Looking for help finding info on three other lines

[cgolf]

I know a lot of you have sailed other lines, and I am looking for places that I can get a good idea of what is offered on other lines. I know CC is out there, but it doesn't come across as the most helpful forum.

We are for sure looking into Celibrity, NCL, and possibly Princess. We generally like the smaller ships, not sure if we would like a mega ship like the oasis class. RCCL might be an option, but right now it is not at the top of our list.

Saying this, if we can get another good deal on DCL, they happen sometimes, we may stick with the mouse. On the other hand we may start on another line to start building up loyalty points.

 

[PrincessShmoo]

I know a lot of you have sailed other lines, and I am looking for places that I can get a good idea of what is offered on other lines. I know CC is out there, but it doesn't come across as the most helpful forum.

We are for sure looking into Celibrity, NCL, and possibly Princess. We generally like the smaller ships, not sure if we would like a mega ship like the oasis class. RCCL might be an option, but right now it is not at the top of our list.

Saying this, if we can get another good deal on DCL, they happen sometimes, we may stick with the mouse. On the other hand we may start on another line to start building up loyalty points.

We recently did our first Princess cruise. I say "first" because I don't doubt that we will cruise Princess again.

The only place I know of many other cruise line information/forums is Cruise Critic. That's not to say there aren't others, but I've never really looked into it.

 

[perditax]

Unfortunately there's no substitute for lots and lots of reading, mostly forums and reviews at CC. There is one Berlitz guide out there that covers all the mass market lines, you can probably buy it on Amazon.

The problem with the reviews at CC is that if you do the normal human thing and click on the one star reviews more frequently than you click on the five star reviews, you'll never want to go on ANY cruise.

 

[Club Disney Chandler]

I know a lot of you have sailed other lines, and I am looking for places that I can get a good idea of what is offered on other lines. I know CC is out there, but it doesn't come across as the most helpful forum.

We are for sure looking into Celibrity, NCL, and possibly Princess. We generally like the smaller ships, not sure if we would like a mega ship like the oasis class. RCCL might be an option, but right now it is not at the top of our list.

Saying this, if we can get another good deal on DCL, they happen sometimes, we may stick with the mouse. On the other hand we may start on another line to start building up loyalty points.

I got a lot of info by starting to read the trip reports for the other lines I have interest in, then I started reading various posts and posting questions. What I've learned most is that DCL isn't nearly as different from the others as I thought.

I read an amazing trip report of Alaska on Celebrity that really made me start researching Celebrity. That line will probably be after the kids aren't cruising with us anymore, but I was totally impressed with the ship, I think it was Solstice.

 

[xlxo]

Other lines I've been on are HAL and Princess. I'm leaning more towards HAL because of the photo packages. When a ship photographer holds up a camera... I open my wallet. HAL offers an everything package like DCL. However, there isn't as many pictures without the DCL characters.

I spent more money on a 2 day Princess reposition than the cruise itself on pictures. I am so weak.

Other thoughts...

• Princess has an outdoor theatre screen, but it was kinda cold/stormy on the September Alaska reposition. Very few went out to watch the movie.
• Princess cabins were more modern with LCD screens compared to the CRT on my 2013 trip.
• I had a better experience with the HAL staff... perhaps my Princess reposition was too short
• HAL offers a Yukon Denali option in Alaska
• HAL/Princess offers a glacier bay option. DCL did not. If Alaska is in your future... research which cruise lines go there and which does not. HAL/Princess and some other cruise lines offers a Tracy Arm side trip. Not all cruise lines & itineries allow for this.
• once you step off a cruise ship... all the excursions are nearly the same. There doesn't appear to be anything exclusive I noticed when I was in port.

 

[cgolf]

Other lines I've been on are HAL and Princess. I'm leaning more towards HAL because of the photo packages.

Curious on your tak on HAL? My in laws sail them and they talk about playing card games and such that they brought with and drinking Martinis as the highlights. When we read their versions of the Navigator, we thought that there wouldn't be enough to keep us busy. They very rarely talk like they have busy days where they run out of time to do stuff.

 

[js]

cruisecritic is for cruises like disboards is for Disney. I would suggest going to cruisecritic and start reading the forums.

Happy planning!

 

[cgolf]

After some quick research tonight, we have ruled out NCL, RCCL is on the ropes. My wife really liked the dining room menus on princess, but the interior rooms looked small but workable. Celebrity looked really good to and their interior cabins looked similar in size to DCL.

 

[PrincessShmoo]

Curious on your tak on HAL? My in laws sail them and they talk about playing card games and such that they brought with and drinking Martinis as the highlights. When we read their versions of the Navigator, we thought that there wouldn't be enough to keep us busy. They very rarely talk like they have busy days where they run out of time to do stuff.

We've also cruised HAL (3 times). There aren't as many "active" activities, but we've found plenty to keep us occupied. But, we are also believers that vacation means downtime, also. So we like "just sitting and watching the ocean go by" on occasion.

HAL does have a great Microsoft lecture program for all us less tech-savvy people to learn about how to use the product.

We've also played cards, and, on occasion, HAL has some good shows in their main theater.

 

[cgolf]

cruisecritic is for cruises like disboards is for Disney. I would suggest going to cruisecritic and start reading the forums.

Happy planning!

