Best cruise line for age 50 - 55

Calling all VERY EARLY RETIREES.

Hi, we are UK-based and would like to do a cruise in May 2017, small-ish ship (under 1000 pref), adults only, not too stuffy, but from many of the reviews I have read, the demographic on a lot of these is over 70 and and the entertainment is stuck in the 1970's! We are not exactly Club 18-30 but don't want to be tripping over zimmer frames and mobility scooters. Sorry to be harsh, but I will just have finished 6 months of chemotherapy :o and I don't need to be constantly reminded of my mortality!

We would also like to sail from the UK (that ups the age, I know) and would like 2 weeks with not too many destinations, as we would like to enjoy actually cruising at sea. We don't really mind where we go, it's the right date and the right ambience that we are looking for. I am also aware that most cruises will already be fully booked.

Have looked at a few like Swan Hellenic, CMV and Voyages of Discovery but I am a bit overwhelmed with the choice, so any recommendations from others in the 50-55 age bracket would be most welcome :):).

Welcome to Cruise Critic!

I retired when I was 51...so I think I meet your criteria.

My first suggestion would be to find a travel agent that is willing to do some research for you.

My second suggestion is to consider your budget. Smaller ships tend to be luxury lines, and thus more expensive.

Lastly, the itinerary is frequently more important that the ship. At least some people feel that way.

OH my some 70 yr olds out did me when I was in my 50's... & even now I find some 80 yr olds are more active than I am

try not to swipe all with your broad brush

Check P & O they are the only line that have adult only ships

You could try Seadream, Windstar they may have more adults & few children on smaller ships

Other lines timing is everything ..choose a cruise when schools are in session

River cruises seem to have active adults & not many have children

If the UK site has the link at the top of the page "FIND A CRUISE"

Have a look there for ships sailing from Southampton in the time frame you are looking for then do some research on the size of ship

Enjoy

Calling all VERY EARLY RETIREES.

Hi, we are UK-based and would like to do a cruise in May 2017, small-ish ship (under 1000 pref), adults only, not too stuffy, but from many of the reviews I have read, the demographic on a lot of these is over 70 and and the entertainment is stuck in the 1970's! We are not exactly Club 18-30 but don't want to be tripping over zimmer frames and mobility scooters. Sorry to be harsh, but I will just have finished 6 months of chemotherapy :o and I don't need to be constantly reminded of my mortality!

We would also like to sail from the UK (that ups the age, I know) and would like 2 weeks with not too many destinations, as we would like to enjoy actually cruising at sea. We don't really mind where we go, it's the right date and the right ambience that we are looking for. I am also aware that most cruises will already be fully booked.

Have looked at a few like Swan Hellenic, CMV and Voyages of Discovery but I am a bit overwhelmed with the choice, so any recommendations from others in the 50-55 age bracket would be most welcome :):).

Hi,

In my experience as a similar demographic to you, smaller ships will be more of what you don't want, more elderly etc. Adult only - P&O Arcadia - the worst, most boring cruise we have ever done, set in their ways passengers who moaned because they didn't have a copy of their Daily Mail.

I would suggest you try Royal Caribbean or Princess during term time at least there will be people in the bar after 10pm.

Pete

Hi,

 

In my experience as a similar demographic to you, smaller ships will be more of what you don't want, more elderly etc. Adult only - P&O Arcadia - the worst, most boring cruise we have ever done, set in their ways passengers who moaned because they didn't have a copy of their Daily Mail.

I would suggest you try Royal Caribbean or Princess during term time at least there will be people in the bar after 10pm.

 

Pete

I agree. OP's requirements -- longer cruise, smaller ship, etc. typically draw an older demographic.

OP, you need to decide what's most important to you and be willing to compromise on some of your ideas. The luxury lines will often give you fewer kids and a smaller ship, but also an older crowd. The mid-market lines will give you a more lively crowd but larger ships and more children.

You have pretty well selected yourself out of options. Small ship, but lively, sailing from England in May with mainly sea days, no children: there may be something out there for you, but the ability to find your fit seems to be beyond the pay grade of the typical CC savant.

