What's Your 2nd Favorite Cruiseline?

[kalliekae]

We had 7 cruises on HAL before we did 3 Royal cruises on the Oasis and Allure. We started cruising with HAL because our first cruise was a gift and then we just kept going back to HAL. I like HAL if we are in Europe, Panama Canal, or the Baltic because those are port intensive cruises and the ship is not my destination. HAL has larger cabins for the $$$ than does Royal's Oasis class and HAL's service is outstanding. However, sea days can be a little boring, IMO, since they don't have very many activities. They definitely cater to the 70+ year old crowd and we aren't near that age yet. HAL also has less desirable entertainment in the evening. Unless we are doing port intensive cruises again, I will stick with Royal's ships since the ship has become the destination for us. Due to new work constraints, we have to cruise during November or February so that limits our destinations. We thoroughly enjoyed our cruises aboard the Oasis and Allure to the Caribbean and look forward to more.

[Pearlieq]

I'll be the odd duck and say Disney. They're pricey but it's a darn good cruise line, even for adults traveling without kids. They enforce adult-only areas firmly and consistently so you get to enjoy the family-friendly stuff and have an escape when needed.

 

They have great itineraries in most regions, the ships (especially the newer two) are beautiful and more elegant that you'd imagine. Their rotational dining is well-run and keeps things interesting and their private island is by far the best private island experience I've had.

 

They're our second favorite line because they don't really hold up well for repeat cruising for adults. Once you've done everything and seen everything on the ships, very little changes year after year. But that 1st or 2nd cruise is an awesome time!

[Pipo]

I'll be the odd duck and say Disney. They're pricey but it's a darn good cruise line, even for adults traveling without kids. They enforce adult-only areas firmly and consistently so you get to enjoy the family-friendly stuff and have an escape when needed.

 

They have great itineraries in most regions, the ships (especially the newer two) are beautiful and more elegant that you'd imagine. Their rotational dining is well-run and keeps things interesting and their private island is by far the best private island experience I've had.

 

They're our second favorite line because they don't really hold up well for repeat cruising for adults. Once you've done everything and seen everything on the ships, very little changes year after year. But that 1st or 2nd cruise is an awesome time!

 

Oh yes. I have never sailed on Disney, but all their ships always score high on service. I must try it.

[sagette]

Well I've only cruised twice before, but we liked Carnival much better than NCL. We were supposed to attend a friend's destination wedding on Princess, but work obligations kept us from going. I would have really liked to try them.

 

I've posted before that I'm hoping we enjoy our upcoming cruise with RC so much that we book another one. :D

[Florida Fan]

I like Princess a lot. Their food is much better than RCI, in my opinion. Plus they are VERY service-oriented. (Example: for their outside movies at night, they put blankets on each chair and offer chocolate chip cookies and popcorn.)

[Truluv]

This is really interesting and helpful! I haven't thought about the really small ships, since all of the amenities of a 2,000 passenger ship (Windjammer, stores, casino, entertainment options) are appealing.

 

Sounds like I should probably try Celebrity or Princess next, although I might try to fit in aother Carnival cruise for old-times-sake if I can travel when schools are in session. I've met a few people who liked NCL a lot, but our NCL Breakaway cruise in 2013 felt so crowded! I decided NCL just wasn't for me...especialy now that I travel solo.

 

Mario - my kids love/loved RCL for the same reasons you mentioned! It's a fantastic family cruise line!

 

Thanks again to everyone who gave me their 2nd choices to think abou!

[riclop]

I'll be turning Diamond this summer with RCL. Many years ago our famiy had taken six+ Carnival cruises (loved them, but when you know all the Cruise Director jokes word-for-word, it's time for a change!), and a Celebrity cruise. We had also cruised with NCL 2X, but the NCL ships felt a little crowded. We had booked one Princess cruise, but I had to cancel 2 days' before sailing due to a job emergency ...bah humbug.

 

I'd like to try another cruse line again, and maybe build customer loyalty points with another line. I'm now cruising solo, although there's always a chance that a famiy member might join me. NCL solo cabins are too small (I usually pick balcony or JS cabins). Ports aren't a big deal for me. I don't need to think about kids' programs anymore :-).

 

I work with someone who is a fan of the Holland America line, raving about their food. Someone else suggested Costa, because of their activities. I thought about going back to Carnival, but I'm not sure if it appeals to cruisers in their 50's-60's. What is your 2nd choice cruiseline, and why?

My vote goes to Princess.

[coast2coast]

3 years ago when I was still in my early 40s (;)) DH, DD, and I went on HAL's Nieuw Amsterdam for my parents' 50th wedding anniversary. The ship was beautiful, but I missed RCI's gorgeous atria and promenades from the larger ships. It was such a port-intensive cruise with very few sea days, so I didn't feel like there weren't enough activities to keep me entertained. Thought the food was pretty good, but the best part was the itinerary (back-to-back eastern/western Mediterranean). Couldn't find any other cruise line that offered all of the ports we wanted. We've cruised once on Princess (the Crown) and did that one because the price was right and we'd never been to Curacao or Aruba. It was ok, but I'm not in a hurry to try Princess again. Our next family cruise might be a British Isles trip next year, so the itinerary (not the ship or line) will win out again.

We continue to cruise with Royal because we enjoy their product- food, entertainment, overall ship, etc. Plus Diamond perks are nice. RCI Visa card keeps us coming back as well. Going on our 5th free cruise in 13 years this summer. :)

[LivinOnLido]

Have sailed with Royal, Celebrity, NCL, Carnival, Princess, and MSC.

 

Celebrity would be my second favorite. Royal first.