Need Feedback on Cruise Lines

[txwriter]

Hello all!

 

I've been reading posts for weeks now, and I've looked at all the cruise lines websites and also read Frommer's EasyGuide on Alaska cruises. What I am missing are a few details that will help me finalize my decision.

 

About myself and my trip plans: I am currently 42 and will be traveling with my mother who is 30 years older than I in 2017 (we haven't picked an exact time yet). This cruise is primarily for my mom. She has always wanted to go there, and I want to do this for her, because she has earned it. Our last successful trip was to Walt Disney World in 2008.

 

Who we are: Mom is a retired school teacher and will be either 73 or 74 at the time of our trip (her b-day is July 26th, so I sort of want to take her around that time, but she would prefer to go earlier). I work in banking/mortgage and write on the side. We are both more introverted by nature and like to have alone time to recharge our batteries. Mom is more prone to motion sickness than I am, and she also is slightly claustrophobic. Finally, Mom had back surgery this past May. She has some limited mobility issues which may improve by the time we travel, or they may be the same or worse. But there is a good chance she will have a walker with her while traveling. We have cruised once before, but that was more than 25 years ago when Mom took my sister and me on a Canada/New England cruise. It was on RCCL.

 

Things we like: We both like relaxing and doing a lot of nothing. Spas are wonderful, and we like good food. Mom is not a picky eater except she does want her meat well done. I am slightly more picky, but I wouldn't describe either of us as foodies. We love to learn! I like to have fun and go out more than Mom does, so I would like the option to see some shows or entertainment. Also, we both like to do minor crafts. Mom loves being on the computer, so a ship that won't break my bank for this would be nice. We like wearing comfortable clothes and sneakers, but we also like niceties. We LOVE to be pampered.

 

Things we don't like: LOUD. Neither of us likes loudness--especially Mom. We do not drink, so bars are not important to us (a place with great mocktails could be fun though). We do not smoke and are allergic to cigarette smoke, so a ship that attracts lots of smokers is a no go for us.

 

Ideally, I would like a ship that offers a fun upbeat attitude and good lectures/activities/crafts for at sea days as well as a good spa. (Neither of us is all that excited by glaciers--could change after we see them, but I NEED something to do onboard those days).

 

Primarily, I am looking at one-way itineraries (out of Vancouver), but I am also contemplating asking about disembarking early (say in Juneau and hoofing it on land from there). This would give us a few more options of cruise lines since some only offer RT fares. If anyone has feedback on the ease of doing that, please let me know.

 

Currently Contemplating:

Princess

Royal Caribbean

Celebrity

Regent (if I win the lotto):)

 

Ruled out:

Holland American - allowing smoking on balconies and too many rules about clothes (no jeans after 6 pm does not fly with me)

NCL - I don't care for their décor, and I don't want to pay for room service

 

I am looking for feedback on onboard experiences--primarily what there is to do ON the ship (particularly that does not involve gambling or drinking as Mom is not a fan of either).

 

What kind of learning opportunities are there?

What is the spa like? Are the prices worth what is delivered?

Is it easy to navigate from place to place?

Did it feel crowded? (Not looking for passenger count...just the experience of being in public places)

Was there anything you would have done differently? Or wish you had known that you learned after disembarking?

Are the shows fun? Are they loud? (Do I need to pack ear plugs but still go because they are SO worth it?)

If you went to the ship's library, was it good and worthwhile?

Are there onboard tours to take? Which would you recommend?

What are the clothes rules? Will t-shirts and jeans be okay pretty much the entire time? If not, how dressy? How strict are the clothes police?

 

I don't need answers to everything...just looking for overall impressions on what each floating city is like. Thanks!

[Budget Queen]

You need a private yacht, or go with Regent, Silversea and similar. :) :)

 

NONE of the regular cruiselines are going to offer you what you are looking for,, and you have eliminated one of the best for enhancement programs- HAL.

