Please help me pick! X or NCL

I really need some better insight in picking the cruise for a December getaway. I've sailed NCL and X and enjoyed both. I loved my Epic cruise, didn't as much care for the Breakaway (the ship was great, the food and service were bad). LOVED the Silhouette although the nightlife and entertainment fell short.

I'll be traveling with a 21 year old law student so I'm thinking NCL from a fun perspective. Both cruises are priced about the same.

Celebrity:

• Concierge Class on Reflection
  
• Beverage pkg, PP gratuities, $300 OBC, Wifi, all included
  
• Slightly better itinerary with two ports that I haven't been to (St. Kitts and San Juan)
  
• Loved her sister ship. Loved the upscale vibe, food, service and crowd control
  

NCL:

• Mini Suite on Escape
  
• Beverage pkg and specialty dining included
  
• One port of interest for me that I haven't been to (Tortola)
  
• Love Howl at the Moon, the comedy club, the shows, the nightlife
  
• Concerned about the food, crowds and service based on Breakaway cruise (I know a lot has changed since then though)
  

Pricing is about the same once you add gratuities onto the NCL price. The cabin categories chosen are not based on need but where the best pricing seems to be. If it were just me, I probably wouldn't stray from X but I did find the 'fun factor' somewhat lacking and given that I'll be with a 21 year old needing a break from law school, I wonder if NCL is the better choice.

Any insight or recommendations that you can offer would be MUCH appreciated!

X-posted on the other line's forum for additional comments.

I realize this may be the wrong response for a Celebrity Board, but I would consider NCL. Our 22 year old son and his wife went on the Sihouette for their honeymoon. They loved the food and the service, but the vibe was a little too low key for them. They were used to RCCI, their last cruise being on the Allure. While my wife and I have more or less exclusively switched to X, his comment to me was "I sure I will cruise them again, just not in a hurry to at this time in my life." And they are not party animals - they are pretty mellow, old soul types (hence getting married at 22).

I realize this may be the wrong response for a Celebrity Board, but I would consider NCL. Our 22 year old son and his wife went on the Sihouette for their honeymoon. They loved the food and the service, but the vibe was a little too low key for them. They were used to RCCI, their last cruise being on the Allure. While my wife and I have more or less exclusively switched to X, his comment to me was "I sure I will cruise them again, just not in a hurry to at this time in my life." And they are not party animals - they are pretty mellow, old soul types (hence getting married at 22).

You're confirming what my gut is telling me. I'm more interested in the food, atmosphere and service (and I really love the solarium), but for someone looking to let loose a bit, NCL may make more sense.

You're confirming what my gut is telling me. I'm more interested in the food, atmosphere and service (and I really love the solarium), but for someone looking to let loose a bit, NCL may make more sense.

Have you considered Oasis or Allure?

Have you considered Oasis or Allure?

That would actually be my first choice, however, they are slightly more expensive for just the cruise (not much though) and they aren't offering dining or drink packages, where the other two are. Not that we're complete gluttons or drunks but I could see that easily representing a thousand bucks or so in savings. If RCI threw in a drink package, I'd be all over it.

Another vote for NCL given the ages. We too found Celebrity a great, relaxing cruise but my 20 year old found it a little to sedate. He wanted more variety in nightly entertainment.

Another vote for NCL given the ages. We too found Celebrity a great, relaxing cruise but my 20 year old found it a little to sedate. He wanted more variety in nightly entertainment.

I agree if you are cruising with a 22 year old definitely NCL, especially if you prebook all your shows and your speciality dining, I didn't like the ship as much as the solstice class ships (epic) but we thought the entertainment was heads and shoulders above Celebrity these days.

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I know this is the wrong board to bring this up, but it's been mentioned. If Royal offered a drink pkg, they'd blow both lines out of the water.

I know this is the wrong board to bring this up, but it's been mentioned. If Royal offered a drink pkg, they'd blow both lines out of the water.

I'd absolutely book an Oasis-class sailing if they did. It's just so much more expensive once you factor in drinks on top of the fare.

I really need some better insight in picking the cruise for a December getaway. I've sailed NCL and X and enjoyed both. I loved my Epic cruise, didn't as much care for the Breakaway (the ship was great, the food and service were bad). LOVED the Silhouette although the nightlife and entertainment fell short.

