NCL compared to X

[markf]

I just returned from a 13 night cruise on X,and I have cruised more than 25 times.

My last 10 cruises were mainly on NCL and some with X.

To me X gets it, small things like towels at the pool, without being responsible to watch your towel.

Hand cloth towels in each bathroom .

Ample help in the buffet , with people serving refills on coffee and adequate staff to keep tables cleaned.

 

These, to me are small things but makes a difference in the cruise.

I am not really sure if NCL and X are on the same playing field at all, but I am commenting.

There are some other items like selection of food at the buffet. X carves fresh hams and bacon each morning, and has ample variety of breads cakes and dessert.

[getupgo]

We got all of that on NCL Dawn. We saw officers in Buffet clearing tables. Every crew member emwas working hard and were happy and smiling and laughing every day. Only hope Sun will be as nice

[SissasMomE]

I just returned from a 13 night cruise on X,and I have cruised more than 25 times.

My last 10 cruises were mainly on NCL and some with X.

To me X gets it, small things like towels at the pool, without being responsible to watch your towel.

Hand cloth towels in each bathroom .

Ample help in the buffet , with people serving refills on coffee and adequate staff to keep tables cleaned.

 

These, to me are small things but makes a difference in the cruise.

I am not really sure if NCL and X are on the same playing field at all, but I am commenting.

There are some other items like selection of food at the buffet. X carves fresh hams and bacon each morning, and has ample variety of breads cakes and dessert.

 

We are headed that way for our Europe cruise. It will be our first time on X, and we are really looking forward to it! Not so sure they are in the same class either, though. I always considered X a step above ....

[swedish weave]

Both companies run nice ships to nice ports.

 

Both companies give you plenty of food and drink.

 

Both companies furnish a place to sleep.

 

Both companies provide good service.

 

I see no need to split hairs and look for insignificant differences just to make one seem better than the other.

[GORDONCHICK]

I just returned from a 13 night cruise on X,and I have cruised more than 25 times.

My last 10 cruises were mainly on NCL and some with X.

To me X gets it, small things like towels at the pool, without being responsible to watch your towel.

Hand cloth towels in each bathroom .

Ample help in the buffet , with people serving refills on coffee and adequate staff to keep tables cleaned.

 

These, to me are small things but makes a difference in the cruise.

I am not really sure if NCL and X are on the same playing field at all, but I am commenting.

There are some other items like selection of food at the buffet. X carves fresh hams and bacon each morning, and has ample variety of breads cakes and dessert.

 

We've cruised X twice and NCL 4 times, and like both for different reasons. X is usually more expensive but they don't sail from ports that are close (if we can drive to the departure port, that's a huge plus for us). While I'd love to sail on one of the larger, newer X ships, I'm not holding out hope while airfare is ridiculous.

 

We love the casualness of NCL. Not having to pack formal clothing is a huge plus, especially when flying. We also love eating when we want.

[Valen9]

The thing I like more about X than NCL is that X has interesting lectures that tell you more about the area you are cruising in, or let you learn about something that isn't related to alcohol, gambling, shopping, or food.

 

Now that NCL has cut down on their endless "Bingo Time" announcements (especially over the speaker inside your cabin!), I've dropped the "X is less annoying than NCL" recommendation.

[NYcruzzer]

I just returned from a 13 night cruise on X,and I have cruised more than 25 times.

My last 10 cruises were mainly on NCL and some with X.

To me X gets it, small things like towels at the pool, without being responsible to watch your towel.

Hand cloth towels in each bathroom .

Ample help in the buffet , with people serving refills on coffee and adequate staff to keep tables cleaned.

 

These, to me are small things but makes a difference in the cruise.

I am not really sure if NCL and X are on the same playing field at all, but I am commenting.

There are some other items like selection of food at the buffet. X carves fresh hams and bacon each morning, and has ample variety of breads cakes and dessert.

 

Hello Neighbor. I live in Plainview as well. I think comparing NCL and Royal Carribean is more like an apples to apples comparison. In most cases fares on X are higher. Hence the slightly higher level of service.

