October 16th, 2009
What are my options for quality Caribbean cruises?
I know of companies like Carnival that are known for fun cruises.. But the first step of my research starts here – I would like to know the options for quality Caribbean cruise companies with the most bang for the buck.
There will be three people – all family, and all are adults (18 is the youngest). The timeframe is aimed around mid-July.
It is preferred to leave from the port of Houston/Galveston.
One week cruises is the goal, but if two week cruises are available for reasonable prices then great!
Once again, I’m not looking for quotes and solicitation, just the options available for Caribbean cruises from either personal experience or straight known facts.
Enlighten me, please!
I know of companies like Carnival that are known for fun cruises.. But the first step of my research starts here – I would like to know the options for quality Caribbean cruise companies with the most bang for the buck.
There will be three people – all family, and all are adults (18 is the youngest). The timeframe is aimed around mid-July.
It is preferred to leave from the port of Houston/Galveston.
One week cruises is the goal, but if two week cruises are available for reasonable prices then great!
Once again, I’m not looking for quotes and solicitation, just the options available for Caribbean cruises from either personal experience or straight known facts.
Enlighten me, please!
May I accentuate a previous statement.. I’m only asking for personal experiences. Opinions! I’ve used google to get some prices and some companies, but i can’t ask google about it’s personal experiences with a cruise. Learn to read you asshat, flock.
Ok, you seem to want information from people who have actually cruised. I have been on more than 20 cruises on Princess, Celebrity, Holland America, Norwegian, and Royal Caribbean ships. I can vouch that they are good cruise lines and you are correct in that there are some differences that you need to be aware of in making your selection of which is "best".
Princess, Celebrity and Holland America have great ships are more classy and reserved. They are just a little more upscale and luxurious than the other cruise lines. Passengers tend to be middle aged and up and have cruised multiple times. Holland America has mostly senior citizens (65 and up) cruising on its ships and very few kids and young people. I found that most people on these lines were kinda stand-offish and aloft
Norwegian cruise line is good ( I have done 8 NCL cruises) , they cater to families and have mostly passengers in the range of age 35-40 and up. Its the line that you want to go on if you want to be informal for pretty much your whole cruise. They have formal nights like other cruise lines but they do not stress dressing up; they call it "dress up if you want to" night. Norwegian has the most alternative eating places on their ships, but you will have to pay a fee of $10 to $20 per person per visit to eat at some of them. All other cruise lines also have these alternatives but usually only two such places.
Carnival is the budget cruise line that generally has the lowest prices. They cater to young people, first time cruiser and families. Most of their cruiser will be in the 20 to 45 age group and there will be lots of kids on board. Their ships have some good on-board activities like water slides and basketball court. The best of their ships are their newer ships so do pay attention to when the ship was launched is you find a good and really cheap cruise.
Royal Caribbean is also a cruise line that caters to young cruiser and families; ages about 25/30 to 60. It has the advantage of having the most on-board activities, like ice skating, roller skating, mini-golf course, a basketball/tennis court, the rock climbing wall, and on the new Oasis and Freedom Class ships the surfing simulator, the Flowrider. The RC ships that you should look for cruises on are the RC’s Oasis Class, Freedom Class, and Voyager Class ships.
For me the best cruise lines is Royal Caribbean and they do cruise from Galveston and that is the one that I recommend. My recommendation, and its based on many cruises with several cruise lines, is to take a cruise on Royal Caribbean on their Voyager of the Seas. This ship has the most free, included in your cruise price, on-board activities. Things like the a gym, pools, hot tubs, rock climbing wall, basketball court, mini-golf course, ice skating, in-line roller skating, casino, disco and a variety of lounges. I have not cruised on the Voyager but I have cruised on two of its twins sister Voyager Class ships, the Mariner of the Seas and the Adventure of the Seas, which are identical. You can look at the ship’s details on this web link:
http://www.royalcaribbean.com/findacruise/ships/class/ship/home.do;jsessionid=0000Qogp63PhFZVTmCDZhrPZXXH:12hdhu6tq?shipCode=VY
You are aware I am sure that the Galveston cruise port was heavily damaged by a hurricane a year or so ago and my not be the best departure port.
October 16th, 2009
flock Says :
Have you never heard of GOOGLE? and is there some REASON you can’t go to GOOGLE and enter QUALITY CARIBBEAN CRUISES and then you will get the SAME EIGHT HUNDRED THREE THOUSAND hits (803,000) that I got in about TEN F#@kING SECONDS…
References :
October 16th, 2009
MomSezNo Says :
You can become "enlightened" by going to your library or bookstore and getting a book on cruising, which will give you a general idea of what’s involved and what the many, many options are.
