What's Your 2nd Favorite Cruise Line if RCCL is your First?

[bocacruiser]

We were thinking of trying something different for next Summer. We prefer the voyager class ships and we have 2 kids ages 5 and 10. We have to leave out of Ft. Lauderdale or Miami so we were thinking of the Caribbean Princess, is that the 2nd in line to an RCCL voyager class like the Navigator? I've heard mixed things about NCL. I would love opinions and advice from those who have traveled the different lines.

 

Thanks!

[rolloman]

Princess...great food and service. Never been disappointed with them.

[Cruising89143]

Princess will more than likely be next in line for me to try. From what I have read they seem very close to RCI.

[GMoney]

Favorite lines (in order of preference): Disney, RCI, X, Princess, HAL, Cunard, Carnival, NCL

[rolloman]

I think it would have been easier if you listed the lines you didnt prefer, Gmoney!!!

[GMoney]

I think it would have been easier if you listed the lines you didnt prefer, Gmoney!!!

 

LOL that's funny! I didn't think of that. :D

 

I like all the cruiselines I've sailed, just some more than others...

[odiesam]

RCCL, Carnival................................................Princess - in that order.

[cruisin4kicks]

RCI, then Norwegian. I like Norwegian's charcoal grilled lunches everyday by the pool... steaks, ribs, bratwurst, chicken, hamburgers, hot dogs. I also like the fact they offer double odds at the craps table in the casino. We've only been on two of the newer Norwegian ships (Star and Dawn... sister ships) so I can't comment on their older ones.

 

Overall, RCI is my favorite cruise line but I wish they offered both of the above.

 

Tim

[bobbygirl]

Carnival was OK, but we LOVED the NCL Jewel. Freestyle is our style, and the food was great. Have booked again on NCL - the Pearl in Jan 07, this time with our teens.

 

Would be willing to try Princess as well, because they offer Personal Choice Dining.

[lv2cruisgrl]

RCCL first, then Celebrity. Princess was ok but wont do it again, didnt like the layout of the ships, their version of Windjammer is way too small to navigate, always felt crowded. Food and service was the same as RCCL. However since you have kids I wouldnt do Celebrity.

[torbs]

The Caribbean Princess is not even close to the Voyager class ships. I have been on both. While the ship is beautiful, it does not flow well. The CP holds almost as many people as the Voyager class but layout does not accomidate the traffic as efficiently. The Royal Promenade clears all that up!!

 

I almost think anything any other ship(s) tend to have that problem. My wife was on the Serenade of the Seas for an Alaskan cruise and said she felt crowded at times.

 

Other than a sea day, I never get feeling on a Voyager class.

 

With all of that being said, I still would try another Princess cruise.

[iluvcruzin]

I'm looking at the ages of your kids. Princess is about equal to RCCL except they have fresh water pools. :D The Carribean Princess is a nice choice.

[bocacruiser]

Thanks for all of the responses, I value everyone's input. I think we'll look into the Caribbean Princess. Everyone is so mixed about CCL it makes me nervous.

[threeofus]

We sailed on the Coral Princess - probably the same class as the Jewel of the seas. Loved them both.

 

Loved the Personal Choice Dining. Basically the same dining room experience as you have on RCL - you just choose your dining hour every night. You can still sit with the same server - just a quick call in the morning to request your time that evening. Works great when you are in port and have a late excursion.

[Firefighterhoop]

RCCL Is definately first, followed closely by princess, and then Carnival, and then Norwegian.

 

Princess has GREAT entertainment, they have usually 2 shows to choose from, (like a stage production show and a commedian) if you do their anytime dining you are easilly able to see both shows.

[Amy1118]

I've only sailed recently on RCI & Princess. RCI is my favorite but I like the anytime dining on Princess and that the balconies tend to be more affordable.

 

The Horizon Court on both the Island Princess and Sea Princess did seem more crowded than the Windjammer, especially when compared to the Radiance class. The Windjammer on the Rhapsody seemed similar to the Horizon in crowdedness during meal times.

 

I missed the Viking Crown Lounge and the other venues on the Radiance & Rhapsody with sweeping views of the ocean but the Wheelhouse Bar on both Princess ships was very clubby and felt more elegant than the Schooner Bar on RCI.

