Not a New Cruiser but looking for a new Cruise Line

[TX-Cruiser]

Hi All,

 

We are not new to cruising, but we are looking for a new cruise line. We have been deeply loyal to Royal Caribbean & Celebrity for two decades and me at 52 and my husband at 62 are just over the street hustle approach on every cruises we step foot on. You can't board without some type of solicitation of internet, drinks or tours and not to mention . We book what we want before hand an we just want to ease into vacation without feeling like we have to avoid all the areas because of this gorilla marketing. My husband loves the Casino on Royal and Celebrity and we don't want to get on a ship with 100 minimums. 

 

Thank you in advance....

TX Cruiser

[Cruseforme]

Sounds like you are ready for the Premium+ lines.   Check out Azamara and Oceania, both have no sales pitches, no photographers, low key environment, good food and smaller ships.  The two newer Oceania ships ( Riviera and Marina) are absolutely stunning, have awesome food and with only 1250 passengers max,  great service.   However, as far as casino’s, both lines lack the large casinos that the larger mass market cruiselines have.   Old slots, and limited casino play.   Entertainment is also low key on these lines.   No production shows, etc, but that’s not what most on these lines are looking for.  It’s the food, service and different itineraries that pull people towards these lines.    

[SteveH2508]

Azamara do not have casinos so they are out.

[RocketMan275]

42 minutes ago, TX-Cruiser said:

Hi All,

 

We are not new to cruising, but we are looking for a new cruise line. We have been deeply loyal to Royal Caribbean & Celebrity for two decades and me at 52 and my husband at 62 are just over the street hustle approach on every cruises we step foot on. You can't board without some type of solicitation of internet, drinks or tours and not to mention . We book what we want before hand an we just want to ease into vacation without feeling like we have to avoid all the areas because of this gorilla marketing. My husband loves the Casino on Royal and Celebrity and we don't want to get on a ship with 100 minimums. 

 

Thank you in advance....

TX Cruiser

Suggest you hang out on a couple of specific cruise line forums.  Perhaps you'll see a line you would like.  

Personally, I've not been plagued with unsolicited pitches for products on Holland.  Others may feel differently.  In fact, the sales people I run into on shore excursions are far worse than anything I've encountered on a cruise ship.

I just say "NO!" and keep walking.  I'm not at all worried about offending people who try to sell me things.

Edited December 13, 2019 by RocketMan275

[cruisemom42]

3 hours ago, SteveH2508 said:

Azamara do not have casinos so they are out.

 

I was on Azamara Journey a year ago and she had a casino. Low-key, but it was there. Have they been taken out?

[Underwatr]

Cunard has very little of the hard sell. I'm mostly familiar with Queen Mary 2. There are a couple of electronic displays that promote the upcharge restaurants (of which there are two on any night) and they sell cheap crap outside the shops in the Grand Lobby but that's about it. Drinks packages are now available but there isn't much promotion of them.

[Cruzaholic41]

4 hours ago, SteveH2508 said:

Azamara do not have casinos so they are out.

What?  When were they removed?  I’ve cruised on Azamara Quest and Journey, and both had casinos. 

[Cruzaholic41]

OP, unfortunately, you will not avoid this sort of hawking on any mass market cruise line. You’ll need to pay the money and step up to premium and luxury lines. Azamara was an excellent suggestion because they will recognize your status from RCI and X. 

[Tapi]

I also found Holland America to be blissfully free of incessant announcements and hard sells for things like $10 sales, gold by the inch, liquor tasting, auctions, or to encourage people to attend bingo, art auctions etc. Announcements were kept to a minimum. They trusted that people could read the daily program and figure out on their own what they wanted to do. 

 

Do keep in mind that, as you move up to more premium and upscale cruise lines, the overall cruise experience tends to be more sedate. Entertainment is more cerebral. You may be replacing activities like hairy leg and bar tending competitions, as well as silly pool games and loud music with lecturers and culturally enriching experiences. And with that, you can also expect an older demographic. But it seems like you’re at a point in your travels where you’re ready for that. 

We are in our 40’s, and although we were “young” compared to other cruisers when we sailed on Holland for the first time, we had an absolutely wonderful experience. We appreciated all the little details and the more polished experience. We are now scheduled to sail on Holland again in a few months 

Edited December 14, 2019 by Tapi

[SteveH2508]

6 hours ago, Cruzaholic41 said:

What?  When were they removed?  I’ve cruised on Azamara Quest and Journey, and both had casinos. 

Quest in March 2019

Pursuit never had one with Azamara

Journey has some electronic dealer stuff which is going at the next refit (which may be in 2020 - not sure on that).

[FredT]

Of the Mass Market lines,  (Read reasonable costs)   HAL has by far the least "hard sell".....   But then again, it has the worst entertainment.   BUT, it has some of the best itineraries....   BUT the ships are absolutely dead after 9 pm.....   BUT it ships are smaller (overall) 

 

You see where I am going here?   Many, MANY variables Yes, my wife and I do prefer HAL, but are not limited to them.  3 out of our last 6 cruises.  (the others on CMV, Star Clippers, and Celebrity)    

Edited December 14, 2019 by FredT

[Gwendy]

Hand up, no thanks and keep walking, no problems.

[mnocket]

15 hours ago, cruisemom42 said:

 

I was on Azamara Journey a year ago and she had a casino. Low-key, but it was there. Have they been taken out?

 

14 hours ago, Cruzaholic41 said:

What?  When were they removed?  I’ve cruised on Azamara Quest and Journey, and both had casinos. 

