Newbie cruiser needs help.

Completely new to cruises....needing help with picking a cruise for 40+ year old....3 of us.. friends. We would like it to be mostly adults on ship, we're not drinkers, like activities on ship also r&r spa like.

Thinking Carnival cruise line leaving Florida to the Turks/Caicos next summer.

Any suggestions? Please help.

I'm swimming in notes that I've read on the internet...I'm feeling overwhelmed.

While I don’t think I can help you much with which cruise to choose (I’m in Australia) here is a very useful website that will show you where and when all sorts of cruises happen. http://Www.cruisetimetables.com.

Welcome to CC. You state you are all in your 40's, want rest and relaxation...no children...and you don't drink. You also stated that you are thinking on the lines of Carnival. Carnival would be the very LAST cruise line I would choose, as it is exactly the opposite of what you would like.

You claim you are overwhelmed. May I suggest you speak with a travel agent? We really don't know your budget, where you want to go, where you want to cruise out of....etc. From the information you have supplied, I would suggest Celebrity Cruise Lines, but again, I think you need help from a Travel Agent.

Wishing you the very best with your first cruise. Hope you come back to CC and let us know what you decide.

Welcome to Cruise Critic.

You really do need to go and talk to a TA. Ask your relatives, your friends, etc., what travel agency they use. Go to more than 1 agency.

Now -- JMO -- from what you say I would not cruise on Carnival. Look at Celebrity and Princess.

Like above, I recommend talking to a travel agent. They can give you an idea of which lines will have ships in the right area for you at the right time. Many ships are only in the Caribbean during the winter.

As the others have said, Carnival and few kids are never used in the same sentence. :) But then things will not be much if any better on Norwegian and Royal cruise lines.

if you don't want to have a ton of kids on the cruise, don't go during school breaks. That includes summer.

Skip Carnival.

Princess and Celebrity are for older crowds... (for the record, we are in our early 40s, but with a 7 yo kiddo). Maybe, Holland as well.

RCI is great if you want activities onboard, but do go outside of school breaks.

Welcome to Cruise Critic!

In my opinion, the Caribbean is miserable in the summer. Too hot and humid. You may find it more enjoyable during the cooler months. The time between Thanksgiving and Christmas is good in terms of lower fares and very few children. If you want to sail Carnival, stay away from the shorter cruises and pick one that's 7 days or more.

Roz

My first cruise was when I just turned 40. The only good thing that the TA I used at the time suggested was look at Celebrity my friend and I didn't have kids and didn't really want to be around them. I'm now going on my 8th (9th is also booked) cruise with Celebrity. Many will tell you it's for the older crowd but I find it's trending a little bit younger than maybe what it used to. There are many people my age (mid-40's) to a little younger and older. It has a nice relaxed feel all over the ship. Worth checking out.

The biggest restriction to your wish list is timing - in my opinion. Summer means children.....also, hurricane season.

I agree that a cruise specialist travel agent is worthwhile for advice on what would suit you. I haven't cruised Carnival, but I understand they have smaller ships that might mean less children as they don't offer the amenities for kids that the larger ships offer. Again, an agent can help winnow down the ship list.

For when you are booked, please note that CruiseCritic also has a 'First Time Cruiser' forum that might be an interesting read...https://boards.cruisecritic.com/forumdisplay.php?f=97

Welcome to cruise critic. Definitely would suggest working with an experienced cruise travel agent.

Most of the main stream cruise lines will have kids on board. Staying away from school vacations and going on longer cruises of more than 7 days

will help.

More information about what you enjoy would also help - are you “foodies,” looking for spectacular entertainment, workout and gym facilities, pools and so on.

Celebrity might be a good fit.

The biggest restriction to your wish list is timing - in my opinion. Summer means children.....also, hurricane season.

I agree that a cruise specialist travel agent is worthwhile for advice on what would suit you. I haven't cruised Carnival, but I understand they have smaller ships that might mean less children as they don't offer the amenities for kids that the larger ships offer. ..https://boards.cruisecritic.com/forumdisplay.php?f=97

Not true! Carnival has lots of kids and programs for kids. It’s the first choice of many families as their prices tend to be lower or at least competitive with other lines.

I haven't cruised Carnival, but I understand they have smaller ships that might mean less children as they don't offer the amenities for kids that the larger ships offer.

that is not correct. Carnival is a very family-with-kids oriented cruise line. Just like RCI. But RCI is usually more expensive...

that is not correct. Carnival is a very family-with-kids oriented cruise line. Just like RCI. But RCI is usually more expensive...

I guess the word 'might' is lost in my comment, but I am willing to stand corrected. It was a suggestion to research them; not a definite 'this fits your needs'.

