Best Line for Europe w/o needing a Second Mortgage

[Blk Cherry Mojito]

Hello All,

 

DH and I want to take an Eastern Med. cruise in spring of 2014 about 8-10 days, just not sure which line would be the best. We are in our early 30's and while we are not party animals we do drink. We cruise for the Ports, but don't want to be bored on sea days. We like comedy shows but don't really go to the Vegas style production shows. We like putt-putt and ping pong and corn hole. We like Carnival but were wondering about NCL, RCCL or HAL for Europe? Also we would prefer not to be the youngest people on the ship...

[paul929207]

The Med cruises tend to be port intensive. I would look decide which ports you are most interested in and try to find cruise(s) hitting them. Go from there

[Blk Cherry Mojito]

The Med cruises tend to be port intensive. I would look decide which ports you are most interested in and try to find cruise(s) hitting them. Go from there

 

Thanks, I know we want Italy, Greece and Turkey. I REALLY want Greece :)

RCCL told me they would release their 2014 Europe schedule in Jan. not sure about the rest of them.

[paul929207]

We just got off the Crown Princess last week after 3 twelve night cruises in the Eastern Med. We had a wonderful time.

[boulders]

The other lines should release their itineraries around January to April. We cruised the Med with HAL in July. The average age was about 55. However, there were plenty of families and youngish adults too. No mini golf or pool games though. HAL's itineraries tend to be more interesting than other cruise lines. As well, if you can swing more time off, they have collectors' cruises where they combine two back to back cruises - not the same itineraries though - for about 25-30% less than if you were to purchase both cruises separately.

[Blk Cherry Mojito]

We just got off the Crown Princess last week after 3 twelve night cruises in the Eastern Med. We had a wonderful time.

 

 

Holy Cow! Now that's a vacation!

 

This just made me have another thought. Does one line give you more time in ports than another or are they all about the same?

[Blk Cherry Mojito]

The other lines should release their itineraries around January to April. We cruised the Med with HAL in July. The average age was about 55. However, there were plenty of families and youngish adults too. No mini golf or pool games though. HAL's itineraries tend to be more interesting than other cruise lines. As well, if you can swing more time off, they have collectors' cruises where they combine two back to back cruises - not the same itineraries though - for about 25-30% less than if you were to purchase both cruises separately.

 

I was looking hard at HAL, since we cruised Carnival we can get a deal with them. Just worried bout the age span and stuff to do on the ship.

[jdvmd]

I was looking hard at HAL, since we cruised Carnival we can get a deal with them. Just worried bout the age span and stuff to do on the ship.

 

Definitely an older crowd. I am looking at doing the same kind of trip in the summer and have been on every major line numerous times. We have done the Med and Europe with Holland, Celebrity and Princess. I am seriously considering MSC and its new ship, the Divinia. Just watched a video on you tube and it is a beautiful ship. I have read some reviews that are not the best but I am willing to take a chance. Price is wonderful as well.

[cruisemom42]

I was looking hard at HAL, since we cruised Carnival we can get a deal with them. Just worried bout the age span and stuff to do on the ship.

 

I cruised the Eastern Med on HAL (Westerdam) a couple of years ago. As a 40-something, I found it pretty dead at night and "sedate" on sea days. However, if you're only looking to take an 8-10 day cruise, you won't have many sea days in all likelihood.

 

I am seriously considering MSC and its new ship, the Divinia. Just watched a video on you tube and it is a beautiful ship. I have read some reviews that are not the best but I am willing to take a chance. Price is wonderful as well.

 

Look at the itinerary carefully. MSC are one of the lines that tend to short you on time in port. You might find you have 6-7 hours in Athens, for example, instead of 10-12.

[Keith1010]

Based on what you have said, don't do HAL. And I would wait on doing a Princess Cruise. I think RCI would make sense.

 

Keith

[Blk Cherry Mojito]

I cruised the Eastern Med on HAL (Westerdam) a couple of years ago. As a 40-something, I found it pretty dead at night and "sedate" on sea days. However, if you're only looking to take an 8-10 day cruise, you won't have many sea days in all likelihood.