 

7 hours ago, SteveH2508 said:

Quest in March 2019

Pursuit never had one with Azamara

Journey has some electronic dealer stuff which is going at the next refit (which may be in 2020 - not sure on that).

The casino was removed on Quest first and then Journey.  It was replaced with The Den.  It was a pretty lame casino, but still better than nothing.  If you're like us and like to visit the casino after dinner, Azamara is no longer a good fit.

 

[cruisemom42]

I have to admit I never "give" at the casino and so it makes little difference to me one way or another. I was just surprised to learn that they have been taken out.

 

[Aquahound]

HAL has been mentioned a couple times but I can't really say I agree.  I just returned from a HAL cruise and the sales attempts were just as bad as the others.  In fact, they even tried pushing a wine tasting event and a bar crawl while DW and I were eating dinner in a specialty restaurant.  It was quite annoying.  

 

I really don't have a suggestion for the OP that isn't going to cost more money than what they are used to spending.  

[LHT28]

21 hours ago, Cruseforme said:

  No production shows, etc, but that’s not what most on these lines are looking for.     

When did they stop the production shows on Oceania??

We still had some on our April cruise

[Cruseforme]

2 minutes ago, LHT28 said:

When did they stop the production shows on Oceania??

We still had some on our April cruise

Yup, you’re right, sorry OP, I over exaggerated.    I should have been clearer, and said, the production shows are not as extravagant as those on Celebrity or the other mass mkt lines.   Thanks!    

[shipgeeks]

 We will be sailing MSC in a few weeks, one of the reasons being to get out of the familiarity  of RC, X, HAL.  I don't recall reading of any pushy marketing onboard; but that doesn't prove that it doesn't exist.  Perhaps the existence of multiple languages onboard makes the crew less likely to do so.

However, although we see it on most cruises, it has never bothered us.  We know we're not interested in specialty restaurants/photos/etc., so we just ignore or say "no thank you" and move on.  

 

 

[Tapi]

29 minutes ago, shipgeeks said:

 We will be sailing MSC in a few weeks, one of the reasons being to get out of the familiarity  of RC, X, HAL.  I don't recall reading of any pushy marketing onboard; but that doesn't prove that it doesn't exist.  Perhaps the existence of multiple languages onboard makes the crew less likely to do so.

MSC limits their announcements since when, they do make one, they are doing so in 6-7 languages. If I recall correctly, they only do so when it’s something important, like to announce muster drill, not to promote bingo.

 

Overall, MSC limits anything verbal. For example, welcome aboard announcements during the show are brief and to the point. Not a lot of joking around because there’s a good chance that a lot of people won’t get the jokes in a different language.

 

But they still push sales quite a bit. You can be walking down the ship and you’ll get hit multiple times with a sales pitch for perfume, watches, specialty dining,  drink packages,  etc. They just don’t use loudspeakers as much to do so. 

[George C]

We normally cruise rccl Diamond plus or celebrity and just got off msc seaside , perks and cost for there yacht club are way better than suites perks on rccl and celebrity, free drink package, great suite lounge with live music indoor and outdoor restaurant, hot tubs . I did not think casino was great but not bad , missed live poker . Premium plus liquor package was amazing included Johnny Walker blue and other really top shelf booze for just 17 dollars extra a day if in YC. 

[tenistar]

Hiya there  -   can any one help  -  we have only ever done one short cruise on Azamara Persuit and it was fantastic, but we want to do a far east cruise from Hong Kong - vietnam and there is one on Silver seas (Silver Spirit) but am slightly concerned that it may be rather dressy.    Azamara was great and really casual.    I want to book Silverseas next week so i would really appreciate if anyone can let me know if my husband can just wear a shirt and trousers or does he need a jacket as really dont want this.   Would we be better going on Seabourne or Oceania.

Thanks

[LHT28]

2 hours ago, tenistar said:

Hiya there  -   can any one help  -  we have only ever done one short cruise on Azamara Persuit and it was fantastic, but we want to do a far east cruise from Hong Kong - vietnam and there is one on Silver seas (Silver Spirit) but am slightly concerned that it may be rather dressy.    Azamara was great and really casual.    I want to book Silverseas next week so i would really appreciate if anyone can let me know if my husband can just wear a shirt and trousers or does he need a jacket as really dont want this.   Would we be better going on Seabourne or Oceania.

Thanks

I would ask on the silverseas forum about the dress code

 

Oceania is more casual dockers/polo shirt or button down shirt would be fine for dinner ..no jacket/tie required

[tenistar]

5 hours ago, LHT28 said:

I would ask on the silverseas forum about the dress code

 

Oceania is more casual dockers/polo shirt or button down shirt would be fine for dinner ..no jacket/tie required

Hey thanks for reply and yes have been on silver seas forum but seems like some say dressy and some say not too dressy.  Like the idea of Oceania but cannot find a cruise next feb that goes to all the same places as Silverseas so will have to either take a chance or leave it.

[SteveH2508]

9 hours ago, tenistar said:

Hiya there  -   can any one help  -  we have only ever done one short cruise on Azamara Persuit and it was fantastic, but we want to do a far east cruise from Hong Kong - vietnam and there is one on Silver seas (Silver Spirit) but am slightly concerned that it may be rather dressy.    Azamara was great and really casual.    I want to book Silverseas next week so i would really appreciate if anyone can let me know if my husband can just wear a shirt and trousers or does he need a jacket as really dont want this.   Would we be better going on Seabourne or Oceania.

Thanks

You will rally need a jacket - otherwise it will severely limit your dining options (which are very good BTW).

We have sailed both Azamara and Silversea and have another booked on Silversea. I prefer not to worry about jackets etc. but the Silversea experience is excellent so I will make that compromise.