Trying to determine if cruising is right for us

[bbodb1]

Hello all,

 

 

Allow me a bit of a disclaimer here: we have never cruised before so as we are reading the information on this forum (and a lot of information there is!) among the questions we are trying to figure out is this: Is cruising right for us? Since we have no previous knowledge of cruising to fall back on, that first cruise decision will be crucial in determining if we ever want to cruise again. One of the questions I am posing below could be misread in a negative light - please understand we are trying to determine if cruising is right for us. Having said that, here we go:

 

 

Area of concern 1) Being among 5000 people, we want to enjoy the experience alone.

As we think back to previous vacations we really enjoyed, we took the most joy from seeing the wildlife, the wonders of nature, the scenery and serenity of being in places with very few other people. (One of our most enjoyable vacations was at Rocky Mountain National Park as we hiked many trails.) Cruising would seem to offer ample opportunities to see wildlife, scenery and nature but serenity would seem to be very hard to come by. We don't want to feel like we must move with a crowd to enjoy a cruise, but rather enjoy the experience together (away from crowds). Can a couple find alone time on a cruise outside of their cabin?

Is this even possible?

Would we be better off on a smaller cruise ship or a particular cruise line?

 

 

Area of concern 2) The escalating costs

As we have started to look at possible first cruises, I'm really getting frustrated and concerned at just how many charges there are after considering the room charges. Taxes, tips, drinks, food, etc all can produce a lot more charges. Is there a website or resource that cuts through all this - a website that shows you cruises (along with the different room choices) that actually includes the charges you must bear? I thought airline (and their extra charges) were bad, but those are nothing compared to cruise ship charges. I'd really like to find an option that lists a room charge and that charge includes everything on board the ship - even tips. Does that exist?

 

Thank you in advance for any info or insights offered. Obviously, I still have a lot of reading to do here on Cruise Critic! Are there other resources I should visit?

 

Bbodb1

 

(obviously) new to cruising maybe!

[Flatbush Flyer]

Hello all,

 

 

 

 

 

Allow me a bit of a disclaimer here: we have never cruised before so as we are reading the information on this forum (and a lot of information there is!) among the questions we are trying to figure out is this: Is cruising right for us? Since we have no previous knowledge of cruising to fall back on, that first cruise decision will be crucial in determining if we ever want to cruise again. One of the questions I am posing below could be misread in a negative light - please understand we are trying to determine if cruising is right for us. Having said that, here we go:

 

 

 

 

 

Area of concern 1) Being among 5000 people, we want to enjoy the experience alone.

 

 

As we think back to previous vacations we really enjoyed, we took the most joy from seeing the wildlife, the wonders of nature, the scenery and serenity of being in places with very few other people. (One of our most enjoyable vacations was at Rocky Mountain National Park as we hiked many trails.) Cruising would seem to offer ample opportunities to see wildlife, scenery and nature but serenity would seem to be very hard to come by. We don't want to feel like we must move with a crowd to enjoy a cruise, but rather enjoy the experience together (away from crowds). Can a couple find alone time on a cruise outside of their cabin?

 

Is this even possible?

 

Would we be better off on a smaller cruise ship or a particular cruise line?

 

 

 

 

 

Area of concern 2) The escalating costs

 

As we have started to look at possible first cruises, I'm really getting frustrated and concerned at just how many charges there are after considering the room charges. Taxes, tips, drinks, food, etc all can produce a lot more charges. Is there a website or resource that cuts through all this - a website that shows you cruises (along with the different room choices) that actually includes the charges you must bear? I thought airline (and their extra charges) were bad, but those are nothing compared to cruise ship charges. I'd really like to find an option that lists a room charge and that charge includes everything on board the ship - even tips. Does that exist?

 

 

 

Thank you in advance for any info or insights offered. Obviously, I still have a lot of reading to do here on Cruise Critic! Are there other resources I should visit?

 

 

 

Bbodb1

 

 

 

(obviously) new to cruising maybe!

 

 

You may want to do some research about the differences among the cruise industry segments. The concerns you describe in your post (crowds and nickel/diming) are the hallmarks of many "mass market" cruise lines.

The premium and luxury segments will have ships that serve only a few hundred to 1000 +\- passengers and cabin costs the are all or mostly inclusive.

