If you didn't cruise with NCL who would you chose next?

[kaylasnana]

I've only been on 3 cruises (2 ncl and 1 Holland). I love NCL and would like nothing more than to just cruise with them but for our next cruise I can't find what I want. Due to amount of time we can take off and some other factors, I think I need to look at another cruiseline for our cruise. I don't think I want to go with Carnival or Celebrity. Looking at RCCL maybe. If you love NCL but had to pick a 2nd cruise line, what might that be and why? Little background: my husband and I are seniors and all other cruises were to the Carribean. I'm thinking Europe or Panama.

[3DBeach]

So far we've only cruised with NCL and RCI and really like both. Right now we cruise for the ships but as our boys get older I'm sure we will cruise for the ports.

 

 

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[polySeraph]

Right now I'm lurking on HAL and Celebrity boards because NCL currently doesn't offer any South American itineraries and those other 2 cruise lines do. DH really didn't like HAL so it would take a fantastic itinerary at a fantastic price to lure us back. We are holding off booking our next cruise until NCL releases the rest of the 2015-2016 itineraries. If NCL isn't going back to SA, we'll probably book with Celebrity next.

[quercus alba]

DW wants to do a Viking river cruise in Europe.

(I'm trying not to blame their sponsorship of Downton Abbey on PBS!)

[che5904]

We enjoyed our Carnival cruise. But NCL does freestyle dining better, which is important to us.

 

So we'll stick with NCL unless I can't get an itinerary I want, which is why we did CCL. We had the opportunity for vacation time in the summer and I didn't like any itineraries that NCL had to offer that I didn't have to fly across the country to do.

[VideoTech]

My feeling is that all of the big, middle-of-the-road cruise lines provide much the same experience. People still tend to rate Carnival as the "Party" line, and we've stayed away from it after the first two times. We enjoyed our one RCI cruise, but we don't really like bigger, more crowded ships, so we look for smaller ships. DW has been on several other lines, still likes NCL the best.

 

On my cruise "to do" list:

1. Alaska in a much smaller ship (100-200 passengers) so you can go places the big ships don't go.

2. European river cruises

3. Antarctica!!

 

If it matters, we're probably considered "seniors" too, although I sure don't feel like one.

Edited December 14, 2013 by VideoTech

[Laszlo]

Were looking at Princess right now. The 7 day Eastern Caribbean NCL has for next fall and winter...........stink

[spirit rev]

We also enjoy NCL. We tried HAL in Alaska (because everything we read told us they were the most experienced and offered a one-way south trip.) We decided that we would not cruise with HAL again.

With "fear" we decided to try Princess for a January Panama Canal cruise. We really enjoyed it. We have since done a Baltic/Northern Europe cruise with Princess.

There is much that is alike between NCL and Princess. Princess has bit less kenitic energy than NCL has. Also, Princess doesn't push the gambling as much as NCL.

Just my 2 cents.

[bingo3]

This will be my first on NCL, because of the itinerary. I have 3 on RCCL and loved every one of them. The last was on Freedom of the Seas in January 2013. My parents were also with us and they prefer RCCL over Carnival, as do I. But to be fair, both my Carnival cruises were on smaller classes of ships and I prefer the larger ships. The inside promenade areas on the Voyager and above classes are fantastic. And there is a deck where you can walk all the way around the ship outside. We also never had any issues with cigarette smoke on either ship line.

 

Going on Breakaway in May and will reserve judgement, reviews being what they are. It does sound like they built a mega ship but sacrificed space for so many of the areas, or blocked them off, that it may not appear to be a large ship, except in numbers of people! We shall see.

 

I don't think you can go wrong with RCCL, at least if it's a Voyager class or above ship. I have been on Rhapsody to Alaska, our first cruise, but that was so long ago I can't remember much about the ship. I do remember enjoying the cruise! Mediterranean is on my bucket list! Enjoy!

debbie

[debnjoe1438]

Hal:)

[jdvmd]

So far we've only cruised with NCL and RCI and really like both. Right now we cruise for the ships but as our boys get older I'm sure we will cruise for the ports.

 

 

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We are the complete opposite now! When we first started cruising, it was more for the itineraries and getting as many ports as possible. Didn't care for sea days! Now, we really are looking at the ships and consider that a destination in itself. Have had a lot of great experiences on Celebrity.

[mypleasure]

My future choice will be based on itinerary mostly and availability of mytime/anytime dining secondly.

 

We are very keen to sail in Australia and New Zealand and also South America. We need to go in the next 5-8 years max. due to health, age and financial constraints. I think we can give NCL 5 more years to bring these destinations in for booking up to 2 years ahead but things can, and often do, change so we may need to jump ship sooner.

 

I think we would choose Princess or P & O

[LegallyBlonder]

I never really met a cruise line I didn't like, for one reason or another. I did really enjoy the little extra classy touches on Princess- it felt a small notch above the rest.

 

 

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[NLH Arizona]

My feeling is that all of the big, middle-of-the-road cruise lines provide much the same experience. People still tend to rate Carnival as the "Party" line, and we've stayed away from it after the first two times. We enjoyed our one RCI cruise, but we don't really like bigger, more crowded ships, so we look for smaller ships. DW has been on several other lines, still likes NCL the best.

