NCL Cruiser gets a Fascinating perspective: 11/29 with pics

[ABCGreys]

Thanks so much for the enjoyable review. I love all of the pictures!

[jobell]

Great review!!!

 

Can't wait to hear your thoughts on the Dream. :)

[tomsuelaw]

As mentioned before, DH did not initially appreciate the black and gold accents highlighted by neon extravaganza. Haha. I tried to warn him but on initial presentation he thought is just looked cheesy, like 1980's miami vice vomited all over the inside of the ship. It was not unitl the last night of the cruise that we approached the atrium and stopped to people watch. It was here that the wonderment and glory of the atrium hit him ;) For the 1st time, we realized that each floor had a different color lighting and that the colors rotated in such a slow fading way you could barely even tell it was happening until you really payed attention. It was really cool and suddenly CCL's childish, 1980's vegas facade faded away and a cool intriguing piece of art emerged :p...Ok, maybe that is an over sell but either way, we though it was pretty cool. :D DH could not control himself, he started snapping dozens of pics. These pics do not really do it justice but here you go.

 

[JLC@SD]

Great review and thanks for posting all the photos.

[tomsuelaw]

Debarkation:

 

As it always does, D-Day arrived and we were forced to leave...although this is the 1st time we were in a hurry to get off the ship. They usually have to take us off kicking in screaming...and by that I mean we always lounge around until the "last call" is made. However, today, we had a 13 hr car ride ahead of us and we were fighting the clock trying to get back home before the kiddos went to bed. We really want to see them.

 

Since we opted for self-assisit to expedite our departure. We were not sure how early they would clear us to debark. So, we woke up bright and early at 6am. Got ready, finished packing up, and headed to my favorite breakfast spot, the MDR. They open at 6:30am on debark and I am so glad they do. By 7:30 we were done breakfast and it was around this time that we learned that they do not usually start letting people off the ship until about 8:30 and we would be the 3rd deck to be called. This was discouraging but we got all our bags and went and waited in a very comfortable atrium lounge. To our delight, they started calling floors for self-assist by 8am and by 8:20 it was our turn. We dragged our stuff to level 4 where we were directed to the line. By 8:35 we were off the ship and eased thru customs. We walked over to the shuttle lot, hopped on and we were back to our car by 8:45am...AMAZING! By far the smoothest debarkation I have ever experienced!!!!

 

Final Thoughts and Random Pics:

 

Overall, there is not clear winner btwn NCL and CCL.

Pricewise: CCL

Selection of Caribbean Itinerary: CCL

Entertainment: NCL

MDR Food: CCL

Lido Buffet: NCL

Decor:NCL

Window Clearity ;): NCL

Service: CCL, with NCL close

French fries: NCL

Pizza: both bad but CCL if I had to choose...NCL's is inedible IMO

All you can eat ice cream: Tie

Drinking Water: NCL

Friendliness of Officers: NCL

 

I did notice CCL attracts much more of a diverse crowd and passengers in general seemed to let loose more.

 

There were only 200 kids onboard and they were all well-behaved when we around any of them.

 

I think DH favors NCL more strictly related to the entertainment. He is reserving final judgement until after we sail the Dream next month. I am thinking there will be better options for us since it is a newer and bigger ship...we shall see.

 

As for me, I could take them both. I really like NCL but their food bored me on the last cruise and I am a cruise foodie (I know it is hard to believe given the lack of food porn on here). Since price, itinerary, and food are so important to me, CCL has a slight edge in my mind. NCL, you will always hold a special place in my heart!

 

Final Pics...

Side Thruster Action

 

 

Under the bridge on water works deck:

[tomsuelaw]

The One and Only Food Porn Pic we took and funny thing is that neither DH or me like raw tomatoes but he really wanted the fresh mozzarella sandwiched btwn the yucky tomatoes. When it came out, he thought it looked like art so he snapped a photo...so not like my DH, but since he liked it so much I will post it.

 

 

Being silly in Passage to India

 

 

More Nassau

[tomsuelaw]

My handsome DH with gorgeous sunset:

 

 

 

 

And one last time...just in case you are in need of emergency hair braiding as soon as you leave the ship in Nassua, here is your guide :D HAHA

 

 

I Hope this review was helpful to you, I am sure the above photo was :p

[tomsuelaw]

Oh I forgot one more thought. The first time I saw a Fantasy Class ship I thought, "oh, how ugly, it looks more like freighter then a cruise ship." Well, these ships are a testament that you cannot judge a book by its cover. While small and old, the Fascination can hold her own.

1. I never once felt crowded on the boat except in the Lido buffet before Freeport and then trying to get off the ship in Freeport.

