A lot of people have heard of Norwegian Cruise line or NCL, but not as many have tried them. If you compare the brand to say its closest competitor Royal Caribbean you will find that in terms of what is on offer, both brands are very similar. So why do people chose Royal over NCL or visa-versa?
The only reason I can really come up with is Royal Caribbean are a lot better at marketing to the UK market. Granted they do have a lot more ships over here to fill, so they have to spend a bit more to cover all the ships. But NCL are massive company and the brand has a lot to offer. They are an all around product and are equally suitable if you are 5 or 50. This is due to the amount of facilities on offer, which I will go into later. If you want to be very active in the gym, or go on one of the many pre-arranged excursions, or maybe even if you just want to relax in the sun NCL has it all.
The main difference between Royal Caribbean and Norwegian Cruise Line is that NCL is a completely freestyle experience. This does not mean that it is ok the go to dinner in your swimming trunks. It just means that in terms of dining you have a Steak House, an Italian, a Chinese, a Mexican, a French Bistro and many others. In terms of cuisine, there are not many other lines out there that can match the variety of food on offer. Another unique selling point is that there are no formal dining nights on board. Although it is true alot of people like to dress up, there are probably an equal number of people who do not. NCL is smart casual throughout, so anybody who wants to avoid the "stuffiness" of traditional cruising then give NCL a go. It's really an ideal option for families with kids who don't want to dress up also.
The NCL ships tend to be on the large / huge scale and carry between 2000 - 3500 passengers. In terms of children's facilities, really only Royal Caribbean can compare. Water parks, Bowling alleys, Rock climbing walls, Sports courts, Kids clubs and Discos are a few of the options that are on offer.
For adults, apart from the various dining venues, including a "Teppanyaki" restaurant where Japanese Chefs, slice, dice and cook meals there right in front of you. NCL do have various night clubs, bars and entertainment to pass the night. The shows on board included the Blueman Group and Cirque Dreams to name a few. Or if you prefer a nice relaxing day by the pool and then a soothing Spa treatment, then you can do that too!
So to summarise the point I am trying to make is that NCL are an excellent brand. I can quite confidently say that most people who enjoy Royal Caribbean cruises are highly likely to enjoy NCL.
Adults and kids alike, there is plenty on offer. So if you are stuck for a cruise this summer give me a call, and you never know I may just convert you to NCL!
If you like anything that you read above, NCL are running a 4 day Sale from Friday 9th March to Monday 12th March 2012 where savings of up to £250 are on offer. So if you are thinking about trying NCL, I would strongly recommend to act quickly and prices will defiantly go back up next Tuesday!
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