Cruise ship opinions

[Type_A_Tiff]

Posted: 1/2/06 at 9:39pm

I'm planning a little cruise jaunt this spring and I'm looking to try a different cruise line - or at the very least, a different ship - than one I've already taken. I've been to Alaska, Pacific North West, Mexican Riviera and Western Caribbean already, and I'm thinking of doing a repositioning cruise on the west coast. I've been on Celebrity, Carnival and Royal Caribbean. I'm looking for fairly spacious staterooms, good entertainment (shows and casino) and, most importantly, good food. Some people suggested Norweigian and to avoid Holland-America. Curious about your guys's thoughts. (As well as websites that offer the best deals.)

Also, which ships and itineraries do you find offer the best ports of call?

[PalJoey]

Posted: 1/2/06 at 9:49pm

I've been on Holland America twice and was under the impression it was actually nicer than the others. Not sure why you friend said to avoid it...

[Type_A_Tiff]

Posted: 1/2/06 at 10:31pm

She just said in terms of the food, it was skippable, but said the activities on-board were reasonable. How did you find the on-shore excursions? (Or did you go to each port independently instead?)

[DAME]

Posted: 1/2/06 at 10:33pm

Try a Crystal Cruise if food is a priority. You didn't say.. you lookin for a straight cruise or gay cruise?

[Type_A_Tiff]

Posted: 1/2/06 at 10:35pm

Straight cruise. As much as I love the gay men, I need to get some play.

Crystal's supposed to be excellent (albeit quite expensive), isn't it? How did you find it?

Updated On: 1/2/06 at 10:35 PM

[PalJoey]

Posted: 1/2/06 at 10:40pm

I think your friend is all wrong about HAL. Get some other opinions.

[FindingNamo]

Posted: 1/2/06 at 10:42pm

Royal Caribbean. It was my own personal Abu Grhaib.

[Unknown User]

Posted: 1/2/06 at 10:50pm

I've been on two Holland-America cruises and one Celebrity cruise.

Holland-America is definitely geared to a more "mature" crowd. If you're looking for a party ship, their cruises aren't for you. The first time I went on a cruise I was about ten, so I was satisfied with just the good kids program. However, I went a couple of years ago on another HAL cruise and was extremely bored. I realize it's horrible to say that I was actually bored on a cruise, but I just felt like there was nothing to really do for my age group.

I thought the food was great both times. The crew was also very friendly. I remember that there were a lot of excursions available both times and enjoyed every one we went on. I also liked the actual ships a lot -- absolutely gorgeous!

The Celebrity cruise was great as well, but in a completely different way. We went on one of the older ships and I really didn't care for the ship itself at all (in fact, I might even go so far as to say it was pretty stark and ugly... although I think it's been retired since then), but the entertainment was great! The evening shows were absolutely amazing. While HAL had good shows, Celebrity really stood out in this respect. The food was good, but the desserts were absolutely fantastic. I didn't find the crew as warm or friendly as I did on HAL, but they did an okay job. I did feel as if HAL gives you more personalized service, though.

If a great stateroom is a real priority, HAL is said to have some of the best. We were in a regular room the first time and I found it fine. The second time we booked a suite and we found it almost TOO big... as in, "Wow, this isn't even necessary."

I've had relatives go on NCL multiple times and they really seem to love it, although I've heard that the food is bad from various others.

[Type_A_Tiff]

Posted: 1/2/06 at 11:12pm

Thanks siamese dream. I'm not so much looking for a party ship - I've done Carnival twice now and that's enough for me. What was your destination for Holland-America? Maybe the food was just off over the holidays for my friend (the destination was Western Caribbean but I don't remember the ship). I remember really enjoying the Celebrity shows too - so far it's the best from the 3 lines I've tried. I found that Celebrity's service was good but Carnival's was best - particularly in the formal dining room. Celebrity isn't as personal, so I appreciate you mentioning that HAL is because I do enjoy building a rapport with the people waiting on me.

[Unknown User]

Posted: 1/2/06 at 11:23pm

No problem! If you have any specific questions, feel free to ask me as I have a tendency to babble otherwise.

