Back to NCL

[JWestShuh]

Well, my husband and I have decided that NCL is definitely for us. We just got off a cruise with Royal, and have decided that when we cruise again NCL will be our cruise line of choice. We had a good time on Royal - don't get me wrong. But NCL is just more our style. I am excited to be back on these boards again :)

[tiyana4]

Welcome back with open arms. :) We thoroughly enjoy NCL, too.

[lacrossemitch]

I have only cruised royal before and am planning a cruise with NCL in June. What did you find to be the biggest differences that sent you back to NCL? Thanks so much,

 

Mitch

[JWestShuh]

• We thought the ship on NCL was nicer (NCL Pearl vs. Royal Serenade). In Serenade's defense, when we sailed on the Pearl she was newer and I think the Serenade is scheduled for dry dock soon.
  
• I thought that the dining set up was MUCH better on NCL. I enjoy variety and NCL is set up for the freestyle, where Royal I don't think is. We did my time dining and sat "by ourselves" but might as well have been sitting with other diners we were so close. Didn't get that feel on NCL. I do think that that service in the dining rooms are better on Royal because it is more personalized. We were never waiting for a refill, the waiters knew our preferences each night, etc. You don't necessarily get that on NCL if you restaurant hop each night.
  
• I found NCL's entertainment to be much better. We only went to one show this week - and we enjoyed almost all of NCL's nightly shows on our 9 day cruise. I am sure that varies from ship to ship.
  
• I also thought NCL was more organized. I knew where things were, what time they were being held, etc.
  
• Honestly (and this is kind of silly), but I really miss the fish on the carpet telling me where the front of the ship is :).
  
• NCL just seems more laid back, better organized, and up our alley regarding entertainers.
  

[lacrossemitch]

• We thought the ship on NCL was nicer (NCL Pearl vs. Royal Serenade). In Serenade's defense, when we sailed on the Pearl she was newer and I think the Serenade is scheduled for dry dock soon.
  
• I thought that the dining set up was MUCH better on NCL. I enjoy variety and NCL is set up for the freestyle, where Royal I don't think is. We did my time dining and sat "by ourselves" but might as well have been sitting with other diners we were so close. Didn't get that feel on NCL. I do think that that service in the dining rooms are better on Royal because it is more personalized. We were never waiting for a refill, the waiters knew our preferences each night, etc. You don't necessarily get that on NCL if you restaurant hop each night.
  
• I found NCL's entertainment to be much better. We only went to one show this week - and we enjoyed almost all of NCL's nightly shows on our 9 day cruise. I am sure that varies from ship to ship.
  
• I also thought NCL was more organized. I knew where things were, what time they were being held, etc.
  
• Honestly (and this is kind of silly), but I really miss the fish on the carpet telling me where the front of the ship is :).
  
• NCL just seems more laid back, better organized, and up our alley regarding entertainers.
  

 

JWest,

 

Thanks so much for the comprehensive list! We are very excited to make the leap to NCL!

[tiyana4]

• We thought the ship on NCL was nicer (NCL Pearl vs. Royal Serenade). In Serenade's defense, when we sailed on the Pearl she was newer and I think the Serenade is scheduled for dry dock soon.
  
• I thought that the dining set up was MUCH better on NCL. I enjoy variety and NCL is set up for the freestyle, where Royal I don't think is. We did my time dining and sat "by ourselves" but might as well have been sitting with other diners we were so close. Didn't get that feel on NCL. I do think that that service in the dining rooms are better on Royal because it is more personalized. We were never waiting for a refill, the waiters knew our preferences each night, etc. You don't necessarily get that on NCL if you restaurant hop each night.
  
• I found NCL's entertainment to be much better. We only went to one show this week - and we enjoyed almost all of NCL's nightly shows on our 9 day cruise. I am sure that varies from ship to ship.
  
• I also thought NCL was more organized. I knew where things were, what time they were being held, etc.
  
• Honestly (and this is kind of silly), but I really miss the fish on the carpet telling me where the front of the ship is :).
  
• NCL just seems more laid back, better organized, and up our alley regarding entertainers.
  

 

I thought I was the only one using the fish to help me keep my bearings when getting off the elevators. :D

[doitallWMB]

That's a hoot! My DW did the same thing...After a long day at the pool, she and I would use the fish to find our way back!

[loliola]

i just booked boston to bermuda on ncl...never been on before. kind of excited about it. Anyone done this/what are your thoughts?

[che5904]

I thought I was the only one using the fish to help me keep my bearings when getting off the elevators. :D

 

I missed that on the Star, their hallways are just geometric and does not point you in the direction. As well on the Dawn their pictures in the stairways told you which stairs you were using "Marilyn Monroe" for "mid ship" I think another one was "Sun" for "Stern" I missed that as well on the Star, if there were any connections I didn't get it.

