To what degree does the ship determine your next cruise

jacketwatch · March 4, 2009

I just came to realize how important this is for us. It used to be itinerary mainly but I must say that after experiencing the AOS last May/June the ship has become a big factor. The Island Princess was nice but IMHO it pales to the AOS and the Voyager class ships from RCI. Now for the next cruise the search will be determined by itinerary, the ship itself and the number of sea days. For us the fewer the better. This is why the Celebrity Solstice's 10 day Greek island cruise with one one or two sea days is hot on our list. What about you?

JoeyandDavid · March 4, 2009

Great question.....

It's not so much as which ship as it is which cruiseline........ The Itinerary is still important to us.. but cruise line is even more important as we like to decide which companies receive our vacation dollars...

GottaCruz · March 4, 2009

For us, it's a bit different than for most. Since we live so close to the port in Ft. Lauderdale , it's just a matter of whichever ship is sailing for 4 days from there. So far, we've just sailed the Majesty of the Seas, the Enchantment of the Seas several times and the Navigator of the Seas a couple of times. We used to sail from Miami when we did Carnival but Ft. Lauderdale is so much closer to us that we 've been sticking to Ft. Lauderdale. With a teenager, we can't handle more than 4 days at a time , with having to keep track of her. We hope we can sail some other cruiselines out of Ft. Lauderdale one of these days. Since I don't fly anymore, though, we are limited to those 2 ports and we're very content with them. We don't even care where the ship goes, for us it's just relaxation.

JoeyandDavid · March 4, 2009

Since I don't fly anymore, though, we are limited to those 2 ports and we're very content with them. We don't even care where the ship goes, for us it's just relaxation.

how long of a drive would it be for you and Wayne to sail out of Port Canaveral?

Longboysfan · March 4, 2009

For us, it's a bit different than for most. Since we live so close to the port in Ft. Lauderdale , it's just a matter of whichever ship is sailing for 4 days from there. So far, we've just sailed the Majesty of the Seas, the Enchantment of the Seas several times and the Navigator of the Seas a couple of times. We used to sail from Miami when we did Carnival but Ft. Lauderdale is so much closer to us that we 've been sticking to Ft. Lauderdale. With a teenager, we can't handle more than 4 days at a time , with having to keep track of her. We hope we can sail some other cruiselines out of Ft. Lauderdale one of these days. Since I don't fly anymore, though, we are limited to those 2 ports and we're very content with them. We don't even care where the ship goes, for us it's just relaxation.

The Ft. Lauderdale now has a lock box drop for your teen.

Bring then to the pier for your cruise.

They lock them in a box and feed them for you.

$17.00 per day for the standard rate.

$19.00 per day if you want them to have the upgrades menu. That is cheeze on the burger and jelly on the shadwich.

$24.00 per day if you want to have a mattress provided.

$1.00 extra for a pillow.

Then thry really nickle and dime you.....

====================================

$3.00 per day if electricity is to be provided.

$5.00 per day if they are to have TV at night - 4 hours only.

$7.00 per day for 1 hours exercise.

And so on..........

coloradocruisers · March 4, 2009

We did factor the ship in when planning our upcoming cruise. We started off looking at iteneraries for Oasis of the Seas. Then we compared to older ships, and settled on a Southern Carribean itenerary with Adventure of the Seas. It was just a much better value.

KeithnRita · March 4, 2009

We really don't care just as long as it's one we have not been on. The only ship we've ever repeated is the Zaandam. It's the perfect size for us. We would repeat on the Constellation if she had a cruise that fit our schedule.

DebbieandJerry · March 4, 2009

Excellent question. Even better observation.

I wonder if our tastes change as we take more cruises. Think about the first 2 cruises.

For us, we didn't really care so much about the ship or the line because we didn't know any better (and didn't have a base for comparison). Now that we have cruised on a number of lines, we have narrowed our likes and dislikes.

We have a general idea as to the size of the ship and thus, the features. After going on a ship that did not have a casino and another ship that did not have any exercise programs or room, we vowed NEVER to put ourselves in that situation.

So, yes, the ship is a big factor to us. But so is itinerary, cost, days at sea, etc.

GottaCruz · March 5, 2009

JOey, from here to POrt Canaveral is a little over 3 hours for us. We hear it's a beautiful port but too far for us, especially driving home after. Wayne loves the fact that when sailing back after the cruise, I drop him off at his office on the way home so he doesn't miss Monday at work. Yeah, he does really love his job.

Longboysfan, that lock box.... if only. Worth every darn penny. Ah...... to cruise without worry, don't know what it's like. ONe day..........I'd even leave a tip on top of that.

jacketwatch · March 5, 2009

We did factor the ship in when planning our upcoming cruise. We started off looking at iteneraries for Oasis of the Seas. Then we compared to older ships, and settled on a Southern Carribean itenerary with Adventure of the Seas. It was just a much better value.

We did that ships and route last May. It was awesome. :thumbup: