Right Luxury Cruise for younger couple?

[editor@cruisecritic]

An oxymoron, perhaps? But I was just going to drop in and make this same suggestion -- go for Princess Grill or Queens Grill class on Queen Mary 2 -- you'll have a blend of upscale and yet there's nightlife onboard. The ship's best known for crossings but does offer some Mediterannean cruises (and Caribbean too). We had a great time.

I also second the posters who suggested SeaDream. We're in our early 40s (my husband and me) and we had a ball, an absolute ball, on SeaDream on a Caribbean cruise. The only thing is: no nightlife. But to us nightlife is a great dinner, great service, relaxing....

Best,

Carolyn

Carolyn Spencer Brown

Editor

Cruisecritic.com

 

Have you thought about the Queen Mary 2, she attracts a really good mix of ages and there is plenty of evening entertainment and a very late night nightclub. We love sailing her and we are both in our late 20's. If you take a grill suite you will get the best of all worlds, although that being said, visually the Britannia is better.

[WelovetaCruise]

Not sure what you've decided to do however, my opinion is Oceania. They have awesome smaller vessels, beautifully appointed with superb cuisine. They offer awesome itineraries and you're not getting shoved around by 3,000 folks! They ages ranges are typically 50'ish and up however, all are well traveled, interesting people. Most "younger" folks are spending their $'s on kids and not cruises! I think you'd have an incredible time and you won't have to spend twice the $'s of Regent, Crystal etc. What do I know though! :-)

[WelovetaCruise]

Not sure what you've decided to do however, my opinion is Oceania. They have awesome smaller vessels, beautifully appointed with superb cuisine. They offer awesome itineraries and you're not getting shoved around by 3,000 folks! The age ranges are typically 50'ish and up however, all are well traveled, interesting people. Most "younger" folks are spending their $'s on kids and not cruises! I think you'd have an incredible time and you won't have to spend twice the $'s of Regent, Crystal etc. What do I know though! :-)

[ChatKat in Ca.]

I've been on Regent, Celebrity and Oceania. Nothing can beat the Paul Gauguin for a honeymoon experience. Aside from that, I'd run like the plague from the Celebrity ships - too big, food is awful (yes, it's all pre plated steam tabled food yuck - despite the publicity).

 

If you want some nightlife and younger people with some lux, Oceania is a great choice. Regent is my 1st choice of lines, but, Oceania is better bang for the buck and the casual, upscale younger atmosphere is just a hair (barely) below. I love R's all inclusive, great food and the suites are exquisite. But Oceania was more laid back, younger passenger and the entertainment, has a broader appeal. A perfect honeymoon would be the Greek Isles (Istanbul to Athens or vice versa)

[AtA]

Not sure what you've decided to do however, my opinion is Oceania. They have awesome smaller vessels, beautifully appointed with superb cuisine. They offer awesome itineraries and you're not getting shoved around by 3,000 folks! They ages ranges are typically 50'ish and up however, all are well traveled, interesting people. Most "younger" folks are spending their $'s on kids and not cruises! I think you'd have an incredible time and you won't have to spend twice the $'s of Regent, Crystal etc. What do I know though! :-)

Actually because the other lines like Silversea, Seabourn, and Regent are all inclusive (meaning you don't pay for drinks, nor bottled water, or anything else like that), the price difference between an Oceana cruise and one of the others is nominal. Plus in the three I mentioned, the cabin will be larger when you pick a comparible cabin. However like Chat Kat mentioned, there are other intangibles.

[simonv]

Actually because the other lines like Silversea, Seabourn, and Regent are all inclusive (meaning you don't pay for drinks, nor bottled water, or anything else like that), the price difference between an Oceana cruise and one of the others is nominal.

 

Interesting. Then it makes Oceana more expensive than the other true luxuary lines, because their standard rooms are smaller than Silversea or Regent.

[AtA]

It all depends on the cruise you choose, what's included and such intangibles as how much you drink, etc.

[Ronrocks!]

Hello everyone!