 

On my cruise "to do" list:

1. Alaska in a much smaller ship (100-200 passengers) so you can go places the big ships don't go.

2. European river cruises

3. Antarctica!!

 

If it matters, we're probably considered "seniors" too, although I sure don't feel like one.

If I could recommend an Antarctica cruise. I went with Abercrombie and Kent in 1994 and it was exceptional. It was an expedition ship (the one I went on is no longer in service), not real fancy, but the trip was outstanding. We made landings via their zodiacs, went to a research station and had an amazing time seeing all the wildlife, especially the penguins. It is truly a trip of a lifetime.

 

BTW, the passengers on my trip ranged in age from 24 to 82.

Edited December 15, 2013 by NLH Arizona

[NLH Arizona]

In addition to NCL, I cruise with Celebrity and Crystal.

 

Would like to do a river cruise in Europe one day.

[SeaShark]

I've only been on 3 cruises (2 ncl and 1 Holland). I love NCL and would like nothing more than to just cruise with them but for our next cruise I can't find what I want. Due to amount of time we can take off and some other factors, I think I need to look at another cruiseline for our cruise. I don't think I want to go with Carnival or Celebrity. Looking at RCCL maybe. If you love NCL but had to pick a 2nd cruise line, what might that be and why? Little background: my husband and I are seniors and all other cruises were to the Carribean. I'm thinking Europe or Panama.

 

IMHO, the only reason to pick a 2nd (or any, for that matter) cruise line is that is meets my needs. For that reason, I have to recommend that you select a line that takes you where you want to go and in the way you want to go there.

 

If I HAD to cruise with someone else...I would probably book a week to the Galapagos Islands on the Celebrity Xpedition....go big or stay home.

[titangas]

We are doing our first NCL next Summer.

Have done 4 on Disney, 2 on Carnival, 1 RCL and 1 Celebrity.

 

We were debating between Princess and NCL for this upcoming cruise, so I will say Princess.

Have nothing terrible to say about any we have cruised already though, but we wouldn't cruise Carnival again, and probably nor Disney anymore because of price and kids are now older.

[CruisinMaterial]

My secondary preference is Celebrity.

 

Yes Celebrity has formal nights but their ships are just amazing in their style and decor. The new Solstice class ships are WOW!! Celebrity has some really nice exotic itineraries. I'd also consider Princess since I started my cruising history with them. Princess was a lot better before they were bought out by Carnival Corp. The new Princess didn't do much for me in 2009. I just did a Celebrity trip to Asia this year and the overall cruise and tours with the line was the BEST trip of my life!

[CruisinMaterial]

If I could recommend an Antarctica cruise. I went with Abercrombie and Kent in 1994 and it was exceptional. It was an expedition ship (the one I went on is no longer in service), not real fancy, but the trip was outstanding. We made landings via their zodiacs, went to a research station and had an amazing time seeing all the wildlife, especially the penguins. It is truly a trip of a lifetime.

 

BTW, the passengers on my trip ranged in age from 24 to 82.

 

Thanks for the information on this. The Antarctica landing is one of the things on my bucket list. When NCL pulled out of South America it left Princess for the flight over. I am strongly considering them or Celebrity for the cruise in the next two years. I will check out this cruise line you mentioned though! It sounds like a lot more closer and personalized experience!

[Powriv]

I am happy not being loyal to any one line. Do enjoy NCL, CCL and Royal.

 

Would like to try each of them out there as long as the fares are reasonable and they fit my schedule

[DMH15]

Thanks for the information on this. The Antarctica landing is one of the things on my bucket list. When NCL pulled out of South America it left Princess for the flight over. I am strongly considering them or Celebrity for the cruise in the next two years. I will check out this cruise line you mentioned though! It sounds like a lot more closer and personalized experience!

If you have your heart set on Antarctica like I did just be prepared for the chance, strong one, that the excursion can get cancelled, even at the last minute. We were told before our excursion that 50% go and 50% don't go... But later told it's closer to 30% that go. You might have fog and the small plane lands on a gravel runway with no lights except handheld and out buildings. It was an incredible experience, I wouldn't have missed it, but I learned how incredibly lucky I was that the stars aligned for me that day. The three cruises before mine and a few after were not so lucky.

 

And if that $1500 AL cruise gets cancelled they sub an $800 one to Tierra del Fuego... At least that is what they did on ours.

 

Also, we shadowd X Infinity most of our cruise but I do not believe they offered an AL and they did not go to the Falklands like we did.

 

 

 

 

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[DMH15]

I would pick Celebrity to experience a smoke free casino.

 

I cruised on the Summit and liked it a lot. Normandie restaurant was incredible. X also decent in suites.

 

But I am booked on NCL for a PC cruise and looking at Haven on Jewel out of Houston for niece's 18th/HS grad gift. Those two enough for now.

 

What I really want to do is go to Africa, it is my 7th and final continent to visit. And I have 16 more US states to go. My bucket list.

 

 

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[Novastar]

Windstar in the South Pacific is on my bucket list.

[dmrrn73]

Celebrity, definitely, RCCL would be 2nd choice

[Barb Nahoumi]

We love NCL, but we'll be trying RCI for our next cruise. Why, because of the close to home, home port, price, and itinerary.

 

We did the Panama Cruise on the NCL Pearl a few years back, and it was fantastic. Our trips to Europe have always been land. That is something to consider, as well.