Whats a good cruise to go on?

Question

a good cruiseline also where i can get pretty good discount crusies. Thank u all....

Answer 1

This really depends on what you want.  

Here's a few suggestions to start you on your way (based on my knowledge of the 3 cruise lines I have travelled on).

If you're into having a TON of activities and fun things to do so your day can be jam packed with stuff then I would recommend Royal Carribbean Cruise Line.  Their ships are probaby the largest out there and many offer a lot of out of the ordinary fun that you normally wouldn't see on a ship - such as ice skating rinks, rock climbing walls, inline skating tracks, full court basketball, and an entire floor that is set up like a mall.  RCCL is also pricier than other ships, but you do get what you pay for.

Carnival is also full of activity and also like RCCL in that it pulls in a "younger" crowd (maybe young a heart).  Their activities are plentiful but not as extreme as RCCL.. no ice skating or rock climbing.  They are getting better with newer ships being built, but not quite next to RCCL yet.  Their prices are much more affordable than RCCL though which makes up for the lack of some activities.  I do notice that Carnival has wonderful pools - many with slides that you see in a water park.  Most, if not all, ships have multiple pools... while some other cruise lines may only have one or two.  It is still jam packed with activities though.

Norwegian Cruise Line is the third ship I've been on.  I like NCL because it seems more "high class."  While it isn't completely defining of the ship it does give off that appeal.  RCCL and Carnival are kind of like fun family friendly restaurants... while NCL is more candlelit dinner restaurants.. but still fun.  NCL is definitely family friendly but the activities are not really as comparable to RCCL or Carnival.  They do have many new ships though so their fleet is getting much better.  Depending on your cruise experience, I might recommend sticking to their newer fleet because the other ones are "old" and "outdated."  The decor and feel of the older ships remind me of a hotel that is in need of a face lift.  

In terms of discounts... I think Carnival is the most affordable, then RCCL, then NCL.  Of course this varies if you choose the smallest oldest ship on NCL and the largest newest ship on Carnival...

The cheapest time to travel is Sept and Oct because it's during hurrican season.  I've also noticed some unbelievable discounts in the weeks between THanksgiving and Xmas.  

February and April are often pricy because kids have school vacation.  Summers, depending on the destination, are almost always the most expensive.  

The earlier you book will often give you the best price.  Though do not forget about last minute deals that either lower their price or offer perks like OnBoard Credit or stateroom upgrades.  Last minute is difficult though because if you need to fly you may pay more with last minute airline tickets.  

I can't be sure for NCL or RCCL... but if you book with Carnival and keep checking the prices... they will adjust your booking price if your cruise goes on sale or has a price drop.  (call them for specific details)

Hope that helps!

Answer 2

Carnival by far has the best rates, so if you are looking for something that is budget friendly it's the way to go-- I've been on 2 so far with them, and loved both! Go to cruisecompete.com for good rates; also check out beatanycruiseprice.com. Those 2 will usually go off of one another to give you the best deal. I booked and Eastern Carribean for $986 for both me and my husband!!!

Answer 3

I have always gone on Royal Caribbean.  The best are Southern and Western cruises.  If you go to www.royalcaribbean.com  they have a "Hot Deals" section on the website.  The cheapest time to go is during Hurricane season, and 9 times out of 10 you get to do the entire cruise without having any bad weather.

Answer 4

I have been on 8 cruises, 6 with Carnival. My favorite is the Eastern Caribbean.

Have fun!

Answer 5

I have been on more than a dozen cruises and I recommend Royal Caribbean.

Most cruises are done by cruise lines like Carnival, Royal Caribbean, Norwegian, Princess, Celebrity, Holland America, and Disney. Consider also Cunard Cruise Line and the Queen Mary II.  The ship is fantastic and the prices are comparable with RC, NCL and Princess. Most of the ships for these lines are now 1500 to 2500 passenger ships.  The ships are big but things are so well managed that you really don't feel crowded on them.  Prices on these ship can be as low as $800  for a 7 day inside cabin and about $1200 for a balcony cabin.  

The first rule in getting less expensive cruises is book early.  The second rule is go with the same cruise line multiple times because they do offer repeat customer discounts of $50 to $100 per person in a cabin.  The third rule is shop around for specials.  Some lines will offer specials on a date that does not usually sell out, like Christmas or Thanksgiving week.  So don't lock yourself in to one particular week of the year; be flexible.  

Another thing, if you have not cruised before and don't know the ropes it may be beneficial for you to use an agent; the agent does not charge a fee but is paid by the cruise line.  But, also, do some home work on cruise line, itineraries, and ships.  Use the cruise line web sites to look at what's being offered.  Try to have in mind some of  what you want to do when you talk to an agent.  If you feel comfortable doing it, you can do your own booking online, the price is the same and you can do everything you need right on the web sites.  The sites usually have cruises listed for this year and next. I booked my last two cruises completely online, including making payments and booking port tours. The format and service on all of these is about the same.

I have found that the food on Celebrity, Princess and RC is a cut above what I have been told is served on Disney and Carnival. Disney has good ships but is primarily  for kids, and families with kids.  It does have adults only areas on ship, but the kids are still there on ship.  Carnival is the fun ship, but their accommodations are not the best.  Carnival is the party cruise line that most young folks and first time cruisers take  (ages 20 to 35) who want to party, party, party.  If that’s what you are looking for then Carnival is the one for you.  Princess, Royal Caribbean, Holland America,  Celebrity, and Norwegian tend to have people who have cruised many times and are in the 40 and over age group; a more reserved crowd.  All of these cruise lines  may also have some kids but not many. However, on these lines there are activities just for kids of different ages and staff persons assigned to supervise them most of the day.  

Another important factor to consider is, cruises going to the Caribbean tend to have more young folks than those going to Alaska, Panama, the Mediterranean, the Baltic, or South America.  People who go to the Caribbean are looking for fun things like beaches, jet skiing, snorkeling and scuba diving, parasailing, and a lot of other activities related to water and beaches.  On the other hand, people who go to Alaska, Panama, the Mediterranean, etc., are looking for cultural and historic activities.  These cruisers tend to be the older people (40+).  That does not mean these cruises are dull,  it just means that the passengers are more mature and reserved.  You will find the 40+ crowd in the bars and disco and having as good a time as the youngsters, but you may not hear them across the room or deck.

Answer 6

A travel agent will be a GREAT resource for you and the cruise line pays them.  If you buy it from a TA, you most likely will get a discount that the cruise line cannot give you.  In addition to helping you choose the right cruise for you, the travel agent can make sure that if your price goes down, no matter what cruise line, you will get that price--even after deposit.

Good Luck