Create the perfect cruise ship from existing lines offerings

[gospelle]

I love Celebrity's grass, Carnival's comedy clubs, Royal Caribbean's buffet, and I got thinking, if I could take all my favorite things from each line I've been on and make a single ship with all those things, that would be great.

 

Sadly it is just a thought experiment, but here's my ideal cruise line/ship from lines I've experienced and a few features I haven't but know about:

 

Boarding:

Welcome champagne - Celebrity

Escort to room - Princess

Room available at boarding - Princess

Food:

Full menu room service - Royal Caribbean (suite)

As many lobsters as I want - Royal Caribbean

Windjammer buffet - Royal Caribbean

24hr soft serve ice cream - Carnival

No dancing waiters! - Celebrity

Chocolate melting cake - Carnival

Asian specialty restaurant - Celebrity (equinox)

Pizza - Princess

Help yourself gummy bears and m&m's - Celebrity

Drinks:

Wine tasting machines - Celebrity

Mango Tangos - Royal Caribbean

Surcharge to bring booze to cabin from duty-free - (Royal Caribbean before they changed the rules)

Caffeine Free Coke (with sugar) - Carnival

Starbucks - Royal Caribbean (Allure)

Cabin:

Coffee Maker - NCL

Deck 4 Cove Balconies - Carnival

Public Spaces:

Lawn club - Celebrity

Surfing Machines - Royal Caribbean

Rock Climbing Walls - Royal Caribbean

Water Slides - Carnival

Dungeon disco - Royal Caribbean (Adventure Class)

Smoke Free Casino - Princess (some days)

Coin Free slot machines - (Various newer ships)

Solarium - Celebrity

Hot Tubs Open 24hrs - (sadly no ship I know of despite their advertising)

Thermal Suites - Royal Caribbean (Radiance Class)

Entertainment:

Blue Man Group - NCL

Cirque style production shows - Celebrity (equinox)

Comedy Clubs - Carnival

Hot Glass Show - Celebrity

Movies Under the Stars - Princess

Alternate movie venues - Princess

Piano Bar - Carnival

Self Levelling Pool Tables - Royal Caribbean (Radiance Class)

Ship Design:

Open Stern/Pool/hot tub area - Princess (Grand Class)

Retractable Roofs - (Various)

Cantilevered Hot Tubs - Royal Caribbean

 

I may edit this as I think of stuff, but that would be a great ship.

 

What is your perfect combination?

[dorisis]

That is some list!!!

 

~Doris~

[susie8862]

You have way too much time on your hands. Lol...Just kidding...GREAT list.:o

[printingchick]

Love your list!!

 

I prefer the Vortex nightclub on Radiance Class ships (amazing views) to the Dungeon version on Voyager Class. But you're right that, despite the Schooner Bar reputation, Carnival has the better piano bar.

 

I'd add:

Self-service irons (Carnival)

Sea-Day Lunch Buffet (Celebrity)

Quest Game (Royal - but I prefer it on the smaller ships, in the lounge, rather than in Studio B, where it becomes more a spectator event.)

70s Party (Royal)

Outdoor buffet seating (various)

[electro]

Dining room open for lunch on embarkation day NCL

[sail7seas]

The problem is that everyone's vision of perfect is not the same.

 

I don't want champagne glass when I board. It's cheap stuff I'll only spill while trying to juggle my travel pocketbook and carryon. Empty, wasted calories and a nuisance I don't want.

I also have no interest in an escort to our cabin.

We always use bellhops in hotels because they have the luggage. On ships, the luggage is being delivered for us.

 

My idea of perfect ship is likely very different than Joe, Sally, Harry, Susan et al

We all want something different. IMO

 

[marco]

Good list. Under "Entertainment" I would add Ice Skating Shows - RCI and for retractable roofs I change "various" to HAL, as it's pretty consistent fleet wide.

[Jimnbigd]

Under "entertainment", I'd add: 11-piece big band orchestra currently on Oasis and Allure.

And, I prefer the Schooner piano bar to Carnival's.

[maryann ns]

Incredible staff including friendly captain and officers - Azamara

[printingchick]

Under "entertainment", I'd add: 11-piece big band orchestra currently on Oasis and Allure.

And, I prefer the Schooner piano bar to Carnival's.

 

I've found the Schooner Bar entertainer to be hit and miss. Matt Yee...BIG HIT. Most others on my cruises, not so much.

 

Also, I like the revolving bar that wraps the piano on Carnival. Not so good for non-smokers (which I am one), but better for sing-along and people tended to come sit in the same places so you got to know people. Ron Pass is INCREDIBLE!!!

