Has anyone had a great experience on a cruise? We want to go somewhere warm this winter. I want to do an AI with private pool, but H tells me he can't sit on a beach for a week straight, he needs 'stuff'! We have never been on a cruise before, we are thinking Royal Caribbean probably the Independence. Any thoughts?
I love cruising, but I've only sailed in the Caribbean once. I had my first AI experience last Christmas, and I got pretty bored after a few days. If I ever try it again, I'll definitely want to choose someplace with more to see beyond the resort (We were on Ilha do Sal in Cabo Verde, and it's pretty much a desert, so there was really only one day's worth of exploring).
Personally I prefer cruises that are about half port days and half sea days. I like to spend a busy day exploring, and then have a day of forced relaxation. Then another day of activity, and then another day of rest, etc.
While I enjoyed our Caribbean cruise, it was my first, and I'm not sure I would do it again. I've never been to a Caribbean AI, but the Caribbean cruise was a lot more silly, loud, and party-oriented than the others I've been on. I don't mind an older crowd, and I especially like to visit more unusual ports where the cruise traffic isn't the bulk of the tourism industry. My favorite hands-down was East Asia, but I also really like the Norwegian coast, the Baltics, and the Indian Ocean.
As for Royal Caribbean as a cruiseline, I like them well enough. Of Royal Caribbean, Princess, Cunard, and Costa, Royal has had the best food. I like the cruise staff better on the Carnival lines (Princess & Cunard) and they definitely have a more upmarket feel, but I'm still fine with Royal. My only real qualm with them is that I feel they overcharge for many of the onboard extras. Princess, Cunard, and especially Costa seemed to have more down-to-earth onboard pricing. (That said, I wouldn't recommend Costa. Unless they're the only line sailing in the area - as was our case.)
Post by ginkgoleaf on Sept 16, 2014 21:08:25 GMT -5
DH and I did a celebrity cruise in march and it was really nice. Great food.
I've done royal Caribbean but I was a kid and don't really remember it.
Also been on Disney as a teenager and we're going again with DS in November. I'm pumped.
Cruising is so relaxing and I love not having to do the traveling between different places. I'm excited to use the kids club for DS on our next cruise.
Post by littlemisssunshine on Sept 16, 2014 23:15:03 GMT -5
I love cruising! I've been on about 10, almost all in the Caribbean. Royal is definitely my favorite (I've done Hollard America, Carnival and Princess); I like food, service and the amenities the best with Royal. I also second picking a bigger ship, say the Freedom/Liberty or Allure/Oasis. I've been on 3 of them and I do prefer them to the the smaller ships. More to do, and the shows are better on the bigger ships.
Check out cruisecritic.com for a ton of reviews and information.
I think people either love or hate cruising and there aren't a lot of people in the middle.
It works for us because my husband needs down time when we travel, but I don't need a lot of it. So if we are on a cruise there is stuff for me to do while he lounges around. We've done several European cruises and typically pick a city to explore in depth for 3-4 days before the cruise and then hit the highlights in port.
I prefer medium-sized ships to the mega-ships. The largest ship I've ever sailed was Voyager of the Seas, followed by Sapphire Princess. While I like Sapphire, I wasn't a big fan of Voyager.
Part of it is that I like to visit smaller ports, and some of the port facilities can't handle the bigger ships. And of course fewer passengers means fewer crowds at the destination.
I also prefer to be able to bump into people I've met before, and that never happened on Voyager. Everything social had to be planned in advance, and unless someone was in the cabin, there was no way to contact them.
Post by orriskitten on Sept 17, 2014 9:48:49 GMT -5
I've cruised with Norwegian a few times and loved it!! Really laid back meals and a very fun time. It was a good mix of things to do on ship and on shore.
I've cruised a few times now and I will never ever, ever, ever cruise Royal Caribbean again.
Long story short the crew and food were mediocre at best, I had a veranda cabin and that wasn't fantastic either, and the worst part is that the disembarking process was an absolute nightmare. They tried to make it orderly by when people had to catch flights. We should have been on the first group off, but it ended up being a free for all to get off the boat. They lost our luggage during the disembarkation period as well. We missed our flight home because of the clusterfuck of people getting off the boat. We ended getting home about 14 hours after we were scheduled to be home.
Then, they found our lost luggage 3 days later and UPSed us the luggage. Even though our luggage had TSA locks on them someone had stolen about $500 worth of souvenirs and our personal items (including dirty clothes).
It took me a solid 2 months of calling and emailing before I could get them to cut me a check for replacing my stolen stuff and then another 2 months for the check to arrive.
Admittedly the only time that I cruise is for family vacations because my parents absolutely love it. The best experience I've had (even though it's an older crowd) in terms of service and experience is Holland America. We also cruised Princess once and that was fine, but I still preferred Holland.
Post by majesty318 on Sept 17, 2014 11:36:19 GMT -5
I have been on about 15 cruises, always Csribbean until this year when we did Mediterranean. I am picky about hotel conditions and also a foodie, and I like Royal Caribbean & Celebrity. Hated Carnival, hated Norwegian, thought Princess was OK.
