Leaving HAL for awhile, going to NCL

[bryanjaync]

My partner and I have been loyal HAL (and X) cruisers for the past ten years, but, to be honest, it has become dull. Though we have sailed different ships within HAL and X, it has become the same experience (food, ambeience, types of entertainment, onboard activities). We lost the 'wowness' of cruising.

So, we took the plunge and booked a Penthouse with a balcony (SG) on the NCL Star. This is a cabin built about one year ago on deck 12 (with other suite cabins). The perks sound nice, the cabin looks swell and we got $400 OBC so we will try the speciality restaurants.

Any HAL cruisers tried NCL ? I am sure the experience will be DIFFERENT, but with the suite perks, maybe just as good.

Any insights on NCL from HAL cruisers? (Going 12/2011)

[kazu]

If you are in a suite on NCL you should be happy. Specialty restaurants for breakfast and lunch. I know Lisa enjoys it. She says NCL suites are the best (not talking luxury cruise lines here) of all the ships.

The only way I would sail NCL is a suite. I used to sail NCL a lot and found they went downhill. However a suite is a whole different kettle of fish.

I prefer HAL but I wasn't doing the 'suite' life when I sailed NCL, just a verandah. My favourite ship was mothballed a few years ago.

enjoy your cruise, who knows? you may be back

[mexico5]

You will love NCL! DH and I tried HAL out in December and there was no "wow factor" for us and it made us actually want to take a year off cruising! If that happens you know that you need to select a new line or a new type of vacation. Vacations should always be exciting!

We are going back to NCL or Princess...

[bryanjaync]

The Penthouse w/Balcony on the Star was priced at $1299, which is cheaper than the usual SY we get on HAL. Then you factor in $400 OBC, the no-fee lunch and breakfast in a suite-only private restaurant perk, priority reservations at the speciality restaurants, and free DVD rentals for the player, well, it made ustake the leap (at least for this year).:)

[geepmaley]

The Penthouse w/Balcony on the Star was priced at $1299, which is cheaper than the usual SY we get on HAL. Then you factor in $400 OBC, the no-fee lunch and breakfast in a suite-only private restaurant perk, priority reservations at the speciality restaurants, and free DVD rentals for the player, well, it made ustake the leap (at least for this year).:)

Sounds like a great deal. What itinerary is this? If you would, PM me with the travel agent you used.

[bryanjaync]

The iternary is leaving from Tampa (again, something new for us), and doing the Western (Cozumel, Roaton, Porto Maya, and new for us Belize). The NCL deal is $300 OBC for suites/penthouses booked 9 months in advance.

[sail7seas]

Hope you'll come here and share your opinions re: NCL with us..... comparison would be great.

Travel safely.

[travelmatron]

We've cruised NCL in a Penthouse Suite and enjoyed it. The food in the specialty restuarants was fine. There seemed to be more entertainment available on NCL. Utimately we discovered that the verandah on the Vista Class 'aft' wrap arounds was a the number one consideration for us in cruising. NCL does a very nice job of treating their suite passengers well. I hope you enjoy your upcoming cruise, and come back with your thoughts.

[brovol]

My partner and I have been loyal HAL (and X) cruisers for the past ten years, but, to be honest, it has become dull. Though we have sailed different ships within HAL and X, it has become the same experience (food, ambeience, types of entertainment, onboard activities). We lost the 'wowness' of cruising.

So, we took the plunge and booked a Penthouse with a balcony (SG) on the NCL Star. This is a cabin built about one year ago on deck 12 (with other suite cabins). The perks sound nice, the cabin looks swell and we got $400 OBC so we will try the speciality restaurants.

Any HAL cruisers tried NCL ? I am sure the experience will be DIFFERENT, but with the suite perks, maybe just as good.

Any insights on NCL from HAL cruisers? (Going 12/2011)


You will love the NCL suite. NCL does suites far better than any other line that I have been on. The Penthouses are huge, and outstanding in every respect. Butler service, as well as concierge. Tons of perks. We "tried" NCL a few years ago, the stayed with NCL for several cruises thereafter.

You do tend to get sick of a particular line after several consecutive cruises. We were in love with first Royal Caribbean, then Princess for a while, then HAL, then NCL, and now we are booked on the Eurodam for a change of pace. We still love Princess, and we will definitely sail NCL (suite only) again, but you need to mix it up. Exploring new ships is always exiting, and you miss that when you have been on the same ship, or its sisters. Different cruise lines do things a little differently. Each line does some things better and some things not as good.

[HokiePoq]

We love both HAL and NCL. We are cheap....don't book suites on either line but enjoy all of what both have to offer. Some things are better on each...food better on HAL, entertainment pretty much a wash. DH likes not having to dress up which is the main reason we come back to NCL.
I choose between the two based on ports and price.
Should be on Statendam right now but had to cancel due to a traffic accident...Insurance offered by HAL far superior to that offered by NCL. Found out how good HAL's was just here recently and could not get same coverage through NCL.

[Krazy Kruizers]

Do hope you come back and tell us about your NCL cruise.

It has been years since we sailed on NCL -- we gave them up when they started the Freestyle cruising and the cabins got smaller.

[bepsf]

Should be on Statendam right now but had to cancel due to a traffic accident...Insurance offered by HAL far superior to that offered by NCL. Found out how good HAL's was just here recently and could not get same coverage through NCL.

Sorry about the accident - but you should be aware that 3rd party insurance offered by your TA is frequently even better and covers more than what you can get through the cruiselines.

[KateQ22003]

I have sailed on both lines and feel that HAL is the better experience. The food is much better on HAL and the ambiance and class of the HAL ships are fantastic. NCL is too casual for my tastes; "freestyle" has been translated by some as "free for all." I will say though, the suite life on NCL is wonderful. We were in a penthouse suite last summer on the Spirit (beautiful suite) and had the most wonderful butler. I wouldn't do NCL again unless I had a suite.

[LAFFNVEGAS]

We absolutely LOVED NCL Suite Life. There really is a lot to like on NCL despite the bad rap the NCL gets here on the HAL board. I look at it like how HAL get a Bad rap for only have very old people on board :D
The crew are fantastic, the entertainment far exceeds HAL or at least the last time I was on HAL. The Suite amenites are truly Sweet ;) and the personal touch of the Butler and personal Concierge was amazing. They went way above and beyond for things I would have never thought of.