[jocap]

From the lines we've used, my ship would have:

Free shuttles (P&O) free laundrettes (P&O and Thomson), no tipping (Thomson), excellent lectures (Princess, P&O, T), great activities (P&O, T), brilliant itineraries (Louis), Freestyle dining and multiple restaurants(NCL), kettle and teatray in each cabin(P&O, Thomson on some ships)and chartered flights enabling you to stay on board for the last day(P&O, T)

[cruisemom42]

Holland America -- Beds; wine policy

 

Princess -- Pasta; souffles; late night comedy; freshwater pools

 

Voyages to Antiquity -- Itineraries; staff

 

Swan Hellenic -- Lecturers; library; service

 

Oceania -- Food

 

Celebrity, RCCL -- Past passenger benefits

[gospelle]

Love your list!!

 

I prefer the Vortex nightclub on Radiance Class ships (amazing views) to the Dungeon version on Voyager Class. But you're right that, despite the Schooner Bar reputation, Carnival has the better piano bar.

 

I'd add:

Self-service irons (Carnival)

Sea-Day Lunch Buffet (Celebrity)

Quest Game (Royal - but I prefer it on the smaller ships, in the lounge, rather than in Studio B, where it becomes more a spectator event.)

70s Party (Royal)

Outdoor buffet seating (various)

 

Oh yes, Quest. I will add that to my list for sure. Our first Quest was with our table mates, 2 young couples from California and the two girls were gorgeous twins. One of the most fun nights we ever had!

[gospelle]

The problem is that everyone's vision of perfect is not the same.

 

I don't want champagne glass when I board. It's cheap stuff I'll only spill while trying to juggle my travel pocketbook and carryon. Empty, wasted calories and a nuisance I don't want.

I also have no interest in an escort to our cabin.

We always use bellhops in hotels because they have the luggage. On ships, the luggage is being delivered for us.

 

My idea of perfect ship is likely very different than Joe, Sally, Harry, Susan et al

We all want something different. IMO

 

 

yes. I get that. which is why I asked what YOUR perfect combination was. Play the game right now.

[gospelle]

Good list. Under "Entertainment" I would add Ice Skating Shows - RCI and for retractable roofs I change "various" to HAL, as it's pretty consistent fleet wide.

 

I liked the first one I saw on Adventure, but HATED the one on Navigator. The ice is so bad it's a wonder those performers aren't in body casts. If they had someone who knew what they were doing and took proper care of the ice surface it would be better.

 

I've been thinking about going on HAL. what other nice stuff do they have?

[gospelle]

Incredible staff including friendly captain and officers - Azamara

 

I'd love to try Azamara. We've been looking at the Galapagos for a while. it's definitely on our bucket list!

[gospelle]

From the lines we've used, my ship would have:

Free shuttles (P&O) free laundrettes (P&O and Thomson), no tipping (Thomson), excellent lectures (Princess, P&O, T), great activities (P&O, T), brilliant itineraries (Louis), Freestyle dining and multiple restaurants(NCL), kettle and teatray in each cabin(P&O, Thomson on some ships)and chartered flights enabling you to stay on board for the last day(P&O, T)

 

nice list.

 

I like educational lectures and haven't had those much on our ships so far. I hope to do National Geographic Explorer in Antarctica one day. that would be enrichment!

 

Louis? that's a new one for me. I'll have to look them up.

[gospelle]

Oh, and I just thought of another one to add to my list.

 

Being able to purchase a Late Departure "excursion" - Royal Caribbean

[gospelle]

Holland America -- Beds; wine policy

 

Princess -- Pasta; souffles; late night comedy; freshwater pools

 

Voyages to Antiquity -- Itineraries; staff

 

Swan Hellenic -- Lecturers; library; service

 

Oceania -- Food

 

Celebrity, RCCL -- Past passenger benefits

 

Curious, what is HAL's wine policy?

 

Funny you should say that about Princess. Neither of my 2 Princess cruises had a single comedian!

 

Voyages to Antiquty?, swan Hellenic?? wow, 2 more lines I have to look up.

 

I agree about RCCL/X benefits. we just made diamond on RCCL and am looking forward to our Elite benefits on X next year.

[cruisemom42]

Curious, what is HAL's wine policy?

 

Funny you should say that about Princess. Neither of my 2 Princess cruises had a single comedian!

 

Voyages to Antiquty?, swan Hellenic?? wow, 2 more lines I have to look up.

 

I agree about RCCL/X benefits. we just made diamond on RCCL and am looking forward to our Elite benefits on X next year.

 

HAL does not limit the amount of wine you can carry on (no corkage if consumed in your cabin).

 

Voyages to Antiquity and Swan Hellenic are small British cruise lines with specialized itineraries and great educational lecturers.

[gospelle]

HAL does not limit the amount of wine you can carry on (no corkage if consumed in your cabin).

 

Voyages to Antiquity and Swan Hellenic are small British cruise lines with specialized itineraries and great educational lecturers.

 

You're right. That sounds good. I'm adding that to my ideal cruise line too!