 

I swore to my husband that on our next cruise, I was bringing a magnetic ship to place on the outside of our cabin door, so when I got in the hallway confused it would tell me which direction to walk. Yes I know it's on the inside of the cabin on the door with the safety instructions but I would forget before walking into the hallway, shut the door and left to stand goofily (if thats a word) staring in each direction. :D

[timeforadaiquiri]

But sometimes those silly fishies were swimming sideways late at night! :p

[newmexicoNita]

Well, my husband and I have decided that NCL is definitely for us. We just got off a cruise with Royal, and have decided that when we cruise again NCL will be our cruise line of choice. We had a good time on Royal - don't get me wrong. But NCL is just more our style. I am excited to be back on these boards again :)

 

Welcome HOME!!!!!

 

and yes, the fishy thing is something we all love, even if it is only for conversation..

 

Nita

[jeannep]

I thought I was the only one using the fish to help me keep my bearings when getting off the elevators. :D

 

The Epic was even better than the fish. One side of the ship had red striped carpets and one side had red striped carpet. We never went the wrong way when we got off of the elevator going to our room. Maybe the next ships will have red or blue fishes. That would be perfect.

 

Jeanne

[housepeepers]

i just booked boston to bermuda on ncl...never been on before. kind of excited about it. Anyone done this/what are your thoughts?

 

We have done Boston to Bermuda 3 times, twice on the old Majesty and last year on the Spirit. I loved last year on the Spirit the most, maybe partly because we had such beautiful weather coming and going and in Bermuda. The North Atlantic can be iffy weatherwise if you go early in the season, but I understand the season is starting late this year due to the Dawn being in drydock. Being in Bermuda for 3 days is heaven. You dock at Kings Wharf and can get your transportation pass right there then you can take the water taxis/ aka ferries to St. Georges or Hamilton. You can ride the beautiful bus routes to the beaches. You can shop in Hamilton or do the smaller branches of the big department stores right at the Clocktower Mall at Kings Wharf...buy some rum cake and local artwork and crafts there also. If you are lucky enough to have a balcony sit on it in the evenings and enjoy the warm air. Such fun...enjoy your trip!

[tiyana4]

I missed that on the Star, their hallways are just geometric and does not point you in the direction. As well on the Dawn their pictures in the stairways told you which stairs you were using "Marilyn Monroe" for "mid ship" I think another one was "Sun" for "Stern" I missed that as well on the Star, if there were any connections I didn't get it.

 

I swore to my husband that on our next cruise, I was bringing a magnetic ship to place on the outside of our cabin door, so when I got in the hallway confused it would tell me which direction to walk. Yes I know it's on the inside of the cabin on the door with the safety instructions but I would forget before walking into the hallway, shut the door and left to stand goofily (if thats a word) staring in each direction. :D

 

I knew there was something I just didn't get about the Star. Maybe this was it. After a week, I still got turned around (we were on deck 8). Sometimes we would end up at the mid-ship elevators (thankfully), but most of the time we would have to walk through the Blue Lagoon/Endless Summer to get back to our cabin... and this was while I was sober!

 

But sometimes those silly fishies were swimming sideways late at night! :p

 

I have seen this a time or two. I admit I wasn't sober when I saw them swimming sideways. :D

 

The Epic was even better than the fish. One side of the ship had red striped carpets and one side had red striped carpet. We never went the wrong way when we got off of the elevator going to our room. Maybe the next ships will have red or blue fishes. That would be perfect.

 

Jeanne

 

Both sides had striped carpet, or were the stripes different?

[faymuiheng]

When we first started cruising, we chose Princess. Don't know why, just did. then we thought we should try another line for comparison. Freestyling suited us fine. Love it in fact. Then we thought again, let's try something else, so we tried HAL. Nope, not for us. Elegant it was, but too rigid for what we liked. Too many restrictions for our liking. (example, no food service after a certain time).

 

So we are now back with NCL. :)

[PorkChopKid]

I thought I was the only one using the fish to help me keep my bearings when getting off the elevators. :D

You're certainly not alone.... :)

[halos]

Well, my husband and I have decided that NCL is definitely for us. We just got off a cruise with Royal, and have decided that when we cruise again NCL will be our cruise line of choice. We had a good time on Royal - don't get me wrong. But NCL is just more our style. I am excited to be back on these boards again :)

 

That's how we feel as well. We've never had a bad cruise on any line, but NCL fits us best, at this point in time. :)

 

 

 

We thought the ship on NCL was nicer (NCL Pearl vs. Royal Serenade). In Serenade's defense, when we sailed on the Pearl she was newer and I think the Serenade is scheduled for dry dock soon.

I thought that the dining set up was MUCH better on NCL. I enjoy variety and NCL is set up for the freestyle, where Royal I don't think is. We did my time dining and sat "by ourselves" but might as well have been sitting with other diners we were so close. Didn't get that feel on NCL. I do think that that service in the dining rooms are better on Royal because it is more personalized. We were never waiting for a refill, the waiters knew our preferences each night, etc. You don't necessarily get that on NCL if you restaurant hop each night.

