What is the best cruise line experience?

[kmax1977]

what are the nicest cruise line destinations and best affordable trips? 

[CruiserBruce]

Way too many variables to answer. "Best" means many different things to different people. What does it mean to you?

 

Many might say a luxury line might be "best", but then affordable becomes a more complex problem.

 

Tell us about your and your interests. If you have children traveling with you...that affects things. Where do you want to go?

[donaldsc]

Seeing as you appear to be asking what the nicest cruise line experience ANYWHERE and the best budget experience ANYWHERE, you ca hardly expect a useful answer from anyone.  You have to be kidding on your 1st post.

 

However I will bite and give you 2 suggestions -

 

1) a 120 day world cruise or

 

2) an extended Antarctica cruise.

 

DON

[SRF]

I would say, around the world on Queen Mary, in the one of the aft facing two floor suites, complete with butler.

 

Depends on your income if it is affordable.  It must be for some people.  I think, last time I checked, it as only $155,000 per person.

[1980dory]

3 hours ago, SRF said:

I would say, around the world on Queen Mary, in the one of the aft facing two floor suites, complete with butler.

 

Depends on your income if it is affordable.  It must be for some people.  I think, last time I checked, it as only $155,000 per person.

Been there. Done that.  Looking for something a little more exciting.

Seriously, my last QM2 was a 7 day transatlantic in an inside.  Out of 21 cruises, it had to be one of the best.

kmax1977, talk to us.  What are you looking for in your best cruise line experience?

[calliopecruiser]

7 hours ago, kmax1977 said:

what are the nicest cruise line destinations and best affordable trips? 

Well, that depends on what you want and what you think is "best" and "affordable".  

 

[crystalspin]

9 hours ago, kmax1977 said:

what are the nicest cruise line destinations and best affordable trips? 

Hi Kmax! Welcome to Cruise Critic!

 

The least expensive departure/return port for you is probably Port Liberty, Bayonne NJ. This would be your "home port" in CC lingo! You wouldn't be paying for airline tickets to get to the port, just parking for your own car, or NJ Transit bus fares.

 

Royal Caribbean ships Adventure Of The Seas, Anthem OTS, and Oasis OTS sail from Bayonne, as does Celebrity's Summit. You can browse their itineraries here:

https://www.cruisecritic.com/cruiseto/cruiseitineraries.cfm?depcity=162

 

What is nicest is SO subjective! Just have a look at that page. You can narrow it down by dates you are looking at and the other filters. Do not fall into the trap of thinking you should start cruising with a short trip -- you won't get the true feel of the experience with much less than a seven-day cruise.

[lauren009]

The most affordable will not be nicest. You're going to get your best price with Carnival if you're okay with minimal frills. It's not the "nicest" but it's my favorite.

[navybankerteacher]

19 hours ago, kmax1977 said:

what are the nicest cruise line destinations and best affordable trips? 

The meaning of “nicest destinations” has  to depend on your interests/tastes.  For some it might be a one-day shopping opportunity at St. Thomas, or a week in Rome after getting off a cruise.  The “best affordable” trip has to depend on your budget; it might be just a walk to your neighborhood discount store.

[mjkacmom]

11 hours ago, crystalspin said:

Hi Kmax! Welcome to Cruise Critic!

 

The least expensive departure/return port for you is probably Port Liberty, Bayonne NJ. This would be your "home port" in CC lingo! You wouldn't be paying for airline tickets to get to the port, just parking for your own car, or NJ Transit bus fares.

 

Royal Caribbean ships Adventure Of The Seas, Anthem OTS, and Oasis OTS sail from Bayonne, as does Celebrity's Summit. You can browse their itineraries here:

https://www.cruisecritic.com/cruiseto/cruiseitineraries.cfm?depcity=162

 

What is nicest is SO subjective! Just have a look at that page. You can narrow it down by dates you are looking at and the other filters. Do not fall into the trap of thinking you should start cruising with a short trip -- you won't get the true feel of the experience with much less than a seven-day cruise.

Ships also sail out of Manhattan abc Brooklyn.

