tinytinkmom
I work to support my vacation habit!
- Joined
- May 29, 2007
Royal Caribbean...
The first thing to consider is no two cruiselines, no two cruiseships, no two cruise directors/staffs, no two experiences even on the same particular ship will ever be the same. Activities, food selection, staff, etc. change. Cruiseships age.
I love cruises and so does my family! I have been on 22 cruises since I was a kid and usually go on 1 or 2 cruises a year.
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The best thing you can do is figure out what you like and what is most important to you in a cruise. If the only thing that will make you happy on a cruise is having a Disney experience, choose Disney. But if you just want a good cruise experience, you can have fun and enjoy any. I know I do.
I love cruises and so does my family! I have been on 22 cruises since I was a kid and usually go on 1 or 2 cruises a year. Here is the breakdown of cruiselines: 6 Carnival, 5 RCCL (with number 6 booked for next summer), 4 Princess, 4 NCL, 2 Disney, and 1 Celebrity. I have been on new and old ships, small and large ships, ships with freestyle dining vs. set time dining, ships that have lots of activities and ships with few activities scheduled during the day, etc. I have been on several ships more than once. I have visited Canada, Mexican Riviera, Caribbean, Mediterranean, British Isles, Baltic Sea, Alaska and Hawaii on various cruises. There are a lot of factors to consider when booking a cruiseline. The first thing to consider is no two cruiselines, no two cruiseships, no two cruise directors/staffs, no two experiences even on the same particular ship will ever be the same. Activities, food selection, staff, etc. change. Cruiseships age. I've been on a cruise ship when it was new and loved it and another time when it was old and falling apart and didn't care for it. I have enjoyed the food on some ships more than others even within the same cruiseline. I have been on big ships which rely more on having mini golf courses, ice skating, etc. vs. scheduling activities during the day, so I found those to be more boring as I prefer to do scheduled activities like crafts and trivia.
On the whole, I have had more positive experiences with cruises than negative. My most negative experience was when I had a suitcase delivered to me soaking wet on an NCL ship and had to go through a lot of aggravation to have guest services pay to have my clothes cleaned. But I have other positive experiences with NCL. So I choose not to let the negatives interfere with my planning. Having tried so many different cruiselines and ships, I know what I like. I like smaller ships, with lots of activities, keeping the same waiters, not sitting with other parties at my table, trying different itineraries, NYC/NJ departure ports (when possible to save money and the need to fly), etc. I know what cruiselines I like for particular itineraries. When cruising Alaska or Europe, I prefer Princess. When I want a Disney experience, I book Disney. When I am looking at the cost, I choose Carnival.
I will say that Disney is the only cruiseline on which I even bother going to the shows, as I find the others to all be boring. But on the whole I will cruise with whatever cruiseline fits. For those who don't like Carnival (which as a teen I was one of them), I recommend the Carnival Glory which usually goes to Canada during the summer. I've been on it twice and it seems to attract a nice group of people and it is well maintained.
My favorite RCCL ship is the Jewel of the Seas and not one of their larger ships. I found it to be a beautiful ship and loved how the glass elevators overlooked the ocean. I was on this ship in April and the Disney Magic at the beginning of August, and honestly I think it was nicer than the Magic except it didn't have the Disney vibe.
In terms of the kids programs, I have found my nieces and nephews aren't big on the kids' programs, no matter what cruiseline, including Disney. Although, I admit when I look at the Disney program, listed in the Navigator, I am pretty impressed. So the kids' programs, don't factor in when we pick a cruiseline.
The best thing you can do is figure out what you like and what is most important to you in a cruise. If the only thing that will make you happy on a cruise is having a Disney experience, choose Disney. But if you just want a good cruise experience, you can have fun and enjoy any. I know I do.
ddboles said:We've been comparing Disney with Carnival and were shocked to see we can go on a 7 night cruise for several THOUSAND less than a 4 night on Disney, so it is tempting. But, I see none of you have recommended Carnival on this thread. My question is... is Carnival really THAT bad? (I have never cruised at all, so I have no idea.)
