27 year old Cruise Virgins

[Spicey477]

Hi there, my husband and I (both 27) are trying to plan a cruise at the end of the summer to coincide with my graduation from college and his exit from the Navy as a US Naval Officer (what a fitting way to celebrate, we think). I am in that phase of extensive research to find the BEST cruise (for us, and for the money, of course) and we are both crusie virgins (unless you count my 1985 trip on the Bermuda Star which could probably fit into the atriums of the new ships!). We are leaning towards the Celebrity Century and the Caribbean Princess, but don't really know which is best for us. We aren't into partying too much, but definitely like to have a good time, and would probably fit in more with a 40 year old crowd than a 21 year old crowd. Food/casino/cigar/spa is important as are interesting ports and all around fun and friendliness. I have been reading up on both the Celebrity and Princess boards to see what kind of atributes these ships have and what types of people to expect, but the only certainties found are that all of the people are just super excited to go on these awesome vacations!
Thanks in advance for any advice!

[Lois R]

Hi Spicey...we are neighbors!![img]http://messages.cruisecritic.com/infopop/emoticons/icon_smile.gif[/img]

Where in Jax are you?

Check out the thread called "Tell me More about Century"..it is up to 14 pages and should help you with information about a wonderful ship[img]http://messages.cruisecritic.com/infopop/emoticons/icon_smile.gif[/img]
I have sailed her twice and will be on her again in 2005..just haven't picked the date yet.
She is just awesome (in this cruiser's opinion). I could sail on 100 others and my heart will always go back to the CENTURY [img]http://messages.cruisecritic.com/infopop/emoticons/icon_smile.gif[/img]

Next up...HORIZON Sept 18th to Bermuda!

See My Century and Mercury Pictures at:
[url="http://community.webshots.com/user/lovescruising"]http://community.webshots.com/user/lovescruising[/url]

[Spicey477]

Lois, Thanks so much for the thread, I will definitely check it out!
We are located at ICW area, like Hodges and Butler? After the crusie though, we are moving to Orlando and we have only been here a year due to the Navy.
I saw your pictures and they look like a blast! I did see the ship a while ago when I was crossing the bridge to go to the airport, wow, what a sight! Thank you so much for your advice!

-Christy

[Deb C.]

Spicey--
If you could wait until Nov.. you could sail on the Zenith right from JAX (no air for you that way). [img]http://messages.cruisecritic.com/infopop/emoticons/icon_biggrin.gif[/img]

[nealberk]

NAS or Mayport? As a former resident of Jacksonville (and also of Orlando) I get a kick whenever someone mentions my former stomping grounds.

I think it was Zenith you saw in Jax. The Century seems to always sail from Ft. Lauderdale. The ships are similar, though the Century is a bit bigger and as far as Lois is concerned, much better. [img]http://messages.cruisecritic.com/infopop/emoticons/icon_smile.gif[/img]

[Spicey477]

Deb C., I know, of course we will be living in Orlando by then, and Ft. Lauderdale/Miami is only a hop, skip and jump from there, but believe me, the thought did cross my mind about going out of Jax.
Neal, Mayport is the base of the moment, our only former being 32nd St. Base in San Diego (were you there too? [img]http://messages.cruisecritic.com/infopop/emoticons/icon_smile.gif[/img]) Sorry I didn't specify, but yes, I think it was the Zenith that I saw in Jax, and I think the Century does seem to be going out of Ft. Lauderdale a lot at least this summer. I am glad that that is the better ship too, because that is the one that I would be going on!

Thanks guys!

[Lois R]

Christy[img]http://messages.cruisecritic.com/infopop/emoticons/icon_smile.gif[/img] Century goes out of FLL All year round [img]http://messages.cruisecritic.com/infopop/emoticons/icon_biggrin.gif[/img]
She is the one ship in the fleet that does the Caribbean all the time...just switches sides...Eastern one week, Western the next!

Oh..I am going to Orlando on Saturday!

Next up...HORIZON Sept 18th to Bermuda!

See My Century and Mercury Pictures at:
[url="http://community.webshots.com/user/lovescruising"]http://community.webshots.com/user/lovescruising[/url]

[CaptData]

The Caribean Princess is also a good ship from reports. It is also brand new so may have a few more things. But Celibrity is also good. Have fun deciding.

I'm thinking of the Summit for a Hawaiin cruise or the Island Princess or Pride of Aloha/America. It is tough with all this thinking and planning but fun.