[wvfrogg]

I've been on X only once, but have to say I was disappointed. The staff kept telling us that they excelled at food and service, and I was disappointed in both. The best food on X was the "free" sushi every afternoon from 5-6. Our waiter was much more interested in our table mates than he was with us -- perhaps because we weren't ordering wine. I don't know. I will admit that perhaps part of the problem was that half the ship was on an "award" trip, so that made things more difficult. Just comparing the two, I would stay with NCL -- hand towels and wandering beach towels not withstanding. I didn't feel that X was worth the extra money. But each to his own, and no cruise is a bad one!

[kayhil3]

I took my last cruise on X in July. It was my first time on X all my other cruises have been with NCL. While the food was much better on X the service was lacking in the dinning room and the layout in the buffet was terrible. Also I found their activities almost non existant . Their casino program also could not be compared to CAS which wins hands down. So while I did enjoy my cruise overall on X my next two that I have booked are on NCL and thats where I will stay. Missed the washy washy girls lol.

[illiniwahoo]

We just got back from our first NCL cruise (Breakaway) after three on Celebrity (Equinox, Silhouette, Summit). I don't think one is overall "better" than the other, they are just a little different:

 

In my opinion, Celebrity wins hands down in the food department, but NCL wins in the entertainment department by leaps and bounds.

 

Celebrity's food was more upscale and seemed to use better ingredients. Even the little things, like the poolside/outdoor cafe burgers, Celebrity's were juicy and tasty, the melted cheese for the cheeseburgers and good bread for the buns. NCL's burgers at Uptown grill were a little dry, you could put a piece of cheese on it yourself (but none available with melted cheese) and the bun was a little tasteless. In the buffet for breakfast, on celebrity I always got a ham, goat cheese, and asparagus made to order omelette, on NCL they didn't have goat cheese or asparagus, and the cheese choice was "cheddar", which definitely tasted like cheese product, not real cheese. Dinners I also found on celebrity to use better ingredients and have more choices not on NCL's dinner menu - duck entree, lobster entree. Don't get me wrong, I never went hungry on NCL, but the food was not a memorable highlight of the cruise like on Celebrity.

 

I also found Celebrity's drink selection to be far more innovative and creative. The martini bar on celebrity has a four page list of martinis, where as NCL had one page of martinis (other pages of other drinks too, but not martinis). NCL has noting like the drinks at the Molecular bar on X. I also liked the celebrity drink package better as it includes coffee bar drinks and bottled water. NCL includes neither and the price is the same.

 

Entertainment, on the other hand, NCL was heads and shoulders above Celebrity. Recognize I was on the Breakaway, and from what I read is sounds like the newest ships have the best entertainment. There were far more bands (and larger bands) on NCL than on X. The shows (Burn the floor and Rock of Ages) were amazing. When I have heard people in the past say that cruise ship shows are like Broadway, I have thought they must have never actually been to Broadway, but NCL's production of Rock of Ages was surprisingly close to the Broadway show. I was super impressed. The dueling piano bar (howl at the moon) and the comedy troupe (second city) were so much fun. We went to headliners every night to see either the comedy or dueling pianos and had SO much fun! Breakaway even has fireworks! On X ships, we are frequently in bed between 11-midnight. On NCL, we were up until 12-2am every night because we were having so much fun! I haven't done enough research to know if entertainment on NCL's older ships is the same or not.

 

I found the cost of the cruises to be comparable, especially if you book X when you get a free drink package and factor that into the equation.

 

Overall, I would not hesitate to sail either Celebrity or NCL again, but each had a different emphasis.

[markf]

I failed to add that on NCL i usually have a Haven suite and on X a Aqua suite.

No question NCL is more casual in dress requirements.

i was only pointing out that I dont think it takes much to bring NCL up to the X category, outside of the food which i realize is a cost.

[Peachypooh]

I have cruised on both Celebrity and NCL both in one of their mid-sized ships.

They both have their strengths. Here is my (of course subjective) list

 

NCL-Totally free to dress the way you want to, eat whenever you want to,

was able to talk at length with the ship's officers, very friendly and informal vibe. Entertainment more varied and frequent. Lots of activities. Photographers were OK with you saying no to a photo. Cabin steward friendlier and gave us towel animals. Smelled much less smoke and some days none at all.

