Freestyle vs. Traditional Cruising

[hoosier_done_it]

I have taken five cruises, my wife seven, and with the exception of her Windjammer they have all been traditional. We will be on the Norwegian Sun this November; chosen because most of its stops are places we have not been before, its departure port is convenient for other plans, and it has a great price.

 

I have searched this site and NCL's and still need more info. I admit that I have some concerns, but I think that they are just because freestyle is largely unknown for me. I want to approach it with an open mind and have a great time. I'm hoping that the experts here can give us some idea what to expect from freestyle.

 

I'm guessing that they don't do formal nights or other themed days. Or do they? Should I leave my sport coats and ties at home?

 

What are the pros and cons of the dining arrangements?

 

Compare your experiences with new table mates vs. the same each night.

 

Do you really have to make all of your dining reservations in the first hour on board? If so, what is free about that style?

 

Do they have a cruise director and/or an activities director? What about organized activities (e.g. trivia contests)?

 

Any other aspects of cruise life that are different?

[STARFISH*4]

I'm guessing that they don't do formal nights or other themed days. Or do they? Should I leave my sport coats and ties at home?

 

they are called DRESS UP or NOT--YOUR CHOICE...if you want to DRESS UP bring your suit, sportcoat ties whatever YOUR CHOICE

 

What are the pros and cons of the dining arrangements?

 

you dont have to eat in the same place everynite...same table...same people

 

Compare your experiences with new table mates vs. the same each night.

 

you can eat with others if you wish...specially when there are 2 of you...

you are sometimes asked if you want to SHARE.....YOUR CHOICE

 

Do you really have to make all of your dining reservations in the first hour on board? If so, what is free about that style?

 

we have always eaten in the MDRs/BUFFET or BLUE LAGOON...so i cant totally answer that

 

Do they have a cruise director and/or an activities director? What about organized activities (e.g. trivia contests)?

 

yes they have a CD and there are several activities and things going on during the day--ENTERTAINMENT at night--check the FREESTYLE DAILY delivered to your stateroom every night

 

Any other aspects of cruise life that are different?

 

i just know for me i am not STRESSED out about being to dinner on time dressed a certain way and having to sit with tablemates...MY CHOICE makes for much more RELAXING STRESS-FREE cruises...LOVE THE FREESTYLE!!!

[SeaShark]

I have taken five cruises, my wife seven, and with the exception of her Windjammer they have all been traditional. We will be on the Norwegian Sun this November; chosen because most of its stops are places we have not been before, its departure port is convenient for other plans, and it has a great price.

 

I have searched this site and NCL's and still need more info. I admit that I have some concerns, but I think that they are just because freestyle is largely unknown for me. Actually, you will find the opposite to be true. Freestyle dining is just like dining that you do every single day of your life. You choose the time...you choose the restaurant...you choose whether or not you want tablemates. I want to approach it with an open mind and have a great time. I'm hoping that the experts here can give us some idea what to expect from freestyle.

 

I'm guessing that they don't do formal nights or other themed days. Or do they? They do not. There are some nights designated as "dress up or not" but a specific dress is never required (as long as you are in resort casual). You can dress how you want to. Should I leave my sport coats and ties at home? If you want to, yes. Otherwise...you can feel free to bring them if you want to wear them. They will never be required, however.

 

What are the pros and cons of the dining arrangements? More dining choices, freedom to select a time to dine, freedom to dress as desired for dinner, freedom to choose tablemates.

 

Compare your experiences with new table mates vs. the same each night. Normally, you will sit with just your party. However, if you want to meet people, you can ask to be seated with others.

 

Do you really have to make all of your dining reservations in the first hour on board? No. That is a perk reserved for a small few. You will actually find that reservations aren't always necessary. If so, what is free about that style?

 

Do they have a cruise director and/or an activities director? What about organized activities (e.g. trivia contests)? Yes and Yes.

 

Any other aspects of cruise life that are different? Not really, NCL didn't re-invent the wheel, they just allow the freedom of choice in dress and dining.

 

Welcome to the NCL board...I hope that you enjoy your cruise!

[bakerintn]

I have taken five cruises, my wife seven, and with the exception of her Windjammer they have all been traditional. We will be on the Norwegian Sun this November; chosen because most of its stops are places we have not been before, its departure port is convenient for other plans, and it has a great price.

 

I have searched this site and NCL's and still need more info. I admit that I have some concerns, but I think that they are just because freestyle is largely unknown for me. I want to approach it with an open mind and have a great time. I'm hoping that the experts here can give us some idea what to expect from freestyle.