 

I'll be traveling with a 21 year old law student so I'm thinking NCL from a fun perspective. Both cruises are priced about the same.

 

Celebrity:

• Concierge Class on Reflection
  
• Beverage pkg, PP gratuities, $300 OBC, Wifi, all included
  
• Slightly better itinerary with two ports that I haven't been to (St. Kitts and San Juan)
  
• Loved her sister ship. Loved the upscale vibe, food, service and crowd control
  

 

NCL:

• Mini Suite on Escape
  
• Beverage pkg and specialty dining included
  
• One port of interest for me that I haven't been to (Tortola)
  
• Love Howl at the Moon, the comedy club, the shows, the nightlife
  
• Concerned about the food, crowds and service based on Breakaway cruise (I know a lot has changed since then though)
  

 

Pricing is about the same once you add gratuities onto the NCL price. The cabin categories chosen are not based on need but where the best pricing seems to be. If it were just me, I probably wouldn't stray from X but I did find the 'fun factor' somewhat lacking and given that I'll be with a 21 year old needing a break from law school, I wonder if NCL is the better choice.

 

Any insight or recommendations that you can offer would be MUCH appreciated!

 

X-posted on the other line's forum for additional comments.

Go NCL and let them see how community college folks vacation.

Go NCL and let them see how community college folks vacation.

Ouch! Not much of a selling point. Lol!

Ouch! Not much of a selling point. Lol!

Well yea! We were one an done on NCL.

Ok, so I was being very 'tonge in cheek' we have some great friends that like the laid back style on NCL, but will pay more to sail Celebrity if it is close to where they want to go when they are off.

Well yea! We were one an done on NCL.

 

Ok, so I was being very 'tonge in cheek' we have some great friends that like the laid back style on NCL, but will pay more to sail Celebrity if it is close to where they want to go when they are off.

Oddly enough, Celebrity is actually the cheaper option. I loved my cruise on the Silhouette. It was just a bit subdued, which may not be the best fit this time around.

Depending on when in December you are sailing, the vibe of the ship may be totally different. If it is over the holidays, a lot of younger passengers may be on board. I, too, am a one and done NCL cruiser but, to be fair, this was a few years ago. Awful food deterred me from returning. I like Celebrity but am also 66 years old so my needs are different from those of a 21 year old (Oh, to be young again). I have a feeling that by just sailing together that you will be happy on whatever ship you take.

Depending on when in December you are sailing, the vibe of the ship may be totally different. If it is over the holidays, a lot of younger passengers may be on board. I, too, am a one and done NCL cruiser but, to be fair, this was a few years ago. Awful food deterred me from returning. I like Celebrity but am also 66 years old so my needs are different from those of a 21 year old (Oh, to be young again). I have a feeling that by just sailing together that you will be happy on whatever ship you take.

Very good points on all accounts. I'm in my thirties and really enjoyed my Celebrity cruise. We'll be going around December 10th so I'm not really sure what that means for the vibe or crowd. Probably a bit early for the holiday crowd but kids may already be on break.

My husband and I just went on the escape in september, I am 26 and he is 32. We honestly had a horrible time. The food was almost uneatable. Every night we did specialty restaurants because they had the only food that was actually tasty. As for the buffet everything tasted like cardboard. This was our first try with NCL and we vowed it would be our last. We got a mini suite and i felt it to be a bit cramped, I was also quite disappointed in that the balcony didnt have loungers, it felt like the a normal celebrity balcony room. The entire cruise we felt nickle and dimed. Yes, I do have to admit that NCL did have a little bit better fun factor, but honestly not by much. At night they only had 2 comedy shows for the whole cruise and if you didnt book them the first night you couldnt get into them. As well as if you didnt like to dance then after 9pm they literally had nothing else to do besides the casino. Every activity on the daily planner after 9pm was only dancing at different venues. Also my husband and I found that the level of service and over all demeanor of the crew was very poor. 1 out of every 5 person was nice, other than that they seemed to be grouchy. I hope this helps as we have sailed other NCL and Celebrity recently and would not recommend NCL to anyone. If you are used to Celebritys level of service and quality NCL wont even come close.

