Curious...

[Daruma]

So, there are numerous posts here, and on other lines' forums, regarding the decline in food quality, portion size, services, (such as going from 2 cabin cleanings per day to one), etc, etc, and then on top of taking away, they're also increasing the cost to cruise. 

 

As someone who has not cruised in 15 years, and never on NCL, and has a cruise coming up on April 13, 2025 on the Escape... I'm getting a bit concerned about the value. 

 

Now, it's possible, though not probable, that by then the cruise industry/NCL will have recovered from the pandemic funk, and will begin transitioning back to better food, portions, and various and sundry services, (BWAHAHAHA... now there's a fantasy for you, lol). 

 

However, I'm more inclined to think things will either stay as is, or get even worse.

 

So, my question... do you think that most of these complaints are over blown, and just people being nitpicky? Or very true, but isolated and uncommon?

 

I mean, in today's internet world if a fly farts in Zimbabwe we hear about it. Plus, when things go well, we tell our friends... when they go poorly we tell EVERYBODY, lol. 

 

Just curious as to the thoughts of the frequent and well seasoned cruisers here regarding this. 

 

Thank you for your time. 

 

 

[D_And_K_gocruising]

I personally have never cared about 2 times a day rooms service.. I guess if I had kids and had to put away / get out the beds then it would be nice, but other than that, I'm not in my room.. As far as food quality, this was my first cruise and I had no real issues with what I got to eat.  Main dining room was awesome, buffet was fine, Osheehans was great..   And if you dont get enough, and it's not an extra pay place, ASK FOR MORE!!!   As far as pricing goes, unless you've been under a rock EVERYTHING (but my wages) have gone up a LOT.. Doesnt matter what it is.. And with cruises pretty much booking up, there is zero reason for them to lower prices etc etc plus they still have higher costs on everything...   I can still find what I consider good pricing for stuff in more off seasons.. 

 

EDIT:   I was / am bummed about only 1 full production show.. I really did enjoy Choir of Man but wish there were more options.. I know other lines have more options it seems.. 

Edited February 14 by D_And_K_gocruising

[UKstages]

14 minutes ago, Daruma said:

So, my question... do you think that most of these complaints are over blown, and just people being nitpicky? Or very true, but isolated and uncommon?

 

the reports are real. if anything the decline in quality and service is underreported and deemphasized because of forum participants' love of cruising. the problem, as i see it, isn't so much the removal of cookies or smoked salmon or veuve cliquot or using lesser cuts of meat, or the closing down of premium broadway entertainment or the shift to once a day house keeping or the unavailability of your favorite brands at the bar or charging more for your favorite brands at the bar... any one or two or three or four of these things is completely understandable.

 

it's the assault of all of them over a relatively short period of time that has taken its toll on frequent cruisers.. the effect is overwhelming and severely reduces the value proposition.

 

will it swing back? if past is prologue, it will. but how long that will take is anybody's guess.

 

if people continue to sail at these prices, with these reduced levels of products and services, there may not be a marketplace correction at all.

[Daruma]

3 minutes ago, D_And_K_gocruising said:

I personally have never cared about 2 times a day rooms service.. I guess if I had kids and had to put away / get out the beds then it would be nice, but other than that, I'm not in my room.. As far as food quality, this was my first cruise and I had no real issues with what I got to eat.  Main dining room was awesome, buffet was fine, Osheehans was great..   And if you dont get enough, and it's not an extra pay place, ASK FOR MORE!!!   As far as pricing goes, unless you've been under a rock EVERYTHING (but my wages) have gone up a LOT.. Doesnt matter what it is.. And with cruises pretty much booking up, there is zero reason for them to lower prices etc etc plus they still have higher costs on everything...   I can still find what I consider good pricing for stuff in more off seasons.. 

 

I personally don't care about two times per day cleaning, in fact I prefer one time per day... I was just citing it as an example that I've read here regarding declining services. 

 

I hear ya on costs in general... we no longer go to regular, sit down, "tip me" restaurants... honestly, we've reached the conclusion that those restaurants, (and I'm talking mid-tier Chili's, Applebee's, etc... that type of place), don't really provide a product, like a burger, or such, that warrants the increased time in the place to get your food, base increased cost of a burger type meal, then on top an additional 20%+ tip.

 

Are their burgers better? Probably... but FOR US... they aren't THAT much better, lol. 

 

Anyway, I digress... thank you. 

[wolft927]

So, Cruise bookings across all lines are at an all time high. So if the current offerings are creating this type of demand i do not see the cruise lines changing there offerings. I remember working in las vegas during the financial colapse of 2007. Casinos laid off so many positions and never refilled after the recovery becasue the job could be done with less people.

[complawyer]

daruma.. i've posted this thought many times. my wife and i cruise for the enjoyment of being on a cruise ship and visiting exotic ports around the world. personally, i can live on junk food if need be.

i've had good meals on cruises, great meals on some, (lobster thermidor in le bistro is to die for and worth the upcharges) consider the kitchen(s) making assorted meals for multi venues throughout he ship, for a few 1,000 people every day for however he cruise lasts, odds are very favorable that something will go wrong.

