Best Cruise Lines for Seniors - Cruise Line Fans: Cruise Forum, Reviews and Chat From Real Cruisers

canarymoon · 03-24-2006, 07:36 AM

I hear from time to time HAL and Celebrity mentioned as being the two best choices (of the mass marked lines) for Seniors.

Has anyone sailed both HAL and Celebrity?

Why are these two lines so often mentioned in connection with Seniors? What do they have that appeal to the 55+ age group?

sue miller · 03-24-2006, 09:47 AM

Princess also has a healthy amount of older passengers as well, and they all look very happy!!

So many choices!!!

houch · 03-25-2006, 11:03 AM

I wonder of price and the "formal" atmosphere advertised for these three make a difference???
Carnival appears the least expensive and advertises a "party" atmosphere whice would appeal to the younger population.
Royal Caribbean advertises a lot of activities that would seem to appeal to the kids and teens, ie: rock climbing wall and surfing. At my age I can't see me doing either of these. Might try a little ice skating though,

bige1039 · 03-25-2006, 11:31 AM

My last cruise on the Liberty-2-18-07 had more seniors than any other group.

Lightsluvr · 03-25-2006, 11:39 AM

As a person with six decades behind me, I enjoy going to the rock wall and watching the fools...

We like RCI as their ships seem to have a good balance of all age groups...

Not TOO many seniors...

LL

JoeyandDavid · 03-25-2006, 11:52 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by canarymoon

Has anyone sailed both HAL and Celebrity?

we have sailed Ryndam and Oosterdam on hal and Century on Celebrity..the thing I noticed most about Celebrity was the fact that they have reduced public PA announcemnts, the entertainment (pre dinner cocktail lounge acts) tend to be a little more generational than some of the other lines l

nealberk · 03-25-2006, 12:01 PM

Been on both HAL and Celebrity. HAL is definitely more of a senior line (especially the smaller, more forma ship) ON HAL we were fascinated by the number of people who were in wheelchairs, on oxygen, and on restricted diets. The ship accommodated all of these requirements with a "SOP" atmosphere.

On HAL, the hsip pretty well closed down at 11:30 except for the crows nest and the midnight buffets. If you wanted quiet places for introspection, you had them after 9 PM.

Celebrity is a bit more of a pure upscale line. Because most younger people do not have the money for the expensive extras they tend to go to the more discounted lines- not Celebrity ( although the price differentials are NOT really that great) Also, RCL.NCL, and Carnival more often push for the 3rd and 4th people in a room. You do not see much advertising of this on Celebrity so the net effect is that families (the 3rd and 4th people) look more favorably at the single room rather than 2 rooms.

Interestingly, while the kid's programs on Celebrity are not as publicized, they are quite excellent.

joramrose · 03-25-2006, 01:43 PM

I sailed on HAL's Amsterdam around South America and it was a virtual floating senior center. Of course, it was a 16-day cruise in the early spring which rules out families and working folks.

Now although I have long since qualified for senior-hood, I like to see young people about me too. Fortuntely, I was at table (late seating) with two young honeymoon couples, about the only young ones on the whole ship, and we had a ball!

I put late seating in parenthesis because there was a battlethe first couple of days to obtaio early seating. we felt almost a little lonely with the very late seating. HAL has four dinner times.

I have sailed Celebrity six times, and have seen people of all ages, but I feel very comfortable there as a senior. Once my cabin was right across the hall from the kids' center and at first I was a little concerned, but came to enjoy it very much. Kids were all very well behaved.

The main thing with both these lilnes -- their service is great and we seniors do appreciate fine service. They seem to cater to us with handicaps -- canes, wheelchairs, walkers, oxygen bottles, whatever, and the staff is well trained to lend a helping hand whenever possible.

Yet I have to say a good word for Carnival. My sister and I took our 92-year-old mother on a Carnival cruise some years ago and ship personnel went all out to see she had a comfortable and a good time. She loved it!!!

love
joan

P.S. To read about my SA adventure with HAL, go to Trip Reports.

MD11F · 03-25-2006, 02:30 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Lightsluvr

As a person with six decades behind me, I enjoy going to the rock wall and watching the fools...

We like RCI as their ships seem to have a good balance of all age groups...

Not TOO many seniors...

LL

I thought you would have wanted some excitement and join the fools climbing that wall. Do you know how great that view is? Makes the heart of a person with six decades behind them even stronger, now you've allowed half your life to slip by without much fun.

Of course there arn't too many seniors, who said you were one, get up that wall and have a blast, you won't fall down and can't get up

.

nealberk · 03-25-2006, 02:39 PM

Well put, Joan! I was especially impressed by the Celebrity dailies for kids. The first one stated that they wanted the kids to have fun and enjoy themselves and they hoped to achieve it by presenting an interesting and fun program for them. But, like the adults, Celebrity expected the kids to act like ladies and gentlemen and be considerate of others. Celebrity does not talk down to kids giving them both the privileges and the responsibily. Nice.