NCL or Carnival?

[Melnemac32]

Hi everyone,

My boyfriend and I are going to go on our first cruise in March to the Caribbean. We are unsure which cruiseline we should pick. He is 25 years old and I am 23. We are between NCL and Carnival. Based on our time frame the boats we would be on are the Norwegian Pearl or Carnival Glory. I was hoping for some advice on which one would be better for us to go on. I did a quick google search and I found that the average age of someone on NCL going to the Caribbean is between 20 and 50. Can anyone confirm this? We are hoping to meet at least some people our own age. Also if you are aware of any hidden prices that would differ from the two cruise lines or any other information that would factor into us choosing one line over another I'd apperciate it if you'd let me know!

Thanks!

[Gayle V]

Hello Melnemac32,

I think you would do well on either line, but my inclination would be to encourage you to go with Carnival.

I have not tried NCL yet, but have been on Carnival several times. I think your info about the ages on NCL is likely correct. In general Carnival has a younger over all passenger age than other cruise lines, but NCL might come close. Mostly because of their advertizing touts their "Freestyle" dining, which would seem to appeal more to younger people. On the other hand that "Freestyle" dining of theirs is the reason I'd steer clear of them for first timers, concerned about extra costs.

On NCL ships they have several different dining venues, at least half of them cost extra. On that Carnival ship, you do have the option of the (pay extra for) steak house, but the majority of the time, everyone will dine in the main dining room for dinner, or the lido area for when you want to be more casual. Or you can get room service, all of those options are no additional cost. Sure, you can choose to ignore the nicer dining venues on NCL and eat only in the Pearls free restaurants . But if it were me, I would find that a little disappointing, to be the ones not enjoying the better restaurants.

All the dining on NCL is "anytime" which is great, so long as you don't mind having to make reservations for dinner, or wait in line. I really don't want that when I cruise. I like having my same table, and my same waiter, my same dinner time everyday. No special arrangements, no waiting. (That's what's called traditional seating.) Most ships these days, offer some version of "anytime dining" (eat when you want) also, so you can get that on Carnival too if you like. No extra cost.

No matter what line you choose, you will find younger folk on the shorter cruises. Anything longer than a week will have a higher general age. Choose four days, and you will have more younger people. (Mainly because younger folk have fewer vacation days and often less spare money to spend.) Alaskan and New England area cruises draw older folk than the Caribbean (swim suit) itineraries. Also when you cruise makes a difference. Cruise during spring breaks and you will find more college age onboard.

As for hidden costs, well if you know about the costs ahead of time, they aren't hidden. But if you don't know, well they can come as a surprise. Here's a cut and paste from The Cruiser's Compass that lists all the things you might pay extra for on a cruise:

What items on the ship will cost extra?

• Alcoholic and soft drinks and some specialty coffees
• Specialty restaurants
• Casino gambling
• Laundry
• Photographs
• Shore excursions
• Spa treatments (massage, manicure etc)
• Ship to shore phone calls
• Internet
• Baby sitting
• Medical services
• Gift shop purchases
• Bingo
• Tips
• Some fitness center classes (i.e.: yoga, spinning)

As for the tips, that's the one "extra" that's not really optional. The tip amount of about ten dollars per person, per day is automatically added to your shipboard account, on a daily basis. If you really think you got lousy service, you can have that removed from your account, by going to the purser's deck and telling them what you wish to do, and why. Just remember that your cabin steward, and his assistant, and your waiter and assistant waiter get the vast majorty of their pay from this charge. If you take it away, they will have worked all week, serving you and cleaning up after you, for free. A lot of first timers are unaware of the tips prior to booking and don't realize that they are not really just a tip. It's their main income.

(BTW, I believe that on NCL, that "tips" charge is called a service charge and is not removeable from your account. NCL is different from other cruise lines in this respect.)

If you have any more questions, ask away.

Also, for more good infor for first timers, you might want to take a look at a page here on Cruise Addict's called the Cruiser's Compass. The link is right here in my signature.

[George C]

I am preety sure you will have plenty of people your age on both ships, I dislike NCL, main reason is any time dinning, rather than traditional dinning, traditional dinning you are assigned a table and a time early or late and you have same waiter for the entire cruise. I just think service is better when this happens ( and table is always ready). NCL does not offer this Carnival gives you a choice.

[BSeabob]

Good Luck..you generally get what you pay for in the cruise industry.

[Jeanie]

I would go with Carnival

[Melnemac32]

Thanks for all of the great information Gayle!! I really appreciate all the effort you spent in your answer back. Can you tell me about some of the things you can do on a cruise during the day. When I was looking it seemed like NCL had more a variety of shows than Carnival. NCL said that they have comedians, a murder mystery night, comedians, and other shows. I noticed that Carnival mentioned that they had comedians too but I wasn't really sure what kind of shows they had.

We are trying to find a cruise that will have a lot of interesting things to do on it. I've heard a lot of people say that Carnival is "fun" and I noticed that the ship I would be going on in a Fun Ship 2.0 but I don't really know what that means and I can't really find a good description anywhere.