 

there are so many choices in the buffet (breakfast, lunch and dinner) that if you cant find anything you like, the problem is on you.

 

broadway quality shows. nothing beats broadway, but oftentimes i dont even bother going. you need to give the cast-regardless of the production being offered, props for the mere energy they expend puttimg on a show. ive seen entertainers, that were painful to watch/listen to, we walked out of jersey boys, frankie valli he aint, loved SIX, saw it again when it played locally. others have posted the exact opposite.

 

we've stayed in major hotels on land , and you only get i housekeeping a day. last year in paris las vegas, they completely forgot to clean the room at all.

 

the saying goes opinions "opinions are like certain anatomical parts, everyone has one)

 

even on  a sea day, what could be better than sitting on your balcony, with a glass of champagne or ice cold beer just watching the world go by. if that doesnt float your boat, go to the topsiders bar and order a margarita, or a mojito from sugarcane. 

in the end, remember that all these so called problems are 1st world problems at worst, and or minor annoyances at best.  we've sailed ncl over 25 times in the past 14 years, and never has very much to complain about. you can always find something to complain about if you really look.

 

take your cruise, i understand the escape is an amazing vessel, enjoy both your time on board and in the ports you visit, and feel free to give all these naysayers, the mid finger salute.

 

by the way, let us know your feelings after you get home.

 

[bkrickles1]

30 minutes ago, Daruma said:

So, my question... do you think that most of these complaints are over blown, and just people being nitpicky? Or very true, but isolated and uncommon?

There is, of course, some truth to what you've read, as UK stated.

The cutbacks are real and do affect everyone.

We haven't cruised nearly as often as some on here, but we have cruised fairly consistently over the years so we have a fair idea how some of the changes have impacted cruising.

We've sailed twice with NCL since June, 2022 and have another coming up in 65 days.

Our last sailing was on Joy this past July and I was aware of some of the cutbacks beforehand, so I paid attention while onboard. 

I have to say that my overall experience was not impacted. We had a wonderful time! The service was as good as usual. Food was essentially the same, in spite of some changes. Some was good, some was not so good. Always plenty to choose and nobody in my group of 13 went hungry.

And there were no shortages of anything we wanted as there were the previous year right after the pandemic. I believe most of those issues have been resolved already.

Anyway, I wouldn't be scared off by any comments here.

We love cruising and are doing it again in April. 

 

[cruiser2015]

57 minutes ago, Daruma said:

So, there are numerous posts here, and on other lines' forums, regarding the decline in food quality, portion size, services, (such as going from 2 cabin cleanings per day to one), etc, etc, and then on top of taking away, they're also increasing the cost to cruise. 

 

As someone who has not cruised in 15 years, and never on NCL, and has a cruise coming up on April 13, 2025 on the Escape... I'm getting a bit concerned about the value. 

 

Now, it's possible, though not probable, that by then the cruise industry/NCL will have recovered from the pandemic funk, and will begin transitioning back to better food, portions, and various and sundry services, (BWAHAHAHA... now there's a fantasy for you, lol). 

 

However, I'm more inclined to think things will either stay as is, or get even worse.

 

So, my question... do you think that most of these complaints are over blown, and just people being nitpicky? Or very true, but isolated and uncommon?

 

I mean, in today's internet world if a fly farts in Zimbabwe we hear about it. Plus, when things go well, we tell our friends... when they go poorly we tell EVERYBODY, lol. 

 

Just curious as to the thoughts of the frequent and well seasoned cruisers here regarding this. 

 

Thank you for your time. 

 

 

I was on the Bliss for 15 days last month.

First cruise in 5 years; last was on RCL.

The service was universally excellent. Food quality generally good. Some dishes shined; some mediocre. Certainly not terrible. I felt satisfied nearly all of the time.

We found Cagney's to be excellent. Teppenyaki food was good - and the place is entertaining. We did not go to any other specialty venues.

Has it gone downhill? I suppose - but not over a cliff. Yeah, no more free lobster tails and some other cut backs.

As mentioned, you can always ask for a second helping or even another dish for any course of your meal; also if you don't care for one, you may get another different one. In any event, I did not find the portions to be small.

[hoops71]

I have sailed on NCL 14 times.  Six of those after the pandemic.  I have also cruised Carnival and Royal.

I would say the certain things have declined across all three lines, but nothing that would make want to stop cruising with them.

It is annoying that basically things cost more for less now.  Examples that come to mind are new or higher upcharges in the specialty resturants or the thermal suite pass now being a lot more than it was.   But clearly the demand is still there at those prices and I am still part of the demand.  I still feel it is all worth it.  Dollar for dollar cruising is still the better option than land vacations for me and my family.  I am sure there is a price or a quality level that would change that.  But NCL has not reached it and I still have an overall great time on their ships.

 

[Daruma]

20 minutes ago, complawyer said:

 

20 minutes ago, complawyer said:

... 

even on  a sea day, what could be better than sitting on your balcony, with a glass of champagne or ice cold beer just watching the world go by. if that doesnt float your boat, go to the topsiders bar and order a margarita, or a mojito from sugarcane...

 

 

Since I don't drink alcohol... a Coke Zero would be better, lol 🤣. 

 

Seriously though, thank you. 

