What can you tell me about Norwegian Cruise Lines!

[SettinSail]

Hi Budget Board, my family wants to take a Baltic cruise this Summer, specifically the NCL Aug 15th sailing. We'd prefer to cruise with Disney but they are not doing the Baltic this Summer and have not announced any plans to do so Summer 2012 either.

Does anyone here have positive or negative experience with NCL?
Ways to get a discount? Best cabins? Any other tips or tricks?
We are interested in an aft balcony cabin and NCL website price is $5100 for 3.

I rec'd an email from "Vacations to Go" saying they are discounting this cruise, have to call them for the price...anyone have experience with them?

***Also posted on the cruise board***

Thanks,
Shawn

 

[mjkacmom]

We've sailed DCL and NCL, and I actually prefer NCL, just for the dining options (on DCL, we were always rushing to get to our seating). I do believe that they can no longer discount cruises, but a TA can get you OBC. You really want to go to cruisecritic.com, the disboards of cruising.

 

[dumbocutie]

Go to Cruisecritic.com the Boards specifically. Look under Norwegian cruise line and just creep a while. You will learn alot.

I have sailed on NCL twice. Found it comparable to Carnival and RCCL.

Will not be as nice as Disney but you will also not be paying Disney prices.

Have Fun.

 

[DizFan101]

NCL is like the best cruise line. my family and i have always sailed on NCL... It is one of the cruise lines that don't tell you who to sit next to or when dinner is served...

i also find that they have great on board entertainment and good shore excursions.

 

[Simba&Nala]

Have never cruised on NCL but have used Vacations to Go twice and had a great experience both times. The name of the person that we worked with at VTG is Marilyn Murphy. Their number is 1-800-338-4962 and her extension is 7275. She is a wonderful person to work with.

 

[ckgplus3]

We sailed the Mediterranean on NCL and were extremely pleased with the quality of the ship and the food. We loved freestyle dining and the specialty restaurants that we ate at. I am actually looking to do Eastern Med. with NCL next year. I booked through Expedia and received a discount similar to what Vacations to Go offered. We received a coupon book that included a coupon for the surcharge for a specialty restaurant. We also received an OBC from using mastercard.

 

[tinkgirl1984]

I NCL. I can't think of a reason I would ever sail on another (moderate price range) cruise line. No, not even DCL (although I did enjoy the two DCL cruises I've been on). I just really love not having to have a set dinner time and having all the restaurant choices. On the newer ships, I even really enjoy the buffets. Also, I've never been on an NCL ship that didn't have an amazing crew. They really truly go above and beyond. I think you'll have an excellent vacation. That Baltic Capitals cruise is my dream vacation. I'm hoping to be able to go next year Also, I can't really help you out with discounts since this is your first NCL cruise, but they do have a really great return customer program. I'm always getting great offers and you usually have the ability to book before the general public.

 

[Belle & Ariel]

NCL would be my last choice. We have tried it twice--once on an older ship that was terrible and later on a newer ship that was not so great. Food was worse than my mom's nursing home, dirty trays and plates sat around pool decks all day, steward didn't show up to do room more than half the time, nickel and diming was ridiculous, morale of crew was like a prison camp.
We love Celebrity and Holland America. On a Disney comparison, they would be a deluxe and NCL would be an offsite Motel 6.
I think people keep going to NCL because of the freestyle dining--it is on all mass market lines now--we last sailed Holland America last month and even had it there. NCL does have more restaurants at a surcharge than other lines whose main dining rooms provide great food with the base fare. On NCL you need to pay $20-$30 surcharge per person per meal and the food and service are often still not up to par with the other's main (free) dining room.
I would suggest going on Priceline and searching other lines doing the same itinerary. Also read reviews on cruisecritic--you will find many who say they tried NCL once but NEVER AGAIN.

 

[mjkacmom]

NCL would be my last choice. We have tried it twice--once on an older ship that was terrible and later on a newer ship that was not so great. Food was worse than my mom's nursing home, dirty trays and plates sat around pool decks all day, steward didn't show up to do room more than half the time, nickel and diming was ridiculous, morale of crew was like a prison camp.
We love Celebrity and Holland America. On a Disney comparison, they would be a deluxe and NCL would be an offsite Motel 6.
I think people keep going to NCL because of the freestyle dining--it is on all mass market lines now--we last sailed Holland America last month and even had it there. NCL does have more restaurants at a surcharge than other lines whose main dining rooms provide great food with the base fare. On NCL you need to pay $20-$30 surcharge per person per meal and the food and service are often still not up to par with the other's main (free) dining room.
I would suggest going on Priceline and searching other lines doing the same itinerary. Also read reviews on cruisecritic--you will find many who say they tried NCL once but NEVER AGAIN.

