Alaska vs Mediterranean cruise

[FSU Girl]

I'm trying to decide what to do for my 30th birthday celebration next year. Since it’s a big birthday I want to do something really fun and different. It’ll be just me and my fiancé and our first Norwegian Cruise. We are currently looking at the Bliss and the Epic, either an Alaskan cruise or a Mediterranean cruise. I’m not sure which one to pick and would like some opinions.

 

If we do the Alaskan cruise we will be in a balcony room, on the Mediterranean cruise we are looking at either a balcony or Haven room (Haven looks almost sold out, but is the same cost as a balcony room on the Bliss)

 

Flights are pretty much the same amount of time, the cruises are the same dates. We’ve both been to Alaska, I’ve been to the Mediterranean ports, my fiancé hasn’t. But we are doing a honeymoon cruise to Europe a few months later (completely different places though British Isles)

 

Which ship would be best to experience Norwegian for the first time? I know Bliss is basically brand new so the ship is probably nicer? Is it crazy to go to Europe twice in one year?

[BirdTravels]

Definitely the Med on the Epic.

[gkr283]

I'm trying to decide what to do for my 30th birthday celebration next year. Since it’s a big birthday I want to do something really fun and different. It’ll be just me and my fiancé and our first Norwegian Cruise. We are currently looking at the Bliss and the Epic, either an Alaskan cruise or a Mediterranean cruise. I’m not sure which one to pick and would like some opinions.

 

If we do the Alaskan cruise we will be in a balcony room, on the Mediterranean cruise we are looking at either a balcony or Haven room (Haven looks almost sold out, but is the same cost as a balcony room on the Bliss)

 

Flights are pretty much the same amount of time, the cruises are the same dates. We’ve both been to Alaska, I’ve been to the Mediterranean ports, my fiancé hasn’t. But we are doing a honeymoon cruise to Europe a few months later (completely different places though British Isles)

 

Which ship would be best to experience Norwegian for the first time? I know Bliss is basically brand new so the ship is probably nicer? Is it crazy to go to Europe twice in one year?

Definitely not crazy to do Europe twice. Med and British isles cruises will be totally different experiences.

 

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[casofilia]

If you are on your honeymoon choose a cruise with some sea days so you can chose to spend time together rather than have to be with lots of others doing shore excursions on port days. I would say that the UK cruise would fit that bill very nicely.

 

For the other take a land/cruise package to Alaska.

[Son of a son of a ...]

Definitely the Med on the Epic.

 

Agreed

[Victress2007]

The only thing I didn't enjoy in the Med is that the excursions were so far away from the ports. It seemed like we were spending a lot of time getting to where we were going. So if I did it again I would make sure to plan at least 1/2 of the ports with very little or no traveling time.

 

Vic

[Indykitten]

Two very different animals. I think either has the potential to be an amazing experience, so it really depends on what you prefer. Honestly we haven't done either, although I have Alaska booked for next year, and strongly considered the Med. Med will be exhausting, it's port day after port day, so I wouldn't be too worried about cabin, or even ship. Alaska is all about the itinerary. Through research I knew I wanted Glacier Bay, so ships and dates had to include that, which narrowed everything down.

[cruisequeen4ever]

Oh boy, I kept going back and forth on my recommendation as I read more of your situation; fun decision, though! I’ve done all 3 regions you mentioned, and they’re all awesome in their own way. British Isles is all about the culture. The Med is steeped in beauty and history. Alaska is a beautiful adventure land. If you want adventure and a fun new ship, go for Alaska. It’ll be a nice change of pace from your upcoming British Isles honeymoon. Alternatively, if you want relaxation and culture, do the Med all the way!! The Med is my favorite part of the world, and it calls to me every summer. I don’t think you can go to Europe too many times!! Let us know what you choose, and whatever you do, have a blast!

 

 

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[FSU Girl]

It is such a hard decision! It looks like the Haven is sold out (the room was available earlier today) is the Epic still worth sailing in a normal balcony room?

[FSU Girl]

It depends on what other options are (in the Mediterranean).

If it's the only ship doing a unique itinerary - yes.

Otherwise - no.

By design this is an overcrowded ship with close-in feel. A gargantian apartment building with an endless casino inside.

 

Hmm, I’d like to go on my actual birthday and that limits me on ships that are actually sailing over that date. Is there any chance a sold out Haven would become available again? Or is that not something people tend to cancel? I have heard that about the Epic which is a little concerning

[BostonGal35]

if you do Alaska, i would do a smaller ship. We did the one way, northbound, on the Sun. Glacier Bay is a must. We then did the round trip that did not go to Glacier Bay on Jewel. it was a great cruise, but we missed glacier bay.