[Daruma]

Thank you all, this is helpful. 

 

In my favor, I'm not a "foodie" per se... give me McDonald's and I'm happy, lol. 

 

When we went on the Disney cruise when my now 22 yr old son was 8, we had dinner once in the MDR, and every other meal was the buffet because that's what Sean wanted 🤷 and we were all perfectly happy. 

 

So, not being a "foodie" likely means that, (to a certain level), a degradation of food quality probably won't matter much to me. 

 

I'm certainly looking forward to my cruise, just wanting to set realistic expectations. 

 

I'm mostly interested in the gym, the Thermal Spa, for which I'll be buying the week long pass, the Vibe, (which I was already able to buy last week... WHOO HOO 🤗🥳), and the excursions... which I'm still debating over 😆, then the shows, then the food/restaurants.

 

Not being a booze drinker I could give a f@#& about the downgrade of top tier alcohol. 

 

I'm both looking forward to, and being concerned for, my cruise. 

 

Thank you all who've replied so far. 

[UKstages]

4 minutes ago, Daruma said:

So, not being a "foodie" likely means that, (to a certain level), a degradation of food quality probably won't matter much to me. 

 

well, it isn't just lower quality; it's also fewer choices. at the buffet for instance, there used to be a wide array of dishes, many of them repeated on two side of the buffet.  now, invariably, you get far fewer dishes and they are repeated as many as four or five times throughout the buffet. there are slimmed down menus and choices in some of the restaurants and lots of tinkering to the late night menus and the availability of items and the opening hours in the local and o'sheehan's.

 

8 minutes ago, Daruma said:

I'm mostly interested in the gym, the Thermal Spa, for which I'll be buying the week long pass, the Vibe, (which I was already able to buy last week...

 

you'll be fine. with a thermal spa pass and/or a vibe pass, you will have insulated yourself from most of the noise and challenges associated with the rest of the ship and you'll always have a place to go for a respite.

 

10 minutes ago, Daruma said:

Not being a booze drinker I could give a f@#& about the downgrade of top tier alcohol. 

 

here again, it's not just the alcoholic drinks. last week on the getaway... by day 7 of a 10 day cruise, many bars and restaurants were telling me that they had no sprite zero. and the casino bar (at which i get free bottled water and "ultra" drinks) didn't stock pellegrino or aqua panna. mind you, they weren't out of it... they just no longer carried it.

 

again, the vibe to the rescue. much like the haven, after the first day, they'll make sure they have a supply of whatever you and yours drink most often.

[D_And_K_gocruising]

I dont know who else you're going with, but if you arent a drinker and like quick access to the bar, the vibe may not the best money spent BUT it will for sure be quiet and have ample loungers available.. If THAT is what you are looking for 100% worth it..   The thermal spa is great on the Escape.. I loved it for the 2 hours I used it..  I never went back to it just because I didnt.. So it's great IF you are going to use it.. the stone loungers and all the other rooms are great!!!   

[Daruma]

2 minutes ago, UKstages said:

... They'll make sure they have a supply of whatever you and yours drink most often... 

 

My last blood test my DR told me that my blood was 50% Coke Zero, lol. 

[Daruma]

1 minute ago, D_And_K_gocruising said:

I dont know who else you're going with, but if you arent a drinker and like quick access to the bar, the vibe may not the best money spent BUT it will for sure be quiet and have ample loungers available.. If THAT is what you are looking for 100% worth it..   The thermal spa is great on the Escape.. I loved it for the 2 hours I used it..  I never went back to it just because I didnt.. So it's great IF you are going to use it.. the stone loungers and all the other rooms are great!!!   

 

Solo cruise in a solo balcony cabin... my wife hates, beyond all measurable levels of hatred, warm, tropical, beachy, swimmy vacations. She hates that we live in FL. 

 

So, we take two vacations a year together, then she takes a cooler climate, woodsy, hiking vacation, (with my son... I don't like her traveling alone), and I take a warmer, tropical, beachy, swimmy vacation, (often also with my son) . 

 

Don't care much about the bar... I'm more interested in a more quiet, relatively secluded, place to which to retreat. 

 

I'll likely use the spa at least after every workout... or just cause. I really enjoy spas in general. I'm looking forward to getting on those stone loungers, which from pictures appear to have a great view, with a book and reading. 

[UKstages]

11 minutes ago, Daruma said:

My last blood test my DR told me that my blood was 50% Coke Zero, lol. 

 

funny. i'm a diet coke guy and, as i'm sure you know, passions run deep on both sides of the aisle. i won't drink coke zero. i do prefer coke products, and was overjoyed when NCL switched teams, but i just say no to coke zero.

 

here's the thing. i don't really drink much diet coke, either, anymore. i used to drink a lot, much like you, my blood was probably 50% diet coke. and the caffeine kept me up at night. then i quit cold turkey. and the caffeine withdrawal was unbearable... like i was a heroin addict. i was in severe pain for four days.

 

so, now, i limit myself to one diet coke in the morning, if that. and i bounce out of bed in the morning with no headache whatsoever. works for me.

