ncl vs X

[markf]

I recently cruised on X after cruising on NCL the previous 4 cruises.

Each time on NCL i did cruise in a suite and no question they do the suite thing better than most, the rooms are larger and the service in the private suite only dining room is excellent.

However the little things that X does , should be considered by NCL.

Champagne on arrival

Cloth towels in restroom

Abundant towels by the pool--none of the give me a fresh towel after I return a towel

More varied menu in buffet

Larger portions of food

Larger plates at buffet althugh no trays

Coffee served at the buffet

much less announcements

Bar waiters at the pool not hounding you for drinks

No Bahama mamas being yelled at you

 

Just my opinion

[satchiesmom]

Markf,

 

We are doing it just the opposite of you - we are big Celebrity lovers and have booked our first cruise on NCL for January 2014. I've had some concerns about a few things, but we plan to enjoy our NCL cruise no matter what! Especially since we are cruising out of NOLA.

 

What are the strengths of NCL compared to X, do you think? While we think X does most things very well, I'm thinking there must be some areas where NCL comes out better.

 

Susan

[mpk218]

Markf,

 

We are doing it just the opposite of you - we are big Celebrity lovers and have booked our first cruise on NCL for January 2014. I've had some concerns about a few things, but we plan to enjoy our NCL cruise no matter what! Especially since we are cruising out of NOLA.

 

What are the strengths of NCL compared to X, do you think? While we think X does most things very well, I'm thinking there must be some areas where NCL comes out better.

 

Susan

 

The one thing that you may have a hard time adjusting to is this.

When NCL claims " what you want when you want " its true . The entire time on board you will choose 'when" and "where"you want to eat similar to a land based trip. We used to love the traditional style but have come to really enjoy NCL.

You will find quite few people dressing less formal for dinner But still a bit right of center crowd for the most part ( ;) ). One thing you may appreciate is that Most NCL cruises are not the zanny party cruise types you may find else where. So if you like a nice relaxed trip with decent food and all around pleasant passengers then you cant go wrong. Have a great time. Staff 5 stars.

[anthem]

X pretty much does all the things better than NCL. But you can keep going up. It's like saying Seven Seas or Seabourn does everything better than X. . .

 

X has better food, better service, better towel policies, better cafes, etc etc.

 

The issue is that X is designed to be just a little better than mainstream. It's /suppose/ to be just a bit better than RCCL - kind of like the JW Marriot instead of the regular marriot for lack of a better comparison. However, what NCL is - is that its a good mainstream cruise line. If you like big ships and more choices in activities, bars, lounges, casino's, bowling alleys, water slides, ice bars, etc - then its a bit more difficult for X to deliver. Even the big X ships solstice/equinox/etc don't have as many things as the NCL/RCCL cruises. Unfortunately as you go higher up in quality/amenities/etc - the smaller the ship gets. The X is not the four seasons, but is positioned as just a bit better than mainstream, but even then - its reach is immediately more limited. So thats the trade off.

[cabincop]

MHO for me anyway having cruised both many times I find x to be an older sedate crowd, people enjoy the whole tradtional cruising ie. dressing up set dinner times etc. I enjoy NCL relaxed feel. I like not having to rush to dinner or shows or try and fit my life into a time frame, like I said to each there own no cruise is a bad cruise

[jd1966]

Markf,

 

We are doing it just the opposite of you - we are big Celebrity lovers and have booked our first cruise on NCL for January 2014. I've had some concerns about a few things, but we plan to enjoy our NCL cruise no matter what! Especially since we are cruising out of NOLA.

 

What are the strengths of NCL compared to X, do you think? While we think X does most things very well, I'm thinking there must be some areas where NCL comes out better.

 

Susan

 

We recently completed our first NCL cruise on the Gem and we really enjoyed the Freestyle concept. We are early eaters so having one of the main dining rooms open at five was a real plus for us. This allowed us to attend the early shows and gave us more evening time. The open dress code allowed us to do as we pleased. The biggest suggestion I would have is to keep an open mind and recognize that it will be a different experience. We were happy enough to purchase a future cruise reward. After Freestyle, I am much more concerned with our next cruise on HAL!

[gskimmel]

Markf,

 

We are doing it just the opposite of you - we are big Celebrity lovers and have booked our first cruise on NCL for January 2014. I've had some concerns about a few things, but we plan to enjoy our NCL cruise no matter what! Especially since we are cruising out of NOLA.

