How do you select your cruise?

[luv]

Of course vacation schedules and cost are important. I get that.

I'm wondering if you pick by ship or by where it is going.

I don't really care where we go. If I was seriously interested in the destination, I think I'd just fly there and do it properly.

I am more into the boat itself and the shows on it, etc.

When I hear people talk about cruises, they talk a lot about where they went...the shore excursions, I guess they're called.

So...anyway, how do you select your cruise?

 

[Disneyfalcon]

I pick by when I can go!

I don't usually care where it's going, although I have picked some cruises because of where it's going. Like Alaska and the Med. As far as the Caribbean goes, I don't care which itinerary I'm on, they're both great, I just pick when I can go.

I'm not particular about which ships. I love the new ships, they're amazing, but I'm perfectly happy on the classic ships.

I do love being on the ship, and if we ever went somewhere where I didn't feel the need to get off, I wouldn't.

One of my dear friends just got back from a week on the Fantasy. Her husband wasn't excited because he thought he would hate the 3 sea days. He was all in for the islands, but he couldn't stand the thought of being trapped on the ship the other days. When they got back he told me the days on the ship ended up being his favorite days. He absolutely loved them.

 

[iloverags2]

Both ship and destination are important to me. Sometimes we choose strictly for destination, such as our Western Caribbean cruise. We knew we wanted a 7-night cruise in 2010 and decided on the Western Caribbean since there were more port calls (more places to visit), plus I had always wanted to see Mexico. When we sailed this past May, both ship and destination played a part. We chose a 5-night cruise, so it was down to the Dream and the Magic. First, our heart belongs to the Magic so she took the edge there. What won out was the fact the Magic would make a call on Key West, which we adore! Our cruise next year is also a mix of ship and destination. I toured both the Dream and the Fantasy, and fell in love with the Fantasy. On top of that, we really want to see the Eastern Caribbean. Taking both of those into account, it's an obvious choice!

As for other cruise lines, the same can pretty much be said as well. I have little desire to sail on the Oasis class ships on Royal Caribbean, and am not crazy about the Vegas-styling of Carnival ships. With RCI, I would decide where I want to go, then choose a ship that goes to that location.

 

[216bruce]

For what it's worth, I agree wholeheartedly with The above. The boats are similar in a lot of ways- amenities, service, shows, food, etc. It all comes down to where you are going. I politely disagree about "doing it right" by flying. On a cruise you pack and unpack once- ditto for checking in and out of a hotel. Cruises are great "samplers" for places you've never been when they are like the European/Med cruises. You get to a lot of ports and see a lot of variety on shore excusions. What you love you can go back to.

 

[sweetpee_1993]

We're much like Tammy, it's about timing mostly. Even tho we homeschool, the hubby has to time his vacations so they don't fall on deadline weeks or conflict with his project schedules. Then there's ports and ships to consider. We've been on the Magic & Dream. We liked them about the same but in different ways. The Dream felt like there was more going on at any given time. Also, having already been to Nassau twice I think ports will start playing a heavier roll. Like another poster said, I like the idea of sampling places we wouldn't otherwise choose as vacation destinations. Of course cost does influence things some. I'm not about to spend crazy amounts to go on a holiday voyage as much as I'd really love to go on one.

 

[joanna71985]

I'm new to cruising, so I'm just picking with when I can go, and the destinations. My first cruise was a 4-night on the Dream (I felt it was good for getting started, and I really wanted to see the Dream). Now I'm going on a 7-night on the Fantasy. I'm looking forward to seeing the Caribbean (I've never been there before), going on the Fantasy, and the sea days. In the future, I would love to do Alaska or Hawaii

 

[ChuckElias]

I don't usually care where it's going, although I have picked some cruises because of where it's going. Like Alaska and the Med.

Agreed. After cruising the eastern and western loops of the Caribbean, we started looking at different destinations, rather than the ship. So we've done the Med, Alaska, Mexican Riveria, Baltic, Southern Caribbean (Tortola) and now Canadian itineraries. Destination matters to us now more than the ship. Although, as I say that, we've booked a Caribbean, just to be on the Fantasy.

As far as the Caribbean goes, I don't care which itinerary I'm on, they're both great

I liked the Western loop better because it stopped in Key West. And because I really don't care about the shopping and jewelry stores on the Eastern loop. But I guess the Fantasy doesn't do Key West anymore?

I do love being on the ship, and if we ever went somewhere where I didn't feel the need to get off, I wouldn't.

Can you say Nassau? I actually had a great day one time in Cozumel, b/c everybody got off the ship except for me. I had Quiet Cove literally to myself. Awesome! I also didn't get off the ship in Olbia during the Med cruise, b/c it was too cold for a beach day.

 

[ChuckElias]

As for other cruise lines, the same can pretty much be said as well. I have little desire to sail on the Oasis class ships on Royal Caribbean, and am not crazy about the Vegas-styling of Carnival ships.

I toured the Allure and I have to say, it's pretty amazing. I've heard only good things from people who have sailed on it.

As for other cruise lines, I am really interested in doing a river cruise in Europe next year (25th anniversary), and of course DCL doesn't do that. So I'm scoping out Viking and Avalon to see what their prices look like.

