cruise holidays any advice please

Neoshoegal

the difference between smart casual and casual on Royal Caribbean is neglectable! So you only have the 2 formal nights on your average cruise.
The buffet restaurant often has a very similar menu to the main restaurant and the setting in the evening is nicer than during lunch time (different lighting etc).
There is also the option having room service. Having a meal out on the balcomy is very romantic.
Plus there are always the speciality restaurants: Chops & Portofino, where the dress code doesn't count. Or depending on the ship there's places like the seaview cafe which is excellent or on Voyager and Freedom class ships there's Johnny Rockets.
So you're not exactly stuck with lower quality on half of your cruise...

simonts

Neoshoegal wrote:

on Voyager and Freedom class ships there's Johnny Rockets.
So you're not exactly stuck with lower quality on half of your cruise...

Wow that will please my gf to know..She loved Johnny Rockets in Mexico lol

LittleTinker

It really is down to how you are as a person and what kind of thing you like to do or the type of people you like to do it with.

Royal Caribbean, for us, was very expensive on board compared to other ships. (drinks, bingo, shops, trips etc) And the food in the main dining rooms was a great disappointment every time we have been. They are a bit too 'in your face' too, trying to persuade you to buy their stuff etc.
The ships are beautiful but big.....and so you dont really get that intimate family feel that you can get on other ships. And formal nights dont really mean much at all....whats a couple of nights for the ladies to dress up and the men put on a suit?? You dont need a Tux and you dont need a tie unless you are eating in the main dining room.....(which you may not want to anyway)

I dont suppose I can run down them all......but for a first cruise, friendly, fantastic staff, fabulous food, good prices, excellent cabins, lots to do.....Fred Olsen.....especially the Black Watch.
The ships might not be as spectacular......heck, they look a bit worn in places.....but you feel welcome.

A lot of people think Fred Olsen are for the over 60's......but no.
The first time I went with them I was 32 and it was the best cruise I ever went on.....so great that when I came home, I missed it so much I flew back and rejoined her 2 weeks later.

Think about where you would take a land holiday and then find a cruise line that matches that standard for you.

welnik

LittleTinker wrote:

I dont suppose I can run down them all......but for a first cruise, friendly, fantastic staff, fabulous food, good prices, excellent cabins, lots to do.....Fred Olsen.....especially the Black Watch.
The ships might not be as spectacular......heck, they look a bit worn in places.....but you feel welcome.

A lot of people think Fred Olsen are for the over 60's......but no.
The first time I went with them I was 32 and it was the best cruise I ever went on.....so great that when I came home, I missed it so much I flew back and rejoined her 2 weeks later.

I've done about 5 cruises now and Fred Olsen, in my opinion, was dreadful. All the daytime entertainment was geared towards the older market (bingo, paper folding, napkin folding, lace making, flower arranging). The food was geared towards the elderly palate (mouse puddings, rice puddings, easy digestable foods). When sat on the sun deck, the average age was 80 and no offence, but I felt like I was in an old persons home. 3 people died while on the cruise and one slipped over and broke his foot (he was very doddery). I thought the rooms on the Black Watch needed an upgrade. All in all, if this was the first cruise I had been on, I wouldnt have done another one.

So far, I would say that the P&O ones have been my favourite.

IvanOpinion

Not that I want to rub it in or anything but we leave today to join the P&O Oceana in Barbados

Ivan

suekjw

IvanOpinion wrote:

Not that I want to rub it in or anything but we leave today to join the P&O Oceana in Barbados

Ivan

Ooh, have fun! We're waiting till the kids are a bit older before we go on another cruise. Very jealous!

Love P&O cruises, so they'd get my recommendation!

littlereddevil

I have just come back from my first ever cruise and was bored out of my tree.
Everyone here seems to like them so it must be me.!It was round thailand and malaysia but the cruise was full of australians and only catered for them.As it was out of Singapore I thought it would be an asian cruise not australian. I was just bored most of the time especially at night.

suekjw

littlereddevil wrote:

I have just come back from my first ever cruise and was bored out of my tree.
Everyone here seems to like them so it must be me.!It was round thailand and malaysia but the cruise was full of australians and only catered for them.As it was out of Singapore I thought it would be an asian cruise not australian. I was just bored most of the time especially at night.

What was the name of the cruise company?

littlereddevil

Star cruises-superstar gemini

megp

I have been a few cruises,none of which I have paid full price for,there are loads of travel agents specialising in cruisng,just Google it.As for dressing up all I ever wear is a long black skirt some cheap sparkly jewelry and different tops.All gents need is a jacket and bow tie. Don't be afraid to go it alone in port,most ship organised excursions are very expensive,get a list of the organised excursions and take a taxi,not only is it cheaper but there is no one saying be back here at such and such a time.
MegP