I found the food in the main dining rooms on NCL comparable to DCL, but the food in the specialty restaurants to be better than DCL. I also don't understand about the nickel and diming. I'd rather have the option to eat at different venues and pay a little extra (some as little as $10 per person), than have to have no choices. I believe soda is only free on the most expensive cruises (you have to pay on most mass market cruiselines), excursions, alcohol, speciality restaurants, coffee bars, bingo, etc. are extra everywhere. For the price you will pay for the higher end lines, you can get an amazing suite on NCL, with a butler, and great perks not found elsewhere for the cost.

 

[bettymae1121]

I've never sailed with NCL but I've inspected some of their ships (I'm a travel agent) where they served us lunch. Beautiful ships, friendly crew, and good food. I was impressed enough that I do want to sail with them in the next few years.

 

[lost*in*cyberspace]

You might want to browse cruisecritic.com - lots of information there.

 

[NCRedding]

I've sailed on 2 NCL cruises, both on older ships. I had great experiences on each. In my opinion, the food in the main dining rooms was on par with Disneys food. The food, service and atmosphere in the specialty dining room on NCL (both ships) was much lower than that on DCL.

The drawbacks we found: alcoholic drinks are much more expensive on NCL. A drink you'd pay $4.95-5.95 on Carnival/DCL or RCCL would be at least $9 on NCL. The berths in port seemed to be a little less desirable, and a little bit far away than DCL, RCCL or Carnival.

We've sailed DCL 7 times, Carnival 1 time, NCL 2 times and RCCL 1 time. The order I listed is my order of preference. I'm one of those rare people who did not enjoy my RCCL cruise.

 

[JandJ]

Thanks for posting, OP. DH and I are considering a NCL cruise. We've gone on RCCL and HAL previously (love HAL!) and I am a member of cruise critic, but it never hurts to get lots of opinions

 

[platamama]

I'm glad to have come across this thread. We did DCL in 2009 and had a really good time. I'm looking at NCL for our next cruise and overall it's sounding favorable from people who have done both. The price difference is incredible for the itinerary I'm looking at between NCL and DCL. So yes, there's a charge for soda and certain restaurants on NCL...but not over $4000 worth! I'm not even comparing apples to apples here. On the NCL I have a balcony (granted it appears like it will be smaller than the DCL standard inside but at least we can see and be outside) and I'm only pricing the OV on DCL. $4000 can pay for our next trip to WDW

I'm a bit concerned about DD6 having a good time on NCL; she keeps talking about DCL even though she was only 4 when we did that one. But how will I ever know how NCL is with kids if I don't try it personally? I've read both good and bad things about the kids club. CC as a forum has nothing on the Dis, it's so hard to find out any current info on that site regarding anything to do with kids. There are tons of reviews but no way to search for specific words like kids club (unless someone knows how and I need some direction).

 

[DOPEYLUVER]

Also read reviews on cruisecritic--you will find many who say they tried NCL once but NEVER AGAIN.

NCL is also reducing the perks they offer their most loyal cruisers because there are so many of US on each sailing. I'm not saying I disagree with the statement about one time sailings on NCL but please keep in mind that there are many repeat customers as well.

 

[DOPEYLUVER]

CC as a forum has nothing on the Dis, it's so hard to find out any current info on that site.

I have to disagree with this as well. It's a matter of what you are used to. I used to be a frequent poster/visitor to the cruise critic message board and find it much more informative than dis. What's kind of funny is that I thought Dis was much friendlier too because I hadn't seen the hot topics that get people going.

Both boards light up with talk about tips. Both with not toilet trained kids in pools. Finding free parking is only a DIS hot topic. Reusing mugs - DIS only. Smuggling booze is a very hot topic on cruise critic.

Again, I think it's whatever you more familiar with.

Also, while the message boards are great, there is also a very comprehensive review section. Just keep in mind that as will all subjects, dissatisfied people love to post their terrible experiences.

I definitely agree with the lurking before posting and getting "yelled" at. As with the DIS, there are a hand ful of know-it-all's and while their knowledge is great sometimes their attitude leaves much to be desired.

I hope to take a Disney cruise sometime but for now my budget doesn't allow it