[FSU Girl]

if you do Alaska, i would do a smaller ship. We did the one way, northbound, on the Sun. Glacier Bay is a must. We then did the round trip that did not go to Glacier Bay on Jewel. it was a great cruise, but we missed glacier bay.

We were thinking of the Bliss since it was a brand new ship. Are the smaller ships as nice?

[FSU Girl]

If we go with the Med cruise should we change the date to sail with the Haven? Or would a normal balcony room be okay to sail on my actual birthday?

[adjensen]

We were thinking of the Bliss since it was a brand new ship. Are the smaller ships as nice?

No. The food will be similar (though more options, Specialty Restaurant-wise, on bigger ships.) Cabins about the same (though the Bliss has the latest and greatest, depending on when the smaller ship was last refurbed, they might or might not.) Far more amenities, entertainment-wise, on a bigger ship, but are you really going to be taking advantage of them on an Alaskan cruise?

 

Smaller ships are more intimate and feel less crowded during sea days (again, may not matter during an Alaskan cruise, which are port-intensive,) but also can have issues with crew attitude, because there are less of them, bad attitudes can stand out more. We were on the Escape in February and the Sun in May, and even though we had a couple of unhappy crew on the Escape, we just stayed away from them, but on the Sun, the couple of bad apples weren't as easy to avoid.

 

It doesn't sound like money is much of an issue for you, but an Alaskan cruise on the Jewel will be significantly cheaper than on the Joy or Bliss. We are going in August 2019, and opted for the Jewel over the Bliss for that very reason, plus the "Free at Sea" promotion wasn't available on the Bliss at the time we were booking.

[Cruiser_1977]

Hmm, I’d like to go on my actual birthday and that limits me on ships that are actually sailing over that date. Is there any chance a sold out Haven would become available again? Or is that not something people tend to cancel? I have heard that about the Epic which is a little concerning

 

Call NCL or use a good TA! What is available online is not necessarily all of the available cabins :)

[FSU Girl]

Call NCL or use a good TA! What is available online is not necessarily all of the available cabins :)

I didn’t realize there is a possibility to find a cabin when it’s sold out online, this gives me hope thanks!

[FSU Girl]

What dates range will suite your plan?

My birthday is on May 20. Both Bliss and Epic have a cruise that leaves on May 19 and has a sea day for my birthday. It also works out because the following weekend is Memorial Day so we get an extra day to recover from the trip/ fly home

[FSU Girl]

The only week with a particular date in May really (dramatically) limits the optins.

 

 

7 Days Mediterranean-West

 

Yacht Club

MSC Cruises • MSC Fantasia

Marseille, Palma de Mallorca, Ibiza, Naples, Livorno, Genoa, Marseille

4 departure dates: May 19, 2019

Price is near 4,000 for a YC mini-suite for two (per cabin, not per person). It's available.

 

MSC Seaview is not available until May 29

 

7 Days Mediterranean-West

 

Yacht Club

MSC Cruises • MSC Seaview

Rome/Civitavecchia, Cannes, Palma de Mallorca, Barcelona, Ajaccio, Genoa, La Spezia, Rome/Civitavecchia

1 departure date: May 29 2019

 

Current price is about 4,800 for a YC suite for two (for the suite for two, not per person). It's available. Note that this YC is a much better experience vs Haven on Epic.

 

Any chances you can spend more than a week?

That will be a really great trip if you start on May 26 with a few days in Rome.

Then you take a cruise on the Seaview in a YC suite.

 

Back to your dates.

 

If not Haven (that IMO isn't worth the money they charge), the choice is Epic vs Oasis of the Seas (both on May 19).

Speaking of the ships, the experience is incomparable.

The itineraries are comparable (I personally prefer Cannes to Marseille - Epic).

 

7 Days Mediterranean-West

 

Royal Caribbean Int. • Oasis of the Seas

Barcelona, Palma de Mallorca, Marseille, La Spezia, Rome/Civitavecchia, Naples, Barcelona

4 departure dates: May 5, 12, 19, 26 2019

 

Enjoy your trip whatever your choice will be.

 

Thanks for this breakdown it’s really helpful! Unfortunately we can only do one week. I’m taking a lot of vacation time with my honeymoon already so taking more than a week for my birthday won’t be okay with my boss. But this gives me a lot to think about :)