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What's the best cruise trip?

Travel Info
Please take into account considerations like acommodation, activities, ports of call, food, service, luxury, price, etc.

Travel Tips

You are asking a lot in one question and some of the answer depends on what you like and consider best rather than what we/I think. But here's my input.

If you have the money to spend for the very top and best cruise lines try Crystal, Radisson, Cunard, Windstar, and Silver Sea. These cruise lines are a cut above the others because they run smaller ships (about 500 to 700 passengers) and have a higher staff to passenger ratio so you get top of the line service. They also have more amenities included in the much higher price, like all veranda/balcony cabins, tubs and shower bathroom, larger cabins, daily wine and/or champaign with meals, etc. These ships generally go to a port or two on a seven day cruise which may be different from the normal. Prices for a 7 day cruise on these top of the line ships may start at $2500 to $3000 (vs about $1200 on the next tier of ships.). These ships tend to have a more sophisticated and older crowd and more formal dining. They don鈥檛 pressure you to buy with art auctions and spa deals. You are more likely to see a celebrity or someone famous on one of these cruises because they are what you may call 鈥渆xclusive鈥?

Most cruises are done by the next tier of cruise lines like Carnival, Royal Caribbean, Norwegian, Princess, Celebrity, Cunard, Holland America, and Disney.. 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. Most of these lines go to the same places, they are just in port on different days. When you dock there may be one or two other ships there for the day and some days there may not be any where you go.

Among these the budget cruise line and the one that most young folks and first time cruisers go on is Carnival. Folks go on Carnival because they expect to party, party, party, and drink. Some people love Carnival, but others say their ships are not as good as others and neither is the food.

My personal preferences are Royal Caribbean, Celebrity, Princess and Norwegian, pretty much in that order. The reason, better food, service, good staff services, and not that much more in price. I like best the traditional cruising and service of RC and Celebrity.

If you want a somewhat different type cruise, go on Norwegian. NCL has freestyle cruising which merely lets you select the time when you want to go to dinner. Its otherwise no different from any other line. That means you can be less dressy for dinner if you want.

Here's my opinion on ports of call. After having been to most of the islands in the Caribbean I think they are pretty much the same in terms of sights and activities. So if your cruise does 3 or 4 Caribbean islands you will have 3 or 4 chances to do some of the same things. If you want something different and better in the Caribbean, do a cruise that includes the Panama Canal.

Having been all over the Caribbean, Alaska, Bermuda, and Panama I would rate my best cruise as the Mediterranean. That cruise included port stops that were truly unique. For example, on stop was in Civitavecchia and we went to Rome to see the Vatican and the Colosseum. Then we went to Napoli and saw Pompeii. The trip included stops at two Greek isles; different from Caribbean islands.

So you need to decide where you want to go, what you want to see and then see which cruise ships go there and at what price. Source(s): experienced cruiser
Other Travel Tips

My best tip is to try lots of different activities on the ship. You'll meet people from all around the world and maybe learn a new game or some piece of trivia you think is interesting. Don't be afraid to, because the likelihood you'll ever see those people again is...never!
Also if you are out doing all these activities then you won't be spending too much time in your room, so unless you are claustrophobic, then don't buy some super expensive room with a balcony you'll never use.
personal expierence
My family and I prefer Royal Caribbean.

They actually have a new (larger) ship that has a surf simulator on it. Royal Caribbean also has rock climbing walls, some have ice skating rinks, mini-golf, basketball courts, roller skating track, and so on. Very interactive. They have amazing shows at night as well as dinners and the staff is very helpful. Port of calls that I can think of that Royal Caribbean ships may stop at include Cozumel, Haites (sp?), Nassau, Key West, Cayman Islands i think? Um, there's plenty more, for some reason I can't really think of them right now.

Hope it helps. (:
For my Honeymoon we took Royal Caribbean's Mariner of the Seas & we had an awesome time. The people were great, the food delicious, & the excursions fun & reasonably priced.
I prefer Carnival, the stateroom are bigger than any other cruise line, and the room stewards are very attentive and very helpful, the food is awesome love the dinning room they do all they can to spoil you, there is always plenty to do or a place to go with noting to do too, the ports are fun and interesting and many to chose from, and it is the best price for a vacation, have not found a better one