First time cruisers trying to book a honeymoon...overwhelmed!

[romancingthebuck]

My fiancé and I are getting married in 2018 and we are basing our wedding date (not set yet) on the cruise we pick. We have never gone on a cruise before, and we are finding that we are completely overwhelmed with all of the options to choose from (on top of planning our wedding!).

 

The first hurdle we are trying to jump is picking our cruise line. We are wanting to book a longer cruise, 10-14 days. We are not looking for a "family friendly" cruise with a lot of children/teens. We are both relatively introverted and would prefer more time/space to ourselves than a lot of group activities or crowded decks. Good food is a priority, don't care as much about shows/entertainment. Shopping is not a priority. I am a fitness junkie, so would like a workout facility/spa/jogging track/pools, etc, if possible. Good service/crew members is pretty high on our list as well.

 

Does anyone have any recommendations for a good cruise line based on those thoughts? We greatly appreciate all information!

[leaveitallbehind]

First of all, I would recommend finding a cruise specialist travel agent and work with them. They would be in the best position to translate your preferences into the best cruise options. But first you should decide on where you want to go and that will help narrow down the options. When you want to go is also important and remember that summers and holidays will most likely have more families on board than the rest of the year. Also, the demographics on 10-14 day cruises are likely to have less families with children than 7 night cruises would, even in the peak family months. Most cruise lines also offer gyms for workouts and service with all is key. Food is too subjective to comment on IMO, however.

 

But again, start with a travel agent.

[champagne123]

Welcome to CC and CONGRATS on your impending wedding. You don't say where you are from, which may or may not make a difference as far as airfare. I HIGHLY recommend Celebrity out of Florida. They have some wonderful itineraries and the food and service is exceptional. Also more romantic than Carnival, Royal Caribbean, Norwegian...etc. I also suggest NOT going during the summer, school breaks....such as Christmas/Thanksgiving/Spring Break, as there are always more children on ALL cruise lines.

[NLH Arizona]

I would look at the luxury lines, like Crystal.

[SuiteTraveler]

MSC Divina, Magnifica, Presiosa, Seaside or Splendida in the Yacht Club. The price is more similar to a junior suite on other ships, but the Yacht Club is all inclusive including alcohol, soda, even your mini bar which is restocked twice a day and there is a special restaurant for suite guests. There is also a special lounge for suite guests with a 24x7 snack buffet, a exclusive pool for suite guests only (never crowded) with a bar and buffet and 2 hot tubs overlooking the bow of the ship. There is a large and lavish gym overlooking the bow of the ship just down one floor from the Yacht Club and you also get free entrance to the thermal suite's steam rooms and saunas.

 

The food in the Yacht club restaurant is the very best. The Top Sail lounge is a quiet oasis, a world away from the hubbub of the ship. The butlers cannot do enough for you and you only dine with your spouse unless you meet others you want to eat with. The suites are lovely. The shows on the ship are some of the best I've seen at sea - including those on Royal Caribbean which probably has the second best shows on their Oasis class ships and the shows on MSC are only 1 hour long, and change every night with Broadway caliber performers and amazing dancers who are perfectly choreographed. I especially liked that the shows were not too long. The casino is smoking free.

 

These ships do have specialty restaurants, but we never felt the need to spend extra on them as the Yacht Club's restaurant includes food on the menu from the specialty restaurants. My husband loved the Formula One race car simulator - he did really well and I suspect had he tried it more than twice, he would have been able to make the same score as the fellow who runs the simulator or even better.

 

The whole experience is just really special and there are usually no kids in the Yacht Club or if there are, maybe you see them one night in the restaurant and never again. The Yacht Club is a world away from the rest of the ship, but you still get all the advantages of being on a large ship, while being able to retreat to your private and exclusive enclave anytime you want.

 

If you have cruised before, MSC will match the status you have on any other line.

[southwestgal]

Hi Romancingthebuck,

 

Congratulations on your upcoming wedding. My husband also honeymooned on a cruise - though many, many years ago.

 

Just a few thoughts...