2. She is small enough to make getting around quite easy yet large enough to make you feel like you are on a large ship.

3. There were always plenty of deck chairs...CHOGs were not on this cruise :D or maybe too cold for CHOGS?

4. The pool was never full and there were no lines for slides...again maybe weather related.

 

One more pic...me soooo excited to go under the bridge:

 

[chipq]

Great start with the pros and cons between NCL and CCL. That puts things in a very good perspective. Thanks for sharing your cruise with us.

 

http://luv2cruise.blogspot.com

[shukapaw]

Like many before me, I really enjoyed your upfront comparison of these two lines. My wife and I are considering a B2B in 2014 in Europe on Carnival and NCL. We have never experienced NCL before and find your comparison very helpful.

 

Great write-up... thanks again. :)

 

Brian

[soccersharon]

Great review! Would love to sail one of CCL's "smaller" ships :) Thanks for posting!

[buckirj1]

Thanks for the review. I've sailed both lines and like both lines. We pretty much agree on the pros and cons of each line.

[Almost Packed]

loved your review! especially comparing the two.

 

Thanks for taking the time to do it! and now i know exactly where to go for hair braiding! lol.:)

 

enjoy your next cruise, and then come back and write another review please.

[rongo31]

Excellent review, Susan... Thank you! Loved the atrium shots (despite your hubby's comment - "cheesy, like 1980's miami vice vomited all over the inside of the ship" - that's funnnny stuff!) We're looking forward to the Hollywood vibe of the ship's decor when we board in January. Again, thanks for sharing this :D

[pcrum]

Thanks for you review. Having sailed NCL once, I agree with most of what you said. I definitely prefer the food on Carnival, as we felt like to get a decent meal on NCL, we had to go to one the restaurants that charge a surcharge. I cannot really speak regarding the entertainment, as our NCL cruise was a special Broadway themed cruise, so we did not have the normal NCL entertainment, but I certainly agree that the comics on Carnival can be hit or miss.

 

I like the fantasy class ships and although it certainly is not how I'd decorate my house, I usually like the Farcus designs on the ships. It's fun while on vacation to have the bright, bold colors and designs. On NCL, I felt like I could be in any Embassy Suites lobby in the USA...I just found the lobby area to be very generic.

 

I'm sure you will enjoy all of the added amenities of the Dream! I highly recommend the Carnival Steakhouses....as you mention that you and your DH are foodies, the steakhouse is a wonderful bargain. You get a meal comparable to a Morton's or Capital Grille or Flemings for a much reduced price!

 

Hope to see a Dream review from you. Thanks again.

[bucket_O_beer4john]

Thanks for your great review! I'm boarding her in about 4 hours! :D

 

We have a very active roll call going with a couple events planned, so this should be a blast of a cruise. I'll post a review when I get back.

 

Sent from my SPH-D710 using Tapatalk 2

[silvercrikhix]

Thank you for sharing your comparison review.

It will be interesting to hear your comparisons between NCL, the Fascination and the Dream.

Enjoy! :D

[gapearl]

Great review! Very fair, well balanced comparisons. I'd love to give NCL a try one day. Have fun on the Dream next month. Hopefully you'll come back with another review. :)

[saltybones]

Great review.

 

You Guys are going to LOVE the Dream:D

 

Hope you do a review when you get back!

 

 

Any Cruise is a G:)OOD cruise IMHO

[reerun25]

Nice review, and I hope you will write one for the Dream. Our first cruise was on the Fascination and will be on the Dream in March 2013, so I am looking forward to see your opinion on the two ships!

[UATLB]

great review thanks for sharing!!

 

we prefer ccl over ncl

[richstowe]

Thanx for the review.:) We also enjoyed our porthole cabin. Lots of light and really great value.

Certainly not like a balcony but really no different then ocean view ,unless the sea is rough

and then you realize you are at the front of the ship.

 

Nice pix but next time please don't make your review so widdddddddddddddde

[Jimmy Geegitz]

Nice review!

[tomsuelaw]

Thanx for the review.:) We also enjoyed our porthole cabin. Lots of light and really great value.

Certainly not like a balcony but really no different then ocean view ,unless the sea is rough

and then you realize you are at the front of the ship.

 

Nice pix but next time please don't make your review so widdddddddddddddde

 

Wide?? Do you mean the pics? Cause if you are not happy with those you are out of luck. If you knew my lack of computer skills you would be impressed i have them posted at all.

[iloverags2]

Thanks for your review and posting all the wonderful pics!!! Looks like you guys enjoyed yourselves!