 

so, back to sprite zero on NCL ships. i choose sprite zero because it has no caffeine. zero sugar, zero caffeine, zero calories. but, invariably, when i order sprite zero and they're out of it... they bring me a coke zero. "oh, he's one of those 'zero' people... i'm sure he'd like this instead" they must be thinking.

 

nope.

 

the two products have almost nothing in common. if i ordered a pu pu platter and they were out of it, would they bring me a copy of "winnie the pooh?"

 

most servers don't understand that coke zero has caffeine and most servers don't think there is a difference between coke zero and diet coke.

[Jordan61]

11 minutes ago, UKstages said:

most servers don't understand that coke zero has caffeine and most servers don't think there is a difference between coke zero and diet coke.

 

They are mistaken. Coke Zero is gross. Whenever I am offered that as an alternative to Diet Coke, I just get water.

[Daruma]

1 minute ago, Jordan61 said:

 

... Coke Zero is gross...

 

BLASPHEMER!! 

 

A POX UPON THEE!!! 

[cruisinfamily7609]

I notice a gigantic difference in cruising since my very first cruise on Royal Caribbean Majesty of the Seas in 1995. I can’t say I’ve got hundreds of cruises under my belt or anything like that, but we’ve done several over the nearly thirty years I’ve been married. Enough to where I can truly see the trajectory of what WAS, versus what IS, and yeah - the differences are enormous. Meals were fancy. Service was top notch no matter what line you cruised on. Dress codes were a thing. People were very much discouraged from wearing jeans or shorts in the dining room. Formal nights meant formal. 

 

That said, I first cruised during a time when paying $1300 a passenger for an inside cabin was common, and not just during high season - in fact my first cruise was off season and that’s why we got such a “great” rate for an inside cabin! Sky was the limit for the rest of the ship. It wasn’t until after my first cruise when the major lines started really discounting, the thing to do was NOT use a travel agent and just do it yourself online...(as opposed to now where things are beginning to swing back the other way) and not long after those discounts started, lines started making cuts.

 

Let me also just say that back in those days - ships weren’t bringing Broadway-style entertainment to their theaters at all. Sure, we had production shows, comedians, musicians, and that sort of thing - but it just depended on the cruise line. I didn’t notice a difference.

 

Then, the lines began instituting alternative dining. (I can remember the heated debates about those charges right here on these boards, back in the days when a poster with the user name of Parnami was all over these message boards. Those of us who have been around since the days of AOL might recall his name, but most will not.)  From there, it’s been a whirlwind of building small cities on the ships, complete with water slides, roller coasters, ice rinks, etc. More and more people cruise, and most of those people - at least those on the very large ships and major lines, don’t mind the cuts.

 

They don’t notice them because they don’t KNOW they’re cuts. Cruise lines like NCL, Royal Caribbean and Carnival appeal to the first time cruisers, and there’s nothing wrong with that. They don’t know the difference, and they’re happy to please. I think it’s far more difficult for the cruise line loyalists (or just cruising loyalists altogether), because they see the cost-cutting decisions being made each year, or even each quarter. Still others don’t mind the cuts because in turn for those, they have all of those activities, water slides, ice rinks, bowling alleys, surfing...and whatever else.  

 

Here’s the thing, at least for me: I love being on the ships. That alone is relaxing. I’m a veteran stay-at-home mom, and now I’m a caregiver to my own mother. I need the break, and being on a cruise is still wonderful. I still love only having to pack and unpack once, and feeling just a little bit spoiled for a week. I don’t even do all the spa treatments or things like that...but being on the ship and not having to plan and schedule my life for a change? I’ll take it!! 

On the other hand though, I very much struggle with the idea that I’m paying very similar costs to what I did back in 1995, particularly when I sit back and figure out how much I’ve spent for the dining, drink packages, and extra stuff before I even get on the darn ship; yet for that price, the food is becoming far more like a mediocre chain restaurant (as it was last year for us on Carnival). The service isn’t quite what it was when we first cruised, but overall, I think it’s still amazingly good. My kids (and they’re not really children - two of mine are adults and one is a teen) loved the food on our last Carnival cruise though - and that’s probably the point.

<winces> I might not be the demographic these lines are after, anymore, and chances are, it’s time I move up to the luxury or ultra-luxury lines. Someone please let my bank account know. 

Edited February 14 by cruisinfamily7609
I changed the wording in one sentence.

[bedfordmom]

Its not the twice a day cleaning that upsets me, it was the substandard variable once a day cleaning. Now to be fair, on the Getaway  Feb 2023, we were the first ship first week to get the once a day and it was chaotic.  Stewart never showed some days, no extra towels,  no vacuuming, no sheets changed in more than a week. At least w/twice a day cleaning, I knew if they couldn't get to my room, we would get extra towels.  Fast forward six months later on the same ship, the once a day cleaning went much smoother but still miss getting the evening towels.  Definately the choices of entertainment has declined, NCLgoing more for the paid game show route. Less daytime activities though they cost literally nothing to do (and this was a TA so daytime activities were appreciated)  Food seemed to have smaller portions, less quality and variety.  Still overall cruising is a good value compared to land vacations,  we were just spoiled before.

[cruiseny4life]

Let's see where this goes...

