BabsinTX Posted March 7, 2015 #1 Share Posted March 7, 2015 My husband and I are longtime NCLers, but decided to try a Princess cruise to Hawaii. It was an interesting and informative experience, which made me appreciate NCL but also showed me some of its weaknesses. The biggest difference: Princess doesn't sell raffle tickets before show performances. Such an improvement! Oh, and the food on this particular Princess cruise left much to be desired. Here's a link to my review: http://boards.cruisecritic.com/showthread.php?t=2178068 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Carnac767 Posted March 7, 2015 #2 Share Posted March 7, 2015 Thanks for posting. I don't recall raffle ticket sales on the past four or five cruises I've been on but we don't show up until right before show time, so maybe I just missed them. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare sparks1093 Posted March 7, 2015 #3 Share Posted March 7, 2015 Thanks for the review. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
newmexicoNita Posted March 7, 2015 #4 Share Posted March 7, 2015 Thanks for posting. I don't recall raffle ticket sales on the past four or five cruises I've been on but we don't show up until right before show time, so maybe I just missed them. Our last NCL cruise (last spring) did havd raffle tickets for sale prior to the show but the push wasn't like in past years. I think we purchased them once. We have never won anything except our $ or whatever back. Well certainly not $ anymore. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rvsullivan Posted March 7, 2015 #5 Share Posted March 7, 2015 (edited) Last two NCL cruises there were no ticket sales. Nothing like it was three years ago. Low pressure/low key now. Edited March 7, 2015 by rvsullivan Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fshagan Posted March 7, 2015 #6 Share Posted March 7, 2015 Our last two cruises didn't have any raffles before shows or movies. A few years back we took a Pacific coastal to Alaska on the Star with three sea days at the beginning. Weather was too cold to be out on pool deck so it was crowded inside, and they had a loud PA system encouraging everyone to buy gold by the inch, watches on sale for a limited time, etc. I was glad to see it was more low key again by the time of our next cruise. We cruised Princess a few times before using mainly NCL for our cruising (Freestyle works better for us). We were seriously looking at a Princess British Isles cruise for this fall but opted for an NCL New England cruise instead. We'll cruise other lines but find we prefer NCL. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fishin' musician Posted March 7, 2015 #7 Share Posted March 7, 2015 DW and I prefer Princess. NCL and HAL fight it out for second, RCL is always considered and we'll likely try Celebrity again, even though our only cruise with them had considerable flaws. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Barb Nahoumi Posted March 7, 2015 #8 Share Posted March 7, 2015 Does Princess have formal nights, and how strictly, are dress codes adhered to? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ilovesailing Posted March 7, 2015 #9 Share Posted March 7, 2015 My husband and I are longtime NCLers, but decided to try a Princess cruise to Hawaii. It was an interesting and informative experience, which made me appreciate NCL but also showed me some of its weaknesses. The biggest difference: Princess doesn't sell raffle tickets before show performances. Such an improvement! Oh, and the food on this particular Princess cruise left much to be desired. Here's a link to my review: http://boards.cruisecritic.com/showthread.php?t=2178068 NCL does not sell raffle tickets on POA nor does the ship have a casino or bingo because there is no gambling in the State of Hawaii. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chrisc71 Posted March 7, 2015 #10 Share Posted March 7, 2015 Thought Princess food was better than NCL. IMO. Also Princess has cookies out all day at the buffet. Something I wish NCL would do. Also Princess has free food items at their specialty coffee bar while on the newer NCL ships you have to buy Carlo's. Prefer Freestyle aspect of NCL. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
aquarianne11 Posted March 7, 2015 #11 Share Posted March 7, 2015 My husband and I are longtime NCLers, but decided to try a Princess cruise to Hawaii. It was an interesting and informative experience, which made me appreciate NCL but also showed me some of its weaknesses. The biggest difference: Princess doesn't sell raffle tickets before show performances. Such an improvement! Oh, and the food on this particular Princess cruise left much to be desired. Here's a link to my review: http://boards.cruisecritic.com/showthread.php?t=2178068 Thanks for sharing your review. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mrobstad Posted March 7, 2015 #12 Share Posted March 7, 2015 Hawking raffle tickets is truly annoying and so ughhhh[emoji47] Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Linda the Book Lover Posted March 8, 2015 #13 Share Posted March 8, 2015 I popped over to read your review which I enjoyed. The champagne breakfast and dinner is very nice on Princess. We enjoyed the breakfast and lolling about on the balcony with our champagne while going through the Panama Canal and loved it far better than the other times. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
swedish weave Posted March 8, 2015 #14 Share Posted March 8, 2015 Does Princess have formal nights, and how strictly, are dress codes adhered to? Princess has formal nights, but the dress code application is very lax. I have worn dress shirt and slacks in the MDR on those nights with no questions or problems. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hawkeyetlse Posted March 8, 2015 #15 Share Posted March 8, 2015 (edited) Also Princess has free food items at their specialty coffee bar while on the newer NCL ships you have to buy Carlo's.And the specialty coffee drinks are included in their All-Inclusive Bar Package. Which costs less than the UBP. :( BabsinTX, I enjoyed reading your review! Edited March 8, 2015 by hawkeyetlse Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
searoses Posted March 8, 2015 #16 Share Posted March 8, 2015 Did the new regal princess in jan....most beautiful ship I have been on and the buffet food was amazing.... there is a very nice adult's only pool area....very windy that week and the pool temp was cool...in better conditions you'd have to drag me off the ship....I am not loyal to any one line but she really is special... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
OCruisers Posted March 8, 2015 #17 Share Posted March 8, 2015 My husband and I are longtime NCLers, but decided to try a Princess cruise to Hawaii. It was an interesting and informative experience, which made me appreciate NCL but also showed me some of its weaknesses. The biggest difference: Princess doesn't sell raffle tickets before show performances. Such an improvement! Oh, and the food on this particular Princess cruise left much to be desired. Here's a link to my review:http://boards.cruisecritic.com/showthread.php?t=2178068 Thanks for your time and your thoughts! We don't agree with you on the food (much prefer Princess food over what is offered in the MDR on NCL) BUT it is your review and respect and appreciate YOUR opinion. :) LuLu Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
searoses Posted March 8, 2015 #18 Share Posted March 8, 2015 Agree lulu....I cruise for the ports and barely notice the food....I do dislike the overworked crew in such a hurry in the mdr....the regal did not have that urgency..we had one so-so meal and one very good one....the rest were in the hc...amazing! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BabsinTX Posted March 14, 2015 Author #19 Share Posted March 14, 2015 Does Princess have formal nights, and how strictly, are dress codes adhered to? We were on a 15 night cruise, so they had three formal nights-one was Valentine's Day. We don't do formal (we're freestyle people!!) so don't know how strict they were. Some people were VERY dressed up, I can tell you that. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BabsinTX Posted March 14, 2015 Author #20 Share Posted March 14, 2015 And the specialty coffee drinks are included in their All-Inclusive Bar Package. Which costs less than the UBP. :( BabsinTX, I enjoyed reading your review! Thanks so much! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BabsinTX Posted March 14, 2015 Author #21 Share Posted March 14, 2015 Thanks for your time and your thoughts!We don't agree with you on the food (much prefer Princess food over what is offered in the MDR on NCL) BUT it is your review and respect and appreciate YOUR opinion. :) LuLu Lulu: Thanks for your kind remarks. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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