Norwegian Cruise Line

[JohnDaleswife]

Anyone sail on the Norwegian Cruise Line before? Looking at the Escape for a possible anniversary trip next year. Feedback? Do they offer good last minute deals? What TA to book through?

 

[disneymomto5]

Husband and I took the NCL Pearl last summer to Alaska. We booked in May for August so didn't really get any great deals although I think if you can wait you may be able to get some good deals. We just booked through their website, my parents booked through cruise.com but I don't think they got any better price than we did.

 

[Belle & Ariel]

I would look at another line. We cruise often and always meet people who have cruised NCL once and hated it, saying they will never cruise them again. We joke NCL stands for the Neveragain Cruise Line.
Food is horrible, service is a joke, and often crew did not show up for scheduled events like kids club and trivia. Breakfast dishes were still laying around the pool deck when we went in for dinner. The next morning fries were on the pool deck. The pool towel bins were always empty. We never experienced this on other lines.
I will say though I have met people who cruised it first and were okay with it. They don't know what they are missing on other lines.
I have seen Celebrity, HAL, Royal, and Carnival for hundreds cheaper for a one week cruise.
We book online through each cruise line site. That way if there are price drops you can get a credit if before final payment or an upgrade if after.

 

[CruisingKate]

We were on the NCL Epic last September for a Mediterranean cruise. We chose this line for the ports, entertainment, and free-style dining. Loved it! Nothing but positives; a great experience. We were traveling as a couple, so have no experience with their kids club. Other cruises have been with Princess and Royal Carribean, also excellent. Definitely check out Cruise Critic.com for reviews of ships, itinaries,etc

 

[mjkacmom]

Been on NCL three times (3 different ships, last one the Breakaway), and loved it. Also did a DCL trip, and liked it, but hated fixed dining times, and my kids preferred NCL's clubs. There is so much to so on the new ships, with great slides, rock climbing wall, ropes course... I don't know about last minute deals, as that is a new ship, but the promotions lately have been great (alcohol package, free specialty dining package, #3 and 4 free...).

 

[RamrodinTonight]

I've been on a few NCL ships and loved them all, and have been looking at the Escape for an upcoming trip myself. Yes, you can find last minute deals. If you have the time, I've found the best thing to do is to track the prices at their website directly for the room class(es) you would want making note of any promotions. Prices can change frequently, promotions usually at the start of the month, so it helps to make the comparison. For example, a cheap balcony isn't as great of a deal to me as one that, for say $300 more included drinks.

 

[Lorix2]

We've been on NCL twice now. Most recently in April on the Getaway which is a new ship. Beautiful. Customer service and waitstaff were excellent. Buffet food can get boring after a few days, but the sit down restaurants were really good. Shows were great. Bed really comfy and our cabin steward was amazing. You must get a balcony! Pool too small for this ship. We chose this cruise specifically for two of the ports they offered and we had an incredible time visiting them. I booked everything thru NCL myself, very easy and I could easily make a call and change anything myself as opposed to using a TA and that was for 3 cabins. We were very pleased with our choice of ship but would like to try another line simply because we haven't yet.

 

[hrslvr142]

We cruised NCL this spring and also thought the service, food, activities were top notch. I have only cruised one other time on RCI and enjoyed that as well. Found the crew super friendly and willing to help in anyway including one evening when I got very ill in the cabin which resulted in "clean up"...I say if people can be pleasant while doing that...well great crew! Can't address the last minute as we were lucky enough to have won this cruise and it was booked about 5 months before we sailed. We also enjoyed the "eat when we are hungry" meals instead of having to set a time to be there. Have fun whatever you decide.

 

[mondragon]

Anyone sail on the Norwegian Cruise Line before? Looking at the Escape for a possible anniversary trip next year. Feedback? Do they offer good last minute deals? What TA to book through?