I did a LIVE from thread for when we were on the Pear this past April you may want to read. I did a lot of comparison to HAL S Suites. Don't get me wrong I love HAL and this year of 2011 is going to be strictly HAL but I would not hesitate to return to NCL, as a matter of fact I have a future cruise deposit with them that is itching to be used ;)

Here is that link to my LIVE from the Pearl.

http://boards.cruisecritic.com/showthread.php?t=1188291

[MsSteinrunner]

We have done 3 HAL cruises and in December we cruised on NCL's Pearl, but we were not in a suite. We enjoyed the entertainment variety and the thermal spa. We found our cabin stewards to actually be better than HAL's. We managed to find a absolutely great wait team and followed them each night as they shifted areas.

I think you'll enjoy sailing out of Tampa. Both the airport and the port are "easy" experiences.

However, the constant billing errors were beyond annoying! At the spa, we would book based on the day's special, but full price would be charged. Luckily we saved their flyers and were able to get errors corrected.
Even in the dining room, ordering a cocktail resulted in its being delivered in one of those tacky plastic souvenir glasses at $2 extra. It took complaints to three people to get that corrected. I repeatedly saw that "trick" pulled on others during the cruise. Ordering on old-fashioned with no brand mentioned resulted in a Maker's Mark Old Fashioned at a $3 premium. It went on and on and on. It got to be a joke between my husband and I as we had to check over each and every bill.

Hopefully, our experience was the exception rather than the rule, but do carefully scan those receipts and do specify that you do not want a souvenir glass!

[canadianbear]

My partner and I have been loyal HAL (and X) cruisers for the past ten years, but, to be honest, it has become dull. Though we have sailed different ships within HAL and X, it has become the same experience (food, ambeience, types of entertainment, onboard activities). We lost the 'wowness' of cruising.

So, we took the plunge and booked a Penthouse with a balcony (SG) on the NCL Star. This is a cabin built about one year ago on deck 12 (with other suite cabins). The perks sound nice, the cabin looks swell and we got $400 OBC so we will try the speciality restaurants.

Any HAL cruisers tried NCL ? I am sure the experience will be DIFFERENT, but with the suite perks, maybe just as good.

Any insights on NCL from HAL cruisers? (Going 12/2011)

I haven't been on NCL personally but our friends loved it. I do hope you will come back on this board and let everyone know what you liked/disliked with the penthouse with balcony. It sounds like it is the way to go on NCL. Have a great time.

[KirkNC]

Interesting comments, maybe I need to adjust my opinion of NCL. I can't tell you why but I have always considered them a second tier line, more for the younger party crowd. Funny how we get perceptions on something we haven't even experienced.

Kirk

[watchdiva]

Have sailed in suites on both lines and NCL's suite perks are the best! The butler/concierge service is fantastic and the numerous choices of specialty restaurants are another reason we prefer NCL.

With that being said, HAL has a few itineraries that are tempting us to try HAL one more time if the pricing and timing work out.

[woodley]

We have sailed with NCL many times from an ocean view to an owners suite, and have enjoyed all our cruises with them. The suite life is great if you get a good butler and concierge if they are not working as they should all you have is a bigger cabin and a few perks such as the lunch and breakfast in a suite only restaurant.

The perks we most enjoyed were the debarkation at the ports through the staff quarters so that we could get off the ship before everyone else. priority tendering, special seating in the theater so we could get there minutes before the shows started and still know we would get a good seat, the butler service in room, suite party where we met all the officers, this led to us being recognized by them througout the cruises.
On one cruise the concierge was so good that she would find us everyday to ask if we were OK and everything was to our liking. Sometimes we would choose to use the main dining room and she would always visit us while we were there to ensure everything was ok, It did make us feel very special.

Even if we were not in a suite we have still enjoyed our cruises with NCL. We are doing our first HAL cruise in November and are hoping we will enjoy HAL just as much.

[boards]

Well try the inside cabin on an NCL ship and one on Hal and you won't be so thrilled. We have done it and I call tell you it was not a good experience. The NCL cabin was about 108 square feet compared to 182 square feet in a HAL inside cabin. To rave about how good NCL is when your talking about a Penthouse cabin is nonsense. The average cruiser does not look at that cabin. However I do admit the NCL experience otherwise is as good as Hal's, but to us the cabin that can afford and enjoy is found on an Holland America Ship.

[TahoeTraveler]

Well try the inside cabin on an NCL ship and one on Hal and you won't be so thrilled. We have done it and I call tell you it was not a good experience. The NCL cabin was about 108 square feet compared to 182 square feet in a HAL inside cabin. To rave about how good NCL is when your talking about a Penthouse cabin is nonsense. The average cruiser does not look at that cabin. However I do admit the NCL experience otherwise is as good as Hal's, but to us the cabin that can afford and enjoy is found on an Holland America Ship.
But the OP DIDN'T book an inside cabin...he booked a suite and was specifically asking about that. I'm sorry if you can't or won't book that level of cabin, but that is what the OP is asking about. We've done both the suites on HAL and on NCL (and most recently, on Regent), and I can tell you that the suite amenities on NCL were by far the best. Yes, the butler on NCL was so much better than the butler on Regent, which was nothing short of amazing to us. Bryan and Jay, you will have a fantastic time. Don't expect much from the main dining room...the food and service there is not great. But your suite amenities will be fantastic, and will absolutely make the cruise for you. Have a great time!!

[LAFFNVEGAS]

But the OP DIDN'T book an inside cabin...he booked a suite and was specifically asking about that. I'm sorry if you can't or won't book that level of cabin, but that is what the OP is asking about. We've done both the suites on HAL and on NCL (and most recently, on Regent), and I can tell you that the suite amenities on NCL were by far the best. Yes, the butler on NCL was so much better than the butler on Regent, which was nothing short of amazing to us. Bryan and Jay, you will have a fantastic time. Don't expect much from the main dining room...the food and service there is not great. But your suite amenities will be fantastic, and will absolutely make the cruise for you. Have a great time!!
TahoeTraveler, I totally agree with you and just to add something. With the money you save doing a NCL Suite over some of the other cruise lines I recommend dining in one of the specialty restaurants each night. I totally agree that the Main dining room is nothing to write home about but I have enjoyed Le Bistro, Cagneys and the Asian restaurant. I especially love being able to go to Cagney's for breakfast and lunch. :)

[lvz2cruz]

