shayelle Posted May 17, 2011 #1 Share Posted May 17, 2011 I have having a really hard time deciding which cruise to book. We have done 10 rccl cruises. We have been on the Majesty, Monarch, Enchantment, Voyager, Navigator, Serenade. So, we have been on some of the smaller ships. We are looking at a cruise out of Venice in July. First option is a 10 night Greek Isles on the Splendour. Great itinerary. Venice, Italy; Split, Croatia; Corfu, Greece; Chania (Souda), Crete, Greece; Piraeus (Athens), Greece; Santorini, Greece; Mykonos, Greece; Katakolon, Greece; Venice, Italy. But how's the ship? Is it really dated? No speciality dining right? Second is 8 night E. Med. on the Voyager. Itinerary is Venice, Italy; Dubrovnik, Croatia; Piraeus (Athens), Greece; Kusadasi (Ephesus), Turkey; Bari, Italy; Venice, Italy. How is this itinerary? We want to go sight seeing but we wouldn't mind a beach day or 2 as well. I feel better on the bigger ships (less motion). If the 10 night was on a more updated ship I would choose it for sure. It is quite a bit more money as well, although that wouldn't be the deciding factor. Any insight would be appreciated. Thanks! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Anubi Posted May 17, 2011 #2 Share Posted May 17, 2011 IMHO I'd go with itinerary. You're so tired with the port intensive cruise that the ship doesn't matter. :) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RaiderFaninNM Posted May 17, 2011 #3 Share Posted May 17, 2011 For our upcoming cruise, it was the ship.......................:D ;) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
FreshOffTheBoat Posted May 17, 2011 #4 Share Posted May 17, 2011 If your making the long flight over to europe I definiatly would go with itinerary. For me personally ports are very imporant. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cheshire cat Posted May 17, 2011 #5 Share Posted May 17, 2011 always itinerary for me. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PCWalton1 Posted May 17, 2011 #6 Share Posted May 17, 2011 If your making the long flight over to europe I definiatly would go with itinerary. For me personally ports are very imporant. I agree, the itinerary is the choice I would take. We had a JS on our western med cruise last year and hardly made use of the balcony since we were on the go so much. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
debshomespun Posted May 17, 2011 #7 Share Posted May 17, 2011 10 nights is better than 8! Especially when you fly all the way to Europe. Also, you could add on a couple extra days to get your "beach days". Our preferred cruiseline is RC, but we wanted to go to the South Pacific, and not have to fly there. We went on the Holland America 30 night cruise on one of their older smaller ships, Ryndam, just under 1,000 passengers. We had many sea days, along with many port days in Hawaii, and the South Pacific. What we found with the smaller ship was a more intimite cruise experience. When we take a very port intensive cruise, the ship is acting more like a floating hotel. You will find it as your base to sleep, and eat. The entertainment will be a bonus, especially if you are out touring all day long. Hope this helps you to decide. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MikeNJ1109 Posted May 17, 2011 #8 Share Posted May 17, 2011 If going to Europe, we'd pick for itinerary. If going to the Carribean, we'd pick the ship as we've been to most of the ports offered. Michael and Silke Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sailawayjack Posted May 17, 2011 #9 Share Posted May 17, 2011 I have having a really hard time deciding which cruise to book. We have done 10 rccl cruises. We have been on the Majesty, Monarch, Enchantment, Voyager, Navigator, Serenade. So, we have been on some of the smaller ships. We are looking at a cruise out of Venice in July. First option is a 10 night Greek Isles on the Splendour. Great itinerary. Venice, Italy; Split, Croatia; Corfu, Greece; Chania (Souda), Crete, Greece; Piraeus (Athens), Greece; Santorini, Greece; Mykonos, Greece; Katakolon, Greece; Venice, Italy. But how's the ship? Is it really dated? No speciality dining right? Second is 8 night E. Med. on the Voyager. Itinerary is Venice, Italy; Dubrovnik, Croatia; Piraeus (Athens), Greece; Kusadasi (Ephesus), Turkey; Bari, Italy; Venice, Italy. How is this itinerary? We want to go sight seeing but we wouldn't mind a beach day or 2 as well. I feel better on the bigger ships (less motion). If the 10 night was on a more updated ship I would choose it for sure. It is quite a bit more money as well, although that wouldn't be the deciding factor. Any insight would be appreciated. Thanks! :cool:I would go for the 8 night cruise. Newer ship, speciality restaurants, and DUBROVNIK. Went on 12-nt and hit Dubrovnik. Was not expecting anything, but was really impressed by this city. Go over 2 days early to visit Venice. Take island ferry cruise to Burono, or the lace island. Great place and locals make lace goods. Use money saved from cruise to put to venice visit:cool: Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
