Comparing NCL with Cunard

There is an interesting thread on the Cunard site started by a person familiar with Cunard who wanted input from people so he could compare NCL with Cunard. Is there anyone on this site who has experienced both lines who could offer comparisons?

I am platinum on NCL and am a big cheerleader for the line, but I would be the first to admit when it comes to Cunard there really is no comparison. The line and it's ships are in a league of their own.

I've experienced both, but the two lines are so different, each in their own way. I don't understand the point of the comparison. I think what I would say is that each line is excellent in their own ways and that both are worth sailing on. Is one better than the other? Not really. They are just completely different experiences. I would say the the suites on NCL, particularly their newer ships are plusher and really elegant and the master bathrooms, especially in the 2-bedroom and owners suites are FABULOUS - there's nothing on Cunard that compares - but the NCL suites are also very, very new. On the other hand, I do enjoy the "grills" dining experience on Cunard, although I find some of the menus to be a bit old fashioned (and I'm not saying this in a bad or critical way), but sometimes, that's a good thing and I think on Cunard, that is the case! The old fashioned is enjoyable to me. Do you remember Victoria Magazine? I used to to be a subscriber and love the idea of dining with a more historical basis and to me, that's what you get on Cunard and I think that's super fun and very enjoyable! The dining on NCL is very enjoyable as well. I love all the specialty restaurants and the restaurant for suite guests only. However, these are all very modern type restaurants - which is also very enjoyable, but in a different way. IMO, there is room for both cruise lines and I would sail suites on NCL interchangeably with suites on Cunard. I would feel completely at home in both environments and enjoy both types of cruises for what they are. I'm someone who doesn't want every vacation to be exactly the same. I like vacations to be memorable and unique. For example, I was as comfortable staying The Witchery by the Castle in Edinburg as I am staying at Hotel Okura in Amsterdam or The Aria Casino Resort in Las Vegas. I find that I am as happy on a River Cruise on the SS Antoinette as I am on a Med or Caribbean cruise or visiting Napa Valley or Scottsdale or San Antonio or New York. I have rarely traveled anywhere for work or pleasure where I have not found something interesting to do and created a new memory.

Based on what I've read about Cunard I'd have to agree. They offer two entirely different experiences and I don't think many people will say that they enjoy each equally. I read some of the thread on the Cunard boards and most everyone found NCL lacking, which I would expect. I'd probably find Cunard much too formal.

I like vacations to be memorable and unique. For example, I was as comfortable staying The Witchery by the Castle in Edinburg as I am staying at Hotel Okura in Amsterdam or The Aria Casino Resort in Las Vegas. I find that I am as happy on a River Cruise on the SS Antoinette as I am on a Med or Caribbean cruise or visiting Napa Valley or Scottsdale or San Antonio or New York. I have rarely traveled anywhere for work or pleasure where I have not found something interesting to do and created a new memory.

I like how you squeezed in all the places you have traveled in one paragraph. I surely am impressed...:o

It depends what you are after.

If you like formal you will love Cunard and hate NCL. It would be same in reverse.

I loved our Cunard cruises, loved them, but it was just me and my DW. Also sailed Cunard back in the day with my family and loved it then too, although my parents were partial to Royal Caribbean.

But now with kids Cunard is not the choice, just not enough for the kids, Carnival, NCL and if they were cheaper Royal for family cruising.

Two totally different lines, two totally different experiences. No comparison in my mind.

FWIW Cunard is not what it used to be, but then again nothing really is.

It depends what you are after.

 

If you like formal you will love Cunard and hate NCL. It would be same in reverse.

By "reverse" do you mean that if you do not like formal you will still love Cunard and hate NCL? ---- That would be the "same" after the "in reverse".

I'm platinum with both Cunard and NCL. These lines serve completely different segments of the market, and while there are some overlaps, it doesn't make much sense to compare the two. Apples and oranges. If someone has a specific question (e.g Haven vs. Grills), I could offer some insight, but I don't see the purpose in doing a general comparison.

Done Queen Mary and Queen Victoria plus several trips on NCL Jade, Star and Jewel, all in suites, so I can compare both.

The food on the Cunard ships is much more carefully presented, quite pretty and much less bulk than anywhere on NCL, so your view would be governed by the size rather than quality. The decor throughout the Cunard ships is much more sedate than on the NCL ships and if you prefer your ship furniture to look more wood than plastic/metal then you would like Cunard better.

