Carnival or NCL?

[happydaysmanchester]

Hi everyone,

 

I know this question is asked a lot but hey I just can't make a decision!! - we are looking at a 7 day cruise from New York to Bermuda and I was all set to book on NCL but then I found Carnival's Miracle extended balcony for around £400 cheaper than NCL's balcony fare.

 

Both ships sail on exactly the same date.

 

We've only cruised on RCCL before - I have no intention of dressing up for any formal nights and we like lots of activities to do during the day....

 

so which would you choose and why??

 

Thanks

[cruisenanny]

I would take the Miracle cruise! If I'm not mistaken the Miracle cruise is also an 8 night vs a 7 night on NCL? NCL isn't worth $400 more AND 1 less night, at least not to me! Enjoy whichever you choose!:)

[CanadianTwosome]

I would choose Carnival. I would base the decision solely on my pocketbooks and the fact that the itinerary was the same. There are very few differences among cruiselines, in my opinion, so for that big a price difference I'd definitely choose the less expensive option.

 

That being said, I can't make a true comparison between Carnival and NCL until after my upcoming cruise in November. The only differences I'm really expecting are with dining; NCL has more pay options and the 'dress up or not' nights have no more restrictions regarding dress than other nights. It's my understanding that the dress code on Carnival is slightly more strict on formal nights.

 

As far as things to do during the day go, I've never had a moment on a cruise ship where I didn't have something to do - any ship, any line. Of course, being from a landlocked province I'm pretty happy spending time just staring at the ocean sometimes. :)

 

I'm sure that whichever you choose, you will have a wonderful time. :)

[redlef]

Hi everyone,

 

I know this question is asked a lot but hey I just can't make a decision!! - we are looking at a 7 day cruise from New York to Bermuda and I was all set to book on NCL but then I found Carnival's Miracle extended balcony for around £400 cheaper than NCL's balcony fare.

 

Both ships sail on exactly the same date.

 

We've only cruised on RCCL before - I have no intention of dressing up for any formal nights and we like lots of activities to do during the day....

 

so which would you choose and why??

 

Thanks

 

We just went through the same choice. We choose Miracle because it had 4 sea days instead of 3, and 3 different ports instead of one. Also, 8 days versus 7. The £400 price difference alone would settle it for us, that's a lot of money.

 

FYI - a Carnival Standard balcony is larger than an NCL standard balcony cabin. That's room size, not balcony size. You could get a standard balcony cabin on Carnival and have more space than you'll have on NCL.

 

The only real benefit to NCL is more eating flexibility. I don't think that's worth £400, but that's just to me, you may see it differently.

 

Which ever you choose, enjoy!

[firefly333]

I dont like anytime dining so if it was me Id choose Carnival lol. (and this is the carnival threads, so most probably are partial).

 

elegant nights on carnival you can wear capris and a nice shirt, you dont need to dress up much .. just dont wear your shorts and tee shirts those two nights.

[Warm Breezes]

Hi everyone,

 

I know this question is asked a lot but hey I just can't make a decision!! - we are looking at a 7 day cruise from New York to Bermuda and I was all set to book on NCL but then I found Carnival's Miracle extended balcony for around £400 cheaper than NCL's balcony fare.

 

Both ships sail on exactly the same date.

 

We've only cruised on RCCL before - I have no intention of dressing up for any formal nights and we like lots of activities to do during the day....

 

so which would you choose and why??

 

Thanks

1 extra day, larger room, less money...I'd go with Carnival.

[golfadj]

Would the dates be Sept 11 by any chance.

 

We had been getting a little tired of Carnival and was planning something different and wanted to go to Bermuda.

 

All set to book the NCL and happened to check Carnival.

 

For the price of a 7 day NCL inside we could get a balcony with Carnival and an extra day to boot.

 

So back to Carnival we are.

[happydaysmanchester]

Hi,

 

Thanks very much - I am confused re the days - I dont understand how Carnival can take 2 days to get back yet NCL reckon they can return in 1 day - even though it takes 2 days to get to Bermuda in the first place !!!

 

I might go for the standard balcony then & save even more money - I can put it to good use in New York!!!

[happydaysmanchester]

Would the dates be Sept 11 by any chance.

 

We had been getting a little tired of Carnival and was planning something different and wanted to go to Bermuda.

 

All set to book the NCL and happened to check Carnival.

 

For the price of a 7 day NCL inside we could get a balcony with Carnival and an extra day to boot.

 

So back to Carnival we are.

 

 

 

Hi - yes its 11th September - the difference in price seems too good to be true!!