The Cruise's Compass had a lot of good information on it. It described Carnival as being full of activities and having a full schedule. But I guess since I've never been on a cruise I don't really understand what kind of activities the ship would have on it to do. Do you have any insight?

[rickpipes]

NCL treated my wife, myself and two other couples like common rubbish. Best to opt for a cruise line that values repeat business (we cruised with them three times).

[Gayle V]

We are trying to find a cruise that will have a lot of interesting things to do on it. I've heard a lot of people say that Carnival is "fun" and I noticed that the ship I would be going on in a Fun Ship 2.0 but I don't really know what that means and I can't really find a good description anywhere.

But I guess since I've never been on a cruise I don't really understand what kind of activities the ship would have on it to do. Do you have any insight?

Hello Melnemac,

I am so sorry that I never responded to your second question on this thread, and here it's been over a month. We were on a cruise in early February, and between that and the preparations for it, plus cleaning up the aftermath, I've only just started paying more attention to the boards. If it's still of interest, I'll answer the best I can.

As for Carnival 2.0 , from what I can gather 2.0 is the plan that Carnival is implementing to revamp their ships. It includes:

• Adding the Comedy clubs to the rest of their ships (At least two or three comedy sets every night. More adult at the later show).
• They are adding the Serenity area (Actually changing the aft pool area into an all adult, much more peaceful (read that as no loud music) and cushy relaxing spot, with hammocks, and lounge beds, shaded sofas, plus extra thick pads on the regular lounge chairs) It's free to use, unlike similar areas on other ships. (Unfortunately it's so popular with the chair hogs, the place is half empty, and you still can't find a spot.)
• They changed their menus, (not necessarily a good or bad thing, but totally a matter of opinion). The change as far as I can see mostly involved adding some "home cooking" type of foods to the menu. They call them "Comfort food". (Mac and cheese, fried chicken, meat loaf.) They don't interest me, so I didn't try them.
• They improved the burgers at the grill, styled after some famous cook. (who?)
• And some changes to the bars that made no impression me, so can't see a difference.

As for the activities:

There are lots of things, some are great, some silly, while others are ridiculous:

What to do on a cruise:

Look for these on the daily schedule:
Game shows. Go to theses, they are usually hilarious. example Quest, Newlywed/Not so newlywed Game, Liar's Club, Survivor, )
Murder Mystery show
Piano Bar Sing-a-long
Sail away party
Art auctions
On first day :take a tour of ship, or spa
Galley tour $
Karaoke
Contests:

• Hairy Chest contest, Sexy Legs contests at the pool (silly, ridiculous ones)
• Simple contest sports, basket ball hoop throw, bean bag throw, ping pong etc.
• Limbo contest
• Mixology contest
• Slot contest.$ (there are other gambling events, but I don't pay any attention to them)
• Texas Hold'em

Plus there's bingo, and there's bingo, and there's more bingo. (Seems like they hold a bingo game every other minute.)
Liquor tasting (usually first day)
Wine tasting
Cooking demonstrations
Bridge and card players meeting
Scavenger hunts
Sometimes there's a "Walk for the Cure" $ (Susan Koman, St. Jude, etc. pay small fee, participate, get a tee shirt. )
Movies: in lounge or at the pool jumbo screen, (depends on ship)
Our last cruise had Laser Tag

Classes:
Dance classes, (line, salsa, ballroom etc.)
Yoga
Spinning
Aerobics
Pilates
Sunrise stretch class on deck
Napkin folding
Learn about wine/food
Ice carving demo
Food sculpting demo

Anytime:
Sun bathe on deck or on your balcony.
Read a book in a cosey corner. (there is a library)
Swim in the pool
Soak in a hot tub
Mini golf
Giant chess set on deck
Games and cards in card room
Work out in the gym
Relax in the steam room
Relax in the sauna

Nearly anytime
Gamble , (Slots, black jack, Three card poker etc)
Go shopping in the on board shops (watch for the sales advertised in the daily paper).

Costs money:
Chef dinner
Bearly Cuddly (a bit like a limited build-a-bear)

Go to the spa for a:

• Massage (hot stone, Shiatsu, foot, back )
• Sea weed wrap
• Facial
• Iothermie
• Get your hair done
• Manicure
• Pedicure
• Teeth whitening
• Accupuncture

And of course the Shows:
Vegas style (On our last cruise they did a very good Beatles tribute)
Comedians
Jugglers (There's a lot more to these shows than juggling. It's better than it sounds)
Occasionally a magician (I have not seen one recently on Carnival, but usually do on other lines)

And the music venues
Guitar player
Piano player
Night club
Occasionally a Jazz group
Occasionally big band or dance music.

I'm sure I missed some things. But considering that on most cruises, you only get one or two days at sea to enjoy all that, with a good bitof your time taken up with going ashore and meals, you aren't likely to get bored.