>
>Hi Peggy,
>Sounds like you had a fabulous time on your one nighter. At least you
>didn't have to spend a minute deciding what to do in any ports. LOL
>I was wondering how you would compare the NCL product with the
>much-loved Celebrity line. We have enjoyed both, as I am sure you have.
>But somehow, I think we lean towards the Celebrity ones.
>
>Nice review. Thanks.
>
>Ermalee
Hi Ermalee,
Glad you liked the review! It really was a great time, and such a
wonderful way to end the summer!! Made that tedious and long first
week of school seem far more bearable too!
Yes, in some respects we miss sailing with Celebrity and will most
likely go back to them at some point--certainly to try the Solstice
and Equinox-- at some point--- and definitely to return to our
wonderful Millennium and Summit. But, we have certainly found a "new"
home with NCL and are really enjoying it thoroughly. Let's see if I
can make some comparisons that answer your question better--hopefully
without rambling too much!!
Ambiance:
We love the sophisticated air of a Celebrity trip, but it just got a
little old after 14 voyages! Initially, it was lots of fun to pull
out all the fancy formal wear like my folks used to do--and we enjoyed
dressing up. But, we have found that it is a lot more relaxing not to
have to put on the really fancy stuff unless we want to. We were
pleasantly surprised to find that people do change for dinner on NCL
vessels, and certainly you still see some really fancy formal clothes
on formal nights--but there is a nice mix of less dressy outfits, and
Derek is far more comfortable without having to put on his white
dinner jacket or tux. Plus, the dry cleaning bills when we came back
from a Celebrity trip were really getting out of hand--we topped $400
at one point!! We still pull out the formal stuff for Christmas Eve
and New Year's Eve, but otherwise prefer to dress nicely for the
evenings--just not over done with our NCL wardrobe!!
Food:
Celebrity's food took a real nose dive after the RCI take over, and
was beginning to come back up as of our last voyage with them on the
Zenith in the summers of 2004 and 2005. But, those multi-course three
hour dinners were just too much for my Aunt (she will not sail
anything but Freestyle now), and became somewhat wearing on us too.
Plus, having to be sure to be in the right spot at just the right
time, exactly the same, every evening got old too. We like having the
flexibility to make reservations at other times and for a different
variety of restaurants on the NCL ships--especially after shore
excursions. We have found that the specialty restarants on NCL are
really well worth the little bit of extra expense, and we really like
all the variety. Even the food in the main dining rooms on NCL is
really very good (new menus as of last summer--2006) and we like not
having to spend the entire evening at the dinner table.
Treatment of Special Guests:
This is where there is a world of difference between the two lines,
and it is an important consideration for us--although most others
would probably not even consider it a factor. There is no doubt that
we simply wore out our welcome on Celebrity!!!!!!!! Eight years of
visiting the ships each week each summer were great fun, and we were
happy to do what we could and what we did for our crew and officer
friends. But all of that changed with September 11, and a number of
our friends were very angry that we were no longer able to be of as
much assistance to them--they just did not understand that it was not
us who changed--it was the security at the PST!! One Captain in
particular was VERY upset with us--and he turned out to be the Master
of the vessel for those last two voyages (summer 2004 and 2005). He
was exceptionally rude to us in a variety of ways that were totally
inappropriate (especially on our last Celebrity voyage in the summer
of 2005 on the Zenith), and made it quite clear that he did not want
us back as passengers unless we were able to continue helping with
weekly shore services work (which we could not do owing to the changes
in security at the PST). It was all very unhappy. Even if we were to
sail with other old friends, I doubt they would be particularly happy
to see us. They only treat the passengers who book the top suites and
concierge class well these days--something we cannot afford for the
time being.
Our new friends on NCL are delighted to get to know us for
who we are--not what we can do for them!! Each and everyone of them is
as friendly and charming as can be, and we love being included in the
extra parties and events that make us feel special--even though we
don't book the top suites. They are just as welcoming as can be and
now that they know what we like, they go out of their way to be
helpful and accommodating in any way that they can. It sounds silly,
but just the little evening treats each night have a way of making us
feel very welcome and recognized. They are also very willing to be in
touch with us beyond the ships, which is delightful. We have
entertained any number of them here at home, and really enjoy keeping
in touch by e-mail when time and news dictate it.
Basically, the Greeks dropped us like a piece of dead wood
once we were of no use to them (from their point of view)--the only
time they are in touch now is to ask for Greek coffee to be mailed to
them in St. Thomas. Most don't even share a Holiday or Easter greeting
any more. The Scandanavians could care less what we bring, they
genuinely seem to like us for us, and they make no pretense about be
friendly just to get what they want. It is a much happier--and
certainly a whole lot friendlier and relaxed--arrangement, which we
really adore!!
Itineraries/Ships
As beautiful as the Century and Millennium class vessels are, we
really miss our sweet Horizon and Zenith. We knew they would leave
the fleet once they were deemed "small" and "old", but they were such
wonderful vessels!! I would have no problem getting on the Galaxy
again--she's a beauty--and certainly the Millennium and the Summit,
both of which are very dear to us for the friends we knew on them
(most of whom have now retired). It would be fun to try the Infinity
too. The Constellation does not appeal--which we learned very quickly
from a ship visit last September. It will be interesting to sample
the new giants too--eventually.
What we love most about the NCL ships is that they sail out of
our front door--almost literally! We booked the Dawn for New Year's
03/04 (our first voyage on NCL beyond my one trip on the Sunward with
my parents back in 1971) mostly on the basis that it was sailing out
of NYC year round--and we certainly wanted to support that idea!! Yes,
there are other NYC ships, especially in the summer, but we don't like
anything over 100,000 GRT (at least not yet) and we are not Carnival
fans. I adore the Norwegian Spirit now--in some ways even more than
the Dawn--but I wouldn't fly to New Orleans just to get back on her
for this coming holdiay--more fun to try the Gem for the first time
anyway!!
Personally, given the choice of a ship sailiing some fabulous
itinerary out of Fort Lauderdale or Miami, and a NYC ship going
nowhere--I'll take the NYC ship!!
Looking back, it's funny to think that some of our most memorable
and incredible voyages were on those funny little Premier/Dolphin
vessels!!!!!!! So special--we really miss them!!
I am sure that Derek can think of other points of comparison, but
those are certainly the ones at the top of my list!!
Cheers,
Peg
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