Suggests for my next Cruise?

Question

Me and my wife are younger and want an exciting boat, is carnival the best or are the other major lines good too? ive heard they are boring. We already went to the carribean with stops including St. Thomas, Bahamas, Puerto Rico, and want to know where is a good place to go next, and what line to take? we took carnival and loved it but wanna try something different.

Answer 1

We have been on about a dozen cruises including, ALaska, the Panama Canel, The Mediterranian, the Baltic and Russia, Bermuda, and all over the Caribbean. Here's what I recommend based on my experiences.

Now most cruises are done by lines like Carnival, Royal Caribbean, Norwegian, Princess, Celebrity, Holland America, and Disney. Most of the ships for these lines are now 1500 to 2500 passenger ships. The ships are so big and things are so well managed that you really don't feel crowded on them. Prices on these ship can be as low as $800 for a 7 day inside cabin and about $1200 for a balcony cabin. Most of these lines go to the same places, they are just in port on different days.

The format and service on all of these is about the same. I have found that the food on Celebrity, Princess and RC is a cut above Disney and Carnival. Disney is for kids, and families with kids. It does have adults only areas on ship, but the kids are still there.. The will have lots of kids’ activities on the ships, but they will still be all over the hallways, elevators and dining facilities. Disney has good ship, but also lots of kids running around and Micky, Donald, Minnie, Goofie, etc all over the ship.

Carnival is the fun ship as you found out, but their accommodations are not as good as Royal CAribbean, Princess, Celebrity, Holland America, etc.. They cater to a young crowd and first time cruisers. the Carnival is the party cruise line that most young folks and first time cruisers take (ages 20 to 35) who want to party, party, party.

Princess, Royal Caribbean, Holland America, Celebrity, and Norwegian tend to have people who have cruised many times and are in the 40 and over age group; a more reserved crowd. All of these may have some kids but not many. There are activities just for kids and staff who supervise them. The last cruise we took on Celebrity has about 7 or 8 kids all total.

Most important, ships going to the Caribbean tend to have more young folks than those going to Alaska, Panama, the Mediterranean, the Baltic, or South America. Cruises to the Caribbean have tours that take you on a patry/booze boat and a beach, or take you some place to scuba or snorkle, or take you to a place where you can ride a horse, jet ski, parasail, etc. Cruises to the Carribbean may also have a party island stop; the ship stops at an island and everyone gets off for an all day beach party. The cruise lines call these their "private island".

When you go on a crusie to Alaska, Panama, the Mediterranian the tours will take you to see historial and cultural things. For example, the tours in the Mediterranian took us to see the Vatican, Rome's Colleseum, Pompeii, the leaning Tower of Piza, and the Acropolis in Greece. Its a different type cruise and has different type people, i.e., those who want to see this type historical stuff, typically older but still people who are fun and want to have a good time.

I suggest that you go to the cruise line web sites and look at the port stops for the cruises and then look at the tours offered for that stop. You probably don't need to look at more than one cruise line for each stop because the tours for each will be the same or similar. Then choose a cruise based on where its going. I highly recommend Royal Caribbean and Princess. The others are great also, but I like these two the best.


I do not recommend Norwegian because of their "freestyle" cruising. It means that you do not have to specify a dining option; don't have a table and waiter assigned to you. But it also means that you may be standing in line awaiting a table on some days (like we had to); not what you want on a cruise. The option to this being pushed on NCL is their optional dining which you must pay to use.

Answer 2

I've found the Royal Caribbean Voyager Class ships to be great! I travel every year with a group that includes my parents (60s), my brothers (40s), me (30s) and nieces and nephews (20s and teens). We ALL have a blast doing exactly what appeals to each of us. I tend to hit the night club while others hit the cigar bar, the English Pub, or the Casino. There's so much to do for everyone that we actually manage to take a vacation that we all enjoy. As we discuss it later, I often wonder if we were all on the same ship because we all did such different things. This year we're hitting the "Freedom of the Seas." It's even larger than the Voyager class. I've been to most of the islands already but I'm looking at the ship as the destination!

Answer 3

I was on a Carnival Cruise two weeks ago. The intial reaction was too many kids (but that would be ok if you had children!) But after the boarding and what not, the kids disappeared to the pools or the programs designed for them. Carnival really does have something for everyone. The staff on a Carnival Cruise is AMAZING. Our steward remembered our name the first day and our waiters in the dining room were so much fun. I would go again. My parents have gone on a Royal Caribbean cruise and absolutely loved it as well.

Answer 4

Some things to consider(I am a fellow traveller and Travel Agency Owner):

1-Do you want to cruise on a "party boat"? Something more refined(meaning a more mature crowd, no staggering drunks, etc)?
2-Are activities on the boat key to your enjoyment of the cruise?
3-Something that is not "cookie-cutter", so to speak?

Depending on when you want to cruise, the time that you have allotted for your cruise, weather considerations, and of course your Travel budget will play major roles in determining where you want to take your next cruise. Some recommendations(personal and professional point of view):

1-Certain Mexican cruises. Several cruise lines offer minimum 4 day cruises. Some are themed, some are not.
2-Alaska. These cruises are for those, in my opinion, who want a more relaxing cruise. An older crowd, for sure.
3- Select Meditteranean cruises. Vast majority leave from non-US ports. You basically can choose whether you want to be on a ship that has a mature crowd or a younger crowd. Depends on the cruise line in question.

Again, it will depend on the length of the cruise you want, the type of activities you want to participate in on the ship, and last but every bit as important, the amenities offered on these cruises.

Kindly either call, email me at [e-mail] or reach me through Yahoo Messenger with your criteria, and I will do my utmost to help you customize a cruise that will satisfy both of you.

Answer 5

If you want excitement of a higher class than Carnival, then try Celebrity. The carribean has several different destinations, but the Southern and Eastern are probably the most fun. Have a great time whatever you decide! : )

Answer 6

Royal Carribean and Celebrity Cruise Lines are the best. It dosen't matter which one because they are both owned by the same company. They are both AMAZING cruises. I had a lot of fun!!! RC and Celeb. cruises are high class and more expensive than carnival. Carnival is on the dumpy side. My friend told me it is not worth going on and spend the more money for the higher class ships.

Answer 7

It sounds like Carnival is the right cruise line for you......try a Mexican Riviera cruise or a Western Caribbean cruise next. We recently sailed on the Triumph and had a fantastic time and talked to several young couples who have sailed with other cruise lines and felt they where all to stuffy for them and that Carnival was there cruise line of choice to have fun. Visit bctravelcompany.com or twototravel.com for some great offers on Carnival cruises or contact us for a more personal service.

BC Travel Company

Answer 8

I think any cruise line you travel on will be fun! It all depends on your budget... you get what you pay for!

My parents just booked a cruise for this October on Oceania Cruise Lines to the Mediterrean (spelling?). It is a 12 day cruise that hits all the hot spots and I know it ran them around $3500/pp.

Alaska is a cool place to go as well, but if you are younger (like me!) there was a lot of senior citizens on the cruise.

I have traveled on Royal Caribbean the last 2 times and loved it. I wish I could afford to go on their Oceania cruise, as it sounds so awesome with endless things to do!

Answer 9

I know people who've gone on Norwegian & RCCL (Royal Caribbean) & they loved it so I guess its a matter of opinion. Ive gone on nothing but Carnival so thats all I can go on but out destinations have included the same ones you went on plus:

Cozumel, Mexico - visit Carlos 'N' Charlies, good food, good fun!; good shopping especially for leather goods

Aruba - my FAVORITE spot! the scenery is beautiful, good shopping, good food, lots to do, people are really nice

Barbados - really nice beaches. shopping is ok

Ocho Rios, Jamaica - visit Dunns Rivers Falls (BEAUTIFUL!); good shopping, just watch it getting off the ship, they will hound you for a "taxi ride"

Grand Cayman - very beautiful! Its tied with Aruba to me :-)

Martinique - wasnt too impressed with this place & almost got swindled on a taxi ride, but this port-of-call has been replaced on alot of itineraries

I also heard Hawaiian cruises were AWESOME!!

Good luck & have loads of fun!

Answer 10

Since you are "younger" and maybe more adventurous [?], maybe you'd be interested in EasyCruise. Small, no-frills ship that sails to small, "different" islands and stays all day. THey have a website. Also, you can go to CruiseCritic.com for info on everything about cruising.