The suites in NCL ships are much more sumptuous but are not as "classy" as the Queens, but that very much reflects the two nations generally (much like the food does)

Probably the biggest difference between between the two lines is with the entertainment. Cunard goes a lot for education and has some very good lectures. NCL, on the other hand is much more Broadway and mainstream TV style entertainment. That means that younger people would probably be much more at home on NCL. However, the Queen Mary 2 has a huge planetarium at the back of the ship that can give a fabulous view of the night sky and which bit is which. That place is also equipped with 3D projection and they have some superb films in there.

As other serious comments about the two lines have said, they are like chalk and cheese, so it depends what you want while you are actually on board the ships - Downton Abbey or Orlando/Las Vegas. Remember though, a lot of the time you should be out and about learning about the people and places you visit -they are the main reason for cruising after all.

I am not the OP, but I appreciate your comments. I have recently looked into Cunard and your comparisons are very helpful.

Done Queen Mary and Queen Victoria plus several trips on NCL Jade, Star and Jewel, all in suites, so I can compare both.

 

The food on the Cunard ships is much more carefully presented, quite pretty and much less bulk than anywhere on NCL, so your view would be governed by the size rather than quality. The decor throughout the Cunard ships is much more sedate than on the NCL ships and if you prefer your ship furniture to look more wood than plastic/metal then you would like Cunard better.

 

The suites in NCL ships are much more sumptuous but are not as "classy" as the Queens, but that very much reflects the two nations generally (much like the food does)

 

Probably the biggest difference between between the two lines is with the entertainment. Cunard goes a lot for education and has some very good lectures. NCL, on the other hand is much more Broadway and mainstream TV style entertainment. That means that younger people would probably be much more at home on NCL. However, the Queen Mary 2 has a huge planetarium at the back of the ship that can give a fabulous view of the night sky and which bit is which. That place is also equipped with 3D projection and they have some superb films in there.

 

As other serious comments about the two lines have said, they are like chalk and cheese, so it depends what you want while you are actually on board the ships - Downton Abbey or Orlando/Las Vegas. Remember though, a lot of the time you should be out and about learning about the people and places you visit -they are the main reason for cruising after all.

I'm Platinum on both Cunard and NCL, so obviously I enjoy both lines but for very different reasons.

Cunard is all about formality, history, tradition, Britishness, and structure. Taking a transatlantic crossing on QM2 is like stepping into a bygone era. It's quite spectacular. Cunard is very adult oriented and you see very few children onboard. I LOVE this aspect of Cunard since I don't have kids and don't want to be surrounded by them. Cunard is a very civilized way to travel. There are no gimmicks like rock climbing walls and water slides. Instead there are enrichment lectures during the day, the largest libraries afloat complete with librarian, traditional afternoon tea at 4pm, and dinner and a show for the evening entertainment. There is a nightclub and it can be hopping well into the wee hours. There is also ballroom dancing to big band on the largest dance floors afloat, and this is very popular. There are even themed balls and gentleman dance hosts to liven things up. Cunard is formal and on formal nights you will see almost all gentleman wearing tuxedos. Jackets are required pretty much every night after 6pm in the dress code is enforced. Standard accommodations, service, and cuisine are decent and tasteful, but nothing I would call luxurious unless perhaps you are in one of the Grills (think Haven on NCL). Another nice thing about sailing on Cunard is space. The space ratios are high, you don't feel crowded onboard, and rarely do you have to wait in line for anything. QM2 for instance is around 149,000 gt and only carries 2620 passengers (dbl occ) giving her a space ratio of 56.9.

NCL on the other hand is the polar opposite of Cunard. It's casual, untraditional, and there is almost no structure. You eat when and where you want. It's very family oriented and good portion of the ship is geared towards families with features like rock climbing walls, ropes courses, and water slides. The atmosphere onboard is frenetic, vibrant, and even loud. There are far more dining options than Cunard and the entertainment is more Vegas than West End. Upper decks can get very crowded and you may have to wait in line for certain features and attractions. You never have to dress up. The ships are much more high density and crowded than Cunard. NORWEGIAN ESCAPE for instance is around 165,000 gt and carries 4248 passengers (dbl occ) given her a space ration of 38.8. Add in all the kids which Cunard doesn't carry, and space becomes a premium.