 

Think about it- 2000+++ people in a contained space- and FAR less outdoor activities to absorb people- crowds at some point- absolutely.

 

Sorry there isn't going to be much going on during glacier sailing days- EXCEPT for the focus on the glacier/s.

 

Yes, you can disembark in Juneau- IF you board in Vancouver, but NOT if you board in Whittier, Seward or Seattle. Why not just fly into Juneau?

Edited September 20, 2015 by Budget Queen

[txwriter]

A private yacht would be great, but alas, it is not an option.:)

 

Perhaps I was unclear. I realize there are many people onboard. I have already done extensive research on the individual ships' stats. I am only looking to see if people have felt so crowded that it impeded their ability to enjoy themselves or physically affected their ability to get from place to place. Example: We once went to Disneyland the Sunday before Memorial Day--dumb move on my part as it was shoulder to shoulder. I am fine with there beings lots of people. I just don't like to feel like I can't move around. I need feedback on the vibe and feel of the ships.

 

I have considered flying into Juneau. Right now, the cruise makes sense for what we want to do since the ship can keep sailing while we sleep. We can cover more ground in less days and have more time to get to see interior areas like Denali.

 

HAL seems like a great choice on many levels, but I would like to get a balcony, if possible, and the smoking thing is a big issue for me and a bigger issue for my mom. I don't want to spend all that money on a trip for her with her griping the entire trip about the neighbors. (Our luck would be getting smokers on both sides, and I guarantee she could smell the smoke in the cabin). Once her apple cart is turned over, she does not recover. Happy mommy is the goal. Also, I'm on vacation and do not want to put on slacks just to be on deck in the evening (which I will definitely want to do especially with the longer daylight hours).

[Crew News]

A private yacht would be great, but alas, it is not an option.:)

 

HAL seems like a great choice on many levels, but I would like to get a balcony, if possible, and the smoking thing is a big issue for me and a bigger issue for my mom. I don't want to spend all that money on a trip for her with her griping the entire trip about the neighbors. (Our luck would be getting smokers on both sides, and I guarantee she could smell the smoke in the cabin). Once her apple cart is turned over, she does not recover. Happy mommy is the goal. Also, I'm on vacation and do not want to put on slacks just to be on deck in the evening (which I will definitely want to do especially with the longer daylight hours).

 

Since you have already ruled out HAL, it is important to correct what you have heard about jeans not being allowed during the evening on HAL ships.

 

The only jeans rule is that they are not appropriate in the Main Dining Room on two Gala Nights per week. One location on the entire ship, for two hours, is the only restriction on jeans. Except as I have noted, jeans may be worn 24/7 on all HAL ships in every location and usually are while cruising in Alaska.

 

Edited September 20, 2015 by Crew News

[txwriter]

Thanks for the clarification on jeans. I had read that after 6pm, HAL did not allow casual wear on deck (which for me is jeans). In that case, I could consider a HAL inside cabin.

[Crew News]

Thanks for the clarification on jeans. I had read that after 6pm, HAL did not allow casual wear on deck (which for me is jeans). In that case, I could consider a HAL inside cabin.

 

In that case, here are scanned copies of our On Locations (daily activities) for our round trip out of Vancouver to Alaska May 2015 to give you an idea of what is happening on board:

 

http://www.rogerjett-photography.com/travel-2/alaska-2015-noordam-on-location-daily-activities/

 

I also have photographic tours of some of the HAL ships sailing to Alaska as well as all of the Specialty Restaurant, Bar, and Room Service (24/7) menus if they would be helpful.

 

To answer some of your other questions:

What kind of learning opportunities are there? See my On Locations

What is the spa like? Are the prices worth what is delivered? Not being a spa person, I can only say that the hydrotherapy pool is quite a favorite.

Is it easy to navigate from place to place? I find it easy to get from place to place with a single hallway on the public decks.

Did it feel crowded? (Not looking for passenger count...just the experience of being in public places) The only crowd is if you want to be first when the buffet opens but an hour delay will be fine.

