"Some of the reasons that we didn't love our last cruise: the crowds, long waits to embark, and a fair number of pushy/rude passengers".
That has not gotten better and a bit worse. However choosing one of the Older, Smaller ships on any of the mass market cruise lines will help you discover cruising again in early December.
What ship can be more "Traditional" than Cunard's QM2 , the only Liner still sailing . Has a lot of the Formailty of the past if that is what you wish.
Have a Good TA help you decide and set up a group for you to get all the benefits of your own group as well as taking over answering questions and chasing down the collection of deposits and Final Payments.
Costs you nothing.
Won on our 1st RCCL (Royal Caribbean Cruise Line) Sun Viking cruise in 1984 for participating in the showroom show .
On that tiny 17,000 ton ship the cruise director incorporated guests in most entertainment.
Nice 7 night 1 way itinerary Barbados to Miami and vice/versa.
I can’t imagine ever giving out ash trays now a days 😉
We chose MTD on our Brilliance cruise.
Since we generly show up when we are hungry appox the same time every night,
they directed us to the same table each night.
This has happened before on other RCI cruises as well as on Princess who invented Anytime Dining.
Most memorable shore tour that we have ever done .
Ship's Tour , 11 hours , included stops at Pont-du-Hoc , American Cemetary , a Museum , a walk on Omah Beach , French luncheon and talks along the way.
Although I have never seen a sign like that on over 100 cruises, I have seen a seating shortage on some ships on occasion.
At times bad shore tours, weather , card games , readers and those reserving table before selecting their food can take tables out of rotation?