 

I'm guessing that they don't do formal nights or other themed days. Or do they? There are no required formal nights. There will be one or more "dress up or not nights" where some passengers will dress up a bit, but dressing up is not required. Should I leave my sport coats and ties at home? You don't have to have them, but it is up to you.

 

What are the pros and cons of the dining arrangements? Pros...More dinning options...no rush to get back to the ship to make a set dinner time...you can eat alone or with others, your choice...not stuck with the same dinning partners for the whole cruise. Cons....will not have the same wait staff each night...will have to make decisions about when and where to eat....can't think of any more cons.

 

Compare your experiences with new table mates vs. the same each night. I prefer meeting new people or eating alone to being with the same people every meal. I enjoy being able to dine with people that I met elsewhere on the ship and started a relationship. You can eat alone if you prefer.

 

Do you really have to make all of your dining reservations in the first hour on board? If so, what is free about that style? Reservations are not required in any dining room. They are suggested in the specialty restaurants, but many report that they just walk in and get seated immediately. However, there is a new "ticket to dine" program that is being implemented that may change things a bit in this area. Unless you have a full suite, you cannot make reservations several days in advance anyway.

 

Do they have a cruise director and/or an activities director? Yes. What about organized activities (e.g. trivia contests)? There are lots of activities, especially on sea days. The daily newsletter, the Freestyle Daily, lists them all...you might search for copies of that newsletter here on the CC website or do a search for image files with that name and the ship name.

 

Any other aspects of cruise life that are different? Overall, a very casual atmosphere. Some think it is too casual. Bingo is very expensive. [/quote]

 

Have a great cruise.

[geneticfreak]

I try not to over-complicate it. I would look at it the same as any other destination type vacation like Vegas or Myrtle Beach. I tend to dress a little nicer in a casino to look like I belong there and that dress is acceptable in any restaurant on the ship. I leave the ties at home because they are for the office, not my vacation time.

[DMH15]

Hi, Hoosier.

 

I was on the Sun in February. Loved it. The crew was very warm and friendly. I played trivia every day, since I enjoy it. There's a lot to do. I'd never been to the art auction, so went (didn't buy just watched), watched the "Not so Newlywed Game" and partcipated in "Friendly Fued". There were lectures on digital photography, a lot of people liked it. I didn't make it. I went to the "White Hot Party", it was fun. Went to bingo, expensive - didn't win. Played in slot and Blackjack tournaments (came in 2nd in BJ final - darn it). Had a few massages in spa. Of course ate too much... There was one chocolate buffet. We chose a few nibbles and took them to our room - found it to be a bit of a zoo in there.

 

I liked the Sun. It as a little smaller and our room was aft so I never felt like the walk was any trouble.

 

I had previously sailed on X, Carnival and RCI, when I tried NCL. I really like Freestyle. On traditional cruises I found it tedious to feel like I had to go get ready for my assigned dinner whether I was ready to or not. I love the sponteneity of freestyle. I also love being able to dine with new friends I had met in trivia, on excursions or some other way. In traditional dining that would be difficult.

 

I do like dressing up, but I recalled my first cruise I packed a ballgown and a beaded dress that weighed a ton. OMG, I would have been over my weight allowance if they charged for luggage then like they do now! Haha. Now, I pack a skirt or two and a dressy top or two, like for when we go to Le Bistro or Il Adagio. I like to go to the specialty restaurants, but I like variety, in cuisine and in ambience. You might want to wear your sports coat in one of these. But you don't have to. You will see suits, sports coats and slacks with a nice shirt... Only the occasional tux. On the Sun I was in a suite, so I had quite a few dinners served in my suite. My itinerary had some excursions that were lengthy, like 11 hours from Punta Arenas to Antarctica. It was great to dine in my pajamas. On the Jewel in 2007, I had room service a few nights too. Not being in a suite, the meals were more simple, sandwiches and so forth, but very tasty and enjoyable. Sometimes I just go, go, go and run out of steam. Thank goodness for room service.

[terrymtex01]

OP I just wanted to give you a little more information.

 

One thing to keep in mind is NCL usually has a LOT more dining choices than cruiselines you maybe used to. With NCL there are two main dining rooms (MDR's), a buffet and a "fast food" type restaurant (usually it is called Blue Lagoon but maybe called something different on the Sun) and during the day a grill by the pool. There is also a restaurant dedicated to a different take on comfort food but made in a lite way. It is VERY good. I also remember a buffet on the aft of the ship that had the best burgers but I can not remember if it was another area of the main buffet or not. What I really wanted to let you know about are the Specialty restaurants as to me they are wonderful. There is an Asian style, Italian and French and finally Cagneys. They range in price from $15.00 PP to $25.00 PP for dinner. Back when we first started cruising NCL reservations were a MUST for the specialty restaurants and you could only make them like 24 hours in advance, no matter what type of stateroom you had. You might could make them 48 hours in advance, but I do know it wasn't very far out. Now if you are suite guest you can make them when you actually first board the ship and I believe balcony guest can make them 48 hours in advance and all other guest 24 hours in advance. The reason I mention reservations at all is to tell you that you probably will not need them at all for anything other than Teppanyaki or Cagneys.

