My view of DCL vs NCL

[SleepyDeb]

A while ago I promised a comparison between DCL and NCL after we returned from our NCL cruise. We’ve been back for a week, so here it is.

Background: DH and I love to travel. I’m 58 and he’s 60. We travel just the two of us. We’ve only done veranda on DCL and did mini-suite on NCL. This was our 4th cruise. We did the Big Red Boat in the 90’s (which DD, who was around 12 at the time, came on), DCL Western Caribbean in 2013 and Southern Caribbean in 2016. This cruise did Miami > Costa Maya > Harvest Caye > Roatan > Cozumel > Miami.

Bottom Line: Both DCL and NCL are great, but we both prefer DCL.

Where NCL excels:

· The food. Oh, the food! NCL Main dining is better than DCL main dining. NCL specialty restaurants are better. NCL buffet is better. There have been quite a few meals on DCL where I’ve though “That was ok.” I was bowled over by every specialty meal and, except for one meal my husband had, even the main dinings were very good.
· The shows: NCL shows are Broadway quality. If you ever get a chance to see Burn the Floor, do it. The Comedians were great. I missed some of the other shows because of not feeling great. DCL shows are good. They’re very good. But they aren’t the same quality.
· Boarding process. It was fast and smooth. We took an excursion on departure and we didn’t do the standard disembarkation, so I can’t comment on that.
· The bathrooms. The split bathroom on DCL is great, esp if you’re traveling as anything other than a couple, but the bathroom in our mini-suite was bigger than the bathroom in the house I grew up in.
· The price. If I add in what I paid for stuff that would have been included on DCL, and exclude on both what I would have to pay for on either (e.g., excursions, alcohol), NCL was about $1800 cheaper.

Where DCL Excels:

· The service. The people at the service desk on NCL were grumpy as anything. Not a single smile. They also didn’t speak English terribly well and it took asking several people to get answers to some pretty basic questions. I’m not expecting my room steward to be fluent in English, but the people whose job it is to listen to my issue and fix it should have more than a passing understanding of the language the majority of the passengers speak. Some of the other staff were friendly and helpful, but not as often as DCL staff are.
· The shopping on board. The shopping on NCL is all about high end Duty Free shopping (jewelry, alcohol, purses) and the sales people are very high pressure. I like to look at the jewelry, and I’ve even been known to buy a piece, but don’t try to pressure me. I also like the “regular” shopping on DCL.
· The main dining servers: I like having the same server every day and them getting to know me.
· Main dining 1st and 2nd setting: NCL has this free style dining thing that is supposed to give you freedom to eat wherever, whenever you want. The truth is that you have to book your dining reservations at least a couple of weeks in advance or you’ll be left with whatever’s left over (dining at 5:00 or 9:30) or you’ll be waiting an hour for a table. We knew that and booked in advance, but that’s no advantage over knowing you’re in the 2nd sitting.
· Getting to know your table mate: On NCL you get a table to yourself. That’s nice, but we missed getting to know our table mates. DH tends to be shy and he likes that, on DCL, he is sort of forced to meet some people.
· No All You Can Drink Package on DCL: I have no moral objection to imbibing, or even getting drunk. But the first night was like a frat party. People trying to make sure they drank enough to make the package worth it all in the first day. Had to step around a woman almost passed out in the hall. Her Mom was crouched next to her saying “I know Honey, but we’re almost there.” After the first day it wasn’t so bad, except for the woman directly behind us at the comedy show who simply would NOT shut up. The comedian handled her wonderfully, but when she stood up to dance (yes, in the middle of the comedian’s act) she hit my husband.
· Flow of the ship. I’ve been on the Fantasy and the Wonder. Our NCL cruise was on the Getaway. The flow of the ship on the Getaway takes you through the very narrow casino or the atrium above the casino. Pretty smoky areas. It was much more comfortable moving around the DCL ships. It also, generally, felt less crowded in the public areas on the DCL.
· Private Island. Harvest Caye is beautiful, but Castaway Caye is just a little nicer. Plus, I just had trouble getting over having to pay for food on Harvest Caye. I had even more trouble getting over having to pay for sodas when we had the soda package. Seemed pretty Nickel and Dime-y.

