Help! Can’t decide which Cruise line to pick?

[Soccer_Mom]

Ok, my family (me34, DS14, gpa65, & gma60 - age at time of sailing) are planning a cruise to the British Isles/Western Europe for summer 2008. We are all new to cruising, except for grandma who is currently on a Carnival cruise in Mexico.

I'm in charge of the planning, so I've been reading everything I can on these boards. I have narrowed our selections down to 4 cruises on 4 different lines:

 

05/23/08 - RCI Jewels of the Seas $1699

05/29/08 - Norwegian Jewel $1599

06/14/08 - Celebrity's Constellation $2399

07/13/08 - Carnival's Splendor $1449

 

An awesome teen club is high priority to my DS14 & gma likes to gamble, other than that we are a very layed back kind of family and prefer more casual than formal.

 

I've read such good things about all these lines. Now I need your opinions...

 

Any help would greatly be appreciated.

[kestrel]

I assume your son will want to meet other teens, not just to enjoy the wonderful facilities in the teen center. Since many schools in the US won't end until mid-June or so, he will have a better chance to meet other teens if you sail after mid-June.

[calmac]

If you prefer more casual than formal then I would suggest Norwegian Jewel. The formal nights on Norwegian ships are optional and resort casual is acceptable in all dining venues (approx 10 on the Jewel) at all times.

 

I would agree with kestrel that there are likely to be few other teens on board until July.

[Soccer_Mom]

kestrel & calmac - thanks for the quick replies. DS's school gets out May 21st so that's what I was going by. I never thought about other schools not getting out until mid-June.:rolleyes:

[The Monocled Mutineer]

... of using P&O Cruises (who sail from Southampton) for a different cruising experience. Their cruises have a 98+ UK passenger compliment

 

Their Ventura (debuts April 2008), Aurora and Oriana have excellent family facilities.

 

As an alternative to London (pre or post cruise [or both!]) Southampton is an excellent base to explore Southern England, with a wide choice of hotels.

 

For day trips, Salisbury, Winchester, Portsmouth, Chichester are close to hand and a little further, Oxford and Bath.

 

Regards

[Soccer_Mom]

Thanks again for your suggestions.:o

[SelectSys]

kestrel & calmac - thanks for the quick replies. DS's school gets out May 21st so that's what I was going by. I never thought about other schools not getting out until mid-June.:rolleyes:

 

You are lucky as this early release from school will enable you to save quite a bit over cruises departing in late June.

 

I have been on the Jewel with my family and it is a great ship and would recommend it highly. We did the Baltic cruise from Harwich for 12 nights and both son and daughter found many kids on the ship - we went in early July.

 

If you want to depart from the UK, you might want to consider a trip to the Western Med as the weather will be quite nice and the itinerary may attract more kids than a ship going north into the Baltics - especially so early in the season.

[coxswain]

Another Jewels of the Seas fan here !!

 

 

 

 

jj....

[Nymue]

Have you considered Princess's British Isles / Ireland Cruise? We did it last year when it was 10 nights and loved it so much we've booked it again for next year, PLUS it's now 12 nights and includes Normandy France.

[ollienbertsmum]

I assume your son will want to meet other teens, not just to enjoy the wonderful facilities in the teen center. Since many schools in the US won't end until mid-June or so, he will have a better chance to meet other teens if you sail after mid-June.

 

Our schools do not break up until first week July, I think lots of Uk schools are later than that, although you do find kids take holiday during term time because it is so much cheaper. Schools do not approve.

 

We are going on the Jewel to the Baltic in July. There are a few teenagers on our sailing, and I know a number of friends who have taken teenagers to the Baltic on previous years. They seem to enjoy it.

 

It is not the same as being in the Med with all the 'fun in the sun', but if sun and pools are all you want you would probably be better off in a hotel.

 

We have booked on the Jewel and I am happy about that, but a part of me wonders if we would have been better off booking a cruise that started in a more interesting port than Harwich. It is a bit of a hike from London. I might have liked 2 days in Copenhagen or Stockholm pre cruise.

 

Hang on - a question for the OP - if school finishes may 21st, when does he go back ? How long a vacation does he get ?????

[calmac]

Schools in Scotland break up at the end of June while those in England and Wales tend to break up from the middle to end of July.

[Soccer_Mom]

ollienbertsmum - The school year begins the 3rd week of August, and usually gets out the week prior to Memorial weekend.

 

Nymue - Thanks for the suggestion. Both my son & I have traveled to that region & we both would like to try some place new like the Baltic region.

 

Thanks again for all the great feedback. :D

[CindyM64]

Soccer Mom,

 

I vote for Carnival, and I've been on Celebrity, NCL (my least favorite) and RCI. Just sailed on Carnival Destiny over Memorial Day week and there were PLENTY of teens and younger schoolkids onboard. Yes, that was a Caribbean itinerary, but I think you will find more kids on Carnival than the other lines, especially after Memorial Day. The kids had a blast in Camp Carnival and for grandma--I personally loved the Casino Staff on the Destiny the best of any ship I've sailed (15+).

 

I'm booked for 2 Med cruises on RCI, one this Sept and one next May, and I would be on Carnival if the itinerary wasn't one I've been on already.

 

Celebrity was definitely a much older crowd, and I hardly saw any kids.

 

Have a blast no matter which you choose!

 

Cindy

[ehogan]

We did the Carnival Freedom in March, and there were quite a few teens on board since the cruise went over the spring break. Carnival had excellent facilities for the kids,especially the younger ones. We really enjoyed the cruise, so much so we are booked on the Splendor for the Baltic next year.

 

Celebrity is generally an older crowd and is probably a bit too formal for teens and children.

 

We have sailed on NCL and enjoyed our cruise with them, however since I prefer traditional dining arrangements (not freestyle) we generally choose other cruise lines.

 

We sailed RCCL to the Med two years ago; their ships are, I think, the most beautiful at sea, but I think your teen would prefer Carnival to RCCL since Carnival has a more relaxed atmosphere.