Compare cruise lines?

Show all answers

phantom_of_valkyrie

My sister and I have been researching this for quite a while. She's getting married this spring. The website you need to look at is www.royalwed.com. That is the company most of the cruiselines use for their weddings. One thing I didn't like was that you cannot get married at most of the stops. So for a cruise you are really limited to perhaps one stop per cruise.

You can also get married on the ship.

So things to consider:
The price is very difficult to figure out. Royal Caribbean had a different price for half the ships, a different price for certain weeks and May/June, plus each island has a completely different price even if you are getting married on the ship at that island--for the administration/gov/t fees.

If its before you depart (and you are flying) you'll need to carry multiple bags. You'll need any clothing you'll need for the ceremony to be carried on. As you probably don't want to carry on the rest of your bags, that will mean packing a small bag in your suitcase and doing a quick repacking from the plane (not not to get charged by the airline for multiple bags).

The cruise line also charges an additional fee per guest. Most of the packages are the price for just the bride and groom, or for 8 guests. So if you are having 15 guests, it will be something close to $40 per guest which includes their transportation, cake and champagne.

The private island is usually in the Bahamas. The cruise line would be responsible for putting the paperwork through.. The chapel on the island has usually holds 10 guests.

As far as most of the cruiselines go, there are tons of activities on every ship. You can't really compare b/c of course the newer ships have more stuff to do. So if your choice between a 08 ship on one line or a 99 ship on another line go with the 08 ship.

What kind of people are coming? Older, younger? You said you don't have children but do others? All of them offer shore excursions that the whole family could do together.

As for the wedding, we are using islandweddingservices.com and booking it ourselves.

Pichu

In a nutshell, if you are looking for elegance and romance, Cunard's Queen Mary 2 and Queen Victoria (Queen Mary 2 is the best) and if you are looking for fun and a great family vacation, Royal Caribbean cruise line, but I recommend the Freedom Class Ships and Oasis Class Ships. Freedom class ships includes Freedom of the Seas, Liberty of the Seas, and Independence of the Seas. Oasis class ships include Oasis of the seas which will be setting sail this up-coming December and Allure of the Seas who's maiden voyage precise date has not been announced yet but it will be in 2010, I predict sometime in June or July or December. Both lines and ships have many, many pros and very very few cons and are excellent choices. I recommend going to http://www.cruisecritic.com/ , they have amazing details and pros and cons. Take some time to look at the links in the Source box.

rick d

I do not believe age has anything to do with it. All cruise lines today try to offer you the best vacation for your money. Yes they all offer activities for people of all ages and try different things to get every one involved but, for me it comes down to each persons taste. I think the question should be What to you Expect from your cruise? They all have restaurants, pools, spa's,most have casino's etc. But, is one going for the cruise experience or the ports of call or just to escape winter?
I have sailed with Holland, Norwegian & Princess & yes there is a difference however I look at it like this as long as I have a place tp sleep, eat. a ship that gets me to where I am going then I am happy.
Everyone has their own list. But, also remember you CAN NOT please everyone.
ENJOY.

sean m

It greatly depends on your style of cruising. If you have a child you
should take Disney, Carnival, Norwegian cause it's a party boat. But
if you're a senior without a child Celebrity, Holland America,Windsurf.
If you're in the middle take Princess or Royal Caribbean.

luludoodie

UK reply.

A different viewpoint to consider!.

We started on the "big" boats (first cruise Princess to Alaska on 1800 person ship) and were very impressed. We then did several on similar sized ships.

We the realised how much we were missing being part of mass tourism! Cruise line shore excursions are hugely overpriced, poor value for money and you miss most of the (to us anyway) interesting things!

We tried small ships 400/600 people and immediately noticed the difference. Of course you don't get the floor shows and casino - but so what!

We then moved down to REALLY small ships. Ranging from 100 people to a converted trawler carrying only 12 guests! They are "human sized" and life is completely different and better!

One of the best cruises was the 12 person trawler around Spitzbergan (500 miles north of the top of Norway, 500 miles from the North Pole!None of the big ship "facilities" but going ashore in the Zodiac and sitting within 50 feet watching 3 ton walrus's and later on top of a ridge 60ft above a Polar Bear eating a seal beats anything a cruise line organises!

Or how about snorkeling from a luxury 100 person ship (at a remote Seychelles island) as the incoming tide takes you into the centre of the island!

Smaller ships are more expensive (but worth it!), we will never go back to the big impersonal ships!

SWC

try http://www.ytbtravel.com/Cruises.aspx?wa=18KTravel
http://www.honeymoonwishes.com/
or
http://cs.cruisebase.com/cs/forms/CruiseResultPage.aspx?CD=-1&DF=5/1/2009&CL=0|0&CV=582&ships=-1&ports=-1&sort=10&SN=false&MT=false&ZP1=-1&ZP2=&PC=&Phone=&Home=http%3A//www.ytbtravel.com/&EO=false&Ref=BS&PIN=YTB277795&LID=&look=&template=&AG=256&ADV=Y&PSL=Y&logo=Y&branch=&GroupOnly=false

Enter Your Message or Comment

User Name:
User Email:
Post a comment: