An NCLer tries Princess

My husband and I are longtime NCLers, but decided to try a Princess cruise to Hawaii. It was an interesting and informative experience, which made me appreciate NCL but also showed me some of its weaknesses. The biggest difference: Princess doesn't sell raffle tickets before show performances. Such an improvement! Oh, and the food on this particular Princess cruise left much to be desired. Here's a link to my review:

http://boards.cruisecritic.com/showthread.php?t=2178068

Thanks for posting. I don't recall raffle ticket sales on the past four or five cruises I've been on but we don't show up until right before show time, so maybe I just missed them.

Thanks for the review.

Thanks for posting. I don't recall raffle ticket sales on the past four or five cruises I've been on but we don't show up until right before show time, so maybe I just missed them.

Our last NCL cruise (last spring) did havd raffle tickets for sale prior to the show but the push wasn't like in past years. I think we purchased them once. We have never won anything except our $ or whatever back. Well certainly not $ anymore.

Last two NCL cruises there were no ticket sales. Nothing like it was three years ago. Low pressure/low key now.

Our last two cruises didn't have any raffles before shows or movies. A few years back we took a Pacific coastal to Alaska on the Star with three sea days at the beginning. Weather was too cold to be out on pool deck so it was crowded inside, and they had a loud PA system encouraging everyone to buy gold by the inch, watches on sale for a limited time, etc. I was glad to see it was more low key again by the time of our next cruise.

We cruised Princess a few times before using mainly NCL for our cruising (Freestyle works better for us). We were seriously looking at a Princess British Isles cruise for this fall but opted for an NCL New England cruise instead. We'll cruise other lines but find we prefer NCL.

DW and I prefer Princess. NCL and HAL fight it out for second, RCL is always considered and we'll likely try Celebrity again, even though our only cruise with them had considerable flaws.

Does Princess have formal nights, and how strictly, are dress codes adhered to?

My husband and I are longtime NCLers, but decided to try a Princess cruise to Hawaii. It was an interesting and informative experience, which made me appreciate NCL but also showed me some of its weaknesses. The biggest difference: Princess doesn't sell raffle tickets before show performances. Such an improvement! Oh, and the food on this particular Princess cruise left much to be desired. Here's a link to my review:

 

http://boards.cruisecritic.com/showthread.php?t=2178068

NCL does not sell raffle tickets on POA nor does the ship have a casino or bingo because there is no gambling in the State of Hawaii.

Thought Princess food was better than NCL. IMO.

Also Princess has cookies out all day at the buffet. Something I wish NCL would do. Also Princess has free food items at their specialty coffee bar while on the newer NCL ships you have to buy Carlo's.

Prefer Freestyle aspect of NCL.

My husband and I are longtime NCLers, but decided to try a Princess cruise to Hawaii. It was an interesting and informative experience, which made me appreciate NCL but also showed me some of its weaknesses. The biggest difference: Princess doesn't sell raffle tickets before show performances. Such an improvement! Oh, and the food on this particular Princess cruise left much to be desired. Here's a link to my review:

 

http://boards.cruisecritic.com/showthread.php?t=2178068

Thanks for sharing your review.

Hawking raffle tickets is truly annoying and so ughhhh[emoji47]

I popped over to read your review which I enjoyed. The champagne breakfast and dinner is very nice on Princess. We enjoyed the breakfast and lolling about on the balcony with our champagne while going through the Panama Canal and loved it far better than the other times.

Does Princess have formal nights, and how strictly, are dress codes adhered to?

Princess has formal nights, but the dress code application is very lax. I have worn dress shirt and slacks in the MDR on those nights with no questions or problems.

Also Princess has free food items at their specialty coffee bar while on the newer NCL ships you have to buy Carlo's.

BabsinTX, I enjoyed reading your review!

Did the new regal princess in jan....most beautiful ship I have been on and the buffet food was amazing.... there is a very nice adult's only pool area....very windy that week and the pool temp was cool...in better conditions you'd have to drag me off the ship....I am not loyal to any one line but she really is special...

My husband and I are longtime NCLers, but decided to try a Princess cruise to Hawaii. It was an interesting and informative experience, which made me appreciate NCL but also showed me some of its weaknesses. The biggest difference: Princess doesn't sell raffle tickets before show performances. Such an improvement! Oh, and the food on this particular Princess cruise left much to be desired. Here's a link to my review:http://boards.cruisecritic.com/showthread.php?t=2178068

Thanks for your time and your thoughts!

We don't agree with you on the food (much prefer Princess food over what is offered in the MDR on NCL) BUT it is your review and respect and appreciate YOUR opinion. :)

LuLu

Agree lulu....I cruise for the ports and barely notice the food....I do dislike the overworked crew in such a hurry in the mdr....the regal did not have that urgency..we had one so-so meal and one very good one....the rest were in the hc...amazing!

Does Princess have formal nights, and how strictly, are dress codes adhered to?

We were on a 15 night cruise, so they had three formal nights-one was Valentine's Day. We don't do formal (we're freestyle people!!) so don't know how strict they were. Some people were VERY dressed up, I can tell you that.

And the specialty coffee drinks are included in their All-Inclusive Bar Package. Which costs less than the UBP. :(

 

BabsinTX, I enjoyed reading your review!

Thanks so much!

Thanks for your time and your thoughts!

We don't agree with you on the food (much prefer Princess food over what is offered in the MDR on NCL) BUT it is your review and respect and appreciate YOUR opinion. :)

LuLu

Lulu: Thanks for your kind remarks.