My Review of RCCL vs NCL ESCAPE

I have sailed Freedom, Oasis, and Quantum Class with RCCL and Escape with NCL ( Dec 2016). So here is my view.

*** Disclaimer ***

(NCL and RCCL lovers, Please no bashing, it’s just only my point of view and I am not the best critic in the world).

First Impression: NCL really lacks on first impression. When you get on to ship on NCL, you would feel cramped while you enter in small galley next to the elevator. You don’t feel you are in the ship. Mostly on All RCCL ships, when you enter the ship you enter Royal promenade and it gives a Grand feeling. On Oasis Class Royal promenade is huge and you see the entire hustle bustle and ship is lively. On NCL the atrium is Ok but not that great use of activities. Royal Promenade with RCCL gives the wow for the first timers. Advantage RCCL

Ports on itinerary: This is where NCL have nailed it. On Port days when you come back to the ship, you are treated like kings. They offer you wet towels, water, and cold drinks. This doesn’t cost much but it shows to the other cruise line’s guests that NCL is worth trying. From our experience I can tell, this was what made us try NCL. In 2015 while we were on Oasis of the Seas ship and we were docked next to NCL Getaway and that’s when we saw NCL serving drinks and towels and we were like wow. Right away we said lets try NCL. RCCL must learn this from NCL. Advantage NCL

Ship Layout: There are both good and bad areas on NCL Escape vs RCCL newer ships. In my opinion, Deck 8 on Escape has the best layout. Nice loungers to have quite time on both sides and bars on both sides. However Running/Jogging track is a joke on Escape. First of all it’s very small and it is in the middle of all the traffic areas. It’s impossible to run/jog during the day on Escape.

Especially with RCCL on Oasis class, running/Jogging track is very well planned and no traffic. However, RCCL lacks (except Quantum class) outdoor quiet places like Escape on deck 8. Both tied.

Buffet/Food and Other Food Options: The biggest difference between the two lines is that on RCCL have buffet and pizza Sorrento’s other than main dinning any given time or late night or park café to some extent. (Complimentary options only)

With NCL you can eat at O’Sheehan’s at anytime. Wings and Chipotle chicken sandwich was the best. This venue is above the Atrium and open 24 hours. This place is very popular and it’s no wonder why. We had lunch here on a few occasions. It was nice having all the options. And we noticed food option in Garden Café (Buffet) is much better on NCL than Windjammer (Buffet) on RCCL. Advantage NCL

Main Dinning: This is a tough one to decide which one is better. I would say both are same, NCL little better, not by much though. The good part is freestyle dining with NCL, and RCCL have My time dinning.

Activities: Both NCL and RCCL have good choices for Activities. With Escape, there is always something happening on Deck 6 -Atrium. However it gets very crowded and sometimes hard to get a seat. RCCL, most of the activities are spread throughout the ships. Such as Love & Marriage show, Family Feud, Cooking Shows. With RCL all this happens in Main Theatre and in NCL it happens in Atrium. Advantage RCCL

Pools: On NCL ESCAPE has only 2 pools for a ship with around 4500 people that is way too less. You will find the pool area located mid-ship, on deck 16 and includes the main pool, the kids’ splash pool, and the family pool located next to the splash pool. There is no aft pool. In addition to that the layout of the top deck is not the most desirable one. The loungers are also very close to each other, leaving you with little space to walk around people. The main pool area features four hot tubs, two bars, and a bandstand. The kid’s pool is surrounded by two glass partitions, making almost impossible for parents to lounge while watching their kids in the pool. There is no such issue on RCCL ships that we had sailed. We were disappointed with the layout of the pool deck space on Escape. The area is small and cramped. There's no real space between the pool and the bandstand to dance or play games and there was no space between deck chairs on the sun decks. The running track intersects Margaritaville on deck 17; the track location is a major design flaw. It circles around the water slides and Margaritaville. Runners and walkers had to compete with other passengers for space, especially at the entrance to Margaritaville. As I mentoned earlier, a more suitable space to walk is the Waterfront area on deck 8 when the restaurants are closed. Advantage RCCL

Hot Tubs: On Escape there are only 6-8 hot on whole ship that have 4500 people and these hot tubs only hold 10-12 people at a time. We always had to wait for hot tubs to get in. Again, we never had an issue with RCCL. Advantage RCCL

Crew: Crewmembers are nice on both ships. Very Polite. Only big difference was when our cruise ended (disembarkation), all the senior management from NCL waited outside on deck 6 to say thank you and good bye to all passengers. This is really nice appreciation gesture. Advantage NCL

Internet and TV: Internet was really slow on NCL ESCAPE. It’s usually very good on RCCL Ships. Internet on NCL is about twice times the price and 2 times slower than RCCL. The TV channels on NCL are very limited. Only handful sports and other channels. On RCCL, There are lot more choices of TV channels. Advantage RCCL

Entertainment: Entertainment is the biggest difference, I feel like - RCI entertainment is substantially better than NCL. I am comparing complimentary shows on RCCL and NCL. The quality on NCL escape was below par. Even the décor in Main Theatre was below par. RCCL hands down have best Broadway shows, Mama Mia, Grease, Chicago and Ice shows, Aqua Shows ( Oasis Class only) on all RCCL ships. Advantage RCCL

Overall: We are family of 4. Typically we pay on RCL cruise about 30% more than NCL. On NCL we paid 30% less and plus we got bonus UBP. NCL is by far value for money. I think RCCL is 30% more costly. Would I sail NCL again, Yes for sure if they are still 30% cheaper. But if there price goes up or there is not much difference. Then RCCL is much better in my opinion. But it always good to try all cruise lines and you know all the good and bad and then you appreciate the good.

