Norwegian vs. Carnival Cruise lines for a good social life?

Question

Hi All. We're long time cruisers and we take a large (40-50) size group every 18 months or so. Most of the group is age 28 - 45, mixed couples and singles. Very social and like a good time. We've always taken Carnival, and always had a great time, but certainly have had our share of what others say. We're not stuffy or terribly picky on upscale - just like to be on a ship where there will be lots of fun minded people to mingle with. We're considering going on Norwegian and I'm wondering if anyone can comment on the typical crowd there? We like to socialize so would tend to want to avoid the senior citizens or families with lots of kids. No offense to either group! Our group is a mix of married and singles, so we're not looking for a singles cruise, but we do like the late night crowd and mingling with others our age. Would we be disappointed on Norwegian?

Answer 1

idk

Answer 2

Let me be the first (but definitely not the last) to say....NOT NORWEIGAN.  Please if you actually like the people in the group do not subject them to NCL.  I have noticed on these boards that many many people share my opinion but I'll tell you my story.

Norweigan was my first cruise.  I was a 3rd class passenger on the bottom deck.  Walking down the hallway to my cabin, the carpet ended, and I passed through the storage section.  Yes as in NO CARPET.  The room was the tiniest I can imagine (I was living in a college dorm at the time) and sharing with my cousin.  If he was coming out of the bathroom after a shower, I had to climb back on the bed b/c the door swung out and took up the entire room.

We had to go to information desk every couple days to pick up towels--apparently our steward didn't know we were there.  Eventually I carried the wet towels from the bathroom up the flight of stairs and put them in the center of the hallway.

I am a small girl and every night at dinner I had to order everything on the menu to eat enough to be even close to full.  Salad, 2 appetizers, soup, 2 entrees and dessert every night.  Food was sparce.  If you enjoy the dinner shows the Carnival waitstaff does during dinner, don't bother--NCL doesnt do it.  No midnight buffets on NCL either.

At the chocolate buffet, the staff would grab the food off the buffet while people were standing in line.  I watched the lady in front of me have the cake taken up while she was cutting into it.  The photography crew was just as rude.  I tried to buy my picture and they told me too bad.  They were closed.  

We had the late dinner, so we missed the entertainment show each night.  NCL doesn't have like Carnival does--an early show and a late show.  They just had the show, which was during my dinner.  So I can't tell you if it was good or not.

Every day as we tendered in to an island, multi-cruisers would tell me how this was the worst cruise they'd ever taken.  They had taken more than 15 with Carnival and RC and that this was the worst line.  They begged me not to judge all cruising by NCL so I took a Carnival cruise and now am a multi-cruiser myself.  Though I'll never go on NCL again.

Others have posted that you either love Freestyle or hate it.  You wait for a table the same way you would at a restaurant if you want to eat at a popular time.  You also don't have to dress up to enter the dining hall.  Personally for me, part of what I like about cruising is dressing up and having a table waiting for me, a waiter who I see every night and by the end of the cruise knows me.  Freestyle has a different waiter every night.

The typical crowd was older, though not like Holland.  Probably in the 40-55 group.  NCL is definitely for those who aren't picky, but if you've enjoyed Carnival, then try a RC.  It's more the same speed, same costs--but larger ships.  Similar itineraries.

Enjoy your cruise but please avoid Norweigan!

Answer 3

Now just like anything else you will find some who enjoyed it and others who did not. For me ( been on 19 cruises) Norwegian is a great line. I have sailed with them 13 times and have never been disappointed in any areas. Excellent service, ships, food etc. They like any other cruise keeps up with the times and offers their guests a choice of night life.

Now every cruise line has a full page of people who were unhappy and some have a fair complaint and others are too picky.

I have found that Noewegian & Princess offers the best fares and both offer an excellent buffet. The others have a stricter dress code and cost alot more for the same service.

Just like the first time you booked your first cruise you did not know if you would like it until you went. Same for this one.

Which ever line you decide hope you all enjoy.

Just so you know I am in my early 40's and stay up very late and like to party so I have seen the night life on ships.

Answer 4

First of all Carnival probably has more of the younger hipper crowd, and then again also has more families. Norwegian is a little pricier but I think that Royal Caribbean might be a nice cruise line for your group to try. I understand that you have had your share of unpleasant experienes with Carnival and that tends to sometimes happen on any cruise line. I would recommend Norwegian as its a great cruise but I personally think that their are better cruises worth the extra money.

Answer 5

Carnival is known as the Party/singles" line, with Princess being second for the young group. Saying that, we went on hollandamerica last time and the crowd was definitely a mixed bag. The late night dance club was never full, tho... so if you're going solely to party,party - head for Carnival again. Norwegian attracts same crowd as HollandAmerica....for the most part 30 to 80 but not heavy boozers.

Answer 6

The typical crowd on Norwegian keep to themselves.  That's why they choose NCL, because they aren't forced to mingle with people at dinner or anything like that (Freestyle Cruising).  If you're looking for a good social crowd, Carnival is your best bet.  Of course, I'm sure that there will be at least a few people on NCL who would mingle, but not a lot.  NCL does have a partying crowd, but they generally don't leave their cliques.  Sure, you can talk to them and they're very polite, but don't expect to make friends.

Don't listen to Phantom_of_Valkarie.  She apparently had the only room like that on the whole ship.  I had a great experience on NCL.  They might not have a midnight buffet, but most of their restaurants stay open all night.  They're a great cruise line, but like I said, not for the extremely social people.

Answer 7

Carnival ... for sure. Younger, hipper crowd.