 

So, I don't talk about it a lot, because it was not a very pleasant experience, but my first cruise was in 2009 on Carnival Triumph. It's been re-named after the poop-cruise saga. My grandmother and I shared a spa balcony cabin and my three college friends shared an inside room somewhere near the waterline. I went to the main dining room a couple of times with my friends as I wanted to be with them, but Carnival insisted on putting us with a couple and their daughter.

 

My friends loved it! I hated it. Before the cruise I told them I'd be skipping out on formal night as I did not want to dress up (see, even in 2009 I was smart enough not to put a penguin suit on, except for work purposes). I remember the couple with their daughter didn't fancy me as I was...well, I basically ignored them while my friends talked with them. The couple times I ate in the main dining room, the food was good.

 

Other times I went to the buffet, burger place, and pizza place. This is before the advent of Carnival's Guys and whatever names they have now. I don't know if the ship had any not included in the fare food. The food everywhere onboard was nasty, except the main dining room. Room service sucked. Pizza was disgusting and the burgers were gross.

 

From 2009 to 2022 I didn't cruise. My experience on Carnival was lackluster. I was one of those that claimed "petri" dishes and all that other bogus crap were real, because of my terrible experience. Will I ever cruise Carnival again? Eh, maybe, but they don't have a suites area like the Haven.

 

Fast forward to 2022, my husband and I decided on a NCL cruise in the Haven during my spring break (I was a school director back in the day). We went. We loved it. We've gone back. So, I may not be the one to give a good comparison to cruising then and now. Plus, I only cruise Haven, so I can't tell you how everything in the other areas of the ship are, though we do frequent the specialty restaurants, main dining room, and thanks to @UKstages insistence, I try the buffet every cruise. I claimed I hated it. He told me it might have been a one-off. It wasn't. I have had a couple of tolerable dishes in the buffet, but generally the very small portion of food I do get stays on my plate after one bite. I do hate the waste, but I'm not one to take a giant amount of food. Especially since I haven't had good luck with the food.

 

So, buffet = not good...but try it out. Maybe you'll find something decent. Everyone suggests the Indian food. I find it to be good and actually have gone back for seconds. The sausage gravy is good (biscuits, not so much). Sometimes the pizza is decent, though on Pr1ma it was inedible. Both kinds - the focaccia and the regular thin crust.

 

As for the main dining room - I have stopped by the main dining room when the menu has something that excites me. For lunch, try out the chicken flautas and Italian Wedding Soup. Yum! I enjoy the chicken cordon bleu for dinner (though it's not traditional and is served with German Potato Salad). I enjoyed the chicken parmesan and the best appetizer on the entire ship is the Mini Ranchero Beef Tostadas. Order two or three portions as they come, literally three tortilla chips to a serving.

 

Specialty dining - I haven't had anything that I've found stunning. NCL wants you to think the specialty dining restaurants are upscale. None of them are (maybe Le Bistro is, but French ain't my thang). Whatever you do, do not pay a la carte prices. Nothing is better than you'd find on land and everything is priced more than a similar restaurant. Some folks, will be quick to say they spend over $100 for a steak at a similar restaurant. I don't know what kind of food they get on NCL, but it sure isn't what I eat as the quality is...well it's just normal every day food. I get beat up every now and then for this but here's how I equate specialty dining onboard:

 

La Cucina - a bit better than Olive Garden, but only by a slight margin. I have had mixed results with the lasagna. Once it was really good (OG quality), once it was a dry bed of sad beef and noodles with virtually no cheese or sauce. The shrimp diavolo is excellent! Filet with bleu cheese ravioli is excellent! I wasn't a huge fan of the ravioli, but I kind of thought it might be too much. It was better than I expected, though I won't order it again. The steak was cooked a perfect medium.

 

Moderno - definitely about the same as land-based Texas de Brazil. Desserts aren't as good though. At least they have "sushi" on the salad bar which is a nice touch. Stick with flank steak, filet, and sausage. The chicken and pork are overcooked and dry. They try to mask this with parmesan (as does Texas de Brazil). It doesn't help it.

 

Cagney's - upscale atmosphere. Garbage panda food. Cagney's was a once and done for us (maybe a bad snapshot in time). Potatoes au gratin were...well they were disgusting. Just no way around it. One steak ordered medium was underdone, then it was burnt crispy, then it was given up on. Mine was ordered medium, came out medium rare. I just ate it, because I don't mind. My husband...medium rare is a no-go. Onion rings were blah. Texas Roadhouse does a better job than Cagney's.

 

Food Republic - stick with sushi and you'll be happy. Most of the other options were not great. I was super excited about pad thai and pho. Both were bad. Peruvian Chicken is soggy. The Firecracker Shrimp is actually very good too. Just far too expensive for what you get (we order through Free at Sea so no charge). The Spicy Korean Fried Chicken is also good.

 

Teppanyaki - it's teppanyaki. If you've been to one. You've been to them all. This is an always place for us. Skip the NY Strip - it sucks. The calamari is rubbery and gross. Get scallops, shrimp, and/or chicken. Don't be afraid to ask for more garlic or soy as the chef's seem to cook for the lowest common denominator (those with crappy taste buds). Once we have them actually enhance our food with some spice, it's great. The chefs do their best to be entertaining. We (especially my husband) enjoy our time here.