Thank you for your nice comparison. We haven't sail NCL but have Princess & Royal.

THANKS for your review. We sailed on NCL Getaway (sister ship to Escape) in November and I tend to agree with your comparison. I will say that the Internet on Getaway was great. I would not hesitate to sail with NCL again.

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Thank you for the review. We did NCL in Hawaii, it was OK but not great but after your review, we will now at least look into sailing with them again.

Very objective. Thank you for your comparative review.

Appreciate the comparison review.

Thanks for the great review. We've only travelled with RCCL but were browsing NCL. Does NCL have a Loyalty Program?

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Thanks for the great review. We've only travelled with RCCL but were browsing NCL. Does NCL have a Loyalty Program?

https://www.ncl.com/latitudes-rewards-program

Thanks for the great review. We've only travelled with RCCL but were browsing NCL. Does NCL have a Loyalty Program?

 

 

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Yes, They do have loyalty program.

I can tell , You wont be disappointed, if you try NCL Breakaway Class

We have sailed both and enjoy both equally. Thanks for your post.

Thanks for the fair review , I love rccl and cruise with them mainly because of flowrider for my husband. I would like to try NCL but I actually find it way more pricey, I am paying 2400$ Canadian dollars to go on anthem , 2300$ for 4 of us to go allure in boardwalk balcony. I priced some of the newer ncl ships and got prices at 4000$.

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If RCCL had O'Sheehans they would be perfect.

Thanks for the comparisons.

It's always nice to read comparison reviews. We haven't tried NCL. We enjoy trying different cruise lines. Thanks.

Nice comparison Pedro. I think you nailed it.

The Escape could use another pool however I was a big fan of the Grotto in Spice H20.

THANKS for your review. We sailed on NCL Getaway (sister ship to Escape) in November and I tend to agree with your comparison.

I can tell , You wont be disappointed, if you try NCL Breakaway Class

Just so nobody gets confused: the Breakaway and Getaway are sisters (Breakaway class).

The Escape is part of the Breakaway Plus class. The Escape has a few more features like Food Republic, District Brewhouse, etc.

Yes, They do have loyalty program.

I can tell , You wont be disappointed, if you try NCL Breakaway Class

Couldn't agree more! Quickly becoming my favourite ships!

If RCCL had O'Sheehans they would be perfect.

110% Correct. RCCL must something like O'Sheehans

My wife, daughter and I have cruised both RCL and NCL and have enjoyed both brands immensely.

Our NCL cruises -- both to Bermuda from NY on the Dawn -- had RCL beat because theirs was a 7 night itinerary vs (at the time) a 5 night itinerary on RCL. Give me an extra couple of nights of vacation for less money and I'll take it every time.

No doubt we would sail both lines again in a heartbeat.

Michael

I totally agree with your review!

We sailed Escape in 2015 and Dh loved the District Brewhouse and all the beer choices. He was in heaven!

I liked that they had hand washing stations by the buffet.

In 2016, we sailed Epic and it was a very different experience in that the crew didn't seem very happy and the cabin layout is horrible.

We would sail Escape again, but don't think we would Epic.

I think that's a very honest and true review and I have cruised similar ships to you.

Royal does pools better but NCL does have water slides and more people can do water slides than can do the flowrider at the same time

I think that's a very honest and true review and I have cruised similar ships to you.

 

Royal does pools better but NCL does have water slides and more people can do water slides than can do the flowrider at the same time

Good Point...

Now Harmony of the Sea have water slides.

Great Comparison. Thanks for taking the time to make it.

First off let me state I am Diamond on RCCL which is a huge hook on continuing to utilize their product. Recently we took the escape (much to spouses disapproval as we had taken the Breakaway on the transatlantic out of the yards several years ago and hated it) because I was given a free cruise coupon from local Horseshoe Casino.

With this all being said we really loved the cruise as it was a nice change of pace from RCCL.

What we really liked about the cruise was the Supper club dining room with live music and dancing each night, Still hate anytime dining but NCL did it right and really liked the difference from the herb menu on various RCCL ships (RCCL really needs to change their menu selections).

Also liked the sit down breakfast menu on NCL which changed each day in the dining rooms, buffet was similar. Coffee area is much better on RCCL ships.

Entertainment was spotty on ship. One show was great and other terrible. Also went to paid shows on NCL and they were great. Would give edge to NCL on entertainment as bands and show room people were far better.

Ports of call on NCL were terrible and wait staff was not as good as on RCCL. I think this is because of the mandatory tipping on NCL for even bad service. Also loved the adults only area on the aft of the ship.

Not much of a swimming pool swimmer so not affected by slides or pool so won't compare.

Rooms were similar what I really hated was the constant nickel and diming for everything on the NCL. Drinks if you did not have the package was nothing short of up surd. Totally upset also about having to pay a $15 a bottle for each bottle of wine I brought on board to consume in room.

If I did not have the Diamond benefits I would say the two products were very similar and select either as they are very equal.

However diamond and close proximity to their product diffidently tips the scale in RCCL direction.

Looking forward to my cruise on the Liberty next week.

Very Well said. I agree 100%