I found NCL's entertainment to be much better. We only went to one show this week - and we enjoyed almost all of NCL's nightly shows on our 9 day cruise. I am sure that varies from ship to ship.

I also thought NCL was more organized. I knew where things were, what time they were being held, etc.

Honestly (and this is kind of silly), but I really miss the fish on the carpet telling me where the front of the ship is .

NCL just seems more laid back, better organized, and up our alley regarding entertainers.

 

 

 

I find this to be spot on!!

 

I compare NCL to CCL (I only sailed RCI once and the cruise, although good, was one of my least favorite). but my feelings between CCL and NCL are exactly as you posted above.

 

I also would add that the crew on NCL are also laid back...extremely friendly and helpful and HAPPY. They seem to really love what they do!

[newmexicoNita]

That's how we feel as well. We've never had a bad cruise on any line, but NCL fits us best, at this point in time. :)

 

 

 

 

 

 

I find this to be spot on!!

 

I compare NCL to CCL (I only sailed RCI once and the cruise, although good, was one of my least favorite). but my feelings between CCL and NCL are exactly as you posted above.

 

I also would add that the crew on NCL are also laid back...extremely friendly and helpful and HAPPY. They seem to really love what they do!

 

sounds like we have similar reasons for choosing NCL. We are reaching a stage in our lives where we really can only cruise about once a year (this year maybe twice) There are no lines we don't like, but RCI was our least favorite as well. Because we do have to start thinking about cutting back, NCL comes the closest to satisfying our needs. We are happey with the food choices, infact, like I reported, our last cruise all the meals were good to outstanding. We love the laid back and friendly crew on all NCL ships and we like the overall attitude.

 

Other lines: Carnival was just a little too casual for us. We enjoyed Celebrity but we didn't enjoy the passengers, we thought they were a little to affected by their own self worth, HAL has awesome cabins and beautiful ships but the atmosphere is too almost dead and the casinos suck. Princess has a lot going for them but again, they are a little to subdued for us and RCI, I don't know, we sailed them three times and just were not impressed. BTY, I hope nobody takes any of what I have said too seriously as I am genrealizing. I know people who do not fit my discription that cruise on these lines. I know many really super, unaffected people who cruise Celebrity, not everyone I know that cruises Carnival thinks part of cruising is staying up all night at the bars and not everyone who cruises Princess is stuffy now everyone on HAL thinks the most important thing in life is to sleep.

 

Nita

[coffeebean]

• We thought the ship on NCL was nicer (NCL Pearl vs. Royal Serenade). In Serenade's defense, when we sailed on the Pearl she was newer and I think the Serenade is scheduled for dry dock soon.
  
• I thought that the dining set up was MUCH better on NCL. I enjoy variety and NCL is set up for the freestyle, where Royal I don't think is. We did my time dining and sat "by ourselves" but might as well have been sitting with other diners we were so close. Didn't get that feel on NCL. I do think that that service in the dining rooms are better on Royal because it is more personalized. We were never waiting for a refill, the waiters knew our preferences each night, etc. You don't necessarily get that on NCL if you restaurant hop each night.
  
• I found NCL's entertainment to be much better. We only went to one show this week - and we enjoyed almost all of NCL's nightly shows on our 9 day cruise. I am sure that varies from ship to ship.
  
• I also thought NCL was more organized. I knew where things were, what time they were being held, etc.
  
• Honestly (and this is kind of silly), but I really miss the fish on the carpet telling me where the front of the ship is :).
  
• NCL just seems more laid back, better organized, and up our alley regarding entertainers.
  

If you ever cruise on Epic, you won't find the swimming fish in the corridors. I sort of missed that too the first time I sailed on Epic. The signage is great however, so you can never get lost on Epic.

[coffeebean]

The Epic was even better than the fish. One side of the ship had red striped carpets and one side had red striped carpet. We never went the wrong way when we got off of the elevator going to our room. Maybe the next ships will have red or blue fishes. That would be perfect.

 

Jeanne

I think you meant one side had red carpet and the other side had blue carpet. That WAS a great help in finding our way around.

[Gregor4500]

I think you meant one side had red carpet and the other side had blue carpet. That WAS a great help in finding our way around.

 

You would think it should be red on port and green starboard. Like the lights on a boat.

[jeannep]

I knew there was something I just didn't get about the Star. Maybe this was it. After a week, I still got turned around (we were on deck 8). Sometimes we would end up at the mid-ship elevators (thankfully), but most of the time we would have to walk through the Blue Lagoon/Endless Summer to get back to our cabin... and this was while I was sober!

 

 

 

I have seen this a time or two. I admit I wasn't sober when I saw them swimming sideways. :D

 

 

 

Both sides had striped carpet, or were the stripes different?

 

Sorry I didn't proof read what I wrote. On the Epic, one side had blue striped carpet and the other had red striped carpet.

Sorry for the confusion.

Jeanne