Rating Cruise Lines

Author Message   Bill Gast Advanced Member Username: Actionwriter Post Number: 169 Registered: 12-2008 Posted on Monday, January 25, 2010 - 02:21 am:    Cruise lines and ships crews can be as differentfrom one to the other as night and day. Believe me. My first cruise was back in 1958 on the SITMAR Fairsky. I loved it and in the following years became a member of what was then known as "The Circola Society" Sitmar was Itallian and Have not seen them in the US for years. I am a member of the Captains club on Celebrity,Concierge Platnum on Carnival,Platnum on RCI Crown & Anchor and Platinum on NCL Lattitudes. My wife passed away in 2006 and I cruised nine times that year and six the following year. Carnival every time was a test of nerves. If it was not uncontrolled children in the dining area, (I was "stuck" with them for the cruise-so much for seated dining--yes I asked to be moved several times and was)it was having to look over at someone at the next table in a tank top and more hair showing than Bigfoot.Unknowingly, I took a cruise with Carnival on the ship that had been used to house displaced persons during Katrina. NCL with their freestyle is my choice. If you want reserved seating with a regular group--ask for it. Simple. For people with medical concerns its good to know which SHIP /not cruise line/ will airlift you to a hospital if your problem is life threatening as opposed to "next port paramedic" capability. On a RCI cruise in 2007 they actually turned the ship around and took a crewmember back to Costa Maya that had a Gall bladder emergency as I understood it. We still made our docking schedule.JMHO, Look, read and ask a lot of questions of your travel agent before you book.   John C. Wagener Member Username: Jcwagener Post Number: 15 Registered: 07-2007 Posted on Sunday, November 23, 2008 - 01:20 pm:    We just got off yesterday from NCL to the Bahamas. Over all the trip was fun, relaxing and enjoyable as we made it a point to enjoy the vacation no matter what came at us. Up side for us was the evening entertainment, as we tire of the "Las Vegas" style show even though we rercognize the talent and effort those kids put into it (wife and I are both musicians) The acts were mostly family friendly. All 3 headliner type shows had had some national exposure. Food was OK, say 6-7 out of 10. My biggest complaint was being excluded from the "private island" day at port du to windy conditions. I felt the port charge by NCL should have been refunded but the did not, even after inquiring about it at the desk. Similar thing last year with Carnaval last year and they credited $50 or so. WAG   Kathleen M. Collier Member Username: Latterdayesther Post Number: 11 Registered: 08-2007 Posted on Thursday, November 20, 2008 - 05:28 pm:    Our opinion is you can't do better than Disney when cruising with kids, and my husband and I have had one w/out the kids and grandkids, and are booked on a W. Carribean in January. Food is great, entertainment the best, and service has been outstanding. We have been twice with Disney, four times with Princess, once with Crystal, once with Celebrity, and once with NCL. Loved Disney and Crystal, (even though they cost more, it was worth it). Would rate Celebrity slightly better than Princess, but both were very nice, and didn't care for NCL at all. Happy Cruising!   Eileen Intermediate Member Username: Colmat Post Number: 62 Registered: 06-2003 Posted on Monday, November 17, 2008 - 12:23 pm:    Leonard, I really appreciate your input. Thanks much.   Leonard Self Member Username: Wekanfly2 Post Number: 24 Registered: 06-2007 Posted on Monday, November 17, 2008 - 10:55 am:    We have cruised with both a 4 and 6 year old on both the Carnival and RCL.The boys could hardly wait to go every morning. Usually 9am to lunch then break until about 1pm then until 5pm then 7pm to 10pm. After 10pm there is a charge of $6.00/hr. Some days they could stay for lunch and dinner. Of course this doesnot mean that they attended all that time but it is available for no cost. It is very well organized with an initial signup then sign in out. Lots of activities(age appropriate) kids in another area were 8+ and then preteen and teens yet in another area of the ship.We needed bed rails for nthe upper berth for the 4 yr. old and the room steward provided those. Also on Carnival there is pizza 24/7 and room service. The kids would either get pizza and drink before bed or order room service. The room service is the thing they remember most about cruising(we allowed this once per trip per child)they waited by the door with a tip until it arrived and were so proud of themselves.Wait staff in the evening would often make figures out of the cloth napkins or dote on the boys.The boys also had a chance to learn to say hello in a few other languages as well as learn about other countries.All in all this is a great vacation with kids and would recommend it.   Eileen Intermediate Member Username: Colmat Post Number: 61 Registered: 06-2003 Posted on Sunday, November 16, 2008 - 07:32 pm:    Cherry, I was very impressed with your comments about RCL for cruising with your grandchildren. We are planning a cruise for our 50th anniversary and are very concerned about accommodating the children on board. If anyone has any comments about traveling with children ages 4 to 10 would greatly appreciate it. Thanks much.   