We went to Bermuda on the old NCL Majesty. The first morning we went to the buffet. They were out of silverware and told us to go through the line anyhow. We filled our plates and still no silverware--got a table and went to get drinks--out of juice glasses, so used mugs as everyone was doing. Finally got silver but food was cold. Same thing next day. We stood aside waiting for utensils rather than let food get cold while waiting. Crew at entrance barked at us and others to go through line. Many times I felt like I was in prison rather than vacation. As the week passed the buffet consistently did not have utensils or cups. It turned out the buffet does not keep hot things hot. Selections were low budget--I remember chicken livers a few times--WHO eats those??? They were the only meat and came with potatoes and vegetables. Not at all what our family eats and certainly not what we expect on a cruise.
Service in the MDR was pitiful and food was worse. I lived off grilled cheese from room service and the fruit salad in the buffet. First cruise I ever came home and fit into my skinny jeans. We joked Weight Watchers should have a promo to cruise them to drop pounds.
Our room was cleaned about once every other day. There was a candy wrapper in the middle of the floor when we entered the first day and I left it to see if the picked it up. It was there when we left a week later. I went to the pool deck to get towels for showers since our room was rarely serviced. They were out often, so when I went to the pool I would use the phone there to call the front desk to request towels. Typically it took at least an hour and a few more requests. I would bet others called for towels too. It is unimaginable to have chronic empty towel bins at a pool on a sea day and not fill them for over an hour. Between that and the silverware/cups, it seemed like a ship for 1200 was stocked for 500 or 600. They do this run every week and should be prepared--or is this business as usual?
I remember breakfast and lunch trays laying around when we left the pool deck to shower for dinner. The kids club came to play ping pong and trays were piled 2-3 high, so they left. I would think the girl in charge would have called to request someone clean up, but like other days, it was all there when we left hours later.
The dancers reminded me of kids' dance recitals when the 4 year olds are each doing the same steps but at their own time and order. It's cute on a 4 year old, but I would be so embarrassed if my 20 year old could'nt do better. A couple singers were good, but a few more belonged on the Idol auditions. Think William Hung. If the show is scheduled to start at 8, the first 15 minutes will have sales people rushing through the rows to sell raffle tickets. It is very annoying and the workers do not step through avoiding your feet--they are in a hurry to sell and trample you.
To add to the frustration, we would go to trivia and other passengers would be there, but no activity staff would show up. It also happened with the sports staff.
We tried NCL again with a newer ship after they implemented 2.0. We like their ships and they have good itineraries. Again, the crew came across as militant prison guards, there were days our rooms were not serviced, food was poor, MDR was below mediocre, and the ship was not clean.
Funny thing is we get emails about specials and a similar NCL sailing was $400 more than we just paid on HAL. To me it would be like going to Kmart and paying more for Wrangler jeans than a good brand at Macy's.
NCL is nothing like HAL or Celebrity. Even in a suite, you will have unskilled entertainment, awful food and service, grumpy crew who obviously don't want to be there, and a dirty ship.
We were unhappy on both NCL cruises, but kept it to ourselves other than complaining to them about our room not being done and staff not showing up to events. Several times on both cruises other guests struck up conversations and complained to us about things we too had felt. We have been on beaches with our yellow Celebrity towels and people say they wish they were on our ship--every time they were on NCL. I think there are alot of people out there who try NCL and say never again.

I have had a saying for years---Friends don't let friends sail NCL.

Stick with HAL or Celebrity--I don't think you will be disappointed.

[GeriatricNurse]

We went to Bermuda on the old NCL Majesty. The first morning we went to the buffet. They were out of silverware and told us to go through the line anyhow. We filled our plates and still no silverware--got a table and went to get drinks--out of juice glasses, so used mugs as everyone was doing. Finally got silver but food was cold. Same thing next day. We stood aside waiting for utensils rather than let food get cold while waiting. Crew at entrance barked at us and others to go through line. Many times I felt like I was in prison rather than vacation. As the week passed the buffet consistently did not have utensils or cups. It turned out the buffet does not keep hot things hot. Selections were low budget--I remember chicken livers a few times--WHO eats those??? They were the only meat and came with potatoes and vegetables. Not at all what our family eats and certainly not what we expect on a cruise.
Service in the MDR was pitiful and food was worse. I lived off grilled cheese from room service and the fruit salad in the buffet. First cruise I ever came home and fit into my skinny jeans. We joked Weight Watchers should have a promo to cruise them to drop pounds.
Our room was cleaned about once every other day. There was a candy wrapper in the middle of the floor when we entered the first day and I left it to see if the picked it up. It was there when we left a week later. I went to the pool deck to get towels for showers since our room was rarely serviced. They were out often, so when I went to the pool I would use the phone there to call the front desk to request towels. Typically it took at least an hour and a few more requests. I would bet others called for towels too. It is unimaginable to have chronic empty towel bins at a pool on a sea day and not fill them for over an hour. Between that and the silverware/cups, it seemed like a ship for 1200 was stocked for 500 or 600. They do this run every week and should be prepared--or is this business as usual?
I remember breakfast and lunch trays laying around when we left the pool deck to shower for dinner. The kids club came to play ping pong and trays were piled 2-3 high, so they left. I would think the girl in charge would have called to request someone clean up, but like other days, it was all there when we left hours later.
The dancers reminded me of kids' dance recitals when the 4 year olds are each doing the same steps but at their own time and order. It's cute on a 4 year old, but I would be so embarrassed if my 20 year old could'nt do better. A couple singers were good, but a few more belonged on the Idol auditions. Think William Hung. If the show is scheduled to start at 8, the first 15 minutes will have sales people rushing through the rows to sell raffle tickets. It is very annoying and the workers do not step through avoiding your feet--they are in a hurry to sell and trample you.
To add to the frustration, we would go to trivia and other passengers would be there, but no activity staff would show up. It also happened with the sports staff.
We tried NCL again with a newer ship after they implemented 2.0. We like their ships and they have good itineraries. Again, the crew came across as militant prison guards, there were days our rooms were not serviced, food was poor, MDR was below mediocre, and the ship was not clean.
Funny thing is we get emails about specials and a similar NCL sailing was $400 more than we just paid on HAL. To me it would be like going to Kmart and paying more for Wrangler jeans than a good brand at Macy's.
NCL is nothing like HAL or Celebrity. Even in a suite, you will have unskilled entertainment, awful food and service, grumpy crew who obviously don't want to be there, and a dirty ship.
We were unhappy on both NCL cruises, but kept it to ourselves other than complaining to them about our room not being done and staff not showing up to events. Several times on both cruises other guests struck up conversations and complained to us about things we too had felt. We have been on beaches with our yellow Celebrity towels and people say they wish they were on our ship--every time they were on NCL. I think there are alot of people out there who try NCL and say never again.

