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Love production shows, hate queues - which cruise line?


worldtraveller99
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Am planning our 1st cruise - to Alaska. Looking at Vlogs on YouTube - some stunning productions shows - eg Royal Caribbean, but also the same ship had horrendous queue to embark - presumably same to disembark and for tenders.

 

Also we love good food and wine - though rather meat-based in our choices. So happy to go up a level of cruise line, but don't just want elderly people sitting around to a Hammond organ in the evening!

 

Is there a happy medium of cruise line to choose for Alaska - we probably would pay for a small suite?

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Take a look at Crystal Cruises. Next year Crystal Symphony sails Alaska.

 

The reality is when you sail Alaska you have an older overall age of passenger then say the Caribbean.

 

Crystal is a luxury line so I am not sure if it is in your budget it is worth a look.

 

Keith

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Unfortunately, for popular scheduled events (whether it's a show, boarding, or other special event), when many passengers want to do the same thing at the same time in a confined space, a line is inevitable. If you go early, there will be a wait until the doors open; if you go late, there will a line of other passengers filing through the doors and, for shows, seating options may be more limited. Some ships/cruise lines have advance reservations for special shows but that doesn't mean there won't still be a bottleneck at the door to get in. The only exception would be if you were in a suite which includes special privilege reserve seating as one of the perks, or an event so mediocre that few people want to go. A surprising number of people even line up in advance at the dining room door for traditional dining, even when they have a seating assignment - never have understood that one.

 

You can minimize your time in lines by choosing a smaller ship (though people may still want to do the same thing at the same time), an itinerary that has fewer tender ports, and by trying to adjust your timing to avoid the most popular times. Make sure you have traditional dining rather than 'Anytime' dining or plan on eating in specialty restaurants where advance reservations are required. Also look at options such as Aqua Class cabins on Celebrity and the Club Class Mini-Suites on Princess - those offer special dining room arrangements that usually have no lines.

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In my experience, the cruise lines invest the most money in the production shows on the ships that turn the highest profit, i.e., the largest; which invariably have the longest queues.

 

Royal Caribbean and Norwegian have the best shows of all the mainstream cruise lines. If you choose a smaller ship from those lines I think you'll be satisfied. You won't necessarily have 'the blue man group' or diving shows but you'll still have decent shows with less queues than those ships.

 

I've sailed on a couple Norwegian ships and didn't find the lines unbearable. A lot of that comes down to timing and reserving shows/dining.

 

I've sailed celebrity as well, their shows are not great. Based on what I've read, I wouldn't be excited about the show quality on luxury lines either. Though no doubt the food is better.

 

 

Sent from my iPhone using Forums

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Talking Alaska here. IMHO, Glacier Bay is not to be missed. This will limit your choices to, I believe, Princess, Holland America and limited NCL sailings. We cruise Princess and was not disappointed in our Alaska trip earlier this year. Embarkation is not handled by the cruise line, but by the port, so just relax and go with the flow. You may arrive later in the day for shorter lines. Entertainment in Alaska could very well be Alaska herself. Princess has a Naturalist on board plus there are presentations by park rangers on Glacier Bay Day. Standard evening performances usually include a comedian, mid-grade production show, possibly a singer. There is also shows in the Atrium. But remember, Alaska days will start early, so nightlife might be less intense. I am 50 and DH 60 and we usually our out until 1am or so when we cruise, but pushed 10pm for Alaska. A couple of mornings we were out at 5:30 am catching the scenery.

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You could look at NCL Bliss which will be sailing Alaska (when she's built). Good food and big production shows, tick. Queues? Well, it's a megaship. As mentioned above, when a lot of people are on board and something good is going on, there will be queues. However you can make reservations for all the main shows and also almost any dining venue online before you sail. Sailing in the Haven (a private area for suite passengers) will eliminate 99% of queues for you as the concierge will escort you to shows, when you embark, and off the ship in ports. You also won't have as many people sharing your sun deck, pool and restaurant. Of course this comes at a price!

 

You might have to compromise a little somewhere- the smaller ships or luxury lines will have less queues and people, but you won't get the big shows.

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