What other cruise line to try?

[voyager89]

Hello,

 

My partner and I are pretty new to cruising, discovered this whole thing in January, did the Oasis in April, got hooked up, and we are doing the Jewel in January. Now we are moving on from the Caribbean and want to do one to see the Greek Islands next October. We specially want to go to Santorini and Mykonos.

There is an 9 nighter that goes to those 2 next October, on board the Serenade. The thing is that my partner really wants to try other cruise line :eek: while I have no problem sticking to Royal.

We were looking at NCL, and they have a 7 nights itinerary which also visits these 2 islands. Plus, embarkation would be exactly on his birthday, October 18, so they got him right there. It is the Norwegian Jade, which looks pretty, kind of makes me think it is like the Jewel of the Seas from NCL for some reason.

 

Then my TA suggested Celebrity, a 12 nights itinerary so the price goes way higher, but it would be compensated with airfare since it departs from Barcelona, and flights from Mexico City to Spain are not thaaaaat expensive. About 1000 dollars pp, while flights to Venice or Rome go about 1300. This would be on the Celebrity Equinox, which I believe is one of the newest on their fleet.

 

What would you do? I dont think we will take the Serenade. Not only my partner wants to try another cruise line, but he didnt really like the idea of doing another ship which is basically the same as Jewel. What other cruise lines do you guys enjoy or would think I will have a good time after being with Royal?

 

Thanks!

[cathykb]

Since you are new to cruising, this is the perfect time to try other cruiselines. As the NCL Jade fits what you want and when you want to go, give it a try. You may find things you like and dislike about NCL, but you won't know until you try it. Every cruise experience is different in some way.

 

Cathy

[Silvery Seas Cruiser]

We regularly alternate between Celebrity and Royal Caribbean and are very satisfied with both cruise lines. You don't say which Celebrity ship you might be sailing. We are very fond of the elegant Solstice-class ships.

[jt1120]

Our two favorite lines are Celebrity and RC. We did the Celebrity Equinox last fall for the same itinerary that you are looking at. It was an awesome cruise. You simply can't go wrong with Celebrity.

[dln929]

I would try Celebrity first. They're owned by Royal Caribbean. If you fall for Celebrity and take a few more cruises with them, you'll eventually get loyalty points that will give you reciprocal benefits on Royal. The benefits start at Platinum with Crown & Anchor and Select in Captain's Club.

[OKC Cruisers]

You should definitely try other cruise lines and find the ones that fit your style and offer the amenities important to YOU and your partner. Each of the lines has their pros and cons. Personally, we prefer Royal and Celebrity as they fit our lifestyle best, but we also have fun on Carnival. Have never tried NCL...yet. But if I find the right itinerary at the right price, I would try them or Princess or Azmara or any of them! Just ENJOY!! :D

 

Pete

[Big_G]

We sailed Equinox a couple of years ago on a 10 day Caribbean and its a great ship. For the time being we seem to have settled into a Royal-Celebrity routine. If you enjoyed Jewel, you should love Celebrity's 'S' Class ships. I agree that now is the time to try other lines to get a feel for what you like. Don't entrap yourself in a loyalty program until you find your cruise line niche.

[slyster]

My partner and I tried Carnival and then tried Royal Caribbean and loved it. We haven't moved since. It seems to fit our style of cruising. I might be tempted to try NCL once though.

 

Your partner sounds like my brothers partner. He prioritizes what he likes and wants the experience of new things to try out. My brother loves the style and ships of Royal Caribbean, but his partner cares more about the ports than anything else. I think with time and experiencing different cruiselines, you will find one you want to stick with especially when you realize there are perks to staying with a particular cruiseline.

 

My brother wants to stay with RC because he's already a diamond member.

 

I have done Carnival and it's okay. I would try NCL, but I'm not sure I would try Celebrity. I guess it's a matter of preference. Any cruise is usually a good cruise though :-)

[BobbyD]

In 2011 our family cruised the Med on the Carnival Magic and had a wonderful time. In a perfect world, we prefer Royal but have had a few cruises on Carnival and all were very good. We can't wait to get back to the Med!

[Aquahound]

Like most of the responses so far, I also recommend Celebrity. The Equinox is a beautiful ship. I sailed her sister ship, Solstice, twice. I love that ship class, and would even go as far as to say, her beauty blows RCI's Radiance Class (Jewel) away. You will not regret going with that option.

 

I don't recommend the NCL option. I was recently on a ship of similar design and layout and no, it was not like the Jewel of the Seas. In fact, my recent NCL experience was unlike any of my RCI experiences and they are no longer in my consideration for future cruises.

