Anyone been on or considered the Norwegian Cruise Line

[LeslieG]

Has anyone been on the NCL Star? I'm looking at their Northern Europe itinerary for next summer. I like that it's a smaller ship, but I know it's a bit older.

 

[MomForFrozenAddicts]

I cruised with NCL twice. Once in Hawaii and another 14 days from NY. The Hawaiian cruise was ok, but the 14 days Caribbean was not at all. My frugal husband was willing to pay for specialty dining after the first 2 days of our 14 days cruise. You know how by the end of the cruise, you wish you're doing B2B. In that case, I was counting to the days we got off in Miami. LOL

However, some of my coworkers love NCL and would only sail NCL. I think every one has his/her own idea what make or break their vacation. I'm big on shows and food, and I found NCL's lacks in comparison to DCL, RCCL, HAL, Princess, and even Carnival. I'm reluctant to try NCL again, but I almost gave in with NCL Breakaway leaving from NY and NCL's newest promotion. OMG, free premium beverage and free 3rd/4th person. Actually, I was all ready to book for Spring Break 2016 until the price of the 3rd/4th person went from free to 50% in a day. It was an additional $800--not so much about the money, but it just gave me a chance to think things over. I was reminded that Disney really took care of my daughter with multiple food allergies when we sailed Disney Wonder. Now, with 2 daughters with food allergies (especially my younger one), I should play safe and go with Disney.

 

[amomma23]

Just cancelled our placeholder with Disney and booked a 7 night western on the Getaway for 2016. For our family of 5 in a family ocean view room with free ultimate beverage package was under $2300! Our last Disney cruise was 4 nights to Nassau on the Dream for $3119. We love Disney, but the latest prices have cemented our decision to stick with Disney parks and try out other cruise lines.

 

[KashasMom]

I cruised with NCL twice. Once in Hawaii and another 14 days from NY. The Hawaiian cruise was ok, but the 14 days Caribbean was not at all. My frugal husband was willing to pay for specialty dining after the first 2 days of our 14 days cruise. You know how by the end of the cruise, you wish you're doing B2B. In that case, I was counting to the days we got off in Miami. LOL

However, some of my coworkers love NCL and would only sail NCL. I think every one has his/her own idea what make or break their vacation. I'm big on shows and food, and I found NCL's lacks in comparison to DCL, RCCL, HAL, Princess, and even Carnival. I'm reluctant to try NCL again, but I almost gave in with NCL Breakaway leaving from NY and NCL's newest promotion. OMG, free premium beverage and free 3rd/4th person. Actually, I was all ready to book for Spring Break 2016 until the price of the 3rd/4th person went from free to 50% in a day. It was an additional $800--not so much about the money, but it just gave me a chance to think things over. I was reminded that Disney really took care of my daughter with multiple food allergies when we sailed Disney Wonder. Now, with 2 daughters with food allergies (especially my younger one), I should play safe and go with Disney.

There is no comparison...you've taken the worst of NCL. The Pride is notorious for having a less than stellar (American!) crew. And if you didn't take the Breakaway out of NYC - you took an older, smaller ship. I'd only sail Epic, Breakaway, Getaway, and any of the other new ships. The shows on those are definitely better than most of the other lines (IMO, better than DCL). And I thought the food was better than DCL as well.

 

[jenf22]

Has anyone been on the NCL Star? I'm looking at their Northern Europe itinerary for next summer. I like that it's a smaller ship, but I know it's a bit older.

I can let you know after our cruise in June It just came out of dry dock, so I'm hoping it's better than the Cruise Critic reviews show. We're cruising for the itinerary, so we're trying to keep our expectation low when it comes to the ship

 

[LeslieG]

I can let you know after our cruise in June It just came out of dry dock, so I'm hoping it's better than the Cruise Critic reviews show. We're cruising for the itinerary, so we're trying to keep our expectation low when it comes to the ship

Please do post when you get back. I'd love to know how you liked it. Is it the 9nt?

