Cruise Lines - what are the plusses and minus to you - lines you have cruised

Longboysfan · October 28, 2008

Curious what the group feels the best line they like is or was.

Upcoming will be my 24th cruise (I think as I was never a strice counter of them) and it should complete my 30th week at sea.

We started back in 1978 or 1979. On the old Volendan.

Then the Veenemdan, Doric, Oceanic, Statendam.

At least 7 or 8 HAL cruises and 3 Home lines

Then stopped for the kiddies......

Started again I think in 1994 or 1995 on the Zenith.

Then Horizon a lot of times.

I think we hit Bermuda about 14 times counting the first cruises.

Then we tried RCCL one time and then Princess 1 time.

Back to Celebrity and then HAL again.

And we have been back on Celebrity ever since.

Celebrity has the right mix of activities and we consider the food and service the best out there.

But I also see people who have done Carnival a lot and others with a nice mix.

What about those that switch about???????

Gregswife · October 28, 2008

We do not have a lot of experience cruising compared to many others here who are seasoned veterans. Our 12th is on deck, and all have been on Carnival. The reason we originally cruised with them was because we started sailing when our kids were young teens and our travel agent recommended that cruise line, for the kids programs and the cost, which were both factors back then. I know that there are a lot of members here who do not like Carnival at all, but price wise, we have found that you absolutely cannot beat their cost of a balcony stateroom and I would not want to sail without one. Our last cruise and our upcoming one are with our closest friends, who live in Texas and we have to sail from there as the husband will not fly and will not drive to a distant port, so we are limited on what ships we can sail on where they are concerned. I would like to try RCCL or Celebrity one day, but will have to do so when they are not sailing with us. I am hoping that one of those lines will sail from the new Bayport Cruise Terminal in Houston and we can give them a trial run. Of course, we could just go by ourselves and then could sail from wherever we liked, but it was so much fun sharing the experience with them...

JoeyandDavid · October 28, 2008

we have sailed Carnival, HAL, Celebrity, Princess, and RCL so far.. we would like to try Regent.. although for everyday cruising Celebrity has teh right fit for us..

Joanandjoe · October 28, 2008

As you can see from our signature, our sea cruises (not counting the river cruise and the one night Bahamas cruise) have been on, in order of preference, Regent, HAL, Windstar, Celebrity (X), and Regal (the wonderful Regal Empress).

We like Regent best because the food and service are the best, and the standard staterooms are the largest. The atmosphere is quieter and more restful than on larger ships, and that's a plus for us. Also a big plus is that there are no "nickle and diming" charges for things like booze, wine, soda, bottled water, tips, or alternative restaurants. Regent is a bit expensive for regular cruising, but it's wonderful.

HAL is our favorite mainstream line. The rooms are larger than equivalent rooms on X, they all have bathtubs (which is important to us), and we've had better food and service than on X. For us, the HAL ships are a bit too large, but they're significantly smaller than on X and the other mainstream lines. Ship size is the primary reason we've never tried Princess, Carnival, or RCCL--we don't like large ships.

Windstar has rooms that are smaller than on HAL but larger and better designed than standard rooms on X. There are no balconies or bathtubs, both minuses; but the food is good, and the small ship is able to go to ports that the big ones can't get to. Being under sail is indescribably wonderful!

We have not been fortunate on X. It's true that we've sailed on their two smallest and oldest ships, the Horizon and the Zenith; but, then, as noted, we don't like big ships. On our Horizon cruise, we had a suite with a tub, and the butler gave us excellent service. We did not like the food: for us, it was too bland and too salty, and the buffet was so-so at best. On the Zenith, we found the 170 square foot concierce class room claustrophobic (smaller than even on the river cruise) and poorly laid out, and we had the worst cabin attendant we've ever had. Food was worse than on the Horizon, and dining room service was only so-so. Since so many people love X, I'd like to give it another chance, in a larger room; but I probably won't be able to persuade Joan to do so.

The Regal Empress was (and probably still is) a beautiful ship; but the rooms were tiny, with showers we never quite figured out. Service was fantastic: when I lost a cap on a tooth, they found me a dentist in Martha's Vinyard who fixed it. Food was about on a par with X. Still, one had the feeling that this was a bargain basement cruise line.