 

We don't really do a LOT of nightlife. I don't know if it is the gentle rocking of the ship but usually after late seating dinner I am in our room nodding off :D I have never been able to stay up past midnight on a cruise ship :rolleyes:

 

I will see what DH thinks. Thanks.

[6rugrats]

Hello All,

 

DH and I want to take an Eastern Med. cruise in spring of 2014 about 8-10 days, just not sure which line would be the best. We are in our early 30's and while we are not party animals we do drink. We cruise for the Ports, but don't want to be bored on sea days..

Choose a ship for the itinerary and time in port. It's so port intensive, you will probably be tired at night. When you talk about a second mortgage, be sure to price out airfare before booking. That's where the sticker shock seems to come in for most people.

[Blk Cherry Mojito]

Based on what you have said, don't do HAL. And I would wait on doing a Princess Cruise. I think RCI would make sense.

 

Keith

 

What about NCL?

[jdvmd]

I cruised the Eastern Med on HAL (Westerdam) a couple of years ago. As a 40-something, I found it pretty dead at night and "sedate" on sea days. However, if you're only looking to take an 8-10 day cruise, you won't have many sea days in all likelihood.

 

 

 

Look at the itinerary carefully. MSC are one of the lines that tend to short you on time in port. You might find you have 6-7 hours in Athens, for example, instead of 10-12.

 

What about NCL?

 

I do agree about some of the short durations in ports on MSC but for someone who has been to Athens and all of the Med ports several times, that really isn't a big consideration for us. We have done the 6 a.m. to 9 p.m. all day intensive excursions and are beyond that now.

 

OP, I am also considering NCL. A few years ago, you would not have ever gotten me on a NCL ship again. That changed after we were on the Sun doing a South American cruise. Now I seek them out. We have never had a problem with food and service.

[pris993]

We have done the eastern Mediterranean on a number of cruise lines: Princess, HAL, Celebrity, Cunard, Crystal... and are booked on NCL for this coming March.

 

Our best experiences were on Cunard, Princess, HAL in terms of service. Even so, would be happy to cruise on Celebrity and Crystal again.

 

Suggest you find the itinerary you wish... check prices and go with it.

 

These cruises are very port intensive... the sea days will give you time to rest.

[cruisemom42]

I do agree about some of the short durations in ports on MSC but for someone who has been to Athens and all of the Med ports several times, that really isn't a big consideration for us. We have done the 6 a.m. to 9 p.m. all day intensive excursions and are beyond that now.

 

 

Sounds like you've checked it out. I mentioned it because some folks have been unpleasantly surprised about the timing. I agree their ships look very nice indeed.

 

I've also been to Athens and most Med ports several times, but still like to spend as much time ashore as possible -- guess I am one that travels for the ports more than the ship. :o

[CruiserBruce]

Definitely an older crowd. I am looking at doing the same kind of trip in the summer and have been on every major line numerous times. We have done the Med and Europe with Holland, Celebrity and Princess. I am seriously considering MSC and its new ship, the Divinia. Just watched a video on you tube and it is a beautiful ship. I have read some reviews that are not the best but I am willing to take a chance. Price is wonderful as well.

 

Hmmm... how can you explain the 400 kids on our 20 day Noordam Med in August 2010? Best cruise (out of 15) we have ever been on.

 

OP, be weary of people who like to cast stereotypes. Long cruises on any line will trend older. Shorter cruises in popular locations - like winter Caribbean, will trend younger, on any cruise line.

 

As mentioned, Med cruises are port intensive. There are many cruise lines that will be excellent in the Med, Holland America included.

 

In the big picture, there isn't a significant difference in price between the mass market lines. The price, for those cruise lines, is what it is. Yes, you will, in some unique cases, find a cheaper cruise, or a more expensive one on the luxury lines. But generally, in the big picture, talking about a few dollars per day difference.

[jdvmd]

Hmmm... how can you explain the 400 kids on our 20 day Noordam Med in August 2010? Best cruise (out of 15) we have ever been on.

 

OP, be weary of people who like to cast stereotypes. Long cruises on any line will trend older. Shorter cruises in popular locations - like winter Caribbean, will trend younger, on any cruise line.

 

As mentioned, Med cruises are port intensive. There are many cruise lines that will be excellent in the Med, Holland America included.