Thanks!
Donna
lorimay said:I am looking into an Alaskan cruise for next summer.
DCL is quite expensive for 7 days.
I found a Princess cruise for August 2013 that starts at 1249 per person.
I am seriously considering trying Princess for this cruise.
By the way its round trip out of San Francisco and its 10 nights.
I think the total for a veranda room was less than $5,000.00.
But I am apprehensive as we have only done Disney cruises and we are always so happy with them.
Anyone been on Princess recently?
I am looking into an Alaskan cruise for next summer.
DCL is quite expensive for 7 days.
I found a Princess cruise for August 2013 that starts at 1249 per person.
I am seriously considering trying Princess for this cruise.
By the way its round trip out of San Francisco and its 10 nights.
I think the total for a veranda room was less than $5,000.00.
But I am apprehensive as we have only done Disney cruises and we are always so happy with them.
Anyone been on Princess recently?
NancyIL said:I cruised to Alaska with Princess in 2007 (one-way from Vancouver on the Coral Princess) and 2009 (roundtrip from Seattle on the Golden Princess). Princess and Holland America have the most ships in Alaska, and both do a great job. However, not all itineraries are alike. The 10-night roundtrips from San Francisco in August 2013 go to Tracy Arm Fjord - same as DCL. You have a choice in itineraries, and I would choose a Princess ship that goes to Glacier Bay. You can do that roundtrip from Seattle in August 2013 on the Star Princess, or one-way between Vancouver and Whittier, Alaska on the Coral, Island, Sapphire, or Diamond Princess. A southbound cruise will go to both Hubbard Glacier and Glacier Bay, and it's the best 7-night itinerary - in my opinion.
Honestly, I'm willing to pay the premium for Disney on the smoke alone. I can't breathe indoors because of the smoking allowed by RCL and Carnival which precludes me from diff activities.
declansdad said:We have been on two Carnival ships and the smoking areas were limited to a few areas.
I have a question about Tracy Arm vs Glacier Bay and why everyone says one is better than the other?
Funny-the same thing happens to me! Especially since Disney shows you the real total (with taxes) when it shows the price on the screen where you select a cruise, whereas RCI shows only the room price. No matter how many times I've done it, I'm always shocked when I get to the final reservation screen and the price has gone up by $1000 (as it did when I priced a trip for 4 recently) with one click.
I'm looking at Oasis or Allure, of course, as they are the comparable ships to the Dream and Fantasy, from what I've seen.
NancyIL said:Tracy Arm is a lovely fjord with twin glaciers at the end. DCL has been fortunate to get to the end to see the glaciers most weeks - from what I have read. Not all ships do - usually because they run out of time due to the amount of ice in the water.
Glacier Bay is a beautiful national park with a number of glaciers: http://www.nps.gov/glba/index.htm; http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Glacier_Bay_Basin. Of the mass market cruise lines that sail to Alaska - HAL and Princess have the most permits for Glacier Bay, and NCL Pearl also goes there.
The other glacier sometimes visited on an Alaskan cruise is Hubbard Glacier. It is one HUGE tidewater glacier: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hubbard_Glacier
STLDisney_Freak said:I think I was the only one that happened to.. I'm constantly pricing the Allure and Oasis because I'd like to go on them with my kids and people swear to me that they are so much cheaper than Disney. Where?
Thanks for the info on the itineraries, Nancy. I have a friend who did NCL to Alaska & loved the cruise, but prefers Princess over NCL. I'd love to talk DH into a different line & Princess would be my pick to Alaska. We priced DCL in a Nav Verandah for the 3 of us next summer on opening day & it was between $5-6K, and DD is too young to appreciate Alaska anyways, especially at those prices!!!!!!
The one ways are cool, too!!!
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