Hopfully a Hawiian Cruise

[img]http://escati.linkopp.net/cgi-bin/countdown.cgi?trgb=000000&srgb=00ff00&prgb=4169e1&cdt=2006;12;5;11;00;00&timezone=GMT-0500[/img]  Until we sail away on the ocean blue



Navigator of the Seas Western Crib 08/03
Dawn Princess - Eastern Carb 01/03
Dawn Princess Panamal Canal 11/02

[marco]

We are "regulars" of both lines and have been on both 8-10 times each. We enjoy both. Yes, there are some subtle differences, and yes, we like this better on X, that better on P, but when it comes right down to it, EITHER is fine. We usually end up deciding based on timing/itinerary/price.

[cruising with marti]

Don't want to make my pal Lois mad, [img]http://messages.cruisecritic.com/infopop/emoticons/icon_smile.gif[/img] but there are plenty of other Celebrity ships that you would enjoy just as much as well as all of the Princess ships. We go with either line and as marco said (timing/itin/price) is the deciding factor.

Phil

galaxy trans Atlantic
[img]http://escati.linkopp.net/cgi-bin/countdown.cgi?trgb=000000&srgb=00ff00&prgb=FFA000&cdt=2004;9;3;17;00;00&timezone=GMT+0100[/img]

mercury
[img]http://escati.linkopp.net/cgi-bin/countdown.cgi?trgb=000000&srgb=00ff00&prgb=111111&cdt=2004;11;26;17;00;00&timezone=GMT-0800[/img]

[Longboysfan]

The one thing you may look at is ship size.
Not from the point of movement.
But getting around.
The Century is a medium sized ship by todays standards.
The Caribbean Princess is in the Mega ship class.
You may not get to see everything on it.
While the Century is a great size to get around on.

Next - Millennium - The wait begins anew. [img]http://messages.cruisecritic.com/infopop/emoticons/icon_smile.gif[/img]
[img]http://escati.linkopp.net/cgi-bin/countdown.cgi?trgb=000000&srgb=00ff00&prgb=000080&cdt=2005;02;13;16;30;00&timezone=GMT-0500[/img]
Alway booked and waiting...
[img]http://messages.cruisecritic.com/infopop/emoticons/icon_biggrin.gif[/img]

[Lois R]

I could NEVER be mad at you Phil [img]http://messages.cruisecritic.com/infopop/emoticons/icon_biggrin.gif[/img] [img]http://messages.cruisecritic.com/infopop/emoticons/icon_biggrin.gif[/img] [img]http://messages.cruisecritic.com/infopop/emoticons/icon_biggrin.gif[/img]

Next up...HORIZON Sept 18th to Bermuda!

See My Century and Mercury Pictures at:
[url="http://community.webshots.com/user/lovescruising"]http://community.webshots.com/user/lovescruising[/url]

[Spicey477]

Thanks everyone for your great advice! I read these boards all the time to get ideas, but sometimes you just have to come out and ask! I will keep you all posted if I decide anytime soon!

Thanks!

[carol459]

We are in our Mid-fifties and when we sail on Carnival, we are amongst the oldest on the ship crowd. On Princess and Holland America we are definitely among the youngest in the crowd. The longer the cruise, the older the crowd. A 7-day cruise will get you a better mix of ages than a 12-15 day cruise which has mostly older cruisers.
Hope you find what you want.

Carol

12/2004 Spirit(Mexico)
09/2004 Paradise(Panama Canal)
05/2004 Mercury(Alaska)
02/2004 Regal Princess(Hawaii)
01/2004 Ecstasy(Mexico)
12/2003 Ryndam(Sea of Cortez)
09/2003 Paradise(E. Carrib)
02/2003 Conquest(W. Carrib)
05/2002 Elation (Mex.Riviera)

[Spicey477]

Thank you Carol! I have heard that the longer the cruise, the older the passenger. I have also heard that Alaska/New England cruises have an older demographic as well, even though I am dying to go on an Alaskan cruise.
My DH was up there on a Naval submarine one summer and got to go through the fjords? standing on top of the submarine, now that is a cruise!
I am kind of thinking that starting on a lower level and working your way up is the only way to go. For example, I wouldn't want my first cruise to be on the QM2 and then go on a Carnival for my second. There is a natural progression as you get older with more money to go on more interesting/new ships/itineraries. I only wish that we had an unlimited amount of vacation time (who doesn't?) to go on those repositioning cruises found on vacationstogo.com....
I wish I had the luxury to plan the cruise up to a year in advance, but I am going to be lucky to plan it a month in advance, such is life in the Navy![img]http://messages.cruisecritic.com/infopop/emoticons/icon_smile.gif[/img]

Thanks!