 

This seems like a great place to ask my question. I hope to be getting married next year (hope to pop at Christmas). We will be sailing with her kids the week before Christmas on the Mariner of The Seas. This will be her first cruise and my second. If all goes well and no one gets seasick I would love to do a luxury cruise for our honeymoon. We are both in our early 40's late 30's. I would love to find a line that sails out of the East Coast if possible. If not at least out of the U.S. I am not concerned too much about ship activities and such. We will just want to relax by the pool and enjoy a good meal. I've noticed that some ships offer classes like cooking, pottery, etc at sea and that would be fun for us. Any ideas before I start my research? Thanks in advance for all your wisdom!!:D

 

Does anyone have the links to any of the ships mentioned? Who ownes them so I can do some research? Thanks!

[Maineac]

First I would work with a TA that is knowledgeable in luxury cruises.

Just a few cruise lines I'd check out would be...

Regent Seven Seas

Crystal Cruise Line

I know you want to sail from the U.S., but check out Seadream Yacht Club.:p

Our 25th is coming up and I can't think of a better way to celebrate!

You also might want to check out ********.com

I found my TA through there....They were very helpful and they have some great $ incentives if you book with them.

Bottom line is you have to do some research to find which cruise line is the best fit for you and your bride. Have fun looking and happy nuptials. :)

[editor@cruisecritic]

Ronrocks, you can do the research right here. Just go to "reviews" on the tool bar and click on the lines you find of interest.

I'd have to say if you really just want to kick back and you want great dining, then SeaDream is a great choice. Just no classes, alas, no pottery or whatever. We adored it because of that, just sprawled out on the Balinese beds, drank Champagne, did watersports from the ship's platform, slept really well, loved it all....

But if cooking is a hobby you both enjoy than I'd point you to Regent Seven Seas....

 

Carolyn

Carolyn Spencer Brown

Editor

Cruise Critic

 

Hello everyone!

 

This seems like a great place to ask my question. I hope to be getting married next year (hope to pop at Christmas). We will be sailing with her kids the week before Christmas on the Mariner of The Seas. This will be her first cruise and my second. If all goes well and no one gets seasick I would love to do a luxury cruise for our honeymoon. We are both in our early 40's late 30's. I would love to find a line that sails out of the East Coast if possible. If not at least out of the U.S. I am not concerned too much about ship activities and such. We will just want to relax by the pool and enjoy a good meal. I've noticed that some ships offer classes like cooking, pottery, etc at sea and that would be fun for us. Any ideas before I start my research? Thanks in advance for all your wisdom!!:D

 

Does anyone have the links to any of the ships mentioned? Who ownes them so I can do some research? Thanks!

[rl787]

I have just come back from a Silversea cruise and I felt it was superb. I have just read this threat and wondered if you have thought about Hebridean cruises. I am told that they are very good, anyone else got an opinion about them?

[advocado]

SeaDream is wonderful. l've been on it three times. BUT -- no balconies, which I have grown to love. Older (late 80's ships). Great crew and captains. Been on Seabourn. Loved it. Food and ambiance are wonderful but there are some stuffy, self important people to deal with (or simply ignore).

[meherio]

Ia orana

I just returned from a superb 12 cabin Yacht called " Haumana" ( Magical spirit in Tahitian ) Sailing the crystal waters of the Atoll called Rangiroa in French polynesia..

 

This sounds like what you could be looking for.

Check :

 

http://www.haumana-usa.com for more information

 

Meherio

[hvsteve1]

This may seem a little off the wall for this thread, but you may want to ask around on the Disney boards. Why? Well, when honeymooners stay at a Disney resort, the staff makes note of the fact, (if you tell them) and treat you special the whole time. The same goes for in the parks. We stayed at three Disney deluxe resorts for our 30th wedding anniversary and let them know at the time of reservation and check in. All three resorts did special stuff...balloons in the room, champaign, free gifts and, at one resort, an upgrade to a suite about double what we paid for:D . The Disney ships, while not luxury, have good size cabins and an area of the ship where the restuarant, lounge and common areas are "adults only". As I say, you may want to go on the Disney cruise board and see if anyone has experience beeing a honeymooner on a Disney ship.

[DebbieH103]

I just came back from Regent Voyager and am getting ready to go on my 3rd Silversea trip. You will meet a lot of interesting people on any luxury line, and age is not a big deal when talking to interesting people.

 

Voyager was bigger than the SS ships and had more dining choices and more variety in evening entertainment, along with a larger casino. SS is a bit more pampering and intimate.

