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Topic: 2nd time cruiser needs advice

PWBoston
Just Boarded
Member # 3233

posted 07-28-2002 06:52 PM

A group of us plan to take our second cruise next year - to the Caribbean to include St. Thomas area. Our original cruise was on Carnival and was good. Any advice out there as to which line/ship from some of you more seasoned cruisers? Thanks!

Posts: 2 | From: Boston, MA | Registered: Jul 2002 | IP: Logged

Green
First Class Passenger
Member # 171

posted 07-28-2002 09:02 PM

quote:
Originally posted by PWBoston:
A group of us plan to take our second cruise next year - to the Caribbean to include St. Thomas area. Our original cruise was on Carnival and was good. Any advice out there as to which line/ship from some of you more seasoned cruisers? Thanks!

Tell us more about this group, your likes, dislikes, age range, etc. and when you're thinking of travelling.

St. Thomas is a popular port - just about every Line has itineraries that include it and most people have at least one store 'that's not to be missed'.

Happy cruisin'

Posts: 2913 | From: Markham, Ontario, Canada | Registered: Jul 99 | IP: Logged

Barryboat
First Class Passenger
Member # 33

posted 07-28-2002 10:25 PM

PWBoston,

My advice for you is to stick with Carnival, but on a different ship...since you had a great experience with Carnival. You may want to try one of Carnival's more upscale ships like the Carnival Spirit or the Carnival Pride.

Posts: 1851 | From: Bloomington, Minnesota (Home to the Mall of America) | Registered: Mar 99 | IP: Logged

Amerikanis
First Class Passenger
Member # 1835

posted 07-29-2002 05:33 PM

No Question: try Celebrity.

I am an selected Member of Captains Club, and i know, why...

...it is simply the Best in Relation between Price and what you get for your Money.

Posts: 1034 | From: Gutach, Black Forest, Germany | Registered: Mar 2001 | IP: Logged

sylvia
First Class Passenger
Member # 916

posted 07-31-2002 05:18 PM

Green is right. Tell us more about your likes and dislikes. I think Celebrity is a nice line but very different from Carnival--Celebrity isn't exactly a party ship and tends to have a crowd that turns in early which has not been my experience with Carnival.

Posts: 36 | From: Atlanta, GA, USA | Registered: Nov 1999 | IP: Logged

PWBoston
Just Boarded
Member # 3233

posted 08-02-2002 08:59 PM

Hello again!

For those who inquiried about the group; mainly in their 30s/early 40s with a variety of interests; we have both the "get up and go" ones and the "where's the nearest beach because I want to lay out all day" ones.

Thanks!

Posts: 2 | From: Boston, MA | Registered: Jul 2002 | IP: Logged

cruiseny
First Class Passenger
Member # 2928

posted 08-02-2002 10:13 PM

Hello,

You sound as though you would likely fit in on most any cruise line...

But I think Princess give a very good balance between the different types of experience... The quality is quite good and you will find something for everyone.

A little more choice perhaps on Royal Caribbean (i.e. caters to an even more varied audience) but I was not entirely satisfied last time I cruised them due to the fact that I found the food to be substandard and the company managers/customer service people ranging from just indifferent to utterly rude and insulting. However their ships are physically the best, "on paper" they would be the best for you and they also offer a very well-rounded product so do not rule them out. For a good overview of their product take a look at:my in-depth review.

You know what a Carnival cruise is like, and can judge for yourself whether they would be a good choice.

I have little confindence in NCL and so I cannot recommend them. Proceed at your own risk please - I have not sailed on one of their ships since 1996 and the management and product is now entirely different.

Happy Cruising,
Cruiseny

Posts: 4730 | From: New York, USA | Registered: Mar 2002 | IP: Logged

Green
First Class Passenger
Member # 171

posted 08-02-2002 10:36 PM

Seems to me you need to look at itinieraries - for your specific travel dates- there are cruises with 'a port- a-day' which would appeal to some - then there's the bit more laid back cruise - maybe 3 ports in 7 days. There's nothing that says you have to go ashore every day - most everything, excepting the casino, is available to 'stay on board' people. Night life, we've found, depends greatly on the date of travel.

Look at Carnival, Celebrity, HAL, Princess etc. - tB]there really is a cruise for every taste[/B]- needless to say, the budget rears it's head so that's another consideration -now's the time to 'study the brochures - take a vote and hopefully get in on the early booking discount.

Happy cruisin'

Posts: 2913 | From: Markham, Ontario, Canada | Registered: Jul 99 | IP: Logged

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