 

In the big picture, there isn't a significant difference in price between the mass market lines. The price, for those cruise lines, is what it is. Yes, you will, in some unique cases, find a cheaper cruise, or a more expensive one on the luxury lines. But generally, in the big picture, talking about a few dollars per day difference.

 

I was referring to my experiences on Holland America including two this year in April and in May. Two different itineraries - Caribbean as well as New England and Canada. Two different ships.

We travel now with our 14-year-old son. Tried to look at it as relaxing but we were bored. For us, the appeal to Holland America was being able to bring on unlimited amounts of wine.

There were some other "young adults" but other than trivia and being the only ones to participate in onboard events, it was a bit lacking.

As someone else suggested, OP you should look at the itinerary that you like the best and what works for you the best.

[loubetti]

There's this cruise line called "Celebrity", not sure what they have when you want to go, but they have always pleased us!

[Alex71]

Definitely an older crowd. I am looking at doing the same kind of trip in the summer and have been on every major line numerous times. We have done the Med and Europe with Holland, Celebrity and Princess. I am seriously considering MSC and its new ship, the Divinia. Just watched a video on you tube and it is a beautiful ship. I have read some reviews that are not the best but I am willing to take a chance. Price is wonderful as well.

 

We cruised MSC twice this year and thought it was great. We already have a third one booked over New Year's. It had a good mix of age groups (average just above 40) and nationalities and the Italien vibe was a good fit to the Meds.

 

Things to consider: this is an Italian line with Italian food. There won't be too many American dishes on the menue and the ones they do have may not taste the same. They support five languages on board, so every single one will not be spoken that well. English speaking passengers will be the minority.

 

Other than that, we thought it was great an can ablsolutely recommend it. Here's a review I wrote last month: http://boards.cruisecritic.com/showthread.php?t=1721558

[flamomo]

Med cruises tend to be port intensive, and offer long days in ports, since ports are usually close together and transit time to the next port occurs overnight. Expect to be tired when you have port days 4-5 in a row, and a sea day becomes very welcome as a day to rest.

Under thise circumstances, nightlife on the ship becomes less important, and your quiet cabin and your bed are places you can't wait to get to after dinner!!!

[srlafleur]

We did Canary Islands and Morocco on NCL and it was great (and ridiculously low-priced). Did Western Med. on RCL - ditto. Haven't done Eastern Med. yet, but would consider either of those. (to be honest - any cruise line, really)

I don't think of nightlife or sea days when I think of European cruises - that's more a Caribbean thing, to me.

But then, I'm just happy to chillax with my hubby, spend a little time in the casino, read, and nap if the mood hits. Aside from the ports, where I like the longest, most exciting tours/excursions I can find, the shipboard activities or demographics of anyone else on the ship is of no importance to me.

[iuki]

I was looking hard at HAL, since we cruised Carnival we can get a deal with them. Just worried bout the age span and stuff to do on the ship.

 

HAL does definitely have more elderly than the younger group; but no matter which cruiseline you use, when going on extended cruises and cruises to Europe, most people are retired. Working couples usually can't take that much time off from work.

[boulders]

HAL does definitely have more elderly than the younger group; but no matter which cruiseline you use, when going on extended cruises and cruises to Europe, most people are retired. Working couples usually can't take that much time off from work.

 

We saw plenty of non-retirees on our 24 day cruise in July on HAL. People in countries other than the U.S. are able to take 2 weeks or more at a time.

[hubofhockey]

Thanks, I know we want Italy, Greece and Turkey. I REALLY want Greece :)

RCCL told me they would release their 2014 Europe schedule in Jan. not sure about the rest of them.

 

I don't think you will find Turkey and Greece on Carnival. They are doing Western Med and Baltics on two different ships. Since your goal is not breaking the bank, NCL has a Grand Med, similar but less costly than Princess' Grand Med, which includes Athens, a Greek Island, Kusadasi, and Istanbul. The itinerary is 12-days, which is a bit more than you are looking for. I am not a huge fan of RCCL's Med itineraries and really don't know much about NCL other than their outstanding Grand Med itinerary. We did the Princess version and may have paid $1500 more for it - not sure.