 

Also another difference to expect is the $12.00 PP PD Daily Service Charge. This replaces tipping like you have on traditional cruiselines. Only exception to that would be if you were in a suite and had services of the Butler and Concierge, or if you travel with children who use the Kid's Club. None of them are including in the tipping pool. Just like traditional cruising, the Spa and any bar service includes an automatic gratuity.

 

Enjoy your first cruise on NCL and please come back and tell us all about it.

[familyof4cruising]

I love Freestyle dining. I usually cruise NCL, but I cruised RCCL and Carnival last year ( 2x on NCL) and chose "anytime dining" and "my time dining" on the other cruise lines because I just couldn't go back to eating at 8:00 or 8:30 every night ( I never had early seating). You can see by my signature that NCL keeps me coming back.

 

Everyone else gave you great info.

[garycarla]

No reservations required.

No fancy dress required.

No time required.

No advance planning required.

 

At 7pm, you can decide what mood you and your group are in, and then go eat in the steakhouse, or seafoood, or italian, or french, or one of two dining rooms, or buffet or room service.

[nasa-rm]

"I want to approach it with an open mind and have a great time." If this is how you approach it, you'll be just fine. :cool: If you get all wrapped up in a mind-set and set out to bash everything you won't enjoy yourself. Kind of like life.

 

 

We just got back from a trip on the Dawn, here's my input.

 

Specific to dinner, we never made a reservation. Ate once at Salsa (Mexican), once at Bamboo (Asian) and once at Venetian (MDR -steak and lamb). That was 3 out of 5 nights. The one night at the Venetian, we waited about 5 minutes for a table as we went at the height of dinner time (6PM or so). The other 2 restaurants we just walked in and were seated immediately.

 

I wore dress slacks and a nice shirt. My wife wore dresses or capris & a nice top (nothing fancy) each night.

 

The other 2 nights were prefect examples of having "freestyle" choices. The first evening out of port we pushed all our meals off as our stomachs were still in the wrong time zone. We had a snack about 2PM in the buffet - some cheese, olives, bread, etc. We went up on deck to the burger grill and then had a very late lunch (or was that an early dinner?) about 4PM for sail-off. Then when it rolled around to 10PM we were feeling hungry again so we headed over to the Blue Lagoon and had another light meal.

 

Casual for those. I think I had on jeans and a t-shirt the first night.

 

And one night we didn't feel like "going out to eat" for dinner, so I grabbed some fries, chicken wings and a salad and took it back to our room. We could have ordered it as room service (no extra charge), but I felt like doing it take out style :D.

 

That evening was VERY casual dress ;).

 

 

So for reservations, it appeared that the longest anyone ever waited was the time they spent standing in line when they first got on board to make reservations. Of course we tended to eat later than most.

 

If you like to wear sports coats and ties - then bring them. You won't be out of place. If you hate wearing them (I don't even own a sports coat), then feel free to dine in jeans and a polo shirt. No one will give you a 2nd look. If you want to wear a tux, go for it. You'd still fit in.

 

My biased opinion on table mates.... Thank god we were not assigned table mates for anything. Anytime we were seated, we sat at a table for 2 but based on the behaviors of some of the people seated at nearby tables a few times - I am glad we were not forced to sit with them for the entire cruise!!!! NCL seats you based on the size of your party, not figuring out how many people to cram at one banquet style table. As mentioned, we were always seated as 2 people sometimes at a table w/2 chairs, sometimes at a table with 4 chairs but never forced to sit with anyone. However, sharing a table for breakfast in the buffet dining area is a good plan as it makes it easier to find somewhere to sit.

 

There was a constant stream of organized activities. Bingo, poker tourneys, pub crawl (5 drinks at 5 bars in 50 minutes:cool:), wine & beer tasting, shopping classes, art auctions, human chess, dance contests, etc. Too many to remember, too many to attend. We did a couple. My favorite was the seminar on improv comedy. Great way to meet new folks!!!

[hoosier_done_it]

Thanks all! This has been very helpful; I'm feeling much more assured.

