Considering RCI Questions

[ehough]

DH and I just returned from our very first cruise- we went to Alaska with Holland America. Well, apparently we've caught the "cruise bug" because I'm already planning our next one!

 

However, I have some basic questions. We want to try another cruise line- HAL was nice. Very nice. But we're 22 and 25 and are looking for a little bit more relaxed of a cruise line (not a party ship, but a tad less fancy than HAL). Can anyone attempt to illuminate some differences between HAL and RCI?

 

Also, I'm tentatively looking at either the Serenade, the Adventure, or the Mariner. I'm so overwhelmed from looking at the website- can anyone briefly describe any major differences between the ships, if any?

 

Finally, I'm trying to weigh which ship we'd prefer with which itinerary we'd prefer. We're hoping to go to the Caribbean in January- does anyone have any ports that they particularly favored, and for what reasons?

 

Thanks for any and all help. It's so overwhelming with so much information out there!

[horsefeathers75]

I have never been on HAL;however, having a lot of cruising friends which have sailed all the cruise lines, they said that until they are much older, they will not do HAL again and their preference in cruising is RCCL.

 

If you pick either the Voyager line (Adventure, Voyager, Explorer, Navigator) or Radiance line (Radiance, Brilliance, Serenade) you will not be disappointed. I have been on both and they are both very nice. Should you go on the Voyager line you will have a hard time going back to a smaller ship. Only because there is so much to do on the Voyage line from ice skating, in-line skating. The Radiance classes do not have the Ice-Skating Rink but the the Voyager line does not have the pool tables that the Radiance do. The Voyager line has nicer showers. The Radiance line has some balconies that have obstuctions so you must be careful should you pick a balcony cabin.

 

The Caribbean is always a nice itinerary but it has to be something you like.

Always pick an itinerary with at least 2 sea days so you can relax and enjoy the ship.

 

Hope this helps. I have done 12 RCCL cruises so any questions just ask. 1 Carnival and 1 NCL.

 

Happy sailing. :D

[PhoenixCruiser]

Since you don't have any kids I highly suggest the Serenade, I've only heard great things about the Radiance (Radiance, Brilliance, Jewel and Serenade) class of ships. And the ports are good as well!

 

There is a ton of (really Good) information on RCI's website.

 

Have fun planning :D

 

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[GMoney]

I've done a bunch of RCI cruises, and did my first HAL cruise in March on the Noordam out of NYC, 12 nights to the Southern Caribbean. The cruise was great (largely b/c of the itinierary) and I like HAL, but I'm not rushing back. Here are some of the differences I noticed, in no particular order. B/c we are not comparing specific ships, these are general comments, and I am in no means a HAL expert after 1 cruise with them. Also, the Noordam is brand new and not necessarily representative of HALs ships.

 

+ Demographics. This is obvious. :) Many of the pax are older on HAL, and in some cases, significantly older. Nightlife can be tame to non-existant. RCI is younger and more family oriented.

 

+ Pool activities. HAL is very toned down, with just a band playing at certain times. RCI offers lots of music, contests and other entertainment, especially on sea days.

 

+ HAL has a beautiful large covered pool area. Some RCI ships don't have a covered pool at all, or if they do, its on the small side.

 

+ Buffet. RCI Windjammer set up is very effective at serving large crowds and handling traffic. HAL's was very congested and prone to lines.

 

+ HAL ships are generally much smaller and do not have the extras that some RCI ships do (no ice skating, rock climbing, golf, promenade). With that said, HAL ships give you more of a feeling that you are at sea, and they have a lot more elevators.

 

+ HAL auto charges you $10 / pp / per day for tips. With RCI you can add them to you account if you request it, or you tip cash at the end.

 

+ HAL tends to offer lots of lectures, talks and educational things. RCI is morte activity based.

 

+ I found mixed drinks on HAL to be 1) less expensive and 2) better made.

 

+ HAL bedding is vastly superior to RCI, and even beats out the improved RCI bedding.

 

+ HAL's casino is on the smallish side.

 

+ HAL's internet costs more ($3.50 activation fee, 75 cent / min, but runs much faster. RCI is 50 cents / min and is generally pokey.

 

+ HAL offers some unique stops in the Caribbean that RCI doesn't or is just getting into (Tortola, Dominica)

 

+ HAL's thermal suite and hyrdo pool are the best at sea and much better than RCI Radiance class.

 

+ I really preferred the food quality and service at RCI's Chops over the HAL specialty restaurant (Pinnacle Grill).

 

+ I find the RCI dining rooms to be much more spacious than HALs, which were very cramped.

 

+ RCI nightly entertainment / shows are more geared toward a younger audience and are slightly better than HALs (though neither will blow you away).

 

+ HALs Explorations Cafe is a great room (library / game room, internet combo). RCI has no equivalent.

 

+ HAL offers comp hors d'oeuvers (sp) in their bars in the evenings.

 

If you can swing it, I would highly recommend the Noordam 12 night Southern Caribbean out of NYC. Incredible ship and awesome itinerary. RCI's Explorer will start a similar run in 2007 but I do not recommend it b/c it has no covered pool.

 

If not, then you really can't go wrong on any Voyager or Radiance class ship that sails out of FLA.

 

Hope that helps!

[wrp96]

For ships, my preferences is the Serenade over the Voyager class (Mariner and Adventure) and especially coming from HAL, it won't be so overwhelming. It is still a large ship with tons to do, but is very elegant with tons of glass and since it holds less people than the Voyager class it feels less crowded. I felt more like I was at sea on the Radiance class over the Voyager class. Still either class of ships are beautiful, amazing ships.

 

For ports, my favorites are in the Southern Caribbean, Aruba, Barbados, St. Lucia, St. Thomas, and then also Panama Canal and Costa Rica.

[Cruising89143]

I can't give you any advice on HAL verses RCI as I have not cruised on HAL but if I were choosing an itinerary it would either be the eastern or southern Caribbean. If you are more of a person that likes the beaches and water sports then the western would more than likely be your choice. I like the eastern because of the islands. They are not flat like Cozumel and Grand Cayman. Plus less tendering usually in the eastern. Good luck on whichever ship and itinerary you choose.

[blueboro]

Really the age of the crowd depends more on the itinerary and number of days than the brand of the ship. We just got off the Explorer and the crowd was a mix of everything from kids in strollers to folks on rascals. On an October Caribbean itinerary on HAL's Zuiderdam, the crowd may have been slightly older than the Explorer but nothing dramatic. Caribbean cruises, regardless of which line, typically have a younger crowd than Alaska or Europe.

[RM]

RCI would be a good fit for you. We have sailed on HAL and liked it but not enough energy for us. We like the pool games, game shows, workouts programs, casino, etc. We have always found that RCI has some of the best crews at sea too. We have many crew friends from our years of sailing and enjoy visiting with them each trip.

 

I love the Radiance class ships (Jewel, Radiance, Serenade & Brilliance) They are probably my favorite class. Not too big, not too small.

 

Voyager class ships have their perks but would you use them? (Rock walls, parades, ice skating, etc). If you love that kind of stuff choose one of them.

 

As far as itinerary, it depends how much beach/water time you want. Our favorite ports are St. Martin, Barbados, Aruba and Cozumel. Great beaches and water sports in all of them.