 

Typically cruises over 7 days have less children/teens sailing since the families don't have that much time off - except perhaps in the summer.

 

Before picking the cruise line, I would suggest thinking about what you want to do/see on the cruise. Do you want to enjoy time sunning yourself by the pool or on a beach with water activities in the ports? More of a lazy, relaxing type of cruise with a fruity drink in your hand? Or, do you want to see a lot of scenery like canals, glaciers, fjords, small scenic towns? Or do you want a busy, port filled cruise where you get off in a different city each day and are busy from sun up to sun down with museums, architecture, historical sights, etc.? What part of the world do you want to see? Europe? Asia? USA/Canada/Alaska? Caribbean?

 

Once you determine what type of cruise you want, then I would suggest looking at the various lines to see what they offer. Smaller ships have a more intimate experience, but may lack some entertainment options. You will tend to see and interact with the same folks over and over because the passenger count is much smaller. You may find that, because of their size, the smaller ships might call on ports that are not part of the mainstream cruise itinerary. That can be good and bad - good because it can be a more authentic experience but bad because the port is not used to handling cruisers and may not have the infrastructure or tours to support it. On the other hand, the larger ships tend to have a greater variety to choose from for dining and entertainment options. Larger ships will usually stick to the mainstream ports and may have to use their tenders more often than the smaller ships to get people to shore. Larger ships will give you more variety on board.

We've sailed both types of ships and we've loved both.

 

And, of course, there is price. Some cruise lines offer a more "a la carte" experience (which some folks here tend to negatively call it nickle and diming". Others have a more inclusive approach. Neither is good or bad - it is just what works best for you.

 

My advice would be to think about where you want to go and what you want to do. That will usually determine the time of year because most itineraries are only offered at certain times of the year. Once you have that nailed down, then check the various offerings by the cruise lines. See what appeals to you most with the ships that they offer, the itineraries and the price points. Go on Cruise Critic and check the boards for those cruise lines and get a feel for the demographic. Obviously lines like Disney tend to cater more to families - you'll get a feel for that on the boards. Holland America, on the other hand, tends to have an older clientele. Obviously there are couples with no kids on Disney and younger folks on Holland America - but I think you understand where I'm going. There are also more basic lines and more luxurious lines.

 

Just some things to consider. Without knowing your particular tastes, wishes and price points, it would be very hard to point you to one specific cruise line.

 

Happy Sailing and Best Wishes!

[cruiserking]

My fiancé and I are getting married in 2018 and we are basing our wedding date (not set yet) on the cruise we pick. We have never gone on a cruise before, and we are finding that we are completely overwhelmed with all of the options to choose from (on top of planning our wedding!).

 

The first hurdle we are trying to jump is picking our cruise line. We are wanting to book a longer cruise, 10-14 days. We are not looking for a "family friendly" cruise with a lot of children/teens. We are both relatively introverted and would prefer more time/space to ourselves than a lot of group activities or crowded decks. Good food is a priority, don't care as much about shows/entertainment. Shopping is not a priority. I am a fitness junkie, so would like a workout facility/spa/jogging track/pools, etc, if possible. Good service/crew members is pretty high on our list as well.

 

Does anyone have any recommendations for a good cruise line based on those thoughts? We greatly appreciate all information!

 

Welcome to Cruise Critic Romancingthebuck and congratulations on your upcoming wedding.

 

First off, what is your budget for this cruise?

 

Have you considered getting married on board the ship?

 

My wife and I did this on the Holland America Line Noordam 9 years ago and then took a 17-day transatlantic to Rome.

 

The prices are usually quite reasonable. The ceremony is held in the ships theater or chapel and the celebration takes place in one of the big lounge venues usually on top of the ship with a view of the port.

 

Your guests come on board for four hours or so, they leave and you cruise. :cool:

 

A European cruise is a wonderful way to spend a honeymoon, visiting iconic ports, it is very thrilling.

 

I would strongly advise booking a balcony cabin. This is a wonderful private sanctuary to watch the world float by, sip your morning coffee, gaze at the stars.