 

Time for a small confession. A big part of my trepidation came from the reports of a former co-worker who took NCL around Hawaii for his honeymoon 2 or 3 years ago. As I recall it was his (and her) first cruise and they had a suite. The important thing is that he hated freestyle. He reported that they only got into their dinner choice one time on the whole cruise and most nights ended up at the buffet. At the time I was not expecting to cruise for a while so didn't ask for details and now I can't since I lost track of him when he left the company.

 

After reading these posts, I suspect that his problems came more from his lack of preparation than from inherent faults in Freestyle.

 

The feedback and advice here have been very helpful and since "this ain't my first rodeo" and Wife and I are "play the hand you're dealt" kind of people, I'm sure that we'll have a great time.

[grandmkmk]

**Time for a small confession. A big part of my trepidation came from the reports of a former co-worker who took NCL around Hawaii for his honeymoon 2 or 3 years ago. As I recall it was his (and her) first cruise and they had a suite. The important thing is that he hated freestyle. He reported that they only got into their dinner choice one time on the whole cruise and most nights ended up at the buffet. At the time I was not expecting to cruise for a while so didn't ask for details and now I can't since I lost track of him when he left the company.

 

After reading these posts, I suspect that his problems came more from his lack of preparation than from inherent faults in Freestyle. **

 

 

 

A coworker of mine also took the Sky around HA a couple years ago, and had so many problems... I think it was just a bad set up and hopefully it's better now that Sky is in the Bahamas (where I'm going next month!). She said they waited forever for dinner (but were with a group of 6 I believe). And they had problems with running out of coffee in the am, etc... This was the only time I've heard someone complain about NCL and freestyle, so hoping it was just that itinerary!

[CTCruisers]

Freestyle is just thaty, do what you want.

 

If you want to get dressed up, go ahead. If you want to sit with other diners, go ahead.

 

We enjoy the freedom of freestyle. We like to just go with the flow of how we feel and not worry about schedules and rules.

[hoosier_done_it]

My favorite was the seminar on improv comedy. Great way to meet new folks!!!

 

Sounds like a blast. Hope the Sun has that.

[mom2tcdx2]

I have enjoyed reading some of this info too. We will be sailing the Epic in September. However when I made my booking the lady doing the reservation stated that there is indeed a formal night and a jacket for men is required if we wished to dine in that particular dining room (she stated the Captain's dinner?). Is this just a dress code they don't enforce or will this be new to the Epic?

 

Also just a few other side notes on things I wasn't sure about

 

Can the service fee (former tip) be paid in advance? Personally if I can prepay it I prefer to.

 

Do shore excurions need to be paid in advance? Or are they booked and added to your shipboard account?

 

I am assuming NCL still offers Pepsi products? I am a Mtn Dew drinker and this way I dont' need to worry about bringing any drinks.

 

Totally looking forward to the trip, just trying to make sure I get all the right stuff up front. So far I have only sailed on Princess and Carnival and have enjoyed all of those cruises.

[DMAB]

 

 

 

Also another difference to expect is the $12.00 PP PD Daily Service Charge. This replaces tipping like you have on traditional cruiselines.

 

An automatic PP Daily Service Charge is pretty common now. My 1/2 vast cruising experience consists of a total of three ocean cruises over the past 4 years (Celebrity, Princess and HAL) all of which had a daily service charge automagically added to my account. I believe it was $10 in each case.

 

I believe Celebrity, Princess and HAL also all offer some form of flexible dining now, although none of them have number of dining options that NCL does and the other 3 still have mandatory formal nights.

[SeaShark]

After reading these posts, I suspect that his problems came more from his lack of preparation than from inherent faults in Freestyle.

 

 

 

Wow....Wow....and did I mention "Wow" :eek:

 

 

 

You have really IMPRESSED me.

 

 

You are a "newbie" to Cruise Critic...but it one simple statement you've already shown that you understand the real reason behind 95% of the complaints that you will read on these boards.

 

 

 

My Mother always said that people either "got it" or that they were "clueless". She would put you in with the people that "get it"

[hoosier_done_it]

Wow....Wow....and did I mention "Wow" :eek:

 

 

 

You have really IMPRESSED me.

 

 

You are a "newbie" to Cruise Critic...but it one simple statement you've already shown that you understand the real reason behind 95% of the complaints that you will read on these boards.

 

 

 

My Mother always said that people either "got it" or that they were "clueless". She would put you in with the people that "get it"

 

Aw shucks.

[trish1c]

I'm guessing that they don't do formal nights or other themed days. Or do they? Should I leave my sport coats and ties at home?

