Im just not sure about Princess

[Layla]

We're in our early 60's and were on a Hawaii 14 day cruise on the Island Princess that had more wheelchairs, scooters, walkers & canes that we'd ever seen! It was one of our most enjoyable cruises ever! These folks were zooming around the ship and having a great time. One of the best moments was in the Atrium bar where a lovely elderly couple, both using canes, would have a drink every evening before dinner. We passed them one evening and the gentleman said "It's a riot when we get our canes tangled up." What a great attitude! We had a ball on this cruise.

[cruznliz]

If you're looking for a younger crowd, don't forget the crew!! The Cruise Director is often in his/her 30's or 40's but the rest of the cruise staff are often in their early 20's. :eek: If you're annoyed easily by old people and young children, perhaps cruising isn't for you. ;)

[captainron]

I dont mind the size of the ship. But I dont like the design of Sun Class at all.

 

Basically the older ships dont have the same amenities. We love the Piazza and IC, as well as Caribe Cafe, even enjoy the MUT for this year's SuperBowl when we were on Crown in Feb. None of such amenities on Grand or even Star.

 

Don't know who's giving you your info, but Star has had Int'l Cafe and MUTS for almost 2 years that I know of. I sailed across the Pacific on her last year (Oct 2009) with MUTS blaring away. I did also enjoy the munchies in the Int'l Cafe in the Piazza and the lovely capuccinos and lattes (buy your card).

 

Ciao for now!!!

[mytime53]

I dont mind the size of the ship. But I dont like the design of Sun Class at all.

 

Basically the older ships dont have the same amenities. We love the Piazza and IC, as well as Caribe Cafe, even enjoy the MUT for this year's SuperBowl when we were on Crown in Feb. None of such amenities on Grand or even Star.

 

The Grand has had MUTS for several years now.

[snorkelphile]

We have never cruised either line but have cruised 28 times with Princess.

 

You didn't state your age. You might find that Princess cruisers may be averaging about 60 years.

 

It is absolutely ridiculous to say the average is 60. Perhaps you mean to say the MODE is 60 (more people were 60 than any other age). But to say the average or MEAN is 60 is to say that for every 30 year old there is also a 90 year old on the ship.

 

We've never been on a 14 day, but I would guestimate that on our 7 day cruises, the average age was more like 35 or 40. There were plenty of teens and twenties, lots of 30's, even more 40's and 50's, lots of 60's - very few 70'sl 80's and 90's !

[1 HappyCruiser]

I agree, the lack of kids was wonderful. But you have to look at the entire picture here. I think I still have scars on my chins from being run into by scooters, walkers and wheelchairs. The one difference we have found when sailing on a ship full of seniors (and I am talking about very very senior ;)) is that they all expect you to move out of their way as they are coming through, get out of the elevator to make room for them as they are hungry, their blood sugar was low and they needed food right now, or it was their nap time and they were wanting to get back to their stateroom quickly. There were times I probably would have welcomed some kids onboard, even unsupervised ones. lol

 

Shows-You needed to be there at least 45 minutes prior as the seats in the theater were gone about that time. Yes, they were napping in the seats until the show started. No joke.

 

Getting off in port took forever, I think you can figure out why there.

 

Forget the buffet, you couldn't walk through the line (it's where I got a lot of those scars from being run into).

 

BUT, one great thing. The casino was never crowded. lol

 

We've been on 10 day cruises in Oct from Ft Lauderdale & encountered what I would classify as an ancient crowd. It was just as you described & although I'm probably as old as the avg cruiser, that amount of older timers made for a very different sort of cruise. The dining rooms were packed at 5 PM with lines waiting to get in. :D The buffet was impossible to maneuver around in because of the wheelchairs, walkers & just generally slow moving people. There was very little screaming & running through the hallways. ;)

We did the exact some cruise a year later, same ship & things were completely different with a much younger crowd. Very hard to figure out who will be on any particular trip. :confused:

It is absolutely ridiculous to say the average is 60. Perhaps you mean to say the MODE is 60 (more people were 60 than any other age). But to say the average or MEAN is 60 is to say that for every 30 year old there is also a 90 year old on the ship.

