NCL vs. Disney

[hawaiideb]

We have talked good friends into cruising with us on NCL to the Mexican Riviera on the Star next Spring. What will I will be able to tell them about NCL vs. their one and only cruise experience on DCL? Looking for specific comparisons to Disney! Thanks!

 

Debbie

[tomel]

Having cruised DCL once and NCL 5 times I can honestly say that they are like night and day. Yet, they are two companies basically selling the same product albiet differently. One important idea to impart to your friends is that they need to go on the cruise not comparing the two but to enjoy what each has to offer that each cruise line does well in their respective areas. Kinda like Disneyland vs. Universal Studios. Here a few specifics:

 

-Embarking: Disney greets each family by name with a microphone and you walk down an aisle with people clapping for you and someone takes you to your stateroom. NCL you embark and are left pretty much to your own (suite passengers are different)

-Lots of Disney characters around at all times. None on NCL Star.

-The Disney Magic was a smaller ship and did not have a big atrium area that NCL has. Thus many places like front desk, excursions, etc are not in one convient area.

-Even though NCL does have a formal night, it is not mandatory. So no need to pack formals. There was pressure on Disney to do so.

-No fireworks on NCL.

-No early or late seating on NCL. You don't have to plan your whole day around when you have to eat.

-Many options as to where to eat. Disney had the main dining rooms and an adult only restaurant. Both had fast food options.

-Disney included soda. NCL offers a soda card for an extra charge.

 

Many more differences. I liked both very much but when it comes down to it you and you alone make or break your vacation. I hope you all have a wonderful time on your Mexican Riviera cruise!

 

Melissa

[caribsun]

Just make sure that they know upfront that NCL is very casual day and night. If the gentlemen wear a shirt with a collar in the evening they will be some of the best dressed on the ship.

[newmexicoNita]

We have talked good friends into cruising with us on NCL to the Mexican Riviera on the Star next Spring. What will I will be able to tell them about NCL vs. their one and only cruise experience on DCL? Looking for specific comparisons to Disney! Thanks!

 

Debbie

 

do they have young kids? If not, that is a start. Disney is a great line. The cabins are large, the staff wonderful and the food good, but they are also almost twice as expwnsive and for those with older kids other lines are often more fun. When did they take the Disney cruise, like everything, the line is not the same as say, 5 years ago.

 

the most important thing is to convince them, each cruise line has a personality it's own and each offers something special. Disney and NCL are as different as apples and bananas.

 

Nita

[allshookup]

We've cruise NCL, DCL & RCCL each a few times & they are all very similar. They do announce your family & clap for you on DCL, but we've never been shown to our cabin on any cruise we've been on. Of course we always board earlier than our cabins being ready, and we are usually directed to the lunch buffet.

 

DCL wins for on board family savings & entertainment: As previously mentioned, on DCL they have soda fountains near the buffet for unlimited soda & they turn a blind eye to any alcoholic beverages you bring on board. There are separate kid's clubs for younger children, older kids & teens & the clubs are open from early in the morning till late at night, they will be taken to the buffet for meals & there are no extra fees after 10pm as there are on NCL & RCCL.. Even the teen club is well staffed & they keep the teens entertained, something we found was not necessarily true on NCL & RCCL. On DCL there is a lot of family entertainment, with family style games, Disney shows, character greetings & even a character breakfast.

 

DCL wins for their private island Castaway Cay. It is just beautiful, with paved walking paths, more restrooms and even an adult beach. They are now building a water park which should make it even more incredible. They are all very similar when it comes to the beach barbeque.

 

NCL & RCCL win for adult entertainment: When we cruised DCL on their 15 nt 2008 repositioning cruise through the Panama Canal, the kids were older and we found the nightlife to be really lacking. There is no casino & the only thing open after midnight was the disco Rockin' Bar D, and we are not dancers so we found ourselves on many nights without a place to sit & have a drink. NCL & RCCL have the casino, bars and lounges that are open later, some offer different styles of music or entertainers & the shows are geared more towards adults.

 

NCL wins for dinner choices: Just being able to dine when & where you like is a big plus and much less stressful for us, plus there are so many dining choices, it's great to mix it up and have some variety.

[lauritagoddess]

Just got off the Jewel, our first experience with NCL after having cruised with Disney twice. I really enjoyed both, they were different experiences. The service by far was better on Disney. I thought the food in the main dining rooms were better on Disney, but the specialty restaurants on NCL were excellent. The kids activities on both ships were really good, the adult activities on NCL better. I think that NCL needed more family activities, Disney seemed to win out there. I liked freestyle cruising alot, going to dinner when and where we wanted, and not having to sit with other families. But on Disney you stay with your same servers as you rotate between restaurants and they really get to know you. The buffet on the Jewel was laid on really nicely, you moved from station to station. On Disney the soda is free, but you have to pay on NCL. Disney has fresh water in their pools while NCL has salt water. The slide on the Jewel was better than Disney, but the family pool was extremely deep, not great for kids or even adults who are not good swimmers. Disney doesn't have a casino if that matters.

 

I'd say the younger your kids are, Disney is a better option, but NCL is a really good option, especially as the kids get older.

[tokidoki]

:rolleyes:Hope u had a great time, did u arrive late @ Port C????:rolleyes:

[Sauer-kraut]

Staterooms might be smaller on NCL.

Addressing Characters on board, if you happen to be on a Nickleodeon sailing you'll see Spongebob and there is a slime area, so it is geared to families as well.

 

But, you get what you pay for, Disney has a few more 'included' things but then your price of the cruise will be higher as well.

[Travel Lover]

They are TOTALLY different. We have been on several NCL because of the great value and price. We did one Disney and LOVED it and would LOVE to go again. Put it this way. You get what you pay for !!!! Disney cost a small fortune and you get a lot of extras and is really nice and kid oriented. NCL is a great value and a great cruise but not a lot of the big extra touches.

IF you have a lot of money then Disney is great but if you want a good and nice cruise for a value NCL is a good choice.

 

BUT Castaway Caye is by far superior to GSC !!!!

[FF Woman]

Having cruised both Disney and NCL I have to agree with the comments already posted. We didn't have kids along with us on either line and especially enjoyed the adults only area pool area on board where we were able to find a lounge chair. But the best day was the one at Castaway Cay, way better than other private islands. They have a huge adults only beach that was the best beach day I've ever spent.

 

That said, we prefer the freedom to dine when we please that NCL offers even though we thought the food was a bit better on Disney. And the entertainment is much better on NCL for adults. We only went to one show on Disney. If they were similarly priced, we'd probably cruise Disney again on occasion but it's just not worth the extra money to us. NCL provides a great cruise for the price.

[hawaiideb]

We are all looking forward to our Spring Break Trip. Our friends are going on the Star with us, and they have a 9 year old. I didn't think to mention a few of these things to them, so this will help as we talk more before the trip!

 

Travel Lover, all 6 of us going live in Olathe too! Wanna go on the Star to the Mexicn Riviera Spring Break??? I saw cabins still available........

[Sauer-kraut]

There will be more children on board if its spring break time, also there will be a lot more of a 'party' atmosphere IF its the time when the colleges are also out for break. The kids club will probably be more active at that time too, so the 9 y.o. won't be a single in the age group.

 

Have a great time! :)