 

What are the strengths of NCL compared to X, do you think? While we think X does most things very well, I'm thinking there must be some areas where NCL comes out better.

 

Susan

 

We are similar. Mainly stuck to Celebrity but recently tried NCL. On Celebrity, we stayed in Aqua and NCL we stay in suites. I found there to be more similarities than differences. As Aqua, I enjoyed being able to eat whenever I wanted and had a private table for two. Same on NCL. On Celebrity, the food in Blu and the specialty restaurants was better than NCL. This isn't saying that NCL's food was bad because it was still good. The main dining room food on NCL was much better than the couple of times we tried the food in the main dining room on Celebrity.

 

The energy levels on NCL is higher than Celebrity. When I cruise, I tend to become a "home body" and just relax. I am able to do that on both Celebrity and NCL.

 

I was hesitant to try NCL because of all the negatives I heard but I've been very pleased with them so far. I even cancelled my initial Reflections booking to try the Epic.

[markf]

I wasnt sugesting that NCL is bad, I was suggesting little things that could make NCL better.

There is no question that they do the suites better, as I took Aqua class as well, the size of an Aqua Class room is a standard cruise cabin 200 sq feet--not even large enough to unpack. It doesnt compare to a suite we usually take in the front of the GEM or Jewel just under the bridge,

As far as dress goes, the casual dress on NCL is a plus. On formal night on X, there were many people in just a sports jacket and open collar shirt, myself included.

To me, things like limiting towels at the pool is aggravating.

I also remember on NCL that at the buffet on the EPIC --the deli section was not help your self, and the portions offered were small--Not that I couldnt ask for more.

 

Maybe NCL mgmt is reading these and can tweak the little things that make cruise a better experience.

[markf]

By the way it is unfair to comapre X or NCL to Seabourn or Crystal--the latter are 5 star cruise lines.

But I do think NCL X RCCL Princess HAL are in the same bucket, and comparisons are fair

[weltek]

BTW, I noticed NCL was not mentioned in the Cruise Critic coffee @ sea cover story recently. Shocking, I know. :rolleyes:

 

http://www.cruisecritic.com/articles.cfm?ID=219

 

I read the story and had serious envy over some of the great coffee joints offered on other ships. The coffee bar in the atrium on NCL just can't compare. If I'm paying $3-4 for a good cup of coffee, I want something with a little more charm. Fickle, I know.

[HokiePoq]

MHO for me anyway having cruised both many times I find x to be an older sedate crowd, people enjoy the whole tradtional cruising ie. dressing up set dinner times etc. I enjoy NCL relaxed feel. I like not having to rush to dinner or shows or try and fit my life into a time frame, like I said to each there own no cruise is a bad cruise

 

This. I thought the hotel services on our one X cruise were outstanding. My beef was with falsely advertised shore excursions which they failed to take any responsibility for. The reason we like NCL is the freestyle cruising. On our recent RCCL cruise, we were stuck at a table for 12, held hostage by the arrival of late tablemates and delayed by said tablemates sending back food, etc. (Don't blame them for sending it back, it was awful).

Cost is an issue. NCL is considerably cheaper in my experience than Celebrity or HAL which also provides most of the things in the list.

Good value, good customer service, doing things in one's own time preference=repeat NCL cruisers.

[anthem]

By the way it is unfair to comapre X or NCL to Seabourn or Crystal--the latter are 5 star cruise lines.

But I do think NCL X RCCL Princess HAL are in the same bucket, and comparisons are fair

 

Actually I would differ. X is positioned exactly to be just a bit different and higher than NCL. Actually its positioned a bit different than RCCL. And RCCL is positioned exactly the same as NCL. So essentially the mass - NCL, RCCL, DCL, etc etc are in the same bucket. X is suppose to be just a tiny bit higher. They don't want to say it - but a bit fewer kids, a bit more expensive (like around $200), a bit tougher dress code, a bit better food, etc, etc. Also a bit older as well. This starts to generalize a bit, but people who are a bit older and like the formal cruise nights that require everyone to dress up (or their entire family to dress up and have a nice dinner) are more for X.

 

Seabourn, Crystal, Seven Seas, Clipper - all have different niches that would be significantly different.

