Is Celebrity the cruise line for us?

[dance4fun]

Pretty broad question, but I'm hoping to get lots of readers and feedback. We are considering a Caribbean for summer 2008. Open as to the destinatons. We are mid 50s couple who like to dance! Not great and not one style of dance (we like east coast swing, cha-cha, waltz, rock and roll, twist, hustle,...), we are looking for a cruise that has a dance band playing preferably every night in a lounge with a dance floor.

 

We also enjoy theme evenings - formals, 50-60s, disco, you name it we participate (except hairy chest contests). We look forward to 2 formal nights on the cruise.

 

Had a great time in mid 90s on RCCL Song of America's Oklahoma lounge in which they had dancing every night till about 2 am and a couple of afternoon ball room dancing sessions on a big dance floor, in addition to the disco for the 20 somethings. The ship also had a variety of theme nights - country western, formal, pirate night. We took the same cruise two years later and it was the same. (also it was the last cruise for SoA as RCCL ship). Many passengers participated in the themes and dancing. Energy level on ship was high.

 

(Fast forward through kids in college and we have money to cruise again)

 

Also had a very good time last year on HAL Westerdam, but the band generally played only a set before dinner and a set after dinner in an area with a dance floor. Other (jazz) bands played in a different location, but the jazz bands don't really play a variety of dance music. However, the energy level on the ship was low - we were generally joined only by a couple of other folks for one or two dances. Only one theme night was disco era in the disco. While people danced, few dressed in disco style.

 

This summer we took Carnival Victory to Canada. Liked the dance band alot, but the dancing "area" was the intersection of two hallways by the casino -- not a dance floor and people walking through either fore-aft or to the casino. While most passengers were very nice and let us dance, it did not encourage others to dance. They had ballroom dancing only on the first night AND at the same time as the second dinner seating. The disco played primarily to a younger crowd. The two lounges with dance floors were never used by a dance band. However, we did enjoy the cruise because of the energy on the ship.

 

Judging from the passengers response, it is easy to see why cruise ships have apparently de-emphasized dancing and theme nights. Few people participate. But is this self-fulfilling, if there is no dance floor, people won't dance. (Enough soap box)

 

Tell us about your experiences on the various Celebrity cruises to the Carribean, particularly with respect to dancing or theme nights. Should we consider RCI instead of X? We do like to eat well.

 

PS we read about big band cruises. Any feedback? Our issue with land based "big band" events that we have attended is that they play limited styles of music and they tend to outdraw the available dance floor space. We wonder if the cruises suffer the same issues?

 

Thanks for reading and your feedback!

[Lois R]

Hi:)

You might be interested to know Celebrity (at this point in time)

does not offer any Caribbean Cruises in the summertime. The ships

do sail the Caribbean but there are none in that region from May

until November.

Of course I cannot predict the future;) but from everything

I have read next summer will be the same as this one.

[dance4fun]

thanks

[hajekfam]

Pretty broad question, but I'm hoping to get lots of readers and feedback. We are considering a Caribbean for summer 2008. Open as to the destinatons. We are mid 50s couple who like to dance! Not great and not one style of dance (we like east coast swing, cha-cha, waltz, rock and roll, twist, hustle,...), we are looking for a cruise that has a dance band playing preferably every night in a lounge with a dance floor.

 

We also enjoy theme evenings - formals, 50-60s, disco, you name it we participate (except hairy chest contests). We look forward to 2 formal nights on the cruise.

 

Had a great time in mid 90s on RCCL Song of America's Oklahoma lounge in which they had dancing every night till about 2 am and a couple of afternoon ball room dancing sessions on a big dance floor, in addition to the disco for the 20 somethings. The ship also had a variety of theme nights - country western, formal, pirate night. We took the same cruise two years later and it was the same. (also it was the last cruise for SoA as RCCL ship). Many passengers participated in the themes and dancing. Energy level on ship was high.

 

(Fast forward through kids in college and we have money to cruise again)

 

Also had a very good time last year on HAL Westerdam, but the band generally played only a set before dinner and a set after dinner in an area with a dance floor. Other (jazz) bands played in a different location, but the jazz bands don't really play a variety of dance music. However, the energy level on the ship was low - we were generally joined only by a couple of other folks for one or two dances. Only one theme night was disco era in the disco. While people danced, few dressed in disco style.

