Carnival cruise (Legend I think) and said the food got better and compared it to NCL.:) That is a matter of opinion though but thought I'd throw that out there. Is there a certain intinerary you wanted to do or just try a different ship?

[Cruise862000]

Cue toronto25's usual NCL bashing comments in 3...2...1...

[EmmasNana]

I have only been on two NCL cruises but will be trying my first Carnival cruise in September. Since I would like to cut down on cost, so being in the Dallas area I can only drive to 2 ports. NCL does not port in Galveston so I decided to try Carnival. All the checking out I have done I feel it will be very close to the same experience. The Conquest has the anytime dining(or whatever it is called) and that is what I chose.

I am booked on NCL next year out of New Orleans but if I like Carnival I will go with them next year for several reasons... Price(if I use Carnival Early Saver rate) time of year(I prefer to cruise in September and NCL wont leave from that port until Nov) and also Carnival leaves the port earlier 4:00 versus 5:00(the big thing about leaving from New Orleans is going down the river)

[CTCruisers]

Freestyle makes us choose NCL over Carnival.

 

We think that Carnival has better entertainment options and makes for a livelier time especially after 10:00pm.

 

We are not too fussy about food and we felt both were equal. We do not eat at the specialty restaurants, so we cannot comment on them.

 

Carnival has more ships and thus more options for itineraries.

 

But, freestyle rules!

 

 

Truth be told, a major reason we have sailed NCL so often has been the Compass Rewards we received from the old NCL Mastercard program. We still have three free cruises to go before we use the last of them. We have two booked already. Starting in 2011, we may choose other cruiselines depending on price and itinerary.

[newmexicoNita]

As often mentioned, all mass marketed lines are more alike than different. I haven't sailed Carnival in many years but have had lots of clients sail the line in the past year or so. Of course, like anything they have returned with mixed feelings. A few would never cruise Carnival again, others love the line.

 

Carnival: larger cabins

 

NCL: better dining choices

 

Carnival: some of their ships have huge buffets, NCL, though I love their buffets (if one can love a buffet) are not as large.

 

I think NCL keeps their ships in better condition, but that is probably just my opinion.

Even though I haven't cruised Carnival recently I have toured a couple of their ships.

 

Entertainment is probably about equal on the two lines.

 

NCL doesn't have as active night life and is a little more subdued, which can be a pro or con. There are lots of things to do, but not as much as on Carnival. Or let's put it this way, things normally quiet down earlier on NCL.

 

The formal nights are something some love, some do not. If you like them, Carnival has them where NCL has them as an option. Most do not participate.

 

I love NCLs freestyle. Yes, all lines are trying a form of it, but NCL knows how to do it best I think.

 

Nita

[CarnivalCruising]

I have sailed on Carnival 12 times, and NCL once. I sailed on the Sky 3 day Bahamas cruise. Both lines are similar. There is more of a variety of foods to choose from in the Buffet area in Carnival. The food is a lot better on Carnival, but everything that I ate on NCL was delicious.The cabins are smaller on NCL, but that's not a problem. I love the entertainment on both lines. Lots of activities scheduled. My nephew loved the Kids" Club on both lines. I will definitely sail on NCL again. I love both cruise lines.

 

I wanted to try another cruise line. I had never found a better deal than on Carnival, but this weekend that I sailed the inside cabins on Carnival were $299 and on NCL $99. I booked this cruise 2 days before sailing. I live 30 minutes away from the Port of Miami.

[anamarieus]

Been on Carnival twice, Norwegian once and Costa once. NCL is the best, hands down. Freestyle dining cannot be beat, the beauty of the ship and the ports were much more my style on NCL. I sailed on the Pearl when it was brand new. The ship was absolutely beautiful.

 

NCL is the best bet, imo.

[Ms belp]

Been on Carnival twice, Norwegian once and Costa once. NCL is the best, hands down. Freestyle dining cannot be beat, the beauty of the ship and the ports were much more my style on NCL. I sailed on the Pearl when it was brand new. The ship was absolutely beautiful.

 

NCL is the best bet, imo.

 

I have to agree! NCL is our favorite. We have never cruised another line and don't see doing so. We love our NCL!:)

[LOWTYD]

I have to agree! NCL is our favorite. We have never cruised another line and don't see doing so. We love our NCL!:)

 

 

MS. Belp...Hows the weather down there in Dallas. Still frying eggs on the sidewalk?:)

[smeyer418]

http://www.10news.com/news/20075486/detail.html

 

never happens on NCL....

 

I heard she wanted to remove the auto tip and he didn't...

 

(its called gallows humor)

[Leafpeeper]

I have sailed on Carnival 12 times, and NCL once. I sailed on the Sky 3 day Bahamas cruise. Both lines are similar. There is more of a variety of foods to choose from in the Buffet area in Carnival. The food is a lot better on Carnival, but everything that I ate on NCL was delicious.The cabins are smaller on NCL, but that's not a problem. I love the entertainment on both lines. Lots of activities scheduled. My nephew loved the Kids" Club on both lines. I will definitely sail on NCL again. I love both cruise lines.

 

I wanted to try another cruise line. I had never found a better deal than on Carnival, but this weekend that I sailed the inside cabins on Carnival were $299 and on NCL $99. I booked this cruise 2 days before sailing. I live 30 minutes away from the Port of Miami.

