Eschew

Time for a straw poll. What are the deciding factors when you pick a cruise line over another?
Here are some "stock" answers that you can choose from or add your own. Itinerary is not on the list as it is a factor to pick a certain cruise, but not necessary a cruise line.

1. Food Quality
2. Services Quality
3. Staff friendliness
4. Number of Venues
5. Fellow passengers
6. Entertainment (type, age, variety)
7. Size of ships
8. Wow factor (glitz, decor of ship)
8. Cabin closet space
9. Beddings & pillows
10. "cruise style" (freestyle vs formal)
11. Price
12. Spa
13. Quiet Areas
14. Deck Parties
15. Ambience and Atmosphere
16. Kid's clubs / baby sitting service
17. Library
18. Safety record
19. Reputation
20. Recommendations (TA, frinnds and forums)
21. Advertising

hpeabody

My list of what I look for are, 1,2,3,5 (I look for "non" family oriented cruises) 6,7,11,13,15,18,19. NOT on my list are 8,9,10 (Because I pretty much stick to the cruise lines i know and I know that these are non issues for me),12,14 (not a Spa Treatment or Deck Party type person, and 21 (Except those "special offers" giving me a great price.)

You did not mention one's own personal past experience with a cruise line. Nor, the perks of being a past cruising passenger that start after your first cruise with any cruise line. It seems to me that these perks are something to look into when deciding on a cruise. When comparing apples to apples on everything else, the perks may be the deciding factor. Cruise lines really do build loyalty in my observations. And about itinerary, Not all cruise lines have identical itineraries (ports), although they are sailing a similar route. I do put the itinerary very high on my list when deciding on a cruise. Just thought of something else, time of year. I learned the hard way not to cruise again during Mar-Apr Spring Break time frame (and that includes Canada Spring Break too) after being on a ship that was over booked with more than 500 children. Hurricane season is a No-No for me. Also, during the holidays if price matters to you, as cruise prices really spike at that time

Eschew

I screwed up. Fat fingers on skinny keybpard doesn't work well at all and one finger hunt and peck is not for me although it will improve the accuracy. I guess I must have slacked off or dozed off at the typing class.

There are two #8s, and hpeabody is right, there were no mentioning of the loyalty program and past personal experience, which are both big deciding factors.

We have priority boarding and disembark with some cruise lines and it is certainly a factor for deciding which cruise line to take. DW keep saying wait till we get free laundry ...

HappyTrvlr

Number of passengers is the most important thing, 300 tops.

BarbAnn

Ports of Call, size of ship, and most of all...loyalty program perks

jacketwatch

HappyTrvlr. 300 only? Pretty small. No mass market lines have so few or are even close to that. Did you mean 3000?
For me it's about great CS so 1-3 matter. This is why I would never pick MSC or Costa. On all our cruises with 4 different lines, CCL, RCI, Princess and Celebrity the food has been acceptable though I do give a sl. edge to Celebrity while of course realizing that food eval. is perhaps the most subjective element of any cruise experience.

19 and 20 are factors that I consider. I research the ship and the line as best I can which is why Costa and MSC are out. Hey, I want the best return on my hard earned $ and so far we have been overall very pleased with our cruises.

Then there is the 1st # 8 . Yep if its wows its factor to consider though I must say its not the only none. I would luv to try one of the Oasis class ships but for their cost the itins just don't thrill me so not yet, maybe never.

KVR

First, I look for non-family friendly cruises. Reviews that state "older", "mature", "stuffy" get my attention.

Second, would be ports. I do cruises for the ports not the cruise itself.

Third, would be price. I'm not spending an arm and leg to spend time on the ship. Again, cruising is about the ports and not the ship. When Celebrity started offering a pre-paid alcohol plan, I probably will not cruise any other line unless other lines also offered that service.

All the other "perks" on your list are just gravy.

andrews98682

For me -- price, atmosphere onboard and ports.

Percy

For me it is the Ports of Call just about only.

The ship can be 1200 or 3000 passengers, but if I do not like the sequence of ports of call...then I do not go.

