alonzo14

Thanks for the review! We will be on the Navigator soon! I'm excited!

I did check with my bride about the hair dryers onboard. She advises that "yes" you must hold down the button to operate the hair dryers.

I was afraid you would say that....lol. Thanks for your answer! I'm glad you had a good time and the crew was good.

Enjoyed your review! Thanks for taking the time to do it!

1interpreter: Welcome!

Skidrow1950: Thanks for the review! DH and I will be on the Navigator in October and nice to hear your enjoyed your cruise.

I do have one question for you, are the hair dryers in the staterooms the kind you must hold down the button while using it?

I just caught this review yesterday and took me most of the day to get through it! Thank you so much for the time you took to post such wonderful detailed reviews. I definitely plan to check out the others! Haven't sailed on any of NCL's newest ships but I have been on the Oasis so your review will bring back memories! Your pictures are fabulous too! You truly make ANY cruise sound interesting. Thanks again and Happy cruising!

I don't know which Carnival ship you are considering. We went on our first Carnival cruise on one of the newest ships for Carnival about a year and a half ago. It did not have some of the 2.0 upgrades but only a few. We prefer Royal. One of the biggest reasons is more elegant decor and better laid out ships. Cabins are a bit smaller than Carnival but like Carnival have a sofa and are laid out well. Royal no longer does chocolates on pillows but that is not a deal breaker for us. Though the newer Carnival ships have Comedy clubs with several shows a week we like Royal's overall entertainment better and the ice show shouldn't be missed! We thought the service was fine on both. I think there is just something classier about Royal.

I also agree with the taxi option and arrive 10:30-11:00

It's a no brainier! Enjoy!

Thank you for your comparison of RCI and Celebrity. I have been on both. Going on Royal again this October. There are a few things Royal does better than Celebrity. They are both lines with the most beautiful ships in the cruise industry! I wouldn't hesitate to cruise either one. The food on both lines isn't what it once was. We were in Aqua class on Celebrity and the food was very good in the Aqua class restaurant. We didn't eat in the MDR so I have no comparison to yours.

We enjoyed all our cruises on NCL. They have the best deals out there right now. There are things we like about NCL and things we like about Royal Carribean. I don't think you will be disappointed in NCL. I think they offer a good product and most relaxing vacation with their Freesyle concept which is not everyone's cup of tea. Just go and have a good time!

Thanks for posting! We will be on the Navigator in October and nice to see pics like this!

Thank you but no, we are confident cruisers, just asking so many questions because this is our first time on a Disney cruise. After the way Disney changed their attitude toward the disabled at the parks I just wanted to see how similar or different it might be from what we are accustomed to with other cruise lines.

No problem! Not advocating them just was giving an option as information. I hope you have a pleasant experience with the Disney ships. Maybe their attitude will be different than the parks. Anyway have a great cruise!

What has your experience been? We have stuck with Carnival for quite a while because they were willing to do more than I would expect. My first experience calling special needs was just ok.

There is a special needs agency that works with the cruiseline if your interested. I can't advertise them here but if you email me I can give you their website. Email: nedra.smith16@gmail.com

They have group cruises with trained staff and respite care and group activities. They offer many specialized services for special needs cruising with it without the group cruises they offer. They can give reviews for special need friendly shore excursions, help with independent cruising if you choose to go on your own. If traveling with the group they eat at the same time and have reserved seating for the shows.

Royal Cartibean is an Autism friendly cruiseline also. They accommodate Autistic and special needs well. Anyway if you would like their website address email me.

I don't get over to this board very often, but I'm so sorry to hear of the loss of your husband last year. I will remember you in my prayers today. I know this must have been a challenging year for you.

I think your dear Robert would want you to cruise again and he will once again be with you in the memories you shared in cruising. Blessings to you!

Me neither! I jokingly asked my DH this evening when I saw they were doing Arabian cruises, Honey do you want to go on an Arabian cruise?

Thanks for sharing!

Iv'e really enjoyed your review and pictures! We were on the Jewel when she was only a few months old and this brings back memories. I think NCL has the best parties for repeaters. We were in a mini suite and so did not have the suite life aboard but we enjoyed our time on her!

Thanks for posting! Great pictures especially the food ones! We are going to be on the Navigator in October so it gives us something to look forward to!

I have sailed on RCCL, NCL, HAL and Carnival. I have never had a bad cruise but with that being said I would not sail on Carnival again. Add that to the fact they have cut back on entertainment. Carnival was ok. Had towel animals AND chocolates on pillows. Food options on the ships buffet were not bad. I thought the food was not bad either in the MDR. The steakhouse was the best of any cruise line yet but I did not like the atmospher or the seating on the Carnival Magic. Pools were fine. Just like Princess does they offered a movie EACH night on the outdoor movie screen with popcorn available and blankets you could check out. But unlike Princess there were no padded loungers. It was a decent value for the price we paid. We were in a Spa Balcony and had access the the Thermal Suite rooms. The pool deck had decent seating even padded patio furniture in some places. The adults only pool section had only hot tubs and really no view but nice seating. It was close to the water slides so at times could be noisy. Met several friendly people. You have heard of signs on business doors that say no shirt, no shoes, no service? Well I saw some of those in the Atrium lobby on the ship. I would not avoid Carnival at all costs but would be my last choice.

Celebrity's ships are classy and gorgeous like Royal. The very newest ship, Soltice class and above have a younger demographic although there are plenty of 45+ age group aboard. The food is the best of all main stream lines in my humble opinion. The Aqua class staterooms can be a good value as they have their own dining room. You also get robes and slippers, iced tea and water including bottled in stateroom, a spa concierge to help with spa treatment and access to the spa thermal area. The room bath amenities are nicer and you get bigger and better towels! Best towels of any ship hands down! The entertainment is hit or miss. Production shows except for one are weak. And as stated by someone above the welcome on return to the ship is nice and welcome aboard champagne or orange juice is nice also.

Holland America is harder to review as we had a aft suite. There is an older demographic although we saw a few younger ones. The ship is classy. It was the Westerdam so they do have newer ships but the demographic is the same on those as well. Entertainment again is hit or miss. They had the best room service of any line we have sailed. You could get anything from the main dining room menu for dinner and it was hot. Lido buffet was very good and they had tablecloths in the evening. Like Celebrity you could get scoop ice cream with toppings in the Lido buffet. They do have a disco but it's not active. Not much to do later in the night. As I've stated we had a suite. At the time suite perks were plentiful. Our balcony being an aft was bigger than any of any ship we have sailed including Royal's suites. The stateroom decor was not as nice as Royal's. You got a lounge with a concierge that would make any arrangements, take care of business or anything else you needed. The offerings were great and the coffee machine great. We got free laundry, stationary, shoeshine, priority tendering, preferred dining etc. they did not have a dedicated section of pool deck or show lounge seating however. HAL would be my next to last choice.

Our NCL cruises were all good. The newest ship we have sailed is the Norweign Jewel which was new at the time. The stateroom was decent. We had a mini suite which does have a couch unlike the lower category staterooms. I like the fact that Royal has sofas as it makes relaxing in the stateroom no matter how long more comfortable. They revamped the Lido buffet starting with the Jewel so they have stations. Food is decent. MDR room was meh to very good. Specialty restaurants were very good. NCL has some of the best entertainment at sea next to SOME of Royal's ships except ,for the ice show, and perhaps Disney. You can decide on formal nights wether you wish to dress up. There is or was one dining room designated for those who wished to dress more formally. The pools were ok as well as the pool decks. No padded loungers anywhere. If I were cruising NCL I would choose their very newest ships the Breakaway, Getaway and especially the newest ship coming out the Escape. NCL has some good sales now. Celebrity can have good sales as well and can be cheaper than Royal.

Whatever you decide go with a positive attitude determined to have a good time. Let us know which ship you decide on. Happy cruising!

I hope you enjoy your cruise! We have been on the Magic but not Navigator. However we have been on a few other Royal ships.

Atmosphere is important to us which is the main reason we like Royal. Royal has better entertainment.

The steak house on the Magic is excellent! I would choose the aft pool on the Magic as it's less crowded. Tandoori is very good on Magic. There is very limited food available late night. There is a good deli on the aft deck near the pool as well.

I like the Solariums on Royal ships better than Carnival and they include a pool and not just a hot tub.

The early show comedians are decent in the Puncliner comedy club on the Magic but the late shows were not our cup of tea and don't think they will be yours either.

Carnival gives a good bang for your buck but Royal is just classier.

I too was a bit doubtful in booking a Boardwalk Balcony but it's a great view. We saw the ocean , Boardwalk and Aqua Theater! We could also see outside dancing and music from Johhnny Rockets. The only time we heard anything with our balcony door closed was the movie they played on the big screen one evening and the bag pipe player that came through twice a day. Felt no movement.

Thanks so much for the extra pics of the Jr. suite! Very thoughtful of you! I'm enjoying your review! Im looking forward to hearing about Sabor. Enjoy the rest of your cruise!

Thanks so much for taking the time out of your cruise to answer questions and show pictures. I have a questions about your Jr. Suite. My husband and are will be on Navigator in the future. So far away, in October of next year. Is there only the couch and chair at the dressing area? Other pictures have shown one additional chair and Ottoman in the room. It looks like a Balcony room to me. Also is there 4 chairs on the balcony? What room were you in? Can you get a picture of the bathroom? Thanks so much!!! Enjoy your cruise!

I really enjoyed your review with pics Jane! My husband & I are working our way up the level chain. We'll be platinum after our cruise next October. We almost booked the Vision for then but decided on a shorter cruise on the Navigator out of Galveston as we live in Texas. We have sailed with a few other cruise lines so this is why we aren't already platinum or even Diamond by now. We haven't sailed the Vision but have been on her other sister ships the Rhapsody and Splendor of the Seas.

I have a question for you. We will be in our first Junior suite on Royal Carribaen on our cruise next October. I know we don't get suite perks other than priority embarkation but I was wondering if we would be allowed to use the Concierge Lounge?

Thanks so much! Happy cruising!

:) Thanks do much for your honest review of the Navigator. We booked the Navigator for October 2015 so we have a bit of a wait! However the reading & planning are fun!