After 12 cruises, 5 on Princess we tried NCL for the 1st time. Review below

[cityguy300]

NCL does not have a lobster night but at O'Sheehans pub which is one of the 28 dining venues the Getaway has they at least twice had prime rib and we had it in the MDR so maybe nix it form a pub and use that $$ you save for one night of a lobster dinner.

 

The Getaway does have a lobster night, unless they changed it from last year -- it's just in the buffet (part of a general seafood night). Unlimited lobster tails, usually doled out by staff 1-2 at a time (when there's no one minding the pot, the results are predictable :)).

[Bostonjetset]

Thanks for the review! I've sailed on Breakway, Getaway's sister and I had a wonderful trip. Those ships truly are amazing and have so much to offer, especially in entertainment.

 

That said, I found the crew on NCL to be the least attentive of any line I've sailed. The service was not bad or anything but it lacked the warmth and desire to please that other lines' crews have. HAL and Princess both have crews that bend over backwards for the passengers; they seriously could not do enough for us and we felt like we were their honored guests throughout our trips. NCL's service cannot compare, IMO, to Princess or HAL. Also, the non-surcharge food on NCL is mediocre at best. Princess wins hands down in that dept [and HAL for their pastries!].

[jacketwatch]

The Getaway does have a lobster night, unless they changed it from last year -- it's just in the buffet (part of a general seafood night). Unlimited lobster tails, usually doled out by staff 1-2 at a time (when there's no one minding the pot, the results are predictable :)).

 

That I was not aware of. Its surprising that they would have it in the buffet but not in the MDR's.

[jacketwatch]

Thanks for the review! I've sailed on Breakway, Getaway's sister and I had a wonderful trip. Those ships truly are amazing and have so much to offer, especially in entertainment.

 

That said, I found the crew on NCL to be the least attentive of any line I've sailed. The service was not bad or anything but it lacked the warmth and desire to please that other lines' crews have. HAL and Princess both have crews that bend over backwards for the passengers; they seriously could not do enough for us and we felt like we were their honored guests throughout our trips. NCL's service cannot compare, IMO, to Princess or HAL. Also, the non-surcharge food on NCL is mediocre at best. Princess wins hands down in that dept [and HAL for their pastries!].

 

I do agree about the service though for us it wasn't that bad, just not as consistently good as what we have received on Princess and on X as well. Again though I do think they are upping their game and the entertainment was very good.

Cheers, Larry :)

[Pia1913]

It's funny how different people on the same ship can have completely different experiences. Just got back from the same Getaway cruise. Two years ago we had our worst cruise ever on the Norwegian Pearl. Thought we'd check out the new ship and give NCL a second shot. We even splurged for the Haven. Unfortunately our experience in the Haven, at a $1500 per person premium (over a regular balcony), equaled our experience on 3 princess and 2 Holland America cruises in standard balconies! The Getaway has only 1 pool for 4000+ passengers and EVERY interior public space is designed to take your money: casino, bars, extra charge restaurants and shops. There was a small library and card room for games, and a big screen in the second atrium that shows Cake Boss reruns all day (so you can step right over and buy the Cake Boss cakes in the same atrium.) The main lounge was free, but only open for shows that required reservations. That leaves the lido buffet, which was always frenetically busy, and the very good Flamingo Grill, which had limited hours. That's it for the no-charge public areas! An atrium and a buffet. The Thermal Suite was crowded, the Haven pool and sun decks were crowded, the nice Waterfront area had limited hours but was hot or windy when open, and the entire ship reeked of smoke - for some insane reason all outdoor smoking areas are towards the front of the ship, which means all non-smokers are down wind! The ship itself is very beautiful, but I felt like I'd be charged by NCL just to admire it. Princess has never let us down: great food, beautiful un-crowded ships, decent shows and lots of pools with lots of open decks. Even the Regal had free on demand movies in our standard room; the Getaway charged $10 per movie, even for Haven guests. It was fun once, we had great weather, but we'll never sail NCL again. I can't believe the new Escape has even more passengers, but basically the same amount of already crowded public space... and still only 1 pool!:eek:

 

 

Your post sounds like you were on a different Getaway. We just got off the Getaway yesterday and had a most wonderful cruise. Everything was perfect. Buffet crowded? Never! We always got a table immediately, whether at breakfast or lunch. I don't understand what you mean by main lounge only open for reservations. Are you referring to the theater? The two signature shows, Burn the Floor and Legally Blonde did of course requires reservations. But they performed several times and at different times, so there was opportunity for everyone. If they bothered.