I have had a saying for years---Friends don't let friends sail NCL.

Stick with HAL or Celebrity--I don't think you will be disappointed.


Well stated!:)

[LAFFNVEGAS]

The one thing that frustrates me about this HAL Board are people who make comments about something they have now ever experience and are somehow experts because they read it, or a friend of a friend of a co-worker told them it was bad or have not experienced in the few years. To me Unless you have yourself actually experienced this within the last 12 months to make it actually valid, comments should not be made :mad:

I myself have not been on HAL for 18 months and I have stayed away from commenting on my recent experiences and opinions because I do not have one. Once I have sailed on the Nieuw Amsterdam in almost 8 weeks then I will be free again to comment on experiences of HAL. When I did comment I would always state from when I last sailed HAL.

Folks things change over time your experience from several or many many years ago are not fair comments.

I think it is interesting that there are many very positive comments about those that have recently sailed with NCL and in a NCL Suites, are you trying to say that those of us that have recently actually done this ourselves do not know what we are talking about?????
Which would you rather take advice from someone who has been on a particular cruise line in the past 6 months or someone that was last on it 4 years ago :rolleyes:

[GORDONCHICK]

We have our 1st HAL cruise booked, but have cruised NCL twice. The perks for suites are great on NCL. There is priority embarkation and a nice area to wait in until the ship is ready. If you are among the first to check in, you will be the 1st group on board escorted by the concierge usually. They will usually take you to the room where you can check your carry-on. There is also priority tender tickets and VIP debarkation tags and time. Breakfast and lunch in Cagneys is a fantastic perk, and many think worth booking a suite for alone. The concierge is happy to make your reservations for the specialty restaurants and will even save you seats for the entertainment in the theatre. I know there are other things I'm forgetting but those are the ones that stand out to me.

We found the food in the NCL MDRs to be just fine - not 5* by any means, but I don't expect that from any of the mass-marketed lines anyway. I will say DH is looking forward to French onion soup every night on HAL, and I've heard good things about HAL especially in the area of food.

We like to try different lines because we are more itinerary driven.

[mexico5]

The one thing that frustrates me about this HAL Board are people who make comments about something they have now ever experience and are somehow experts because they read it, or a friend of a friend of a co-worker told them it was bad or have not experienced in the few years. To me Unless you have yourself actually experienced this within the last 12 months to make it actually valid, comments should not be made :mad:

I myself have not been on HAL for 18 months and I have stayed away from commenting on my recent experiences and opinions because I do not have one. Once I have sailed on the Nieuw Amsterdam in almost 8 weeks then I will be free again to comment on experiences of HAL. When I did comment I would always state from when I last sailed HAL.

Folks things change over time your experience from several or many many years ago are not fair comments.

I think it is interesting that there are many very positive comments about those that have recently sailed with NCL and in a NCL Suites, are you trying to say that those of us that have recently actually done this ourselves do not know what we are talking about?????
Which would you rather take advice from someone who has been on a particular cruise line in the past 6 months or someone that was last on it 4 years ago :rolleyes:

Or a poster that's never even been on NCL! I won't judge Carnival, RCCL, etc...until I have actually cruised them...not my granny, not my granny's neighbour, etc...ME.

[mexico5]

Well stated!:)

When was your last cruise with NCL?

[mafig]

[quote=woodley;27574629
On one cruise the concierge was so good that she would find us everyday to ask if we were OK and everything was to our liking. Sometimes we would choose to use the main dining room and she would always visit us while we were there to ensure everything was ok, It did make us feel very special.

/quote]

I had to laugh about this:D. On our cruise the concierge kept popping up wherever we were so much that DH and I laughingly said "they must have have inplanted chips into us." LOL

[LAFFNVEGAS]

[quote=woodley;27574629
On one cruise the concierge was so good that she would find us everyday to ask if we were OK and everything was to our liking. Sometimes we would choose to use the main dining room and she would always visit us while we were there to ensure everything was ok, It did make us feel very special.

/quote]

I had to laugh about this:D. On our cruise the concierge kept popping up wherever we were so much that DH and I laughingly said "they must have have inplanted chips into us." LOL

I have to agree, our Concierge was always there to assist us, it was amazing. You could be right about that implant ;) :D Even better we were traveling with 4 other people who were not in a Suite and yet our Concierge took really good care of them as well and invited them to many of the things we were invited to. I have to say we were truly WOWed at the NCL Sutie experience.:)

[GORDONCHICK]

[quote=woodley;27574629
On one cruise the concierge was so good that she would find us everyday to ask if we were OK and everything was to our liking. Sometimes we would choose to use the main dining room and she would always visit us while we were there to ensure everything was ok, It did make us feel very special.

/quote]

I had to laugh about this:D. On our cruise the concierge kept popping up wherever we were so much that DH and I laughingly said "they must have have inplanted chips into us." LOL


I don't understand how they can be everywhere - not just where we are but for the others too, and then how can they run so energetically with almost no sleep! They are like energizer bunnies for sure!

[GORDONCHICK]

The one thing that frustrates me about this HAL Board are people who make comments about something they have now ever experience and are somehow experts because they read it, or a friend of a friend of a co-worker told them it was bad or have not experienced in the few years. To me Unless you have yourself actually experienced this within the last 12 months to make it actually valid, comments should not be made :mad:

I myself have not been on HAL for 18 months and I have stayed away from commenting on my recent experiences and opinions because I do not have one. Once I have sailed on the Nieuw Amsterdam in almost 8 weeks then I will be free again to comment on experiences of HAL. When I did comment I would always state from when I last sailed HAL.

Folks things change over time your experience from several or many many years ago are not fair comments.

I think it is interesting that there are many very positive comments about those that have recently sailed with NCL and in a NCL Suites, are you trying to say that those of us that have recently actually done this ourselves do not know what we are talking about?????
Which would you rather take advice from someone who has been on a particular cruise line in the past 6 months or someone that was last on it 4 years ago :rolleyes:

Excellent point.

[TahoeTraveler]

The one thing that frustrates me about this HAL Board are people who make comments about something they have now ever experience and are somehow experts because they read it, or a friend of a friend of a co-worker told them it was bad or have not experienced in the few years. To me Unless you have yourself actually experienced this within the last 12 months to make it actually valid, comments should not be made :mad:

I myself have not been on HAL for 18 months and I have stayed away from commenting on my recent experiences and opinions because I do not have one. Once I have sailed on the Nieuw Amsterdam in almost 8 weeks then I will be free again to comment on experiences of HAL. When I did comment I would always state from when I last sailed HAL.

