cruise line question for more conservative family

[LiseD]

We are just back from a Carnival cruise to the western Caribbean. We had a great time but would love some advise for if we decide to cruise again. I didn't think that Carnival was the best "fit" for our family. We have 2 adults and 2 older teens. We are a pretty conservative family....not really into crazy parties, lots of drinking, etc Carnival does a great job of being the "fun ship" so nothing against them or anyone that wants to party on their vacation....we are just all different and enjoy different things! Trying not to offend anyone here!! :)

 

Just wondering your thoughts on a cruise line that might be a better fit for our family? Any suggestions? Would love a more subdued environment and also a little step up in service. We can't afford the real high end luxury lines...so more interested in the other more popular lines.

 

Boy...we really sound like a boring family. ha ha

 

Thanks for this site...you all were a great help in planning our trip.

[Roz]

Give Holland America or Celebrity a try.

 

Roz

[GORDONCHICK]

We really enjoy Celebrity and our DS is only 8 but he hasn't found a cruise he didn't like. So far, we've been able to find pluses and minuses of each line. On Carnival, the pluses included the huge water slide and soft serve ice cream all the time. We thought the food was pretty good and because of CC, I was prepared for the hoopla in the dining room and enjoyed it.

 

We tend to be more itinerary-driven, so we aren't tied down by completely eliminating a line. We hope to try HAL in the future, but we don't know when.

[GORDONCHICK]

LiseD - one question: how long was your cruise? That can make a huge difference in the "feel" of a cruise. The ones less than a week seem to have a bit more of a party atmosphere and the longer ones not so much. The time of year you go can have an impact as well.

[LHT28]

Princess is not too much of a FUN SHIP

[paul929207]

Generally, the longer the cruise and the further it sails from the US, the less drinking and partying happes.

[smeyer418]

try the Mayflower...I think that is White Star now Cunard...(only a little humor Cunard is generally more conservative). The higher priced lines tend to be more sedate.

But all can be pretty bacchanal at spring break time.

[donaldsc]

Disney??

 

DON

[Hawkman]

Give Holland America or Celebrity a try.

 

Roz

+1

or Princess

[WhansaMi]

We are just back from a Carnival cruise to the western Caribbean. We had a great time but would love some advise for if we decide to cruise again. I didn't think that Carnival was the best "fit" for our family. We have 2 adults and 2 older teens. We are a pretty conservative family....not really into crazy parties, lots of drinking, etc Carnival does a great job of being the "fun ship" so nothing against them or anyone that wants to party on their vacation....we are just all different and enjoy different things! Trying not to offend anyone here!! :)

 

Just wondering your thoughts on a cruise line that might be a better fit for our family? Any suggestions? Would love a more subdued environment and also a little step up in service. We can't afford the real high end luxury lines...so more interested in the other more popular lines.

 

Boy...we really sound like a boring family. ha ha

 

Thanks for this site...you all were a great help in planning our trip.

 

Hi Lisa,

 

We have sailed on Carnival and on HAL. Since they are in the same "family", you get past guest benefits. You might want to try HAL, or Princess. We are taking our 20 year old to Europe on HAL next summer. Lots of old people, but, the service is superb, and definitely more sedate!

 

I will say that, as others have mentioned, the longer the trip, the quieter the cruise, in general. Also, I found the Carnival Spirit to Alaska to be more family oriented. The Carribean cruises are more likely to have younger, more party-hearty types on them. So, the Alaska trip might be an option for you.

 

Hope that helps

[Arwenmark]

Try Celebrity, or Princess, I think Holland America is a bit too Sedate. other end of the scale as it were.

Celebrity and Princess are more middle of the road, and tend to have better service.

Celebrity also has a very limited smoking policy now in place that includes cabins and balconies as well IF that is of any matter to you one way or the other.

[Fredr]

Hello,

 

Celebrity and Princess should be considered.

[uppitycats]

We really like Princess. I've not been on HAL, yet, but I think it might skew a bit older than you would like.

[LiseD]

Thanks for all your replies....our cruise was 7 days and again...nothing "wrong" with the party atmosphere...it is just not as much our "style". Hey...Carnival does a GREAT job of doing what they say they are....the "FUN ship"....they are marketing and following through with their plan...so nothing against them and I would recommend them to anyone that wants to be on a party type cruise...it is very fun if that is what you are looking for. The staff was great...food was great...the ship was beautiful...the ports were awesome....we had a wonderful vacation....just thinking that there might be a better "fit" for us next time and wanted your feedback.

 

One of you mentioned smoking....our next door neighbor smoked on his deck ALL the time....it was really a bummer...not only smoked but talked on his cell phone a lot...and should I also mention they had 2 young kids that were really not well behaved. I would love a cruise that didn't allow smoking on the room balconies or just offered a non smoking area of balconies.

 

Again...this board is great...so nice to get advice from others with lots of experience. We all loved being on the cruise and I can see us doing this again....so that is why I would like to find out about all the options.