 

Also, always book a mid-ship cabin, this will be the most stable part of the ship.

 

Based on your preferences I think you should consider Celebrity Cruises, Princess and Holland America Line. I would also suggest Royal Caribbean typically a family line but, Transatlantics will attract mostly an adult crowd.

 

All of these lines will have modern, fitness facilities with a wide range of treadmills and machines.

 

Transatlantic

This is a great option budget wise as you can often get great deals. These trips last anywhere from 7 to 19 days and include between 3 and 8 port stops.

The cruise lines need to re-position there ships in Europe and offer good rates for the those passengers interesting in taking the trip.

Transatlantics will not have families and children on board as they happen during the school year.

Celebrity Cruise Line

Would be a great line for you. The ships are very beautiful, modern, good food. The cabins are on the small side.

Celebrity Reflection has a 14 day Transatlantic on April 13, 2018 leaving from Fort Lauderdale, Fl. with stops in Tenerife, Canary Islands - Malaga, Spain - Cartagena, Spain - Barcelona, Spain - Ajaccio, Corsica France and final stop in Civitavecchia, Rome.

Balcony cabins for this cruise run $2,199 per person.

Princess Cruises - Another great line, beautiful ships, good food, great service not a lot of bells and whistles.

Regal Princess has a terrific transatlantic April 15, 2018. Leaving from Fort Lauderdale, Fl with stop in

Azores Island, Portugal

Cherbourg, France

Bruges, Belgium

Rotterdam, Netherlands

Copenhagen, Denmark -final stop.

Balcony cabins for this cruise run $1,899 per person. Mini Suites start at $2,499 per person much more room and a few perk like robes, early embarkation.

Regal also does a 17-day transatlantic with a terrific itinerary:

Fort Lauderdale (Port Everglades) | Azores Islands, Portugal | Cherbourg, France | Zeebrugge (Bruges), Belgium | Rotterdam, The Netherlands | Copenhagen, Denmark | Oslo, Norway | Berlin, Germany

Balcony cabins $2,249 per person.

Royal Caribbean caters to families and kids but, their transatlantics take place during the school year and will be pretty quiet. We are big fans of this line, the ships are gorgeous, the crew is very friendly, the cabins are extremely spacious.

Royal Caribbean's Navigator of the Seas has a nice 5 port Transatlantic April 18, 2018 from Fort Lauderdale, Fl with stops in Ponta Delgada Azores, Portugal

Lisbon, Portugal

Vigo, Spain

La Coruna, Spain

Le Havre, France (Paris)

Southampton, England - final stop.

Balcony cabins on the Navigator run $1,357 per person and Junior Suites run $2,641 per person.

Another option is Hawaii.

This is usually a 15-day round-trip from either Los Angeles or San Francisco. It takes four sea days there and four back, usually five port stops including mexico on the return.

Here's an example of Grand Princess for April 15, 2018

San Francisco, California | Honolulu, Oahu, Hawaii | Lahaina, Maui, Hawaii | Kauai, Hawaii | Hilo, Hawaii | Ensenada, Mexico

$1,899 per person ocean view (window only) $3,599 per person for balcony.

Southern Caribbean is another option. A 14-day cruise will give you a lot of nice stops deep in the Caribbean.

Good Luck to you both. Don't be overwhelmed. Planning a cruise and researching ports is wildly enjoyable.

Happy Cruising.

Jonathan

[champagne123]

CRUISERKING....I completely forgot about our Hawaiian cruise. It was out of Long Beach, CA for 15 days. (5 ports). Although it was on Carnivals Splendor, it was in January and there were a total of eight children on board!!!! LOL. It was amazing. Although it was in 2013, the total cost for BOTH of us was $2250!!!!!! (yes, a balcony!) INSANE. It was fabulous and what a great suggestion. :cool:

Edited April 9, 2017 by champagne123
sssss

[jb8162]

I would suggest you try a shorter cruise in the near future to see how you will adapt to cruising. If there is a nearby port try a weekend cruise. Most people love it. A 14 day cruise can be overwhelming (too long) for a first cruise. A cruise is different than a land based vacation.