"Different strokes for different folks."

In a most general sense, cruising is an industry where you definitely "get what you pay for."

Find a well respected "cruise specialist" TA who will interview you regarding your travel experience/preferences/means and help focus you on the appropriate segment.

[SbbquilterUT]

I agree with the suggestions to find a good travel agent as well as talk to any friends that have taken a cruise.

 

As far as size, few ships are in the 5000 passenger range, we prefer the 2000 passenger ships with itinerary being the primary interest. For wild life, Alaska would be an option. Fantastic scenery but a very different vibe than going to the Carribbean.

 

As far as charges - the taxes and port charges are given at the time of booking as well as the option to pay daily gratuities. We have cruises where we spent less than $100 more on board but we rarely drink, do not need to eat in speciality restaurants and don’t shop. What you spend is really up to you and we find it easy to budget for the cruise since all our basic needs are covered in the base fare.

 

While cruising is not for everyone, we have found plenty of ways to spend time together away from the crowds.

[OCruisers]

The suggestion of a good travel agent is a good one!

There are so many cruises and cruise lines ... just help in finding the best for you is what you need! :)

[Heidi13]

As the others mentioned, your best resource will be a TA experienced in all areas of cruising, not just the mainstream Lines.

 

In addition to the number of passengers, you need to consider the passenger/space ratio, which is found by dividing the Gross Tonnage (GT) by maximum passengers. While the interior design may assist in passenger movement, this metric provides an idea of the space available per passenger.

 

Most mainstream cruise lines are in low to mid 30's, while the premium lines are in the 50's and luxury lines in the 60's.

 

Based on your questions I doubt any of the mainstream lines will meet your needs, so I would suggest starting by checking out Viking Ocean & Oceania. All Viking ships have 930 passengers, no casino, an included tour in every port, no casinos, no annoying photographers, free beer & wine at meals, etc. Oceania has ships with 684 or 1,250 passengers. Another step up would take you to the luxury lines - Crystal, Regent, Azamarra, Seabourn.

 

I would definitely give cruising a chance and even if it doesn't work out the first time, check out some other lines, as I believe you will find one that meets your needs.

 

When looking at premium & luxury lines, the base cost is substantially higher, but when I compare total costs including flights, transfers & on-board spend, the difference shrinks substantially.

 

Good luck finding a cruise line & itinerary that works for you.

[SRF]

Even on bigger ships, there are places, at times, where few people are. You just have to find them.

 

And there is no need to pay additional food costs. Drinks are based on what YOU want to drink and pay for, but if you can forego alcohol during the cruise, you don't have any costs there. Excursions do cost (on mass market lines, some luxury lines include these), but again, you are in control of this. And port days are great days to stay on an almost empty ship.

 

I don't the ships to be crowded. No, you are not alone, but it is not like the people are bothering you. And you can always watch the "wild life", ie people watching. That can be more fun than animals. :)

 

I suggest you try a cruise. I was similar, not sure if I would like it, but found I do enjoy it. Not as my only type of vacation, but as a maybe once a year thing.

 

I suggest you research, maybe talk to a travel agent. I would suggest a cruise with a balance of sea days and port days, to experience both.

 

No one can tell you if you will or will not like it.

[Flatbush Flyer]

As the others mentioned, your best resource will be a TA experienced in all areas of cruising, not just the mainstream Lines.

 

 

 

In addition to the number of passengers, you need to consider the passenger/space ratio, which is found by dividing the Gross Tonnage (GT) by maximum passengers. While the interior design may assist in passenger movement, this metric provides an idea of the space available per passenger.

 

 

 

Most mainstream cruise lines are in low to mid 30's, while the premium lines are in the 50's and luxury lines in the 60's.

 

 

 

Based on your questions I doubt any of the mainstream lines will meet your needs, so I would suggest starting by checking out Viking Ocean & Oceania. All Viking ships have 930 passengers, no casino, an included tour in every port, no casinos, no annoying photographers, free beer & wine at meals, etc. Oceania has ships with 684 or 1,250 passengers. Another step up would take you to the luxury lines - Crystal, Regent, Azamarra, Seabourn.

 

 

 

I would definitely give cruising a chance and even if it doesn't work out the first time, check out some other lines, as I believe you will find one that meets your needs.

