For those of you who have ever been on a cruise...

CourtneyV · 07-01-2008, 12:00 AM

What was your favourite cruise line?

For our 1-year anniversary, Aaron and I are planning a cruise (yay!). We're thinking maybe the Western Caribbean, mostly because of time and money; we don't necessarily mind spending a few extra bucks (ie, we'll get a balcony this time), but the European cruises for example and hugely expensive (as are similar locations).

Both of us have ever been on one cruise before to the Easter Caribbean with Princess, and it was amazing. The food was fantastic... my only complaint was that it was for a much older crowd.

So, I'm wondering what cruise lines you've been on.
1) What was your favourite and why?
2) How was the food?
3) How was the entertainment?
4) And the service? etc.
5) The overall comfort on the ship/room?
6) And... where did you visit (and for how long)?

Dish the details, we need all the help we can get!

P.S. I know we're not planning a cruise wedding, but hey, maybe this will help out some future cruise wedding brides! :)

Angel · 07-01-2008, 06:14 AM

My favorite cruise line is Royal Caribbean. That's the only one I've ever been on. We go every December for the past 5 years and stay on the ship for 7 days. It's my favorite because I always take my kids and they have a lot of activities for them. But you don't see a bunch of kids just running around. They have a lot of other things for adults to do as well. The food is really good. All you can eat and they have several other restaurants as well. They have a lot of shows and performers that do an amazing job. We always stay in a balcony cabin which is enough room for us. The ships are really big so your not really running into everybody. We usually get off the ship and do a tour which is always fun. We've been all over the Caribbean but my favorite was this past cruise which went to Barbados, St. Kitts, St. Lucia and Martinique. Martinique was my favorite, going up into the mountains and the scenery was absolutely gorgeous.

Agape Gems · 07-01-2008, 07:02 AM

I have only been on Royal Caribbean and Carnival but I thought Carnival was more fun. The entertainment on Royal seemed more geared to an older crowd. Everything else (food, rooms, service) seemed equal.

JennyK · 07-01-2008, 07:53 AM

I have been on Royal Caribbean, Princess, & Norwegian. They were all great and different. My favorite is Royal Caribbean. They are the most consistent, the service is amazing, and the food is always available and EXCELLENT. Each cruise line offers something different..it's good to compare and see which suits you best.

Jenn · 07-01-2008, 08:17 AM

I've done Carnival and NCL. Carnival is fun for a young crowd, but the food was only ok - lots of hambugers and hotdogs for lunch, and I remember 16 year olds in the club trying to get drinks...

NCL was a better crowd, great casino (if you like to gamble), and we liked the different restaurants. While it was nice to not have assigned seating and dinner time, the wait staff didn't really care because a lot of guests don't tip nightly. The tips on NCL are standard, and so the staff doesn't really go above and beyond to make sure they get a better tip. The cruises are inexpensive, but make sure you choose a newer ship if you go NCL. Some of the older ones were in New Orleans during Katrina and supposedly have a musty/moldy smell in the cabins. Don't get me wrong, I would probably go NCL again for the right price on the right itinerary, but I don't love them.

My mom does at least 1 cruise a year, and she says that Celebrity is hands down the best. A little more formal, but she says the staff and food is always top notch. I haven't done a Celebrity cruise, so I can't speak from experience. She also like Royal Caribbean.

Yari · 07-01-2008, 08:24 AM

I've been on numerous cruises on Carnival and Royal Caribbean. I like RC better. Better service, food and ship. Carnival is for the young college crowd.

Just Martha · 07-01-2008, 08:42 AM

I have only been on Carnival. I don't really care for them, but they always have good deals and the port is only 4 hours from where I live, so it is convenient. Food is okay, but never great....entertainment is pretty good. I don't think it is geared towards college kids, but I never go out at night, I am always in bed by 10, so I really don't know.

CourtneyV · 07-01-2008, 09:39 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Just Martha

I have only been on Carnival. I don't really care for them, but they always have good deals and the port is only 4 hours from where I live, so it is convenient. Food is okay, but never great....entertainment is pretty good. I don't think it is geared towards college kids, but I never go out at night, I am always in bed by 10, so I really don't know.

Do you not care for them mostly because of the food?? Aaron and I aren't partiers either... at all!

kristendotcom · 07-01-2008, 09:52 AM

Courtney,

A good website for cruise planning is Cruise Critic - Cruises, Cruise Reviews, Cruise Lines. They have alot of reviews on there from travelers. I used that website to help us plan our cruise last December. We went on Royal Caribbean Serenade of the Seas. It was awesome, we cruised out of San Juan, PR and went to St.Thomas, St. Maarten, St.Lucia, and Antigua. The food is great and the ship was gorgeous.

CourtneyV · 07-01-2008, 10:45 AM

Thanks Kristen!! I've already got Cruise Critic bookmarked! It really is a great site. I think I could spend all day on the forums - and that's just what I need... another forum to get addicted to!!