 

This summer we took Carnival Victory to Canada. Liked the dance band alot, but the dancing "area" was the intersection of two hallways by the casino -- not a dance floor and people walking through either fore-aft or to the casino. While most passengers were very nice and let us dance, it did not encourage others to dance. They had ballroom dancing only on the first night AND at the same time as the second dinner seating. The disco played primarily to a younger crowd. The two lounges with dance floors were never used by a dance band. However, we did enjoy the cruise because of the energy on the ship.

 

Judging from the passengers response, it is easy to see why cruise ships have apparently de-emphasized dancing and theme nights. Few people participate. But is this self-fulfilling, if there is no dance floor, people won't dance. (Enough soap box)

 

Tell us about your experiences on the various Celebrity cruises to the Carribean, particularly with respect to dancing or theme nights. Should we consider RCI instead of X? We do like to eat well.

 

PS we read about big band cruises. Any feedback? Our issue with land based "big band" events that we have attended is that they play limited styles of music and they tend to outdraw the available dance floor space. We wonder if the cruises suffer the same issues?

 

Thanks for reading and your feedback!

 

We also ballroom dance. The rendez-vous lounge has ballroom type music nearly every night. They even will usually announce the type of music they will do next and take requests (you can tell them by dance rather than by song name). However, the dance floor is not extremely large and does get very crowded during the time between dinner seatings.

We have noticed that there are more and more "ballroom" dancers on each cruise we take with Celebrity so the dance floor gets more crowded. (In fact on one cruise, we had the pleasure of meeting a couple who were 3 time Holland champions.)

The other dance floors usually have danceable music as well - although not a lot of tangos. The bands usuallly play until midnight or 12:30, but the disco is open late. You can request songs from the DJ (I usually get a list of current popular songs from our dance instructor or websites for the different dance types) by name rather than style though

I would think that a big band cruise would have the same problem as a land dance - attract a lot of dancers to overwhelm the dance facilities.

The only cruiseline that I know of that has a ballroom is Cunard.

[smoothdancer]

We ballroom dance, us competitively, but we equally love to social dance. I am always interested in what a cruiseship dance floor will be like and the music that will be offered.

 

I find most lines offer ballroom dancing before dinner, and usually until about 10:30-11:00 after dinner, then it turns mostly into 50's and disco music. (Which we have fun with as well, though not our preference)

 

Here is my run-down.....

Of course the best ballroom dancing we have ever experienced was on the Queen Mary2. Just incredible. They have a full size ballroom, they have formal balls every night with great bands. On our short 4 day cruise I walked off the ships with blisters from so much dancing!. The do offer 7 day Caribbean cruises, but it is not cheap!

 

My next choice is Princess. Yes, the floors are not large but you can find ballroom, or similar music each evening in the Wheelhouse lounge. You will have to shorten your steps but you can have a fun full night of dancing... Just a short walk to the next bar/floor you can find good latin or swing music.

 

Next choice is NCL. Again the floors are small but for some reason not many come out to dance so there is room on the floor and the bands are so happy to have you there and will play anything you want. They also have fun dance contests during the cruise. NCL also has a floating floor in the main theatre. The floor extends out from under the stage to make a larger floor. They extend this floor for the Captians party, with a band for dancing. A fun party.

 

Sorry, Celebrity comes close to the bottom of my list(that is one tiny step above both Carnival and RCCL). I find Celebrity to offer the least amount of dancing, bars and dancing closing up early. As a side line, I am ranking these lines only based on dancing. If you were to ask what overall ship experience is my favorate I would pick Celebrity without thinking twice.

 

We have done a big band cruise. The bands were just incredible and you could wander from bar to bar with a different band, equally as good as the one you just left. The probelm however is that the ship is filled with dancers and there is just no room on the floors to dance. But if you enjoy listening to big band music, it is a great time. Big band also attracts a lot of Seniors, so a younger cruisers may have troble finding a lot of passangers in thier age bracket. Myself, I love to cruise with these Sr's. They are really really a lot of fun.

 

We never attend dance lessons. Our normal weekly schedule includes 3 priviate coaching lessons a week, 2 nights of practice. When on a cruise I dont want to learn anything, but just have fun!

 

Our website has pictures of the dance floors for each cruise we have been on. Unfortunately you will have to run through each picture review(which is usually about 9 pages or so) if you would like to see the floors.

 

http://WWW.JustCruisin-sv.com

[dance4fun]

Smoothdancer - Thank you so much for your view on the various crusie lines! We are close to deciding on a Princess cruise from NY to Eastern Caribbean for next year.