[champagne123]

I would suggest you try a shorter cruise in the near future to see how you will adapt to cruising. If there is a nearby port try a weekend cruise. Most people love it. A 14 day cruise can be overwhelming (too long) for a first cruise. A cruise is different than a land based vacation.

I respect your opinion, but you cannot compare a weekend cruise to a 14 day cruise. The short or weekend cruises are party cruises basically. Very different. It is a race to see how much you can eat and drink in a short period of time. People get out of control and can get ugly. Just my opinion.

[cruiserking]

CRUISERKING....I completely forgot about our Hawaiian cruise. It was out of Long Beach, CA for 15 days. (5 ports). Although it was on Carnivals Splendor, it was in January and there were a total of eight children on board!!!! LOL. It was amazing. Although it was in 2013, the total cost for BOTH of us was $2250!!!!!! (yes, a balcony!) INSANE. It was fabulous and what a great suggestion. :cool:

 

Champagne123,

 

Wow, what a deal - Hawaii in a balcony for $2,250 what a deal!

 

Dreaming of cruising to Hawaii sometime soon. Spend a couple of days in San Francisco pre-cruise, perfect.

 

Jonathan

[champagne123]

Champagne123,

 

Wow, what a deal - Hawaii in a balcony for $2,250 what a deal!

 

Dreaming of cruising to Hawaii sometime soon. Spend a couple of days in San Francisco pre-cruise, perfect.

 

Jonathan

I think we just hit it very lucky and they were trying to fill the ship....it was truly amazing. When we returned we rented a car and drove up the coast via Pacific Coast Highway with many stops (seal beach, Hearst Castle, Malibu, Etc...). Our last stop was San Fran for 3 days. OMG.....the memories and pictures we have. I hope you make it there....worth every penny!

[jb8162]

You have a point! I was only suggesting to try a shorter cruise to see how they would react to the motion of the ship and size of the cabins and being around people in close proximity. It would be terrible to find out you did not like it and be somewhat stuck for 14 days. That would be horrible honeymoon. All that said most people love cruising once they have tried it

[champagne123]

You have a point! I was only suggesting to try a shorter cruise to see how they would react to the motion of the ship and size of the cabins and being around people in close proximity. It would be terrible to find out you did not like it and be somewhat stuck for 14 days. That would be horrible honeymoon. All that said most people love cruising once they have tried it

Great point! Maybe we should suggest starting Bonine one day before their cruise. It certainly would be an awful honeymoon if they found out they get sea sick on the ship. :o

[GTO-Girl]

Also the name you book your cruise and the name on your passport MUST match.

 

So.....you may want to book your cruise in your maiden name and change your passport once you return.

 

 

Congratulations and have a wonderful cruise!!!

[bonsai3s]

Congratulations and welcome to Cruise Critic.

Smiling as I write because you reminded us of our honeymoon cruise...way too many years ago.

 

cruiserking's post #7 is absolutely outstanding. Wish we had this kind of advice back in the day. Our honeymoon cruise was a simple 7-day cruise in the Caribbean, on Princess. With your wish to have a quiet cruise, good service, and good food...we also recommend Celebrity.

 

As a fitness junkie myself (triathlete), almost all Celebrity ships have decent gyms. I've discovered through the years, however, that almost all fitness centers on all ships we've sailed on are nice. (IMHO, currently the best fitness facility is on the Oasis class ships of Royal Caribbean.)

 

As others suggested, you need to decide on where you want to go and your budget. When we were young, we had no money and no time...we didn't know any better. As a fitness junkie, cruising was definitely not my first choice for a honeymoon...I was wrong. It gave us the choice to do as much as we wanted or as little as we wanted. We've been addicted ever since.

 

If we had to do it again, we would go back and sail around Tahiti for our honeymoon...simply breathtaking.

