Better Ship

[DamoJ1983]

Hi

 

our honeymoon cruise was cancelled due to the virus and now I am looking at options. We did have the MSC Seaside booked with the san Jaun, st Thomas, Nassau booked but now are looking at other ships. Which is the best

 

MSC Seaside

Norwegian Joy

Caribbean princess

Symphony of the seas

[puppycanducruise]

Define "best".

[klfrodo]

I really wish I could help you decide, but really, choosing a ship for someone we don't know or even where your from would be impossible.

There are 1000 deciding factors when choosing a ship. Décor, entertainment, food venues, age variances, demographics, color scheme, number of pools, wifi speeds, on board staff reputation, cruise director or entertainment director, the list goes on and on.

 

You seem to have an itinerary selected. That's important

 

What can I say? I've only been on 1 of those ships. The Symphony of The Seas. Great ship, great food choices, great entertainment, but the ship is HUGE. Too large for me

Edited March 18, 2020 by klfrodo

[DamoJ1983]

Thanks for your answers. We are both mid thirties and looking for good entertainment (shows and music) onboard, good food, nice balcony cabins and plenty of pool area for sea days


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[CruiserBruce]

There is no such thing as one "best" ship (or "best" anything) for everyone.

[janetz]

Given your age and what you describe enjoying I would go with Symphony 

Yes it is huge but the ship is a destination in its own and is well laid out

Great shows, many pool options

Just try and sail when it is not summer or school break 😊

[rkacruiser]

Not sure when your planned cruise will be, but perhaps you ought to wait a bit and try to get some clarity as to when you will be able to cruise in the future?  

 

 

[Canuker]

Keep in mind, also, that the longer the cruise (particularly +7 days) the older the demographics on board.

[MCC retired]

On 3/18/2020 at 10:59 AM, DamoJ1983 said:

Thanks for your answers. We are both mid thirties and looking for good entertainment (shows and music) onboard, good food, nice balcony cabins and plenty of pool area for sea days


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They all match your preferences except “plenty of pool space “ which none of them qualify .

[Aquahound]

On 3/18/2020 at 6:30 AM, DamoJ1983 said:

Hi

 

our honeymoon cruise was cancelled due to the virus and now I am looking at options. We did have the MSC Seaside booked with the san Jaun, st Thomas, Nassau booked but now are looking at other ships. Which is the best

 

MSC Seaside

Norwegian Joy

Caribbean princess

Symphony of the seas

 

I'll take a crack at actually answering your question rather than lecturing you on what "best" means.  Of those choices, I would go with Symphony.  IMO, RCI, especially Oasis Class, has the best entertainment at sea.  You also mentioned balconies and pools.  All balconies on Oasis Class have chairs that lounge and tall tables you can actually eat on.   The main pool deck is the most expansive I've seen on any ship class.   

[leaveitallbehind]

On 3/19/2020 at 4:49 AM, Canuker said:

Keep in mind, also, that the longer the cruise (particularly +7 days) the older the demographics on board.

A bit misleading. There is a significant segment of their age group on board most 7 day cruises as that is the more common length of the typical cruises.  This is specially true with the mass market cruise lines reverenced by the OP.  Their age group, families, and mature adults are common on most 7 day cruises.

 

The older demographics you refer to typically are more present on cruises longer than 7 days.  Older demographics also tend to be more specific to certain cruise lines such as Crystal, HAL, etc., that cater their cruising style and offerings of longer itineraries to them that would fit with retirees or others with longer vacation times available and higher disposable income to spend for them.

 

As to the OP's selection to choose from IMO I would probably second the Symphony (Oasis class ship with RCI) as offering a very diverse and interesting option with venues and activities that may appeal to them with a Honeymoon cruise. 

 

The only notable distinction I would offer for awareness is that MSC is an Italian based company with primarily an Italian based crew, whereas the others are US based with an international crew.  MSC will tend to have a more international demographic on board and a more European service and atmosphere on as a result.  The others mentioned would be more US focused atmosphere and skewed demographics.