[DCT61]

I agree..Celebrity does try to position themselves as a premium cruise line. Their inability to succeed in that effort is what drove us to other cruise lines. Why pay more for such an inconsistent product.

[markf]

The $200 difference on a week cruise, to me is not a different product based on price. Frankly I woul be hapy to pay 200 more for better food etc. Now if we can only enlarge the size of the rooms on X.

I find it interesting as it pertains to formal wear, with the restrictions on luggage that each airline has , that there is no pressure to relax dress code. There is no room in my luggage to add a tuxedo, nor my wife for a gown

[anthem]

The $200 difference on a week cruise, to me is not a different product based on price. Frankly I woul be hapy to pay 200 more for better food etc. Now if we can only enlarge the size of the rooms on X.

I find it interesting as it pertains to formal wear, with the restrictions on luggage that each airline has , that there is no pressure to relax dress code. There is no room in my luggage to add a tuxedo, nor my wife for a gown

 

Oh, but it is. $200 average per person works to $400 per cabin. That's not to say Celebrity is more expensive than RCCL all the time as it isn't. The ships use an airline demand based model where things escalate based upon demand. But by and large, most bookings on celebrity are a just a bit more expensive than RCCL and its positioned exactly that way. It's just a bit more 'upscale' (for lack of a better term) than RCCL. RCCL has the monster suites on their boats which might be more "luxe" than celebrity has, but thats like getting a better room at the hotel (the surroundings are the same).

 

but thats the point of the whole thing. some people like the celebrity experience of being just a bit more upscale, that the maitre'd will reject someone wearing shorts to dinner, etc, etc. Some people don't want/like that. So its catering to that clientele. If you want a bit more formality without going small ship, a bit less kid friendly, etc - that that is where it is trying to position itself.

 

I can sum up some of the differences, but it doesn't tell the entire story. For instance, on a holiday cruise on NCL's big ships - you mght have about 500 kids onboard. On a holiday cruise with Celebrity X Solstice class, you'll have maybe 150-200 (Disney might be 800-1000). No bowling alleys, no water slides, etc. Adults only solarium and pools, etc etc. Kids aren't the only difference but is just an example to try and illustrate the difference between the two. It's a conscious effort on their part to NOT mainstream it and make it just a /bit/ different.

 

now in terms of success - they have varying levels and whether you believe they succeed or not is debateable. Just like the ships/staff within NCL as well. I would rate their main dining just a bit higher than NCL, and same with their specialty. That being said, NCL is more comfortable and has a lot more choices (albeit, some of those choices are poo choices IMO).

 

Personally I think Cunard does a good job of that "next level" - but their choices and availability are what most consider piss poor. . ..

[satchiesmom]

I really appreciate everyone's input here, it helps give me some perspective. While we don't do formal nights anymore (we do the specialty restaurant thing on formal nights on X, dress code is smart casual for everything but the MDR), I'm sure we will enjoy the freestyle concept in all areas. We are sailing with friends who have done many NCL and Celebrity cruises, and they assure us we will have a good time, so I'm ready! And the Jewel has a great W. Caribbean itinerary out of NOLA, Celebrity's 7 day Caribbean itineraries are getting a bit tired IMHO.

 

Thanks for all the info.

 

 

Susan

[Jimmy Geegitz]

I'm looking at comparable cruise on X and NCL for April and X is alot cheaper. The ship is newer and looks nicer too. Huh. The difference is $500. Granted the NCL cruise is 11 days and the X is only 10days. But $500 for 1 day? i think i will do the X. Plus I like that X lets you bring on 2 bottles of wine no charge.

[anthem]

I'm looking at comparable cruise on X and NCL for April and X is alot cheaper. The ship is newer and looks nicer too. Huh. The difference is $500. Granted the NCL cruise is 11 days and the X is only 10days. But $500 for 1 day? i think i will do the X. Plus I like that X lets you bring on 2 bottles of wine no charge.

 

 

Demand based model. April isn't /HIGH/ season for NCL, but the first part of April is higher for NCL than the 2nd half of April. It's also higher for NCL than Celebrity during the same period because of the demographics. First few weeks in April is Spring Break and NCL's demographic has more spring break travelers than Celebrity does. A lot of celebrity's cruisers avoid travelling during some of those days (spring break and other holidays). So NCL will bump their prices up a few hundred per person easily on shorter cruises. Less affected on longer ones, but still will have some effect.