 

Celebrity-When I sailed there were trays in the buffet with someone to help you carry them to a table and never had a problem finding a seat. Pastries and desserts more like what you would get in an upscale restaurant or bakery , they had afternoon tea. People on the whole tended to dress a little nicer. A little more refined atmosphere.

I found their dailies easier to understand and find what I needed to know.

 

All in all we will stick with NCL as it fits us better.

[Byron_1978]

This is an interesting thread for me.

We have sailed with NCL before and have a cruise on X booked for 2015.

We love both NCL and RCI so far...Curious to find out how we will love X :)

[dalgirl]

I just returned from a 13 night cruise on X,and I have cruised more than 25 times.

My last 10 cruises were mainly on NCL and some with X.

To me X gets it, small things like towels at the pool, without being responsible to watch your towel.

Hand cloth towels in each bathroom .

Ample help in the buffet , with people serving refills on coffee and adequate staff to keep tables cleaned.

 

These, to me are small things but makes a difference in the cruise.

I am not really sure if NCL and X are on the same playing field at all, but I am commenting.

There are some other items like selection of food at the buffet. X carves fresh hams and bacon each morning, and has ample variety of breads cakes and dessert.

 

We will take our first X cruise in April - 17 days and are very excited for the itinerary and ship experience. We just sailed on the Getaway and Breakaway. We are Platinum with NCL and have sailed on RCL.

 

Some observations I noticed on the Getaway:

 

NCL had towels at the pool, and they even have towel exchange on the pier when you returned from your beach excursion along with water and cold towels to wash your face, etc. We did not see this on the other ships in port.

 

I am not sure what you mean by hand towels in each bathroom? Do you mean folded towels in the public restrooms? For cleanliness sake I prefer paper that you throw away or air. Especially with so many people using the same facilities. There were, of course, hand towels in the stateroom.

 

As for the buffet, staff where caring trays, plates, etc. for guests. They came by every morning with coffee and a chef and buffet staff person were passing out pastries to guests tableside. Food was cleared as we finished with a plate and tables were cleared quickly. The crew was, as always efficient and pleasant.

 

There were lots of breads and pastries to choose from at breakfast. And although there were no carvings for breakfast, the choices were varied and plentiful. There were carvings for lunch and dinner.

 

We are very much looking forward to our first X cruise, and I hope there are many things that we will enjoy. But I suspect unless you are on a true luxury cruise (Crystal) there is not a lot of difference. But we will see.

[wisteria1019]

In a little more than two weeks we will sail for the fifth time on NCL - 12 night Barcelona to Venice followed by our fifth cruise on Celebrity - transatlantic Barcelona to Fort Lauderdale. We are excited for both. We receive much better loyalty perks on Celebrity - free laundry, free internet minutes, three evening cocktail vouchers etc..., but we enjoy the lower pricing and casual atmosphere on NCL. It is a win win. We are on a floating resort and not shoveling snow somewhere.

 

Dawn

[Hawaiidan]

I failed to add that on NCL i usually have a Haven suite and on X a Aqua suite.

No question NCL is more casual in dress requirements.

i was only pointing out that I dont think it takes much to bring NCL up to the X category, outside of the food which i realize is a cost.

If ship likes were Hotels...NCL would be Best Western or Holiday inn

Celebrity would be Westin or Hilton

 

Everything across the board is different, food to demographics. Celebrity is an upscale mass market ship and NCL is Basic or entry level mass market.

 

Now false economy is going to the upper levels on either Aqua or Haven.

If you do the math you will find that it will be far better to go up a ship class than a cabin class. THat is it is better and cheaper to go with a regular cabin on a luxury inclusive or mostly inclusive ship line like Seabourn, Oceania . On both lines you will receive all the benefits and more for less than you would upgrading on a basic or mass market ship..

 

The reality is that when you step outside your cabin on a luxury ship your surrounded by luxury at every turn. Getting a special Aqua or Haven class cabin once outside your cabin or area, your on a basic mass market ship.