 

[FJS961]

I have sailed NCL twice as well so far. Hawaii was an awesome itinerary. The ship was not the destination. You spend 100 hrs docked, twice overnight, awesome! They have the market cornered on Hawaii inter island. The other was Breakaway to Bermuda. We had a wonderful time in a Haven 2 bedroom suite. The concierge amenities trump DCL on those new ships for about half the price. We did not do main dining, mostly Haven restaurant and some specialty things I wanted to try. I would say food was very good. The small staff in the Haven restaurant got to know us. I remember we commented we like a bottle of wine we had one night and a couple nights later at the Cirque dinner show the server brought us that same bottle wine saying it was compliments of our concierge. Entertainment was very good also. I am looking forward to Getaway in 2016.

That being said, DCL vibe feels like home and I have future bookings during sane off peak pricing times.

 

[jenf22]

Please do post when you get back. I'd love to know how you liked it. Is it the 9nt?

No, it's just the 7 night fjord cruise. I'll try to post somewhere after we get back. I can't imagine it'll be anything but awesome.

 

[Ofinn]

I came so close to cancelling the Fantasy and booking the Getaway today. I am really ready for a change and something new. I think my husband and I would love it. I was worried about the kids club so I started reading reviews on the dolphin splash academy on cruise critic, and it didn't alleviate my fears. It seems like a lot of 11 and 12 year olds hate it. I think it would be hard for my kids to go from the Edge(which they love) back to wearing bracelets and being checked in and out by mom and dad. If anyone has had a different experience let me know. We homeschool and we both work full time. My kids are pretty independent and self sufficient. I'm not sure it what be a good fit for us. I definitely want to try it when they're teens. It's painful to pass up the deal they are offering. I hope some post your reviews when you return.

 

[momof2n2]

I came so close to cancelling the Fantasy and booking the Getaway today. I am really ready for a change and something new. I think my husband and I would love it. I was worried about the kids club so I started reading reviews on the dolphin splash academy on cruise critic, and it didn't alleviate my fears. It seems like a lot of 11 and 12 year olds hate it. I think it would be hard for my kids to go from the Edge(which they love) back to wearing bracelets and being checked in and out by mom and dad. If anyone has had a different experience let me know. We homeschool and we both work full time. My kids are pretty independent and self sufficient. I'm not sure it what be a good fit for us. I definitely want to try it when they're teens. It's painful to pass up the deal they are offering. I hope some post your reviews when you return.

My trip isn't until May 2016, but for sure I will.
I'm hoping for regular reports back from people here, too!

 

[plutolovr]

Deleted

 

[gilsan]

I came so close to cancelling the Fantasy and booking the Getaway today. I am really ready for a change and something new. I think my husband and I would love it. I was worried about the kids club so I started reading reviews on the dolphin splash academy on cruise critic, and it didn't alleviate my fears. It seems like a lot of 11 and 12 year olds hate it. I think it would be hard for my kids to go from the Edge(which they love) back to wearing bracelets and being checked in and out by mom and dad. If anyone has had a different experience let me know. We homeschool and we both work full time. My kids are pretty independent and self sufficient. I'm not sure it what be a good fit for us. I definitely want to try it when they're teens. It's painful to pass up the deal they are offering. I hope some post your reviews when you return.

We havn't sailed on NCL yet, but my daughter (9 now 10 when we cruise ncl) is looking forward to it more than the Disney ships. The waterslide, rope course, and bungee trampoline all look fun for kids that age. The aqua duck isn't that exciting to her now.

If you are comparing to the Magic it might be closer for her because of their new slides.

Plus we are staying in the haven with a huge aft balcony and a big suite and everything else included., for not much more than a verandah on the Fantasy. I am really hoping we will like it as much as DCL.

 

[Ofinn]

We havn't sailed on NCL yet, but my daughter (9 now 10 when we cruise ncl) is looking forward to it more than the Disney ships. The waterslide, rope course, and bungee trampoline all look fun for kids that age. The aqua duck isn't that exciting to her now.

If you are comparing to the Magic it might be closer for her because of their new slides.