 

I can't speak to the other places as we've never visited. To be clear all my experiences have been on ships other than Escape as I have not sailed that ship yet. Someday!

 

You asked about portions. Portions, in almost every regard, are far smaller than you'd find in a land-based restaurant unless you're partaking in a tasting menu. Now, when you add up the appetizer/salad/entree/dessert, you do get a good-sized meal that is filling. But, if going a la carte, nothing onboard is worth paying for the price NCL charges. Nothing.

 

It used to be that we would have an order of mozzarella sticks mid cruise from American Diner. Well, those are gone. Also gone are hash browns. Those are the primary items that we are saddened about. Having said that, we cruised Pr1ma in November and I still haven't eaten a hash brown. I'm not paying nearly $3 for a hash brown at McDonald's and we don't eat out for breakfast when home. The mozzarella sticks were a nice tradition we had and I'll admit they did cost $5 - $7 (depending on the trip). We just love oooey goooey cheeeese fried. Now, we just buy the big pack from Costco and have mozzarella sticks whenever we want.

 

Again, I don't know what cruising NCL was like back in the day (like pre-2020). It's not a value to me. Why? I only cruise Haven. The restaurant in the Haven is the best onboard. And the quality is generally better than most land-based mom and pop/chain restaurants. With little exception, it doesn't hold a yardstick to the land-based restaurants I've been that cost NCL prices (in their specialty restaurants, not Haven).

 

As for the general cruise experience. You've done yourself a favor by booking Vibe and the thermal suite. You'll be able to separate yourself from the mass of humanity that scares the living hell out of me when I wander out on the pool deck. We often walk the decks, but sometimes it's just overwhelming seeing so many humans in one place. It reminds me of ants scurrying around their mound. This is why we book the Haven (yes, I know, I'm an entitled mofo). So, when the crowds get to you, escape to your oasis. Hint: thermal suite is best before 9 AM and after 6 PM. Otherwise, it's quite crowded!

 

Based on my comments above you probably wonder why I've cruised five times since April 2022. Well, I enjoy the experience, but I do have the nitpicks. Nothing above is terrible and I'm sure I would have similar nits if I cruised any of the other mainstream lines or went to an all-inclusive. Having said that, there is a reason my husband and I backpacked the Grand Canyon this past fall before our Pr1ma sailing. And that was to get away from people. But, we sure enjoyed getting into the Haven and exploring the ship. I will never, ever shy away from providing feedback. Every business needs it and I hope this was somewhat helpful for you as you are about to get to your best life onboard Escape!

 

We do not cruise for the food. We cruise to relax, hang out in the thermal suite, see foreign lands, and just be with other. That's the value. NCL allows us to do that and I think you'll find yourself having a great time if you go into it with the right mindset. Don't look for the cuts. You'll see some, sure, but have an attitude that you're on vacation with your family. Be in the moment, spend time with family, and you're going to have a really wonderful vacation!

 

[UKstages]

 

29 minutes ago, cruiseny4life said:

Don't look for the cuts. You'll see some, sure, but have an attitude that you're on vacation with your family. Be in the moment, spend time with family, and you're going to have a really wonderful vacation!

 

 

⬆️ what he said! ⬆️

 

the whole thing.

 

i don't agree with everything, but i agree with most of it.

 

seriously, you could not hope for a more reasoned, well thought out, objective critique.

 

22 minutes ago, cruiseny4life said:

and thanks to @UKstages insistence, I try the buffet every cruise. I claimed I hated it. He told me it might have been a one-off. It wasn't.

 

oh, no!

 

funny you should mention this. what hell hath i wrought?

 

i may have been wrong! i almost assuredly was wrong. that advice was so 2022!

 

mea culpa. mea maxima culpa.

 

i've gone 180 degrees the other way.

 

i stay away from the buffet now as much as i can!

 

the prima last may and june... tiny! it was poorly designed and nearly impossible to get a seat. and very limited selections. the joy last october... crowded, with a noticeable decline in food quality. the getaway two weeks ago... further declines... very poor quality and selection and they only carried veggie indian food (which i like) but only two dishes (other than rice and papadum). so i can no longer depend on the shining star of any NCL buffet - the indian food! i will say that the buffet pizza on the getaway was outstanding... if you timed it just right to get a slice or two of a hot fresh pie as it was being put out. ("bless my eyes! fresh supplies!")

 

the other big reason i avoid the buffet now is the decline in the behavior of many of my fellow passengers. ain't nobody got no class no more. it's not just that they are rude and they have no control over their children, but they (and their children) don't understand basic hygiene or etiquette rules. or they choose to ignore them because they can do whatever they want... it;'s their vacation! they eat with their hands while they collect their food, they drop ladles and tongs on the floor and put them back in the food, they refill their beverage containers directly from the dispensers, they pick up food with their hands, then return it to the serving station, they reuse plates and they cough and sneeze without covering their mouths, among other transgressions.

 

26 minutes ago, cruiseny4life said:

But, if going a la carte, nothing onboard is worth paying for the price NCL charges. Nothing.

 

them's fightin' words.

 

i generally agree. and i would never think of ordering an app, a salad, an entree and a dessert without a package.

