Cruise Advice

[mickeyboat]

I am trying to plan a cruise for DH and I for our 20th. I have found a couple that fit the bill as far as itinerary, timing, price go, but the reviews on cruise critic really have me freaked out. There are lots of good reviews but also lots of bad ones.

So for anyone who has cruised, did you read the reviews? Were there bad ones? Did you enjoy it anyway?

 

[MIGrandma]

I take reviews with a grain of salt.

You can have two people on the same cruise, one might love it, the other might hate it. The decor of the ship, the cleanliness, the crew, the food, the entertainment, etc. is all so subjective to one's opinion.

I did not read any reviews for our first cruise. We were on the Disney Magic for our 25th wedding anniversary back in January 2001. We have done several cruises since then, more on Disney, also Royal Caribbean and Carnival. We have enjoyed them all. There might be some things we like better on one line, and other things we like better on another, but we always have a good time.

I do enjoy reading reviews, but would not choose not to cruise on any particular ship or cruise line simply because of negative reviews.

 

[marybet]

I booked our first cruise before I found Cruise Critic. I started reading the reviews, some good, some bad and a lot of things about Carnival in general. I was a little concered but it was too late to change so we went. It was a great cruise on the Carvival Conquest in 2003. We went expecting to have a good time and we did!!

The important thing to remember is that if you want to have a great time you will, if you let all the little things bother you then you won't enjoy your cruise. We have since taken 8 more cruises on Carnival and one on NCL. We didn't like NCL as much as we like Carnival but we still had a good cruise.

We have never had any major problems. We've missed a port now and then because of weather, maybe waited a bit for debarkation just little things that we really don't let bother us.

Now not all ships are the same, when I read reviews I consider what people are complaining about. Food is very subjective, we have always loved the food on Carnival, didn't care for NCL's Freestyle dining but others love that. If I see a complaint about something repeated over and over again then I think the ship has a problem. If the complaints are more like, couldn't find a deck chair, the staff wasn't friendly, wasn't enough to do then I figure it is the reviewers problem.

Hope that helps. We love cruising, hope you will too.

 

[NCRedding]

I always read the reviews because I am an obsessive planner. Every ship (including Disney ships) have bad and good reviews. I sailed a couple of years ago on Carnival. There were mostly good reviews for the ship. DH and I had a wonderful time. Loved the ship (although the decor was definitely glitzy), loved the food, loved the entertainment. Wonderful vacation.

My sister and her husband sailed last fall on an older carnival ship that had some really awful reviews on cruisecritic. They wanted to travel this itinerary so they decided to risk it. They even got diverted due to a hurricane. Still, they LOVED their trip, and can't wait to go again on Carnival. it was also for their 20th anniversary.

I think the cruise is what you make of it There are always bad things and good things. Most people perfer to tell the bad first.

 

[JessicaR]

I also like to do a search here on The DIS. Sometimes it gives me better perspective when I read reviews here.

What line and what ship are you thinking of sailing on?

 

[tvguy]

Baskin Robbins has 31 Flavors for a reason. Everyone has different tastes.
I'd read reviews, and try and sift out things that are important to you and use that as a gauge.
The days of formal only, structured cruises are gone. The cruise industry serves a wide variety of tastes, you have to find a ship that goes where you want to go, that matches your needs in wants.
Some question to ask yourself:
1) Do I want to dress up a couple of nights for dinner, or wear shorts?

2) Do you want a set dining time with an assigned table, or do you want to eat where you want (aka Freestyle)?

3) What ports interest you?

4) Big ship, or small ship.

5) Theme ship...Disney? Looney Tunes? Gourmet food?

6) Theme week cruise? Wine? Jazz? Collectible Cars? Gay? Single?

7) Price. Low end, high end, middle of the road?

 

[minkydog]

Definitely check out Cruise Critic. We wanted to take a cruise this spring, but there were so many choices I was just paralyzed. Finally, I just went over to our AAA travel people and within a few minutes the TA understood who we were and what we wanted. We walked out with a reservation for a 5 day cruise to Mexico. I was very happy with my TA--I didn't even know what questions to ask. No wonder i was overwhelmed!

That said, I'm a believer that we are the makers of our own happiness. Sure, sometimes things happen, go wrong, don't turn out the way we expected. But I think if most people go into a vacation with a streak of adventure and some flexibility, most of them will have a good time. If they're a grouchy, snobby control-freak, they're probably not going have fun anywhere. Might as well keep them at home!

 

[Jeafl]

I've been on Disney cruise line, Carnival (many times), Royal Caribbean, (twice), NCL (twice), Princess and Holland America.

I can honestly say I have never had a bad cruise. I always read the reviews on Cruise Critic, and I always ask a lot of questions. I think barring something really awful, a cruise is what you make it.

If you have any specific questions, or if I can help you in any way, let me know.

 

[crz4mm2]

I am trying to plan a cruise for DH and I for our 20th. I have found a couple that fit the bill as far as itinerary, timing, price go, but the reviews on cruise critic really have me freaked out. There are lots of good reviews but also lots of bad ones.

So for anyone who has cruised, did you read the reviews? Were there bad ones? Did you enjoy it anyway?

Yes and Yes.
Have you cruised before?
I expect to have a great vacation. Have never been disappointed (even with smelly halls, not so great food, not so great entertainment).
Have fun.
We renewed our vows on our 30th on a cruise. It was GREAT.

 

[lovetoscrap]

I went on a cruise that was consistently getting bad reviews in the months before we left. Some were BAD! I was a bit apprehensive. During the cruise we heard a lot of the same complaints. I have no idea what cruise they were on but we had a GREAT time!
Complaints about unfriendly staff-- they were all very warm and friendly to us. Complaints about the food-- we found it all to be wonderful and still talk about it.
Complaints about the fact that there was about an hour or so each day when there was no food available -- must have been when we weren't hungry because we never noticed.
And many other things that we either didn't notice or just didn't seem to be a concern to us.

 

[wdwmom2]

lovetoscrap

Some people just live to complain. I swear, if they are not "miserable", they are not "happy"!!!!!


OP, I have been on the Disney Wonder, it was "wonder"ful!!!! I have also been on RCCL's Freedom of the Seas when it was new and the largest of the fleet. Outstanding!!! Two months ago sailed RCCL's Allure of the Seas, RCCL's largest in the fleet. I have nothing but good things to say about this ship and the other two that I have been on.

I don't doubt that some people may have a valid complaint here and there, but really, and truly bad trip????

 

[mickeyboat]

Yes, we have cruised before. I won a cruise to the Bahamas on the Carnival Ecstasy and did a week long Eastern Caribbean on the DCL Magic. But I feel so overwhelmed with all the choices for this trip, that I don't know where to begin. So I checked out a few things and then went to Cruise Critic - and got very frustrated.

I guess I just need to pick something that works for us, and go into it with an open mind and with the expectation that we are going to have a great time. I mean, how can we not? We won't have the kids!

I also need to nail down exactly what we are looking for with DH. He is not easy to get his preferences out of. I will try to update when we decide. Thanks everyone for your input.