Jeffrey G. Carlen Advanced Member Username: Jcarlen Post Number: 234 Registered: 06-2003 Posted on Friday, November 14, 2008 - 02:52 am:    We have taken about ten cruises over the years. I would have to say that Azamara was the best but it is now a little pricey. Next would be Celebrity, followed by RCL, then Carnival. Clearly NCL was the pits- dirty ship, poor food, surly staff and absolutely the worst management. And this was not with an American crew.   Lane Heath Member Username: Heathlb Post Number: 17 Registered: 02-2008 Posted on Wednesday, November 12, 2008 - 12:32 am:    My husband and I enjoy cruising, and I have always found the current edition of the BERLITZ GUIDE TO CRUISE SHIPS quite helpful. It includes reviews of cruise lines, but also evaluations of individual ships in a variety of categories.   dinotars Senior Member Username: Dinotars Post Number: 4715 Registered: 06-2003 Posted on Tuesday, November 11, 2008 - 12:03 am:    John W, Interesting critic commentary on cruise lines and ships.Thanks   John W. Hardink Member Username: Honge46 Post Number: 19 Registered: 06-2007 Posted on Monday, November 10, 2008 - 10:40 pm:    Rating a cruise line IS a very subjective/personal matter as one contributor has said and can depend both on the line and the itinerary selected (school vacation weeks,holidays, etc.) Remember to check out the website at "Cruise Critic"- a very comprehensive board -reviewing all the posts for your area,port or cruise line of interest can give you a good sense of what you could reasonably expect.   John6412 Member Username: John6412 Post Number: 49 Registered: 07-2008 Posted on Monday, November 10, 2008 - 07:26 pm:    I agree with the comments Phyllic made. NCL is not my choice anymore, I'v sailed with them twice and the first time was seated dining and the food was great! Second time, they "reused" food (leftovers) and it was obvious. I know good food and they are indeed near if not at the bottom on this. Celebrity sailed 2 times, Galaxy and Millie. Galaxy was great and the Millie failed the food test. Took the Carnival Sprirt from Vancouver to Honolulu and it was great! Then we sailed on the Carnival Elation. Terrible food, some passengers thought it was great and others knew they were rehashing leftovers. It's a matter of opinion, my cup of tea may not be yours. I think that maybe the larger ships are better for activities and food.   Phyllis DeLancey Senior Member Username: Phyllis Post Number: 1665 Registered: 06-2003 Posted on Monday, November 10, 2008 - 06:53 pm:    I would have to say NCL is near the bottom too. We have done many cruses and did like NCL till the free dinning and than the all American crew in Hawaii. We took NCL from San Juan to San Fran. and it was the first and last time we will ever use the all American crew. Now before I get a lot of grief over this, I want every American to have a job, just not on the cruise ship I'm on. We do not cruise with children, but would agree with Cherry, it looks lice RC has the best programs for the younger ones. Disney may be better, but don't plan on finding out.   Edwin B McConville Senior Member Username: Perkyva1 Post Number: 689 Registered: 06-2003 Posted on Sunday, November 09, 2008 - 09:59 pm:    We have been on 7 cruises: 4 Princess, 1 Royal Carib, 1 Holland & 1 Seabourn. Sebourn is all inclusive & is absolutely wonderful, starting with champaign(sp) & caviar when you checkin & everything else. There is no kids program but the kids, some 12, were absolutely very well behaved & entertained themselves. BTW we have to take another Princess cruise before 9 June.   Cherry C. Senior Member Username: Cherry Post Number: 4360 Registered: 06-2003 Posted on Sunday, November 09, 2008 - 10:23 am:    There is a thread in the General forum that was started by a family asking about chances to fly space-a to Spain to catch a post-Christmas cruise of the Med. It has veered off the space-a aspect of the query and onto cruising, so here are some remarks... Alan Weagle wrote: "My in laws have been on about 12 cruises and they say NCL is about the bottom of the barrel now. If this is your first cruise you probably won't notice, (nothing to compare it to) but if you are a seasoned cruiser you will." To which I comment that we, too, don't care much for NCL but it's possible that their "freestyle cruising" has something to do with this, as we prefer an assigned table where you get to know some of your fellow pax. Here's my comment on cruising with children (as the original question-poser said he would be): Friends who cruise with their grandchildren, and also some on-line sites, all agree that Royal Caribbean is the best for people traveling with children -- best programs for all ages, most flexibility in coordinating with family schedules (for example, having the children eat dinner with their peers but join the elders for dessert in the evening) and just generally good at meeting the needs of both the youngsters and the adults. (I have not personally tested this!)