 

Oceania cruises typically start around 10 nights, and if you are looking for a 7 night, you won't find it there. If that is not a factor, consider Azamara as well. Their cabins are a very smidge smaller, and the ships are just beautiful. You also get one night free in a specialty restaurant on all sailings.

 

We like the all-inclusive bit and don't want a bar bill.

[dest1ny]

We also looked at all the options for Luxury/premium cruises and have chosen Oceania. A couple of reasons were it was a larger ship than SeaDreams,it was more port extensive having 12-14 days cruises to the Med.and we wanted a balcony which SeaDreams does not offer.

Our visions of romantic nights on the balcony with a great bottle of vino had to be fulfilled :)

We are in our Mid 40s and most other high end cruises did appear to be marketed to a bit older demographic.

[Jack9Berkley]

We were both 40 this year and started cruising about 15 years ago. Back then it was much harder to find ships that werent the sole domain of the silver haired!

 

We too like luxury, but we prefer something more relaxed and more contemporary. Our favourite brand is SeaDream Yacht Club and their 110 pass. SeaDream I and II. No tux required though people do spruce up for dinner and they are very outdoor and laid back whilst being polished and worthy of their star rating.

 

We like Star Clippers flagship Royal Clipper - not so classy or all inclusive but great fun, though the two smaller ships are tired and pretty basic by comparison.

 

We like Crystal Symphony - more than Serenity. Its big, its fun and its good value.

 

Hope this helps.

[Jack9Berkley]

We have cruised on traditional cruise ships and retreated to our balcony on them - as is the want of many guests desperate to get away from being organised!

 

On SeaDream we love the amazing amount of outdoor space there is and relish that we are free to be ourselves.

 

We have now done 11 SeaDream cruises in the last 5 years and love what they do... we love being outdoor more, we love being that much more active than we have ever been on a trad cruise ship (however small and however highly star rated) and we love the food and the service.

 

I met one of their directors aboard earlier this month and hear that they are going to build a 3rd ship - yacht style with no balconies. I am sure that will be a winner too.

[surfklutz]

We also looked at all the options for Luxury/premium cruises and have chosen Oceania. A couple of reasons were it was a larger ship than SeaDreams,it was more port extensive having 12-14 days cruises to the Med.and we wanted a balcony which SeaDreams does not offer.

Our visions of romantic nights on the balcony with a great bottle of vino had to be fulfilled :)

We are in our Mid 40s and most other high end cruises did appear to be marketed to a bit older demographic.

 

Oceania will be a good choice - but it is not considered luxury. The small nature of SeaDream is EXACTLY what makes it what it is.

 

I just returned from Italy on SeaDream and found that the itinerary was truly port intensive - as you were in a port each day and spent from about 8 am to about 11:00 PM or longer in that port. We did shore excursions, shopping, water sports and ate dinner topside overlooking their great ports.

 

The balinese dreambed made up for night time with a bottle of wine would have been fabulous!

 

Enjoy your cruise.

[Jsipes]

Your request is difficult.....really fine ships with haight cusine and wine are usually filled with older people...its take a lifetime to earn and invest enough to enjoy and afford.....or if you are lucky enough to make executive pay you can't ever get away from the job.... I suggest you look into a private charter sloop or two-master in the carribean, where you can design your own itinerary and have your meals specially prepared.

[Jenn25SWife]

They are the new cruise line owned by Celebrity. I have heard great things about them. Its a casual cruise with luxury amenities (single seeting, butlers). The itineraries are awesome!!!

[kitty9]

Azamara is having a lot of problems delivering on what they claim to offer. Lots of problems with staff and the food is rumored to be not very good. Plus, Azamara isn't in any way considered luxury. Just a premium line with small ships. Their bookings are so soft that they have canceled a planned world cruise and canceled planned cruises to South America. Things like that don't bode well for any cruise line.

[TravelingNinja]

Luxury is the way to go. I'll alway go with the small boat luxury cruises, though. The food is fantastic, you get lots of personal attention, you get to meet everyone on board, and there's no wait to get off the ship. We've been on the Evolution, which only holds 32 people, and it was to die for. This is luxurious traveling, but also active vacationing with kayaking, snorkling, hiking, and diving all through the Galapagos Islands. Perfect for young couples who want some quality time on their trip. Check it out at http://www.galapagosexpeditions.com.