That's it for pluses and minuses.

sailingrose · October 28, 2008

We have sailed on RCI (34), Carnival (2), HAL (1), Celebrity (1) Princess (5th coming up), Chandris (1) and Big Red Boat(2). Howie and I sailed for our honeymoon on Chandris and we loved it.

We tried Carnival as my kids first cruise.......the kids program was awful, the ship was awful and the food was soso, they hated it and never wanted to go again. We talked them into trying The Big Red Boat and they loved it! Next we tried RCI and the kids were in love! It seemed the perfect fit for our family with the right mix for all of us.

We have come to really like Princess as well as RCI and would choose either of them first but would gladly try Celebrity and HAL again anytime.

KeithnRita · October 28, 2008

Carnival (3 cruises)--Plus - cruise price, cabin size, friendly staff, food, entertainment

Minus - crowded pool areas, chair hogs, to many unattended kids

HAL (6 cruises)--Plus - cabin size, friendly staff, great service, food, smaller ship size

Minus - They became progressively like all the other lines by dropping some services

Celebrity (4 cruises)--Plus - cabin size, friendly staff, great service, food, waffles, pasta bar, entertainment, smaller ship size

Minus - None we can remember

RCI (1 cruise)--Plus - cruise price, friendly staff

Minus - Food, service, entertainment, chair hogs

NCL (1 cruise)--Plus - cabin size, friendly staff

Minus - Food, service, entertainment

Princess (1 cruise)--Plus - upgraded to balcony, friendly staff, food, entertainment

Minus - Ship size to large

Joe, we had the opposite of you and Joan on the Zenith and Horizon as far as food and service. We were sorry to see those ships leave the fleet.

We would give RCI another shot but probably not NCL unless they made us a Godfather offer!

deb1220 · October 29, 2008

We have sailed:

NCL - twice - I think I have the fondest memory of the 'Sky' and 'Sun' because the former was our first cruise and the latter was our Alaskan cruise which, so far, was my favorite and I really have no complaints about those ships.

RCL - twice - 'Enchantment' and 'Adventure'. I think I liked the size of Enchantment the best over Adventure - although a gorgeous ship, I think I'd rather sail on a more moderate-sized ship.

Princess - twice - 'Golden' and 'Star' which are essentially the same ship (same class) - they were my favorite. The size and layout of the cabins were good. The service was excellent and the shows were the best I'd seen at sea.

OceanGoingGal · October 29, 2008

Carnival - Festivale, Mardi Gras, Celebration (2), Spirit, Glory, Liberty. Great in every category. First 2 cruises back in the 80's very much a party atmosphere. Over the years I have seen this line do a complete turn around. Gone are the days of obnoxious drunks all over the place. Great family atmosphere aboard the ships now. Much improved in service and food is the best. A lot of improvement in the offerings of shore trips. More active and interesting choices are offered now.I will definitly sail this line again. Already booked.

Home Lines - Homeric I sailed this lovely ship to Bermuda. There was nothing I did not like about this line. One thing that was outstanding was that you could go to the deck stewards on the first day and reserve your lounge chairs and places. Your name was on it and it was always there for you. I have never seen this on other lines. Sovenir packets of menus and daily activities sheets and a guest booklet with all passenger listed. Nice touch! For the life of me I cannot understand why this line is no longer sailing. Would love to have sailed this line more.

Celebrity - Meridian - Boston to Bermuda. This ship was a tub. Ugly decor and rocked horribly. Food was good not outstanding. Service was great. Activities were fun. I do not remember shore tours being offered. Bermuda is fun and easy to get around on your own. It is doubtful that I will ever book Celebrity again. I thought it was overpriced for less than I got on other lines.

OceanGoingGal

cruisetarp · October 29, 2008

OceanGoingGal - The Home Lines still ranks as our #1 favorite cruise line for many of the reasons you mentioned. Those golden days of cruising are long gone.

RoyalCaribbean & Celebrity are our 2nd and 3rd choices.