Is this the cruise line we want?

[hogwildcruzers]

We are a very active couple in our lower 60's and have never cruised RCCL, we have plans to cruise RCCL for our next cruise.....we have cruised Carnival the most ( never again ), X and HAL we love but not enough to really want to cruise them again,the fun things are very lacking, Princess may be our favorite but they just don't have the energy out on deck that we like and we haven't been on NCL in a long time.....we are hoping that RCCL will be our new and favorite cruise line!......could this be it?

[Clarea]

Only you can answer that question. Give a try and see for yourself.

[EmpressofPurple]

Read some of my reviews in my signature below. I am an active 50-something, sounds like you may enjoy some of the same activities I do onboard. Try reading a range of reviews, everyone enjoys different things, and you'll get a well-rounded picture of what RCI offers.

 

I love Princess, too, but as I recall (I haven't been in many years!) the staff and guests are more polite, while on RCI they are more friendly. That gives the RCI cruise a more upbeat, energetic vibe compared to the more restrained atmosphere on Princess... although again, I haven't been on a Princess cruise in many years.

 

There's a lot of live music in different venues, and many social activities -- line dances, karaoke, pool games, sports court, trivia, bingo, game shows, food demonstrations, fitness classes, pub music, piano bar, poolside band, dj/dance club, mainstage shows, etc., etc. I think their onboard programming is terrific!

[Cruisegirl6]

Hogwildcruisers I can totally relate to what you are saying here. I am 51 just got off my 53rd cruise this past sunday on the Allure, she was the BEST SHIP I EVER BEEN ON!!

I also love Princess, but for us also, it gets "too quiet" past 10:30pm for us. HAL is not on my list to go back after experiencing the last cruise out of FLL where nearly everybody was in wheelchairs and oxygen tanks, not that I mind but I felt I was in assisted living. I have cruised Carnival numerous of times mainly because we always took our children and it was economical and back in the day it was more for children, but things today have changed a lot.

 

I have been on a few NCL ships to always not care for them and not go back until a few years later figuring perhaps they got better. Last year we went back to NCL the new Breakaway out of NY to Bermuda and we can honestly say, it was our most hated ship with the most problems/negatives! We never will go back to NCL again, gave them enough years to get better but it keeps getting worse each time we went back. We do usually cruise with family all adults, father in law who is in his 70's and extremely active, brother/sister in law in 50's, daughter who is 22 and we are both 51 so with my saying we never go back to NCL is just not how I feel but all of us.

 

I have yet been on Celebrity and considering going but my sister in law felt the crowd is too old for her, heck, we are not spring chickens ourselves but I will try X one day soon.

 

If you tell me what is important to you on a cruise perhaps I can guide you with some suggestions....is entertainment very important, activities, what else do you enjoy doing on a cruise (pool, spa, nothing, casino)?

 

As for us, RC provides everything we want and like in a cruise, we don't care for shows but its available and the quality surely beats HAL and Carnival...we don't care for the pool but its there...so let me know what you really want in a cruise and I give you suggestions.

 

My best and favorite ship out of all is the Allure of the Seas, she goes to Europe next year, but we remain to have her sister ship the Oasis of the Seas.

 

I didn't notice when I first read your post where you live, do you drive or fly?

[Darkwolfe]

FWIW, I'm in my mid-40s and I don't get bored at all!

 

Have fun!

[beshears]

Welllllllll were older (71) than you, and we FOUND plenty to do. I'm an ACTIVE 71 year old, so I like plenty of things to choose from, and do. We just got off the FOTS, and there was more than enough to choose from. Of course we could not do it all, but even the parade that they have the last night, which you would think is JUST for children, we loved it just as much.:) We even like the towel animals they do, like Carnival. The only difference, they don't upgrade where Carnival and Princess do. I still like Carnival, not because it is called a party ship, but we have always like it.

 

I have cruised for 25 years, and have been on several cruise lines, Carnival, Princess, Holland, NCL. Unless things have changed, NCL is the last one that I would go on, as when we cruised, there was very little to choose from. I called it the LAZY ship. I see you said Carnival no more, why??? I can always find plenty to do on Carnival, Princess and Holland.

[OCruisers]

The only way you'll know for yourself is to give RCCL a try.

LuLu

[Jiffymom]

I have found caribbean cruises more fun. Alaska rather quiet and Panama was just boring.

7 days are younger active , 10 days a few more seniors and 15 day cruises mostly seniors. After all most young people can't get off work that long.

[hogwildcruzers]

Hogwildcruisers I can totally relate to what you are saying here. I am 51 just got off my 53rd cruise this past sunday on the Allure, she was the BEST SHIP I EVER BEEN ON!!

I also love Princess, but for us also, it gets "too quiet" past 10:30pm for us. HAL is not on my list to go back after experiencing the last cruise out of FLL where nearly everybody was in wheelchairs and oxygen tanks, not that I mind but I felt I was in assisted living. I have cruised Carnival numerous of times mainly because we always took our children and it was economical and back in the day it was more for children, but things today have changed a lot.