April-in-NC Posted May 17, 2011 #10 Share Posted May 17, 2011 For a port intensive itinerary it is ALL about the ports for me. As long as the ship isn't a rust bucket I'll be okay. :) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare 01Sweetpea Posted May 17, 2011 #11 Share Posted May 17, 2011 Since you're looking at Europe, I'd pick it based on ports. The way I look at it is...how many times will you get to go back to Europe and travel? If you think you'll go often, then possibly skip a port or two. If this is a once or twice in a lifetime trip, then I'd take every advantage to go to every single port. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ray in NH Posted May 17, 2011 #12 Share Posted May 17, 2011 We almost always (danged pesky exceptions) base our cruising decision on itinerary (what we can experience overall, not just number of days). Just about everyone has their own way of deciding what is best for them. I know that sometimes we might choose the less than optimal itin, but that is our fault. Continuing to keep trying to "get it right" is the fun part. Ray in NH Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bplazo Posted May 17, 2011 #13 Share Posted May 17, 2011 Always the ports. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bionicman97 Posted May 17, 2011 #14 Share Posted May 17, 2011 Another vote for Itinerary in Europe :) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
critterchick Posted May 17, 2011 #15 Share Posted May 17, 2011 I'd go for the itinerary, too. I might even wait until next year - Splendour is getting a whole new look: http://www.royalcaribbean.com/contentSiteletSub.do?pagename=sub_royal_advantage_SP&pagenameMain=royal_advantage_main&discriminators=0 Although she'll be doing shorter cruises, so you'd have to book a B2B... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Debde Posted May 17, 2011 #16 Share Posted May 17, 2011 As long as the ship isn't a rust bucket I'll be okay. :) This made me laugh out loud!!!!:D Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
taxgal Posted May 17, 2011 #17 Share Posted May 17, 2011 Rust bucket or not, for our dozen cruises it has always been the ports for me and my DH. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
joyride21 Posted May 18, 2011 #18 Share Posted May 18, 2011 Another vote for itinerary. I had actually "planned" on doing the 10 night in 2012 - imagine my disappointment when I discovered Royal isn't offering it next year. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare richstowe Posted May 18, 2011 #19 Share Posted May 18, 2011 Neither. Always the right date and the right ;)$$$s Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
stripe Posted May 18, 2011 #20 Share Posted May 18, 2011 My vote is for itinerary. As others have said, there is so much to see.....who spends time on the ship? Besides, I've never been on a "bad" RCCL ship!! They all have their good points. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Stags14 Posted May 18, 2011 #21 Share Posted May 18, 2011 For a European cruise, the ship is basically transportation imo. It's a comfortable way to see several different places - so you go for a heavy port load on whatever ship - at least I would. For the Caribbean - I we tend to pick a less hectic itinerary - 3 stops in a week is good for us - relaxing on the ship is where it's at in our opinion. But Europe.... you wanna soak in the culture, landscape and cuisine as much as possible when you're over there. Vote: Itinerary. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
suekay Posted May 18, 2011 #22 Share Posted May 18, 2011 No contest. Itinerary and 10 nights. we've been on Splendour multiple times and find it just as enjoyable as the Voyager class (PLUS if you get a windy seaday, the sundeck outside the spa on deck 9 is sheltered) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare orville99 Posted May 18, 2011 #23 Share Posted May 18, 2011 We start with the origination port - if we can drive to it rather than fly to it, it wins out. Then it's what ships sail out of that port that fits our vacation schedule. Once it's between ship and itinerary, since we rarely get off the ship anymore, the ship with the onboard amenities that best fits our comfort level wins.:) We only start with itinerary if we have to fly to get to the port. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jcl410 Posted May 18, 2011 #24 Share Posted May 18, 2011 I would have no problem going on the Splendor OTS. It doesn't have all the bells and whistles, but like the Enchantment, there is lots of glass to look out. In addition, the lower level of the dining room is on the same deck as the external promenade.... that means 2 stories of glass! (The Splendor and Legend are the only 2 Vision class ships that have that feature.) Aloha, John Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lexi731 Posted May 19, 2011 #25 Share Posted May 19, 2011 My vote is for the itinerary Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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