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Which cruise line if we didn't enjoy Celebrity?

Which cruise line if we didn't enjoy Celebrity?

Old Oct 13th, 2006, 12:30 PM
  #21  
 
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We are all free to disagree and I can only speak from my personal experiences.

The nightlife on the Diamond in the Caribbean was mellow at best. There was one lounge and a small combo played for a few hours. Very low key. I did not care on my Diamond cruise to the Med because we spent as much time as possible in port.

I said nothing about the other passengers aboard being snobbish or anything else and cannot imagine how you interpreted what you apparently did from my post - they were delightful - but overall nightlife was very limited. There were no shows (could care less as I do not go anyway. I was in my late 30s at the time.

On my 5 X cruises, nightlife has been much more lively and that was my point.

I love Regent, they are my preferred line and I imagine the Voyager offers far more in terms of nightlife. I have two cruises booked on her, following next months cruise on Celebrity.


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Old Oct 13th, 2006, 04:25 PM
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kfusto, you're right that you never mentioned anything about snobishness, I just got rambling and kind of forgot that I was still addressing you. Sorry!

My first Regent cruise was also on the Diamond. I remember a lounge across from Don Vito's (as I recall) and there was a very lively crowd in there. I'm sure the passenger composite changes from cruise to cruise and I must have hit it on a "jumping" week. I think there should be good nightlife in the Voyager Lounge.
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Old Oct 13th, 2006, 05:39 PM
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Some of the things you mention that weren't so great include the fact that you were pregnant and couldn;t drink...certainly nothing to do with the ship.

The other couple felt your cruise was "the most boring." OK, but how did YOU feel? Bored?

You wished you had had a balcony. next time, make sure you book one.

Food selection..can be a crap shoot on many ships.

You felt a big draw would be the shopping but then say you arelly aren't into that.

You want to get to know the islands/orts a little better; very few shios regardless of cost stop anywhere for more than a day or perhaps an overnight.

You say the cruise "failed" to satisfy you but some of the things that weren't satisfying may have had to do with your choice of itinerary and accommodations and the fact you coulnd't drink.

A more "upscale" cruise may be a partial answer but I would choose accommodations (get a balcony) AND the itinerary very carefully. And please be aware that as a very general "rule" the longer the itinerary and more costly the cruise, the higher the average age of the passengers will be.
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Old Oct 18th, 2006, 10:05 AM
  #24  
 
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I suggest you find a very good cruise travel agent. One that has experience in multiple lines and asks you and your husband LOTS of questions. To prepare think about what you have liked our other trips and what you want to experience on this trip.

A good agent will help you ask yourself the right questions and figure out your best matches.
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Old Oct 20th, 2006, 08:44 AM
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Just off Celebrity through Panama Canal. Third time on Celebrity and think they are no longer the best of the mid priced lines. Food definitely not as good as it used to be. Personally would go to the next level if you can afford it.
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Old Oct 20th, 2006, 12:45 PM
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So sorry to hear that but it seems to be the norm not the exception in terms of recent X cruisers.

I will be on Century next month for my wedding cruise and on Regent in December for honeymoon. I simply would not trust my honeymoon to X these days.
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Old Oct 27th, 2006, 11:25 AM
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If you were bored on Celebrity don't go on Seaborne, Regent or Silver Seas. They do not have things going on 24/7 it is all about service and food. If you didn't like Celebrity's food then you surely wouldn't like any of the mass market ships unless you dined at the specialty dining rooms every night.
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Old Oct 27th, 2006, 01:16 PM
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I would disagree about activities on Regent ships. I have found there are so many activities going that it is sometimes hard to choose.

During sea days you will have options such as playing bridge, games like Wheel of Fortune, various physical games (baggo, shuffleboard, putting or chipping, darts, pool volleyball, hand ball, golf practicing net), trivia, bingo, arts and crafts, flower arranging, cooking demonstrations, top-notch guest lecturers, computer class, digital photo class, tours of interetsing areas of the ship such as the bridge, galley, engine room or watch the daily movie (also free "movies on demand" in your cabin). On sea days the slots are also open during the day and table games open later in the afternoon. Of course if you don't want to participate or attend any of the above, you can relax with a good book by the pool or on your balcony.

At night there is music for dancing before and after dinner, the casino and a live entertainment show each evening. They also have things like kareoke or liars club on specific nights.

