Where to ask this question?

[ottmar]

I hope someone will direct me to the place to ask for comparing two cruises. I am going to a wedding in Tampa on a Saturday and want to take a cruise in to make my trip from Ohio worthwhile.

 

I have two choices leaving on Sunday which I am considering: The Norwegian Star or the Carnival Legend. They price out within ten bucks, so price is not a consideration.

 

They go essentially to the same ports and since we have been to those several times they won't influence our choice.

 

How do I compare the two to find out what suits us best?

 

...Ott

[McDebbie]

My considerations would be this:

 

If I booked a suite, NCL all the way, they really treat suite passengers great.

 

Do you like to get dressed up most nights? Slight edge to NCL as they don't allow shorts in the dining room at night (last I checked) But if you WANT to wear shorts every night except elegant night then CCL is the way to go.

 

CCL has escargot at dinner but NCL you can only get it at the pay dining areas. Both have anytime dining. I haven't been on either of those particular ships so I can't compare them. I think you really need to think about what is important to you and then ask the question again about who has better 'whatever' shows or cabins, etc

 

I like both, have fun choosing!

[sultan_sfo]

Start by reading reviews -- but remember to read between the lines to discount those reviews where some inconsequential incident has distorted the whole experience.

[cb at sea]

NCL is less structured and less dressy than Carnival....however, Carnival is NOT a "formal" cruiseline, either!

 

I don't think you can go wrong with either!

[ottmar]

Thanks, we are not dress up folks though in nine of the last cruises we dressed up for two formal nights. Our last one on Princess we went semi-formal, nice coat and shirt but no tie, I liked that especially whith any time dining.

We have sailed one time with Carnival and liked it fine and don't see why folks talk it down, but we really are not particular, we have a good time anywhere.

We have not been on NCL and we are booking only an outside cabin.

 

But please keep your comments coming.

 

....Ott

[April-in-NC]

I would check out ship reviews for both and like another poster said disregard the outrageously good and bad (the truth is likely in the middle). I have sailed Carnival and had a good time, I have not sailed NCL but I hear they have a lot fewer "free" meal options on board and more fee based options. If that doesn't matter to you I would then look at the ship ammenities and see which one offers you more activities that you are interested in.

[panoramaofthepast]

If you like a set dining time/table in the evening, then NCL is out, as their freestyle dining doesn't accomodate that.

[jocap]

I would check out ship reviews for both and like another poster said disregard the outrageously good and bad (the truth is likely in the middle). I have sailed Carnival and had a good time, I have not sailed NCL but I hear they have a lot fewer "free" meal options on board and more fee based options. If that doesn't matter to you I would then look at the ship ammenities and see which one offers you more activities that you are interested in.

I have travelled with NCL, and the "free" options were the same as any other ship I've sailed on, i.e. buffet, main dining rooms, 24 hour cafe, and barbecue. There's more specialised restaurants than most other ships. However, I've not been on the Star, so someone may say differently.

Jo.

[mikewrit]

Minor quibble with McDebbie above: the main dining room menu on every one of our five NCL cruises included escargot at least once -- and they were great!