The only way I would choose NCL over Celebrity would be for the vibe beach club. That pretty much made the cruise for me. It's not guaranteed, but if you get there early enough you should get a pass.

The drink package you still need to pay gratuities for on NCL. Celebrity its included.

Food for thought.

We have noticed with the drink package the age of cruisers on X is younger than it was before they offered the package. We have a 24 year old who I know would love X, he prefers quality over glitz. He has been in college since 2010 and has 4 more years of school, but we will be taking him on Celebrity to celebrate when he graduates. I think a lot of your decision should be based on what kind of 21 year old you are taking on the cruise, do they want to party and do more "sporty" things (rope courses, water slides, etc) or would they like the more relaxing atmosphere X provides? We are going on the Escape in less than a month after being away from NCL for quite a while, we had a future cruise certificate to use...hoping for the best :)

Sailing with a 21 year old I would choose NCL and the Escape hands down. I have only sailed Celebrity once, but it was on the Silhouette.

The Silhouette is lovely but subdued.

The Escape is just a great ship. The ropes course is twice as large as on the Breakaway and even has you zip lining over the side of the ship. The water slides are impressive. There is also mini golf.

Their ala carte restaurant Food Republic is simply the best food we have ever had at sea. Pinchot Tapas bar runs a close second.

If you are a beer drinker the District Brew House is great.

Just so many things to do on the Escape.

Sailing with a 21 year old I would choose NCL and the Escape hands down. I have only sailed Celebrity once, but it was on the Silhouette.

 

The Silhouette is lovely but subdued.

 

The Escape is just a great ship. The ropes course is twice as large as on the Breakaway and even has you zip lining over the side of the ship. The water slides are impressive. There is also mini golf.

 

Their ala carte restaurant Food Republic is simply the best food we have ever had at sea. Pinchot Tapas bar runs a close second.

 

If you are a beer drinker the District Brew House is great.

 

Just so many things to do on the Escape.

Thanks for the info. The Escape sounds like a fun and lively ship which is what we're after. I am concerned though with the very mixed reviews mentioning nickel-and-diming and poor service.

Thanks for the info. The Escape sounds like a fun and lively ship which is what we're after. I am concerned though with the very mixed reviews mentioning nickel-and-diming and poor service.

I am definitely not a fan of recent changes on NCL regarding the nickel and diming. As mentioned by others they charge 18% gratuity on their "free" beverage package, and it is not nearly as inclusive as Celebrity`s package.

Special dining is ala carte (unless you purchase a dining package). BUT I did find the specialty dining on Celebrity to cost much more. The food on Celebrity was better than on NCL, but not by a margin that supported the cost difference IMO.

I too have read about poor service on NCL, but in 30+ cruises that has not been our experience (less an exception here and there). For me the service on NCL was friendlier than on Celebrity. Not that the service on Celebrity wasn't great, but I realized we were on board for a week before we were greeted by name. Not a big deal, but it reminded my that our room stewards on NCL have always greeted us by name and the waitstaff as well. It just makes for a friendlier vibe.

Why not seek your nephew's input prior to making your choice? He may relish the low-key classy vibe of Celebrity after the stress of law school!

Thanks for the info. The Escape sounds like a fun and lively ship which is what we're after. I am concerned though with the very mixed reviews mentioning nickel-and-diming and poor service.

Celebrity hands down up to 9pm after that time NCL by far is more enjoyable. U really cant go wrong with either one, everyone has there own opinion but in the end its up to you. Perfect match of the two would be going on Oasis of the Sea or the Allure

I always say a day at sea is way better than a dat at work or school.

Thanks for the info. The Escape sounds like a fun and lively ship which is what we're after. I am concerned though with the very mixed reviews mentioning nickel-and-diming and poor service.

Celebrity hands down up to 9pm after that time NCL by far is more enjoyable. U really cant go wrong with either one, everyone has there own opinion but in the end its up to you. Perfect match of the two would be going on Oasis of the Sea or the Allure

I always say a day at sea is way better than a day at work or school.

Easy fix if you can do a B2B out of miami both cruise lines i think you will like both for different reasons.