 

Both had similar food - good to very good but not outstanding. Certainly good enough to make my tummy very happy!

 

I haven't sailed on Carnival or NCL since the late 70's/early 80's so I really can't comment on those lines.

[Matisse05]

I would have to say Princess. Food and entertainment were both good. There were not a lot of kids on the Sea Princess when we traveled. Could've been the time of year.

 

RCI is definitely my favorite.:D

[Amy1118]

I would have to say Princess. Food and entertainment were both good. There were not a lot of kids on the Sea Princess when we traveled. Could've been the time of year.

 

RCI is definitely my favorite.:D

It must have been the time of year. There were tons of kids on the Sea Princess when we sailed on her last summer. (My sister's BF teaches school so we had to go during a school vacation. Bummer! ;) ) Princess had roving "Youth Security" in bright yellow shirts to help keep the kids under control and out of the casino and disco. I wish RCI had done the same on the Radiance last Nov. I don't know why but there were a lot of kids on that sailing (Nov 6th) too and they seemed much rowdier.

[SUZCRUZ]

1. RCI

2. Celebrity

[TheWog]

Disney

[rubrrick]

RCCL is our first choice...........and I would like to say NCL........as we only had one experience with them back in '01, and it was fabulous, but with all that we have heard about NCL of late...........we would rather have one good memory...........so our second choice is X. Third is HAL.

 

Rick

[cruiser82]

I've only been on RCCL and NCL but NCL is my favourite so far. I really like freestyle cruising so I imagine I'll be cruising almost exclusively with NCL, although I would like to try Princess as they seem to have something similar to freestyle. I think the RCCL ships have some great features and layouts which is why we've booked the Enchantment OTS for one of our upcoming cruises.

[travellady]

When we cruise as a family, our favorites are Voyager class and Caribbean Princesss. Love the athletic activities on Voyager but also love Princess anytime dining. Kids programs are great on Princess and all of my kids loved MUTs (Movies Under the Stars) on Caribbean Princess.

 

Disney is a good choice too but much more expensive than either Princess or RCCL and no casino. My then 11 year old didn't enjoy Disney at all; I think it made him feel like a little kid whereas on Royal and Princess he got the feeling he was more grown up. Evidently important to a preteen, mine at least ;)

 

My husband and I also like Holland America but we only sail them when it's just the 2 of us.

[LONESTAR 101]

We were thinking of trying something different for next Summer. We prefer the voyager class ships and we have 2 kids ages 5 and 10. We have to leave out of Ft. Lauderdale or Miami so we were thinking of the Caribbean Princess, is that the 2nd in line to an RCCL voyager class like the Navigator? I've heard mixed things about NCL. I would love opinions and advice from those who have traveled the different lines.

 

Thanks!

Since you have two kids 5 and 10 I would try Carnival! They have good programs for your kids, its a little Party Type of Ship, but you both are still Young by the ages of your Kids you may like The Carnival Ships It wouldnt hurt to try them once to see for yourself, Princess is a good Line but I havent tried them yet RCCL is mine! But I have tried Carnival and found them to be OK! Princess is next and then HAL when Im able to Retire. Everyone has their favorites so you will get all kinds of advice it will come down to what you gather from everyone and decide to do!Whatever you do decide, Im sure you and the Kids will enjoy,whats not to enjoy being on a cruise Ship?You are the one who makes it a good Cruise! Best to you and your Family,May the Waters be Calm and the Breezes Cool!

[Cindy]

We've sailed on Royal Caribbean twice and Princess 3 times, with one more cruise scheduled on each for next year. Yes, there are differences, but I find the two lines to be more alike than different, with each doing some things better than the other.

Our last 2 Princess cruises were on the Grand, which is a sister to the Caribbean Princess, but smaller. I made quite a few comparisons of the two lines in my review of the Explorer. If you're interested, here's a link to the thread with the review:

http://boards.cruisecritic.com/showthread.php?t=374532

 

A couple people mentioned Norwegian. I've never taken one of their cruises, but my sister did and really enjoyed it. We looked at Norwegian for next summer, but they didn't have anything leaving out of Florida that worked for us.