Folks things change over time your experience from several or many many years ago are not fair comments.

I think it is interesting that there are many very positive comments about those that have recently sailed with NCL and in a NCL Suites, are you trying to say that those of us that have recently actually done this ourselves do not know what we are talking about?????
Which would you rather take advice from someone who has been on a particular cruise line in the past 6 months or someone that was last on it 4 years ago :rolleyes:
Agree completely. I hope that when you get back from your HAL cruise you will post a review. We tried HAL after several NCL cruises, mainly because we had seen a decline in service and food on NCL. Well, guess what. After several recent HAL cruises, we've now seen such a decline in food and service there as well, that I don't see much difference between the two anymore. So I will be very, very interested to hear your thoughts and comparisons, as DH and I have decided that any future cruises will be strictly based on the itinerary and price, not the cruise line.

[lvz2cruz]

When was your last cruise with NCL?

I'm not sure why you ask this.
If you had someone work on your home who was incompetent, and had no concern for customer satisfaction, would you try them again in a few years? Do you rush back to a restaurant you had a bad experience at? If you stayed at a land resort and it was not good, would you recommend it to others or go back yourself?
In business, you have one chance to make a good impression. NCL has consistently failed in the eyes of many and done so over a long time. There is no reason to keep on hoping they get their act together.
Furthermore, reviews on NCL ships are probably the worst of any here. That is people who cruised last week, last month, last year, and further back. They can't all be wrong.

[GeriatricNurse]

When was your last cruise with NCL?

Oh my! I fear that we have a NCL cheerleader on the HAL CC Board!:mad:

[GORDONCHICK]

They can't all be wrong.

They can't be all right either. Usually, somewhere in the middle lies the truth.

[woodley]

I'm not sure why you ask this.
If you had someone work on your home who was incompetent, and had no concern for customer satisfaction, would you try them again in a few years? Do you rush back to a restaurant you had a bad experience at? If you stayed at a land resort and it was not good, would you recommend it to others or go back yourself?
In business, you have one chance to make a good impression. NCL has consistently failed in the eyes of many and done so over a long time. There is no reason to keep on hoping they get their act together.
Furthermore, reviews on NCL ships are probably the worst of any here. That is people who cruised last week, last month, last year, and further back. They can't all be wrong.


We had a bad experience with NCL when we were in an owners suite. I complained stating my dissatisfaction. I was very specific in my complaint and gave dates times etc. I also gave praise to one particular staff member who went out of his way to help us. It was not the ship or the general facilities or staff, it was the Butler service or should I say lack of it. To my amazement NCL issued us with a credit which was enough for another seven day cruise. We booked it and had a wonderful vacation and my faith in NCL was restored. I never asked for compensation but had I not received an apology would never have sailed with them again.

I have heard and read on all boards cheer leaders for all cruise lines and have learnt to read between the lines and make my own decision. If these cruise lines were as bad as some people would have you believe then why are they still in business.

There are bad reviews on all the cruise lines as well as good ones, very often those with a gripe will yell the loudest in an attempt to tarnish the companies reputation.

[mexico5]

Oh my! I fear that we have a NCL cheerleader on the HAL CC Board!:mad:

I should have asked you IF you have cruised NCL before...but I think you must get my point:rolleyes: If you have sailed NCL and had a bad experience then I understand your statement about them but if you have never sailed with them then why bash them! I think I am allowed to like (or as you put it...cheerlead) for a few lines can I not?

[mexico5]

I'm not sure why you ask this.
If you had someone work on your home who was incompetent, and had no concern for customer satisfaction, would you try them again in a few years? Do you rush back to a restaurant you had a bad experience at? If you stayed at a land resort and it was not good, would you recommend it to others or go back yourself?
In business, you have one chance to make a good impression. NCL has consistently failed in the eyes of many and done so over a long time. There is no reason to keep on hoping they get their act together.
Furthermore, reviews on NCL ships are probably the worst of any here. That is people who cruised last week, last month, last year, and further back. They can't all be wrong.

My point is simple really, I don't care for people calling down a cruiseline based on someone else's opinion of it. You are right though...sometimes once is enough to never go back again. I am very much like that with most things...one bad experience and I do business with another company.

[off2ctheworld]

It is interesting to hear the HAL versus other line comparisons. I remember reading on a post that often the first cruiseline ever tried becomes your favorite. Hearing about the suite life sounds wonderful on NCL and someting to put on the TO DO list. So much of a cruise is subjective that we need to hear several experiences before making judgements. I am eagerly awaiting a cruise info day at our local TA next week. Need to have a countdown clock on my signature :)

[bryanjaync]

As the OP,I will be glad to give my impressions after my cruise, but that is in 12/2011. A long wait.

As for judging cruise lines without actually sailing on them. I am guilty of that, because....I cannot afford financial to experience each line, and also I still work, so I dont have vacation days to 'waste' on a cruise that is bad. So yes, I will not even consider some lines, based on the opinions of others. Just a necessiate for me.

[Crazy Gramps]

After my next cruise with HAL I'm leaving them for good.
The cut backs ghave hit an unacceptable level for me. I don't think I'm getting value for my money.

Gramps

[bryanjaync]

As the OP, here is one of the reasons I am trying NCL. For suite guests only, they may have lunch in the Cagney's Steakhouse at no charge. Again, this is a suite perk only. The lunch menu, that i could find, really impressed me:

Cagney’s Suite-Only Lunch Menu

Starters


Colossal Shrimp Cocktail
Smoked Salmon
Grilled Asparagus
Grilled Pita
Mixed Green Salad

Burgers and Sandwiches


Beef Sliders
Turkey Burger
Sesame Crusted Ahi Tuna Burger

Entrees


Fettuccini with Mushrooms
Pan Seared Sea Scallops
Strip Steak
Roasted Chicken

Sides Dishes


Cole Slaw
Cream Spinach
Seasonal Vegetables
Cagney’s French Fries
Roasted Garlic Mashed Potatoes

Desserts


Chocolate Brownie with Ice Cream
Carrot Cake
Baked Apple Pie with Ice Cream
Assorted Ice Cream and Sorbets
I guess if this is the quality of suite perks, I will have a good experience.