 

i do think there is at least one exception to not paying a la carte.

 

i will sometimes go into la cucina and order a pizza. it's pretty damn good. and only costs between $19 - $24, plus gratuities. and typically, i'm paying with OBC, so it's not a big cash outlay. 

 

56 minutes ago, cruiseny4life said:

Specialty dining - I haven't had anything that I've found stunning...

 

NCL wants you to think the specialty dining restaurants are upscale. None of them are...

 

I don't know what kind of food they get on NCL, but it sure isn't what I eat as the quality is...well it's just normal every day food.

 

hey, now! you're not wrong.

 

but what people forget about NCL specialty restaurants is that they are not managed well from a "franchise" perspective. even though there is a manual and a playbook and similar decor and the same logo, even though they have the same recipes and pictures of the way the food is supposed to look and the chefs have been (presumably) trained on how the food should taste... the quality, appearance and taste varies wildly from ship to ship and night to night. on some ships, cagney's is superb. on others, it sucks out loud in technicolor.

 

specialty dining is a greater gamble than the casino.

 

maybe that's why i spend more time in the casino than in specialty restaurants!

[LloydJr]

4 hours ago, Daruma said:

So, my question... do you think that most of these complaints are over blown, and just people being nitpicky?

Yes.  Next question?

[justhappy]

2 hours ago, cruiseny4life said:

Let's see where this goes...

 

So, I don't talk about it a lot, because it was not a very pleasant experience, but my first cruise was in 2009 on Carnival Triumph. It's been re-named after the poop-cruise saga. My grandmother and I shared a spa balcony cabin and my three college friends shared an inside room somewhere near the waterline. I went to the main dining room a couple of times with my friends as I wanted to be with them, but Carnival insisted on putting us with a couple and their daughter.

 

My friends loved it! I hated it. Before the cruise I told them I'd be skipping out on formal night as I did not want to dress up (see, even in 2009 I was smart enough not to put a penguin suit on, except for work purposes). I remember the couple with their daughter didn't fancy me as I was...well, I basically ignored them while my friends talked with them. The couple times I ate in the main dining room, the food was good.

 

Other times I went to the buffet, burger place, and pizza place. This is before the advent of Carnival's Guys and whatever names they have now. I don't know if the ship had any not included in the fare food. The food everywhere onboard was nasty, except the main dining room. Room service sucked. Pizza was disgusting and the burgers were gross.

 

From 2009 to 2022 I didn't cruise. My experience on Carnival was lackluster. I was one of those that claimed "petri" dishes and all that other bogus crap were real, because of my terrible experience. Will I ever cruise Carnival again? Eh, maybe, but they don't have a suites area like the Haven.

 

Fast forward to 2022, my husband and I decided on a NCL cruise in the Haven during my spring break (I was a school director back in the day). We went. We loved it. We've gone back. So, I may not be the one to give a good comparison to cruising then and now. Plus, I only cruise Haven, so I can't tell you how everything in the other areas of the ship are, though we do frequent the specialty restaurants, main dining room, and thanks to @UKstages insistence, I try the buffet every cruise. I claimed I hated it. He told me it might have been a one-off. It wasn't. I have had a couple of tolerable dishes in the buffet, but generally the very small portion of food I do get stays on my plate after one bite. I do hate the waste, but I'm not one to take a giant amount of food. Especially since I haven't had good luck with the food.

 

So, buffet = not good...but try it out. Maybe you'll find something decent. Everyone suggests the Indian food. I find it to be good and actually have gone back for seconds. The sausage gravy is good (biscuits, not so much). Sometimes the pizza is decent, though on Pr1ma it was inedible. Both kinds - the focaccia and the regular thin crust.

 

As for the main dining room - I have stopped by the main dining room when the menu has something that excites me. For lunch, try out the chicken flautas and Italian Wedding Soup. Yum! I enjoy the chicken cordon bleu for dinner (though it's not traditional and is served with German Potato Salad). I enjoyed the chicken parmesan and the best appetizer on the entire ship is the Mini Ranchero Beef Tostadas. Order two or three portions as they come, literally three tortilla chips to a serving.

 

Specialty dining - I haven't had anything that I've found stunning. NCL wants you to think the specialty dining restaurants are upscale. None of them are (maybe Le Bistro is, but French ain't my thang). Whatever you do, do not pay a la carte prices. Nothing is better than you'd find on land and everything is priced more than a similar restaurant. Some folks, will be quick to say they spend over $100 for a steak at a similar restaurant. I don't know what kind of food they get on NCL, but it sure isn't what I eat as the quality is...well it's just normal every day food. I get beat up every now and then for this but here's how I equate specialty dining onboard:

 

La Cucina - a bit better than Olive Garden, but only by a slight margin. I have had mixed results with the lasagna. Once it was really good (OG quality), once it was a dry bed of sad beef and noodles with virtually no cheese or sauce. The shrimp diavolo is excellent! Filet with bleu cheese ravioli is excellent! I wasn't a huge fan of the ravioli, but I kind of thought it might be too much. It was better than I expected, though I won't order it again. The steak was cooked a perfect medium.