 

[ChuckElias]

I politely disagree about "doing it right" by flying. On a cruise you pack and unpack once- ditto for checking in and out of a hotel.

I think by "doing it right", the person meant really seeing a destination in detail and getting to know it, instead of just getting the one-day "sample" from a cruise. I don't think she meant that cruising was wrong. But if you're going to "do" Rome, you can't really do it on a 4-hour shore excursion. I think that's all she meant.

 

[Disneyfalcon]

Agreed. After cruising the eastern and western loops of the Caribbean, we started looking at different destinations, rather than the ship. So we've done the Med, Alaska, Mexican Riveria, Baltic, Southern Caribbean (Tortola) and now Canadian itineraries. Destination matters to us now more than the ship. Although, as I say that, we've booked a Caribbean, just to be on the Fantasy.

I liked the Western loop better because it stopped in Key West. And because I really don't care about the shopping and jewelry stores on the Eastern loop. But I guess the Fantasy doesn't do Key West anymore?

Can you say Nassau? I actually had a great day one time in Cozumel, b/c everybody got off the ship except for me. I had Quiet Cove literally to myself. Awesome! I also didn't get off the ship in Olbia during the Med cruise, b/c it was too cold for a beach day.

The Fantasy doesn't do Key West, sadly. 'The Wonder out of Miami will.

We loved Nassau when we went to Atlantis, and another time we had a great day at the beach. But I'm fine staying onboard in Nassau if we don't have anything big planned.

 

[iloverags2]

I toured the Allure and I have to say, it's pretty amazing. I've heard only good things from people who have sailed on it.

As for other cruise lines, I am really interested in doing a river cruise in Europe next year (25th anniversary), and of course DCL doesn't do that. So I'm scoping out Viking and Avalon to see what their prices look like.

I have heard great things about the Oasis class...they just are not for me. I prefer the smaller, more intimate ships (hence my love of the Magic over the Dream class on DCL).

My sister did a Russian river cruise several years ago and LOVED it. What part of Europe are you looking at?

 

[ChuckElias]

My sister did a Russian river cruise several years ago and LOVED it. What part of Europe are you looking at?

Either a Danube cruise (Vienna to Budapest) or a French wine country cruise.

 

[iloverags2]

Either a Danube cruise (Vienna to Budapest) or a French wine country cruise.

Oh, I would so love a Danube cruise! My mom has been to Budapest (and also Bucharest...her parents were born and raised in Romania, although I believe when they were born the town they lived in was actually Hungary at the time).

 

[luv]

I think by "doing it right", the person meant really seeing a destination in detail and getting to know it, instead of just getting the one-day "sample" from a cruise. I don't think she meant that cruising was wrong. But if you're going to "do" Rome, you can't really do it on a 4-hour shore excursion. I think that's all she meant.

That is exactly what I meant. I'm sorry if it gave another impression. If my primary motive were to visit Mexico, I'd fly there and stay there for a week or two. My goal for cruising is to cruise. I want to chill in the sunshine for hours on end. I want to stand by the railing and feel breezes, much like they did on the Love Boat, lol.

The ship (and all there is to do on it) is the part that most interests me.

I'm very happy to read all this.

Thanks, everyone!!

 

[luv]

Oops. Duplicate.

 

[tracyandalex]

At first for us it was about the boats, we wanted to try them all (Disney boats that is). We will be on the Fantasy in April so from now on it's all about the ports. We want to try all of those too, so which ever cruise fits into our schedule is the one we will be taking. We do mind being on any of the Disney boats so after April the boat will mostly be a non-factor for us.

 

[tiaragirl]

Depends who I'm going with!

Normally with the family it's about WHEN we can all go - both of my parents work, and in September Carly and I will both be in university, so it's hard when it comes to vacation. Normally we've been traveling at the end of August!

When I'm with my friends, however, it's more about price - when the deals are, and where. The only reason we went on the Mexican Riviera cruise in Feburary is because of the amazing deals on the Wonder vs. what we would have paid going to Disney!

The ships are amazing, and I would love to get on the Fantasy (or the Magic, somehow I've never been on the Magic) but in the end it doesn't matter. If you love cruising with Disney, the ship will be perfect. It's just getting there!

 

[216bruce]

That is exactly what I meant. I'm sorry if it gave another impression. If my primary motive were to visit Mexico, I'd fly there and stay there for a week or two. My goal for cruising is to cruise. I want to chill in the sunshine for hours on end. I want to stand by the railing and feel breezes, much like they did on the Love Boat, lol.

The ship (and all there is to do on it) is the part that most interests me.

I'm very happy to read all this.

Thanks, everyone!!

Didn't mean to say that flying is wrong or imply that you can see Rome in four hours. (Someone seriously thought that was even imagineable by someone else?) I just had the impression that you were new to cruising and was trying to help. So, yeah, a lot of times we just stay on the boat and hang out. The boat can be the best part of the cruise very easily, especially if you are going to somewhere you've been before. When we take 3 or 4 day Caribbean cruise we usually just stay on the boat except for Castaway Cay. Nassau isn't our cup-of-tea and only go on that particular cruise for a long getaway weekend when it's cold here at home. Just be prepared to gain weight if you stay on the boat- lots of tempting and way too available food. (Waiting for the inevitable "But no, you don't have to" comment).