Cruise Talk: Best Budget Ships?

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Topic: Best Budget Ships?

Malcolm @ cruisepage
Cruise Director
Member # 301

posted 08-02-2000 04:02 PM

It's not difficult to know which ships offer the best cruise experience - it's normally the ones with the biggest fares! However, which budget ships are best?

The 'Berlitz' cruise guide rates all ships out of 2000 points. This is based on individual scores for the ship, accomodation, food, service and the cruise. Here are the scores for some budget ships:

Apollon - 997
Island Breeze - 1087
Topaz - 1096
Black Prince - 1144
Seawing - 1165
Emerald - 1177
Bolero - 1197
Azur - 1198
Carousel - 1226
Sundream - 1226
Rembrandt - 1274
Sunbird - 1275
Flamenco - 1292

Please note that even the best ships only score 1500 to 1750!

[This message has been edited by Malcolm (edited 08-04-2000).]

Posts: 19210 | From: Essex (Just Outside London) | Registered: A Long Time Ago! | IP: Logged

DianaD
First Class Passenger
Member # 1010

posted 08-02-2000 09:47 PM

I would place the Sunbird in first place. The Flamenco has been cruising recently as a French speaking only ship.

Posts: 308 | From: Whitby, Ontario, Canada | Registered: Jan 2000 | IP: Logged

gohaze
First Class Passenger
Member # 586

posted 08-02-2000 10:38 PM

Malcolm...have a look at www.traveltrade.com/cruisetrade/perdiem.shtml ...it gives the average per diem for most ships taken on an annual basis from brochure rates. They update it every year and it's interesting to see the changes and really just how little they do change....peter

Posts: 1909 | From: Vancouver.BC | Registered: Sep 99 | IP: Logged

kappy
Just Boarded
Member # 1480

posted 08-02-2000 10:41 PM

Sailed on the Premier Rembrandt last January. Had a wonderful cruise. The food and service can compete with most other lines. The ship was clean and the crew went out of there way to make you happy.

Posts: 8 | From: chicago, IL. USA | Registered: Aug 2000 | IP: Logged

Malcolm @ cruisepage
Cruise Director
Member # 301

posted 08-03-2000 05:02 AM

Gohaze, a great link! So Carnival have 18% market share and 29,000 berths! Wow!

The only problem with the per diem rates, based on broucher information, is few passengers will actually pay this price. However, this fact probably does not change the order significantly?

Posts: 19210 | From: Essex (Just Outside London) | Registered: A Long Time Ago! | IP: Logged

Johan C
First Class Passenger
Member # 1201

posted 08-03-2000 03:44 PM

Diana;

When I was cruising Norwegian fjords on bord Flamenco (the first week of july 2000) half of the passengers were Italian, the rest was a real mixture: some English, German, French;Scandinavian; 5 Belgians (including myself) and even a Polish "business" (maffioso??) group who had an agreement for using some spaces kicking out all other passengers (there were not very popular of course.
How can you call a thing like that a French speaking only ship??

Posts: 256 | From: Ghent, historic city in Belgium | Registered: Mar 2000 | IP: Logged

Malcolm @ cruisepage
Cruise Director
Member # 301

posted 08-04-2000 07:05 AM

As Johan C said, I understood that Festival aim there cruises at a 'European' market i.e, various nationalities?

Posts: 19210 | From: Essex (Just Outside London) | Registered: A Long Time Ago! | IP: Logged

Malcolm @ cruisepage
Cruise Director
Member # 301

posted 08-04-2000 07:09 AM

Although I am interested in ship statistics, they are only a guide. Personal testimony is also important to me.

For example, lots of CruiseTalker regularly report that they enjoy Cruises on Bolero and Sunbird. Airtours passengers are often very pleased with the excellent value of all their ships.

Posts: 19210 | From: Essex (Just Outside London) | Registered: A Long Time Ago! | IP: Logged

Paddy
First Class Passenger
Member # 357

posted 08-08-2000 05:24 PM

I absolutely adore the Seawing. It honestly is the nicest friendliest prettiest ship. Everyone is so approachable and it is just a very nice place to be. She is quite small and on sea days can be a little crowded, but she honestly is wonderful. My only thing that remotely resembles a complaint is the cabins. Try and get a Superior Outside midships on Atlantic deck - best value and best cabins on the ship, bt everything else is good as well.
Sunbird probably is the most appealing though.

Paddy.

Posts: 763 | From: Belfast, Ireland | Registered: Aug 99 | IP: Logged

hooked on cruising
First Class Passenger
Member # 1221

posted 08-09-2000 12:30 PM

Hi Folks, as everyone on this page already knows we have only cruised on the Bolero, but loved it so much that we are trying to book again for next year. As I said before if this is a low budget cruise I can't wait to see the other ships. I think my only complaint would be the lack of complimentary cold drinks (non alcoholic).

Posts: 243 | From: London,Ontario,Canada | Registered: Apr 2000 | IP: Logged

Malcolm @ cruisepage
Cruise Director
Member # 301

posted 08-09-2000 03:29 PM

Paddy, glad you enjoyed Seawing!

Does she not seem crowded all the time? Only 16,000 tons and 900 passengers?

Can everyone fit in the public rooms, dining room and shows?

Posts: 19210 | From: Essex (Just Outside London) | Registered: A Long Time Ago! | IP: Logged

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