I have NEVER had any problem with a lack of activities, most of the times there's not enough hours in the day or night to do it all.
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Old Oct 30th, 2006, 11:00 AM
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I am not one to participate in scheduled activities, games, etc., with the exception of fitness classes or wine tastings.

IME, Regent had as much to do as on any of my 5 cruises with Celebrity. I did, however, prefer the caliber of the live dance bands on X (top 40), although night life is not a strong suit of either line IME.

If you are looking for action, you are best served by RCI.

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Old Nov 18th, 2006, 04:10 PM
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Get a balcony on the Crystal. Go to the Mediterraneanan and visit Rome, Venice, Dubrovnik, Greece etc. You will eat well, you will never be bored, you will see fascinating countries, and you will be treated like royalty. I could repeat this over and over wirh different ports substituted and never see it all.
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Old Nov 24th, 2006, 08:45 PM
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Don't laugh, but my husband and I are getting ready to go on our 3rd cruise with Disney minus children. (ours are 19 & 21!!)

We were torn between a verandah with Disney or one of the suites with Princess (close to the same amount), but we really have such a wonderful time at Disney's private island, Castaway Cay and feel they just had more to offer.

If you take your little one, they also have things like character breakfasts on the ship, and special pools available to the really young children, etc.

They have an adult only restaurant (Palo's) that is amazing. (if you'd like to see some of the food offered on DCL, this site has wonderful photos - www.cassworld.ca) One of the main dining rooms (Animators Palate) changes from b/w to color during the course of your meal...highlighting all the animation hanging on the walls.

They have an adult only pool/jacuzzi area that they actually keep pretty well enforced. (though they keep the children so entertained on there anyway (parents get beepers, in case of emergency), you barely realize they're actually on the ship)

They have done a wonderful job with their private island...divided it into family, teen and adult beach areas and have alot to keep everyone entertained, regardless of their age or activity level.

As far as things to do, they have several game show type of activities to participate in...the "Not so new newlywed" game, "Who wants to be a mouseketeer",etc.

On Pirates of the Caribbean night,you can dress up like a pirate/wench, if you choose(the pirate "attack" on the ship is complete with lightning on the movie screen on the top deck and REAL fireworks...the ONLY ship to be allowed to do this!)

They also have golf contests, basketball contests, veggie races, frog jumping contests, bingo (no casino), wine and other various tastings, courses on preparing gourmet meals and entertaining guests, various scavenger hunts, art auctions, ESPN Zone to keep up with the latest sports,they have an amazing spa, not to mention a wide variety of excursions, etc. Instead of Vegas style shows, you'll see more Broadway/Disney shows...so it really just depends on your personal preferences.

One of the games in the lounge was alot of fun...a scavenger hunt for lipstick, heels, bras, etc and then the men were supposed to find interesting ways to wear it all and then do a catwalk ...it was...well...entertaining. <g>

If you're not interested in Disney, have you considered one of RCCL's newer ships, Freedom Of The Seas? I haven't sailed on it, but have heard alot of great comments from several groups that we've had sail on it. I hope you get to enjoy your next cruise...I definitely think you should try once more.

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Old Nov 25th, 2006, 08:47 AM
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I will offer an off the wall suggestion.

Head over to Brooklyn and take the Queen Mary II to Southampton. Get a balcony midships (so the rolling is less pronounced, which on the QM2 is not much of an issue anyway) and spend days reading, walking around the huge ship, NOT spending money on schlunk shore excursions, and rest up for a non-jetlagged arrival in Britain six days later. Then "go deep" in terms of visiting, exploring, etc. once you get to Europe.

The food is surprisingly good given the size of the ship, the pace is wonderfully relaxed, and most sailings have things like acting companies doing Shakespeare play excerpts, guest lecturers, good music, etc. - the time actually goes by quite rapidly.

It will be an older and generally more sophisticated crowd than you're likely to encounter in tbe Caribbean; a lot of Brits (amazingly) but the ship is so big with so many venues (bars, restaurant options etc.) that you won't be short on variety.

We've been on Celebrity a couple of times and on Oceania, liked Oceania better than Celebrity, but found that we liked the sea days on both more than the port days. So six sea days on the QM2 last year was a good compromise for us, followed by some intense touring time in Europe following. On many sailings the QM2 can also be a very good bargain.
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