 

Again, congratulations and happy sailing. :)

[SuiteTraveler]

I guess what we really need to know is your age group, what your budget is and where you want to cruise. For example, HAL caters to those over 70. Celebrity has an older demographic as well, but their upcoming new ship Celebrity Edge appears designed for a younger demographic. MSC has passengers of all ages as does Princess. Royal Caribbean is for physically active cruisers with flow riders, rock climbing walls, ice skating, sports court, even skydiving onboard. Carnival is a budget line but their newer ships have a lot to do onboard. They are like mini-mega ships. Then there are luxury lines which have few if any kids onboard. In general, the more you can pay, the more inclusive the experience will be and the less likely there will be many kids onboard, especially if you cruise while school is in session.

[zqvol]

The best advice in this thread is to speak with a cruise travel agent. To a large degree the recommendations that I would make are price driven. If you can afford it you should avoid all the mass market lines and go with the luxury lines. IMO you get a much better experience that way, with much smaller ships, fewer children, better food, and usually they are all inclusive other than for spas and excursions.

[Cruisin' Chick]

I agree with the advice to talk to a cruise specialist. Ask your friends, family members, and co-workers if they can recommend one they liked (you'll be surprised how many people have gone on a cruise).

Go into their office with an idea of time of year, desired destinations, budget, and what you said in your first post about activities, etc.

Make sure to allow for a day after your wedding for travel and a day to board your ship. In other words, if you're getting married on a Saturday, you'll want to allow for the two of you to recover from the wedding....spend the night in a nice hotel. Then travel the next day to your embarkation city, at least a day ahead of your cruise. Don't try to fly in the day of your cruise.

We actually went to Hawaii for our honeymoon (our first vacation together that didn't involve a cruise) and we spent the night at a hotel and then grabbed a shuttle the next morning for our flight out to Honolulu. But we would have allowed more time if going on a cruise. We didn't have to run out of our reception early and the package my parents booked included the use of a limo so we had our driver stop by Marina Del Rey so we can watch the sunset in a romantic locale.

[Flatbush Flyer]

My fiancé and I are getting married in 2018 and we are basing our wedding date (not set yet) on the cruise we pick. We have never gone on a cruise before, and we are finding that we are completely overwhelmed with all of the options to choose from (on top of planning our wedding!).

 

 

 

The first hurdle we are trying to jump is picking our cruise line. We are wanting to book a longer cruise, 10-14 days. We are not looking for a "family friendly" cruise with a lot of children/teens. We are both relatively introverted and would prefer more time/space to ourselves than a lot of group activities or crowded decks. Good food is a priority, don't care as much about shows/entertainment. Shopping is not a priority. I am a fitness junkie, so would like a workout facility/spa/jogging track/pools, etc, if possible. Good service/crew members is pretty high on our list as well.

 

 

 

Does anyone have any recommendations for a good cruise line based on those thoughts? We greatly appreciate all information!

 

 

Best food at sea?

Small ships with terrific crew ratio?

Highly restrictive smoking policy?

Heavenly bedding and cabin amenities?

Truly interesting itineraries with ample sea days

(e.g., Valparaiso's to Tahiti w/Easter Island, Pitcairn, etc)

Few kids (except Med and Alaska in summer)?

Impeccable service?

No crowds, nickel/dining, art auctions, prom night?

Airfare (or credit) and internet included?

Choice of free excursions, OBC or alcohol?

Cosmopolitan, well-traveled yet casual milieu?

 

OCEANIA!!!

 

BTW: best way to see/experience Hawaii is a land vacation. Spend 7-10 days on Kauai.

 

 

 

Sent from my iPhone using Forums

Edited April 10, 2017 by Flatbush Flyer

[FlyerTalker]

If you have cruised before, MSC will match the status you have on any other line.

 

I guess you missed the part where the OP wrote:

We have never gone on a cruise before

 

It probably would have interrupted your commercial for MSC. Which most assuredly does not have "the best" food at sea, nor the best service.

 

To the OP: The suggestions here have tried to put forth information and some pushing their favorite cruiselines. But the only person who can know what's best for you is....you. Start by asking yourself the important questions, including price, destination, time of year, size of accomodations, size of ship, age demographics, nationality demographics, onboard "lifestyle" (ranging from summer-camp active to sedate and relaxing) and more.

