Thread: Which cruise line would you recommend for cruising the Caribbean for the first time?

I really want feedback on this. We are looking for alot of fun! Thanks!

I would suggest Royal Caribbean or Carnival. More activites on board with lots to do.

Carnival advertises their ships as "The FUN Ships"!

Agree with Sue .... Carnival and RCCL have more activities than other mass market cruise lines.

I have looked at RCCL, but not Carnival. I will have to check them out. RCCL seemed to be a little more couples oriented, which is great. What do you think about Carnival for couples?

i would deff go with carnival its a good time if your looking for activities and have good rates

Keep in mind that opinions are like bellybuttons - everyone has one. So you're going to get as many suggestions as there are people on this board. And what one person loves, another will hate, so it also depends on how much you want to pay, where you want to go, and what you like to do.

Carnival will offer better pricing and usually more of a 'party' crowd, while RCCL will offer more amenities and be a little less 'rowdy'. Both will offer an excellent cruise experience, will be alot of fun, and offer an opportunity to meet other people. I don't think RCCL is more for couples, as we book alot RCCL and it's mostly for families because of the many amenities their ships have - especially the newer ships. If you want more couples, Princess is a very good option. It also depends on the time of year - obviously Spring Break and Summer will see more kids onboard, whereas booking when school is in session will have less kids.

Carnival will visit different ports than RCCL, so look at the ports to determine whether any of them are places you'd like to see or not like to see.

It really does depend on what you're looking for and working with an agent will help you get the information you need to make an informed decision. Just understand that a cruise is what you make it - if you want to have alot of fun, do alot of things, party, dance, etc, they all offer you the opportunity. But at the same time, if you want to spend some time building your relationship with your partner, then there is plenty of space and time to do that as well. Bottom line, no matter what you decide to do, you'll have a wonderful time. That's the great thing about cruising.

Pete

I would go with Carnival. If you want a short voyage, I'd suggest Carnival Sensation, which sails 3 and 4 Night voyages to Nassau and Freeport. Sensation is fairly inexpensive, and has gone through an upgrade with gave her much more balconies (Which are great).

Hi Pete, Thanks for your insights. I kind of got the feeling that Carnival was more of a party crowd, which is ok, but at my age (52) and my fiancee's age (50) we don't party like rockstars anymore. Some fun in the evenings is great, but we like a little more laid back atmosphere, too.
The only cruise line I have been on was Norwegian to Alaska, twice. That was a little to sedate for me. Nice amenities, though

Originally Posted by randykey

Hi Pete, Thanks for your insights. I kind of got the feeling that Carnival was more of a party crowd, which is ok, but at my age (52) and my fiancee's age (50) we don't party like rockstars anymore. Some fun in the evenings is great, but we like a little more laid back atmosphere, too.
The only cruise line I have been on was Norwegian to Alaska, twice. That was a little to sedate for me. Nice amenities, though

Based on your age, that adds more options. I would definitely suggest adding Princess to your choices. I've found alot of couples prefer them as they offer a very nice overall experience. Being Elite Members, we've been on alot of their cruises and can testify to that fact.

Also, look at the Radiance-class ships of the RCCL fleet.

If you want more upscale, might want to consider some of the newer Celebrity and Holland America ships. While their normal demographics is an older crowd, they can get younger crowds during certain times of the year. We personally like this option because we like the finer things without the price. Food is better, service is very good, ships are classy, while offering a more laid back atmosphere. They can be sedate, but that's more of a self-imposed item. If you felt NCL was sedate, these may not be for you.

Again, it really depends on when you can go. It's important to find a cruise that will match your lifestyle, your personality, your budget, your expectations, and your needs.

" I kind of got the feeling that Carnival was more of a party crowd, which is ok, but at my age (52) and my fiancee's age (50) we don't party like rockstars anymore. Some fun in the evenings is great, but we like a little more laid back atmosphere, too."


I have sailed carnival and I am 60, my wife 59. It was great, a lot of fun, a lot of activites. The younger crowd at night hung out at different venues, but that's up to you and what you like to do, some we did with them, like karaoke and some like the piano bar sing along was more of an older crowd. Plenty of activities for everyone and I am sailing Carnival to the bahamas in February.