The Canuks Posted September 7, 2006 #1 Share Posted September 7, 2006 We are planning on taking our first NCL cruise, onboard the Pearl in February. We have previously cruised with Princess twice (Golden and Grand), and once with Royal (Voyageur of the Seas). I am hoping that others out there can tell me if I'll notice a difference with NCL, and if I will be pleased with my decision to try NCL. If you have experienced all three please let me know which one you enjoyed the most, and why. In addition, I heard a rumour that NCL ships do not have air conditiong. I hope that this information was incorrect. Sorry in regards to posting so many questions at once, but would really appreciate as much feedback as I can get. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
johnql Posted September 7, 2006 #2 Share Posted September 7, 2006 I have been on 7 NCL cruises, 4 Princess cruises and 1 RCI cruise. You can guess which line I prefer. Will you notice a difference? Absolutely. Whether you like it or not is the issue. The biggest difference will be two aspects of Freestyle cruising - Freestyle dining and Freestyle's dress code. With Freestyle dining, you decide when to eat, where to eat, and with whom to eat. No fixed dining times; no assigned table; and no assigned tablemates. On a new ship (such as the Pearl) designed with Freestyle in mind, you will have a wide variety and number of alternative dining venues to choose from. Some will carry a surcharge; others will not. Some will require reservations; others will not. With Freestyle, "resort casual" attire is deemed appropriate every night, including the optional formal night(s). No need to pack and transport all that formalwear unless you're so inclined. I happen to love these aspects of Freestyle cruising. However, not everyone does. As for AC, of course NCL's ships have AC. Where do these rumors come from? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
electricron Posted September 7, 2006 #3 Share Posted September 7, 2006 All NCL ships have air conditioning. From whom have you been informed they didn't? I prefer sailing on NCL, but I've found most cruise lines do about th esame things, except on how they do dinner. I prefer NCL's Freestyle Dining to Traditional Dining you find on other ships. I don't mind waiting a few minutes for a romantic table for two, instead of a table for 8 to 10 strangers. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Merry_Sea_Witch Posted September 7, 2006 #4 Share Posted September 7, 2006 We are planning on taking our first NCL cruise, onboard the Pearl in February. We have previously cruised with Princess twice (Golden and Grand), and once with Royal (Voyageur of the Seas). I am hoping that others out there can tell me if I'll notice a difference with NCL, and if I will be pleased with my decision to try NCL. If you have experienced all three please let me know which one you enjoyed the most, and why. In addition, I heard a rumour that NCL ships do not have air conditiong. I hope that this information was incorrect. . Of course you will notice a diffrence cause NCL is freestyle dining. The closest equivilent with the others if Princess personal choice, but it is still diffrent from NCL. But I love NCL because it IS diffrent and I dont allways look for the same expereince each time I cruise I like to mix it up. Just go with the intention to have a wonderful cruise and you will !!!:) I was laughing when I read the rumor of NCL with no AC. May be started by someone who hates NCL !!! :rolleyes: Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
newmexicoNita Posted September 7, 2006 #5 Share Posted September 7, 2006 i think you will have a great experience; you will be on a new ship with a wonderful, relaxed crew and you can eat where and when you want without dressing up every other day. Of course you can dress to the nines if you want and will not be out of place. Go and enjoy the air conditioning. Isn't it amazing how rumors get started and spread. Can you imagine any ship without air conditioning? NMNita Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
newlywedcruisers Posted September 7, 2006 #6 Share Posted September 7, 2006 Hey when cruising first became big in the early part of the last century many ships didn't have AC... :D But of course, that was over half a century ago. Anyways, asking that question on this board is either going to net you all PRO ncl or a few NCL haters that decide to drop by and grace us w/ the presence. Really the best place to ask would be the First Time Cruisers board. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Host CMLA Posted September 7, 2006 #7 Share Posted September 7, 2006 I am hoping that others out there can tell me if I'll notice a difference with NCL, and if I will be pleased with my decision to try NCL. If you have experienced all three please let me know which one you enjoyed the most, and why. Of course there's a difference with NCL. NCL has Freestyle Cruising. In addition, I heard a rumour that NCL ships do not have air conditiong. I hope that this information was incorrect. How could you even think this is true? Just saying it sounds silly to me. I'd like to know the source. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Giantfan13 Posted September 8, 2006 #8 Share Posted September 8, 2006 I know this is a NCL site, but it also depends on where you are cruising to. Now if you want to do Alaska, NCL does it OK but lines like Princess and HAL do it better. They basically 'own' Alaska. They have their own lodges, trains, and can sail where some other cruise lines can't. We did Princess to Alaska because we like their itinerary AND they also offer a sort of 'free style' eating. NCL is good and we always enjoyed our cruises on them, but no one does Alaska like Princess. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
