Thread: when is the best time to talk a cruise?

Yes thanks guys we been talking thinking end of august to the first week of September 2013 trying to get him to think about going on a different cruise line but i bet i don't he loves royal and been on 4. So i been looking at other line prices and stuff about them so if u got any advice please share

If you like RCL you might also want to think about her sister line Celebrity. Celebrity is a bit upscale with somewhat better service and even better food. What you will be giving up is the larger ship, things like the prominade, rock walls, and flow riders. The Celebrity crowd is a bit more laid back. The dancing is a bit more eclectic with more ballroom style dancing but there is a respectable dance floor with either a dj or a band every night.
Daytime lectures are very good on Celebrity if that is your thing (we had a phenomenal lecturer on the Titanic on our TA).

Anyway, just something to consider.

I agree with Neal. Celebrity is our personal favorite, but keep in mind, while they have excellent food (MUCH better than RCCL), wonderful ships, and great service, they do attract an older crowd. So it tends to be a bit more sedate than RCCL. Of course, if that's what you're looking for, Celebrity is perfect.

If you're not quite into that, then you might want to try Princess. Attracts a little younger crowd than RCCL, food is better than RCCL, ships are very nice, and we've always loved the many Princess cruises we've done. Again, just my personal opinion, but I rate Princess a little better than RCCL.

Pete

thanks we been looking what about carnival? are they good or no i told Steven about Celebrity and showed him he said to get on here and ask everyone's opinion on all cruises

I say Anytime is a good time. As for carnival, I sailed them twice and was very pleaed both times. The food was better than expected and the shows were very good. We constantly found activities we enjoyed (games, sing a longs, sports, etc.) as we are not pool lounge people, but they are there for you. Crew were also excellent.

Of the major cruise lines Carnival definitely has the highest energy level. I am not sayinf if that is good or bad, but we prefer to not have announcements of the big activity on deck. Interestingly, Carnival does not only cater to the young crowd. One of the Carnival reps told me that Carnival actually has more people over 60 than any other line. Carnival also has more late night activities than other lines. Food can be hit or miss. Sometimes it is very good, sometimes fair. You are more likely to hear about food hogs at the buffet and chair hogs at the pool on Carnival than on other lines. Carnival as the marketing of "fun ships" with both the goid and bad that that encompasses.

I agree with Neal about Carnival - way too many announcements!

And because they offer the cheapest cruises, they tend to attract a cheaper crowd.

But remember, opinions are like bellybuttons - everyone has one. And what one person loves, another will hate.

This is why it's so very important to work with a good Cruise Specialist so they can help you find the cruise that will fit you the best. Just because one person thinks one cruise line is their absolute favorite may not mean that you'll like it and vice versa. All the major sites rate cruise lines and ships - these ratings are also subjective. One person may rate one cruise line a 2-star, while another person may rate it a 4-star. So it's not as important what others think as what you think.

So read as much as you can find out about the various cruise lines and you'll begin to get a feeling for what each one is like and what they have to offer. You'll then start to narrow down your choices as to which one you think will meet your needs, lifestyle, and budget.

Now, with that said, comparing Carnival to Celebrity is like comparing apples and oranges. They are two entirely different types of cruises and will provide entirely different types of experiences. Celebrity is far better in quality than Carnival - food is outstanding, service is great, and the ships are wonderful. But it'll also attract an older more sedate crowd because they are the ones who appreciate the finer things in life without wanting to pay alot more money to get it.

Pete

Our first cruises were on Royal Caribbean, and I think they are great for a first cruise. There is so much to do - or not do. The ships are beautiful and the crews are friendly and helpful. They charge more than Carnival, and their average cabin is a bit smaller, but I think they make up for that in service and ambiance.

There are lots of choices of itinerary out of Florida and you can go out of Miami, Fort Lauderdale, Tampa and Port Canaveral. As Pete said, talk to an agent, who can direct you toward a company and cruise that will suit you best. You don't pay any extra, and you get the benefit of their experience. There are several agents here at Cruiseline Fans, or you can use someone local - there may even be a travel agent at your WalMart. Just be sure you work with a HUMAN, not a website!

That said, if you can tell us more about what you like, (beaches or sightseeing? sports or relaxing? shopping? restaurants? etc.) we can give you some ideas to look at.