 

If you want better... move up in ship lines not so much cabins.... you and your wallet will be more than pleased

[FreestyleNovice]

We just got back from our first NCL cruise (Breakaway) after three on Celebrity (Equinox, Silhouette, Summit). I don't think one is overall "better" than the other, they are just a little different:

 

In my opinion, Celebrity wins hands down in the food department, but NCL wins in the entertainment department by leaps and bounds.

 

Celebrity's food was more upscale and seemed to use better ingredients. Even the little things, like the poolside/outdoor cafe burgers, Celebrity's were juicy and tasty, the melted cheese for the cheeseburgers and good bread for the buns. NCL's burgers at Uptown grill were a little dry, you could put a piece of cheese on it yourself (but none available with melted cheese) and the bun was a little tasteless. In the buffet for breakfast, on celebrity I always got a ham, goat cheese, and asparagus made to order omelette, on NCL they didn't have goat cheese or asparagus, and the cheese choice was "cheddar", which definitely tasted like cheese product, not real cheese. Dinners I also found on celebrity to use better ingredients and have more choices not on NCL's dinner menu - duck entree, lobster entree. Don't get me wrong, I never went hungry on NCL, but the food was not a memorable highlight of the cruise like on Celebrity.

 

I also found Celebrity's drink selection to be far more innovative and creative. The martini bar on celebrity has a four page list of martinis, where as NCL had one page of martinis (other pages of other drinks too, but not martinis). NCL has noting like the drinks at the Molecular bar on X. I also liked the celebrity drink package better as it includes coffee bar drinks and bottled water. NCL includes neither and the price is the same.

 

Entertainment, on the other hand, NCL was heads and shoulders above Celebrity. Recognize I was on the Breakaway, and from what I read is sounds like the newest ships have the best entertainment. There were far more bands (and larger bands) on NCL than on X. The shows (Burn the floor and Rock of Ages) were amazing. When I have heard people in the past say that cruise ship shows are like Broadway, I have thought they must have never actually been to Broadway, but NCL's production of Rock of Ages was surprisingly close to the Broadway show. I was super impressed. The dueling piano bar (howl at the moon) and the comedy troupe (second city) were so much fun. We went to headliners every night to see either the comedy or dueling pianos and had SO much fun! Breakaway even has fireworks! On X ships, we are frequently in bed between 11-midnight. On NCL, we were up until 12-2am every night because we were having so much fun! I haven't done enough research to know if entertainment on NCL's older ships is the same or not.

 

I found the cost of the cruises to be comparable, especially if you book X when you get a free drink package and factor that into the equation.

 

Overall, I would not hesitate to sail either Celebrity or NCL again, but each had a different emphasis.

 

Totally totally agree (even about the bed time part heheh!) and would like to add the difference in demographic, where X has the older part and NCL the younger part. :)

[markf]

Thanks for all the feedback and comments--the reason I wrote it, was I thought for a little extra you can make NCL more memorable.

However, in the end it is probably comparing apples to oranges and maybe not a fair comparison.

[swedish weave]

Thanks for all the feedback and comments--the reason I wrote it, was I thought for a little extra you can make NCL more memorable.

However, in the end it is probably comparing apples to oranges and maybe not a fair comparison.

 

You are getting opinions. some are truthful, and some are biased. The idea of comparing cruise lines is a lesson in futility because some have pre-conceived ideas that their favorite line is the best.

 

Try it for yourself and make up your mind which suits you best.

 

I don't place any value in reviews for the same reasons.

[cod]

We've had only one X experience. It was 12 nights out of Galveston on the Galaxy to the PC in 2004.

 

There was some very good and some not. The entertainment was so-so. There was one singer who performed 3 nights...he was heralded as 'back by popular demand'!! (Sure). The food was excellent but for 2 main courses and those were the 2 worst I've had on any ship. A beef dish with hunks of meat that were like shoe leather and a ravioli dish that had what I'm 99% sure was Campbell's condensed tomato soup spread on top. Isn't it strange what you can remember? I can remember very few of the many meals I've had on 24 cruises, but those two dishes were certainly 'memorable'. In part because both were sent back..a first.

 

We never saw or met our cabin steward. Someone did straighten our room so we knew one was around. However, out sheets were never changed in the 12 nights. After about night 6 it became a 'game'. I would ask DH for a drum roll, then pull back the cover to see if 3 tiny rust-like spots were still in the upper corner. Could I have complained? Yes, and perhaps I should have but when we finally only had a couple of days left it seemed pointless.

 

Now for the good. They had very reasonable day-time bingo. I think it was. like, $10 to play and the prizes were in the $60 range. One afternoon they started a little late and gave everyone a 'soft cooler' as an apology which was actually pretty nice and very nice of them. And finally, on the last night of the cruise, they played a cover-all bingo game in the packed theatre just before the show started. It was $20 for a 3 game card and they announced after the game started that the prize was $3600. Well, I (or is it 'me' in this case!lol) and 'Francis from North Little Rock' split it...the most I have ever won at anything. So, X was not trying to make a mint off of bingo as seems to be the case today with most lines, especially with (and I am otherwise big fan) NCL!! Perhaps X has changed a lot since then, too.

 

Would I give X another chance? Yes, but they do not sail from our neck-of-the-woods and so it probably will never happen.

[HokiePoq]

We are headed that way for our Europe cruise. It will be our first time on X, and we are really looking forward to it! Not so sure they are in the same class either, though. I always considered X a step above ....

 

They are normally much more expensive in my experience.

Like the poster above, I found the mentioned "extras" on all my NCL cruises. We are on Celebrity for our two upcoming cruises as there was no itinerary/package that was equivalent and we are paying dearly for them.

[kelmac]

We are very loyal to Celebrity (25 cruises) and have not cruised NCL since 2001. People ask me to rate NCL, and I tell them it's been too long and I'm sure their product has improved and changed.

 

We are going to give the Jewel a try for spring break (March, 2015)! We did get a balcony cabin for the price of an inside on Celebrity. They cruise out of Bayport near the Houston Hobby airport -- easy N/Stop flight for us on Southwest.

 

We've purchased the Ultimate Dining Package to upgrade the food quality. We are going in with an open mind and hope it works out, as it would be great to add Norwegian to our rotation. We've kicked Princess and Holland America out of the mix, as their product (Carnival) just doesn't do it for us anymore. We like Cunard, Oceania, Azamara and even Royal Caribbean is on an upswing. Celebrity is still number one with us, but we are always looking for alternatives!

 

Any recommendations from frequent NCL cruisers?

 

Enjoy!

Kel:)

[rednose83]

The thing I like more about X than NCL is that X has interesting lectures that tell you more about the area you are cruising in, or let you learn about something that isn't related to alcohol, gambling, shopping, or food.

 

Agree. Also, I loved their pool towel policy and custom food options.

 

Did not care for the bed or the fact that you can't see the entertainment on formal night if you don't dress up.

[dexddd]

We are very loyal to Celebrity (25 cruises) and have not cruised NCL since 2001. People ask me to rate NCL, and I tell them it's been too long and I'm sure their product has improved and changed.

 

We are going to give the Jewel a try for spring break (March, 2015)! We did get a balcony cabin for the price of an inside on Celebrity. They cruise out of Bayport near the Houston Hobby airport -- easy N/Stop flight for us on Southwest.

 

We've purchased the Ultimate Dining Package to upgrade the food quality. We are going in with an open mind and hope it works out, as it would be great to add Norwegian to our rotation. We've kicked Princess and Holland America out of the mix, as their product (Carnival) just doesn't do it for us anymore. We like Cunard, Oceania, Azamara and even Royal Caribbean is on an upswing. Celebrity is still number one with us, but we are always looking for alternatives!

 

Any recommendations from frequent NCL cruisers?

 

Enjoy!

Kel:)

 

If you haven't read the VIP thread, you may well have the chance to buy the program for $99 each on your sailing if that is of interest to you.

[kelmac]

If you haven't read the VIP thread, you may well have the chance to buy the program for $99 each on your sailing if that is of interest to you.

 

Thanks dec!

 

Looks interesting; in the past we've never really got into room service, but we will check it out.

 

Thanks again,

Kel:)