We’re not eliminating the possibility of cruising NCL again, but DCL is a better match for us.

 

[Club Disney Chandler]

Thanks for the review. We tried Carnival for the first time a couple years ago and were so surprised at how much we love them - at least their new ships. I keep looking into NCL because their ships look so amazing, but haven’t booked yet because the food situation just stresses me out so much. I feel the same way about RCCL. Happy you enjoyed yourself and it’s nice to read an objective review.

 

[Pens Fan]

Thanks for your objective review! It is always interesting to get different perspectives on things. It's funny, because part of what you didn't care for on NCL (Freestyle dining), we loved and would list that as a major positive over Disney . We have never liked the set dining times and tables on Disney. Personally I don't want anyone telling me when and where I am going to eat, and don't mind making the reservations ahead of time on NCL. We also kind of appreciated having different servers every night, as sometimes (to us anyway) the over the top servers on Disney are just a bit too much. And I didn't hear the "excellent" speech once on NCL - a major plus! I do completely agree with you on the food quality. Wow. We didn't realize cruise food could be so good. It was so much better than on Disney - not great for the waistline though!

Sorry you weren't happy with the service. We have only sailed on one of their smaller ships, and the service was fantastic - every bit as good as Disney. I've read mixed reviews on service on NCL, so it may depend on the ship or even a particular sailing I guess.

I totally agree with you on the shopping. If you want to buy an overpriced watch or purse, some booze or cigarettes, you're golden. Otherwise, eh - save your money. I guess that's just another way NCL is less expensive that Disney!

When we were on NCL it was in Alaska, and our next two are very port intensive trips to New England/Canada and Europe. We did not experience the excess drinking that you did, and I'm very glad. I'm really not anticipating it being a problem on our upcoming trips either, because everyone will be up at the crack of dawn pretty much every day. But I have read some trip reports of their Caribbean cruises on the mega ships, and yes, I do think you will find some people over indulging. All that being said, the one cruise that stands out to me for seeing lots of people drinking to excess (and one near drunken brawl that required security to intervene) was on the Disney Fantasy several years ago. So you never know! The drink packages on NCL are nice, but honestly I'd rather they just offer a lower cruise fare and not include them. They call them a free perk, but we all know it's just built into the price (similar to Disney's "free" soda). I seriously doubt we drink enough to justify whatever they have added to the fare to cover the unlimited alcohol. Personally, I'd rather have a lower fare and just pay as we go.

Thanks again for the review. It's always good to hear what other folks think.

 

[Jess_S]

Every time I read a DCL vs NCL comparison, I'm struck by how subjective things are. I was a repeat NCL cruiser before my first DCL cruise and one of the main reasons I have not gone back to NCL is because I find the food lacking compared to DCL. Even in the specialty restaurants, the best I ever found anything was okay. On the other hand, we never had any issue with just walking up to the MDR on NCL and getting seated within 15 minutes. Freestyle dining really worked for us.

I agree on the service. We sailed in suites on NCL and the service was not as good as in a standard room on DCL. (Although the cappuccino maker in the suite on NCL almost makes up for that).

My takeaway is the same as yours. DCL is a better fit for our family, but that doesn't mean I would never do NCL again. I particularly recommend it for Hawaii. Spending your entire Hawaiian cruise actually in Hawaii can't be beat.

 

[MinnesotaMouseketeers]

..........................

Where NCL excels:

· The food. Oh, the food! NCL Main dining is better than DCL main dining. NCL specialty restaurants are better. NCL buffet is better. There have been quite a few meals on DCL where I’ve though “That was ok.” I was bowled over by every specialty meal and, except for one meal my husband had, even the main dinings were very good.
· The shows: NCL shows are Broadway quality. If you ever get a chance to see Burn the Floor, do it. The Comedians were great. I missed some of the other shows because of not feeling great. DCL shows are good. They’re very good. But they aren’t the same quality.
................................................