[AF-1]

I'm going out of Brooklyn with Princess.  I have sailed with them twice. I like them because the staff is professional and friendly; the ships are clean, and the food is abundant.  They have itineraries that go every where.  

[MCC retired]

There is no one Best Cruise Line for everyone . 

I suggest contacting a Cruise Specialist TA that can ask you the right questions to 

direct you to the right cruise line / cruise that will match your likes .

Ask friends, family , neighbors, coworkers , who cruise often , who they use.

 

[LynnTTT]

How old are you, what do you like to do, etc.

For most people, they start off with a Caribbean cruise, in winter (to escape the cold). Pick almost any cruise line leaving from Florida.

[Corby114]

I have forty plus cruises under my belt since I got hooked way back in May 1983. I have cruised with Carnival, Royal Caribbean, Holland America, and Norwegian to the Caribbean, Europe, Alaska, and Asia. All the cruises were nice with voyages as short as five nights with the longest trip fifteen nights on my last cruise to Asia. If you are considering a first cruise check out voyages from Florida. Off season rates from Tampa, Jacksonville, Miami, Fort Lauderdale, and Port Canaveral are the way to go on your first sailing. For a first time cruiser I would most likely suggest trying Carnival or Royal Caribbean. During the winter months there are plenty of ships that leave from all of the Florida ports. Early December is one of the most reasonable times to cruise with great rates available. Check with a local travel agent or an online cruise company that can help you and get you started. Also, a seven day sailing gives you the opportunity to see if cruising is for you.

[Hlitner]

As others have pointed out, there is no good answer to the OP's question.  It is an individual kind of thing.  For DW and Me, the best destination is the ship :).  Sitting at a quiet spot on a lovely day or evening at sea, and gazing out at a beautiful sea with no land in sight...is probably our favorite cruise experience.  When we have been cruising in places where there is no land for thousands of miles it makes the moment even more special.  

 

Many folks cruise for the ports, but some of us cruise because we love ships and the sea.  We are the ones for which there cannot be too many sea days :).

 

Hank

[1980dory]

36 minutes ago, Hlitner said:

As others have pointed out, there is no good answer to the OP's question.  It is an individual kind of thing.  For DW and Me, the best destination is the ship :).  Sitting at a quiet spot on a lovely day or evening at sea, and gazing out at a beautiful sea with no land in sight...is probably our favorite cruise experience.  When we have been cruising in places where there is no land for thousands of miles it makes the moment even more special.  

 

Many folks cruise for the ports, but some of us cruise because we love ships and the sea.  We are the ones for which there cannot be too many sea days :).

 

Hank

\

You should try that experience in a 30' boat across the Gulf of Mexico, solo.  An experience beyond description!  I feel you have a real understanding of what it's like.

[Hlitner]

9 hours ago, 1980dory said:

\

You should try that experience in a 30' boat across the Gulf of Mexico, solo.  An experience beyond description!  I feel you have a real understanding of what it's like.

Hmmm. ,  30 foot across the Gulf?  No thanks.  60 foot?  Yeah, that would be fun.   We have done a 43 meter old yacht in the Ionian Islands which was wonderful.

 

Hank

[clo]

16 hours ago, Hlitner said:

When we have been cruising in places where there is no land for thousands of miles it makes the moment even more special.  

When we did our Norwegian coastal cruise there was almost always land visible.   I thought it made the sea even more beautiful.  And, no, I didn't enhance the color of the water!

 

[navybankerteacher]

Sometimes an unenhanced photo just happens - the shifting patterns and colors in the Caribbean are almost worth putting up with the crowded islands you’ve seen several times (not to mention just putting the frigid Northeast behind you for a week or so).

[cb at sea]

Do you want simply a VACATION, or a discovery trip, or historical tours, wildlife viewing,  travel to exotic destinations or a party cruise?

 

Tell us the sorts of vacations you enjoy, and folks will chime in with suggestions!

[Aquahound]

On ‎6‎/‎24‎/‎2019 at 10:47 AM, kmax1977 said:

what are the nicest cruise line destinations and best affordable trips? 

 

That's really 2 separate questions.  Like others said, unless you come back and explain a little better what you're looking for, there's no way these questions can be answered. 

[clo]

One time poster.