[ 08-29-2006: Message edited by: joe at travelpage ]

My take on NCL: fabulous ships, some of the very best - I mean the Jewel/Star/Dawn class, which has more ships coming (Pearl may already be with us, and Gem is to come I believe). They're big but not overwhelming, and they're fabulously decorated & equipped.

The other thing you need to know about NCL is that all their recent ships are built for 'Freestyle Dining', ie instead of the traditional 'this is where, when & with whome you'll be having dinner throught the cruise' approach, they operate their restaurants like a traditional restaurant - you turn up when you want and in theory they'll accomodate you. And allied to that is a plethora of dining options - up to 10 places to eat on the recent ships (some of which attract an additional charge).

[ 08-29-2006: Message edited by: Commodore ]

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Originally posted by Grant:
NCL generates far more complaints than the other lines stopping in town. I'm not loyal to any particular cruise line, and have sailed, and enjoyed, almost all of them, so I have no axe to grind!!

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I agree with this 100%. You absolutely hear more complaints about NCL than any other major line (except maybe MSC Cruises here in the US). It's obvious that even with new ships something is not quite up to par with the competitors. A quick browse of any NCL message board and you will come across a more than proportionate amount of complaints. NCL also does not have "loyalists" like the other lines do. You know, these are the people that no matter how bad the situation is on "their" line, they will defend it to the bitter end. NCL seems like a line people go on based on price, itinerary, or convenience and not much else. They have a long way to go before they will have a loyalty base like Carnival, Princess, or Royal Caribbean.

The food was uneven, service perfunctary, entertainment is excellent. Passengers were liner loonies, and bargain hunters. SSNorway had many loyalists unlike the rest of the fleet.

Many friends and family in NYC took the Norwegian Dawn since it has year round service from the West Side piers eliminating the need to fly.

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Originally posted by mec1:
Or Celebrity, Ernie....

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Ore Holland America line.......

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My take on NCL: fabulous ships, some of the very best - I mean the Jewel/Star/Dawn class, which has more ships coming (Pearl may already be with us, and Gem is to come I believe). They're big but not overwhelming, and they're fabulously decorated & equipped.

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Tom Pearl is coming in November she's doing a 1 nighter frome Rotterdam to Southampton frome 99 euro up exlussiff fares. Frome Southampton back to Rotterdam with train, flight it would be up to 350 euro p.p. quite to expensiff fore a 1 nighter. Well a 7 day cruise with MCS Rapsody would be 500 up including fares.

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Originally posted by eroller:

I agree with this 100%. You absolutely hear more complaints about NCL than any other major line (except maybe MSC Cruises here in the US). It's obvious that even with new ships something is not quite up to par with the competitors. A quick browse of any NCL message board and you will come across a more than proportionate amount of complaints. NCL also does not have "loyalists" like the other lines do. You know, these are the people that no matter how bad the situation is on "their" line, they will defend it to the bitter end. NCL seems like a line people go on based on price, itinerary, or convenience and not much else. They have a long way to go before they will have a loyalty base like Carnival, Princess, or Royal Caribbean.

Ernie

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Ernie do you think there is a correlation with the discount shopping passenger and the amount of complaints generated. Someone lookiong for an upscale experience but shopping a bottom basement price is bound to be disapointed. Myself I have cruised twice with NCL. The first time was on the old Leeward and the second time did an Alaska itinerary on the Sky's inaugural season. In both instances we had a good time and were not disapointed with the product but my family tends to prefer things more relaxed and less formal. Comaring both ships we definitely prefered the freestyle dining compared to the rigid seating of the Leeward

[ 08-30-2006: Message edited by: timb ]

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Originally posted by timb:

Ernie do you think there is a correlation with the discount shopping passenger and the amount of complaints generated. Someone lookiong for an upscale experience but shopping a bottom basement price is bound to be disapointed.
[ 08-30-2006: Message edited by: timb ]

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Originally posted by timb:

do you think there is a correlation with the discount shopping passenger and the amount of complaints generated. Someone lookiong for an upscale experience but shopping a bottom basement price is bound to be disapointed.[ 08-30-2006: Message edited by: timb ]

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As a cruise consultant, I hear this all the time from people who have booked NCL for a bargain rate; they hear "new ship, Freestyle dining, 10 restaurants, yada-yada-yada" and expect who knows what. Typically they are someone truly loyal to brand ABC, but decided to try something else which didn't measure up in every respect.

In all fairness, complaints come in from other lines as well, for example Holland America. Mr.& Mrs. Cruiser come back saying "Oh, they're cutting corners, the food and service aren't like they used to be, etc." Well of course not--they just sailed for a week on HAL for something like $599! In the "good old days", the fares paid, adjusted for inflation, would have been 3 or 4 times as much.

Getting back to NCL, I think the majority of people are happy with the product. It just depends on what you are used to--for someone wanting a traditional, regimented cruise experience, these ships may be too free-wheeling. But they do offer a truly resort-type experience, with a huge variety of choices for people to do what they want, when they want.

Our first experience was on the Norway. There were plumbing problems (a water leak) in our cabin. The leak was never fixed. The crew was extremely unhappy because they had to work when the ship was drydocked the previous week. This was without pay. At the end of the cruise, I remember leaving the ship without a single staff member being at the exit. A highlight of this cruise was the Broadway stage show.

Our second cruise was on Norwegian Crown. We went on a Baltic cruise. This was spectacular. The food and service were excellent. I remember the whole staff was lined up and shook our hands when we left. This cruise remains one of our favorites.

Our third cruise was during one Christmas on Norwegian Wind. We knew that this ship had been stretched. We did not know that it has a history of plumbing problems. We had booked the highest class balcony room and did not have functioning bathroom facilities on multiple occasions (problems with their vacuum waste system). All staff disappeared and offered no help. Service was poor in the dining room and elsewhere on the ship.