Thinking about going on a cruise

gardkarlsen · Posted: Wed Jul 04, 2007 8:16 am Post subject: Thinking about going on a cruise

Hi

I'm a bit fascinated by the huge cruise ships and I would love to try out this kind of vacation one day. My wife is still skeptical as she feels that it is only "old people" that goes on a cruise I have also been trying to convince my sister and her family that this would be a good idea but they are not really into the traveling thing...but to get the process started I showed the kinds of the family some of the ships (on the cruise companies homepages) and they were of course thrilled to see that there are pools, surf waves, ice rinks etc

I think it would be good to take a cruise out of Miami as it would be easier (and cheaper) to get there from Norway and we could also combine the cruise with a few days in Miami/Orlando etc. I have been looking at the Freedom class ships of http://www.royalcaribbean.com/ as they look huge and have lots of activities. I guess as a Norwegian I should also evaluate http://www.ncl.com/ But which cruise company has the most impressive ships with the most activities...or is it a matter of "same same but different"?
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paul · Posted: Wed Jul 04, 2007 9:47 am Post subject:

I think it's largely a case of 'same but different' to some extent.

According to the last World Travel Awards (2006)...

World's Leading Cruise Destination Jamaica
World's Leading Cruise Line Royal Caribbean International
World's Leading Cruise Operator Star Clippers
World's Leading Cruise Ship Cunard “QM2”

In the Condé Nast Traveler Readers 2006 Choice Awards...

Large cruise ships
1. Regent Seven Seas 92.4
2. Crystal Cruises 92.3
3. Disney 85.5
4. Oceania Cruises 85.4
5. Celebrity 84.2
6. Holland America 79.1
7. Princess 77.7
8. Cunard 77.1
9. Royal Caribbean 71.9
10. Costa Cruises 64.3

Small cruise ships
1. SeaDream Yacht Club 92.6
2. Grand Circle Cruise Line 91.9
3. Regent Seven Seas 91.7
4. Seabourn 90.3
5. Silversea 89.8
6. Windstar 83.2
7. Peter Deilmann 82.5
8. Lindblad Expeditions 82.0
9. Celebrity 81.3
10. Viking River Cruises 80.8

And in T+L's 2006 World's Best Awards readers' survey:

WORLD'S BEST LARGE-SHIP CRUISE LINE: Crystal Cruises
WORLD'S BEST SMALL-SHIP CRUISE LINE: Yachts of Seabourn

Alas, no mention of NCL! Hope this helps...

Paul
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Red Tape · Posted: Wed Jul 04, 2007 3:45 pm Post subject:

I'm like your wife Gaard, but its not an old people thing. I was looking at 3 of the cruise ships operating out of seattle this summer, including the Oosterdam and the Something Princess, (can't remember which one). Basically they are floating resorts, but if you enjoy some solitude your options may be severely limited. I also have an aversion to crowds.

One way you can ease your wife into cruises, and what many people I know have done is to take a short 3-4 day cruise. Sometimes there are good deals on repositioning cruises, for example, some of the ships sailing out of here work on the Mexico coast in the winter. These cruises are sometimes discounted because there aren't many port calls.

OnTheGo · Posted: Wed Jul 25, 2007 3:49 pm Post subject:

I definitely don't think cruises are just for old people. Actually, I think they are ideal for families with children who are pre-teen to teenage. That age range usually wants a bit of "freedom" from the family and the cruise ship is the perfect venue because they can't go very far and there are tons of organized activities for them to participate in.

Free_Spirit · Posted: Thu Jul 26, 2007 12:00 am Post subject:

I've often "wondered" about going on a Cruise -- solo, two-some or four-some to share a Cabin...

then I got thinking about 3 meals a day may make me PigOut because everything is paid for except for drinks, being landlocked for days can make me feel funny, always walking/sleeping/sitting in a floating surface makes me ReThink whether I can be a Good Sport in an Open SeaAir Enclosed Environment Embarassed

btw I am still "wondering"... Laughing

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Abigail Peony · Posted: Sun Aug 02, 2009 8:00 pm Post subject:

well, I think it's just an old perception that a cruise is only for old people. however, now cruise ships are adored by young people, and there are many couples celebrate their honeymoon on ships. I believe that every cruise has their interesting activities, but if you take your family, kids and old people, I would suggest Disney Cruise for you. But if you're traveling solo, I bet you should find other cruises
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Red Tape · Posted: Mon Aug 03, 2009 3:59 am Post subject:

A Disney Cruise is NO PLACE for a childless couple. That would just be hell on the high seas!!
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