 

We've never been on a 14 day, but I would guestimate that on our 7 day cruises, the average age was more like 35 or 40. There were plenty of teens and twenties, lots of 30's, even more 40's and 50's, lots of 60's - very few 70'sl 80's and 90's !

 

The Captain's circle host will sometime announce the avg age of the cruisers at the repeaters party. We've been on cruises where they announced the avg age was 60.7 years and yes there were many, many old people on that ship.

[UtterCaro]

I think I still have scars on my chins from being run into by scooters, walkers and wheelchairs.

 

Toto, there's no harm in having multiple chins (it can happen to the best of us as we age), but you really should stop walking on your knees if you don't want those chins bumped by mobility aids. :D

 

(Note to the humor-impaired: I ignore most typos, but the mental image presented by this one was just too funny to pass up, as I'm pretty sure the ever-gracious Toto and her poor damaged shins will agree.)

 

Caro

[Toto2Kansas]

Toto, there's no harm in having multiple chins (it can happen to the best of us as we age), but you really should stop walking on your knees if you don't want those chins bumped by mobility aids. :D

 

(Note to the humor-impaired: I ignore most typos, but the mental image presented by this one was just too funny to pass up, as I'm pretty sure the ever-gracious Toto and her poor damaged shins will agree.)

 

Caro

 

ROFL OMG, I did spell that incorrectly didn't I? Totally laughing at myself here, sorry bout that one.

[mermaid72]

Geez Toto & 1 Happycruiser, as an ancient 65 year old, I'll try not to run my kayak over yours in the rapids, or next time we are snorkeling & a shark takes a nip out of you, I'll just whack him over the head with my floatable walker! LOL

 

Maybe a Carnival spring break with all the accompanying drunken 20 year olds getting sick in the elevators, or the hairy legs contest might be more attractive. Babies in hot tubs are always good to stir the pot too!

 

I have been on only 3 cruises, one 10-day HAL, one 7-day Princess, and one very forgettable 4-day Royal Caribbean, so maybe that is not enough for an accurate picture of the age demographics of certain cruise lines. But I never saw the picture that you have painted of elderly cruisers.

 

Someday when & if you hit the big 80, you might have to use a walker or cane, someday you will not move so fast, but you just might want to go on a nice cruise. Hope you can afford it and that the younger passenger are a bit more tolerant of you!

[Toto2Kansas]

Geez Toto & 1 Happycruiser, as an ancient 65 year old, I'll try not to run my kayak over yours in the rapids, or next time we are snorkeling & a shark takes a nip out of you, I'll just whack him over the head with my floatable walker! LOL

 

Maybe a Carnival spring break with all the accompanying drunken 20 year olds getting sick in the elevators, or the hairy legs contest might be more attractive. Babies in hot tubs are always good to stir the pot too!

 

I have been on only 3 cruises, one 10-day HAL, one 7-day Princess, and one very forgettable 4-day Royal Caribbean, so maybe that is not enough for an accurate picture of the age demographics of certain cruise lines. But I never saw the picture that you have painted of elderly cruisers.

 

Someday when & if you hit the big 80, you might have to use a walker or cane, someday you will not move so fast, but you just might want to go on a nice cruise. Hope you can afford it and that the younger passenger are a bit more tolerant of you!

 

I think you are totally missing what I was trying to say. In all my years of cruising, the most interesting passengers we have met have usually been in their 80's plus (and as I said, I am definitely no spring chicken myself). The most fascinating tablemate I have ever had at dinner was 90+. But this 14 day cruise on the Grand was something you would have had to see to believe I am afraid. In over 40 cruises, I have never run into anything quite like this one was. I attempted to put a bit of levity into my post and that was what it was supposed to be taken as. But I have never in my entire life seen anything like we witnessed on that January 2nd 14 day cruise. A mix of passengers is always fun, but when only about 10% are under 80 (and no where near what anyone would call active seniors)...........that is a bit more than even I can take. ;) Mainly, as we have found that those in their later years feel they should be treated special (and I agree), but when the entire ship has mostly those that feel they should be treated differently.............it gets a bit annoying. IMHO!