When looking at recent cruises that are in the Caribbean the pricing on the smaller Carnival ships were not inexpensive - they were on par with some other cruise lines. These ships had 1 slide, 1 pool. To me that would say 'slightly different demographic' particularly at the going price.

Like any cruise line, demographics can change inside their own line due to ship size, route or branding.

Completely new to cruises....needing help with picking a cruise for 40+ year old....3 of us.. friends. We would like it to be mostly adults on ship, we're not drinkers, like activities on ship also r&r spa like.

 

Thinking Carnival cruise line leaving Florida to the Turks/Caicos next summer.

 

Any suggestions? Please help.

 

I'm swimming in notes that I've read on the internet...I'm feeling overwhelmed.

My opinion is that the cruise you are talking about is the wrong cruise line, at the wrong time of year, to the wrong destination.

Carnival is one of the more 'party' (translated drinking) mass market lines. Summer is when kids are out of school so there will be tons of kids. And anywhere in the Caribbean is going to be hot and humid.

Which means you have a complete mismatch between your stated goals and the cruise you propose.

There will be scads of kids on most mainstream lines during the summer months.

That aside, Carnival offers a lot of fun and many opportunities for a lot of R&R.

Depends on where you choose to hang out, and which of the varied activities you choose to participate in.

Great value for the price.

Whatever you select I hope you have a wonderful cruise.

Hi

If you want to travel to Caribbean islands, the best choices for price and weather are late fall and early winter.

As others have said if you want to avoid many children, you need to travel when they are in school.

Carnival would be the choice if you are looking for a younger crowd. Those that mentioned cruise lines such as Celebrity, Princess, and HAL have suggested that you will have a more mature crowd. I would totally agree, and at the same time have a more sedate atmosphere. However, it does happen that on those cruise lines (at times) when it is a MUCH older crowd. If that is not a concern, then any of these mainstream cruise lines would be good choices.

Do your homework. Compare prices, itinerary and schedules. You'll have a great time.

Come back to this site to research the port of call thread as well as the thread specific to the cruise line you are choosing. Be sure if there is anything you are unsure of, you ask on this site before you make a decision that may cost you money to change.

hope this helps

Here's the thing...a cruise can be what YOU want it to be. If others are partying, you need not. If you want to relax...have at it! The ship is like a resort hotel (albeit, with smaller rooms!)....so do what YOU want, when you want!

I mean, how many times have you asked if a hotel has the same type of traveler you might be? Never, right? Of course not! Just go...do what you want. It's all good!

Celebrity if you want to stay mainstream. Oceania if you want something more.

Completely new to cruises....needing help with picking a cruise for 40+ year old....3 of us.. friends. We would like it to be mostly adults on ship, we're not drinkers, like activities on ship also r&r spa like.

 

Thinking Carnival cruise line leaving Florida to the Turks/Caicos next summer.

 

Any suggestions? Please help.

 

I'm swimming in notes that I've read on the internet...I'm feeling overwhelmed.

Contact a TA, as you have been advised. I would also consider not cruising in the Summer. You will find lots of kids. I cruise with my sisters and we shoot for April or May. Have been very few kids then. Prices are cheaper too. Good luck and don't feel overwhelmed.

Completely new to cruises....needing help with picking a cruise for 40+ year old....3 of us.. friends. We would like it to be mostly adults on ship, we're not drinkers, like activities on ship also r&r spa like.

 

Thinking Carnival cruise line leaving Florida to the Turks/Caicos next summer.

 

Any suggestions? Please help.

 

I'm swimming in notes that I've read on the internet...I'm feeling overwhelmed.

In the summer, looking for mostly adults, Carnival would not be a good choice.

If preference is mainstream probably best looking at HAL, Celebrity, P&O-UK (definitely won't be in Caribbean during summer) HAL & Celebrity should have less kids, but still have activities. P&O-UK has 3 ships that are 18+

If you are looking for something better Viking Ocean & Oceania would be good choices. Less activities. Viking Ocean is 18+ and the spa pools, etc are free.

Completely new to cruises....needing help with picking a cruise for 40+ year old....3 of us.. friends. We would like it to be mostly adults on ship, we're not drinkers, like activities on ship also r&r spa like.

 

Thinking Carnival cruise line leaving Florida to the Turks/Caicos next summer.

 

Any suggestions? Please help.

 

I'm swimming in notes that I've read on the internet...I'm feeling overwhelmed.

If you are set on summer, mostly adults, and sailing from the US I would look at a CA/NE cruise from Baltimore, NY, or Boston. Research the ship options for one with features you like - if you can find something with a Thelasso (sp) pool/spa that might be nice.

If you are set on the beach and sailing from Florida I would strongly consider late fall or early spring to minimize heat and children while still maintaining warmer water (if doing Bahamas/Grand Turk).

A nice alternative from the rat race is a nice quiet Windjammer cruise. Nice food, some music and very few distractions.