Maybe it was the food!
On a more serious note, great post thanks.

 

[mcd2745]

Appreciate the review. We did the same ship (Getaway) and itinerary on NCL 1 year ago (and are Gold status on DCL, with 3 cruises on RCCL also).

Agree with a lot you've said. I really enjoyed the "freestyle" nature of the dining. It was nice not having to work your day around that set dining time. I enjoyed the specialty restaurants - particularly the Brazilian Steakhouse.

I also thought the best thing about the ship was O'Sheehans. For those unfamiliar, it is an Irish Pub themed space that is open 24 hours. There are 2 parts - one on each side of the ship. One is more the "restaurant" side where you can have a sit-down breakfast/lunch/dinner (no extra charge). This side does close later in the evening. The other "pub" side is what remains open 24/7. You can always get food like buffalo wings or nachos (no extra charge). There is also a pool table, darts, mini-bowling, "Hot shot" basketball, etc. We found this to be a much more fun space to hang out in at night than than any other venue on any ship. Would love to see DCL incorporate some of these elements into O'Gills/Crown & Fin/687.

Service level was below DCL for sure. Room steward was the worst we've ever had...by far.

We also did this cruise as part of a very large group (7 or 8 families - all with children). We normally cruise by ourselves. I think, with such large group, NCL was better option (especially with the drinks and specialty dining packages being included) than DCL would have been.

We are doing another NCL cruise (new ship - Bliss) next February. We'll also continue to do DCL occasionally as well. No one need to restrict themselves to only cruise line.

 

[Sunshine2U]

Pretty spot on for the comparison. I'm another that puts freestyle dining at the top of NCL favs. We sailed Escape with 2 other couples and loved the comedy shows, the many different bars and restaurants. We didn't have kids with us but didn't feel like it was a great ship for young children - actual mileage may vary. We're pretty much at the point we sail DCL with grands (as long as they are still young) but are checking out other cruise companies when we're adult-only. We're currently booked on our 2nd MSC cruise in the Yacht Club. Then we're back to DCL with 5 yo GS and 9 yo nephew.

 

[cruiser21]

Nice review. I've found the food better on other cruiselines. I like different servers every night. I've had some OUTSTANDING servers on DCL and some really STRANGE ones. I can also live without the "excellent speech". When I first started cruising DCL I enjoyed getting to know my server... now I'd just rather not. I also prefer a larger bathroom over a split one. I've never understood the big advantage to a split bathroom. If there were two toilets then I could see the appeal.

 

[nerdboyrockstar]

Loved logging on and seeing this thread. NCL and DCL are my two favorite lines! I've had incredible experiences on both lines and continue to look at both options for cruising.

I love Freestyle dining... I did find it stressful to make sure I was hungry or ready for dinner by second seating time. Never had to wait for the main dining rooms. Also, only had to worry about reservations when dining in the Specialty Restaurants, which was maybe 2 or 3 nights of the cruise? No different from when booking for Palo dinner/Palo brunch/Remy.

I also absolutely love not having to worry about being uncomfortable with some incompatible tablemates. If you voted for Trump, I am OUTTA THERE. Plus, there's been times where I look at the other servers on DCL longingly, wishing for their attentiveness and engagement vs the ones you got. Not the greatest server on NCL? No problem. There'll be a new one tomorrow! Absolutely loved one? Ask them where they'll be the following night!

Also, the new ships just keep getting better and better and the entertainment will floor you. On the Getaway alone we had Million Dollar Quartet, Burn the Floor, the Cirque Dreams steampunk show, Howl at the Moon dueling pianos, standup comedy, the ice bar, escape room, mini-golf, etc. There's always something to see and do.

I hate the phrase "nickel and diming" and no one here should be using it as we're on a forum discussing cruises. We're already a savvier bunch. Just know what to budget for that's not included, like service charges, soda package if not on a beverage package, the dinner show (Cirque Dreams), spa pass, etc.

So excited for the Bliss to come out. Figuring out when to book for it now!

 

[SleepyDeb]

Maybe it was the food!
On a more serious note, great post thanks.

Most likely it was losing track of the fact that I was in Belize, and not the US, and rinsing my mouth out with tap water. I can attest to the fact that the NCL medical center is good. (Can't compare to DCL bc no experience.) I can also tell you that NCL will wave the room service fee if you are in isolation, although you can only get stuff on their special "GI menu," which was fine bc all I wanted was crackers and ginger ale. Still on antibiotics.

 

[MinnesotaMouseketeers]

Most likely it was losing track of the fact that I was in Belize, and not the US, and rinsing my mouth out with tap water. I can attest to the fact that the NCL medical center is good. (Can't compare to DCL bc no experience.) I can also tell you that NCL will wave the room service fee if you are in isolation, although you can only get stuff on their special "GI menu," which was fine bc all I wanted was crackers and ginger ale. Still on antibiotics.

When we hit the streets in Mexico to look around during a PC cruise on the Wonder, I really wanted to go into one of the small restaurants and try some local food. Just wasn't brave enough to take the chance because anything could have been rinsed with just tap water.

Hope you get well soon

 

[cadien]

Every time I read a DCL vs NCL comparison, I'm struck by how subjective things are. I was a repeat NCL cruiser before my first DCL cruise and one of the main reasons I have not gone back to NCL is because I find the food lacking compared to DCL. Even in the specialty restaurants, the best I ever found anything was okay. On the other hand, we never had any issue with just walking up to the MDR on NCL and getting seated within 15 minutes. Freestyle dining really worked for us.

I agree on the service. We sailed in suites on NCL and the service was not as good as in a standard room on DCL. (Although the cappuccino maker in the suite on NCL almost makes up for that).

My takeaway is the same as yours. DCL is a better fit for our family, but that doesn't mean I would never do NCL again. I particularly recommend it for Hawaii. Spending your entire Hawaiian cruise actually in Hawaii can't be beat.

Our experience is mediocre food on NCL too (except for Cagney’s au gratin potatoes) so this thread was making me a little nervous with our first Disney cruise in two months!

 

[Jess_S]

Our experience is mediocre food on NCL too (except for Cagney’s au gratin potatoes) so this thread was making me a little nervous with our first Disney cruise in two months!

The good thing about low expectations is that they tend to be exceeded. I hope that will be the case for you. My family was personally happy with the food on DCL. We didn't love everything, but we found most things to be good to very good -- particularly at dinner.

 

[starvenger]

Thanks for this. Always good to see what other people think about other cruise lines.

I hate the phrase "nickel and diming" and no one here should be using it as we're on a forum discussing cruises. We're already a savvier bunch. Just know what to budget for that's not included, like service charges, soda package if not on a beverage package, the dinner show (Cirque Dreams), spa pass, etc.

True. We are, by and large, a lucky bunch of people that can go on cruises. And "nickel and dimed" does get tossed around a lot, sometimes in an incorrect manner. However in this case - where OP was being charged for food and drinks on NCL's own private island - I'd say it's an apt description.

 

[DMMarla07860]

Great Review. I was on Parahoy in 2016 before doing a 3 night on the DCL so kinda back-2-back. I really did enjoy the food on NCL, would love to go on a real NCL cruise to try it out mine was through sixthman

 

[JimGA]

Our experience is mediocre food on NCL too (except for Cagney’s au gratin potatoes) so this thread was making me a little nervous with our first Disney cruise in two months!

Food is such a subjective topic. I am a self proclaimed foodie, and I loved every meal on DCL.

 

[kiford]

I hate the phrase "nickel and diming" and no one here should be using it as we're on a forum discussing cruises. We're already a savvier bunch. Just know what to budget for that's not included, like service charges, soda package if not on a beverage package, the dinner show (Cirque Dreams), spa pass, etc.

And "nickel and dimed" does get tossed around a lot, sometimes in an incorrect manner. However in this case - where OP was being charged for food and drinks on NCL's own private island - I'd say it's an apt description.

Nickel-and-diming to me is about more than the ultimate cost. It's partly the annoyance factor. Having to consider each and every time as to whether something is included or not even if the ultimate cost is not going to be a lot, it tends to be constantly at the forefront of your mind. And it seems, at that many of the places (cruises and resorts alike) where people complain about being nickel and dimed, they also tend to complain about being constantly hit up for upcharges and extras. Not just having the opportunity to take advantage of things that are extra charge but actively being solicited, sometimes frequently. It makes sense that they would do so. If you want to give people an experience where they can start at a base price and decide where and when to spend extra money so as to fully control the final cost of their vacation, you won't make money on the people who don't add extras. Thus, you need to push what does cost extra. For some this method of control is a bonus, for others such as myself it feels more like a bait-and-switch. Make me feel like the cruise is inexpensive but hit me up constantly for more even if I've budgeted for it and even if I anticipate it. I don't begrudge them that tactic, and it works for many people who want to control their budget, but I don't personally want that particular kind of experience. It's worth it to me to pay more upfront to be left alone and not have to worry about whether to take advantage of something or not at my leisure. So I do say "nickel and dime" but for me it primarily expresses an annoyance that has an implication that is much more than the ultimate dollar figure. It works for a friend of mine who loves NCL but it's not for us.

 

[Pens Fan]

It works for friend of mine who loves NCL but it's not for us.

The only thing that you pay extra for on NCL vs. DCL is soda and room service. That assumes you don't sail in a suite which you can often book for the same amount (often less) than a regular stateroom on DCL. In an NCL suite your alcohol, specialty dining, internet, $50 per port shore excursion credit, and (often) an OBC of at least $300 are included - ALL up chargers on DCL.

Nickel and diming exists on all lines - and yes, it is alive and well on DCL. The smallest bill we have ever had at the end of a cruise was on NCL. And it wasn't even close to the bills we have had on DCL. I love that pretty much everything is paid for up front, and that is what we get by booking an NCL suite. Plus, our butler brings us treats every day - Score!!

ETA: Also, regarding room service. It's completely free in a suite on NCL. In addition to the room service menu, your butler will deliver anything from any complementary venue (including MDR's) free of charge. They will also deliver meals from the specialty restaurants to your stateroom, though you will have either use a SDP (specialty dining package) credit or pay the upcharge. Our 19 year old son ordered steak and eggs to the cabin for breakfast several times. No charge! Try to do that on Disney.

 

[nerdboyrockstar]

Nickel-and-diming to me is about more than the ultimate cost. It's partly the annoyance factor. Having to consider each and every time as to whether something is included or not even if the ultimate cost is not going to be a lot, it tends to be constantly at the forefront of your mind. And it seems, at that many of the places (cruises and resorts alike) where people complain about being nickel and dimed, they also tend to complain about being constantly hit up for upcharges and extras. Not just having the opportunity to take advantage of things that are extra charge but actively being solicited, sometimes frequently. It makes sense that they would do so. If you want to give people an experience where they can start at a base price and decide where and when to spend extra money so as to fully control the final cost of their vacation, you won't make money on the people who don't add extras. Thus, you need to push what does cost extra. For some this method of control is a bonus, for others such as myself it feels more like a bait-and-switch. Make me feel like the cruise is inexpensive but hit me up constantly for more even if I've budgeted for it and even if I anticipate it. I don't begrudge them that tactic, and it works for many people who want to control their budget, but I don't personally want that particular kind of experience. It's worth it to me to pay more upfront to be left alone and not have to worry about whether to take advantage of something or not at my leisure. So I do say "nickel and dime" but for me it primarily expresses an annoyance that has an implication that is much more than the ultimate dollar figure. It works for a friend of mine who loves NCL but it's not for us.

I had no difficulty spending money on DCL and they had no problem taking it. Between the bars, spa, internet, photos, bingo, specialty dining, arcade, shops, and grats, I rack up just as much of a bill on DCL than I do on NCL. I think I even paid for popcorn and soda at the concession stand of the Walt Disney Theater. But that's on me. Nobody forced my hand. It's all optional.