The first time we went (when I was 10) we visited St. Maarten, Barbados, Guadalupe, St. Thomas (took the excursion to St. John's gorgeous Trunk Bay), and HAL's private island Half Moon Cay. As a sidenote, we also saw a total solar eclipse. I still get chills when thinking about it. As for the second HAL cruise, we went to various ports in Alaska. I remember the food being great both times, although I should probably mention that I ate seafood almost every night (I'm a huge fish lover), so I can't really attest to the taste of the meats.

And yes, I'd love to stress one more time that the service on HAL is AMAZING. Everyone seems so warm and genuine. Expect a step down from Celebrity with regards to entertainment and a step up with service.

[PalJoey]

Posted: 1/2/06 at 11:31pm

I should explain that both of my HAL cruises were gay cruises, so it was the best of both world: the HAL elegance and the fun of the gay cruise.

I guess on a straight cruise HAL would be mostly older people...

[zzannahk]

Posted: 1/2/06 at 11:36pm

I went on the Norwegian Dawn, right out of NY, which rocks and makes bringing stuff back easier because you dont have to worry about airport "rules". The room was great and the food was good, there are a lot of options because it's Freestyle. Dinosaur shaped chicken nuggets all night long. And really good tomato soup.

Mid-March is spring breaky time and the most party/ younger crowd time. A lot of people didn't realize that they would be on the boat with us, so it depends what you're looking for.

[SweetQintheLights]

Posted: 1/3/06 at 12:06am

I am sitting on the Coral princess as we speak. It is the last night

I am quite surprised because the food wasn't as great as other Princess cruises I've been on. However, it is noway near bad.

Entertainemtn is awseome. If you go to my other thread, you will see that Tood Petiford (Sp?) was on the ship- previus in RENT.

I will type more tomorrow when I get home but I gotta get off now. bye!

[best12bars]

Posted: 1/3/06 at 12:10am

I've been on four Crystal Cruises. The food and service was/is the best in the business.

...But that's because my partner was working for Crystal at the time... so we went for practically nothing. I'm not a Rockefeller! Crystal, as a rule, isn't cheap... but there are deals to be found.

[Billboard Girl]

Posted: 1/3/06 at 12:17am

Personally, I'm a major fan of Royal Caribbean and southern Caribbean itineraries - warm weather is a top priority for me. I just got home from my 6th cruise a couple of days ago - Royal Caribbean's Serenade of the Seas, departed from San Juan and went to St. Maarten, Antigua, St. Lucia and Barbados. I enjoyed it, but I preferred the larger Royal Caribbean ships I've been on (Adventure and Navigator of the Seas)- I felt that they had more to do (ice skating rinks, larger central areas, etc.). Nevertheless, the shows were great (2 big musical production shows, and guest entertainers including Charo and members of the Drifters), and I was more than happy with the service.

I really enjoy the food on Royal Caribbean, but my parents slightly preferred the food on the Celebrity cruise we went on a couple of years ago.

[Garland Grrrl]

Posted: 1/3/06 at 9:44am

i've only been on the cunard line which was fantastic.

[KelRel]

Posted: 1/3/06 at 9:54am

I have been on both Royal Caribbean and Carnival and found that Carinval was much nicer. I had the royal suite on RC and the Penthouse suite on Carnival. (I'm not bragging- my mom was a travel agent and she had friends the first time, the second time it was my honeymoon and mom called in massive favors for us). On carnival the room was bigger than my apartment that I was living in at the time. It was ridiculously romantic and a lot of fun. There were great parties every night and the food was to die for. They had this little sushi stand by the casino and there were lines down the hall for the amazing creations made by the chefs that worked there. The service was great, very personal and attentive and I would go back in a heart beat to one of their regular rooms because they were decent sized as well. Plus next time I go I will want to see more of the outside of my room than I did on my honeymoon.

