Family Cruise out of Norfolk - Cruise Line Fans: Cruise Forum, Reviews and Chat From Real Cruisers

Asil65 · 04-08-2007, 10:07 PM

Do any of you experienced TA's have any suggestions for a 5-7 day cruise for an extended family ranging from 7 to 80 yrs.old. We were looking into leaving from Norfolk, Va next June 2008, as many of us live in Virginia. It looks like out of this port we are limited to RCI and Carnival. I have not been on a Carnival ship in over 20 years. has the quality of their cruises improved since that time? Will 4 of us be able to travel in a balcony cabin on these lines? Thank you in advance for your help.

Cruise Planner · 04-08-2007, 10:57 PM

We live in Northern Virginia, so I understand your predicament.

There will be two ships going out of Norfolk next Summer; the Carnival Victory and the Royal Caribbean Empress of the Seas.

We've been on the Carnival Victory and although it's a nice ship, it's a typical Carnival cruise. There will be lots of young people on there, food is good, but not great. Service is good and the ship is nice. And yes, it's nicer than what you had 20 years ago. But the younger folks would like Carnival, whereas the older folks would prefer Royal Caribbean. Depends on the age of the majority of the people and what they're looking for.

The Empress of the Seas is not as new as the Victory, but Royal Caribbean provides a little nicer experience overall.

By the way, did you hear that the new cruise port had it's grand opening yesterday? Based on pictures and the plans I've seen and the money they spent, it is wonderful!

Pricing for June 2007 is available for the Victory, but pricing for the Empress won't be available for another couple of months. They'll both be offering 5-6 day cruises to the Bahamas and Bermuda.

Pricing out of Norfolk is a bit steep; Baltimore is higher than that. Pricing out of New York is more competitive, with Florida providing the best pricing.

As for putting 4 people in a cabin, it depends on their ages. The cabins are relatively small and unless the kids are young, I wouldn't recommend putting 4 in a cabin - you'll find it very crowded. It would be better to put 2 in side-by-side cabins or an inside cabin across from a balcony cabin.

Let me know if you have any questions.

Pete

Asil65 · 04-09-2007, 12:02 AM

Hi Pete, Thanks for the response. We will be travelling with an 8 and 10 yr old next year. I took a look at both of those ships and am not feeling really confident about either of them. Will the Empress of the Seas be pulled next year? i think I read a post about that. The Victory looks like there are still some food issues a lot of smokers. I think we may need to expand our horizons and look into some other ports so we can have more options. My husband and I have cruises with Princess a few times and taken the kids on a Disney cruise. We loved these experiences. I think I would like to try Royal Carribean but maybe we need an Adventure Class ship. I definitely need to do some more research. Thanks again.

Cruise Planner · 04-09-2007, 12:10 AM

Last I heard was that the Empress would be there next year. Guess we'll have to wait and see what the schedule brings when they release it in a couple of months.

The Carnival Victory isn't bad, it's just typical Carnival. The food was okay, but not really good. I prefer RCCL and Princess.

There is a Voyager-class ship going out of Cape Liberty in Bayonne, NJ - roughly a 3 to 3-1/2 hour drive from DC - it's the Explorer of the Seas. We've been on the Voyager of the Seas and the Navigator of the Seas - these are great ships for families.

There's also the Crown Princess going out of New York. We were just on that ship two weeks ago - very nice.

Disney is awesome! You'll find the pricing very high compared to RCCL and Princess, but worth it in my opinion.

With the kids that age, you'll definiately want to keep them in your cabin and it won't be quite so crowded with them that small.

Let me know if you need anything.

Pete

LADodger99 · 04-09-2007, 09:19 AM

Hi Guys,

Sorry to give the bad news, but RCI came out with a press release on 3/26/07 about the Empress. Wonder if another ship will take it's place out of Norfolk in Summer 2008?

MIAMI, March 26, 2007 - Royal Caribbean International today announced plans to transfer Empress of the Seas to Pullmantur, the Madrid-based cruise and tour operator that parent company, Royal Caribbean Cruises Ltd. purchased in November 2006.