I am lucky in that I almost never fuss about food , I have not had a cruise where the food was "bad" .

Eschew

Itinerary is most important on the selection of a cruise, when it comes to selecting one cruise line over another, or one ship over another, the otehr factors come into play.

When I am picking a hotel, location is important. However, #9 is also very important, especially when I have choices. Some hotel chains offered such inferior bedding (and pillows) that made a good night sleep impossible.

Percy, I have not come across really "bad" food yet on a cruise (as in get sick from the food) but I did come across bad tasting food (sodium, msg, dried, stale etc) with a particular cruise line that I won't cruise with any more.

Usually I gave second chances and if it is a repeat problem on different ships from the same cruise line, that's when I don't go back. A single bad experience could be just a one off.

Alcohol is not a big factor me so the booze package (all you can drink?) doesn't excit me. Wine packages are interetsing but I like to pick my own an don't mind paying extra to have the selction I liked.

Larry, I am surprised that you didn't mention coffee; especially for someone who packed a coffee press . I have not come across exceptional coffee on any of the ship yet (except for the pay extra coffee such as Princess' International Cafe).

I original thought the number of passengers would be a bigger factor, especailly for DW. As it turns out, we have been on all sizes of ships, from less than 100(GE2), to 700(R3), mega ships from 1800+ to 3500+ and behemoth of 6000. We didn't really have any preference, just a different experince to enjoy just the same.

SusieQQ

For me, it's ease of getting to the port...so, most of my cruising has been out of NYC. And after that I'm more interested in the ambiance of the ship...I don't care about itinerary or ports of call...just like ship life...time in most ports is too short to really enjoy it. If I want to visit that place, I'll go there for a longer period of time.

jacketwatch

Correct Eschew,well mostly correct. RCI has or at least had a good coffee, a special blend from Seattles best called Cari- bean which is pretty good and is available throughout the ship(s). Princess has premium coffee for an extra price but this includes a number of lattes, expressos, etc. so actualy for the prices I find it pretty good though for me nothing beats my Gevalia.

I have brought Starbucks via packets on our last two X cruises which I find to be better than X's reg. brewed coffee.

Speaking of coffee have you ever heard of Kopi Luwak? we have a plan to be in Thailand in Oct. and this coffee is Indonesian but can be had in Asia so I have hoping I can try some. BTWE it goes for about $300.00 per lb. Yep thats correct. So why is it so expensive/ Well there is a tree living animal, a marsupial called a civet or luwak in Indonesia. So this little thing has a knack for eating the best coffee cherries. Then as its pretty small it passes them in its waste. These partially digested beans are cleaned, brewed and viola! you get Kopi Luwak.

jacketwatch

Dare I say bottoms up.

Eschew

I like coffee but I thought civit coffee is over-rated, just like the monkey-picked tea leaves from the high mountains. They are just harder to come by, not necessary better. And, be aware of "fakes". Real monkey-pick leaves typically sold for $200+ per 100 gram ($900/lb) in a reputable store, or you can buy them on-line for $100/lb.

Unless you see how it was processed (i.e. picked, cleaned and roasted), how do you know it is the real thing in the little baggie?

jacketwatch

Well,I'll have to research that. Real Jamaican Blue Mountain coffee is distributed by official brands, Mavis Banks being one of them. Maybe it's the same with Kopi. However as I did not win the Power ball all I want is a cup of it.

I once got two bags of pure Kona coffee for the going price of about $40.00 per lb. at the time. The first bag was great, just what you would expect with a rich, smooth and nutty taste. The next bag, same as the 1st. was awful. I called the grower actually and he gave me some mumbo jumbo, yada, yada stuff but no real answer.

Perhaps the best way to get Kopi if they have it there is to ask the hotel concierge.

Eschew

There is also Thai Civet Coffee, probably cheaper than Bali Kopi Luwak. It is the same s*** anyway, isn't it? .

jacketwatch

Indeed!

HappyTrvlr

I meant 300 and only have gone on ships with 700-300.

jacketwatch

Huh?

Dayenu

1) itinerary

2) embarkation port

4) price

we don't travel with the same cruise line each time