[MCC retired]

Celebrity may be the best fit for your family , mainly because of their strict cabin/balcony no-smoking policy (below: copied from the Celebrity website).

 

For all Celebrity ships, smoking is not permitted inside any stateroom or on any stateroom veranda. Cigarette smoking will only be permitted in designated indoor and outdoor areas of the ship, while cigar and pipe smoking will only be permitted in designated outdoor areas. Smoking will not be permitted in any dining venue, casino, theater, hallway, elevator or corridor. Violations to this smoking policy will result in a $250 cleaning fee being charged to the guest's onboard account and may also be addressed through Celebrity Cruises' Guest Conduct Policy. Cigarettes, cigars and pipe tobacco must be properly disposed of and never thrown overboard. A guest must be at least 18 years of age to purchase, possess or use tobacco onboard.

 

I have no solution to fix the misbehaved kids problem though.

[cruzeluver]

OP, you sound a like a serious Celebrity fan in the making!

 

We sailed with them for the first time this past April and absolutely loved it! To me they are a step up from Carnival in terms of service, a more sedate crowd and food. Plus it sounds like you would really appreciate their smoking policy which is strictly enforced.

 

Believe it or not, we are smokers but don't have a problem with the policy as we never smoke in staterooms anyway. Even if we did, everything else about Celebrity impressed us enough to get past it.

[PennyAgain]

For upmarket peace and quiet, you can't beat Crystal.

[navybankerteacher]

Try HAL - they are more conservative than Carnival - and, in my opinion, head and shoulders above NCL when it comes to service, food, and amenities generally. We have tried Princess - found them good, but a cut below HAL in most respects. We are looking forward to trying Celebrity in February.

[LiseD]

wow..thanks for all the helpful advise...I am going to look at some of the lines you all mentioned. It would not bother us at all to be with an older crowd. Ok....this may sound strange...but we LOVE being around older people. We have volunteered as a family at a nearby nursing home since my girls were little. My 16 yo twin girls love all their "adopted grandparents" at the nursing home and many times on this past cruise I found them involved in long conversations with the seniors on board! So...guess you might find us on the senior cruise next time!! HA HA

[WhansaMi]

wow..thanks for all the helpful advise...I am going to look at some of the lines you all mentioned. It would not bother us at all to be with an older crowd. Ok....this may sound strange...but we LOVE being around older people. We have volunteered as a family at a nearby nursing home since my girls were little. My 16 yo twin girls love all their "adopted grandparents" at the nursing home and many times on this past cruise I found them involved in long conversations with the seniors on board! So...guess you might find us on the senior cruise next time!! HA HA

 

Then HAL is the place for you! :-)

 

Our first HAL cruise was 2 summers ago. It was a quilting cruise; that is why we signed up for it. There were many aspects I loved, which is why we are signed up for one next summer. There are some aspects I would like to see change in... my husband, by the end of the two weeks, said he'd give his right arm to hear some rock 'n roll! ;-) And, I nearly fell over one night when, this is not a lie, the main entertainment of the evening was an accordian playing polka music!

 

However, the good outweighed the bad, and when we searched for a European cruise for our 20 year old (who is majoring in history), we decided to return to HAL. It is a port intensive cruise, so I'll be too tired to attend polka night anyway. ;-) My son is a quiet, studious type, so he's happy if he can find a place to read, and he loves to play cards, so we figure he'll be quite a hit among the LOLs (little old ladies)!

 

It sounds like HAL might be a good fit for your family too.

[LiseD]

oh...you gave me a good laugh....I also love history and reading...but we are also active...all 4 of us are certified to scuba dive and enjoy hiking, camping, etc We are a mixed bag....not late night party types, but enyoy travel and meeting new people...especially the lol (little old ladies)!!! ha ha

[merinski]

We found carnaval to be to much of a party ship too. I think any other ship would be better. We really enjoyed Disney & Celebrity, NCl is good too. We are trying RCL next. We are conservative also. The service is great on Disney and Celebrity. Look over the ships before booking. We did like the food on Carnaval.:)

[alcpa1]

Please do not consider HAL's Ryndam. We were on this ship less than a month ago and although we are not yet residents of our local nursing home we certainly felt like twenty somethings and we are in our mid sixties. There were about 1,200 passengers including 16 children.

Almost every scuba and hiking excursion HAL offered was canceled because not enough people signed up. So if you want to be assured of your choice of excursions I would recommend that you book independent excursions.

Smoking is still permitted in both the cabin and on the veranda of HAL ships.

I have not been on Princess lately so I cannot tell you about their smoking policy but Princess and Celebrity would seem to be the best fit for you. Celebrity would be my preference if I could tag along with you on your next cruise!

[TC68]

Hi, I think holland america is great for a conservative family. We took a cruise in the carribean with them and it was conservative but not staid. No wildness and a little older--which I like as I don't want my sleep disturbed.

[grandmato4]

I'm a firm beleiver that every cruiseline is not the best fit for every person so I do understand what the op is trying to say.

 

Not having sailed on them, but reading lots about them it sounds as if Celebrity may be the best fit for this family.