 

 

 

When looking at premium & luxury lines, the base cost is substantially higher, but when I compare total costs including flights, transfers & on-board spend, the difference shrinks substantially.

 

 

 

Good luck finding a cruise line & itinerary that works for you.

 

 

 

Azamara bills itself as a premium line.

[GUT2407]

1. Book a smaller ship, never been on, nor interested in a 5000 passenger ship.

 

2. You spend as much or little as you want.

 

Really you won’t know if it’s for you until you try it.

[Z'Loth]

As you can tell by my signature, I say, with my tongue firmly planted in my cheek, that cruising is like adult summer camp. But, when you get down to it, a cruise is essentially a floating hotel where you can unpack once, and see a different destination. Sometimes, those port-of-calls feel more like a sampler of each destination, but if you like the port, that might be consideration for an longer stay at a destination. You don't even have to take a shore excursion, just get off the ship and explore the sights on your own. Just keep an eye on the time-back-on-board lest you be featured on the pier runners channel.

 

One thing to keep in mind is that each cruise line has it's own "audience" that it caters to. I cruised Carnival in 2003/2005, then cruised Celebrity in 2017. Carnival seems to cater to a younger audience and has a party atmosphere while Celebrity caters to a more mature audience. When I was on my Alaska cruise, it was good to just sit down, read a book, and look at the changing scenery.

 

If you want my pieces of advice:

• Find a good travel agent. While Cruise Critic forbids the mentioning of specific travel agents, I go through a local one that is associated with my auto club.
  
• Purchase the travel insurance at the same time of the cruise to get the pre-existing condition waiver.
  
• Destination, destination, destination. Also, look at a week-long cruise rather than a three-day cruise which have the reputation of being "booze cruises".
  
• Make sure you have a passport book. Although you can cruise with "lesser" documents such as a passport card or birth certificate, should you have to fly back on a emergency basis back to the United States, then only a passport book will do.
  
• Be sure to fly in at least one day before you are scheduled to board the ship. Although you could fly in on the same day of the cruise, you will end up taking a early morning flight, then be tired when you board the ship, not to mention stressed if there is flight delays.
  

If you are looking for a cruise suggestion, may I offer an week-long Alaska cruise that goes out of the Vancouver, BC. Very scenic cruise, and Alaska cruises are often on people's bucket lists.

[drsel]

Alaska and the Norwegian fjiords are must do cruises for the scenery.

[JPSemprini]

You can definitely find places to be alone, even on one ofthe big cruise ships. You certainly canrequest to be seated by yourself in the dining rooms. Lounging just watching the ocean go by is, tome, very relaxing, specifically on your private balcony. One of the reasons why I waited so long toeven join this website was that I don't really want to become good friends withothers on the cruise. I'm not joiningany roll calls, because I really don't want to "meet and mingle".It's not that I'm anti-social--I love to make new acquaintances, but myvacation is my vacation.

As far as the price goes, you kind of have to look at thebig picture, the price per day for food, lodging and entertainment. If you don't buy all the extra crap that thecruise lines try to sell you, you can actually travel to some really niceplaces for a relatively modest amount.

[cb at sea]

The true "Luxury" lines might suit you best...many are totally "all-inclusive"...a good TA can point you in the right direction.

 

However, the best way to see if cruising is for you, is to DO it! Give it a go! If you don't enjoy it, don't do it again!

[calliopecruiser]

Cruising means a lot of different things to different people and in different circumstances. As has been pointed out, Luxury and Premium lines have small to medium sized ships with passenger loads of a few hundred to about a thousand -- but more important than the number is the "passenger density". Crystal, for instance, has 900-1000 passenger capacity, but the ship is spacious, so that number of passengers does not lead to a crowded ship (a mainstream line would put almost twice as many people onto the same sized ship). The luxury and premium lines have some degree of "all inclusive" pricing (some more than others) so there's no nickel-and-diming.....some include excursions, some don't, some include all alcohol, some only include wine with dinner, etc but those lines usually all include gratuities (aka service charges).

 

 

Edited July 29, 2018 by calliopecruiser

[Roz]

Have you considered river cruising? There are several lines that offer what you're looking for - included food, alcohol, tips, transfers, tours, etc.