 

Most of what have been mentioned are the big, mass-market lines and a couple others. Let me toss out a couple you might not think of, since they are not top-of-mind to most. Paul Gauguin is in Tahiti and the South Pacific and does week or longer trips there. Definitely a romantic location and a memorable one (if memories are significant - Jamaica and Cozumel don't have the same wow). You could take a longer cruise or do one week onship and another on an island. Smaller older ship, so you won't have rock climbing walls and the glitz of the mega-monsters. SeaDream is another small ship company - pricey but plush, with about 100 guests maximum. Windstar has smaller ships, an upscale casual environment, and some interesting itineraries. But again, it is up to you. Personally, I would not be interested in spending my honeymoon on a mega-ship with thousands of other folks. The small ships have the advantage of being able to easily engage other guests (and see them again without troubles in the mass) or to have your own retreat for each other.

 

Think over what is truly important to you. How you you envision spending those two weeks? Create that vision, then see who might fill it.

[SadieN]

One big thing......

When will the honeymoon be? Right after your wedding?

 

Asking because you must book your cruise using the name on your ID. It takes a while to do the name changes on all your ID.

 

 

Sent from my iPhone using Forums

[ducklite]

I would completely AVOID Royal Caribbean, Celebrity, Carnival, MSC, Holland America, Princess, and Norwegian, as they are all filled with kids, none have what would be considered great food, and the sheer number of people is crazy.

 

Look into Windstar in the Mediterranean. Small ship, great food, great service but not hovering. it's like being on a private yacht. NO KIDS! You can choose to sit alone or with others--and change your minds each night. No extra charges for alternate dining, room service, and all the crap the big monstrosity ships nickel and dime for. No lines for anything, ever. Your fellow cruisers will range from possibly other honeymooners to into their 70's, most are well traveled and will be happy to offer advice.

 

With a maximum of around 300 passengers, it's always easy to find a quiet place to be alone on deck. Even on sea days you'll find chairs with no problem.

 

The ships are not party central, but there is a lounge and casino. The ports are incredible and not all about shopping, but rather filled with history. There is a nice fitness center, and in some ports you can use the SUP's and sea kayak's off the sports platform at no additional charge. (local laws restrict the use in some ports)

 

Let me know if you have any questions.

[Harry and Lucille]

My fiancé and I are getting married in 2018 and we are basing our wedding date (not set yet) on the cruise we pick. We have never gone on a cruise before, and we are finding that we are completely overwhelmed with all of the options to choose from (on top of planning our wedding!).

 

The first hurdle we are trying to jump is picking our cruise line. We are wanting to book a longer cruise, 10-14 days. We are not looking for a "family friendly" cruise with a lot of children/teens. We are both relatively introverted and would prefer more time/space to ourselves than a lot of group activities or crowded decks. Good food is a priority, don't care as much about shows/entertainment. Shopping is not a priority. I am a fitness junkie, so would like a workout facility/spa/jogging track/pools, etc, if possible. Good service/crew members is pretty high on our list as well.

 

We settled in with Princess quite a while back. Fits us well. Yes, we are older and Princess cruises attract a more laid back group. Great gym, pools, jogging, good crew, etc. We find the food selection to be from good to great. All depends on your taste. Longer cruises don't attract many familys with children.

 

Always inpressed with the service from all crew folks. They always go out of their way to please. They all take the passenger experience to the highest level. Can be involved with group activities, however, many "hidy holes" aboard to hang out in if you wish.

 

Check them out. Harry

 

PS: Wedding chapel is super too.

[Pudgesmom]

Others have mentioned Windstar. I'll join in here for the romantic setting, lack of children and outstanding service.

 

Windstar line has several different ships. The 3 sailing ships have an outstanding ambience with the sails, but for you, I would only consider the Windsurf ship. It has a fabulous gym with views all around that the two smaller sailing ships lack. If you can do without the gym- go to Tahiti on the Wind Spirit.

 

Congratulations, and also, when you have narrowed it down, find a good travel agent. They are free and usually a huge help.