[cheezedoodle]

Posted: 1/3/06 at 11:11am

Crystal is very expensive and a much older crowd is on board. The ships are beautiful though, and HUGE! They sail out of San Francisco a lot and I am just amazed at the size when they are in port. You know Rosie O'Donnells partner Kell does the "Our Family" cruises every summer, and this year they are using Royal Caribbean (I think ) out of Seattle to Alaska. The web site is www.ourfamilyvacations.com I hear they are great and have a ton of Broadway talent on board. And - it's not a "gay" cruise but is open to all who are tolorant of the queer lifestyle, and kids.

[SweetQintheLights]

Posted: 1/3/06 at 11:27am

I'm back from the ship hysterically crying and missing it- read my other thread.

Princess is a wonderful cruise line- however, the food wasn't terrific; perhaps because it was too fancy for me. Last year, I thought Royal Carribbean cruise line food was better. Also, this years cruise they seem very stingy. It was me and my aunt in one room and we asked for extra towels and we could only get 3...we each need one for our body and our hair. Also, for Christmas we got this tiny little stocking with some candy. Last year on Royal Carribean, we got a nice set of travel bags.
The staff is wonderful though. They are always friendly and upbeat. They never seem tired or cranky even though I am sure they sometimes feel that way. They seem to have a great time and not a care in the world. They are very open and talk about anything. The staff in the dining room is very accomadating. I asked the head waiter if there were going to be chocolate covered strawberies and he said no; however, the next night he brought out strawberries and melted chocalate and made them right in front of me. I put them in my fridge and they were delicious!!

The ports of call were awesome too and they had wonderful tours. My favorite was Panama Canal. We took a tour there and it was beautiful. We watched how it worked and saw some ships go through.
Some of the passangers on the ship were quite nasty but I guess that would be on all the cruise lines at one time or another. Yesterday there was a fight, including words and fists...security was called and had to seperate the two people. I was reading on the deck and it was not a pretty site. Also, the kids/teens were a bit roudy- there were alot of kids on the ship because it was over the vacation holiday.

Next year we are planning on going either on Celebrity or Holland America. We are leaning more toward Celebrity which goes from Ft. Lauderdale to San Francisco *16 days*
We've been hearing a lot that Holland America tends to attract the 'older crowd'

Good luck in your choosing.

[robyn525600]

Posted: 1/3/06 at 6:14pm

I've sailed Norwegian and Carnival - liked them both - they each had their attributes. If you're younger (i.e. 18-30), go with Carnival or Royal Caribbean. FYI - Princess is nice also - their newer ships are beautiful.

[Aigoo]

Posted: 1/3/06 at 6:35pm

Disney Cruise. Mwahaha.

[SweetQintheLights]

Posted: 1/3/06 at 6:41pm

Disney cruise is a bunch of little kids running around acting like idiots and pushing people and making a lot of noise.

Who wants to invent The Disney Cruise for adults?

[Tanssia]

Posted: 1/3/06 at 8:03pm

I've been on the Norwegian Dawn and Norwegian Majesty - one left from NY, one from Miami. When it comes to vacations, I go with what I know is a guaranteed good time so I haven't tried anything other than Norwegian. The food is fantastic - no one ever goes hungry. Food highlight: Chocolohics Buffet! I've found that the crowd is usually 30's and up, not many children though. I went with groups of 8 and 12 so we weren't really caring who was there to mingle with. The shows are also well done (I feel bad for the actors when the waves are rough though!) ... Man, I need to go on another cruise.

[ikmbway]

Posted: 1/3/06 at 8:52pm

I've been on the Adventurer (Royal Carribean) Best cruise I have been on. Food was incredible and the ship was huge. I also went on Carnival Triumph which was not a great trip at all and I wint on Celebrity Infinity which was alright but can't compare to the Royal Carribbean.

[Type_A_Tiff]

Posted: 1/25/06 at 9:11pm

Just bumping this because I thought it was interesting. The high-profile Queen Mary II is having a bit of a problem and a class-action law suit as some 200+ travellers threaten a sit-in. They missed some ports of call and only offered a 50% refund, are running late on the itinerary and the customers, understandably, are maaaad. I just heard this on the news today.

http://www.forbes.com/markets/feeds/afx/2006/01/25/afx2475372.html