 

As far as ocean cruising, it's easy to cap expenses and figure out ahead of time the extras. For instance, I rarely go to the extra pay restaurants, as I find the included food venues to be more than adequate. You can go online and find out drink prices, hotel service charges, excursion costs, etc. ahead of time.

 

Roz

[bbodb1]

Most importantly, thank you to everyone who has responded. A definite common theme (easy for even more to spot) was to find a TA so I used the two links on CruiseCritic (one for CLIA and the other for ASTA) to find a TA near me. I will definitely continue down that route.

 

Most assuredly, an Alaskan cruise will be in our future - it is on our bucket list for sure. Even if I hate our first cruise (likely to be Caribbean), I will get back up on that horse for Alaska.

 

We do have our passports already (and Nexus cards) - so we should be good to go there.

 

Thanks again to y'all who have given me a lot to think about - that is exactly what I had hoped to find here and you kind folks delivered!

[hallasm]

I feel exact like you. I do not want to be part of a big group and ‘mingle with strangers’. However we do a lot of cruising and like the medium sized ships.

You can also consider a New England and Canada cruise or Europe in Mediterranean, Baltic or Norwegian Fjords.

Choose ‘My Time Dining’ and a table for two. And many quiet locations even on the bigger ships.

For you inspiration a link to me New England and Canada review and a short video

 

[Joebucks]

I get wanting to enjoy it alone, but the mention of costs being a concern does not go hand in hand. I think those recommending luxury lines are overshooting here. I could be wrong. You have to draw a line in the sand first for what you are willing to pay, then work around that. There are limitless options to enjoy some "alone time". I would let the fact that other people share a ship with you, ruin that. I bet you'd like MSC Yacht Club.

 

Overall, my strongest recommendation would be to just try a cruise. You don't want to one day wonder what could have been. It might become your new favorite thing (as has happened to many people on here, some who never expected that). You might not care for it. No harm no foul, you do a different vacation.

[calliopecruiser]

I get wanting to enjoy it alone, but the mention of costs being a concern does not go hand in hand. I think those recommending luxury lines are overshooting here. I could be wrong. You have to draw a line in the sand first for what you are willing to pay, then work around that. There are limitless options to enjoy some "alone time". I would let the fact that other people share a ship with you, ruin that. I bet you'd like MSC Yacht Club.

 

Overall, my strongest recommendation would be to just try a cruise. You don't want to one day wonder what could have been. It might become your new favorite thing (as has happened to many people on here, some who never expected that). You might not care for it. No harm no foul, you do a different vacation.

 

Actually, the original post doesn't suggest limited funds, but a desire to avoid nickel and diming and adding additional costs onto what they thought they were paying. And, even if costs are limited, they might get more pleasure from a luxury cruise every 3 years than a mainstream cruise every year.

[jocap]

Think of cruising being a little like staying in a good hotel, with entertainment provided, and each day driving around the area, knowing that you can return to a comfortable room with no need to hunt far for food and drink. The main difference is that you don't have to drive, because your hotel will drive you to the main sights each night. When you've arrived, it's your choice as to whether you take a tour, hire a car, wander around- or stay in bed!

The itinerary will be very important for this, so choose areas you want to see, and use the ship as a rather luxurious centre.

[SRF]

I have a friend who cruises a lot.

 

And she is a serious introvert and does not want to interact with people when she is cruising. It is her away time.

 

She cruises on RCI, but on the same ship. So she has a routine, get up, get coffee, go to X spot where is it quiet and no one around. At Y time, she moves to Z location as X is getting crowded and Z is quiet. And so forth. All the way to time to go to bed.

 

It would take a couple of cruises to develop this, but it can be done, even on the mass market lines.

[lauren009]

I love cruising because I get to spend everyday with my husband (we barely separate the whole time which is what be both want) without having to worry about cooking, cleaning, and our entertainment for the week is walking distance away. It's like the entire cruise is "date night" for us.

 

My coworker told me he hated cruising because of all the down time with nothing to do. When I cruise we go to a lot of the trivias during the day and we do sometimes watch movies and tv in the cabin, but that is fun for me and my husband, not a waste of time.

 

So, to me, it comes down to: will you hate having nothing to do? If yes, then maybe don't cruise, if no, then definitely do cruise. If you are in the first category, but want to try cruising, I'd advise you pick one of the largest ships by whichever cruise line (Oasis class for Royal Caribbean, Vista class for Carnival, Breakaway Plus class for Norwegian) as they will have the most things to do while on board.