 

I have been on a few NCL ships to always not care for them and not go back until a few years later figuring perhaps they got better. Last year we went back to NCL the new Breakaway out of NY to Bermuda and we can honestly say, it was our most hated ship with the most problems/negatives! We never will go back to NCL again, gave them enough years to get better but it keeps getting worse each time we went back. We do usually cruise with family all adults, father in law who is in his 70's and extremely active, brother/sister in law in 50's, daughter who is 22 and we are both 51 so with my saying we never go back to NCL is just not how I feel but all of us.

 

I have yet been on Celebrity and considering going but my sister in law felt the crowd is too old for her, heck, we are not spring chickens ourselves but I will try X one day soon.

 

If you tell me what is important to you on a cruise perhaps I can guide you with some suggestions....is entertainment very important, activities, what else do you enjoy doing on a cruise (pool, spa, nothing, casino)?

 

As for us, RC provides everything we want and like in a cruise, we don't care for shows but its available and the quality surely beats HAL and Carnival...we don't care for the pool but its there...so let me know what you really want in a cruise and I give you suggestions.

 

My best and favorite ship out of all is the Allure of the Seas, she goes to Europe next year, but we remain to have her sister ship the Oasis of the Seas.

 

I didn't notice when I first read your post where you live, do you drive or fly?

 

The ship we are considering is the Independence of the Seas.....we love lots of live music, mini golf, shuffleboard, dancing,a really good gym,my wife loves climbing walls, great sunning places and lively passengers, also some really good healthy eating is nice to have......someone asked why not Carnival any longer, well, last cruise and a couple of before the last, the music was terrible, the smoking on the balconies was like watching a ship on fire there was so much and the smoke was traveling everywhere, and I understand now why Carnival is called the Walmart of cruise ships, I can't believe any ship would let passengers dress the way they do, it was disgusting, I can't understand why people don't take more pride in the way they look......I am very sorry if I have stepped on anybodies toes here or offended anyone, but this is just my opinion!.......and we will fly.

Edited May 20, 2014 by hogwildcruzers

[Cruisegirl6]

Hogwildcruisers I have to honestly say that the way people dress now is a lot more casual than years ago. I happen to like the casual dress, in fact, in the main dining room you will see a lot of people dressing casual but nice. I would even wear a pair of palazzo pants and top, or leggings/capri's and nice blouse, I am sorry if its not to your liking but in these days things are different. I also found if you don't go on the Allure/Oasis the other RC ships during formal evening you find people wearing just about anything even down to capris and a top for ladies and polo shirt and dockers for men. With the airlines now having restrictions on weight of the luggage no wonder how this probably got started. My other half, my father in law, my daughter and myself want to be comfortable, if we want to get dressed up we just choose a more elaborate cruise line to cruise on such as Regent Cruises, Seaborne, Sea Goddess, Crystal and Oceania to name a few.

 

I have never had a problem with smelling smoke on any of my balconies, perhaps I was lucky, but RC took away all smoking on the balconies which also includes the vapor electronic cigarettes, so this should be good for you. Carnivals casino's surely do smell more like smoke.

 

Music on any ship and any cruise line is subjective, for me, I am very fussy, as my other half's hobby is playing in a band a bunch of retired military people who play for fundraisers, charities and the navy basis around here, so I am more picky on the notes people sing and the way they play the instruments, I can tell when they make mistakes but this goes for any cruise line and any ship. Carnival has gone most downhill in its bands and acoustic guitarists, many of them we found to be awful also, so I do agree with you about Carnival music is not good.

 

As for RC I find the clientele to be more upscale next to Carnival and NCL. People do dress much better. Service overall on a RC ship is excellent, where Carnival is a hit or miss and Princess is very good to excellent. The good thing is we have options, surely RC costs a bit more than lets say next to Carnival but like the old saying goes you get what you pay for.

 

The Independence of the Seas is a ship I also would consider cruising on. I like the larger ships, more newer and updated ones, she had renovations in April/May 2013 so she is pretty much good in my book and would be on my list.

 

Food is definitely so much better in quality/selection/variety on RC compared to Carnival so I believe you are choosing the right cruise line and the right ship.

Edited May 20, 2014 by lyndamr

[Jiffymom]

go for it and hurry book while the BOGO sale is going on.

[hogwildcruzers]

What you say you wear sounds just fine, what upsets me is the fact that people will blatantly disrespect any rules of the dining room,and the dining room staff says nothing... I don't like seeing someones big fat feet in flip flops, or a ball cap sitting sideways on their head or camo t-shirts with the the stars of duck dynasty screen printed on them and wearing jeans that look like you just got off a 2 week hunting trip in them, and all this was on formal night, other nights were even worst!......I 'm sorry but I respect myself and my wife who is holding onto my arm, a little bit more than that!

Edited May 21, 2014 by hogwildcruzers

[Cruisegirl6]

wow, that is bad. You won't find that on RC. ;)

[dacsmom]

I have been on Indys sister ship the Freedom and loved it. Definitely book during the BOGOHO sale and give Royal a try.

[Big_G]

I'm gonna' risk it and break out the popcorn. This could get interesting. :D