[icyfrost]

Wow...you just described the "perfect" cruise for us! I'm 48 and hubby is 62...we've been cruising since we got married nearly 19 years ago...this month with be our 13th cruise (lots of land vacations in there on off cruise years).

 

But the only thing that can put a damper on our cruise are unsupervised, unruly kids...not seniors that are catching a few winks around the pool! And I don't mean to sound anti-social....but the people on the ship don't even make the slighest difference, either way, to our over all cruise experience (except the unruly unsupervised kids). We are kind of loaners, truth be told, and really just spend a lot of time together. We seldom pair up with anyone...maybe once or twice in all of our cruises. It's not that there aren't really awesome people, but we are just the kind of couple that spend time together.

 

It's not right or wrong...it's just how people travel. I work with a lot of women that say they would never even know how to vacation with just their spouse alone! I couldn't imagine the other way around. More power to those folks that go in groups....it is just not for us so we don't really care if the ages of the folks are 25 or 90....it just has absolutely nothing to do with the enjoyment of our vacation.

 

:)

you do not find unruly kids on princess but do find many retired seniors who think that everybody should move for them!Their scooters and lack of respect put a damper on our cruises. Average age on a 14 day Caribbean in winter months is 60's not my cup of tea. Never again and we are in that age range.

[geoherb]

The oldest average age for passengers we've ever seen was on a 7-night cruise to New England and Canada. It made it great for those of us who did not mind staying up late. There was never a wait for the anytime dining room after 8:30. We also had our pick of seats in the theater after dinner. The pools were never crowded.

[bonagrad]

I think you are totally missing what I was trying to say. In all my years of cruising, the most interesting passengers we have met have usually been in their 80's plus (and as I said, I am definitely no spring chicken myself). The most fascinating tablemate I have ever had at dinner was 90+. But this 14 day cruise on the Grand was something you would have had to see to believe I am afraid. In over 40 cruises, I have never run into anything quite like this one was. I attempted to put a bit of levity into my post and that was what it was supposed to be taken as. But I have never in my entire life seen anything like we witnessed on that January 2nd 14 day cruise. A mix of passengers is always fun, but when only about 10% are under 80 (and no where near what anyone would call active seniors)...........that is a bit more than even I can take. ;) Mainly, as we have found that those in their later years feel they should be treated special (and I agree), but when the entire ship has mostly those that feel they should be treated differently.............it gets a bit annoying. IMHO!

 

 

I totally understand where you are coming from. We lived this on our 9 night S. Caribbean on the Dawn this past February. The entertainment staff said that the average age onboard that week was 64 (it was actually 67 two weeks prior). The staff was bored stiff after 8:30. Now, my DW and I are in out mid 30's, but we enjoy and older mix. We enjoy talking with people that have cruised a lot and learn a lot of tips and tricks. This group though was just cranky and we knew if while we waited to board. There was a lot of yelling. It was a really odd way to start a cruise. It was as if they were just looking for something to, so they decided to hop on a cruise for 9 days.

[AmberTeka]

We only sailed one cruise that was a little bad. We have been on HAL, NCL, Celebrity, Carnival. AND Would gladly cruise all of them again BUT NEVER Carnival when school is out in most parts of the USA. NEVER CARNIVAL for a Holiday Sailing. NEVER AGAIN. Thong bathing suits in the Lido Buffet, I mean nothing like looking at naked buttocks while standing line for salad veggies. Then other groups of kids ..doing stuff like.getting on the elevator and acting like fools who had never been anywhere in their lives. Gangs gathering on stairways..and being rude to people who passed. Parents who dumped their little darlings and never checked on them. We have been on 8 cruises with Carnival..all SUPER..except that ONE cruise..and it was unruly, rude kids..`12-17 or so..who ran wild and acted like the spoiled brats they were. OLD FOLKS..NEVER bother me..even when I was NOT one. Never rude..quiet...early to bed ..sometimes on HAL..it is like My DH and I are the only people on the ship. LOVE it!!! NEVER crowded. If I ever had to stand in a long line on HAL..I did not know it. And HAL has more old people than any cruise. Celebrity..has the old people...who can out run. out think, out drink, out party....much younger people. Personal experience. Wow! I guess I vented!! Give me the old Timer's every time!!!First time on Princess in Nov. Whoopee!!!!:p

