Last thread and I will take a break from cruise critic...

[BoiiMcFly]

I just need to know....Freedom of the Seas or Norwegian Getaway?? We are picking one of these two.

 

Freedom looks great, but when it comes to entertainment Getaway takes it to another level.

 

What would you recommend? It is for a Transatlantic cruise.

[SuiteTraveler]

These are both really great ships. Getaway is newer and if you want a fabulous spa, it has Freedom beat hands down. If you plan to be in a suite Getaway is far better. If it is about specialty restaurants, then, IMO Getaway is better, mostly. But the question to me is "feel". Do you want to be on a cruise that feels more like a major theme park (RCCL) or a Las Vegas Casino resort (NCL). Both are really great. Choose based on what you prefer.

[Cras108er]

Why are you taking g a break? I tend to obsess with cc in the months leading up to a cruise. After the cruise the allure is just not there anymore. I may not check back for months/years. As soon as I get the cruise bug, I'm back. Don't fight the feeling. 😀

[BoiiMcFly]

These are both really great ships. Getaway is newer and if you want a fabulous spa, it has Freedom beat hands down. If you plan to be in a suite Getaway is far better. If it is about specialty restaurants, then, IMO Getaway is better, mostly. But the question to me is "feel". Do you want to be on a cruise that feels more like a major theme park (RCCL) or a Las Vegas Casino resort (NCL). Both are really great. Choose based on what you prefer.

 

Both look great and I am sure we will enjoy either one. The Getaway does interest us a little more, but it is also significantly more expensive. We are hoping the price drops, but if not we will probably stick to either the Navigator or Freedom. They look great as well. Koningsdam has the lowest price and looks very pristine, but it might not be for our age group yet.

Edited February 1, 2017 by BoiiMcFly

[Aquahound]

I just need to know....Freedom of the Seas or Norwegian Getaway?? We are picking one of these two.

 

Freedom looks great, but when it comes to entertainment Getaway takes it to another level.

 

What would you recommend? It is for a Transatlantic cruise.

 

I don't agree that Getaway takes entertainment to another level...at least, not over Freedom of the Seas, or any other newer RCI ship.

 

FOS is running a 90 minute production of Hairspray as one of the main shows. They do a great job with it, and most of the theater tends to be on their feet dancing during the closing song.

 

Plus, FOS has Studio B. The ice shows are amazing and unlike anything you'll see on any other cruise line.

 

Both are great cruises. I haven't been on Getaway but I've been on her newer sister, Escape. Escape's a little larger, but I found that class of ship to be extremely crowded. Between these 2 choices, I'd pick FOS.

[BoiiMcFly]

I don't agree that Getaway takes entertainment to another level...at least, not over Freedom of the Seas, or any other newer RCI ship.

 

FOS is running a 90 minute production of Hairspray as one of the main shows. They do a great job with it, and most of the theater tends to be on their feet dancing during the closing song.

 

Plus, FOS has Studio B. The ice shows are amazing and unlike anything you'll see on any other cruise line.

 

Both are great cruises. I haven't been on Getaway but I've been on her newer sister, Escape. Escape's a little larger, but I found that class of ship to be extremely crowded. Between these 2 choices, I'd pick FOS.

 

Don't get me wrong, I think Freedom looks amazing as well. I will be very happy with any ship I get to cruise on. But the Getaway has the waterpark, ice bar, magic theatre (love magic) and 22 restaurants. The spa definitely seems better, and I like the boardwalk restaurants.

 

I really wish they could merge RC and NCL, the cruise ships would be lots of fun. Maybe throw HAL in there too and have the Ultimate cruise ship.

Edited February 1, 2017 by BoiiMcFly

[BoiiMcFly]

Why are you taking g a break? I tend to obsess with cc in the months leading up to a cruise. After the cruise the allure is just not there anymore. I may not check back for months/years. As soon as I get the cruise bug, I'm back. Don't fight the feeling. 😀

 

Because ever since I joined, I can't take my mind off cruise ships lol. I am so excited and intrigued that it has been taking up a little too much of my time. But have met some really nice folks that have been kind enough to share their experiences with me.

[SuiteTraveler]

Both look great and I am sure we will enjoy either one. The Getaway does interest us a little more, but it is also significantly more expensive. We are hoping the price drops, but if not we will probably stick to either the Navigator or Freedom. They look great as well. Koningsdam has the lowest price and looks very pristine, but it might not be for our age group yet.