"Empress of the Seas is a wonderful ship that has served our brand well," said Adam Goldstein, president, Royal Caribbean International. "This transfer will help to increase Pullmantur's capacity and meet demand for its distinctive style of cruise holidays in the European market."

The last voyage of Empress as part of the Royal Caribbean International fleet will be March 7, 2008. Guests booked on all sailings after this date will be contacted by Royal Caribbean International representatives to transfer existing reservations to similar accommodations onboard other Royal Caribbean ships. Royal Caribbean International has established a toll-free number for travel agents and guests with questions regarding the re-accommodated sailings. The toll-free number is (888) 281-9344.

Empress of the Seas joined the Royal Caribbean fleet in June 1990 and was built by Chantiers de L'Atlantique in St. Nazaire, France. She was refurbished in May 2004. The 48,563 gross-registered-ton ship has a double-occupancy guest capacity of 2,020.

Royal Caribbean International is a global cruise brand with 20 ships currently in service and three under construction. Liberty of the Seas, the cruise line's newest ship, which debuts in April 2007, will share the title of largest cruise ship at sea with sister ship Freedom of the Seas. At 160,000 GRT with a capacity of 3,634 guests double-occupancy, Liberty of the Seas will sail alternating Eastern and Western Caribbean itineraries from Miami. The line also offers unique land-tour vacations in Alaska, Canada, Europe, Australia and New Zealand through its cruisetour division. For additional information or to make reservations, go to Royal Caribbean website or call (800) 327-6700. For travel professionals, go to cruisingpower.com or call (800) 327-2056.

Cruise Planner · 04-09-2007, 10:39 AM

You're right! I remember that story now - I had forgotten I read that a couple of weeks ago. They must be going to bring something else into Norfolk then because they just signed an agreement with the city during their grand opening of the new cruise ship pier.

Guess we'll have to wait and see which ship they bring here - haven't heard anything about that yet - have you?

Thanks!!

Pete

Cruise terminal opens in Norfolk

04:09 PM EDT on Friday, April 6, 2007

The Half Moone Cruise Terminal opens Saturday at Nauticus on Waterside.

Along with the opening, Mayor Paul Fraim announced that Norfolk has signed Royal Caribbean International to sail into port next year.

Royal Caribbean is the world's second largest cruise line.

The first cruise is expected in on April 28th.

Cruise Planner · 04-10-2007, 10:50 AM

It's funny we should be talking about RCCL and Norfolk, because I just saw this today about what they're going to do next year.

Unfortunately, I'm sad to see that they'll be bringing the Grandeur of the Seas to Norfolk and also back to Baltimore. I've been on that ship twice and it was not one of my favorites. It's an older smaller ship and I wish they would bring something nicer to this area. Perhaps we'll get something better in a year or two.

Pete

Royal Caribbean Announces 2008-09 Itineraries From Major Northeast Ports

Royal Caribbean International has opened bookings for 19 exciting 2008-09 itineraries, offering East Coast travelers more voyages and embarkation ports to experience a cruise vacation. More than 80 sailings, ranging from five to 15 nights will sail to New England/ Canada, Bermuda, and Eastern Caribbean. The new itineraries will give New York-metropolitan area travelers convenient year-round cruise choices from Cape Liberty Cruise Port in Bayonne, NJ. Travelers also will enjoy summer and autumn sailings from Baltimore, Norfolk and Boston aboard Grandeur of the Seas and Jewel of the Seas.

"Travelers from the East Coast now have more convenient choices than ever to escape on an exciting Royal Caribbean cruise," said Lisa Bauer, senior vice president, Sales, Royal Caribbean International. "Guests can enjoy voyages aboard some of the world's most innovative ships as they visit scenic New England and Canadian coastlines or get away to the warmth of the Caribbean and Bermuda."

Throughout 2008-09, travelers from the New York and New Jersey regions will continue to have convenient sailings year-round from Cape Liberty Cruise Port aboard Explorer of the Seas. She will sail on eight distinct round trip itineraries ranging from five to 12 nights to Bermuda, and Eastern and Southern Caribbean. Northeast travelers also can choose among six sailings to New England and Canada on nine-night voyages. Prices start at $649 per person, double occupancy.