[GORDONCHICK]

As the OP, here is one of the reasons I am trying NCL. For suite guests only, they may have lunch in the Cagney's Steakhouse at no charge. Again, this is a suite perk only. The lunch menu, that i could find, really impressed me:

Cagney’s Suite-Only Lunch Menu

Starters


Colossal Shrimp Cocktail
Smoked Salmon
Grilled Asparagus
Grilled Pita
Mixed Green Salad

Burgers and Sandwiches


Beef Sliders
Turkey Burger
Sesame Crusted Ahi Tuna Burger

Entrees


Fettuccini with Mushrooms
Pan Seared Sea Scallops
Strip Steak
Roasted Chicken

Sides Dishes


Cole Slaw
Cream Spinach
Seasonal Vegetables
Cagney’s French Fries
Roasted Garlic Mashed Potatoes

Desserts


Chocolate Brownie with Ice Cream
Carrot Cake
Baked Apple Pie with Ice Cream
Assorted Ice Cream and Sorbets
I guess if this is the quality of suite perks, I will have a good experience.


It's breakfast too. Many love the crabe eggs benedict, but I cannot partake because I'm deathly allergic to bell peppers. Their french toast is amazing. They used to have some kind of steak or steak sandwich for lunch, but maybe not now. The best thing about Cagney's for breatfast and lunch is that the service is top-notch and it's very calm and relaxing. But I can tell you that VIPs are also usually given the Cagney's perk for breakfast and lunch as well. There aren't usually too many VIPs, and there are some sailings or ships that cannot accommodate them with the suite guests.

[mafig]

As the OP, here is one of the reasons I am trying NCL. For suite guests only, they may have lunch in the Cagney's Steakhouse at no charge. Again, this is a suite perk only. The lunch menu, that i could find, really impressed me:

Cagney’s Suite-Only Lunch Menu

Starters


Colossal Shrimp Cocktail DH had this every day
Smoked Salmon
Grilled Asparagus Delish! Everyones favorite. Large enough to be main
Grilled Pita
Mixed Green Salad

Burgers and Sandwiches


Beef Sliders Just OK
Turkey Burger
Sesame Crusted Ahi Tuna Burger Looked good. Didn't have.

Entrees


Fettuccini with Mushrooms OMG was this good!
Pan Seared Sea Scallops Excellent
Strip Steak DH had this and said it was OK. But at b'fast it was super tender
Roasted Chicken Very Good

Sides Dishes


Cole Slaw
Cream Spinach Loved this!
Seasonal Vegetables
Cagney’s French Fries Nice presentation.
Roasted Garlic Mashed Potatoes Couldn't tear myself away from the fries!

Desserts


Chocolate Brownie with Ice Cream Good thing I had this on the last day or I would have gained even more weight.
Carrot Cake Cold so not my favorite
Baked Apple Pie with Ice Cream
Assorted Ice Cream and Sorbets All good.
I guess if this is the quality of suite perks, I will have a good experience.


Breakfast is just as good. The steak was like a not so mini filet.
French pressed coffee too.

And the wait staff gets to know your likes and dislikes pretty quickly. DH didn't want any green peppers in his hashed brown potatoes. They knew. Even when our regular server wasn't there, the other server knew about DH's preferences. I was impressed!

[mafig]

Breakfast is just as good. The steak (at b'fast!) was like a not so mini filet.
French pressed coffee too.

And the wait staff gets to know your likes and dislikes pretty quickly. DH didn't want any green peppers in his hashed brown potatoes. They knew. Even when our regular server wasn't there, the other server knew about DH's preferences. I was impressed!



You can also get your room service breakfast from Cagneys.

[Jade13]

After my next cruise with HAL I'm leaving them for good.
The cut backs ghave hit an unacceptable level for me. I don't think I'm getting value for my money.

Gramps

Interesting. Which ship were you on last, and where are you going?

[Jade13]

My partner and I have been loyal HAL (and X) cruisers for the past ten years, but, to be honest, it has become dull. Though we have sailed different ships within HAL and X, it has become the same experience (food, ambeience, types of entertainment, onboard activities). We lost the 'wowness' of cruising.

So, we took the plunge and booked a Penthouse with a balcony (SG) on the NCL Star. This is a cabin built about one year ago on deck 12 (with other suite cabins). The perks sound nice, the cabin looks swell and we got $400 OBC so we will try the speciality restaurants.

Any HAL cruisers tried NCL ? I am sure the experience will be DIFFERENT, but with the suite perks, maybe just as good.

Any insights on NCL from HAL cruisers? (Going 12/2011)

I agree with needing a change once in a while. We went on a short cruise last year on Celebrity Eclipse and the whole experiance was, WOW.

One example of the great customer service happened on the last afternoon when I met my DH in the theater to watch a movie. Now, it was one we had both seen and I actually came in after it had started. About mid way through the Cruise Director (now this is on a 2,800 pax ship) comes in to inform us that he is so sorry and very embarrassed and they had another venue booked at the same time so had to stop the movie. He was offering anyon who wanted a free drink at the bar (we did not take him up on it), and wanted our stateroom numbers because he was somehow going to get the movie streamed into our rooms. By the time we got back to our stateroom he had left two voice messages. The first was telling us which channel, and the second was to tell us they could not get that movie on the channel but we could watch any of the newer pay for views for free and to please call him directly if we needed anything.

We never took him up on the free movie, but what great personal service on Celebrity. I don't recall anything like that on HAL.

[LAFFNVEGAS]

Breakfast is just as good. The steak was like a not so mini filet.
French pressed coffee too.

And the wait staff gets to know your likes and dislikes pretty quickly. DH didn't want any green peppers in his hashed brown potatoes. They knew. Even when our regular server wasn't there, the other server knew about DH's preferences. I was impressed!


Oh looking at that menu made my mouth water because it was amazing. My DH Tom thought that not so mini Filet at breakfast was the best steak on the ship ;) I am pretty sure he had it every morning. I almost forgot about the French Press Coffee...oh my was that ever good, between that and the wonderful coffee maker in our Suite I had the best coffee every where we went on the ship :)
Cagney’s Suite-Only Lunch Menu

Starters


Colossal Shrimp Cocktail and these were Colossal and very tasty definitely more like large Prawns, what I am surprised not listed here is the Crab Cakes that I would have for lunch, hope they did not take them off the menu.
Smoked Salmon
Grilled Asparagus
Grilled Pita
Mixed Green Salad
Burgers and Sandwiches


Beef Sliders
Turkey Burger
Sesame Crusted Ahi Tuna Burger This was soooo good
Entrees


Fettuccini with Mushrooms Looked amazing but I thought was too heavy for lunch
Pan Seared Sea Scallops This was excellent and was a great lite lunch
Strip Steak Tom enjoyed this as well and said it was extremely tender
Roasted Chicken Another winner
Sides Dishes