Edited March 21, 2020 by leaveitallbehind

[leaveitallbehind]

On 3/19/2020 at 4:49 AM, Canuker said:

Keep in mind, also, that the longer the cruise (particularly +7 days) the older the demographics on board.

Just re-read my response to you and see that you are indicating +7 days - which I glossed over.  To be clear, you are correct regarding that, which I supported in my response.  

 

However I was incorrect with indicating that you were commenting on 7 days - my mistake, for which I apologize.  I unintentionally misrepresented your intended message. 

 

We are saying the same thing - I just tripped over your correct response in doing so on my part, for which I again apologize.

Edited March 21, 2020 by leaveitallbehind

[rkacruiser]

8 hours ago, leaveitallbehind said:

The only notable distinction I would offer for awareness is that MSC is an Italian based company with primarily an Italian based crew, whereas the others are US based with an international crew.  MSC will tend to have a more international demographic on board and a more European service and atmosphere on as a result.  The others mentioned would be more US focused atmosphere and skewed demographics.

 

On MSC Meraviglia in January, our Cruise Director stated that MSC is an European cruise company.  Trying, I think, to make them somewhat different from competitor Costa Cruises.  The crew demographics have many Italians (our Captain and Hotel Director were Italians), but other officers and the rest of the crew with whom guests come into contact were truly international.  My Butler and a favorite bartender were from Madagascar; his assistant was a Filipino; the Head Butler was a citizen of Ukraine; the YC Director was Italian.  The CD was an American Samoan citizen living in Las Vegas.  Guests were likewise from many different countries including Russia.  Some could not speak/understand English very well (and I surely couldn't understand their language either).  It was an exceptionally interesting cruise experience and one that I would like to repeat.

 

I have found that the demographics on cruises of whatever length to be very wide.  While one could expect the age of the guests on very long cruises to be closer to the senior citizen side of the spectrum, my world cruise of 113 days included a few young children who were being home schooled by their parents.  My shortest cruises of a 4 day and a 6 day (that one was a Spring break cruise on Carnival Freedom) had some guests who were far more "Senior" than I was even then.  

[leaveitallbehind]

31 minutes ago, rkacruiser said:

 

On MSC Meraviglia in January, our Cruise Director stated that MSC is an European cruise company.  Trying, I think, to make them somewhat different from competitor Costa Cruises.  The crew demographics have many Italians (our Captain and Hotel Director were Italians), but other officers and the rest of the crew with whom guests come into contact were truly international.  My Butler and a favorite bartender were from Madagascar; his assistant was a Filipino; the Head Butler was a citizen of Ukraine; the YC Director was Italian.  The CD was an American Samoan citizen living in Las Vegas.  Guests were likewise from many different countries including Russia.  Some could not speak/understand English very well (and I surely couldn't understand their language either). 

 

Just to further state, MSC stands for Mediterranean Shipping Company, which is a container shipping company, of which the cruise line is a part.  It is privately held by an Italian family, founded in Naples, Italy, although they are now headquartered in Geneva Switzerland. They predominantly have been global with their sailings outside of the US, and only in recent years entered the US market and are now competing for a share of that business

 

I overstated that the crew is Italian, as certainly there are other nationalities employed on board.  But it is Italian based cruise company, European in style, and typically strongly international in passenger make up as well.  

Edited March 21, 2020 by leaveitallbehind

[Host Kat]

On 3/18/2020 at 8:30 AM, DamoJ1983 said:

Hi

 

our honeymoon cruise was cancelled due to the virus and now I am looking at options...

 

Howdy!  

 

Perhaps the following Cruise Critic article updated March 9, 2020 will be helpful:

 

10 Best Honeymoon Cruises

 

Happy sails,

 

Host Kat  

[Georgia_Peaches]

Each ship will offer something unique but they will have lots of similarities as well.  Whenever I am researching a new ship, I always start with videos posted on Youtube.  You will find extensive videos for each of the ships mentioned where vloggers have uploaded ship tours, room tours, food reviews, etc.  Be warned though, it can get overwhelming.  Before you start watching, I'd make a list of things that are important to you and then see how many of those things get ticked off the list as you watch each video.  Have fun.  The ship exploration and planning is part of the fun IMO!