"We are thrilled to bring Grandeur of the Seas to the cities of Norfolk, Virginia and Baltimore, Maryland in 2008," Bauer added. "The Royal Caribbean itineraries from these two major home ports complement the variety of cruising options available to travelers along the Eastern Seaboard."

Grandeur will sail round trip from Norfolk's newly constructed Half Moone Cruise and Celebration Center on five-night Bermuda cruise getaways, eight- and nine-night voyages to New England and Canada, and nine-night Eastern Caribbean sailings. From Baltimore, Grandeur will sail round trip on five-night voyages to Bermuda and nine-night cruise vacations to the Eastern Caribbean. Prices start at $649 per person, double occupancy.

Jewel of the Seas returns to Boston in 2008. Travelers can enjoy the changing of the foliage and the vivid autumn colors of the New England landscape from the historic port on four round trip seven-night sailings to New England and Canada beginning on September 20, 2008. In addition, Boston-area travelers also can choose a shortened itinerary on one five-night sailing on October 13. Prices start at $549 per person, double occupancy.

Other 2008 Royal Caribbean itineraries also open for individual, group and incentive bookings this week are four 14- or 15-night Panama Canal voyages, aboard Radiance of the Seas and Serenade of the Seas.

reggierail · 04-10-2007, 02:54 PM

The Empress of the Seas is a very small ship at just over 40,000 tons.
The cabins are very small compared to almost any other ship.
The Junior suites, which by the way, are the lowest balcony cabins available,
are less than 200 square feet.
The Victory is over 100,000 tons and offers a very good variety of balcony cabins.
The standard inside cabin is over 180 square feet.
It's just my opinion, but, I've been rather disappointed in the food, both in the
dining room and buffet on my 3 RCCL cruises last year. Feedback from many of my clients who have sailed RCCL and Carnival, have convinced me to give Carnival a try for myself.

Reggie

Asil65 · 04-10-2007, 09:18 PM

Thanks everyone. That is bad news about Norfolk. The Empress is way too small for us. My DH and I will be on the Crown this June. Can't wait. We love the size of their minisuites. i think it has spoiled us. My mother in law seems to be really gung ho about NCL and taking a West carribean itinerary. Don't know much about NCL. Have any of you been on NCL? How does it compare to Princess and RCCL? I personally would feel more comfortable with Princess or RCCL. Who would be able to give us the best group rate and how many people do you need in a group?

Cruise Planner · 04-11-2007, 12:00 PM

NCL is okay - but stay with the newer ships. The thing about NCL is that they have freestyle dining. Some people love this, others don't. Instead of one large dining room where you eat at the same table at the same time with the same waiter, NCL had many smaller dining areas that have different themes. You go to the dining area you want whenever you want. But we've been on the Dawn and the Star, both were nice.

However, with that in mind, we still like RCCL and Princess better. But that's us. What one person likes, another doesn't, so to each their own. It's tough to compare the three because they are all good in their own ways. Sometimes, it depends on the ship.

If you're set on leaving out of Norfolk next year, it looks like your choices will be the Holland America Maasdam, the Carnival Victory, and the RCCL Grandeur of the Seas. We've been on each of these twice. We really like Holland America, but we're not crazy about the Maasdam. We really like RCCl, but we weren't real happy with the Grandeur. And Carnival is not one of our favorites, but the Victory was nice enough. It really boils down to what you're looking for.

I'm just irritated that as many people as we have living in the middle-eastern part of the U.S. that they can't come up with some better ships.

Guess that's why we've been selling more cruises out of New York than we have out of Norfolk and Baltimore. The choices are better and the prices are certainly much better. Since they have few ships out of this area, the prices are outrageous!

I had a guy who wanted to purchase a 5-night cruise out of Baltimore to Bermuda because he figured it would be cheaper than flying down to Florida. When all was said and done, we got him a 7-night cruise out of Ft. Lauderdale with airfare for less than the 5-night cruise without air. Go figure!

As for groups, normally it's 8 cabins based on 2 people to each cabin. The third and fourth in a cabin don't count towards the 16 persons for group purposes. Once you've got your group, then you qualify for reduced pricing and/or group amenities.

Hope this helps.

Pete