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What ship would you pick if you were taking someone on a 1st time cruise?


kaz828
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Celebrity. According to my market research It fits a variety of budgets though not the cheapest and mainly caters to adults.  It also tends to attract your age group avoiding the party animals or the very quiet people.  You will get good cuisine, entertainment, a decent itinerary without excessive noise or boredom. 

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Completely agree with Mary!!  My situation was exactly the same as yours 20 years ago.  I was a travel agent, my husband never wanted to cruise but finally gave in.  I had no doubt Celebrity would make his experience amazing and he was already booking 2 more cruises for us before we ever got off the ship lol!!  You can't go wrong with that choice for a first 😄 Since then he's been happy with NCL as well but he agrees Celebrity made him a cruiser for life! I booked his first for the British Isles, he LOVED it...

Edited by butterfly4108
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It would largely depend upon that person’s interests.  For some a ship with lots of activities and entertainment  would be good - maybe Royal Caribbean or NCL. Some might be most interested in a particular destination, Perhaps to Bermuda. Others just to experience time at sea - a Cunard TA.

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Think about the kinds of things you like to do together, and the things you like about cruising and are anxious to show him.  Then look for a line that fits those goals.  Browse some of the Live from threads on various cruise boards here.  What do you think he might not like?  Look for a line where those things aren’t promoted.  Does he like casinos?  If so, avoid Disney and Viking Ocean…. EM

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I would also not consider anything less than seven days. Some people want to wet their toes with a short cruise, which is often very different from "typical" cruises. You might be joining a booze cruise of loud, obnoxious locals who stay in their friend and large family group.

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Cunard's Queen Victoria, hands down.  The queens are not much different in pricing than the mass-market cruiselines and the experience is wonderful, such elegance.  We did Norway on QV and absolutely loved it.

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I introduced my family members (one as young as 38) to cruising on Holland America's smaller ships, with Alaska as a destination. Small ship = less feeling lost, and Alaska = interesting scenery and shore excursions, not a lot of consecutive seadays.

 

These are currently the Volendam and the Zaandam. My mom's first Alaskan cruise was on the even-smaller Statendam, no longer in the fleet.

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22 hours ago, kaz828 said:

I enjoy cruising, my boyfriend is skeptical, so I want his first cruise to be amazing, what ship would you pick?

We are mid forties, just the two of us travelling and open to destination and cruiseline. 

I agree with @navybankerteacher and @Essiesmom - the most important things are what HE thinks is/are amazing.  It should be easy enough to find a cruise ship with those things on offer.  A travel agent can help with this if you're really stumped.

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Impossible to know unless we know the specific person.  Folks have different wants/needs and taste.  A good example would be our most recent cruise on the brand new Explora 1 (Explora Journeys Cruise Lines).  This is a unique small ship luxury line that suited DW and me, but there are many folks who would truly dislike that ship.  It is similar to a the Oasis Class or RCI, which may suit many folks but would not be a class ship that DW and I would appreciate (DW once suggested "Blight of the Seas" for the name of the original Oasis Class ship).

 

When friends ask us for advice on what ship, line, and or itinerary, we always try to fit the answer to the person(s).  Having seen and met many cruisers who were on the wrong ship, for them, it is something that can oft be avoided by simply doing your homework and also being honest with yourself about wants/needs.

 

Hank

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The determining factors should be in this order:

 

  1. Itinerary
  2. Cruise line
  3. Ship

I have never taken a cruise that was shorter than seven days. Some of the shorter itineraries have the reputation of being party and booze cruises which does NOT appeal to me. Also, the cruise lines tend to cater to specific demographics. Royal Carribean, Carnival, and Disney all cater to families, and unfortunately, some parents tend to take a vacation from parenting. Celebrity caters to a more mature audience. During my September, 2018 Carribean cruise, there was a total of six children on board. 

 

Not knowing if you are from the states, Europe, or asia, it's kinda hard to make suggestions at this point. 

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20 hours ago, Ashland said:

RCI Oasis, Freedom or Voyager class and a minimum of 7 nights.

Totally agree , I would think oasis class might be too large but my niece took her family including 3 teenagers and loved Symphony, they also loved. Second cruise on Apex , Edge class on celebrity also has lots of food and entertainment choices.

Edited by George C
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Pick a ship that has shipboard experience they would like, more activity like Carnival or Royal, less activity like Celebrity or Holland ( my choice at 73 years) or Princess which is a great cruise line. You can have a great time on any of the lines. I would try a 7 day cruise as I have found a few people that do not like cruising.

Edited by Buck Turgidson
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I would vote on any of Royal Caribbean's Voyager class ships.  The Explorer, Voyager, Mainer, or Adventurer. Great size  Plenty to do.  lively pool deck.  good shows.  I would not suggest an Oasis class for a first cruise.  Just got off one, it was nice, shows outstanding  but  so crowded, always standing in a line and so hard to find a seat.    Of course it was sold out.

 

I agree with the others.  At least 7 days.  Shorter and its a totally different experience.

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Honestly, it really depends. These threads often turn into people projecting their personal favorites to people they don't even know. You know him best. It would be better to share his interests and then use these forums to make that connection.

 

When I meet people who didn't like cruises, it was more often than not because they were on a small, older, ship that they found boring. Honestly, most younger people are likely going to be entertained on any relatively decent-sized ship. A lot of the luxury people didn't start that way. Their tastes changed over time. 

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A lot of good info has been given, and I agree that if you would like more detailed suggestions, you will need to give us more information. 🙂

 

Budget?

What does he like: Food, activities, loud/quiet, entertainment. Make it about him.

What part of the world. I know you said you are "open", but it's a big world.

Length of cruise?

Time of year?

Preference of flying or driving?

Have you thought about consulting a travel agent to help?

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On 10/28/2023 at 4:22 AM, kaz828 said:

I enjoy cruising, my boyfriend is skeptical, so I want his first cruise to be amazing, what ship would you pick?

We are mid forties, just the two of us travelling and open to destination and cruiseline. 

if travel time to ships embarkation is long, that might be a turn off a newbie from cruising.  Try picking a departure port that is not more than a 3 hour flight, or drive.  Pick a cruise itinerary that has maybe only two sea days in a row ( anything more, a new cruiser might get really bored).  Don't go during school holidays.

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On 10/28/2023 at 4:22 AM, kaz828 said:

I enjoy cruising, my boyfriend is skeptical, so I want his first cruise to be amazing, what ship would you pick?

We are mid forties, just the two of us travelling and open to destination and cruiseline. 

 

How about a seven day land trip somewhere with a 7 day (or longer) cruise tacked on?  Unless the objective is to party it up, I agree with others the specific ship won't be as important as the itinerary. 

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I've read all the excellent responses, and it seems to boil down to this good advice:  with his likes/dislikes in mind, find some itineraries you think meet his standards.  Read the reviews of any ship that sails those itineraries.  "Rank" them by how much you think they fit your boyfriend's interests.  Show him your 'top 3' and let him pick one.  

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