My husband and I are first time cruisers over 50. Which cruise is right for us?

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Ed S

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http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Cruiseaddict/

notyou311

Celebrity does a good job. Their ships are mid sized but they have every amenity. Go at at time of year when kids are in school and you won't have a problem. I would also recommend Holland America. They have beautiful ships, good service, and good food.

Steve

I've heard good things about Alaskan cruise from a friend.

josie1980

Either Alaska or Hawaii.
If you want formal dress ups. Go with Princess or Celebrity lines.
Vacationstogo.com has some great values on most cruises.
Good sailing and happy anniversary.

tbugs

My advice is to go on the Celebrity cruise line. It is not upscale snooty but is certainly more upscale than Carnival, Princess, Norwegian, or Royal Caribbean. The service is great, the food is excellent, the age category is perfect for you, and you will love it.

As for destination, I would choose the Southern Caribbean or the Western Caribbean. Both have lots of great things to see.

Definitely spring for the extra few dollars and choose a balcony cabin. Sitting under the stars is very romantic. It is also great sitting on the balcony in the morning having your coffee.

My wife and I have sailed on Celebrity 10 times and have tried a few other cruise lines but always agree that Celebrity cannot be beat.

Have a great time.

TINKERTOY ..... the 1 & only

I have been on about 20 cruises with 4 different cruise lines and what I recommend is a cruise on either Princess or Celebrity. Both are first class cruise lines with ships that are fabulous pretty much regardless of which one you go on. Both provide first class service, have great meals and facilities on their ships and both do a variety of itineraries. Both also cater to a more mature crowd than you will find on some other lines. Royal Caribbean also fits in this category too with its cruises. All three of these have formal nights when most people do dress up, either in tux or gown or just a suit and nice dress. Just stay away from NCL and its freestyle cruising.

As for destination, bear this in mind. The cruises with the most families with kids and young people (20's, 30's & 40's) go to the Caribbean and they go on cruises that are short 3 to 5 days, or on 7 day cruises. So if you want a cruise that has the more mature adults, i.e. your age and older, take a cruise that is not going to the Caribbean and is for longer than 7 day, like maybe 12 to 14 days. Now every cruise is likely to have SOME kids but its been my experience that those other than the Caribbean do not have many.

You will not be bored on ship because there are plenty of things to do every day AND remember that every day or so you will have a port stop where you can get off and tour (one offered by the ship or on your own). Even if you do not go to the Caribbean you will be able to use the pools and hot tubs because many ships have a solarium area that is a covered pool and hot tub area. The ships also have fabulous gyms that are free, some including saunas and steam rooms. There are free shows every night and a variety of lounges and bars with a variety of music. My point is if you do not go to the Caribbean you will still have a great time.

Some more tips:

- You will get the best price by booking very early and that means 9 to 12 months or more in advance. All cruise lines give early booking discounts.

- Be flexible with your cruise date because the best deal (price) may not be ON your anniversary date but a few weeks before or after.

- Some cruises are season: Alaska cruise season is mid-May to Mid-Sept; New England/Canada cruises are Late June through September; the Baltic country cruises (Norway, Sweden, Denmark, Germany, Russia) are May through September; Mediterranean cruises are best in September and October.

-If you decide to go to the Caribbean remember that the hurricane season is June through the end of October.

- For your honeymoon I recommend a cruise to Alaska, the Mediterranian, or the Panama Canal.

Zef H

I would recommend either Holland America Line (HAL) or Celebrity. Both are four star lines that attract people your age, but don't have many kids on board. Both lines would be considered a step above Carnival or Royal Caribbean (Carnival owns HAL and Royal Caribbean owns Celebrity). Both are reasonably priced and both have stricter dress codes than Carnival or Royal Caribbean. Neither line would have many school aged children on board during the school year.

If you can afford it, Crystal, Silversea, Seabourn and Regent Seven Seas are five star lines. Crystal, Silversea and Seabourn have very strict dress codes while Regent is a little more relaxed. These are not what one would consider to be family (read child) friendly lines.

You are not going to see many children on any of these ships. And if you go while school is in session, chances are, you will not see any school aged children.

Jerry

Go with Celebrity, you won't be disappointed.

MomSezNo

Totally agree with Zef. I've been on both HAL and Celebrity and loved both. They are classy and have great service and food. Princess might also fit your needs, but I've never sailed with them.

For more opinions, go to CruiseCritic.com, click on "Boards" and/or "Reviews". You might be especially interested in "First Time Cruisers".

I'd also suggest you get a book on cruising from your library to get an idea of all of the various aspects of cruising.