Ehhh. Cruised NCL once and never again. Food is subpar compared to many other lines (ie their shrimp cocktail consists of baby shrimp swimming in ketchup). We cruise only RCCL, princess and celebrity. NCL entertainment consists of a lot of rap music blasting.

 

[CalDisneyMomof2]

OP, check out my thread a little ways down, "Booking on a foreign website to save money". You may or may not find it useful.

 

[mjkacmom]

Ehhh. Cruised NCL once and never again. Food is subpar compared to many other lines (ie their shrimp cocktail consists of baby shrimp swimming in ketchup). We cruise only RCCL, princess and celebrity. NCL entertainment consists of a lot of rap music blasting.

When did you cruise NCL last? The entertainment is great - we saw the Broadway version of Rock of Ages, a fantastic dance show Burn the Floor, second City improv, Howl at the Moon dueling pianos (so much fun), game shows, cooking demonstrations, plus other musical groups. Didn't see ant rap...

 

[mondragon]

When did you cruise NCL last? The entertainment is great - we saw the Broadway version of Rock of Ages, a fantastic dance show Burn the Floor, second City improv, Howl at the Moon dueling pianos (so much fun), game shows, cooking demonstrations, plus other musical groups. Didn't see ant rap...

1.5 years ago. Was laying out by the pool relaxing and all of a sudden that music came on. Constant announcements being made and always trying to push drinks. You never get any of that on s celebrity cruise/princess cruise.

 

[4shinystars]

My daughter went on the Breakaway last year with her aunt for her HS graduation/18th birthday present. They both loved it, had no complaints. They loved the adult only Vibe Beach Club and were lucky enough to get a cabana ( i think there are only 5)for the trip ($299 for the cabana including Vibe). They splurged on that and upgraded dining and saved $$ by getting an inside room, their rationale was they spend so little time in the room that their money was better spent on other things. Also it was Hanna's first cruise and she worried about sea sickness, and an inside cabin is better. (she was fine)
Vibe was great, she said, and the bartenders challenged each other to come up with non alcoholic versions of drinks all week for Hanna. They had complimentary cool towels, fruit, and water brought to them all the time in the cabana. Hanna also thought the shows were top notch, and mentioned every staff member they came in contact with was very polite and helpful.

 

[StitchandPooh'sMom]

We haven't cruised NCL, although we have cruised Disney, Royal, Carnival and Holland America. We have found Costco Travel to have the best prices/perks for any cruises that they sell (they don't do Carnival, but they do NCL and the others).

 

[antmaril]

I will be cruising NCL for the first time to Canada/New England in September with my best friend. I have cruised Carnival, Holland America, Princess and Disney. I am going with an open mind. I chose this cruise because I liked the itinerary, people seem to like this ship (Gem) and I knew my friend would like the relaxed "Free Style" atmosphere. This will be her first cruise. I am hopeful that we will have a great time. I am going with a positive attitude.

 

[mjkacmom]

1.5 years ago. Was laying out by the pool relaxing and all of a sudden that music came on. Constant announcements being made and always trying to push drinks. You never get any of that on s celebrity cruise/princess cruise.

Do you mean reggae? I can't imagine rap on any cruise ship.

 

[tvguy]

Been on NCL 3 times, the most recent 8 years ago. Freestyle dining is for the birds, but other than that it was a good cruise.

 

[mondragon]

Do you mean reggae? I can't imagine rap on any cruise ship.

No it was rap. Reggae is actually relaxing.

 

[disfanforlife]

We were on the Epic in December 2012 and loved it. I chose it for the entertainment and ports. Loved the entertainment! We saw blue man group, Michael Jackson and jimmy buffet impersonators, cirque dinner show, and much more. Our balcony room was very comfortable and we found the staff attentive and helpful. Only cruise one other time 10 years ealrier on carnival and didn't like it at all.

 

[MillauFr]

We were on the NCL Pearl to Alaska. Loved the cruise. The food was excellent, shows were good, and my daughter had fun at the kids club. We like Disney better but NCL was much cheaper.