 

We sail on both cruiselines and like them both. We like Carnival for a short cruise, but you can't beat the prices on NCL Sky. We loved that the Sky has huge balconies and lots of them at great prices. It is a wonderful ship for the money and no other cruiseline comes close for the $. Most Carnival ships that do the short itineraries do NOT have balconies--and if they do, they are extremely expensive.

 

We love the food and entertainment on Carnival. DH enjoys the casino most of all--especially when they run the $3 table game (different game each night) from 8-11pm. I like the pizza and salad 24 hours.

 

We like the lunch buffet on Carnival but hate the dinner buffet--only 2 dessert choices on our last cruise. We don't like assigned dining times. I personally do not like large main dining rooms. I prefer the small intimate settings on most NCL ships--especially the Asian restaurant and LeBistro. Most cruiselines charge $25+pp for specialty restaurants, but NCL prices range from $10-$25 with lots of choices for $10-$15pp.

 

What we like most on NCL is having dinner in a different venue each night--from the casual Italian family style restaurant to the remantic LeBistro with soft lighting and a quiet atmostphere. It is fun to decide where to dine each night.

 

We love cruising Carnival with their early savings rates and military discounts. Most of all, we enjoy cruising on different ships and different cruiselines just for variety. We know they are different and enjoy the differences each time we sail.

 

It is best not to compare but rather go and enjoy something different. I can't imagine just cruising on one cruiseline and one ship forever. Too many places to see and too many bargains to find.

[LOWTYD]

http://www.10news.com/news/20075486/detail.html

 

never happens on NCL....

 

I heard she wanted to remove the auto tip and he didn't...

 

(its called gallows humor)

 

So does this mean you choose NCL?;)

 

( I thought is was becasue he didn't like the new menu's in the MDR and she did!)

[Ms belp]

MS. Belp...Hows the weather down there in Dallas. Still frying eggs on the sidewalk?:)

 

Yep! 102 with heat index of 106. They are trying to kill us.:)

[LOWTYD]

Yep! 102 with heat index of 106. They are trying to kill us.:)

 

 

That's enough to drive someone insane!!!:eek:

Stay cool!:)

[Ms belp]

There may be a break on Friday though. Please pray for us down here. We are meltin....g. :) And donations to our electric bill would be very much appreciated. :)

[paulekrause]

I've cruised and like both

 

Carnival has bigger rooms and MUCH BETTER food.

 

Shows are better on NCL, Choosing when to eat is nice.

 

NCL tends to spend a lot of time trying to sell you stuff.

[Ms belp]

It is 102 outside with a heat index of 106. Oh lord, won't you buy me a Mercedes Benz? :) Just so I can get the heck out of here?:o:(

[Powriv]

I have to agree! NCL is our favorite. We have never cruised another line

 

In order for something to be a favorite don't you need to have something to compare it to??

 

There is nothing wrong with sticking with one cruise line, but to call it your favorite when you "have never cruised another line" is misleading.

 

NCL gives you what you are looking for in a cruise experience and there is nothing wrong with that, but it isn't your favorite its just the only cruise line you have tried and liked

[Planer's Edge]

I've cruised and like both

 

Carnival has bigger rooms and MUCH BETTER food.

 

Shows are better on NCL, Choosing when to eat is nice.

 

NCL tends to spend a lot of time trying to sell you stuff.

 

...and Carnival doesn't?? They all do it!!

 

PE

[uppitycats]

I've been on Carnival cruises and NCL. I won't cruise on Carnival again unless they come up with an itinerary quite specific to them and a rock-bottom price that is irresistable. And then I'll hope that so many other folks discovered it, that the Carnival ships are full. :rolleyes:

 

I find Carnivals overall decor to be gaudy, flashy, glitzy, Las Vegas gone amok, loud, over-the-top. And the passengers (I'm not targeting any age group, here -- we saw boors from 20 to 70+) seem to take on the raucous loud frenzy attitude, and overpower an already overpowering ship.

 

Carnival food is just fine, the cabins seem spacious, the staff very pleasant and helpful...but all that is overwhelmed by our utter dislike, distaste, for the rest.

 

NCL was a very pleasant surprise (our latest cruise was our first on NCL; we've been on Princess and HAL before), and we're likely to cruise on NCL again.

[Dorene1]

I have been on 18 Carnival and 5 NCL, I also have been on Royal and Celebrity. I like both lines and I have both lines booked. Carnival has larger rooms, I found their food better in the dining room than NCL but I did like NCL specialty restaurants. I find NCL charges you for more items than Carnival. I do like the penthouses on NCL with your butler, and Carnival does not offer this.

 

I am booked on the SKY, but it's a 3 day cruise and I don't usually do short cruises too often.

 

 

Both lines are great and they are their to make your vacation wonderful. Try NCL and then do Carnival another time......you will like both lines.

 

Dorene

[newmexicoNita]

I've cruised and like both

 

Carnival has bigger rooms and MUCH BETTER food.

 

Shows are better on NCL, Choosing when to eat is nice.

 

NCL tends to spend a lot of time trying to sell you stuff.

wow, the worst pressure we ever felt to buy,buy,but was on Carnival. Have you ever had a spa treatment and tried to walk out without buying something?

 

Nita

[newmexicoNita]

It is 102 outside with a heat index of 106. Oh lord, won't you buy me a Mercedes Benz? :) Just so I can get the heck out of here?:o:(

 

Just talked to my daughter in Highland Village, isn't this like the 13th day over 100. Well I guess not quite cause we were there on from the 2nd to the 5th and it was below 100 once.

 

Nita