 

Given the price difference you might be better off on a RCCL ship, then. Certainly the Shampoo show on Freedom is really great with a quality cast. On Getaway, the magic show in the Illusionarium is kind of a kid's show but if you have never seen a magic show, it would be a good one to see for the first time as it is mostly up-close magic which is harder to do than theater magic. Burn the Floor is a good show - but honestly, the dancing on the MSC Divinia was waaaaaaay better - in fact the music shows on that ship were just incredible with Broadway caliber performers and they were every single night - a different show. You might be able to get on MSC Divinia for less than on Getaway or Freedom and that's still a great ship - especially if you are in the Yacht Club where it really becomes an all-inclusive experience and the price for that is a fraction of what you pay for The Haven on NCL.

 

As far as Getaway goes, to me, it's all about having that spa pass - that's the big thing for us on that ship and then we go to a different restaurant every night. But we are always in a suite on that ship.

 

Freedom doesn't offer the same kind of suite service and amenities as NCL does - no butler and the concierge is helpful but massively overworked, so I mostly left him alone. At any rate, if you want a suite on Freedom, there is no advantage to higher level suites over lower level suites except more space so it is wise to choose the least expensive suite.

 

If you are just going for a regular cabin, then Getaway has cabins that are more modern and Freedom's cabins are more dated looking as they have not overhauled them - still they are very nice and maybe a bit larger. Getaway's cabins don't really get much bigger until you get to the Penthouse level which is a suite on NCL. The junior suites are the same size as the balcony cabins except they have a larger bathroom with a large shower, double trough sink and toilet.

 

We went on HAL and honestly, everyone on the ship was so much older than us and there were a lot of elderly napping in the public spaces. I think the average age was 70+. We did feel out of place, so we spent the majority of our time onboard hanging out in our suite which was very, very nice. We were not impressed with the food on HAL and some of the elderly passengers were very demanding even of us - like not wanting us to leave the table after lunch was over because they were telling a long, long, long story. I guess I would describe that cruise as the "Put upon" cruise, LOL. I also had another elderly guest snap his fingers at me and demand I wait upon him in the jewelry store. He thought I worked there - probably because I was so much younger than him. But the whole cruise was just a series of these kinds of odd events.

 

So, anyway, I think Freedom is a great ship and so is Independence. I hope that you have a great cruise, whatever you decide!

[BoiiMcFly]

Given the price difference you might be better off on a RCCL ship, then. Certainly the Shampoo show on Freedom is really great with a quality cast. On Getaway, the magic show in the Illusionarium is kind of a kid's show but if you have never seen a magic show, it would be a good one to see for the first time as it is mostly up-close magic which is harder to do than theater magic. Burn the Floor is a good show - but honestly, the dancing on the MSC Divinia was waaaaaaay better - in fact the music shows on that ship were just incredible with Broadway caliber performers and they were every single night - a different show. You might be able to get on MSC Divinia for less than on Getaway or Freedom and that's still a great ship - especially if you are in the Yacht Club where it really becomes an all-inclusive experience and the price for that is a fraction of what you pay for The Haven on NCL.

 

As far as Getaway goes, to me, it's all about having that spa pass - that's the big thing for us on that ship and then we go to a different restaurant every night. But we are always in a suite on that ship.

 

Freedom doesn't offer the same kind of suite service and amenities as NCL does - no butler and the concierge is helpful but massively overworked, so I mostly left him alone. At any rate, if you want a suite on Freedom, there is no advantage to higher level suites over lower level suites except more space so it is wise to choose the least expensive suite.

 

If you are just going for a regular cabin, then Getaway has cabins that are more modern and Freedom's cabins are more dated looking as they have not overhauled them - still they are very nice and maybe a bit larger. Getaway's cabins don't really get much bigger until you get to the Penthouse level which is a suite on NCL. The junior suites are the same size as the balcony cabins except they have a larger bathroom with a large shower, double trough sink and toilet.

 

We went on HAL and honestly, everyone on the ship was so much older than us and there were a lot of elderly napping in the public spaces. I think the average age was 70+. We did feel out of place, so we spent the majority of our time onboard hanging out in our suite which was very, very nice. We were not impressed with the food on HAL and some of the elderly passengers were very demanding even of us - like not wanting us to leave the table after lunch was over because they were telling a long, long, long story. I guess I would describe that cruise as the "Put upon" cruise, LOL. I also had another elderly guest snap his fingers at me and demand I wait upon him in the jewelry store. He thought I worked there - probably because I was so much younger than him. But the whole cruise was just a series of these kinds of odd events.

 

So, anyway, I think Freedom is a great ship and so is Independence. I hope that you have a great cruise, whatever you decide!

 

Thanks man, really appreciate your post. Freedom looks great too and I am just excited to get another opportunity of going on a cruise. We might get addicted and just try them all. :D Of course, only if our finances allow it.