 

As for Flamingo Grill. they were open every day until 5:00. From early AM all the way through. If you really needed a burger past 5:00, you could always get one in the Garden Cafe which was usually open until 9:30. And then they had more food; more than anyone could want. And then there is O'Sheehan's Pub which is open 24/7. YUM!

 

Every ship and every cruise line is designed to "take your money." Every one of them wants you in the casino, at the bar, in the shops or on their shorex. Nothing different with NCL. This ship had three dining rooms, so you need not have spent money on specialty restaurants. We, OTOH, had specialty dinners 6 out of 7 nights.

 

 

Atrium screen? They did all sorts of things there. Only once did I notice Cake Boss. ???

[MacGuffin]

Your post sounds like you were on a different Getaway. We just got off the Getaway yesterday and had a most wonderful cruise. Everything was perfect. Buffet crowded? Never! We always got a table immediately, whether at breakfast or lunch. I don't understand what you mean by main lounge only open for reservations. Are you referring to the theater? The two signature shows, Burn the Floor and Legally Blonde did of course requires reservations. But they performed several times and at different times, so there was opportunity for everyone. If they bothered.

 

As for Flamingo Grill. they were open every day until 5:00. From early AM all the way through. If you really needed a burger past 5:00, you could always get one in the Garden Cafe which was usually open until 9:30. And then they had more food; more than anyone could want. And then there is O'Sheehan's Pub which is open 24/7. YUM! Every ship and every cruise line is designed to "take your money." Every one of them wants you in the casino, at the bar, in the shops or on their shorex. Nothing different with NCL. This ship had three dining rooms, so you need not have spent money on specialty restaurants. We, OTOH, had specialty dinners 6 out of 7 nights.Atrium screen? They did all sorts of things there. Only once did I notice Cake Boss. ???

 

Sorry, the buffet was a mad house every time we went: breakfast, lunch, dinner, late night. The main lounge only had Burn the Floor and Legally Blond, both of which needed reservations for decent seats, both of which were repeated. There was a crew talent show on the last night. My point was more about being one of the few non-upcharge public places on the ship, it was only used at night for only 2 shows that repeated. Once you've seen the shows you're done with the Getaway Theater.

 

Flamingo Grill did have limited hours compared to Buffet. The food in Flamingo was great, but got repetitive. The food in the buffet and dining rooms were average. The food in O'Sheehans was terrible. Microwaved chicken wings? More like hot rubber.

 

All cruise lines are there to take your money, but NCL is the most blatant we've been on. Princess, HAL and Celebrity all have numerous, no charge public spaces that disperse the crowds. Getaway has... 3 free restaurants with limited hours, 1 free buffet, 1 free Flamingo Grill with limited hours, 1 tiny card room, 1 library, 1 pool, 1 cramped Spice H2O with no pool, and a high traffic atrium that showed Cake Boss ad nauseum - and 4,000+ passengers. Getaway was like going to a high end mall at high end prices. Even Carnival Breeze had more options! NCL is just too cynical for us.

Edited June 3, 2015 by MacGuffin

[Pia1913]

 

All cruise lines are there to take your money, but NCL is the most blatant we've been on. Princess, HAL and Celebrity all have numerous, no charge public spaces that disperse the crowds. Getaway has... 3 free restaurants with limited hours, 1 free buffet, 1 free Flamingo Grill with limited hours, 1 tiny card room, 1 library, 1 pool, 1 cramped Spice H2O with no pool, and a high traffic atrium that showed Cake Boss ad nauseum - and 4,000+ passengers. Getaway was like going to a high end mall at high end prices. Even Carnival Breeze had more options! NCL is just too cynical for us.

 

Since you mentioned Princess, and we have almost 1000 days with them (75 cruises), I would appreciate a comparison; item by item. I have lots of cruises with HAL, RCI and CCL too, but am primarily interested in what more or less you received with Princess. I don't do pools, but I do attend MUTS.