We did that a bit tonight, and I will start to post over there too for those lines. I wish this board had threads for more lines, it just seems friendlier and less judgemental on this board. I can get crabby with the best of them, see the long alcohol policy thread, but I really don't like too.

Thx everyone for the advice so far, it has and is helping our research.

 

[bumbershoot]

We did that a bit tonight, and I will start to post over there too for those lines. I wish this board had threads for more lines, it just seems friendlier and less judgemental on this board. I can get crabby with the best of them, see the long alcohol policy thread, but I really don't like too.

Thx everyone for the advice so far, it has and is helping our research.

Stick with the informational threads and forget the controversial threads. If you read reviews, remember to read WHY people liked or didn't like something. See if that goes along with what YOU might like or dislike.


We love Royal and plan to try Celebrity (sister company to Royal) in the future. No HAL for us until they disallow smoking on the balconies. Friends of mine (in their 20s) LOVED their Princess cruise in June. And their balconies look soooo pretty with their blue plexiglas...

 

[MousseauMob]

We've sailed Celebrity and HAL and really enjoyed both lines. HAL also has their Culinary Center activities among other activities. I've always found CC as very helpful as well as the cruise line sites.

 

[tinkerone]

We did that a bit tonight, and I will start to post over there too for those lines. I wish this board had threads for more lines, it just seems friendlier and less judgemental on this board. I can get crabby with the best of them, see the long alcohol policy thread, but I really don't like too.

Thx everyone for the advice so far, it has and is helping our research.

I've seen some pretty simple questions being asked on cc and the opp just got beat up. it can get mean over there. I was shocked. the trip reports are great though.
good luck on your search.

 

[GatorMomInNC]

I am doing the Celebrity Solstice to Alaska in a couple weeks and I plan (hope?) to post a review/comparison with DCL when I return.

 

[Debbie]

We've also cruised HAL (3 times). There aren't as many "active" activities, but we've found plenty to keep us occupied. But, we are also believers that vacation means downtime, also. So we like "just sitting and watching the ocean go by" on occasion.

HAL does have a great Microsoft lecture program for all us less tech-savvy people to learn about how to use the product.

We've also played cards, and, on occasion, HAL has some good shows in their main theater.

We feel the same way that vacation is for slowing down, watching the sights, and just being together. That said, on our Alaska cruise-chosen for Glacier Bay-I used HAL's library, we did Trivia, watched (but you could participate) in Dancing on the Seas, and the Microsoft lectures were very good! I am fairly computer proficient, but the leader spoke to new computer users, me, and very (very) experienced computer users. I was sorry that I had left them to the end. There is a 5K run on deck each cruise with donations going to cancer, too. Next time, I'm not going to cheap out, and pay for their version of the 'Rainforest Room'. We ESPECIALLY enjoyed having room service of our MDR dinner after a tiring day in port.

 

[Mickey4me!]

I am doing the Celebrity Solstice to Alaska in a couple weeks and I plan (hope?) to post a review/comparison with DCL when I return.

I'll be interested in your experience. We are considering HAL and Celebrity for an Alaskan. Have fun!

 

[Krissy22222]

The buffet on Princess is absolutely horrible, if that matters. The dining room food is in my opinion, the same or slightly above Disney. They seem to focus on selling stuff, like cheap crap from China, that you will see displayed ad nauseum. The worst though, is their customer service. It is so bad I would not consider going again. If you have been on Disney, you will be shocked at the way you are treated on Princess. I was made to feel like a criminal when my toilet overflowed. They suggested I was shoving things down the toilet, then complaining in the hopes to get onboard credit, ridiculous.

 

[squirk]

Is there any other line that particularly stands out for childrens' activities? My guess is that no line will have the multiple and diverse kids clubs like DCL, but who comes closest? RCCL? Anyone else?

I ask only because we have three kids, each four years apart - 5, 9, 14. We really are not looking for a cruise with a "one-size-fits-all" kind of program. Thx!

 

[eskimoinparadise]

Is there any other line that particularly stands out for childrens' activities? My guess is that no line will have the multiple and diverse kids clubs like DCL, but who comes closest? RCCL? Anyone else?

I ask only because we have three kids, each four years apart - 5, 9, 14. We really are not looking for a cruise with a "one-size-fits-all" kind of program. Thx!

Royal Caribbean's clubs are broken down into four separate age groups, each with its own activities, and each with its own separate "club" area. Our grandsons both preferred RCL's clubs to Disney's. We haven't used the clubs on Carnival, but their Camp Carnival kids clubs get good reviews as well. We weren't impressed at all with HAL's programs, and it's been a while since we were on Princess, but their clubs used to be "one size fits all", and that rarely ended well.

 

[LeslieG]

The buffet on Princess is absolutely horrible, if that matters. The dining room food is in my opinion, the same or slightly above Disney. They seem to focus on selling stuff, like cheap crap from China, that you will see displayed ad nauseum. The worst though, is their customer service. It is so bad I would not consider going again. If you have been on Disney, you will be shocked at the way you are treated on Princess. I was made to feel like a criminal when my toilet overflowed. They suggested I was shoving things down the toilet, then complaining in the hopes to get onboard credit, ridiculous.

What ship were you on? We sailed Regal Princess, and the buffet was really outstanding.