Help me pick a cruise! All ideas welcome!

[Lauderdale257]

Hello everyone!

So a small back story on the situation.. My husband and I are newlyweds... Married 7-3-15. We have 3 kids, 5,8 and 10. We went on a cruise in August this was a family cruise.. By family I mean we took all the kids, my parents, and step parents, my grandma, and his best friend and his girlfriend. This was initially our wedding on the cruise and then we had family unable to come so we just went as a family.. So needless to say we haven't had a honeymoon. We have decided it's time for us to find some us time and do this for us. We went on a carnival cruise to the Bahamas... Yes been on MANY cruises.. That was my first. We've discussed where we want to go and I think we're 99% sure we want to do the Panama canal cruise.. But I'm not 100% set on it. I'm open to any opinions... I want to go on a rather intimate cruise... When I say intimate I mean not a party cruise( like the carnival was) I would rather it be a little more laid back.. Not having kids running around everywhere. I would like to do a 10 day cruise.. And I'm looking for March.

Thank you in advance(sorry for the long winded story:p )

[LHT28]

Budget ?

 

Most full transit cruise through the Panama canal are 14+ days

you might find a shorter cruise that does a partial transit ..going through the first set of locks then returning to Florida

 

HAL, Princess, Celebrity might be something to look into

[Lauderdale257]

I would like to not spend more than 4000 total. Which we have a timeshare so we can get a discount if we go through them. I know I couldn't do a 14 day. I'm having a hard enough time leaving my kids for 10... I've never been away from them for more than a weekend without being able to call them.. I was looking at holland america.. I wanted to do an Msc because of their spa..

[Essiesmom]

NCL also does those 10 day partial transit cruises. Any cruise longer than 7 days, even on Carnival, will be less party hardy and fewer kids. Pick a departure port or two, and go to http://www.cruisetimetables.com and see who is sailing from there on longer cruises. It will show you the full itinerary. Or pick a particular place you would like to visit from the second list, and see who calls there, and their itinerary. EM

[SuiteTraveler]

I think Princess or Celebrity or Norwegian would fit what you are looking for most. These are the ships in the area:

Island Princess (2003, refurb 2010)

Coral Princess (2002, refurb 2013)

Celebrity Infinity (2001, refurb 2011)

NCL Pearl (2006)

 

Of the above, I especially like the NCL Pearl for their Suite Life in The Haven. I have no idea if this would fit your budget or not, but if it could, this would really make for a honeymoon to remember if you were to get a Penthouse Suite or The Haven Courtyard Penthouse- 14514 or 14014 which have a huge luxury bathroom very appropriate for a honeymoon with a walk in shower big enough for 2 with a sea view, separate tub, double sinks, toilet room, separate bedroom and living room and dining room with butler and concierge service plus access to the Haven pool and spa. What I especially like about the two mentioned suites is that their entrance is off the Haven hallway around a little bend in the hall by themselves - it feels very private and intimate, not like being on a ship with thousands and a long hallway of hundreds of doors. Instead you come into the Haven via the elevator lobby and walk down a short elegant hallway past only 4 doors to these suites which feel tucked away from the rest of the ship. The butler and concierge and your cabin attendant (always among the best on the ship) will spoil the heck out of you! The Haven is a very intimate area - essentially a locked concierge floor with a swimming pool, hot tub, steam room and private sun deck for Haven Guests only. You will feel very special! The cabins surround the Haven pool area, separated by a glass enclosed hallway.

 

Even regular cabins (Mini Suite and below) on NCL Pearl are very nice, though. They just don't have access to the Haven. Attire aboard NCL is as you wish. You never have to dress up unless you especially want to, however, men should generally have at least 1 pair of trousers and 2 business shirts for wearing in Cagney's and Le Bistro. Ladies can get away with wearing sundresses or nice jeans and a top for the entire cruise. Dining is done "Freestyle" where there are 2 MDR's and several other free options plus several specialty restaurants such as Le Bistro (French), Moderno (Churrascaria), La Cucina (Italian), Cagney's (Steakhouse) Teppanyaki (Japanese) Sushi and Chinese. People tend to go to a different restaurant every night, although the included options are very good. The specialty restaurants are more intimate and it feels more like going to a restaurant on land. Tables for 2 are easy to come by in all dining venues. Of course, there is also the Buffet. Suite Guests on this ship have the added option of Cagney's for breakfast and lunch. NCL makes it easy for this to be an all inclusive experience for suite guests as you get free unlimited beverages, free specialty dining, free WIFI, and free shore excursions. People choosing lower than suites, get only one of the above, but may buy the other packages. There is also a lovely spa onboard with a thalisotherapy pool, heated tile loungers, rain shower, dry sauna, steam room and a hot tub. Well worth buying a weekly pass for the spa for yourself and your husband.

 

The NCL Pearl is the first ship to have a bowling alley and a rock climbing wall along with several swimming pools.

 

Of course, there is are several bars, show lounges and a theater onboard. All and all it is a lovely and well rounded ship, but with the Haven, far more intimate than your typical Carnival ship.

 

Another option for Panama Canal you might not have considered is Windstar which is more like a private yacht experience. The Star Breeze sails through the Panama Canal. This is an even more intimate ship as it only has 212 passengers all in suites! The service is more upscale than your typical mass market cruise line as are the amenities, yet these smaller ships still have a casino, fitness center, spa, several bars and even a water sports platform - something you don't get on big ships.