[Colo Cruiser]

Toto, there's no harm in having multiple chins (it can happen to the best of us as we age), but you really should stop walking on your knees if you don't want those chins bumped by mobility aids. :D

 

(Note to the humor-impaired: I ignore most typos, but the mental image presented by this one was just too funny to pass up, as I'm pretty sure the ever-gracious Toto and her poor damaged shins will agree.)

 

Caro

 

And here I thought she was just comfortable revealing a secret to her buds on CC. :eek:

[Woobstr112G]

I agree, the lack of kids was wonderful. But you have to look at the entire picture here. I think I still have scars on my chins from being run into by scooters, walkers and wheelchairs. The one difference we have found when sailing on a ship full of seniors (and I am talking about very very senior ;)) is that they all expect you to move out of their way as they are coming through, get out of the elevator to make room for them as they are hungry, their blood sugar was low and they needed food right now, or it was their nap time and they were wanting to get back to their stateroom quickly. There were times I probably would have welcomed some kids onboard, even unsupervised ones. lol

 

Shows-You needed to be there at least 45 minutes prior as the seats in the theater were gone about that time. Yes, they were napping in the seats until the show started. No joke.

 

Getting off in port took forever, I think you can figure out why there.

 

Forget the buffet, you couldn't walk through the line (it's where I got a lot of those scars from being run into).

 

BUT, one great thing. The casino was never crowded. lol

 

Have we been on the same ship before......:):):)

 

Bob

[spyro1952]

Like the OP's said, you didn't mention your age so it's hard to gauge when and what cruise or ship you would be most comfortable on. I have been cruising since I was 19, about 40 years. My first cruise with my parents was on the old Homeric. Amongst the middle aged and older, I found a friend the same age as myself.

 

Now my Mom is in her 80's and we cruise together at least twice a year. It took me about 3 or 4 years to convince her to cruise on the Caribbean Princess and now she loves the big ships as well as the Sun class. Myself, I prefer the bigger ships.

 

We have cruised many times over Christmas and New Year's because I teach and couldn't go during the rest of the year. Now I teach on line so I've decided to miss the crowds during the holidays and try some less expensive, less kids, cruises during the year and just work from the ship. It doesn't really matter to me who else is on the ship, as long as I'm on it and my Mom is still healthy enough to enjoy it. :):)

[Alberta_Cruisers]

Other than Disney, I've only done cruises in Europe - with both Carnival and Princess. These were all in the summertime. I really enjoyed all the cruises and didn't really notice much difference between Carnival and Princess and fit in with the other passengers. Unfortunately, there are unruly, rude people everywhere regardless of age or cruise line.

 

I did notice that the Princess balcony cabin was smaller than the Carnival balcony cabin. I've booked Princess again and booked a mini-suite this time.

 

Definitely give Princess a shot - you'll have a great cruise!!

[1 HappyCruiser]

ROFL OMG, I did spell that incorrectly didn't I? Totally laughing at myself here, sorry bout that one.

 

I though for a moment you fell on the way to the buffet & they were running over you in the stampede for the food. :D

I think you are totally missing what I was trying to say. In all my years of cruising, the most interesting passengers we have met have usually been in their 80's plus (and as I said, I am definitely no spring chicken myself). The most fascinating tablemate I have ever had at dinner was 90+. But this 14 day cruise on the Grand was something you would have had to see to believe I am afraid. In over 40 cruises, I have never run into anything quite like this one was. I attempted to put a bit of levity into my post and that was what it was supposed to be taken as. But I have never in my entire life seen anything like we witnessed on that January 2nd 14 day cruise. A mix of passengers is always fun, but when only about 10% are under 80 (and no where near what anyone would call active seniors)...........that is a bit more than even I can take. ;) Mainly, as we have found that those in their later years feel they should be treated special (and I agree), but when the entire ship has mostly those that feel they should be treated differently.............it gets a bit annoying. IMHO!