[pacruise804]

Welcome! I've given my answers below:

 

Hello all,

 

Allow me a bit of a disclaimer here: we have never cruised before so as we are reading the information on this forum (and a lot of information there is!) among the questions we are trying to figure out is this: Is cruising right for us? Since we have no previous knowledge of cruising to fall back on, that first cruise decision will be crucial in determining if we ever want to cruise again. One of the questions I am posing below could be misread in a negative light - please understand we are trying to determine if cruising is right for us. Having said that, here we go:

There is a lot of good information to be found here and I am grateful for the knowledge shared. Most of what is posted here should be taken with a grain of salt though: this community is a small subset of cruising, and we all have our own frame of reference that forms answers which can be very different than yours.

 

Area of concern 1) Being among 5000 people, we want to enjoy the experience alone.

There are many mainstream ships with less than 5000 people. We have sailed CCL, RCI, NCL, and PCL. Regal Princess was probably the largest at ~3600 (if I remember correctly) and did not feel crowded. The new mega-mega ships do intimidate me, but I suspect there are nooks and crannies hidden on them too.

As we think back to previous vacations we really enjoyed, we took the most joy from seeing the wildlife, the wonders of nature, the scenery and serenity of being in places with very few other people. (One of our most enjoyable vacations was at Rocky Mountain National Park as we hiked many trails.) Cruising would seem to offer ample opportunities to see wildlife, scenery and nature but serenity would seem to be very hard to come by. We don't want to feel like we must move with a crowd to enjoy a cruise, but rather enjoy the experience together (away from crowds). Can a couple find alone time on a cruise outside of their cabin?

Is this even possible?

Would we be better off on a smaller cruise ship or a particular cruise line?

You will likely get more serenity on a premium/luxury line, but my husband and I enjoyed many evenings walking outside on ships after dinner enjoying the night sky and reflections on the water.

Early morning breakfasts were often not crowded too and could be enjoyed al fresco.

We've always had balconies and as long as neighbors are courteous there is plenty of alone time there too. Binoculars are great for wildlife and scenery near ports.

If you opt for a mainstream cruise, minimizing time at the pool or casino - especially during busy times - will help you avoid the crowds.

Area of concern 2) The escalating costs

As we have started to look at possible first cruises, I'm really getting frustrated and concerned at just how many charges there are after considering the room charges. Taxes, tips, drinks, food, etc all can produce a lot more charges. Is there a website or resource that cuts through all this - a website that shows you cruises (along with the different room choices) that actually includes the charges you must bear? I thought airline (and their extra charges) were bad, but those are nothing compared to cruise ship charges. I'd really like to find an option that lists a room charge and that charge includes everything on board the ship - even tips. Does that exist?

The more premium the line the more will be included. Mainstream lines will give you a breakdown of the costs though, so you can at least see your expected costs. You should be able to make a simple spreadsheet to compare costs if you find an itinerary you like. Much of the extra costs will vary based on your interests.

 

Thank you in advance for any info or insights offered. Obviously, I still have a lot of reading to do here on Cruise Critic! Are there other resources I should visit?

 

Bbodb1

 

(obviously) new to cruising maybe!

 

Hope that helps:)

[Roz]

As far as escalating costs, I find it much easier to budget for a cruise vacation than other types of vacations. Most basic costs are included, and it's pretty easy to determine the extras upfront.

 

Roz

[SRF]

Also, while main stream lines have addons, on the luxury lines, you pay for things you might not partake of.

 

So you don't drink alcohol, on a main stream line, no problem, just don't buy an alcoholic drink package. On a luxury line, alcohol is included, which means you paid for it, even if you do't drink.

 

And other than some all inclusive resorts, land vacations are all have add ons.

[pacruise804]

I somewhat understand the logic of not wanting to pay for something you don't use, but we do it on mainstream lines too.

 

On main stream lines you are also paying for the gym, library, or other facilities you may not use but are included in your fare. You are also paying for included food that you might not eat.

 

I think the increased fare on luxury lines has more to do with the level of service and small size (fewer passengers to spread the costs) than the included alcohol or specialty meals.