Freestyle means you can dress however you want. They have dress up pr not night which is "formal night". On our Jewel cruise DH was one of only a handful of men in a tux. If you enjoy wearing a sports coat to dinner by all means bring it but you shouldn't feel obligated to wear anything in particular. One MDR is "dressier" than the other but even that is subjective.

 

What are the pros and cons of the dining arrangements?

The biggest pros are the choices espcially that you can eat when you are hungry rather than because it's dinner time. The biggest cons are from people who enjoy having the same table & waiter everynight who knows their preferences. If you want that you can ask for the same wait staff.

 

Compare your experiences with new table mates vs. the same each night.

You don't have to eat with strangers / new friends unless you want to. You never have to worry about being stuck with tablemates you don't like. If you make new friends along the way you can chose to dine with them.

 

Do you really have to make all of your dining reservations in the first hour on board? If so, what is free about that style?

Heavens no. We made our reservation for Le Bistro hours before we wanted to dine. If they have open tables, which happens, you can just walk up & be seated. One exception is Teppenaki which only has about 24 seats & 3-4 seatings. That can be hard to get a a reservation.

 

Do they have a cruise director and/or an activities director? What about organized activities (e.g. trivia contests)?

Yes. All your "old favorites" Quest, Not so Newlywed Game, Liars club etc are all offered. There are multiple trivia contests. There are organized sports activities.

 

Any other aspects of cruise life that are different?

Disembarkation is up to you. They tell you what time what color will be called & you pick what works for you. You also get to stay in your cabin until it's time to leave. You don't feel like you are getting thrown off the ship.

[SeaShark]

Aw shucks.

 

Aw shucks, nothing.

 

 

Your insight is so profound that I had to change my signature.

[garycarla]

I have enjoyed reading some of this info too. We will be sailing the Epic in September. However when I made my booking the lady doing the reservation stated that there is indeed a formal night and a jacket for men is required if we wished to dine in that particular dining room (she stated the Captain's dinner?). Is this just a dress code they don't enforce or will this be new to the Epic?

 

Also just a few other side notes on things I wasn't sure about

 

Can the service fee (former tip) be paid in advance? Personally if I can prepay it I prefer to.

 

Do shore excurions need to be paid in advance? Or are they booked and added to your shipboard account?

 

I am assuming NCL still offers Pepsi products? I am a Mtn Dew drinker and this way I dont' need to worry about bringing any drinks.

 

Totally looking forward to the trip, just trying to make sure I get all the right stuff up front. So far I have only sailed on Princess and Carnival and have enjoyed all of those cruises.

 

RE: FORMAL NIGHT

There is NOT a formal night on NCL. I am guessing you booked with a TA that does not know what they are talking about. I don't think even the not so smart people at NCL cust service would make this mistake.

 

RE:PAY IN ADVANCE

Though there are ways to pay the service fee in advance, I see little reason to part with my money in advance, and many reasons not to.

 

RE: EXCURSIONS

These are applied to your onboard charge account.

 

RE: DINING PREFERNCE in HAWAII

Another poster said people could not get theirs and had to eat in the buffet. Something is wrong there as the Main Dining Rooms would have been available. And, NCL-A from three years ago compared to today is different. Bad then, okay now.

[FloridaGators]

I have taken five cruises, my wife seven, and with the exception of her Windjammer they have all been traditional. We will be on the Norwegian Sun this November; chosen because most of its stops are places we have not been before, its departure port is convenient for other plans, and it has a great price.

 

I have searched this site and NCL's and still need more info. I admit that I have some concerns, but I think that they are just because freestyle is largely unknown for me. I want to approach it with an open mind and have a great time. I'm hoping that the experts here can give us some idea what to expect from freestyle.

 

I'm guessing that they don't do formal nights or other themed days. Or do they? Should I leave my sport coats and ties at home?

 

What are the pros and cons of the dining arrangements?

 

Compare your experiences with new table mates vs. the same each night.

 

Do you really have to make all of your dining reservations in the first hour on board? If so, what is free about that style?

 

Do they have a cruise director and/or an activities director? What about organized activities (e.g. trivia contests)?

 

Any other aspects of cruise life that are different?

 

I just posted my review of the NCL Spirit.....our first time on NCL. It answers many of your questions....

[sharbin1]

We just got off the Sun yesterday. We've been on quite a few cruises on eight other lines but had never cruised with NCL before, mainly because we'd heard from friends and relatives about the bad experiences they had on NCL's Hawaii cruises. We're glad we booked this cruise because we really liked Freestyle dining.. there were two formal nights.. or not... your choice and you didn't feel uncomfortable whichever you chose. We'll definitely try NCL again.