 

Take a look at Princess, or maybe even Holland America. HAL is much more subdued in the activites area, but they do provide a really nice cruise.

[emdia43]

Have a look at Princess cruises - they do a great job. Beautiful ships, lots of entertainment and a lively vibe onboard from CD staff. Prices are comparable to RCCL :)

[LMaxwell]

I'd strongly consider Celebrity. Of the mainstream brands it will have the most contemporary elegance factor. Also on a 12 day you will have some time to relax. 7 days on a Euro cruise is a lot of running around and returning to a ship dead tired to do anything. Celebrity has some promotional roundtrip air fare deals for 2014 Europe going on now. Whatever level you attain with Royal you will have some reciprocity with Celebrity too in regards to additional amenities and perks (though not THAT many that I'd base a decision on it entirely).

[cruzeluver]

We too love Celebrity and the S-class ships (of which Equinox is one) are stunning! X really knows how to treat their passengers.

[OCruisers]

Princess or Celebrity are my suggestions.

 

LuLu

~~~~

[voyager89]

Thank you all so much.

 

I think we will go with Celebrity. We also considered Princess, I really like their ships, but all the itineraries (at least in the catalog) I saw are really long and I didnt even want to go online to look at the prices. Also thought about HAL, but prices are outrageous. About 2999 per person, I could do Seabourn with that :/

[Bruin Steve]

Cruise lines all GENERALLY do more or less the same thing: They feed you, they entertain you, they get you from port to port...They provide a Casino, pools, Jacuzzis, spa and exercise room, bars and lounges, etc.

The differences can be subtle...but they are there...

Some do some things better than others...

Some provide less crowded ships, others more crowded...

And they do tend to differ on their target demographics...

I have cruised on seven different cruise lines, most multiple times...I tend to choose my cruises for the itineraries and the timing...but, when all things are equal, I do have my preferences...

My personal favorite--for the service, the food, the spaciousness and the value--is Celebrity...

I also love Oceania--great food and service, spacious ships, but a bit pricier...

My wife loves Royal Caribbean...and, when travelling with kids or teens, it cannot be beat (or, if I were 30 years younger and could still...or still wanted to...surf, ice skate, rockclimb, etc.)...

I would place Princess below those three...NCL near the bottom...and Carnival BELOW the bottom...

I've never been on HAL or Costa...and I was on only the forerunner to Disney...but I have close family who have cruised HAL and Costa, so I have a second hand opinion on those...

Here are the target demographics, whether the cruise lines will admit to them or not (and remember, not all passengers necessarily hit those target demographics):

Carnival aims at sort of the "lowest common denominator"...They advertise "Fun" and "Low Prices"...They attract the most budget conscious cruisers...people looking for a bargain. They tend to cut a lot of corners and jam a lot of people on to each ship to make that price point. They get a younger group, a lot of people with limited expendable income, a lot of kids...They have a lot of 3-night cruises which attract a "party crowd"...It is the perfect cruise line for some people, something to stay away from for others.

NCL advertises "Freestyle" cruising...They aim for first time cruisers, people who are afraid of having strict schedules or dress codes...they also tend to advertise low prices in an attempt to attract people away from other sorts of vacations by dangling the price in front of them.

Royal Caribbean aims at families and younger, more adventurous types. Their advertising stresses the adventure, the activities, the amenities...and their ships deliver. They tend to scare away those who want a quieter and more subdued experience...

Princess gets a slightly older, more subdued but still middle of the road sort of crowd...People who remember fondly the old Love Boat TV series...They give you sort of a standard, old fashioned cruise experience...

Celebrity is owned by Royal Caribbean and operated as the "step up"...Rather than the sports amenities, they invest their ships' space in relaxed bars and lounges...offering more of a refined, adult cruising experience...bigger ships with fewer passengers result in better service, fewer lines and crowds...The ships are spectacular, but a different sort of spectacular than the RCCL ships...

HAL also provides a more adult, refined experience...but with an older demographic and an even quieter atmosphere than Celebrity...

Disney is obvious as to what it is...they aim at the young families wishing the familiar upscale Disney experience--but at sea...

Costa is more of a foreign line--catering to Europeans, mostly Italians...and, of course, famous for their crazy, reckless Captains! A lot of the food and entertainment might not be to typical American/Canadian/British standards...(i.e., Entertainment not in English)

