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queensgal
Smile
Member since 4/09 3287 total posts
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Help me pick a cruise line EDITED with more info
Possible Alaskan Cruise for August...
Prices are really pretty similar - we have done Celebrity and RC and I think we liked RC better but hard to judge as Celebrity was so many years ago.
1. Celebrity
2. Royal Caribbean
3. Norwegian
4. Princess
Edit:
Also, what about Carnival? I always thought they were a step down from the others listed above, so if it is similar cost, I thought RC would be better? Correct me if I'm wrong.
Going with my parents and family so older crowd is ok. No kids but there is a chance I could be preggo (TTC). Our family would want some night life - a few bars, etc. We probably wouldn't be wild partiers on this trip but would love a good martini bar, irish bar, hangout, etc. I wouldn't be drinking of course but the rest of the crew would. :)
Also - what do you do for the days at sea? it's too cold to sit by the pool, right?
Message edited 2/14/2012 9:12:44 PM.
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Posted 2/13/12 8:26 PM  |
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Blazesyth
*yawn*
Member since 5/05 8129 total posts
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Re: Help me pick a cruise line
Option 1 or 2.
Dont forget Alaska cruises tend to skew older in age.
Go for a newer boat, we were on an 'older' boat that did not have rotating azipods and couldn't get as close to glaciers as other boats were.
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| Posted 2/13/12 8:41 PM |
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SusiBee
. . . . .
Member since 3/09 8268 total posts
Name:
S
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Re: Help me pick a cruise line
We did RCI back in 2006, Serenade of the Seas.
We got very close to the Hubbard Glacier, about a 1/4 mile away.
It was a pretty good mix of ages, a lot of young people. Holland America cruises are geared towards older folks.
DH and I want to do Alaska again, but next time will be a one way trip instead of round trip - get to see a lot more this way.
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| Posted 2/14/12 9:43 AM |
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MrsS1976
LIF Adolescent
Member since 5/11 534 total posts
Name:
M
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Re: Help me pick a cruise line
I would pick RC. They are great.
Princess already had 2 separate incidents of norovirus (food poisoning onboard) which resulted in cancellation of the cruise for passengers halfway through their trip, so I would be a bit leery about choosing that line.
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| Posted 2/14/12 10:55 AM |
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tourist
Member since 5/05 10425 total posts
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Re: Help me pick a cruise line
Posted by MrsS1976
I would pick RC. They are great.
Princess already had 2 separate incidents of norovirus (food poisoning onboard) which resulted in cancellation of the cruise for passengers halfway through their trip, so I would be a bit leery about choosing that line.
Norovirus isn't exactly food poisoning. It is a stomach virus that can be foodborne, but can also be transmitted between people & surfaces.
It is common on cruise ships or any place else where people are in close quarters. Royal Caribbean also had an outbreak this year.
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| Posted 2/14/12 12:13 PM |
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Lillykat
going along for the ride...
Member since 5/05 16253 total posts
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Re: Help me pick a cruise line
Posted by MrsS1976
I would pick RC. They are great.
Princess already had 2 separate incidents of norovirus (food poisoning onboard) which resulted in cancellation of the cruise for passengers halfway through their trip, so I would be a bit leery about choosing that line.
Norovirus isn't food poisoning - it is a stomach bug. It is highly contagious and can be found not only on any cruise line but you can get it anywhere - schools, malls etc. The thing to consider is how it is handled - I know celebrity - takes away all things on the table salt/pepper, you can't serve yourself for anything - no drinks, no food etc - hand washing reminders, antibacterial wash before dining etc. Some lines are more conscientious than other lines are.
Princess is known for having good Alaskan cruises but it is an older crowd.
Celebrity is known for the best service and better food. It can have an older crowd but varies depending on the time you chose to sail - but it is generally an older crowd than say NCL.
RCCL is a step up from NCL - I think although many like NCL.They have more night life/more activities onboard.
I think if you are looking for more lively group i.e. more nightlife you probably want to go with RCCL or NCL.
When are you going? If you are going during a break time you will have more families and therefore more people in their 30's 40's etc than you will a more off time.
I would go with one of the newer ships if that is an option.
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| Posted 2/14/12 6:42 PM |
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JenniferEver
The Disney Lady
Member since 5/05 18163 total posts
Name:
Jennifer
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Re: Help me pick a cruise line
Lilly, you know so much about crusing!!!
I know everything about DCL, but that's about it. I really want to take the Disney cruise to Alaska
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| Posted 2/14/12 6:59 PM |
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kn2011
LIF Adolescent
Member since 10/10 537 total posts
Name:
K
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Re: Help me pick a cruise line EDITED with more info
I went on a NCL cruise 2 years ago and was LESS than impressed. Ive been on 6 different cruises, 4 different lines...and I think the food was sub-par on NCL. A friend of ours just cruised NCL and had an awful experience also.
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| Posted 2/14/12 9:27 PM |
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thewinterone
You make me happy
Member since 5/05 2473 total posts
Name:
cause you are gray.
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Re: Help me pick a cruise line EDITED with more info
If price & itinerary were the same, the order of cruise line I would choose is Celeb, RC, Princess then Norwegian.
I did take an Alaskan cruise on Princess and extended it to include lodging at Denali, some other land portions and the dome train.
We enjoyed it. At night it was low key drinking.
On some sea days we were going by the glaciers so we hung out on our balcony to see them.
I went late in Sept. but I only sat near the pool with my coat.
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| Posted 2/14/12 9:56 PM |
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SusiBee
. . . . .
Member since 3/09 8268 total posts
Name:
S
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Re: Help me pick a cruise line EDITED with more info
RCCL is the first cruise line I sailed with, and so far so good.
RCCL is the parent company for Celebrity, which is a step up from the RCCL ships.
As for days on board, there was an adult only solarium with a swimming pool and hot tub, so you can go swimming and lounge by the pool during sea days. Amazingly, the family pool was outside.
There are different bars to hang out in, and a disco on the top deck.
Norovirus hit our ship, we did not get sick though. We figured it out when the buffets all of a sudden had servers and we were not allowed to touch the utensils.
Using common sense is the best defense.
Wash your hands, use the hand sanitizer when entering AND leaving the dining areas, use your knuckles to hit the elevator buttons and don't touch the handrails if you don't have to.
Sanitizing and cleaning goes on constantly, but all it takes is one sick person to infect a lot of others.
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| Posted 2/15/12 9:00 AM |
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Lillykat
going along for the ride...
Member since 5/05 16253 total posts
Name:
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Re: Help me pick a cruise line EDITED with more info
Based on your updated info - I would look in this order - Celebrity, RCCL, Princess and then last NCL. Celebrity has excellent service, good food, overall good product.
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| Posted 2/15/12 10:42 AM |
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WNA01
my 2 boys
Member since 10/08 4240 total posts
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Re: Help me pick a cruise line EDITED with more info
I've done 3 of the 4 you mentioned plus carnival -
i don't like carnival so i wouldn't even put that in as a choice
i heard celebrity is really nice but thats the one I've never sailed on
i would choose RC first then Princess then Norwegian
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| Posted 2/15/12 2:19 PM |
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