Thinking of something which might reasonably meet some of your wishes requires ignoring others of them. I would suggest you consider a trans-Atlantic repositioning from the US or Caribbean to Northern Europe - possibly England. Celebrity, Princess, even Holland America (don't believe the second hand blather about them being floating nursing homes). You would get your couple of weeks (+/-) , mainly sea days, very few to no children, reasonable entertainment and reasonable cost.

Possible T/A's: Norwegian Jade Tampa 4/30 - Southampton 5/14

Queen Victoria Ft. Lauderdale 4/21 - Southampton 5/5

R.C. Navigator Miami 4/20 - Southampton 5/12

Celebrity Eclipse Miami 4/16 - Southampton 4/29

All of these require flying T/A, and none are small ships - but they get you back home, they have desired sea days, will have few to no children, are fairly lively.

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Not sure of the travel schedule, but our favorite cruise line is Celebrity- I think it is a well rounded cruise. You might have to consider starting in the US and doing a transatlantic cruise. If that doesn't work for you, I would also recommend you consider Royal Caribbean.

Enjoy your cruise

Cruise typically have fewer port days now than they had in the past....but, you don't ever need to get off the ship on port days, if you don't want to! The ship is pretty nice on port days, when the majority of folks have gone ashore! Everything except casino (if there is one) and shops will still be open on port days. Food is still served, bars will be mixing drinks...the pool (if it's warm) will be almost empty....I love port days on the ship!

OP: I've got good news and bad news. With four of their ships serving under 700 passengers each, children mostly only during school vacations on shorter cruises and excellent food/service, Oceania is worth your consideration. That's the good news. The bad news is that your itinerary/date requirements are far too constricting.

We happen to be doing an Oceania "grand voyage" - two single voyage segments, back to back round trip from Southampton on each segment. There are some sea days in each segment. However, we're talking about July/August.

If you have more date flexibility and are willing to fly to get those max sea days, consider Oceania cruises between ports on the west coast of north and south Americas and Polynesia.

Assuming that Oceania is a good fit, if you are willing to fly or train to Barcelona to start this one ends at Southampton: https://www.oceaniacruises.com/Mediterranean-cruises/barcelona-to-london-MNA170521/?sr=%2Fcruise-finder%2F%23search-result-anchor

There's a certain amount of misinformation on here, particularly the bit about smaller ships being more expensive - this isn't true at all. (It's presumably true in the USA, but that's not relevant to you.) Smaller ships tend to be older and have fewer balconies, but are cheaper.

You might do better with a ship that does take children, as long as you go in term time. The obvious problem with adult-only ships is that since there are no children, there are also no parents of children either. There's bound to be a heavy bias towards grandparent age.

There's a certain amount of misinformation on here, particularly the bit about smaller ships being more expensive - this isn't true at all. (It's presumably true in the USA, but that's not relevant to you.) Smaller ships tend to be older and have fewer balconies, but are cheaper.

 

You might do better with a ship that does take children, as long as you go in term time. The obvious problem with adult-only ships is that since there are no children, there are also no parents of children either. There's bound to be a heavy bias towards grandparent age.

Actually, ships for less than 1,000 (which are what OP specified) are likely to be more expensive. The "older" mass market ships which are likely to be lower priced because of age are likely to be in the 1,000 to 2,000 range. The under 1,000 sort generally have been dedicated to specialty (read "more expensive") itineraries.

The child-free (or almost so) ships are most likely to be those on premium expensive itineraries - or those whose itineraries combined with time of year are most likely to be child-free. Trans-Atlantic repositionings share those factors - while being reasonably priced- while having many sea days.

Bluntly put: OP's list of requirements is simply unrealistic - I doubt ANY itinerary would qualify.

To the OP:

You are going to have to do the difficult chore of evaluating all of your wishes and deciding what the priority and value is for each one. Perhaps making binary type choices can help. For example - ship size vs age demographic; kids vs lively atmosphere. Prioritize them and assign your own "value" to each characteristic. Then make the "cost/benefit" analysis to figure out the best of an imperfect lot of choices.

Personally, I'm looking for the Ferrari that gives me great fuel mileage, has room for all of my Tesco-type shopping and several sets of golf clubs, low insurance rates and will cost me under $35,000.

You're in the same situation with cruises.

