Cruise Line Suggestions For a Couple Like Us

Ken7 · #1 (**permalink**) February 17th, 2011, 06:28 PM

My Wife and I are planning to take our very first Cruise soon.

We plan to leave the New York area Port and go for a long 8 or 9 day Cruise to the Caribbean.

We are looking for suggestions as to which Cruise Line would be a good bet for a couple like us.

For some background about us, we are in our early 50's and we are not party animals by any means. We enjoy good food, it doesn't have to be fancy...a nice Show, some Comedy...A good band on board would be cool also. We are more into relaxing and taking it easy if that makes sense, (No rock climbing

). Also we don�t drink Alcohol.

We want to make sure that the Islands we go to will be well worth the trip. It doesn�t have to be all about beaches. Sight-seeing and going on a Submarine ride would be awesome with some beach time.

Anyways, we are trying to pick the right Cruise line for the type of people we are.

So far we are looking at Princess and Royal Caribbean and we are kind of stuck in the middle.

Thanks for any Suggestions

Trip · #2 (**permalink**) February 17th, 2011, 06:41 PM

Please look into the Celebrity Silouette, leaving from NJ...The Solstice class is amazing,and this new ship has all the new bells and whistles a bit different from her 2 earlier sisters..

The food was amazing, with fun dining options and the entertianment was quite good. The pool deck is beautiful,and the Great Lawn is surely something to see at sea!

Trackypup · #3 (**permalink**) February 17th, 2011, 06:52 PM

I would also recommend Celebrity out of NJ. Seems like a great fit for you guys.

Ken7 · #4 (**permalink**) February 17th, 2011, 07:58 PM

Thanks guys, the Celebrity looks great, but they don't have anything available from that Port until early Nov 2011 and that's way too far out and wouldn't work with our work schedules anyway, we're looking late Spring early Summer this year.

Trackypup · #5 (**permalink**) February 17th, 2011, 08:30 PM

Hmmm yeah, if that's your time frame looks like Princess, RCL and Carnival are your only choices if you want to sail out of the NY area. Out of those 3 I'd take Princess.

Lakers Fan · #6 (**permalink**) February 17th, 2011, 09:06 PM

Holland America -7 days to Bermuda from 12th.Ave and W. 57 St.

Ken7 · #7 (**permalink**) February 17th, 2011, 10:00 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Trackypup

Hmmm yeah, if that's your time frame looks like Princess, RCL and Carnival are your only choices if you want to sail out of the NY area. Out of those 3 I'd take Princess.

Why would you take Princess over the other two?

I'm looking for some good feedback.

Thanks

Trackypup · #8 (**permalink**) February 17th, 2011, 10:35 PM

Well you said no rock climbing.

. Princess is our favorite line, we just feel they do most things well and for us it's good fit. I haven't cruised Carnival though, but have done 2 on RCL.

Ken7 · #9 (**permalink**) February 21st, 2011, 02:47 PM

Thanks...We booked a Princess Cruise in May.

Donna · #10 (**permalink**) February 22nd, 2011, 06:49 AM

Ken,
Congrats....Ok, what Princess ship and what islands???

LisaK · #11 (**permalink**) February 22nd, 2011, 10:15 AM

Ken i think with what you are looking for, Princess is a good choice for you

Trip · #12 (**permalink**) February 22nd, 2011, 10:38 AM

You will be singing the Love Boat Theme from now till you go..yayaya for you!

Everybody sing....Love, exciting and new, come aboard, wer're expecting yooooooooo!!

Ken7 · #13 (**permalink**) February 22nd, 2011, 10:59 AM

Thanks,

We will be going on the Caribbean Princess sailing out of New York on May 26th. We will be stopping at Bermuda, San Juan, St. Thomas and Grand Turk.

We wanted to make the right choice and it came down to Princess and RCCL at the end.

Since this is our very first Cruise, we are a bit nervous and also very excited. We're not sure how to approach the Excursions. I have read that since this is our first time, that we should stick to the ship's Excursion packages and not try to do Excursions on our own(not sure).

The Travel Agent got us a Balcony room in the Mid ship area up high near the top. She said for the first time, Mid ship would be best for us.

I'm sure as we prepare, I will have a few more questions to ask here.

Thanks for the feedback and I look forward to Chatting more with everyone here.

Moiraine · #14 (**permalink**) February 22nd, 2011, 11:18 AM

Congrats. Sounds like you got the right choice for you. You will enjoy the cruise.

Trip · #15 (**permalink**) February 22nd, 2011, 11:39 AM

In those ports, on your itineerary, you really can do excursions on your own.....Grand Turk is a beach/pool day

LisaK · #16 (**permalink**) February 22nd, 2011, 01:54 PM

Ken your ports of call are very doable on your own. Bermuda - get an all day bus/ferry pass, inexpensive then head to Horseshoe Beach,-beautiful beach with good snorkeling the underground caves(so neat), the botantical gardens, or just stroll around Hamilton. If you are into history head up to St. George. In San Juan you can just grab a cab to a beach, or stroll around Old San Juan and Fort El Morro, El Yungee Rainforest is breathtaking, i would do a ships excursion for this. In St. Thomas- beautiful beaches to choose from, if you want to do some snorkeling then i would suggest you take the ferry over to St. John Island for the day. If you want to stay on St. Thomas proper and hit the beaches so many to choose from - go to Virgin Islands Travel Information for beach & ferry info - my personal choice for a beach on St. Thomas would be Sapphire, if you want to do some shopping, St. Thomas is the place to do that, another cool thing to do in St. Thomas if you have a couple of hours to kill is to take the Paradise Point Tramway, short walk from Havensight Pier ( if you dock there), the view from up top of the harbor is spectacular, there is a botanical garden, bird sanctuary and some cute shops up there.
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