 

You said it best.

Could the reason they play the music so loud in the show lounge is to keep the older folks awake during the show. :eek:

[cdamion]

Other than Disney, I've only done cruises in Europe - with both Carnival and Princess. These were all in the summertime. I really enjoyed all the cruises and didn't really notice much difference between Carnival and Princess and fit in with the other passengers. Unfortunately, there are unruly, rude people everywhere regardless of age or cruise line.

 

I did notice that the Princess balcony cabin was smaller than the Carnival balcony cabin. I've booked Princess again and booked a mini-suite this time.

 

Definitely give Princess a shot - you'll have a great cruise!!

 

While I have not yet sailed Princess, there are 3 things that I am liking better on other lines: 1) Carnival seems to have more unruly (but not rude) passengers, 2) I have a hard time finding a quiet spot on Carnival, and 3) I really like observation lounges (crow's nest on HAL/sky, etc. on Celebrity/Viking Crown on RCI/skywalkers) I have yet to see a Carnival ship with one.

[cbb1]

We're in our early 40's and have cruised once before, we're going on the Grand in Jan from FLL and are looking forward to it, it;s what you make it that counts, only worries we have is the outrageous charges for drinks at the bar.

[wizard-of-roz]

Cruising is a whole different vacation than land vacations.

You're with the same folks the entire time [it could be 3, 4 days or one or 4 weeks. There may be thousands of you but the "faces" don't change. This can be a very good thing because you learn so much about the "herd" mentality.

You get to know habits/deomgraphics and demands. You'll get to know [usually the first few days]; what is the most popular venue onboard; which requires you to arrive early; which fills-up fastest and on and on; when to get to it and most importantly how to hang on to it!!!! :rolleyes:

We found-out on a HAL cruise that you have to be very careful of walkers and wheelchairs, they can be brutal on the toes/hips and legs.

We also learned that a certain age demographic wants/needs to be the very first in line EVERYWHERE!!!!!! This is true on EVERY cruiseline out there!

I get it! You will too! Once you've learned the "cruising mentality" you're good to go!!!! :cool: ;)

[mermaid72]

Toto-

I used to work in a retirement village, and I guess that I am more tolerant of the elderly than other people. Most of them are just trying to get along as best they can with the disabilities that sometimes come with age. The ones that were rude & cranky were no doubt rude & cranky when they were young, at least that is what their sons & daughters would tell me!

My idea of a horrible cruise is like the Carnival cruise "Amber Teka" mentions above! I think I would have jumped overboard!

[Wormy53]

FYI - If you are talking about the Jan 3, 2011 cruise - I know that happens to be a "divers" cruise -so may be a younger group there. On Jan 17 - we're going and we are 56 & 57. Don't know the ages of the others on the roll call, but you might check it out and get an idea.

[AlFrank]

I have cruised 11 times with Costa and Carnival, which we loved. What is the average age of Princess cruises guests?. We are thinking about the 14 day cruise in Jan. We love Costa w/ the wine package. Not sure we will fit? Any thoughts?

There are pros and cons to every ship line. I have been on 12 with my 13th coming up next week and have found Princess to be high on the list only to be beat out by Regent. Some ships do have out of control younger adults(?) but haven't run into this on Princess. One ship stationed someone at the door to the lido to turn them away. Seems there is no control from the chaperons, they were even buying them the drinks! They took over the dance floor forcing others to leave.

 

I think people naturally gravitate to others that are the same age or way of thinking. As far as the wine package goes, Princess allows you to bring on wine, beer, water and soda, they don't have a wine package. Many people bring their own glass of wine to the dining room.