To the OP:

 

You are going to have to do the difficult chore of evaluating all of your wishes and deciding what the priority and value is for each one. Perhaps making binary type choices can help. For example - ship size vs age demographic; kids vs lively atmosphere. Prioritize them and assign your own "value" to each characteristic. Then make the "cost/benefit" analysis to figure out the best of an imperfect lot of choices.

 

Personally, I'm looking for the Ferrari that gives me great fuel mileage, has room for all of my Tesco-type shopping and several sets of golf clubs, low insurance rates and will cost me under $35,000.

 

You're in the same situation with cruises.

What would he have to give up if he insisted on being served prime rib of unicorn on formal night?

What would he have to give up if he insisted on being served prime rib of unicorn on formal night?

Thanks to all who have responded. Lots to think about. Have taken on board all your tips(I know, old joke!). Probably the best thing now is to see what goes where in Europe in May (long-haul is out for the next couple of years) and then ask questions about each of those ships. I think my main task may be to try and persuade other half to consider a slightly bigger ship! Then we can find out what sort of thing we go for, and maybe make a more discerning choice when we go another time. Needs to be the right balance of cheesy entertainments and a bit of culture, and with the option for smaller bars and restaurants too. Hopefully this will be the first of many cruises. Still keep suggestions coming if you have any.

First, congratulations on your recovery. You're now a member of a special group of people called survivors, welcome to the club. Have you considered National Geographic Expeditions? Smaller ships, few kid and places no other cruise companies visit.

> persuade other half to consider a slightly bigger ship

I wondered what triggered the size requirement. If it is wanting privacy and not to feel crowded - I cruised on a HUGE ship, Oasis of the Seas (over 6000 cruisers, not counting staff) and never felt crowded. Dining, entertainment, excursions - all had perfectly adequate room. DH and I were usually the only people in the (outdoor) hot tub; we saw more people in the pools but still nowhere near what we routinely experience in water parks. The MDR was enormous, and there was not a lot of room between tables, but there were plenty of smaller alternatives where food was still included in the fare. Plus, the large number of cruisers meant there were entertainments offered in the evenings, and people interested in attending them.

Rather than rule out ships based on size, I would suggest finding some itineraries you like and ask on the relevant boards how crowded or roomy thost particular ships *feel*. Doesn't really matter if there are only 800 people on board if the dining room tables are crowded close together, or if there are 4000 people cruising if there are plenty of pools and entertainment alternatives (so everyone doesn't pack into one venue).

Also, as others have said, you can avoid most children by travelling during school terms. You would just need to work out US as well as UK and European term times, but I will be surprised if there isn't plenty of overlap. (US is generally Sept 1-Dec 15 and then Jan 2-June 1 - there are many schools that go beyond these times but virtually all of the public and private schools will be in session during these dates. Colleges tend to end a little earlier, if that affects your plans.)

Our preferences have changed over time. The mass market cruise lines have been downgrading their offerings over the past five-ten year.

We typically base our selection on intinerary/ship/price. Cruise line is not as good an indicator, in our opinions, as it used to be.

Having said that, Celebrity and Princess are currently at at the top of our list in the mass market category. Followed by RCI and HAL. Having said that we have had some very good cruises on both Carnival and NCL.

Bottom line...it can be a crap shoot. Just do your research and make the best choice for you. Don't be swayed by the some of the cruise line acolytes who feel that their cruise line of choice is the best and can never deliver an inferior cruise experience. It just is not so.

In your age category. I'm thinking UK to Canary Islands or the Acores and back would give you a good number of sea days.

On which line? Of the ones I've been on only Celebrity goes there. Of course depending on your budget their suite class gives the feeling of small ship with entertainment of the large ship.

Not finding anything meeting all wishes, there were just two which seemed to approximate:

Seabourn Quest -450 passengers - was the only sailing in May (5/1) of the size desired- but on a 19 day itinerary,with many stops, ending in Stockholm.

Queen Mary 2 - but 2,650 passengers - otherwise OK - 14 day trans-Atlantic round trip - only stop New York sailing May 8. Much more affordable - great lecture programs, pretty good entertainment, very good music.

Just a thought. How about a ferry across to Scandinavia and then a Hurtigruten cruise for fiords, Northern Lights etc.?