Princess Cruise Line Caribbean Cruise--Need help?!?!?

Question

I am planning to go on a cruise late next year with my boyfriend and I have been hearing that the Princess Cruise Lines are better than Carnival and Royal Caribbean Cruise Lines. Is this true? I'm not yet 21 and he's in his late 20's so would this be the best option for us? We realize that it is more expensive. Is it cheaper later in the year (fall)? Will we be bored or better served to go one of the other cruise lines? We don't want tons of kids running around us but we also don't want all old people either. We also don't want a bunch of drunk young people. I am sure since the ship holds 3,000+ that you will get a good variety of ages. Please help!!!!

Answer 1

I have been on Princess cruises three times. Also been on Norwegian, Celebrity and Royal Caribbean many times. In my opinion Princess, RC and Celebrity have the best ships, food and service. Norwegian is close but I do not care for their "freestyle" dining. I prefer the more traditional dinner seating where you have a table and waiter assigned for the duration of the cruise.

You will have to be 21 years old before you can book a cruise. They will ask for passenger birth dates, and passport information. So wait until one of you is 21 to book. All of these cruise lines will have guests in a variety of age groups. The line which has the history of having mainly OLD people is Holland America. Its a great line but that's where the old folks go most often. If you want to stay away from kids, stay away from Disney. Its been my experience that the passengers on these lines are between the ages of 35 and 65 mainly. Another important factor to consider is, cruises 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 fun things like beaches, jet skiing, snorkeling and scuba diving, para-sailing, 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 cruisers 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.

The best way to get the best deal, price and cabin wise is to book early. The cruise lines have their cruise schedules online for this year and next. The prices for any particular cruise can change by hundreds of dollars depending upon which week you go. You can see the different prices for a cruise itinerary by just picking a cruise itinerary and then look at the differences in price for each date that cruise is available. For example, the Alaska cruise season is May to September, but the cruise is cheaper during May and September.

My suggestion to you is go on a Princess cruise to Alaska and pick a May or September date which will be cheaper. OR, go on one of the new Royal Caribbean ships, Freedom of the Seas or Liberty of the seas. Both ships are brand new, hold about 4,000 passengers and have a great variety of activities. They also have an adults only pool and hot tub area called the Solarium. Both of these ships do the Caribbean in different itineraries, Eastern Caribbean and Western Caribbean.

Answer 2

I've been on all 3 lines with both family and friends and depending on what you are looking for, you will know which line is right for you. Princess-Very elegant, caters towards a more older crowd. Great if you really want to relax with not too much hoopla. Carnival-It's not called the "Fun Ship" for nothing. There is always something to do. However, it is very family oriented and if you don't really feel like dealing with a lot of kids, this may not be the best choice for you. Royal Caribbean-If you are a young adult (21+) this is perfect. There is a good mix of families and singles on board and there is loads to do on this line as well. The nightlife is great. The bigger the ship, the more on board activities (same can be said for all 3 lines). Everything is included on a cruise except the tours and your alcohol. If you are cruising on a line that has specialty restaurants or coffee bars, those will cost you extra money as well. Some lines include your soda, some don't. Most have juice and iced tea machines that are free all the time. The bottled water in your cabin isn't free, neither is the soda. For all intents and purposes, your food is included and it's all you can eat. Most lines are including the tips in the price of the cruise, so check for that. If not, it is customary to tip at the end of the cruise. That can add up. I hope that helps you out some. Bon Voyage!

Answer 3

I have done 103 cruises to date and love then all. I also have been in the Travel Business for over 30 years now so I can give you some interesting advice. I love them all and respect each line for what they offer.

It may surprise you to know that Carnival owns Princess. Based on your age group and your a first time cruiser I would think that Carnival would be great for you both. However, I love Princess as well.

Check out some of the Cruise sites online. Not just the individual cruise lines but some of the wholesale cruise companies. You can get some great prices. NEVER pay what is called rack rate....the price in the brochure! Some of the savings are astonishing. Be flexible with your dates.

Bored on a cruise? Something is truly wrong if you find yourselves bored on a cruise.

Based on what you have stated in this question, I would think that Princess would be best for you. Their staterooms are great, entertainment is wonderful, food is fantastic and being together should make it perfect.

Best wishes for a Bon Voyage and smooth sailing!

Answer 4

It depends upon what is meant by better. Princess is considered a higher class cruise line, but that doesn't make it better for everyone. This ususally means more attention to the quality of service and higher levels of amenities. Princess has "movies under the stars" where you can sit out on the deck and watch movies. They also offer you a choice between having a fixed time to eat or eating whenever you want in the dining room. The other lines have one or the other. Princess is not generally considered a family line so you won't see a lot of kids running around. Because of this, the average passenger age will be somewhat higher than on the Carnival. The average age in the Caribbean will be 51, although there will be people of all ages. Hope this gives you a little more info on Princess to help make your decision. If you have any other questions, feel free to contact me through my website below.
Sally B

Answer 5

If you want party atmosphere, go Carnival. Otherwise, Princess, Celebrity, Royal Carib. are about the same. Check on the internet for pricing. I never book more than a month or so ahead of time. Last minute prices are the best. Check www.cruise.com. Also, you can check the ships statistics on the internet. It tells when ship was built, tonnage, crew size, number or passengers, etc. One difference between the various lines, is the dinner schedule. Some lines just have two dinner seatings, around 6pm and around 830pm. Others have flex seating where you just show up. All of them do have buffets for dinner in lieu of the formal dining rooms.