Help me choose a cruise...bit of a snob it seems!

[ma23peas]

We have completed only three cruises...all Disney and on incredible deals. Everyone wants to cruise again but I feel we have covered most of the areas/locations they have to offer and while we love the whole Disney feel, maybe a cruise with less kid centered themes might be appealing. All our kids are upper teens.

 

We love the lack of 'party' or no casino environment that Disney offers.

 

We love historical/scenic ports.

 

Not fans of Alaskan cruising.

 

Covered Mediterranean, Mexican Riviera, and Eastern Caribbean..

 

The kids love the teen sponsored events...looking for something for them...

 

Would love to do a Baltic or British Isles cruise...any recommendations?

[sail7seas]

How can one ever have 'covered the Med'? :D My goodness, you can spend months visiting the Med and still not do it all but your question was the Baltics.

 

I suggest you look at HAL. They have some great Baltic cruises. They also have teen clubs up to a certain age. I do not have teenagers so am not specifically sure at what age the teen club stops.

 

You may wish to visit the Holland America Forum. Here is a link:

http://boards.cruisecritic.com/forumdisplay.php?s=&daysprune=&f=171

 

There are lots of posters there who will be happy to help. :)

Edited December 29, 2013 by sail7seas

[RSLeesburg]

We have completed only three cruises...all Disney and on incredible deals. Everyone wants to cruise again but I feel we have covered most of the areas/locations they have to offer and while we love the whole Disney feel, maybe a cruise with less kid centered themes might be appealing. All our kids are upper teens.

 

We love the lack of 'party' or no casino environment that Disney offers.

 

We love historical/scenic ports.

 

Not fans of Alaskan cruising.

 

Covered Mediterranean, Mexican Riviera, and Eastern Caribbean..

 

The kids love the teen sponsored events...looking for something for them...

 

Would love to do a Baltic or British Isles cruise...any recommendations?

 

Princess has a nice 12 day British Isles cruise that looks amazing...

[wdw1972]

I second the HAL recommendation. I've done 11 Disney cruises, but more HAL cruises. My son's first cruise (around age 10) was on HAL, and he grew up from that point mostly cruising HAL. During his one DCL cruise (age 13) he asked if all his future cruises could be on HAL....turns out the bazillion kids were a big turn-off. DCL was too much like daycare, while on HAL the smaller # of kids/teens meant they had a say in what activities they did, they got to know each other, etc.

 

He's now 27 and last year booked a Carnival cruise with some friends. I expected him to love it - he's the right demographic. He came back saying the food & passengers were both low-class....pitiful compared to what he was used to on HAL. He did a HAL cruise with me shortly after that Carnival experience & later booked another HAL cruise for him & his girlfriend....where he proposed to her onboard (earlier this month).

 

The only concern - on the longer itineraries there my be very few teens on board. We did one when my son was 16, which was 10 days in April or March and there were a total of less than 20 teens on the entire ship. He really didn't meet any teens that cruise, but he was at the age where sleeping late was the norm so he didn't mind. He slept most of the morning, played basketball or whatever with whoever was around in the afternoon, then we did dinner/show in the evening. Shorter cruises (7 night) would have more teens, and you'd probably never see them unless you forced them to join you for dinner ;-)

 

Sue/WDW1972

Nieuw Amsterdam 1/5/14

DCL Dream 11/7/14

[Scrapnana]

I took a wonderful Baltic cruise on Celebrity but not sure what they have for teens. Royal Caribbean would likely have the most activities teens would enjoy.

[cb at sea]

You don't HAVE to go to the casino...and all but Disney will have casinos! Unless....you do the NCL ship Pride around Hawaii....I don't believe they have a casino on that particular ship.

[OCruisers]

My daughter's family (w/ 2 teens) absolutely love Celebrity.

In no way is Celebrity a party cruise line ... yet, provides activities for the teens.

 

