First cruise (caribbean) for 40 somethings

[Evil Tom]

Hey All,

I am hoping to book a first cruise in January for my girlfriend and I and was hoping for some help whittling down the bewildering array of choices. I do know we would like a balcony and for excursions we would like to snorkel and zip line. For first timers in our 40s which cruise line or ship would provide the best experience?

Thanks

Tom

[cb at sea]

I think you should head to a "bricks and mortar" travel agency...pick up some brochures on the different cruise lines, and take a gander at the brochures! It can really give you a "feel" for each line, and what it offers.

 

A guidebook on the Caribbean ports will also be helpful in decide WHERE you'd like to go!

 

There really is no "right or wrong" choice! A good travel agent can really help with your decision!

[ABQrobin]

First... what port area are you wanting? Florida? Texas? Calif?

 

Second... January is just a little over a month away. You might get hit with higher prices than you would have a few months ago as many ships are close to sold out. All depends on ship and port. Also, January is winter time so you will probably want to go farther south into the Caribbean for best weather. Bahamas are going to be same temps as Florida, keep that in mind.

 

As far as which LINE or SHIP.... that is a personal preference type thing. Are you wanting to sleep late, party with loud music at night? Or are you an early riser, hit the gym onboard, then lay by the pool? There are so many options, so many different types of people. Cruise ship LINES really vary in what makes them work for each type of person.

 

As far as your excursions.... I would take a look at the Ports of Calls Forums here on CC. There are forums for each port stop, with discussions about the ports and people like you asking questions. Places like Belize and Roatan have ziplines in the jungle, as well as snorkeling tours. I would probably pick a cruise that goes to both of those ports. OR Grand Cayman has snorkeling and Jamaica has ziplining, pick a cruise that goes both of those. There are tons of options for you to pick from.

 

Being in your 40s and wanting to be active... I would stay with one of the lines that has a younger clientele... Carnival, Royal Carib, or NCL.

I would get on the web and look at EACH of those three websites, really spend a few hours on each to learn. Then read some trip reports here on CC.

 

Just my 2 cents. We were in the same position 2+ years ago and think we made the best choice for us. Five cruises down, 1 more booked for March.

Edited November 30, 2016 by ABQrobin

[cowbob]

For first timers I suggest Bahamas cruise line out of west palm beach fla it's a two night cruise to the Bahamas with excursions it's cheaper than the big cruise lines but balconies go quick the sail every two days so there are plenty of sail dates

 

 

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[kerryincork]

I wouldn't go on a short cruise as usually a different feel, and can be a booze cruise type thing. I would chose a 5 or 7 night cruise.

 

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[mikeriv79]

My wife and I went to a big name travel agency for our first cruise. We selected a Western Caribbean cruise on NCL out of Miami. We've tried other cruise lines since, but have liked NCL the best. There's snorkeling and zip lining available in most itineraries.

[Cruisin' Chick]

For a cruise that is in a month to two months away, you might not have too many choices of available cabins. Plus, if you have to book your flights -- you might not have a lot of choices there either. the good news is that after the holidays, the demand goes down.

 

I would go along with the suggestion of going to a cruise specialist (brick and mortar) at a travel agency and get help from them. It won't cost you extra and they can more easily match you with what's available.

[easyboy]

There are many choices available and a reputable travel agency can guide you on selecting the most appropriate to your needs and limits,

 

 

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[luddite]

Cruise out of New Orleans. You'll be doing the western from there.

The line really won't have an effect for you.

[OCruisers]

For a cruise that is in a month to two months away' date=' you might not have too many choices of available cabins. Plus, if you have to book your flights -- you might not have a lot of choices there either. the good news is that after the holidays, the demand goes down.

 

I would go along with the suggestion of going to a cruise specialist (brick and mortar) at a travel agency and get help from them. It won't cost you extra and they can more easily match you with what's available.[/quote']

 

Echo Patty above! Please do find a cruise specialist (brick & mortar) to help you!

Edited December 1, 2016 by OCruisers

[Flatbush Flyer]

For first timers I suggest Bahamas cruise line out of west palm beach fla it's a two night cruise to the Bahamas with excursions it's cheaper than the big cruise lines but balconies go quick the sail every two days so there are plenty of sail dates

 

 

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That's not a cruise- it's a boat ride.

[Evil Tom]

7 night was definitely the plan.

[Underwatr]

For first timers I suggest Bahamas cruise line out of west palm beach fla it's a two night cruise to the Bahamas with excursions it's cheaper than the big cruise lines but balconies go quick the sail every two days so there are plenty of sail dates

But then you're in the Bahamas...