Oceania is a great cruise line, positioning itself somewhere in-between Celebrity/HAL and the "luxury" lines such as Seabourne, SilverSeas, Crystal, et al...a little bit of a premium price, but not overly restrictive...Smaller ships with fewer people, no kids or teens programs...attracts a slightly older and more refined demographic...people willing to pay more for a bit more in luxury and service...

Azamara was started by RCCL to sort of mimic Oceania...very similar...

You really should look at what it is YOU want in a cruise line...where you fit in, what is important to you. Are you willing to pay a little more for a better all-around experience? Or is price of paramount importance to you? Do you want nightlife and activity clear into the wee hours of the morning? Or can you deal with things dropping off after midnight? Or do you just go to dinner and back to the cabin?

I would venture to suggest that, for a European cruise, the ships late night activity and the onboard amenities are far less important than, say, for a Caribbean cruise. Most of the itineraries are port-intensive and there are long days touring in port most days. You want to return to the ship, have a nice dinner, maybe a show, settle down in a relaxing bar for a drink, then back to the cabin for a good night's rest to prepare for the next busy day...why I find Celebrity perfect for European cruises...

[cruzin lady]

Glad you chose Celebrity. You are crown and anchor members, right? If not,

be sure to join.

 

Bon Voyage!

[voyager89]

Cruise lines all GENERALLY do more or less the same thing: They feed you, they entertain you, they get you from port to port...They provide a Casino, pools, Jacuzzis, spa and exercise room, bars and lounges, etc.

 

The differences can be subtle...but they are there...

 

Some do some things better than others...

Some provide less crowded ships, others more crowded...

 

And they do tend to differ on their target demographics...

 

I have cruised on seven different cruise lines, most multiple times...I tend to choose my cruises for the itineraries and the timing...but, when all things are equal, I do have my preferences...

 

My personal favorite--for the service, the food, the spaciousness and the value--is Celebrity...

 

I also love Oceania--great food and service, spacious ships, but a bit pricier...

 

My wife loves Royal Caribbean...and, when travelling with kids or teens, it cannot be beat (or, if I were 30 years younger and could still...or still wanted to...surf, ice skate, rockclimb, etc.)...

 

I would place Princess below those three...NCL near the bottom...and Carnival BELOW the bottom...

 

I've never been on HAL or Costa...and I was on only the forerunner to Disney...but I have close family who have cruised HAL and Costa, so I have a second hand opinion on those...

 

Here are the target demographics, whether the cruise lines will admit to them or not (and remember, not all passengers necessarily hit those target demographics):

 

Carnival aims at sort of the "lowest common denominator"...They advertise "Fun" and "Low Prices"...They attract the most budget conscious cruisers...people looking for a bargain. They tend to cut a lot of corners and jam a lot of people on to each ship to make that price point. They get a younger group, a lot of people with limited expendable income, a lot of kids...They have a lot of 3-night cruises which attract a "party crowd"...It is the perfect cruise line for some people, something to stay away from for others.

 

NCL advertises "Freestyle" cruising...They aim for first time cruisers, people who are afraid of having strict schedules or dress codes...they also tend to advertise low prices in an attempt to attract people away from other sorts of vacations by dangling the price in front of them.

 

Royal Caribbean aims at families and younger, more adventurous types. Their advertising stresses the adventure, the activities, the amenities...and their ships deliver. They tend to scare away those who want a quieter and more subdued experience...

 

Princess gets a slightly older, more subdued but still middle of the road sort of crowd...People who remember fondly the old Love Boat TV series...They give you sort of a standard, old fashioned cruise experience...

 

Celebrity is owned by Royal Caribbean and operated as the "step up"...Rather than the sports amenities, they invest their ships' space in relaxed bars and lounges...offering more of a refined, adult cruising experience...bigger ships with fewer passengers result in better service, fewer lines and crowds...The ships are spectacular, but a different sort of spectacular than the RCCL ships...

 

HAL also provides a more adult, refined experience...but with an older demographic and an even quieter atmosphere than Celebrity...

 

Disney is obvious as to what it is...they aim at the young families wishing the familiar upscale Disney experience--but at sea...

 

Costa is more of a foreign line--catering to Europeans, mostly Italians...and, of course, famous for their crazy, reckless Captains! A lot of the food and entertainment might not be to typical American/Canadian/British standards...(i.e., Entertainment not in English)

 

Oceania is a great cruise line, positioning itself somewhere in-between Celebrity/HAL and the "luxury" lines such as Seabourne, SilverSeas, Crystal, et al...a little bit of a premium price, but not overly restrictive...Smaller ships with fewer people, no kids or teens programs...attracts a slightly older and more refined demographic...people willing to pay more for a bit more in luxury and service...

 