johnql Posted September 8, 2006 #9 Share Posted September 8, 2006 Giantfan13, you make some valid points. However, the OP is sailing on the Pearl in February. Definitely not to Alaska. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ce2000 Posted September 8, 2006 #10 Share Posted September 8, 2006 I have sailed on the three cruise lines that you mentioned RCL Soverign of the Seas, Christmas 2000; NCL Jewel, Christmas 2005; and the Caribbean Princess, August 2006. Yes you will notice a difference, but you may like it. My favorite of these three lines is Princess, I prefer the food and evening entertainment that Princess provides, as well as the fresh water swimming pools. I believe that you will be pleased with your decision to try NCL, it may, or may not, be your favorite, but you will have a good time. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Canuks Posted September 8, 2006 Author #11 Share Posted September 8, 2006 Thanks for the great responses - keep them coming! By the way, the person that told me that NCL had no A/C was my father-in-law...our travel agent. LOL. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
newmexicoNita Posted September 8, 2006 #12 Share Posted September 8, 2006 Hey when cruising first became big in the early part of the last century many ships didn't have AC... :D But of course, that was over half a century ago. Anyways, asking that question on this board is either going to net you all PRO ncl or a few NCL haters that decide to drop by and grace us w/ the presence. Really the best place to ask would be the First Time Cruisers board. guess I do need to refraze my answer: you are right, except the early part of the last century was 100 years ago. LOL. "all ships sailing today are air conditioned." NMnita Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
newmexicoNita Posted September 8, 2006 #13 Share Posted September 8, 2006 Thanks for the great responses - keep them coming! By the way, the person that told me that NCL had no A/C was my father-in-law...our travel agent. LOL. Nothing against your father in law but I wonder where he got his information? Maybe he isn't pro NCL, could that be the reason? I guess he hasn't cruised NCL or knows very little about the product. Even the best TAs have favorites and can't know everything. Is he trying to convince you to sail another line? NMNita Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
newlywedcruisers Posted September 8, 2006 #14 Share Posted September 8, 2006 guess I do need to refraze my answer: you are right, except the early part of the last century was 100 years ago. LOL. "all ships sailing today are air conditioned." NMnita Call it even @ 75, right at the upswing of the Caribean cruise? ;) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
newmexicoNita Posted September 8, 2006 #15 Share Posted September 8, 2006 Call it even @ 75, right at the upswing of the Caribean cruise? ;) Yep, I guess we should do that: obviously it wasn't really 100 years ago, I don't think cruising was becoming a popular vacation choice at the time of the Titanic. LOL Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tomluvsaida Posted September 8, 2006 #16 Share Posted September 8, 2006 I know this is a NCL site, but it also depends on where you are cruising to. Now if you want to do Alaska, NCL does it OK but lines like Princess and HAL do it better. They basically 'own' Alaska. They have their own lodges, trains, and can sail where some other cruise lines can't. We did Princess to Alaska because we like their itinerary AND they also offer a sort of 'free style' eating. NCL is good and we always enjoyed our cruises on them, but no one does Alaska like Princess. I think you may be right about Alaska but in the same sense NCL(A) owns Hawaii ! Where you are crusing I guess does make a difference. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RSWBADGER Posted September 8, 2006 #17 Share Posted September 8, 2006 I think you may be right about Alaska but in the same sense NCL(A) owns Hawaii ! Where you are crusing I guess does make a difference. We just returned from a 12 day Cruise Tour in Alaska on Princess and all was excellent (7 Cruises on Princess). We cruised last Thanksgiving on the Pride Of America and the experience was fantastic (3 Cruises on NCL). We enjoy cruising with Princess and NCL because of the "Anytime Dining" and "Freestyle Dining" options, we always have no problems getting the restaurants we want and a private table for two on both cruise lines. Your right, when we go to Hawaii it's NCL, when we go to Alaska it's Princess.:cool: We have cruised 4 times on Royal Caribbean and enjoyed our trips, but we prefer having private dinners together rather than being lumped into tables of 6, 8 or 10:p Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cruisingbug Posted September 9, 2006 #18 Share Posted September 9, 2006 Hey when cruising first became big in the early part of the last century many ships didn't have AC... :D But of course, that was over half a century ago.. We toured the Queen Mary in California and took a close look at the cabins, and how they compared to modern cruises - you got your hot water, your cold water, your hot salt water, your cold salt water.... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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