What Cruise Line Do You Want to Try Next and Why?

[jperry2011]

NCL.. I've only cruised with carnival 4 times so far this year will be 5 and 6 if we're able to go. Just looking for a change of pace one time to see what the others offer. 

Happy to get back on with carnival anytime though.

[navybankerteacher]

On 12/18/2020 at 6:07 PM, MJC said:

For us it would be Cunard, since we'd like to do a crossing on the QM2 after spending some time in England. We are mostly itinerary-driven so we look at who goes where we want to go and pick from there. We've always had to plan around work but when we retire soon we hope to travel more and explore some new options for adding land travel before/after cruising (for example, in and around Japan).

For a New Yorker, that is a great way to come home from travel in England.  You wind up within an half hour or so (for me in CT it's an hour) rested, well fed and not having ended your visit in a cramped coach seat for the better part of a day (or having spent more on business class than your sail home cost).

[wwcruisers]

Still looking forward to giving HAL a try. Over the years, I'm become increasingly disappointed in the dwindling presence of RCCL, here on the West Coast. Pre-pandemic, my DH and I had booked a Pacific Coastal on Koningsdam (for this past September). We met so many nice and helpful folks, on both the HAL boards, and our K-dam r/c thread -- and were very sad when it was canceled. We are hoping for another opportunity -- in the not-to-distant future!😎

Edited December 29, 2020 by wwcruisers

[KKB]

The only ones we haven't tried are the luxury lines--I'd love to but unless I win the lottery, I don't see that happening!

We really enjoyed our 1st NCL cruise in Nov; we have 3 more booked. The prices are great. We LOVED the Getaway.

We have Celebrity Apex booked for March 2022 & I am SUPER excited about it---looks AMAZING!

I look forward to cruising RCCL Anthem or Allure/Oasis. Truly our fav cruise ships.

And we haven't been on Princess (our 1st several cruises); would love to give them a go again,

No particular desire to sail Carnival or Holland, but if the right deal comes up you never know!

Doubt we will sail DCL again. It was great when the kids were little but for that price I can get so much more on other lines.

[clo]

53 minutes ago, KKB said:

The only ones we haven't tried are the luxury lines--I'd love to but unless I win the lottery, I don't see that happening!

 

We're in our 70s and at this point we'd rather travel less but better. And I don't mean $$$ necessarily. For instance a few year ago we did a month long trip that began in Buenos Aires. The Argentinian/Chilean escorted land trip. Then a cruise through the Chilean fjords, Antarctica, Falklands and back up the west coast to Santiago. A month long trip. And it cost a bunch. But we had planned it two years in advance.

[KKB]

12 hours ago, clo said:

We're in our 70s and at this point we'd rather travel less but better. And I don't mean $$$ necessarily. For instance a few year ago we did a month long trip that began in Buenos Aires. The Argentinian/Chilean escorted land trip. Then a cruise through the Chilean fjords, Antarctica, Falklands and back up the west coast to Santiago. A month long trip. And it cost a bunch. But we had planned it two years in advance.

We definitely have "upped" how we like to stay & travel over the years as our budget has allowed. 

We PREFER nicer hotels, balconies on cabins, etc.

But we prefer to travel more frequently with a bit less luxury.

I certainly get each POV.

[Love.II.Cruise]

On 12/7/2020 at 8:50 AM, fyree39 said:

Seabourn has piqued our interest. We've been on dozens of mass market cruises, but then tried Crystal. We've decided when things go back to normal we'll cruise less often, but enjoy a finer experience.

We hear you there!  We've also been on dozens of mass market cruises and now are okay with cruising less often with a finer experience once vaccinated.  

 

[MJC]

On 12/23/2020 at 11:39 AM, navybankerteacher said:

For a New Yorker, that is a great way to come home from travel in England.  You wind up within an half hour or so (for me in CT it's an hour) rested, well fed and not having ended your visit in a cramped coach seat for the better part of a day (or having spent more on business class than your sail home cost).

We live in NYC so that is one of the benefits of taking QM2 for us, not to mention good fares getting  to London. We also love to dress up, and all the classes and lectures appeal as well. I figure after running around England for a week or more all those relaxing sea days will be well-deserved!

[ighten]

Saga/or Cunard  - the new ships (re Saga) look nice and I think the days of huge ships  are perhaps a thing of the past for me (And Im  only early 50's !!!!).. I think I have reached  point where Im willing now to pay more if the value and quality is there)..   I think Im also now reaching a point where flying to get on a  cruise is just another pain in the ass rather than an exciting start to a holiday..  

Edited January 4, 2021 by ighten

[richstowe]

On 12/4/2020 at 7:30 PM, evandbob said:

Viking Cruise Line, ocean and/or river, may very well be the next line we'll (hopefully)  experience.

Next on my fantasy bucket list and then Cunard . More likely to be one of

the usual suspects .

 

 

[SelectSys]

4 hours ago, richstowe said:

Next on my fantasy bucket list and then Cunard . More likely to be one of

the usual suspects .

 

 

 

Sorry for the distraction.  Do you still root for the Expos now that they are the Nationals?  You icon/picture suggests you were a fan at some point?

 

Also, is the return of Major League baseball to Montreal on your fantasy bucket list as well?  

[getting older slowly]

After seeing what is happening in the world........

 

If a cruise become available from our home port..... and looks ok ( price, where etc )

and depending on want Covid-19 restriction are in place..

 

Then i might cruise.... otherwise...... No I will not be trying any cruise line........

 

Don

 

 

[richstowe]

10 hours ago, SelectSys said:

 

Sorry for the distraction.  Do you still root for the Expos now that they are the Nationals?  You icon/picture suggests you were a fan at some point?