Azamara was started by RCCL to sort of mimic Oceania...very similar...

 

You really should look at what it is YOU want in a cruise line...where you fit in, what is important to you. Are you willing to pay a little more for a better all-around experience? Or is price of paramount importance to you? Do you want nightlife and activity clear into the wee hours of the morning? Or can you deal with things dropping off after midnight? Or do you just go to dinner and back to the cabin?

 

I would venture to suggest that, for a European cruise, the ships late night activity and the onboard amenities are far less important than, say, for a Caribbean cruise. Most of the itineraries are port-intensive and there are long days touring in port most days. You want to return to the ship, have a nice dinner, maybe a show, settle down in a relaxing bar for a drink, then back to the cabin for a good night's rest to prepare for the next busy day...why I find Celebrity perfect for European cruises...

 

 

Thank you for the time you took to write this. It did change the idea I had for some line slike Costa and Princess. Its great to see you have had the chance to try most cruise lines.

 

I am not really picky, or looking for anything in particular, however I am coming to think I care more of a luxurious feeling on a ship rather than kids or family amenities like a rock climbing wall, flowrider etc. I think the Oasis was the perfect ship for us to find out what we like. I am sure I will love the Jewel - not so many kids, more of a peaceful, intimate ship- and then thats what I think we will want to try to move into the next level which I think would be Celebrity / Princess / maybe HAL...

[voyager89]

Glad you chose Celebrity. You are crown and anchor members, right? If not,

be sure to join.

 

Bon Voyage!

 

Thanks! Yes, we are C&A, barely gold, will complete our second cruise in January. I really wish we had the C&A perks at Celebrity :D

[anandaindonesia]

You have made a good choice by selecting Celebrity. Their S-class ships are beautiful, a perfect combination with the beauty of the Mediterranean.

 

Besides, if you have to fly in and out so far, a longer cruise is more fit in.

 

Enjoy!

[dln929]

Thanks! Yes, we are C&A, barely gold, will complete our second cruise in January. I really wish we had the C&A perks at Celebrity :D

 

Once you get to Platinumin C&A, you'll be given Select status on Celebrity, so keep on cruising and build up your points!

[xxHadleyxx]

Thank you for the time you took to write this. It did change the idea I had for some line slike Costa and Princess. Its great to see you have had the chance to try most cruise lines.

 

I am not really picky, or looking for anything in particular, however I am coming to think I care more of a luxurious feeling on a ship rather than kids or family amenities like a rock climbing wall, flowrider etc. I think the Oasis was the perfect ship for us to find out what we like. I am sure I will love the Jewel - not so many kids, more of a peaceful, intimate ship- and then thats what I think we will want to try to move into the next level which I think would be Celebrity / Princess / maybe HAL...

 

Reading this, I think Celebrity is a GREAT choice for you.

 

We really liked our Celebrity cruise. It is certainly more focused on luxury than Royal, and there are a LOT fewer kids (and being in the Med and being a longer itinerary will also both be factors that reduce the number of children).

 

Celebrity has the best food we have had on any line. Their ships are lovely, and they have more space per passengers than many lines (including Royal) so things feel less crowded.

 

The nigh clubs tend to be empty early, and the stage shows are not as good but the ice bar is a GREAT place to hang out in the evening :) and we really like the A Capella groups they have on the ships.

[Hotel CA]

we (wife and I) have cruised all the usual suspects (Carnival, Princess, RCL, Celebrity, NCL and HAL) but find the service, food and luxury on Seaborn's larger ships to be second to none. It also is much more expensive than the others (it is all inclusive) so I would do Seabourn if price no object or Celebrity if it is (by far the best of the 'usual suspects').

 

Probably can not go wrong either way!

[Georgiagolfer]

we (wife and I) have cruised all the usual suspects (Carnival, Princess, RCL, Celebrity, NCL and HAL) but find the service, food and luxury on Seaborn's larger ships to be second to none. It also is much more expensive than the others (it is all inclusive) so I would do Seabourn if price no object or Celebrity if it is (by far the best of the 'usual suspects').

 

Probably can not go wrong either way!

 

Welcome to Cruise Critic and to the Royal board. See this is your 2nd post. As you have cruised many lines, looking forward to some of your future comments.

[crusinthrough]

Celebrity's 123 Promotion is a good reason to select Celebrity especially if you enjoy adult cocktails. I have not seen another cruise line with a promotion as good.

 

I have not tried Celebrity yet. I almost did recently because of the promotion but RC pulled me back in.