Ever been on a cruise?

Question

I am looking to send my mom and her boyfriend on a cruise as a Christmas gift this year but am pretty clueless as to which are better. Can anyone tell me about them, if they recommend them and which company is better? Or just any info would be great! thanks!!! Oh and she has never been on a cruise, let alone had a vacation so something fun but relaxing...thanks again!

Answer 1

Here is ALL you need to know:

If you have the money to spend for the very top and best cruise lines try Crystal, Radisson, Cunard, Windstar, and Silver Sea. These cruise lines are a cut above the others because they run smaller ships (about 500 to 700 passengers) and have a higher staff to passenger ratio so you get top of the line service. They also have more amenities included in the much higher price, like all veranda/balcony cabins, tubs and shower bathroom, larger cabins, daily wine and/or champaign with meals, etc. These ships generally go to a port or two on a seven day cruise which may be different from the normal. Prices for a 7 day cruise on these top of the line ships may start at $2500 to $3000 (vs about $1200 on the next tier of ships.). These ships tend to have a more sophisticated and older crowd and more formal dining. They don’t pressure you to buy with art auctions and spa deals. You are more likely to see a celebrity or someone famous on one of these cruises because they are what you may call “exclusive”.

Less Expensive

The first rule in getting less expensive cruises is book early. The second rule is go with the same cruise line multiple times because they do offer repeat customer discounts of $50 to $100 per person in a cabin. The third rule is shop around for specials. Some lines will offer specials on a date that does not usually sell out, like Christmas or Thanksgiving week. So don't lock yourself in to one particular week of the year; be flexible.

If you have not cruised before and don't know the ropes it may be beneficial for you to use an agent; the agent does not charge a fee but is paid by the cruise line. But, also, do some home work on cruise line, itineraries, and ships. Use the cruise line web sites to look at what's being offered. Try to have in mind some of what you want to do when you talk to an agent. If you feel comfortable doing it, you can do your own booking online, the price is the same and you can do everything you need right on the web sites. The sites usually have cruises listed for this year and next. I booked my last two cruises completely online, including making payments and booking port tours.

Now most cruises are done by the next tier of cruise 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 big but 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. When you dock there may be one or two other ships there for the day and some days there may not be any where you go. You may also want to consider Cunard and the Queen Mary II. The ship is fantastic and the prices are comparable with RC, NCL and Princess.

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 what I have been told is served on Disney and Carnival. Disney has good ships but is primarily 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. There will be lots of kids running around and looking for Micky, Donald, Minnie, Goofie, etc all over the ship. Carnival is the fun ship, but their accommodations are not the best. 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. If that’s what you are looking for then Carnival is the one for you.

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 cruise lines may have some kids but not many. However, there are activities just for kids of different ages and staff persons assigned to supervise them most of the day. The last cruise we took on Celebrity had only about 7 or 8 kids all total.

Another important factor to consider is, ships going to the Caribbean tend to have more young folks than those going to Alaska, Panama, the Mediterranean, the Baltic, or South America. People who go to the Caribbean are looking for things like beaches, jet skiing, snorkeling and scuba diving, parasailing, and a lot of other activities related to water and beaches. On the other hand, people who go to Alaska, Panama, the Mediterranean, etc., are looking for cultural and historic activities. These tend to be the older people (40+). That does not mean these cruises are dull, it just means that the passengers are more mature and reserved. You will find the 40+ crowd in the bars and disco and having as good a time as the youngsters, but you may not hear them across the room or deck.

Ship Cabin Categories

Sometimes people get confused by the categories on ship that agents or the web sites refer to. Categories are simply a listing of the different types of cabins on the ship by size, location and amenities. Categories are the price structure. What you need to know and understand is that the category designations DO NOT mean the same thing on all cruise lines. For example, a Cat "C" on a Carnival ship is NOT the same as a Cat "C" on a Norwegian or Royal Caribbean ship. AND, a category "C" is not necessarily the same across all of the ships in a cruise line. However, there is one exception to this. Some times cruise lines build TWO IDENTICAL ships. So all of the cabins on both ships are the same and thus the categories for these two are the same. For example, a Cat "D"on the RC's Jewel of the Seas is identical with a Cat “D” on their Brilliance of the Seas because the ships are identical. Same with the NCL's Dream and its Wind ships. If you go to the cruise line web site and look at categories, they will generally have the square feet of each cabin type, and the balcony square feet, if it has one, listed also .

The cheapest cabins offered are always the inside cabins; those without a window or porthole. The next lowest priced are OUTSIDE (with a window or porthole). The next are the VERANDA or BALCONY cabins (your own private patio). The next are the jr and full suites, and finally the penthouses and owners' suites, which are like apartments. The inside, outside and balcony cabins are generally the same size on each ship, but may vary by ship and cruise line. I always recommend the balcony or Veranda cabins because most ships these days tend to have many of them at a reasonable price (i.e., $1200 to $1500 for a 7-day.). Its been my experience that Princess and Royal Caribbean have the best ship and cabin decor and also some of the best food.