 

Also, is the return of Major League baseball to Montreal on your fantasy bucket list as well?  

You never forget your first love . 😢 After a few years they were the Nationals not the Nationals/Expos . I think their return will stay a fantasy . My profile picture is a fond nod to the pure adoration of youth .

BTW ,currently the sole point of CC is to be about distraction . Thoughts about the Expos and cruising are all about distraction . 

[ontheweb]

6 hours ago, richstowe said:

You never forget your first love . 😢 After a few years they were the Nationals not the Nationals/Expos . I think their return will stay a fantasy . My profile picture is a fond nod to the pure adoration of youth .

BTW ,currently the sole point of CC is to be about distraction . Thoughts about the Expos and cruising are all about distraction . 

Too bad what would have been an extremely entertaining World Series between the Expos and Yankees never happened.

 

[richstowe]

Just now, ontheweb said:

Too bad what would have been an extremely entertaining World Series between the Expos and Yankees never happened.

 

Ouch . That memory I could happily forget .

[iancal]

I used to watch the Expos play at Jarry Park.  You could take a six pack in as long as it was in a paper bag!  Those were fun times.  Le grand orange was a favourite.

Edited January 9, 2021 by iancal

[richstowe]

1 hour ago, iancal said:

I used to watch the Expos play at Jarry Park.  You could take a six pack in as long as it was in a paper bag!  Those were fun times.  Le grand orange was a favourite.

Ah Rusty . Somewhere there's a picture of me at 9 getting an autograph at The Stagecoach/La Diligence restaurant . So happy .(Love your favourite spelling )

[BoozinCroozin]

We are booked on RCL, but should be canceled soon. We have CCL booked in July and hoping it goes. We will book NCL over Thanksgiving because RCL has priced us out. We want to compare cruise lines before becoming loyal to a specific one. 

[navybankerteacher]

3 hours ago, BoozinCroozin said:

We are booked on RCL, but should be canceled soon. We have CCL booked in July and hoping it goes. We will book NCL over Thanksgiving because RCL has priced us out. We want to compare cruise lines before becoming loyal to a specific one. 

Good idea to shop around - and while there may be things about a specific line that appeal, “loyalty” should never take precedence over a more desirable  itinerary.  And, while price is important, there is  a good reason to be willing to pay a bit more ... there is generally a logical reason why one is significantly cheaper than another.

[BoozinCroozin]

Just now, navybankerteacher said:

there is generally a logical reason why one is significantly cheaper than another.

In my limited viewing of cruise prices, RCL's skyrocketing prices coincide with the next round of cancelations. Our first foray into cruising was planned with RCL. After noticing price hikes as they canceled, we rebooked ahead of cancelations. Now that March is on the horizon, there is nothing within our affordability range with RCL. We are booked on Mardi Gras in July. We will be booking over Thanksgiving on either the Carnival Magic or Norwegian Encore. RCL will be almost 2x of either of those.

[Hlitner]

1 hour ago, BoozinCroozin said:

In my limited viewing of cruise prices, RCL's skyrocketing prices coincide with the next round of cancelations. Our first foray into cruising was planned with RCL. After noticing price hikes as they canceled, we rebooked ahead of cancelations. Now that March is on the horizon, there is nothing within our affordability range with RCL. We are booked on Mardi Gras in July. We will be booking over Thanksgiving on either the Carnival Magic or Norwegian Encore. RCL will be almost 2x of either of those.

Some of the cruise lines are playing a smoke and mirrors game (some might call it a big con).  The lines have strongly encouraged customers to accept what appears to be generous Future Cruise Credits (FCCs) in lieu of refunds for cruises cancelled by the cruise line.  Many folks got suckered into these FCCs only to later discover that the real value of the FCCs has been severely diminished by the cruise lines who have simply increased prices.  But by the time cruisers realize they have been "had" it is too late to apply for a refund (which could then be used to shop around for good cruise/travel deals).

 

Hank

[BoozinCroozin]

4 minutes ago, Hlitner said:

But by the time cruisers realize they have been "had" it is too late to apply for a refund (which could then be used to shop around for good cruise/travel deals).

 

Hank

That is what I was told too by my TA when we were asking about waiting for RCL to cancel. They said there is no penalty to rebook for a future cruise. So we did that. Just cant do it any more.

[clo]

52 minutes ago, Hlitner said:

But by the time cruisers realize they have been "had" it is too late to apply for a refund

In the last year I've gone to the CEOs of a cruise line and of a foreign airline and gotten refunds when the "first round of talks" weren't going anywhere. They have the big picture of how very important it is to not lose a customer and also anyone else they tell about their problem.

[drsel]

On 12/20/2020 at 1:28 AM, gerryuk said:

Costa have some excellent cruises around Europe, South America and the Far East and it seems to me their prices are better than MSC. Yes, like MSC the majority of their passengers are Italian, but you will always find Brits and English speakers on board and all their staff speak fluent English.   

Costa prices are much more than MSc now.

Also Costa has cancelled all the Cruises around Japan and Singapore or anywhere in Asia

[drsel]

On 12/30/2020 at 12:37 AM, wwcruisers said:

Still looking forward to giving HAL a try. Over the years, I'm become increasingly disappointed in the dwindling presence of RCCL, here on the West Coast. Pre-pandemic, my DH and I had booked a Pacific Coastal on Koningsdam (for this past September). We met so many nice and helpful folks, on both the HAL boards, and our K-dam r/c thread -- and were very sad when it was canceled. We are hoping for another opportunity -- in the not-to-distant future!😎

I hate to disappoint you, but HAL's entertainment is not comparable to that on RCCL