06-MAY-2011
ALL GOURMETS ON DECK
We also got a chance to watch the gourmet taco chef at work on the pool deck. Despite what this looks like, the line extended for 1/2 a mile with no cowboys or cattle prods in sight. On the other hand, I preferrred to pass the tacos rather than the gas and the wife was in full agreement since she'd be in the cabin with me.
After another dinner marathon in Gran Pacific, a massive mosquito swarm descended when NCL decided to take the comedian out of the theater and dump him in the Spinnaker. This worked about as well as one would expect and I really enjoyed sitting in the middle of some HUGE cruise behinds, not seeing a thing and fervently praying that nobody had the tacos or had been to Tapa’s yet that night.
After 20 minutes or so of that madness, we adjourned to (of course) the Star Bar and the normal 11:00 - 3:00 itinerary.
Friday morning brought the last mosquito bite in the Garden buffet. We had been there at various times and it matches, or even slightly exceeds, RCI in most respects. While there for breakfast on Friday, one of my friends wanted some table salt. There was none on the table. In fact, there was none on any table and entreaties to staff brought assurances galore but no salt. Again, not a big deal and my guess is that NCL makes money off the pepper since that’s all over the place.
06-MAY-2011
THE ROOM FOR THOSE WITH NO LIFE
I found the Bridge observation room and to a boater, it’s really fascinating.
NCL puts
instrument repeaters in the room and, if you know how to read the radar and the autopilot, you can stand there for a long time just watching.
Of course, I don’t get out much so your mileage may vary.
09-JUL-2007
Day 7 - WELCOMED HOME BY THE CHIMP
Day 7 - Debarkation and a Truly New York Welcome Home
I LOVE, LOVE, LOVE NCL’s debarkation system. Between picking our own time to get off, adequate breakfast services remaining available, being able to stay in the cabin until 10:00 AM and the seamless debark procedure, it’s the best we have experienced on any ship.
Off the ship, say goodbye to Nyuk-Nyuk, pick up the bags and another well worth it tip/bribe to a porter to use his special lines through customs and we’re outside the terminal in no time.
While waiting for our rolling strip club to come and get us, we watch several vans/limos pull in and leave BUT when ours gets there, one of the nitwits with a security vest and a simian brain decides it’s time to block our limo because “this area is not for pick ups”. Welcome home indeed.
Since I am fluent in the language of the planet Manhattan, a small discussion solved that issue quite handily. In 5 minutes our pimpin limo is loaded and and we are back in my driveway by 1:00 PM with another great and truly weird cruise in our history.
03-MAY-2011
EPILOGUE - SO ENDS ANOTHER ADVENTURE
Since we went on this cruise as a result of being nagged by a friend who's both a great person and an NCL zealot, I owe it to her to compare NCL with RCI, especially since I would have blamed her for a disaster.
Honestly, the two lines are more similar than different and the choice between them comes down to price, itinerary and which set of mosquitos bothers you less.
Embark/Debark is excellent on both lines, somewhat better than Princess and worlds above Carnival.
MDR food is also good to excellent (depending on the specific meal) on both lines, with NCL a slight touch better BUT service is a very different matter with RCI way ahead.
Buffets are equal for breakfast but NCL has more and better choices for lunch and snacks, including 24 hour ice cream which is a deal sealer for my wife. Traffic flow is about the same and seating is decent to tight on both BUT NCL has more seating options including the outdoor seating at the stern.
Midrats - NCL blows RCI away. PERIOD.
Cabins - We stay in balconies on both. RCI's cabins feel bigger and more comfortable. NCLs glass door showers and removable showerheads are an big improvement over RCI but anyone over 5'8" will have their knees under their chin when using the toilet. The balconies themselves are equal except that the clear panel on NCL is preferable to us.
Bars - Spinnaker matches up to the Viking Crown and the Star Bar matches up to the Schooner BUT the Schooner stays open late and the bartenders in the Star wanted us out by midnight. Advantage RCI.
Production shows - Pretty much equally bad on both lines.