One thing I find similar about both Cunard and NCL is that both are affordable. I can sail on QM2 for 8-days on a crossing for the same price as a week on a new NCL ship. Both in balconies.

Hope this provides you with a little insight.

I am platinum on NCL and am a big cheerleader for the line, but I would be the first to admit when it comes to Cunard there really is no comparison. The line and it's ships are in a league of their own.

Apples and oranges. Just one of the MANY differences is that Cunard is VERY formal and sedate, and NCL is EXTREMELY informal and NOT sedate !! Nevertheless, the butler service and service in general in the suites is far superior on NCL.

We are platinum members on both NCL and Cunard. We select cruises, in part, for the itinerary and the ports. We've sailed in standard rooms and in suites on both. In port, you are dealing with the same local agents providing excursions.

At sea, it's clearly a different experience. Formal afternoon tea on Cunard vs. [poorly made] scones and whip cream on the NCL buffet. I think that what it makes it feel different is the crew to passenger ratio with a higher level of service available on Cunard. It's the difference between being on a "cruise ship" vs. being on a "ocean liner". We enjoy both.

It's refreshing to see some others share my enjoyment of both Cunard and NCL. They are so different yet each offers a rewarding experience. I would say most NCL passengers have no interest in Cunard and most Cunard passengers wouldn't be caught dead on NCL. Obviously there are exceptions. I could never limit myself to one cruise line or experience. How boring. Variety is the spice of life!

Eroller's review is spot on. His comparison is why we cruised Cunard when it was just me and the DW.

Now we have small kids and Cunard is just not for "US" currently, but one day, when they are older...much older... or when its just DW and me, and Cunard has a trip we want, no hesitation.

Love the formality of Cunard.

Loved the Carnival Breeze as a family cruise, hope to love the NCL Escape as a family cruise!

Can do a tuxedo and khakis with equal enthusiasm. :cool:

As has been mentoned on here over and over: there are no comparisons between the two and this is not putting either down. Cunard, Queen Mary and River cruises are very different from your basic run of the mill cruise line. People cruise mass marketed lines to get the feeling of cruising and the fun of visiting ports; people cruise Cunard to get the "true" original cruise experience and peaple people cruise river cruises to get the opportunity to see things large ships can not see and it for those who are very active.

We sailed on the QE2 and OMG it was unbelievable!! To be fair this was in the days of the midnight and seafood buffets. QE2 hands down better in every category, and the service was so amazing. Now, we love NCL, sail often, and are loyal to the one line(thank you CAS). Years ago, before children and the stresses of life, we loved the formality and splendor of the experience.....now it is let me rest, and not have to formally dress. We love freestyle!

Safe sailing

Sure, I'll play. I sailed the QM2 some years ago, due to a bunch of stars being in alignment, such as solo supplement (waived!), airfare (sale!) and birthday (50...something!). I'm the most casual of cruisers, with no patience for pretense or snobbery, and found a lot to like about Cunard. Yes, it can be as formal as they say, but Cunard makes it easy for folks like me to tailor the experience to be as casual as we like.

I'm a solo cruiser who prefers to eat alone, and I loathe assigned seating. I disliked the Britannia Dining Room on sight (massive, cavernous, creepy space), and promptly had the maître 'd promise to "unseat" me from my dining assignment. I had a good giggle over being unseated. The Kings Court buffet area is totally different in the evening, and had very nice food, not at all crowded but more people than I had expected, and friendly non-stuffy service. It seemed a step up from typical buffet offerings. Dragonfruit and a delicious lamb stew aren't usually buffet fare, in my experience. I ate early, and nobody looked twice at me in jeans and turtleneck. I got a kick out of watching the upper crust get off the wrong elevator and come marching through Kings Court in all their finery...and turn into little children when they spied the soft-serve machine. Seeing them head to the Grills, ice cream cones in hand, was one of my best memories from the crossing. I did visit Britannia for a pretty dismal lunch, in terms of food, service and tablemates. Can't say I enjoyed the snobbish Englishwoman and the nouveau-riche Texas widow trying to out-brag each other while (not) eating lukewarm dried out fish and trying to flag down the waiter for a drink refill.

