gusjakefred Posted October 4, 2014 #1 Share Posted October 4, 2014 Can anyone recommend a few choices for small ship cruising -- i.e. no more than 750 passengers? Took my very last big ship cruise on Princess. I do not care for 3,800 passengers. Way too impersonal for me. I would appreciate any ideas. Any line, any destination. Thank you kindly, gusjakefred Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
6rugrats Posted October 4, 2014 #2 Share Posted October 4, 2014 I like Windstar. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare Essiesmom Posted October 4, 2014 #3 Share Posted October 4, 2014 I hope you have a bit of money, because other than the two smaller ships of Princess (Ocean and Pacific), you will be on luxury lines: Silversea, Regent Seven Seas, Oceania, Seabourn, SeaDream, Azamara. EM Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Talisker92 Posted October 4, 2014 #4 Share Posted October 4, 2014 The R ships are a good size for that. When the Renaissance cruise line went under the ships were sold. Princess has 2, Oceania has 2, and Azmara has 2. They are very nice and have about 750 passengers. We have sailed on one with Oceania and one with Princess Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare LHT28 Posted October 4, 2014 #5 Share Posted October 4, 2014 The R ships are a good size for that. When the Renaissance cruise line went under the ships were sold. Princess has 2, Oceania has 2, and Azmara has 2.They are very nice and have about 750 passengers. We have sailed on one with Oceania and one with Princess Correction Oceania has 3 - 684 PAX Princess has 2 (so far) P & O has 1 Azamara have 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Grannycb Posted October 4, 2014 #6 Share Posted October 4, 2014 Pacific Princess is our favorite. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare LHT28 Posted October 4, 2014 #7 Share Posted October 4, 2014 Best is subjective My idea of best may not be the same as your idea That said ...we do like Oceania but they do not come cheap Lyn Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
navybankerteacher Posted October 4, 2014 #8 Share Posted October 4, 2014 Can anyone recommend a few choices for small ship cruising -- i.e. no more than 750 passengers? Took my very last big ship cruise on Princess. I do not care for 3,800 passengers. Way too impersonal for me. I would appreciate any ideas. Any line, any destination. Thank you kindly, gusjakefred You might want to consider HAL's Prinsendam - about 850 - There are very few mass market (non-premium fare) ships with fewer than 1500 passengers. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gusjakefred Posted October 4, 2014 Author #9 Share Posted October 4, 2014 Thank you. I have been on Regent and Azamara which I hope to repeat after I save my $$$$. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gusjakefred Posted October 4, 2014 Author #10 Share Posted October 4, 2014 Thank you to all that replied. I appreciate your comments. Want to check out Seabourn, but I think this is really really expensive? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
paul929207 Posted October 4, 2014 #11 Share Posted October 4, 2014 Thank you to all that replied. I appreciate your comments. Want to check out Seabourn, but I think this is really really expensive? Yes, Seabourn does not go cheap. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Viv0828 Posted October 4, 2014 #12 Share Posted October 4, 2014 We enjoyed the Aegean odyssey on the voyages to antiquity line. About 380 passengers tours and gratuities were included in the price. Sent from my iPhone using Forums Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare cruisemom42 Posted October 4, 2014 #13 Share Posted October 4, 2014 We enjoyed the Aegean odyssey on the voyages to antiquity line. About 380 passengers tours and gratuities were included in the price. Sent from my iPhone using Forums Agreed. I'm embarking on my 4th cruise with them later this month. They are definitely geared to the traveler who is more interested in ports and history. Not a lot of entertainment aboard other than good lecturers and some musicians. If you are a solo traveler, the solo supplements are quite low in many cases and the total cost can end up being close to (or not much more than) a mass-market line. Gratuities and most shore excursions are included. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gusjakefred Posted October 4, 2014 Author #14 Share Posted October 4, 2014 Another question: never sailed Crystal - any opinions out there??? thanks! gusjakefred Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gusjakefred Posted October 4, 2014 Author #15 Share Posted October 4, 2014 Thank you. This sounds just what I would like in the future. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Texas Tillie Posted October 4, 2014 #16 Share Posted October 4, 2014 Another question: never sailed Crystal - any opinions out there??? thanks! gusjakefred Crystal is a wonderful line and because their ships are a little "larger" - 900 and 1000 passengers, they can offer better and more varied entertainment and other on ship activities. However, they are luxury, so you'll "pay". Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gusjakefred Posted October 4, 2014 Author #17 Share Posted October 4, 2014 Thanks. Crystal is my list to research. gusjakefred Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lerin Posted October 4, 2014 #18 Share Posted October 4, 2014 We like Star Clippers, Regent and Windstar in that order. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cruisead Posted October 4, 2014 #19 Share Posted October 4, 2014 The ships of Crystal, Seabourn, Regent and Silversea are all very expensive. You can bet that with similar itineraries you'll find their fares to be four times the cost of any other cruise line. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Flatbush Flyer Posted October 4, 2014 #20 Share Posted October 4, 2014 I hope you have a bit of money, because other than the two smaller ships of Princess (Ocean and Pacific), you will be on luxury lines: Silversea, Regent Seven Seas, Oceania, Seabourn, SeaDream, Azamara. EM You need to change TAs. On the right Oceania itinerary, and with factors like included air fare (or credit) and beverages/specialty restaurants plus OBC (both O and TA), you'll find that O's "bottom line" compares very favorably with Celebrity, HAL and Princess. Plus O's "R" ships are small (<700) and the food/service is superior to the mass market lines. Sent from my iPhone using Forums Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
s1amblue Posted October 4, 2014 #21 Share Posted October 4, 2014 After 10 Oceania cruises without air (we use miles for business & first) they are at least double the cost - with purchasing sodas, coffees & specialty restaurants added in - we did B2b Oceania & Celebrity with essentially same itinerary gor comparison & saved over $3000 on the Celebrity sailing, we can sometimes get a suite on Celeb for far less than regular veranda on Oceania.... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Flatbush Flyer Posted October 4, 2014 #22 Share Posted October 4, 2014 After 10 Oceania cruises without air (we use miles for business & first) they are at least double the cost - with purchasing sodas, coffees & specialty restaurants added in - we did B2b Oceania & Celebrity with essentially same itinerary gor comparison & saved over $3000 on the Celebrity sailing, we can sometimes get a suite on Celeb for far less than regular veranda on Oceania.... Perhaps true until you figure in free gratuities and internet (on select cruises) plus TA OBC above special discounts available to top producing O TA's. You may want to shop around for a better TA. On O to Alaska this past summer, we found the bottom line (after all above, air credit and two price drops (including one special deal after full payment) to be within $200 per cabin of equivalent on HAL and Princess. Doing another O cruise to Med in 2015. Again, right cruise, right TA and we're in a only a few hundred more than the better non-premium. Sent from my iPhone using Forums Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
s1amblue Posted October 4, 2014 #23 Share Posted October 4, 2014 That's great but with only 3 Celeb cruises we now get free wine, free laundry, free internet AND usually ore-paid gratuities & shipboard credit plus we can stay in a Sky or Celebrity suite that's larger than O's penthouse suites for less than an O veranda.... Far more perks sooner! But again, to each their own! We loved O but are loving Celebrity more! :). (More often too for we can cruise at least twice as much with our savings!) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare LHT28 Posted October 4, 2014 #24 Share Posted October 4, 2014 That's great but with only 3 Celeb cruises we now get free wine, free laundry, free internet AND usually ore-paid gratuities & shipboard credit plus we can stay in a Sky or Celebrity suite that's larger than O's penthouse suites for less than an O veranda.... That is a great deal ..if you like bigger ships for us the extra price is worth the O ships with less people free laundry maybe nice though but I can use the OBC to get tokens for the the machines Everyone must choose what works best to suit their needs Enjoy whatever cruise you choose Lyn Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Floridiana Posted October 4, 2014 #25 Share Posted October 4, 2014 We will try Ponant's L'Austral ( 132 cabins) next time. My favorite line so far is Oceania. Sometimes it is less expensive than Celebrity's Aqua Class, happened to us for a Christmas cruise. Luckily our TA is on top of her game. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Please sign in to comment
You will be able to leave a comment after signing in
Sign In Now