Cole Slaw
Cream Spinach
Seasonal Vegetables
Cagney’s French Fries They are known for these and are extremely good :)
Roasted Garlic Mashed Potatoes
Desserts


Chocolate Brownie with Ice Cream
Carrot Cake
Baked Apple Pie with Ice Cream
Assorted Ice Cream and Sorbets

[LAFFNVEGAS]

Ok now I think I need to book another NCL cruise, we have friends cruising on the Jade in the Med in Nov. 2012 that really want us to join them, Tom thinks he can get that time off so we are seriously considering booking now to see if we can swing the cost of the suite but we do have 19 months till Final payment :D

[Hlitner]

We have really enjoyed reading this thread and everyone's opinions...so we will not offer one more opinion. We have been cruising for nearly forty years, been on 12 different cruise lines, and far more then 50 different ships. And, we loved them all. None of them was perfect and none awful. In the past year we have cruises on HA, Cunard, Princess and X and loved each cruise. We have long been puzzled by folks that only cruise on one line and then will tell us how they are tired of the same menus, same shows, lost the WOW factor, etc. We will ask these folks, why don't you try other lines and they give us funny looks. We do love HA, but would not want to be on HA all the time. We look forward to the Eggs Benedict bar on HA but also love the pizza on Princess and the Escargot on X. Each line has their pros and cons (including NCL). And when we hear folks bad mouthing a line we always want to know when they cruised and on which ship. The answer is often something like "we would never cruise on that line because we know its awful" or "we were once on a cruise with that line ten years ago and hated it." Variety can truly be fun.

Hank

[woodley]

We have really enjoyed reading this thread and everyone's opinions...so we will not offer one more opinion. We have been cruising for nearly forty years, been on 12 different cruise lines, and far more then 50 different ships. And, we loved them all. None of them was perfect and none awful. In the past year we have cruises on HA, Cunard, Princess and X and loved each cruise. We have long been puzzled by folks that only cruise on one line and then will tell us how they are tired of the same menus, same shows, lost the WOW factor, etc. We will ask these folks, why don't you try other lines and they give us funny looks. We do love HA, but would not want to be on HA all the time. We look forward to the Eggs Benedict bar on HA but also love the pizza on Princess and the Escargot on X. Each line has their pros and cons (including NCL). And when we hear folks bad mouthing a line we always want to know when they cruised and on which ship. The answer is often something like "we would never cruise on that line because we know its awful" or "we were once on a cruise with that line ten years ago and hated it." Variety can truly be fun.

Hank


I agree totally with your post. Variety is the spice of life!

[The Mentalist]

This is a very interesting thread as we are considering a suite on NCL.

Will someone comment on the suite decor? From looking at the photos it is much more "contemporary" than what we prefer. Are the suites comfortable? Do you get used to the color schemes?

Thanks.

[NMLady]

We love both HAL and NCL. We are cheap....don't book suites on either line but enjoy all of what both have to offer. Some things are better on each...food better on HAL, entertainment pretty much a wash. DH likes not having to dress up which is the main reason we come back to NCL.
I choose between the two based on ports and price. ... .

I agree with this. We love HAL but like the informality of NCL so have cruised both lines (among others). Our choice is always budgeting/itinerary based.
We've never cruised in a suite but have heard wonderful things about the perks of one on NCL.

[lobstertail]

This is a very interesting thread as we are considering a suite on NCL.

Will someone comment on the suite decor? From looking at the photos it is much more "contemporary" than what we prefer. Are the suites comfortable? Do you get used to the color schemes?

Thanks.

We were in a suite on the Norwegian Gem and the decor is kind of garish - as I remember - pink, purple and turquoise. We have sailed many cruise lines - Hal being one of our favorites - however, that said, we really did enjoy the suite on NCL. We liked the perks and we also liked having a table in the room where we could play cards, have lunch, etc. One day, we got up too late to get breakfast in any of the restuarants, so - one of the hosts called up to Cagney's and asked the chef to make us whatever we wanted for breakfast even though they were in the middle of lunch. I thought this service was great!! The suite was very nice; although, we asked them to remove the chest at the foot of the bed (I kept bumping into it coming out of the bathroom) and we asked for the removal of the big plant - gave us more room. I had been advised that the best way to enjoy NCL was to book a suite. Then, you avoid the waits for a table ("here's a beeper when your table becomes available" and you get loads of special attention. We have 4 future cruises booked - one on Hal. two on RCI and one on Norwegian. Have a wonderful time on your upcoming cruise!)

[pmd98052]

One of the issues with NCL for break/lunch in general (applies to Cagneys as well) is that the menu is identical each day. I found that somewhat dissappointing. Would definitely cruise NCL again though we've had a lot of fun on the cruises we've done with them so far. Looking forward to seeing how HAL is at the end of next month....

[kazu]

One of the issues with NCL for break/lunch in general (applies to Cagneys as well) is that the menu is identical each day. I found that somewhat dissappointing. Would definitely cruise NCL again though we've had a lot of fun on the cruises we've done with them so far. Looking forward to seeing how HAL is at the end of next month....

But breakfast and lunch menus are identical in the Pinnacle Grill each day as well :confused: Lunch menus in the MDR are different every day of course.

[pmd98052]

But breakfast and lunch menus are identical in the Pinnacle Grill each day as well Lunch menus in the MDR are different every day of course.


Thats true so similar there I guess then! (We've not sailed on HAL yet - its coming up) NCL also had the same menu daily for breakfast/lunch in the MDR so it just felt less varied than the menus I've seen for HAL...

[Crazy Gramps]

What I have noticed as a relative newcomer to the board is when someone criticizes HAL or another line the supporters instantly trash the critic.
This is apparent even when the criticism is very specific and detailed.

Supporters of a line are great to have. But every business is subject to criticism and complaint. Both are legitimate and needed .

So if I say I don't like something, lighten up.

Gramps

[Sybil Sidebottom]

I've really enjoyed sailing with NCL. Loved the freestyle dining....after a long day touring it was nice to know you could go eat at anytime between 6:pm to 9:00pm. I always enjoyed the table hopping...great opportunity to meet & make lots of freinds. The staff were all great. Must admit I like the smaller ships & longer cruises.

Sybil Sidebottom

[SeaWatch]

Bring your own food, NCL is horrible.