Independence is a sister ship to Freedom & Liberty so it is big. I love that class of ships. Lots to do and in IMHO they are big enough that the people disperse and you don't feel crowded.
I agree with GilliC about mixing rest days with sea days. I also get bored at AI's.
Oh and for a first timer, be warned that if you get a balcony you will never ever want to go again without a balcony!
Post by kirnat848 on Sept 17, 2014 14:16:54 GMT -5
I love cruising, I've been on NCL and Disney. I loved loved loved disney (but we have children) but it's just so expensive. NCL was very nice as well, we had suites both times so that may have had something to do with it. But we're going again on NCL next Jan w/o a suite so we will find out!
We've booked through costco and directly with the cruise line. we got a great deal with costco. I've cruised both in the med. and in the carribbean
I love cruising, I've been on NCL and Disney. I loved loved loved disney (but we have children) but it's just so expensive. NCL was very nice as well, we had suites both times so that may have had something to do with it. But we're going again on NCL next Jan w/o a suite so we will find out!
We've booked through costco and directly with the cruise line. we got a great deal with costco. I've cruised both in the med. and in the carribbean
Any chance you did a 7-night western Caribbean with Disney? I'm doing that one in November and trying to figure out excursions. I don't know if it's better to keep DS in the kids club while we do excursions or bring him along, and if so, which excursions would be most kid-friendly. Do excursions that require a bus (prob every excursion) have seat belts? Would we bring the carseat or is it more like a shuttle bus at the airport where there are no seat belts? Any tips you have for Disney specifically?
I love cruising, I've been on NCL and Disney. I loved loved loved disney (but we have children) but it's just so expensive. NCL was very nice as well, we had suites both times so that may have had something to do with it. But we're going again on NCL next Jan w/o a suite so we will find out!
We've booked through costco and directly with the cruise line. we got a great deal with costco. I've cruised both in the med. and in the carribbean
Any chance you did a 7-night western Caribbean with Disney? I'm doing that one in November and trying to figure out excursions. I don't know if it's better to keep DS in the kids club while we do excursions or bring him along, and if so, which excursions would be most kid-friendly. Do excursions that require a bus (prob every excursion) have seat belts? Would we bring the carseat or is it more like a shuttle bus at the airport where there are no seat belts? Any tips you have for Disney specifically?
Most do not have seat belts. This is common of buses in the Caribbean no matter what cruise line you take.
Post by daisypaloma on Sept 17, 2014 22:47:38 GMT -5
I liked cruising because it's affordable for me and DH. We have a set budget on how much we'd want to spend on travel, so cruising just fits us perfectly. The fact that I get half time at sea and other half time on shore, gives us time to relax and/or be adventurous at our own pace. I've never done AI's yet; but the idea of being stuck in a resort with nothing to do but eat, sleep and drink will likely get old after a few days.
I've only done both Holland and Carnival, but I do like the small shops of HA and the quality of food, guests, and their rooms. Carnival definitely had more fun entertainment options than HA, though. I like HA's demographic which is older and less of party people.
I've been to a Mexican Riviera cruise and Eastern Caribbean.
And ditto to at least get a balcony. I love having breakfast with DH in my robe every morning outside and just watch the shore or the water. And the room service is free, so it's just pure heaven.
I liked cruising because it's affordable for me and DH. We have a set budget on how much we'd want to spend on travel, so cruising just fits us perfectly.
This is exactly why I started cruising when I was a broke 21 year old but now 10 yrs later im completely hooked a for the reason you mentioned. I love being able to have as much fun as I want and eat what I want and not have to worry about the "budget"
I love cruising, I've been on NCL and Disney. I loved loved loved disney (but we have children) but it's just so expensive. NCL was very nice as well, we had suites both times so that may have had something to do with it. But we're going again on NCL next Jan w/o a suite so we will find out!
We've booked through costco and directly with the cruise line. we got a great deal with costco. I've cruised both in the med. and in the carribbean
Any chance you did a 7-night western Caribbean with Disney? I'm doing that one in November and trying to figure out excursions. I don't know if it's better to keep DS in the kids club while we do excursions or bring him along, and if so, which excursions would be most kid-friendly. Do excursions that require a bus (prob every excursion) have seat belts? Would we bring the carseat or is it more like a shuttle bus at the airport where there are no seat belts? Any tips you have for Disney specifically?
We did do the 7 night western. We did the turtle farm/island tour on GC and the bus did not have seat belts, my youngest was 4 at the time and she just sat in the seat next to me. I'm not sure if you can bring a carseat, I did not see anyone do that but I'msure you could call Disney and ask. Cozumel we just walked around, I had been there before so we just went into the stores and stuff. On Costa Maya we did a beach day since we weren't there that long.
I love disney cruises, love it! If it wasn't so damn expensive I would go with them every time. The clubs are great, we did a little each time bc my youngest wanted to be with me the majority of the time which was fine.
Have you checked out disboards ? I got a lot of great information from there and you can join your roll call and they do these FE gifts, we did them both times. You bring little small gifts for the people in your roll call and then you get them too, my daughters loved coming back to the rooms and having small things like candy/glowsticks/coloring books. You'll love it!