Plus we are staying in the haven with a huge aft balcony and a big suite and everything else included., for not much more than a verandah on the Fantasy. I am really hoping we will like it as much as DCL.

The upper deck does look fun. I think they would like that. I honestly haven't completed ruled it out. I really like the savings. I'm taking my kids on the Iceland/Norway cruise next year so the savings could go towards that cruise. I have been looking at other options besides cruising, but I haven't come up with anything that's a better value than a cruise.

Anybody know when this deal ends?

BTW when I priced it out on the Costco site it was a couple hundred less, but they only gave you the option of the drink package. Just an FWI for anybody that uses Costco.

 

[jenf22]

The upper deck does look fun. I think they would like that. I honestly haven't completed ruled it out. I really like the savings. I'm taking my kids on the Iceland/Norway cruise next year so the savings could go towards that cruise. I have been looking at other options besides cruising, but I haven't come up with anything that's a better value than a cruise.

Anybody know when this deal ends?

BTW when I priced it out on the Costco site it was a couple hundred less, but they only gave you the option of the drink package. Just an FWI for anybody that uses Costco.

If you book with Costco over the phone, you can pick your free amenity. I think they default to the beverage package because it's the most expensive option to purchase so they see it as the best option. Costco has some kind of deal with NCL so they offer better rates than through NCL directly. You also get $50 OBC from Costco. My two NCL bookings are through Costco.

I think the NCL deal ends April 6th? Don't quote me on that though...

 

[Ofinn]

If you book with Costco over the phone, you can pick your free amenity. I think they default to the beverage package because it's the most expensive option to purchase so they see it as the best option. Costco has some kind of deal with NCL so they offer better rates than through NCL directly. You also get $50 OBC from Costco. My two NCL bookings are through Costco.

I think the NCL deal ends April 6th? Don't quote me on that though...

Good I have a few more days then to waffle back and forth....

 

[gilsan]

The deal does end on April 6. I did read on cruise critic that the new offer will be similar to the current one.

 

[Scoobypop]

Just off our first NCL cruise today, Norwegian Star to Mexican Riviera. I know most on this thread are wondering about the bigger, newer ships, but if any questions, I'm happy to answer. 13 DCL cruises, one Royal Caribbean and now this one. In the car on the iPad here, driving back home to Vegas. It was a great week, we loved that itinerary a lot in 2012 on the Wonder so wanted to do it again. Ships are going to Mazatlan again, which they weren't doing in 2012.we absolutely loved that port as much as Cabo and Puerto Vallarta, so glad to have experienced it this time.

 

[Scoobypop]

Has anyone been on the NCL Star? I'm looking at their Northern Europe itinerary for next summer. I like that it's a smaller ship, but I know it's a bit older.

The Star is beautiful and in really great shape. It just came out of dry dock three weeks ago. We thought it was a nice looking ship and didn't notice wear and tear anywhere really.

 

[qa4ever]

Is anyone on this thread who booked NCL getaway back yet?

I have been waiting patiently for DCL Fantasy for Sept to offer some VGT and it just isn't. The price for a Balcony Guarantee on the getaway in September is now less than half of the Fantasy for the same week. Just so hard to justify Disney at those prices Even though in our hearts that is where we really want to go!

Would love to hear from others how it was.

 

[perditax]

Is anyone on this thread who booked NCL getaway back yet?

I have been waiting patiently for DCL Fantasy for Sept to offer some VGT and it just isn't. The price for a Balcony Guarantee on the getaway in September is now less than half of the Fantasy for the same week. Just so hard to justify Disney at those prices Even though in our hearts that is where we really want to go!

Would love to hear from others how it was.

I'm just off the Getaway. My first cruise was planned for DCL this September, but I got antsy and jumped the gun and went on a solo trip. TR here, some pics towards the end:

http://boards.cruisecritic.com/showthread.php?t=2224767

Note that I was solo and wasn't doing a lot of 'typical' cruise stuff, plus I don't have kids, but all the families and kids I saw there seemed very happy.