Ruby Hernandez

I would suggest Alaska, but if budget is not a question to you and your husband, take the Caribbean cruise... but just like going to Europe, any cruise or trip you take will be a lot of fun when you travel with your husband or love one. Have fun.....

randall_nd

Most of the time, it helps going during the school year. All cruises have opportunities to dress up. The only one without traditional evening dinner is NCL. Personally, I like sitting with the same people for evening dinner each night. All cruise lines, including Disney have adults only areas. It is unnecessary to go to the supper club for $30 a pop. Last year, our dining room mates did this and said the regular dining room was much better and a lot more fun. Each night, the wait staff does some sort of dance. They use music like Les Ketchup - The Ketchup Song and The Macarena. The last night, they sing Leaving On A Jetplane. Take an empty paper towel tube with so you can roll up the autographed placemat they give you on the last evening. Bon voyage!!

Rebecca S

My mom and dad went on the Ambassador cruise line, to the bahamas, kozamel, ect.. They loved it and all the free food lol. They said there was always something to do. And they are going back. They are 55 and 53. As much as they liked it I would recommend it to you.

Angiej1213

I've been on many cruise lines, and the best I have found so far is with Celebrity Cruise Lines. They advertised "white glove service", and they sure did deliver. I had the best time on the cruise and all the staff were attentive. There were little to no children on the ship, and the clientele is 50+ range. So, if you like to dress up, have high tea, listen to wonderful music, maybe have a dance or two before dinner, then this is the cruise line for you. I am planning a 10 day Alaskan cruise for later on this year with Celebrity, and I can't wait!
Happy cruising.

holland america sounds like the type of line you are looking for. i just went on one of their cruises and there were hardly and kids at all and you do get to dress up. however, i wouldn't recommend the line. their food was sub-par and they have had a problem with norovirus on the ship i went on. the cruise before mine had a large percentage of passengers get sick. on the cruise i went on, there were 10-15 and i was one of them, i was isolated to my room for 80 hours. their room service was also very slow, which is terrible if you're sick because their is no other way to get any juice or bottled water since your not allowed to leave your room.

eric the great

I love Princess cruises and I'm over 50. My favorite was Alaska cruise/landtour. Then I think my next favorite was Panama Canal. be sure to book a balcony room or a suite if you want something extra special. They also have mini suites that are real nice too. Dinning and dressing up was always special for me and my husband. You will get waited on hand and foot. What a great way to spend your anniversary.

Noble Angel

we live in Florida and love to cruise, our favorite is Carnival and even those we are only up to our 17th year of marriage and travel with our children, out of Florida only for now, we love all the port Florida has to offer but for a really special anniversary as you are at a European, Hawaiian, or Alaskan. would be perfect.
Carnival would be great but is you want a little more up scale I would go with Princess

Tom

HAL.

Ships carry fewer pax than comparably-sized ships on other lines. The pax are generally older with fewer kids running around. Food is as good as I've had on any line. Exceptionally attentive staff. Less merchandising than you'll find on other lines. Cheaper drinks but fewer drunks. Less of a party atmosphere than many lines. Lousy odds in the casino; several staff referred to it as the "donation center". You will probably see several tuxes on formal nights. No dancing waiters. Cappuccinos in the dining room at dinner are complementary although you pay in the coffee shop. An extra charge in the specialty restaurant like most lines but the food is worth it. Scooped ice cream is served most afternoons in waffle cones at no extra charge but there is no free-flowing soft-serve.

Downside (if there is one) is "there's too many old folks on those dam ships".

correll2424

princess and norwegian

call or email me to help plan your trip
Dave - www.sweetvacations.net - website under construction
correll24@sweetvacations.net

Wow

I suggest the Costa Allegra. It is an Italian ship whose age group is 40+. Tthere are no youngsters partying around everywhere. It sails from Hong Kong or Singapore. The ports of calls are Ho Chi Minh(Vietnam), Da Nang(Vietnam), Sanya (China), Hong Kong, Manila(Phillipines), Kota Kinabalu (Borneo,Malaysia), Bandar Seri Begawan (Brunei) and Singapore. This is a roung trip from Singapore. Costa even offers fly/cruise options from England. There are captains galas and other formal nights depending on the date. It is a small ship (28,000 tonnes) and the crew are excellent. Costa organises all of your visas and take good care making sure you are safe. It is only around $2000 cruise only. It is for 14/15 nights. I have just returned from this ship and I recommend it to everybody .

Staffie1

How about a free style cruise? AAA has a great deal on cruises to the Hawaiian Islands. Check their website or visit the office.

Jason K

just find one in your budget, there all really fun...

martha jones

Try Educational Opportunities just do a search they are out of Florida and specialize in Christian education my mom and I did the Mediterranean last spring we loved it by the way she is 80 and I am 49

Makenna f

the carnival cruise is the best! i went on it 3 or 4 years ago and it was amazing!

My husband and I are first time cruisers over 50. Which cruise is right for us? pic 1
My husband and I are first time cruisers over 50. Which cruise is right for us? pic 2
My husband and I are first time cruisers over 50. Which cruise is right for us? pic 3

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