Peg Caldwell-Ott wrote:
>>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
Great job in pin pointing the best and the worst (if there is a worst,
LOL). It's so nice that you have been able to adapt to the ones at your
doorstep and enjoy every moment of your time on NCL.
I also miss those smaller Celebrity ships, Horizon and Zenith. I think
the friendliest staff ever was on the Horizon. Our last trip on the
Zenith was last October, and the food was quite wonderful. We had
looked forward to sailing on her one more time, but alas, she has been
replaced on the Bermuda run. We will be on the Azamara in three weeks
and I hope she measures up to our time last year on the Zenith.
Thanks, Peg.
Ermalee |