OTHER TIPS

The shorter cruises are 4 or 5 days, and the normal ones are either 7 or 14 days. If you are not sure whether you will like cruising, go on a short one first. To save some money, consider driving to the port; Miami, Ft Lauderdale, N.O., Houston, LA, NJ. Most ports have plentiful and safe parking (I have driven many times to Miami and Ft Lauderdale) at both places that costs about $12 a day. Driving can save money over the cruise line "add-in" for airfare. We generally drive most of the way on one day from NC and stop about an hour or two from the port for the night. Then continue the short trip the next day to the port. Most ships start boarding between noon and 1:00PM. If you are a cruise club member you get to go on first, or early. If the cruise is for a honeymoon, anniversary, or birthday be sure to tell them, they will do special stuff for that. Most 7-day cruises have two formal nights when you can wear your best stuff and get pictures taken. Cruise lines charge a lot for the photos they take so take your own photos around the ship when you get the chance, especially on the formal nights. Ask other passengers to take photos for you, they generally are very willing.

Some people worry about getting sea sick. The ships being used these days have automated stabilizers which minimize the rocking. The larger ships cut through the water so easy that you don’t even feel like you are moving. When there is bad weather the cruise lines will steer around and away from it, sometimes changing the order of port stops. Also, the ships generally move overnight and dock in the mornings so you don’t feel much movement. So your chances of getting sea sick are minimal. If you do get sick, all ships have a doctor and they will dispense sea sick medicines. If you are prone to motion sickness, just get pills from your own doctor before you go, or go to a boating store and get a sea sickness bracelet.

Freestyle Cruising

I do not recommend Norwegian because of their "freestyle" cruising. Freestyle means that you DO NOT have to specify a dining option; you go to the main dining room anytime after 6:00PM but you also don't have a table and waiter assigned to you. 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. NCL promotes their optional dining in very fine restaurants like French, Italian, Tex-Mex, Steak and Sushi. However, you must pay a fee of between $10 and $20 per person per dinner to use these alternative restaurants. This is not what you want after paying for a cruise where everything is supposed to be included and is on other cruise lines.

Hidden Costs

The hidden costs on a cruise are your tab for drinks (alcoholic and sodas),tours, and gratuity. Many ships now add the recommended gratuity to your onboard tab. The gratuity is about $10 to $12 a day per person. You can give more if you want. Tours can add hundreds to your final bill, depending upon how many stop the ship makes and what you want to do. Study the tours carefully; some places you may want to just go on your own.
What’s a Cruise Like

They are one of THE best vacations you can take. Once you are on ship the staff caters to you, its whatever you want. There is something to do all day every day. Each day you will receive in your cabin a "newsletter" listing the time, place and particulars of each event. There are generally shows every evening, one show for those with an early dinner seating and another (same show) for those who eat late. There is always food available. Usually there is a place in ship where you can go get something. Or, you can always just pick up the phone in your cabin and order from the room service menu (food is free). If you want, you can order breakfast room service.

All ships have a casino with slots and table games. They have ATM’s and a purser’s desk where you can cash a check or exchange currency if you need to. There is a tour and activities desk so you can schedule land tours and activities.

Some ships have free morning exercise programs, stretching and walking, etc, and on some you can pay for other things like Spinning. All cruise ships have gyms so you can go workout usually any time from 6:00 AM to late at night. There is usually a walking/running track on one of the decks also. Some ships leave the gym open all night. They call the gyms Spa because they do promote getting pampered with things like wraps and massages with aromatherapy. They will also generally have a beauty salon to do hair and nails.

Ships have movie theaters, generally small but nice, and you can also see movies in your room. There are demonstrations on ship like ice carving, napkin folding and towel folding, cooking demonstrations. Some ships may offer a galley (kitchen) tour or a tout of the bridge.

There are places on ships to play cards and board games and the games are provided. There are cocktail lounges that feature a variety of music. Some have a piano bar with jazz. There is usually a disco that starts after 10:00 PM each night.

Then there is always the pools. Some ships have more than one and the newer ships generally have an indoor pool as well as outdoor ones and all of these have hot hots.

I suggest that you go to the web site for the cruise lines and look at the cabin prices, port stops, the features for the ships and select a cruise that will do what you want to do. Then you may want to talk to an agent and see if they can find what you want. Then decide whether you want to book your self or have an agent do it for you. I always suggest a balcony cabin, or a suite, they are more relaxing and fun.

Answer 2

There are a lot of variables. For example, budget, what your mother likes, destination, etc.

Most cruise lines have great ships and then some not so great ships. The best thing is just to look into some different options and then do some research for reviews and such. If your mom is wanting to be with more people her age, you will want to look into lines that are a little better for seniors, or older individuals. For example, Holland America is a great line for older cruisers, but it is a little more expensive and the onboard environment tends to be more "sophisticated"

There are also lines that are better depending on the destination. For example, for Hawaii, NCL is one of the best lines, for Alaska, Princess and Holland America are great.