 

Moderno - definitely about the same as land-based Texas de Brazil. Desserts aren't as good though. At least they have "sushi" on the salad bar which is a nice touch. Stick with flank steak, filet, and sausage. The chicken and pork are overcooked and dry. They try to mask this with parmesan (as does Texas de Brazil). It doesn't help it.

 

Cagney's - upscale atmosphere. Garbage panda food. Cagney's was a once and done for us (maybe a bad snapshot in time). Potatoes au gratin were...well they were disgusting. Just no way around it. One steak ordered medium was underdone, then it was burnt crispy, then it was given up on. Mine was ordered medium, came out medium rare. I just ate it, because I don't mind. My husband...medium rare is a no-go. Onion rings were blah. Texas Roadhouse does a better job than Cagney's.

 

Food Republic - stick with sushi and you'll be happy. Most of the other options were not great. I was super excited about pad thai and pho. Both were bad. Peruvian Chicken is soggy. The Firecracker Shrimp is actually very good too. Just far too expensive for what you get (we order through Free at Sea so no charge). The Spicy Korean Fried Chicken is also good.

 

Teppanyaki - it's teppanyaki. If you've been to one. You've been to them all. This is an always place for us. Skip the NY Strip - it sucks. The calamari is rubbery and gross. Get scallops, shrimp, and/or chicken. Don't be afraid to ask for more garlic or soy as the chef's seem to cook for the lowest common denominator (those with crappy taste buds). Once we have them actually enhance our food with some spice, it's great. The chefs do their best to be entertaining. We (especially my husband) enjoy our time here.

 

I can't speak to the other places as we've never visited. To be clear all my experiences have been on ships other than Escape as I have not sailed that ship yet. Someday!

 

You asked about portions. Portions, in almost every regard, are far smaller than you'd find in a land-based restaurant unless you're partaking in a tasting menu. Now, when you add up the appetizer/salad/entree/dessert, you do get a good-sized meal that is filling. But, if going a la carte, nothing onboard is worth paying for the price NCL charges. Nothing.

 

It used to be that we would have an order of mozzarella sticks mid cruise from American Diner. Well, those are gone. Also gone are hash browns. Those are the primary items that we are saddened about. Having said that, we cruised Pr1ma in November and I still haven't eaten a hash brown. I'm not paying nearly $3 for a hash brown at McDonald's and we don't eat out for breakfast when home. The mozzarella sticks were a nice tradition we had and I'll admit they did cost $5 - $7 (depending on the trip). We just love oooey goooey cheeeese fried. Now, we just buy the big pack from Costco and have mozzarella sticks whenever we want.

 

Again, I don't know what cruising NCL was like back in the day (like pre-2020). It's not a value to me. Why? I only cruise Haven. The restaurant in the Haven is the best onboard. And the quality is generally better than most land-based mom and pop/chain restaurants. With little exception, it doesn't hold a yardstick to the land-based restaurants I've been that cost NCL prices (in their specialty restaurants, not Haven).

 

As for the general cruise experience. You've done yourself a favor by booking Vibe and the thermal suite. You'll be able to separate yourself from the mass of humanity that scares the living hell out of me when I wander out on the pool deck. We often walk the decks, but sometimes it's just overwhelming seeing so many humans in one place. It reminds me of ants scurrying around their mound. This is why we book the Haven (yes, I know, I'm an entitled mofo). So, when the crowds get to you, escape to your oasis. Hint: thermal suite is best before 9 AM and after 6 PM. Otherwise, it's quite crowded!

 

Based on my comments above you probably wonder why I've cruised five times since April 2022. Well, I enjoy the experience, but I do have the nitpicks. Nothing above is terrible and I'm sure I would have similar nits if I cruised any of the other mainstream lines or went to an all-inclusive. Having said that, there is a reason my husband and I backpacked the Grand Canyon this past fall before our Pr1ma sailing. And that was to get away from people. But, we sure enjoyed getting into the Haven and exploring the ship. I will never, ever shy away from providing feedback. Every business needs it and I hope this was somewhat helpful for you as you are about to get to your best life onboard Escape!

 

We do not cruise for the food. We cruise to relax, hang out in the thermal suite, see foreign lands, and just be with other. That's the value. NCL allows us to do that and I think you'll find yourself having a great time if you go into it with the right mindset. Don't look for the cuts. You'll see some, sure, but have an attitude that you're on vacation with your family. Be in the moment, spend time with family, and you're going to have a really wonderful vacation!

 

Spot on advice in your last paragraph.

 

I too miss those hash browns, I usually never have them at home and they were my vacation ‘treat’. 
I’ve been buying these and cooking them in an air fryer for 10-11 minutes at 390 degrees. A dash of salt and I’m transported (almost) back to vacation mode.😋

 

 

[RocketMan275]

40 minutes ago, justhappy said:

Spot on advice in your last paragraph.

 

I too miss those hash browns, I usually never have them at home and they were my vacation ‘treat’. 
I’ve been buying these and cooking them in an air fryer for 10-11 minutes at 390 degrees. A dash of salt and I’m transported (almost) back to vacation mode.😋

 

 

 

That should work quite well.

BTW, use the airfryer to cook frozen biscuits.  

390 for 15 minutes, turn over, another 8 minutes.