Well, yesterday we returned from our 3rd cruise/1st NON-DCL cruise. We sailed out on the NCL Majesty 12/20 (7 nights - family reunion). Here is our opion: DCL is top notch!
Everyone saw us with our Castaway Club bag and DCL shirts. Even other family members had their DCL shirts. People asked us several times about DCL and we gladly offered the information.
NCL Majesty will be leaving their fleet in 2009 but here is our opion (wasn't trying to compare the 2 lines):
1) DCL has Port Charleston beat when it comes to parking and checking in. We arrived in Charleston around 12:30/1:00pm (after driving for 4 hours). We had to pay for parking, waiting in a line of cars. Then got to a tent where they took our luggage and then into a big building where we parked. We then took a shuttle to the terminal building. Waited in line (for what seemed forever) just to go through security and to be checked in. Then it was onto the ship. The whole process took about 1 1/2 to 2 hours.
2) The rooms & bathrooms on the Majesty were 1/2 the size of DCL.
3) You do not rotate dinning rooms and get different servers each night. The servers/waiters were all very nice and pleasant. However, the family really liked DCL as you did have the same servers each night.
4) The shows were not like DCL shows, but were good.
5) The Majesty was a smaller ship so it was easy to get around.
6) The Majesty also had all day food on desk 10. However, we had to purchase a soda card for unlimited soda (which paid off).
7) The weather was not so great - the cold front followed us during the entire trip. It was extremely cold (68 degrees in Florida on Monday) and we didn't get to go to the private island. They tender out to their island (no docks) and just looking at the waves could make one sick.
Over all it was a good trip. We did get to see how booking excursions through the cruise line is better than on-your-own. One of our excursions (Glass bottom boat) was canceled and credited back. If we had booked this on our own, we would have lost the money.
Overall, we liked it and felt it was a change. However, we still love DCL and I might start looking for a DCL cruise for 2009/2010.
Everyone saw us with our Castaway Club bag and DCL shirts. Even other family members had their DCL shirts. People asked us several times about DCL and we gladly offered the information.
NCL Majesty will be leaving their fleet in 2009 but here is our opion (wasn't trying to compare the 2 lines):
1) DCL has Port Charleston beat when it comes to parking and checking in. We arrived in Charleston around 12:30/1:00pm (after driving for 4 hours). We had to pay for parking, waiting in a line of cars. Then got to a tent where they took our luggage and then into a big building where we parked. We then took a shuttle to the terminal building. Waited in line (for what seemed forever) just to go through security and to be checked in. Then it was onto the ship. The whole process took about 1 1/2 to 2 hours.
2) The rooms & bathrooms on the Majesty were 1/2 the size of DCL.
3) You do not rotate dinning rooms and get different servers each night. The servers/waiters were all very nice and pleasant. However, the family really liked DCL as you did have the same servers each night.
4) The shows were not like DCL shows, but were good.
5) The Majesty was a smaller ship so it was easy to get around.
6) The Majesty also had all day food on desk 10. However, we had to purchase a soda card for unlimited soda (which paid off).
7) The weather was not so great - the cold front followed us during the entire trip. It was extremely cold (68 degrees in Florida on Monday) and we didn't get to go to the private island. They tender out to their island (no docks) and just looking at the waves could make one sick.
Over all it was a good trip. We did get to see how booking excursions through the cruise line is better than on-your-own. One of our excursions (Glass bottom boat) was canceled and credited back. If we had booked this on our own, we would have lost the money.
Overall, we liked it and felt it was a change. However, we still love DCL and I might start looking for a DCL cruise for 2009/2010.
) so I can't see myself on anything other then Disney. However, if I ever went for an adult only time I wonder if I would like it. I don't like gambling very much and I understand that is basically all there is to do on the other lines. 