 

Holland America has several ships in this area as well, but the reason I'm not really recommending this line is that the age range skews older. My husband and I were on HAL and are close to you in age - the nearest to us in age were a good 20 years older and most were 30+ years older. In a way it felt like being in a retirement home when we were out and about on the ship with people napping in public spaces and lots of wheelchairs and scooters. Mealtime often felt like a frustrating chore with people telling long winded stories about their past or grandchildren - interesting at first, but then more and more boring and frustrating to listen to as time passed and the same stories were repeated. We also had some of these elders demand we stay at the table longer than we wanted to - and I'm talking about after everyone had been served their meals and eaten dessert so they could finish telling their long long story yet again. We try to be polite to everyone, but this would often hold us up and we found it frustrating. We liked our suite on the HAL ship - thought that was lovely, but the passenger mix was just not there for our cruise. We also were not wowed by the food, which seemed to be only average and very under flavored. The entertainment was sorely lacking as well. My understanding is that on some sailings, the age range will skew younger, but I would assume that would be for shorter cruises and in the Caribbean. I don't know about the Panama Canal sailings and just thought you should know what it might be like. Or you might get lucky and get a HAL cruise with more younger people. I don't know how to predict that for that line. Just read lots of reviews of the specific cruise you are considering if you decide to try HAL so you will know what to expect and not be surprised.

 

Our first cruise was a Panama Canal cruise on the Sun Princess in a balcony cabin and we absolutely loved it. There is no reason you won't enjoy doing this and I must admit the Panama Canal day was one of the most memorable days I've ever spent on a ship. We did a lot of photography that day and they bring an expert onboard who describes the canal all day long. It is also helpful to read "The Path Between The Seas" by David McCullough prior to going through the Canal as it explains what a monumental feat of engineering the Canal was in epic story telling fashion.

[sbbquilter]

Congratulations on the marriage. My warning is to look carefully at the value of those timeshare points - we have always found better pricing directly with the cruise company than using points.

[SuiteTraveler]

If you decide to go with NCL, look carefully at online travel agents for the "best price" on your cruise. Sometimes they can beat NCL's own website on pricing, especially on suites and add in onboard credit as well.

[OCruisers]

If you'd be happy with a partial Panama Canal transit, both Coral & Island Princess offer several 10 day sailings in March 2016 ... and Princess should be a good fit for you. :)

 

LuLu

[cruiseapril]

We would consider a 10 day Southern Caribbean for relaxation and cost.

[Harry and Lucille]

Hello everyone!

So a small back story on the situation.. My husband and I are newlyweds... Married 7-3-15. We have 3 kids, 5,8 and 10. We went on a cruise in August this was a family cruise.. By family I mean we took all the kids, my parents, and step parents, my grandma, and his best friend and his girlfriend. This was initially our wedding on the cruise and then we had family unable to come so we just went as a family.. So needless to say we haven't had a honeymoon. We have decided it's time for us to find some us time and do this for us. We went on a carnival cruise to the Bahamas... Yes been on MANY cruises.. That was my first. We've discussed where we want to go and I think we're 99% sure we want to do the Panama canal cruise.. But I'm not 100% set on it. I'm open to any opinions... I want to go on a rather intimate cruise... When I say intimate I mean not a party cruise( like the carnival was) I would rather it be a little more laid back.. Not having kids running around everywhere. I would like to do a 10 day cruise.. And I'm looking for March.

Thank you in advance(sorry for the long winded story:p )

 

May I suggest. Princess. March 4, roundtrip, 15 days Hawaiian from SF. Lay back for the sea days going and coming. Warm days on beautiful islands. Very few kids and yes, we have cruised many times and have settled in with Princess. Just a thought for you. Good honeymoon cruise. :cool:

[Bonnie J.]

You won't find many kids on longer then 7 days. I'd say Princess. Going into then out of the Panama Canal is a great cruise. Just seeing the canal is a great thing. And, Princess is more laid back than some cruises.

[SadieN]

Carnival Pride is doing two partial transits. 13 or 14 days. Baltimore RT or Tampa-Baltimore. The longer Carnival cruises have been comparable to our longer Princess.

[crystalspin]

Lauderdale257:

 

Just to be clear about something that was not at all clear to me -- the Panama "Canal" is actually two canals and a big lake between them! So when people say "partial transit", you are going fully to the "top" of the passage, the lake, then swinging around and coming back -- set of locks up, set of locks down. You've basically missed cruising on Lake Gatun, and doing the other sets (in the "old canal" still in use, there are two smaller sets on the Pacific side with a small lake between *them*) & coming out on the Pacific. But you've seen half of a wonder of the world, from both sides, without moving your chair! so to speak. You'll see the failed French attempt at digging straight through on one side, and the new canal being constructed on the other.

 

That said, as someone else suggested, the Island Princess and the Coral Princess both have at least two March sailings out of FLL. Princess considers itself to be the model of the Love Boat!

 

http://www.cruisecritic.com/v-7/cruiseto/cruiseitineraries.cfm?port=134&startDate=2016-03&endDate=2016-04&depcity=79&length=10-14

 

Skip the 14-day Maasdam at the top of that search and scroll down.

Edited December 13, 2015 by crystalspin