Was there anything you would have done differently? Or wish you had known that you learned after disembarking? After my first cruise, I wish that I had taken more advantage of the free Room Service Breakfast in bed.

Are the shows fun? Are they loud? (Do I need to pack ear plugs but still go because they are SO worth it?) I have attended only one loud show where ear plugs were offered. Recycled Percussion that played 60's to 80's music. The Adagio Strings are quite soothing classical musicians. The BB King shows in the lounges are quite a hit of all ages.

If you went to the ship's library, was it good and worthwhile? The ship's library is quite extensive and provides a relaxing spot for reading, games, and to use the computers to check current events.

Are there onboard tours to take? Which would you recommend? See the On Locations for all but I do like the cooking, flower arranging, party planning, and towel folding demos. Computer classes are also given every day covering Windows 10 topics.

What are the clothes rules? Will t-shirts and jeans be okay pretty much the entire time? If not, how dressy? How strict are the clothes police? Alaska is jeans and flannel shirt/sweaters. No shorts/bathing suits in the Main Dining Rooms or Specialty Restaurants. On Gala Nights males are requested to wear a jacket with tie and no jeans allowed. No clothes police.

 

To give you an idea of a ship that will be sailing Alaska, here is my photographic tour of the Ms Noordam (2000 passengers):

 

http://www.rogerjett-photography.com/travel-2/ms-noordam-on-board-images/

 

Glad to answer any questions.

[Northern Aurora]

Given your concerns regarding smoking, have you seriously considered Celebrity? No indoor smoking venues -- yes -- even the casinos are non-smoking, and no smoking on stateroom balconies.

[alaska_planner]

Given your concerns regarding smoking, have you seriously considered Celebrity? No indoor smoking venues -- yes -- even the casinos are non-smoking, and no smoking on stateroom balconies.

 

i was just on the RCI radiance and i think they must have instituted a rule like that as the ship was incredibly smoke free....

i didn't encounter smoke even once on the 7 day cruise...

i don't know where they stuck the smokers, but it must have been some place out of the way as i never noticed them!!!!

[Ashland]

i was just on the RCI radiance and i think they must have instituted a rule like that as the ship was incredibly smoke free....

i didn't encounter smoke even once on the 7 day cruise...

i don't know where they stuck the smokers, but it must have been some place out of the way as i never noticed them!!!!

I too was just on ROS (Sept 4-11) very nice indeed...maybe there were just no smokers onboard ;)

[Keith1010]

I would look at Crystal (they have Alaska itineraries in 2016) and Silversea based on what you said you are looking for. Also Regent. See what the pricing looks likes. Crystal might have prices that work for you. They don't sail Alaska each year but will be there in 2016.

 

Keith

[poss]

We adore Regent-- but no jeans after 6:00. (We don't mind that, though we're definitely not dressers-uppers.)

[Alaskanb]

We too have ruled out HAL due to their smoking policy on balconies. Princess meets our needs. Spa is good but costly - you can see prices on their website. No need for a library with ebooks; they always look full. We book a mini suite for our quiet space but there are lots of places during the day where folks find quiet. Lots to do on sea days ; do a search for Princess Patters. You mentioned Denali - do your research well if you are planning a cruise tour.

[Budget Queen]

I find it interesting the rigid "dismissal" of a cruise line- then THINKING all is well with the others. Sorry, but there are violators on ALL the line- every cruise- and frequent complaints on boards- all the time, about the security not doing "anything". It's a very hard rule to enforce.

 

There are no guarantees.

 

 

As for the "crowds" question- there are the "funnel" lines on all the ships= is this a crowd to you?

 

I don't see a major cruise line working out for you. Your expectations are beyond what a "normal" sailing is.

 

OK, get ready for the infrequent cruisers- who will claim- no smokers, no lines, smooth sailing, well mannered visitors, etc etc etc. which means little. (yep, you'll find the "well traveled" reports- whom even at 12 cruises/year- hardly have the data) You're overall, set up for disappointment.

[poss]

txwriter: I don't think that you're setting yourself up for disappointment. We've cruised with Regent more than a dozen times, and the only "miss" for you and your mother on Regent ships is that yes, one can't wear jeans after 6:00 and that I don't think there are any "crafts" kinds of things (though people work jig-saw puzzles). The food is first rate, the suites are quite large (I mean even the "lowest" categories), as are the balconies, the spa is terrific, the service is first-rate, it's never noisy, there are shows every night and lots of other entertainment, terrific lecturers on board, fine library -- and for us, the most important thing, excursions are included (in the rather hefty price). Many folks prefer to book their own tours, but my husband and I prefer the all-inclusive, so Regent suits us perfectly. I cannot think of one thing that we disenjoy about the ships or the passengers.

As said, Regent is more expensive than many of the other cruise lines, but it is so worth it to us that we pinch and save in other ways during the year so that we can enjoy the low-keyed luxury.

Happy sails to you and your mom, whichever line you decide to cruise. Please don't take it into your head that your expectations are too high. Btw, it was great that you spelled out in detail your druthers so that people could respond directly to your likes and dislikes.

Edited September 20, 2015 by poss

[txwriter]

Thanks to all who have given meaningful and thoughtful responses. I do not believe my expectations are unrealistic. I have already done a ton of research which is how I came up with my list of contenders. I realize there is no perfect cruise; I am simply looking for the best experience for us for the best value. Compromises are always a part of travel; I realize that also. My request for additional data from people's personal experiences is to help me decide exactly where those compromises will be.

 

I'm sorry I can't address you each by name but did want to thank a few of you for giving the type of specific, helpful information I need.

 

Special thanks to the poster who gave all the great information on HAL. I loved the details! HAL is still not on my top druthers, but I will consider them if pricing and itinerary is right (will need to wait for 2017 cruises to come out).

 

I also loved the suggestion that I look for Princess Patters online. This was fantastic advice! Reading through a few got me a little more excited about them.

 

I would love the same kind of detail on Royal Carribean and Celebrity.

 

Regent sounds wonderful, but it would probably be a compromise I am unwilling to make since I would have to forfeit all or most of my post cruise land tour to afford them. That said, I already have a rep at Regent who will send me prices and schedules as soon as they come out. We'll see.

 

Finally, thanks to those who have been encouraging. This is a huge trip for us, and there is a lot of data to go through. I believe if I am going to plan more than 1.5 years in advance and pay more than three times more than I have for a vacation previously, that I can try to get the trip that will work best for us (even with compromises). I am not looking for perfect...just the best for us. Again, thanks for the help so far. All useful information is appreciated.

[Northern Aurora]

.....

I also loved the suggestion that I look for Princess Patters online. This was fantastic advice! Reading through a few got me a little more excited about them.

 

I would love the same kind of detail on Royal Carribean and Celebrity.

 

....

 

txwriter: If you use the search function on Cruise Critic you should be able to locate the equivalent of Princess Patters for all of the cruise lines. For example, yesterday on the Celebrity forum someone who was on Celebrity's recent Captain's Club Alaska reunion cruise posted the front and third page of the Celebrity Todays from that cruise.

[Italy52]

i was just on the RCI radiance and i think they must have instituted a rule like that as the ship was incredibly smoke free....

i didn't encounter smoke even once on the 7 day cruise...

i don't know where they stuck the smokers, but it must have been some place out of the way as i never noticed them!!!!

 

 

On the Radiance, smoking is allowed in the casino.

[alaska_planner]

On the Radiance, smoking is allowed in the casino.

 

are you sure? - i thought when i was on board in august they said the rule had been changed and smoking is no longer allowed in the casino?

i certainly walked through there every night and never encountered any smoke...

 

maybe there were no smokers on board?