[deadzone1003]

Your demographic fit will be NCL Joy or Symphony of the Seas.  Foodwise, probably Caribbean Princess.  Balconies I would give the nudge to Caribbean Princess as they have very large balconies in the Caribbean and Dolphin decks.  The pool area is definitely Princess as they have 3 pools on the Lido Deck with the small one in the aft of the ship.  On seadays, you will have a hard time finding a lounger next to the pool on any ship.  Entertainment will be Symphony of the Seas or NCL Joy.  On your first cruise of your life, you will probably be happy on any ship.  Problem now is with the coronavirus, you can't be absolutely sure when you will disembark.  

[AF-1]

I agree with deadzone1003;  I have been on board Royal Oasis class ships;  they are awesome and have lots to offer;  Been on Caribbean Princess and had a ball too.  Have sailed with NCL and they are the most laid back of all the lines you mentioned

[Cruzaholic41]

I’ve cruised all those ships and without any hesitation, I recommend Symphony. 

[broadwaybaby123]

On 3/18/2020 at 9:30 AM, DamoJ1983 said:

Hi

 

our honeymoon cruise was cancelled due to the virus and now I am looking at options. We did have the MSC Seaside booked with the san Jaun, st Thomas, Nassau booked but now are looking at other ships. Which is the best

 

MSC Seaside

Norwegian Joy

Caribbean princess

Symphony of the seas

Do NOT go on Norwegian Joy!  I tried Norwegian back in Feb. and was not pleased at all!  I was on the Bliss and there were long lines EVERYWHERE!  Upcharges galore, not enough staff or elevators....the list goes on.  Food was also repeated, and my friend experienced that issue as well on the Gem just 3 months before I went,

 

Princess is good, a bit pricey.  My mom's boss isn't a fan of the line, but I've tried it before and it was good.  Service was excellent, the ship was beautiful, but I wasn't a fan of some of the activities onboard.

 

RC is great, love that line.  They're aimed at the young adult/adventurous crowd for lack of a better term.  Their private island is fabulous!

[Kate P.C]

We loved the Caribbean Princess, sailed three times with her, haven't sailed on the other ships though.

[AF-1]

1 hour ago, Kate P.C said:

We loved the Caribbean Princess, sailed three times with her, haven't sailed on the other ships though.

I had fun on this ship too.  Loved Skywalkers in the back.  Crew was fantastic

[rkacruiser]

I have a neighbor who sailed on Symphony of the Seas in January for their first cruise.  They were not impressed:  too many people with too few crew to provide good service.  I fear that this experience was sufficiently negative that they won't be cruising again.

[cb at sea]

Your cruise will be what you make it.  If you don't require all the bells and whistles of the newer, larger ships, you'll be fine.  We like enough space for roomy cabins, and a nice pool deck....that's about the extent of our activities, although we do enjoy the casino at times.  If you don't need bumper cars, surfing platforms, rock walls or skating rinks, you can pretty much pick ANY ship.....so go, and enjoy!

 

[evandbob]

On 5/23/2020 at 4:51 PM, rkacruiser said:

I have a neighbor who sailed on Symphony of the Seas in January for their first cruise.  They were not impressed:  too many people with too few crew to provide good service.  I fear that this experience was sufficiently negative that they won't be cruising again.

 

We sailed the Symphony this past January as well, but were surprised at the general lack of lines almost everywhere on the ship, including embarkation, ports and debarkation.  We had read with close to 6,000 pax, this ship would be wall to wall queues, but that wasn't our experience at all.

 

We did notice that finding a table on the buffet deck was difficult during prime breakfast and lunch hours, and we didn't like that people were holding seats in the theaters for their friends and relatives waiting in the "will call" overflow line. Otherwise, it was a wonderful time on a beautiful ship.  

 

Just goes to show that people can have the same experience yet interpret it differently.  Diversity makes the world go round!