[reedl]

Hey All,

I am hoping to book a first cruise in January for my girlfriend and I and was hoping for some help whittling down the bewildering array of choices. I do know we would like a balcony and for excursions we would like to snorkel and zip line. For first timers in our 40s which cruise line or ship would provide the best experience?

Thanks

Tom

 

Being that you are in the same state as myself, I would recommend a Royal Caribbean Cruise that goes to Labadee at least. They have the longest zip line over water there which is a lot of fun.

 

If you want to start out with the biggest ships that they have, try the Oasis/Allure/Horizon of the Seas. They are massive ships with many things to do. You can fly into florida pretty cheaply. If you take Oasis, it leaves from Port Canaveral which is about an hour from Orlando. The other two ships leave from Port Everglades which is pretty much right next to FLL airport. Many airlines have non stops into FLL from Boston and Providence and Manchester. Depending on where you are in Mass, Jetblue has flights from Worcester to Orlando and FLL which are very convenient.

 

One more bit of advice, see if you can arrive into the port city the day before your cruise. It might not seem to be required, but I look at it as time to do some sightseeing without worrying about making the ship.

[LOVINCRUIZIN]

I am 40-something and have a few cruises under my belt. I bounce around between Royal Caribbean, Norwegian and Carnival.

 

For a couples cruise, I think Norwegian is great. The dining is more intimate and IMO better quality.

 

Look at Escape or Getaway. They have availability in January and balconies are around $800 for a week.

 

I prefer Caribbean ports to Bahamas. Choose the cruise - you'll find lots of things to do in Caribbean ports.

 

Have a blast!!!

[wassup4565]

You've received a lot of specific info from earlier posters. None of it is wrong, but none of it matters too much for a first time cruise either. I'd say this.

 

Seven nights is a great time frame, good idea. In the Caribbean in January, the farther south your ship goes to, the more likely the weather will be reliably warm. But remember, in January you can also encounter some rainy periods. Rainy times aren't bad times unless you went in expecting endless sunny days. Bring a deck of cards, or join in a dance class, or just have a peaceful snooze if it rains.

 

You'll read all kinds of comments on these boards about whether to pay for a suite or a balcony. Just remember this: no matter what cabin you're in, you get exactly the same experience in the dining venues, the shows, the activities, etc. You can be staying in the lowest down inside cabin, and the food in the dining room is still the same for you as for someone who reserved the Grand Suite. Unless you plan to spend a lot of time in your room, think about how much it matters to you to have a bigger room, or one with a balcony. The money you spend on the more fancy room is money you could spend for shore activities, for example. So think about what is important for you. We do fine with an inside windowless cabin, because all we do there is shower, sleep and possibly a little afternoon delight. Otherwise we like to be out and around on the ship. This leaves us with more money for drinkies and having fun on shore.

 

And speaking of on shore, if you've never been to any of these ports before, maybe you don't need to book expensive excursions at every port. It's enjoyable (and free) to walk around exploring. The journalist Tom Brokaw said that in any place he visited he tried to see a grocery store, a wedding and a funeral. You may not score all three, but you can usually find the grocery store and see what people shop for and what they pay. I also like to look for the Post Office and send a few postcards, including one to myself to see how long it takes to arrive.

 

I guess I'm trying to say that you need to think about what kind of experience will give you a great time. And it's not always paying more money that buys you the best experience.

[Cruisin'Christine]

My husband and I are 40 somethings too. We love cruising and have never had a bad trip yet. I think a great start into the world of cruising would be to go on the Allure of the Seas or the Oasis of the Seas. These are very large cruise ships with lots of great things to offer. The shows are amazing, including a high diving show. They both have the Flowrider, which allows you to do surfing and body surfing in a pool-type setting with waves. Really cool. There is a zip line, rock climbing wall, carousel, Johnny Rockets, Central Park, etc. For an itinerary, my favourite tends to be either an Eastern or Southern Caribbean. I prefer these to the islands on the Western Caribbean itinerary.

[Cuervosar]

That's not a cruise- it's a boat ride.

 

That is not a boat ride, it's a drunken fiesta.

[Cuervosar]

You can kind of create a three tier approach and see where you think you might land.

 

For the high dollar crowd, a bit more sophistication, Celebrity & Princess could be good choices. Probably Holland America as well.

 

In the mid range, there is Royal Caribbean, Norwegian, MSC, & Carnival for their longer trips.

 

Below that are the shorter Carnival trips.

 

If you've just won the lottery, Cunard awaits, as well as Regent Seven Seas & Crystal. But those tend to be populated with people over the 40 year old bracket.

 

Activity wise, you should be able to hit the same excursions on any line, or certainly you can book them yourselves without using the cruise line.

 

My personal recommendation is a minimum of 7 days, pick stops that look interesting and go with the line whose marketing seems to resonate.