A "quality" cruise means different things to different people, but there are "mass-market" lines, "premium mass-market" lines and "luxury" lines, with quality increasing as the price goes up, usually. The premium mass-market lines will offer better service, better food and better "atmosphere". These lines include Celebrity and Holland America and, in some opinions, Princess. The latter might be the best fit for a family with a range of ages; the other two are more "traditional" and "quiet", both in activity level and decor.
Limiting yourself to the port of Galveston is going to severely limit your choice of cruise lines. Carnival is the main cruise line leaving from Galveston. In mid-July you’ll have lots of families [kids] and the price will be higher than for most of the rest of the year. A two-week cruise is usually done as a "back-to-back", although some cruise lines do have 14-day cruises [Holland America, for one].
You can go to VacationsToGo.com, enter your info and get a list of cruises that match. If you’re willing to do your own research, you can also go to CruiseCritic.com, click on "Cruise Styles", "Reviews" [especially look at "Member Reviews"] and, perhaps, "Boards", where you’ll find info on every imaginable aspect of cruising.
It sounds like you are a first-timer, so you’re going to have to do some research before you see your travel agent, as there are so many options.
Good luck! Hope you find just the right cruise!
References :
October 17th, 2009
Nick A Says :
Royal Caribbean the have great ships and quality staff
References :
gone on a cruise with them b4
October 17th, 2009
TINKERTOY ..... the 1 & only Says :
Ok, you seem to want information from people who have actually cruised. I have been on more than 20 cruises on Princess, Celebrity, Holland America, Norwegian, and Royal Caribbean ships. I can vouch that they are good cruise lines and you are correct in that there are some differences that you need to be aware of in making your selection of which is "best".
Princess, Celebrity and Holland America have great ships are more classy and reserved. They are just a little more upscale and luxurious than the other cruise lines. Passengers tend to be middle aged and up and have cruised multiple times. Holland America has mostly senior citizens (65 and up) cruising on its ships and very few kids and young people. I found that most people on these lines were kinda stand-offish and aloft
Norwegian cruise line is good ( I have done 8 NCL cruises) , they cater to families and have mostly passengers in the range of age 35-40 and up. Its the line that you want to go on if you want to be informal for pretty much your whole cruise. They have formal nights like other cruise lines but they do not stress dressing up; they call it "dress up if you want to" night. Norwegian has the most alternative eating places on their ships, but you will have to pay a fee of $10 to $20 per person per visit to eat at some of them. All other cruise lines also have these alternatives but usually only two such places.
Carnival is the budget cruise line that generally has the lowest prices. They cater to young people, first time cruiser and families. Most of their cruiser will be in the 20 to 45 age group and there will be lots of kids on board. Their ships have some good on-board activities like water slides and basketball court. The best of their ships are their newer ships so do pay attention to when the ship was launched is you find a good and really cheap cruise.
Royal Caribbean is also a cruise line that caters to young cruiser and families; ages about 25/30 to 60. It has the advantage of having the most on-board activities, like ice skating, roller skating, mini-golf course, a basketball/tennis court, the rock climbing wall, and on the new Oasis and Freedom Class ships the surfing simulator, the Flowrider. The RC ships that you should look for cruises on are the RC’s Oasis Class, Freedom Class, and Voyager Class ships.
For me the best cruise lines is Royal Caribbean and they do cruise from Galveston and that is the one that I recommend. My recommendation, and its based on many cruises with several cruise lines, is to take a cruise on Royal Caribbean on their Voyager of the Seas. This ship has the most free, included in your cruise price, on-board activities. Things like the a gym, pools, hot tubs, rock climbing wall, basketball court, mini-golf course, ice skating, in-line roller skating, casino, disco and a variety of lounges. I have not cruised on the Voyager but I have cruised on two of its twins sister Voyager Class ships, the Mariner of the Seas and the Adventure of the Seas, which are identical. You can look at the ship’s details on this web link:
http://www.royalcaribbean.com/findacruise/ships/class/ship/home.do;jsessionid=0000Qogp63PhFZVTmCDZhrPZXXH:12hdhu6tq?shipCode=VY
You are aware I am sure that the Galveston cruise port was heavily damaged by a hurricane a year or so ago and my not be the best departure port.
References :
http://www.portofgalveston.com/cruiseinformation/