[elcuchio24]

We cruise both NCL and CCL. I would consider them pretty even on most things. If you can get a nice large balcony room for LESS than NCL, I would book the CCL ship in an instant.

[Cruzaholic41]

We cruise both NCL and CCL. I would consider them pretty even on most things. If you can get a nice large balcony room for LESS than NCL, I would book the CCL ship in an instant.

 

I agree. In this case, I would book the Miracle.

[S.S.Oceanlover]

Hi,

 

Thanks very much - I am confused re the days - I dont understand how Carnival can take 2 days to get back yet NCL reckon they can return in 1 day - even though it takes 2 days to get to Bermuda in the first place !!!

 

I might go for the standard balcony then & save even more money - I can put it to good use in New York!!!

 

Carnival just goes slower coming back.

 

Just like HAL gets to bermuda Tuesday morning from NY leaving on Sunday at 5pm and NCL leaves NY for Bermuda at 4pm on Sunday and doesnt get there until 8am Wednesday.

 

Bill

[CorvetteLady]

I would choose Carnival. I sailed NCL once, didn't like freestyle dining or the food. NCL has several extra charge restaurants, but I don't want to have to pay extra for better food when I can get good food on Carnival for free. :)

[golfadj]

Hi - yes its 11th September - the difference in price seems too good to be true!!

 

We have an awesome roll call going on. Was shocked to see the difference so we grabbed a balcony and Miracle here we come.

[redlef]

Hi,

 

Thanks very much - I am confused re the days - I dont understand how Carnival can take 2 days to get back yet NCL reckon they can return in 1 day - even though it takes 2 days to get to Bermuda in the first place !!!

 

I might go for the standard balcony then & save even more money - I can put it to good use in New York!!!

 

Carnival doesn't push down all the way on the gas pedal. :D:D

[dasmonkey]

I would choose Carnival. I sailed NCL once, didn't like freestyle dining or the food. NCL has several extra charge restaurants, but I don't want to have to pay extra for better food when I can get good food on Carnival for free. :)

 

You sailed on the Spirit 3 1/2 years ago. :rolleyes:

 

I have sailed on the Spirit 3 times this year. The food was as good or better than the Triumph that I sailed on last September.

 

I am not a tied to any one cruise line so in this case I would save the 400 and go Carnival.

[dallas52]

Carnival!!!!

[LuvTheSea14]

Go Carnival!! Been on Miracle 3 times. You will love it. Went on NCL out of NY and their rooms were smaller and Freestyle Dining should say...Get up early and make reservations and pay extra dining.

[AnitaVacation]

I've done the NCL to Bermuda 2x.....I love Bermuda! We decided to go back again this fall....so, as I was looking at our options...I found that Carnival offered an 8 day cruise for less than NCL's 7 day.....so, we booked Carnival...in fact, the price was so good, we booked a Vista Suite....

 

NCL's cabins are smaller....my last two NCL's to Bermuda were in a 104sf ocean view and a 144sf ocean view (which was hubby's first cruise)....last year we booked an NCL mini-suite (bahamas)..the room was great...(235sf)

 

We just returned from our first ever Carnival cruise....we had an 185sf balcony and it was almost as nice as the ncl mini-suite...the only big difference was in the bathroom, but Carnival's regular bathroom is better/larger than ncl's regular bathroom....

 

I'm not dedicated to any one cruiseline....I'm hoping to try others in the future :D ....but I tend to go with whoever is offering the best deal!!

 

I also LOVE Carnival's 'early saver' program....Our Bermuda trip had dropped $180pp and we were able to scoop up the savings without hassle!!

[ham_n_pea_cruisin]

Carnival just goes slower coming back.

 

Just like HAL gets to bermuda Tuesday morning from NY leaving on Sunday at 5pm and NCL leaves NY for Bermuda at 4pm on Sunday and doesnt get there until 8am Wednesday.

 

Bill

The cruise ship makes more money when it is out to sea vs. in port..ex shops, casino,drinks etc. So an entire day sailing is more time for them to sell you stuff. so that is why some trips have more sea days, although they could get to a port soon.

[jessemon]

Would the dates be Sept 11 by any chance.

 

We had been getting a little tired of Carnival and was planning something different and wanted to go to Bermuda.

 

All set to book the NCL and happened to check Carnival.

 

For the price of a 7 day NCL inside we could get a balcony with Carnival and an extra day to boot.

 

So back to Carnival we are.

You must have booked that a while ago because an inside on NCL right now for that cruise is $479 and a balcony on Carnival is $789...NCL balcony is $799....