I took one formal outfit because I knew I'd want to wander the ship a night or two, but it didn't take long for me to figure out the entertainment wasn't going to be to my taste. The young women in the string quartet were lovely, but couldn't play for squat. Awful screeching and scratching. I'm not usually going to stick around to listen to a harp-plucker under most circumstances, though I concede there are those who enjoy such things. I thought the dance balls were beyond boring, and I _like_ big band music. That stuff was more like Lawrence Welk at Sea. The hockey-haired vocalist wasn't good at all. You need talent if you're going to channel Sinatra.

There was more good stuff, too. That's coming up.

Cont'd...

While I thought Cunard's evening entertainment left a lot to be desired, and was nowhere near as good as NCL's, Cunard's daytime activities were terrific. I very much enjoyed the enrichment lectures and would have loved the library if it hadn't been so hot in there. Honestly, on what other line would you be able to check out a Book of Common Prayer for the duration of the voyage? I never got around to getting tickets to the Planetarium, but did catch a movie there. Nice seating. I thought it was too windy to do much walking outdoors on the promenade, but the QM2 is a big ship. Lots of places to walk, get lost, and find yourself in the BEST nooks and crannies.

Most public spaces were attractive, but I found the floors a little spongy in some places, and somewhat slippery in others. I didn't think the QM2 was as pretty as the NCL Spirit, but it was very nice on its own terms. My inside cabin was nice, as well. It was well laid out, not the biggest inside cabin I've ever had, nor the best linens, but more than adequate. The bathroom and shower space were terrific; one of my most important cruise criteria, and Cunard's was very likely the best of all my cruises.

I'm sure I left out a bunch of information, but this is long enough. One last thing, I wish they wouldn't have kept referring to me as "madam." I know they're trained to do that, but it made me feel like the Dowager Countess or something.

I have done 4 transatlantic cruises ...one was on Cunard....the other on NCL others on Princess and Celebrity

Please note the dress code is what is mostly different ...on Cunard you are e pected to dress up every second day .and I mean gowns or tux.I needed an extra suitcase for those clothes .

It was fine .

On NCL no one forces you to dress up ...mostly itscasual wear .Food in the MDR of Q M 2was excellent ...no need for specialty restaurants plus you stayed with your tablemates for the duration

NCL does not have regular seating but come when you want inmost places except specialty restaurantsthat required reservations ...food was good but great in specialty restaurants ....so great food must be paid extra for ...not so on Cunard ...

cabins on Cunard are big bright and spacious .I appreciate the self serve laundromat which I believe were free ...very handy .you only needed to buy soap plus they had an ironongboard nd iron one could use ....none of that on NCL....wish they would add them ...clothes to get wrinkled after a long flight no matter how well you pack .Cabins are normal size ...balconies small on NCL unless you get the extended bigones ...those are amazing

On Epic we had a B 6 balcony ...huge ...loved it .our hull balcony on QM 2was mostly unusable because of our speed the wind outdoors and our speed made it difficult to stay outdoors .....we were on it in August ...it was cool even then

Surprisingly i found people on Cunard very friendly ...not snobby at all ...not like Celebrity ...lol

People on NCL just want to have a good time

Shows on both are usually quite good .....lately NCL shows are extremely good ....

I liked both lines ...my son did not care for the dressing up part ...I liked it ...but I also like resort casual of NCL

I met great people on both .....transats are awesme

If the Cunard is anything like their White Star counterpart, then I am sure they have third class where you wear nothing but casual (all you might need is a newsie cap), along with bringing your own luggage (usually in a sack), sleeping on cots and hammocks (Cunard had dorm style sleeping arrangements), eating at the saloons (I think the Cunard ships, you sit on benches, or you had to bring your own food), having use of only the bottom decks (and being locked down there for the duration of the trip), shared baths and no space on the lifeboats for them.

I have never cruised on Cunard, because I prefer a more casual atmosphere while on vacation. However, I would love NCL to offer educational lectures on their ships. The planetarium sounds marvelous, and perhaps NCL could install them on their newbuilds, or during drydocks on older ships. If the planetariums are also used for films, DH and I would spend lots of time there.

When NCL's ship orchestra has a big band or jazz concert, I'm there.

I appreciate the self serve laundromat which I believe were free ...very handy .you only needed to buy soap plus they had an ironongboard nd iron one could use ....none of that on NCL....wish they would add them ...clothes to get wrinkled after a long flight no matter how well you pack .

The washing soap is free on the QM2, not sure on the other ships. You can ALWAYS request an iron from your NCL steward and they will bring it along with an ironing board for your use for about an hour or so, no need to walk around wrinkly on NCL.