LuLu

~~~~

[calliopecruiser]

All our kids are upper teens.

 

We love the lack of 'party' or no casino environment that Disney offers.

 

We love historical/scenic ports.

 

Not fans of Alaskan cruising.

 

Covered Mediterranean, Mexican Riviera, and Eastern Caribbean..

 

 

No teen sponsored events - actually they say they are not teen-focused and they're specifically not recommended for anyone under 12 - but I've long had my eye on Voyages to Antiquity cruises. Wonderful itineraries on small ships with excursions and lectures focused on history and architecture.

[fishywood]

British Isles and Baltic cruises are very port-intensive--a 12 or 14 day sailing will have two, or at most three, sea days. That would limit the number of organized teen activities. That said, I will go out on a limb and recommend Cunard--of course with the provision that you do not mind dressing up in full formal gear two nights a week. Definitely less kid centered and not a party cruise unless you put ballroom dancing in that category. And if you go during British and European school holidays (a shorter and later window than US Summer break) there will definitely be other teens on board.

 

...and no, I did not think of Cunard just because the OP is a "bit of a snob" ;)

[Lerin]

Covered Mediterranean, Mexican Riviera, and Eastern Caribbean..

 

You've been on only 3 Disney cruises and covered all these areas!?!?!

Wouldn't call that snobbish, a bit naive perhaps.

We've done 14 days in the Med, 18 in the Carib, and 9 in Mexico and have barely touched the surface.

 

Perhaps cruising is not for you and a land vacation will be more your cup of tea?

[hansolosmom]

We love DCL - a few years ago they offered a Baltic cruise & it was wonderful! If they ever offer it again, I'd do it in a heartbeat.

 

We did Princess which had good service and a good teen rooms. Not very "party" we did the Canada/New England trip we really enjoyed that one.

 

We did Celebrity the summer to the Med. The service was on par with Disney. however the kids didn't care for it at all, the teen club didn't really have a variety of activities. My 15yo normally loves to go & was hardly there at all. There also isn't much else for them to do on their ships. A group of the teens made the HideAway their 'hangout' for the week which was annoying to most passengers.

 

You could try one of the smaller RC ships. We've done Grandeur, Explorer and Freedom. Currently Explorer is doing the Bermuda run. That's a nice trip. Bermuda is really fascinating.

[JustCruiseMe]

I second the HAL recommendation. I've done 11 Disney cruises, but more HAL cruises. My son's first cruise (around age 10) was on HAL, and he grew up from that point mostly cruising HAL. During his one DCL cruise (age 13) he asked if all his future cruises could be on HAL....turns out the bazillion kids were a big turn-off. DCL was too much like daycare, while on HAL the smaller # of kids/teens meant they had a say in what activities they did, they got to know each other, etc.

 

He's now 27 and last year booked a Carnival cruise with some friends. I expected him to love it - he's the right demographic. He came back saying the food & passengers were both low-class....pitiful compared to what he was used to on HAL. He did a HAL cruise with me shortly after that Carnival experience & later booked another HAL cruise for him & his girlfriend....where he proposed to her onboard (earlier this month).

 

The only concern - on the longer itineraries there my be very few teens on board. We did one when my son was 16, which was 10 days in April or March and there were a total of less than 20 teens on the entire ship. He really didn't meet any teens that cruise, but he was at the age where sleeping late was the norm so he didn't mind. He slept most of the morning, played basketball or whatever with whoever was around in the afternoon, then we did dinner/show in the evening. Shorter cruises (7 night) would have more teens, and you'd probably never see them unless you forced them to join you for dinner ;-)

 

Sue/WDW1972

Nieuw Amsterdam 1/5/14

DCL Dream 11/7/14

Tell him I'm so sorry to be such low class. I guess master's degrees don't count for anything and being nice and respectful of fellow human beings doesn't count either. More than a bit and the apple may not have fallen far from the tree.

 

Edited to add: When one is a snob EVERYONE is lower class! So I'm in good company!

Edited December 29, 2013 by JustCruiseMe

[nyjetsfans]

Princess British Isles in August. Must go see the Tattoo in Scotland.

[Blk_Amish]

I second the HAL recommendation. I've done 11 Disney cruises, but more HAL cruises. My son's first cruise (around age 10) was on HAL, and he grew up from that point mostly cruising HAL. During his one DCL cruise (age 13) he asked if all his future cruises could be on HAL....turns out the bazillion kids were a big turn-off. DCL was too much like daycare, while on HAL the smaller # of kids/teens meant they had a say in what activities they did, they got to know each other, etc.

 

He's now 27 and last year booked a Carnival cruise with some friends. I expected him to love it - he's the right demographic. He came back saying the food & passengers were both low-class....pitiful compared to what he was used to on HAL. He did a HAL cruise with me shortly after that Carnival experience & later booked another HAL cruise for him & his girlfriend....where he proposed to her onboard (earlier this month).

 

The only concern - on the longer itineraries there my be very few teens on board. We did one when my son was 16, which was 10 days in April or March and there were a total of less than 20 teens on the entire ship. He really didn't meet any teens that cruise, but he was at the age where sleeping late was the norm so he didn't mind. He slept most of the morning, played basketball or whatever with whoever was around in the afternoon, then we did dinner/show in the evening. Shorter cruises (7 night) would have more teens, and you'd probably never see them unless you forced them to join you for dinner ;-)

 

Sue/WDW1972

Nieuw Amsterdam 1/5/14

DCL Dream 11/7/14

 

If any of my kids ever used those words, I would remind him why I always opted for the best dental plan available. First night on my most recent Carnival cruise my son (17 at the time) said, mom, I prefer Princess. I smiled and said, son I am glad you are privileged enough to have tried them both. He seems to prefer the higher end places we booked but he knows, until he pays, he doesn't say. What ever he says better ends with thank you. I can't believe you repeated those words from the son you raised. It would be the ones I would never share and take to the grave, maybe just me:D

Edited December 30, 2013 by Blk_Amish

[5326jan]

There are so many places to go that have historical significance. We really enjoyed the Black Sea cruise and were able to see how differently the countries emerged from Communist rule. Istanbul was fascinating. The Greek Isles is another area that could take a few cruises to really explore. The Meteora Monasteries from the port of Volos were amazing.

 

We enjoy Princess. The port lecturers have been wonderful! Scholarship at Sea also offers educational opportunities if you choose to participate. There is also MUTS, which would be fun for the kids.