[mommyto2girls]

Ok now I think I need to book another NCL cruise, we have friends cruising on the Jade in the Med in Nov. 2012 that really want us to join them, Tom thinks he can get that time off so we are seriously considering booking now to see if we can swing the cost of the suite but we do have 19 months till Final payment :D

Lisa, I read your posts months ago and if you remember we talked about HAL and NCL Suite life. With much encouragement from your threads we booked the NCL Jewel in a suite but wound up upgrading to a Courtyard Villa. It was amazing to say the least. Eating breakfast every morning in the courtyard and some dinners..wow. No need for a Garden Villas the Courtyard is perfect. We had such a great time we booked again in March. We live in the NYC area so it is easy for us to get to the port. Thank you so much for giving us the head's up on NCL's Suite Life. We will return to HAL someday, but for now I am in love with the Courtyard, Butler and Concierge of NCL. If you have not done a Courtyard Villa yet you really should put it on you list of things to do. Everyone should try it if only once in their lives!

Andrea

[LAFFNVEGAS]

Lisa, I read your posts months ago and if you remember we talked about HAL and NCL Suite life. With much encouragement from your threads we booked the NCL Jewel in a suite but wound up upgrading to a Courtyard Villa. It was amazing to say the least. We had such a great time we booked again in March. We live in the NYC area so it is easy for us to get to the port. Thank you so much for giving us the head's up on NCL's Suite Life. We will return to HAL someday, but for now I am in love with the Courtyard, Butler and Concierge of NCL. If you have not done a Courtyard yet you really should put it on you list of things to do. Everyone should try it if only once in their lives!

Andrea
Andrea, that is fantastic :) Oh Yes one of these days I hope to do a Courtyard Villa but for now I am happy with the Aft Penthouse Suite on NCL. Yes Suite life on NCL is like no other experience I have had. First there is just a good vibe on the NCL ships. As much as people think that HAL and NCL are very different they are really a lot a like when it comes to crew/Officers and many of the things they do. But the Suite life really is way above HAL in so many ways.;)

[mommyto2girls]

Andrea, that is fantastic :) Oh Yes one of these days I hope to do a Courtyard Villa but for now I am happy with the Aft Penthouse Suite on NCL. Yes Suite life on NCL is like no other experience I have had. First there is just a good vibe on the NCL ships. As much as people think that HAL and NCL are very different they are really a lot a like when it comes to crew/Officers and many of the things they do. But the Suite life really is way above HAL in so many ways.;)

My daughter was in the Aft Penthouse suite and it was sweet! But I am spoiled for life. I really did enjoy the freestyle, and we had a great 10 day itinerary. We are doing the Bahama/Florida run in March but it is cheaper for us than flying to an island or even going to a hotel in Florida for a week. So we will bask in the Courtyard for a great price and NCL's $500 OBC. I found the staff to be just a little more helpful and fun in NCL. Thanks again for all of your comparisons. Safe travels!

Andrea

[HAL4ME]

Bring your own food, NCL is horrible.

LOL!!!!!!;):cool:;)

[pictonite]

I've just returned to this board because of an upcoming cruise on the Volendam. I've been on six cruise lines since I started to cruise in 2000, and I've enjoyed everyone of them - and they are a varied bunch to say the least! I have cruised twice with Holland America, and my last four cruises have been with NCL. I feel somewhat qualified to comment on the questions from the OP. l have had the good luck to have experienced the suite life on HAL, Celebrity, Princess and NCL. I concur with others that NCL offers the best value, and service, in their suites. Eating in Cagneys is a real pleasure - both for breakfast and lunch. The services of the butler and the concierge are exceptional. The extra perks, like the in - cabin coffee machine, the escorts on and off the ship, and the cabins, themselves are wonderful. I would return to NCL in a heartbeat.

I have noticed, however, that whenever there is a question on this board about NCL, there are many more negative responses from people than I would expect. You may call me a "cheerleader" if you like, but I want to set the record straight. NCL provides a good service, especially in their suites!

[LAFFNVEGAS]

I have noticed, however, that whenever there is a question on this board about NCL, there are many more negative responses from people than I would expect. You may call me a "cheerleader" if you like, but I want to set the record straight. NCL provides a good service, especially in their suites!
I totally agree, and the biggest problem is the comments from almost all of them come from someone that either has never cruised NCL but was told or read something negative, or it was someone that has not been on NCL in the past year, or someone that booked an Inside cabin on a three day itinerary and paid the cheap $199 PP :rolleyes:
I have always been a non paid HAL Cheer Leader but I am also a non paid NCL Cheerleader :D Unless someone has experienced the Suite Life on NCL they truly have not experienced NCL.;)

[HAL4ME]

The last time I cruised NCL was on the Norwegian Dream and it was not in a Suite and was for 14 days around the Horn in South America. The Food was HORRIBLE and I ate better in College than on that ship!
Also, that ship was so chopped up after they did the stretch that you couldnt go from one end of taht ship to another without having to go up one deck and down another....that was my last time ever on NCL. Maybe now they have improved somewhat but IMHO any cruiseline that you would cruise in a FULL SUITE you would never have a bad experience.
The average cruiser DOES NOT cruise in a Suite.

[pictonite]

T Maybe now they have improved somewhat but IMHO any cruiseline that you would cruise in a FULL SUITE you would never have a bad experience.
The average cruiser DOES NOT cruise in a Suite.

But the OP IS cruising in a suite, and asked for opinions about the suite life on NCL - not for a rant about NCL in general. I have also cruised in inside cabins, outside cabins, verandah cabins and suites - so I feel very qualified to respond to the OP's original request - specifically about the suite life on NCL! :rolleyes:

[DeirdreTours]

I have read several positive posts about NCL Suite Life, but also a number of post dissing NCL food in general. Even in a suite, I will still plan to eat onboard so this is important to me.

I have done 6 HAL cruises and 1 Celebrity-- the food was roughly equivent--Mostly good, a few great dishes, a few really bad ones. A broad range of choice on both, with food quality and presentation at about the mid level restaurant level.

Can those who have sailed both NCL and HAL offer a comparison of the food?

[dockrocker]

Well try the inside cabin on an NCL ship and one on Hal and you won't be so thrilled. We have done it and I call tell you it was not a good experience. The NCL cabin was about 108 square feet compared to 182 square feet in a HAL inside cabin. To rave about how good NCL is when your talking about a Penthouse cabin is nonsense. The average cruiser does not look at that cabin. However I do admit the NCL experience otherwise is as good as Hal's, but to us the cabin that can afford and enjoy is found on an Holland America Ship.

Ah, it's been a long, long time since you were in an NCL inside. For many years, the smallest ones in the current fleet have been 140-something square feet.