 

i do recall hitting cigar smell once when i walked by the swimming pool one night....it was on the starboard side, but i don't know if that's where the smoking area was or if the guy was just smoking there...

but i didn't encounter smoke anywhere else on the ship...

and not indoors anywhere, including the casino....so i don't know why that was.....either no smokers on board or they changed the rules...

whatever the case it, it was a very pleasant cruise as a result...

Edited September 21, 2015 by alaska_planner

[Budget Queen]

are you sure? - i thought when i was on board in august they said the rule had been changed and smoking is no longer allowed in the casino?

i certainly walked through there every night and never encountered any smoke...

 

maybe there were no smokers on board?

 

i do recall hitting cigar smell once when i walked by the swimming pool one night....it was on the starboard side, but i don't know if that's where the smoking area was or if the guy was just smoking there...

but i didn't encounter smoke anywhere else on the ship...

and not indoors anywhere, including the casino....so i don't know why that was.....either no smokers on board or they changed the rules...

whatever the case it, it was a very pleasant cruise as a result...

 

Yes, Italy is sure. http://www.royalcaribbean.com/customersupport/faq/details.do?pagename=frequently_asked_questions&pnav=5&pnav=2&faqType=faq&faqSubjectId=333&faqSubjectName=Onboard+Policies&faqId=3101

[Italy52]

Yes, Italy is sure. http://www.royalcaribbean.com/customersupport/faq/details.do?pagename=frequently_asked_questions&pnav=5&pnav=2&faqType=faq&faqSubjectId=333&faqSubjectName=Onboard+Policies&faqId=3101

 

Thanks Budget Queen. :)

[txwriter]

txwriter: If you use the search function on Cruise Critic you should be able to locate the equivalent of Princess Patters for all of the cruise lines. For example, yesterday on the Celebrity forum someone who was on Celebrity's recent Captain's Club Alaska reunion cruise posted the front and third page of the Celebrity Todays from that cruise.

 

I have done as you suggested. Thanks. Right now, it seems that I am leaning towards Princess or Celebrity, but HAL and RCI both have some things I like too. It will depend largely upon schedules and itineraries once they are posted.

[bonvoyagie]

Not to throw a monkey wrench in here but have you looked at Uncruises or National Geographic. They offer very small boats, lots of learning opportunities and experiences that the mass market lines just can't.

[bwaz]

We sailed on Celebrity Solstice last month RT out of Seattle. We loved it. It does have a couple of the elements you like. First it has one of the most popular lecturer/naturalists on the Alaska circuit, Brent Nixon. Entertaining and informative. Solstice also features the Hot Glass Show, which I think any crafter would adore. Sponsored by Corning, there is a glass blowing studio right on board. The demonstration show is amazing.

 

Celebrity is a bit more low key, not noisy. They do have dining dress guidelines but as others will tell you, cruises to Alaska tend toward a more casual interpretation of the dress code.

 

Also the Solstice had the nicest library of any ship I have been on.

 

Sent from my LG-D801 using Forums mobile app

[paulajj]

I would also suggest Celebrity. You can wear jeans at night ( except for formal nights in the main dining room), no indoor smoking, fairly quiet except for the main dining room (you could eat in the specialty dining or room service) , quite a few lectures including some on glacier day. Dispite what some have said, I think you're needs aren't impossible.

[oaktreerb]

i was just on the RCI radiance and i think they must have instituted a rule like that as the ship was incredibly smoke free....

i didn't encounter smoke even once on the 7 day cruise...

i don't know where they stuck the smokers, but it must have been some place out of the way as i never noticed them!!!!

 

I just sailed the Liberty in Canada/New England. Ash trays were provided on one side of the ship and lots of people used them insuring that a walk around the decks would lead you past smokers. Smoke drifted out of the casino into other public areas. I did not expect so many smokers. THere was a horribly long immigration line before we were allowed to go ashore in Boston and the line snaked along the smoking deck and through the casino where you could still smell smoke.