 

Might be guessing as I have no idea which cruises you're looking at, but if its North America(caribbean, Mexico hawaii) in April, you'll see a slight price jump on those cruises for NCL, RCCL, Disney, etc.

[Jimmy Geegitz]

Yea caribbean cruise.

[swedish weave]

I'm looking at comparable cruise on X and NCL for April and X is alot cheaper. The ship is newer and looks nicer too. Huh. The difference is $500. Granted the NCL cruise is 11 days and the X is only 10days. But $500 for 1 day? i think i will do the X. Plus I like that X lets you bring on 2 bottles of wine no charge.

 

Is X normally less expensive than NCL, or are you being selective in your comparisons to try to prove a point?

[buggins0402]

Poor me - I would love to cruise the lines that do the best of NCL and Celebrity - Azamara and Oceania. Love the ambiance and no upsell, less crowded environment of Celebrity, but hate the dress code. Thankfully they have select dining and we tolerate dress code. Love the NCL Freestyle, but absolutely hate the constant announcements. Unfortunately we can't afford A or O. We're still work slaves, so how itineraries fit with work schedules determine our cruises. NCL seems to do a better job for those of us that still have to work, when it comes to scheduling a trip.

 

Taking a Jade Holylands cruise - but I keep looking at how the prices have dropped on a second consideration - the Silhouette (now $800 for a balcony on a 14 day). Newer, nicer ship. But unless we had jumped ship in Athens to get back to jobs could never had made it work. One never knows when a ship might not make port.

[foodgirl]

We recently completed our first NCL cruise on the Gem and we really enjoyed the Freestyle concept. We are early eaters so having one of the main dining rooms open at five was a real plus for us. This allowed us to attend the early shows and gave us more evening time. The open dress code allowed us to do as we pleased. The biggest suggestion I would have is to keep an open mind and recognize that it will be a different experience. We were happy enough to purchase a future cruise reward. After Freestyle, I am much more concerned with our next cruise on HAL!

 

While my cruise line of choice has been HAL for awhile now I will tell you my DH and I do not like to be scheduled at all. We did not find this to an issue for us. Anytime dining works well and we often eat in the lido at dinner as they have the same menu as the main dining room, but we go when we want. We like to relax a lot on our cruises and do our own thing. I read these boards often as am considering trying NCL again as it has been a long time as you can see by my signature. Hope you enjoy the Westerdam. I have been on her sisters and loved them. Sorry to hijack the thread a bit. Just wanted to alleviate concerns about HAL. Btw we are in our mid 40's and always have a great time. Thinking of trying a cruise from NOLA as would be an easy drive for us.

[Jimmy Geegitz]

Is X normally less expensive than NCL, or are you being selective in your comparisons to try to prove a point?

 

No I just wanted to do a southern Caribbean cruise in april and the 2 I am interested in are NCL and X. Just basically reporting the difference in 2 cruises I like.

[kylenyc]

MHO for me anyway having cruised both many times I find x to be an older sedate crowd, people enjoy the whole tradtional cruising ie. dressing up set dinner times etc. I enjoy NCL relaxed feel. I like not having to rush to dinner or shows or try and fit my life into a time frame, like I said to each there own no cruise is a bad cruise

Always nice to hear opinions of another cruise line. Thanks. Are you coming with the absolutely categorically undeniably non-sedate Dec cruise with Margaret and Steve? :p I'll bribe Margaret to bring Harvey's twin brother and maybe this time a GPS tracker. Would be a hoot to see him sail around the world! :D

[Tatka]

I can sum up some of the differences, but it doesn't tell the entire story. For instance, on a holiday cruise on NCL's big ships - you mght have about 500 kids onboard. On a holiday cruise with Celebrity X Solstice class, you'll have maybe 150-200 (Disney might be 800-1000).

 

We haven't sailed on X for a long time, and never sailed on ships larger than Century class (70K T)... but during Summer sailings I remember 300-400 kids on board. Interesting to know that Solstice class has less. :)

 

Our most horrible experience with NCL was Spirit with 800+ kids! Well we enjoyed that cruise and had our teen with us, but 800 is definitely too much for a 78K T ship without adult pool.