(I will forgive you if you can only pin it down to two or three).

[ 01-21-2007: Message edited by: Malcolm @ cruisepage ]

We sailed from LA and back again - lots of sea days coming and going. We then we stayed on for 2 more days to Vancouver as it was easier for us to fly home from this port.

We had a wonderful time seeing all the islands and did it again in '97 as we enjoyed the first one so much.

In each case it was a magical combination of the ship itself, the crew, my fellow passengers, the lasting friendships made, the onboard camaraderie, a romance, the weather, and the ports.

I have enjoyed every one of my 65 or so cruises, but these three would be difficult if not impossible to duplicate today.

Vancouver to Kobe (via Honolulu) on the old Sea Princess 89.

Windsor Castle Soton to Cape Town 76.

Ocean Princess (now Oceana) Caribbean 2004.

Island Princess (now Discovery) Amazon early 90s

Royal Princess (Artemis) Panama 90s

Oriana 2 Med 2002

One's fellow pax go a long way to making a cruise or ship better than another, something which we have little or no control over. I do enjoy transats as I have come across more interesting fellow passengers, but that may not always be the case and transats are not the best in other respects.

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Originally posted by PamM:

One's fellow pax go a long way to making a cruise or ship better than another, something which we have little or no control over.
Pam

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Good point, Pam. Having worked on ships, it was easy to see how the chemistry of a certain group of pax on a particular cruise, combined with great weather, etc. would make one particular sailing outstanding, even though the itinerary repeated every week. The following week could have a combination of factors in which people just seemed quiet, bored, nearly miserable!

My personal best cruise was probably doing the 50 days 'round South America aboard BRITANIS in 1988--again, it was the combination of great pax as well as sailing that classic liner on a great itinerary.

But a "best" cruise need not be lengthy or exotic. One of my best cruises was aboard ROYALE, 3 nights to Nassau--great group of people, lots of fun.

Around the Horn on the Mille was a strong second choice.

My very first cruise on the Olympia as a young child. It was my first trip away from home and was constantly excited.

Rembrandt in Aug 2000 one year after a 10 year LTR breakup. Fantastic unique ship, passengers and romance with crew member makes me smile even today.

Regatta Crossing Nov 2005: Fantastic ship, crew and passengers. Still in contact with friends made onboard.

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Originally posted by eroller:
In each case it was a magical combination of the ship itself, the crew, my fellow passengers, the lasting friendships made, the onboard camaraderie, a romance, the weather, and the ports.

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For me, a sailing on Rotterdam V in fall of 1962 must have been the best. If it were not for that ship, I would not be here today (according to mom & dad!).

My first solo sailing in 1978, a mere lad of 14, was aboard Home Lines Oceanic. Oceanic set a presedence that no other sailing will ever exceed.

My crossings on France with the family also set a precedence where sea time as more important that ports of call. However, after working aboard ships the itinerary became more important (Alaska, Scandinavia & Russia, Mediterranean & Antarctica).

I was very fortunate to work aboard these three ships. I am very emotionally attached to them.

[ 01-22-2007: Message edited by: TampaMike ]

My 'best' cruise was my second cruise, which was onboard Fred Olsen’s ‘Black Watch’ to the Baltic.

Theoretically I should have been blown-away by my first cruise; Celebrity to Alaska, but there wee certain aspects of the experience that did not over impress me. I do not think I was really accustomed and comfortable to shipboard life, at that stage. The sea-days bored me, at that time, for example.

I go agree that a great cruise is a combination of many factors including the ship, food, service, ports of call, your fellow passengers and how you are feeling yourself etc. You are pretty lucky if all of the above factors come together at once, but even if the majority do, you are in for a great time.

I was very excited about my second cruise. The ‘Black Watch’ proved to be a charming ship and a perfect size. The ports of call were all fascination and very much a highlight of the cruise. Both the food and service were great.

The only ‘negative’ were my tablemates. It was not the fact that they were unpleasant people, but the two couples were approaching twice my age. We had little in common. Never the less, the ship and ports ensured a great cruise.

Pam and family were onboard this very cruise, but we never met or even knew of each other. (Pam was this cruise one of your fav's?)

My second best cruise was the SS Norway’s ‘Final Transatlantic’. I loved the ship, she felt more like a real ‘Ocean Liner’ than any other ship that I had been aboard, including the QE2.

The food and service were at times mediocre, but we had wonderful tablemates and met so great ‘liner enthusiasts’ onboard who I am still in contact today. The itinerary, which included a crossing to Britain of course, was great. The fact the 9/11 happened as were on the Atlantic made it very memorable for all the wrong reasons, too.

[ 01-31-2007: Message edited by: Malcolm @ cruisepage ]

I shall pick 5 top cruises...

1) Sagafjord - 1992 - New York to Montreal
After having seen the ship in 1982, I was SO excited to finally sail on here - I was VERY disappointed with how she looked on this cruise - but the itinerary, the staff, the food and the service - made her my MOST memorable cruise.

2) QE2 - WESTBOUND transatlantics...I hate the eastbound ones as you lose an hour every day and are exahusted by the time you get to the UK...

3) Crown Monarch - Palm Beach to the Caribbean and Guatemala...ship half full - one sitting for dinner...AWESOME cruise

4) Wind Surf...after having done NUMEROUS Caribbean Cruises and getting TIRED of the typical itineraries...a small ship sailing experience opens your eyes to a totally different Caribbean by visiting so many unique islands (i.e. Bequia, Pigeon Island (St. Lucia) etc.)

5) River Countess - Christmas Market cruise from Nuremburg to Cologne - PURE magic...