Budget is also a big issue. Carnival is going to be one of the least expensive options and then it will go up from there. Carnival tends to be more of a party boat with lots of drinking and a younger crowd onboard, perhaps something your mom wants to avoid. Carnival, Royal Caribbean, Disney, etc. are all great lines for families, so there will be more kids onboard, if you mom doesn't want many kids around, these are lines you may consider avoiding.

As you can see, there are just a lot of different options. The best advice I can give you is to contact a travel agent that specializes in cruises. You won't have to pay anything to use them, but any questions, opinions, etc. you may need along the way will be available to you. I cannot tell you how helpful my travel agent has been over the years. Plus, an agent may be able to get you a better rate in some cases. Even if the rate is the same or a little higher than what you can get elsewhere, the knowledge, service and experience could prove to be priceless so that you get your mom the best possible vacation.

I hope this helps!

Answer 3

Yes, You really need to provide more info. Cruises are quite unique these days catering to different age groups, likes, places they visit, onboard activities and amenaties... Consider these options then visit a reputable travel agents cruise specialist. Give them these guidelines without telling them your budget and have them make recommendations. Then do some homework online for the cruises you like. If the price is the same or more go back to the agent. If it's less, call the agent, tell so and see if they can meet or beat the price. They did after all help with the info. If they can't get it through the cruise company or online. Most importantly is how closely the cruise matches your Mom's likes. You could spend thousands of dollars only to have her hate it because it wasn't something she enjoyed while you could save thousands by making a different choice she'd like better.

Answer 4

As a travel agent I would have to say there are many things to consider...
1. Carnival is a good one for a budget trip...they have 4, 5, and 7 day cruises...and the prices here lately are rock bottom. They are neon lights, lots of games to play, focused on being the "fun" ships.

2. Royal Caribbean has more to offer, the larger ships have ice skating rinks, main street, miniature golf, rock climbing walls...they are more brass and recessed lighting...cater more to the needs of the clients...pampered more.

3. There are more cruiselines than that...if you want a more intimate, fun, no children experience for your mom, then you have the yachts of seabourne, Windstar, and the oceania cruises....these are more expensive, but like everything else....you get what you pay for...

4. If you are budget conscious, you will get a budget cruise, if you dont care to spend alittle more and want better service, Royal Caribbean...If you think she is the most special woman in the world, and deserves the best...and money is no issue...one of the other ones.

See you local travel agent:

If your car quits...you go to a mechanic
If you get hurt....you go to the doctor
You want to plan a trip....go to the specialist...a travel agent

email me
[e-mail]

Answer 5

How very sweet of you. You would have to do some research. There are a couple of websites you should check out. I think one of them is called cruisecritic.com or you can go to yahoo travel, orbitz or cheaptickets.com and click on cruises and then look at the users reviews. I went on a Mexican Riviera cruise through Carnival last year for my honeymoon and I had the time of my life. Royal Carribean usually rates higher than Carnival Cruise lines, but personally I like Carnival better. Also check out the ship names cause some ships are older and not as nice and some are newer and prettier. For example I took a three day cruise to Baja on the Royal Carribean "Monarch of the seas" and I thought the boat was old and dingy. Be sure to do your research, shop around and good luck!

Answer 6

If they are a mature couple looking for a slow pace AND like to dress up, I would highly recommend Royal Caribbean's Sovereign of the Seas. It has been remodeled since the last time we were on it. Service is impeccable and the ship is well-appointed. 1,500 people singing Christmas carols in a massive atrium is pretty special.
If they like to party on, I would definitely recommend Carnival's Celebration! The staff smiles all the time and there are a couple of "party streets" where the lounges and bars are clustered. It just depends on their taste.
If you can afford it, get an oceanview room.

Answer 7

Some basic yet important factors come to mind(I am Owner of a Travel Agency):

1-Since you know your mom better than anyone, it helps to know the type of person she is as far as activities are concerned.

2-Do they have a preference as far as which port they would like to leave from?

3-Length of cruise

Now...depending on whether they're the type who are active in general or the sedate type could make a difference in the choice of a quality cruise line. Having said that, if you could kindly either call, email me at: [e-mail], or reach me through Yahoo Messenger, we can discuss with you the cruising possibilities that are available with your mom/boyfriend in mind, and also help you make an informed decision.

Answer 8

After cruising for several years, I suggest an Alaskan Cruise with either Princess or Celebrity. Caters to middle aged and older. Great service, clean reasonable rates. 7 days cruise is best for first timers. Not too short and not too long.

Answer 9

Matter of fact, I just went on my first cruise to the Bahamas on the Carnival Fascination; LOVED IT so I am ready to do it again; I am partial to Carnival but Royal Caribbean is just as good from what I hear; go to a travel agency and get brochures and check out prices and what the lot of us have to say here and go from there;

Answer 10

Carnival is very nice but if you look into it they have some noce ones for just Adults that don't let any children aboard

Answer 11

http://www.rhoda.joystar.com