If cost were no object...

[jaguarstyper]

I know, most on this board are very avid fans of Holland America. If cost was not a consideration in your decision, would you still choose to cruise on Holland America? DW and I feel that HAL represents just about the perfect combination of luxury, elegance, itineraries, and fun for a really great price. I feel the aft S suites on the Vista ships are just about as good as it gets. We feel the PS suites are just overkill. We have cruised on Carnival at the low cost end and Seabourn on the high end. We found the Carnival to be a little to rowdy for our tastes. We found Seabourn to be a little on the stuffy and snobbish side. Fine for an evening out, but not for a week. Its just not our style. Personally, I'll stick with HAL and use the money saved to shop the ports.

So, what would you do, cost be damned?

1) I love HAL and would still cruise with them.
2) I would cruise on the high end lines like Crystal, Radisson and Seabourn.
3) I would stop cruising and do something better.

[HeatherInFlorida]

If money were absolutely no object, I would choose Oceania, Crystal or Raddison because they all have some smaller ships which we prefer. Next choice would be Celebrity or HAL.

Tim, I'm a little surprised ... you don't like rowdy?

[ekerr19]

I would like to try Radisson if cost were no object. :)

[jaguarstyper]

Tim, I'm a little surprised ... you don't like rowdy?

Well Heather, I can be as rowdy as anyone, but only for short bursts. We go on vacations to relax and enjoy some peace and quiet. Dont get me wrong, we had a blast on the Carnival cruise, but it certainly wasnt relaxing. It was more like a week long frat party. I needed another vacation just to recover. :cool:

Tim

[Debi_D]

I would love to try Radisson or Seabourn for a World Cruise, that is if "money was no object":D Deb

[Bookish Angel]

if cost was never a consideration, I would do more land-based, extended (at least a month), international vacations to get a better feel of local culture. We are hoping to go to Iceland next year (only about 5 hours from D.C.) and will spend more money to do our own itinerary that includes a lot of walking (when feasible) to museums, cultural centers, etc. Went on a tour of England once and vowed I will NEVER do a tour again; all we saw was touristy stuff and the little free time we had was used for sleep.

Having said that, both my husband and I want to do a work/learn cruise that encompasses marine biology, eco-touring, etc. Trouble is, I like the megaships when I cruise, so I know the services and comforts will be limited on the smaller ships. Ah, what price for knowledge!

[Renorita]

I love Cruising, so #3 would not be my choice. Nov. will be our first Hal Cruise and Aug. will be our first Celebrity Cruise, and we are really looking forward to trying both. So can't pick #1 yet. I have found a few snobish people on Carnival, Princess and RCCI and cannot stand to be around people like that so would not want to be on a whole shipload full of them :eek:, so I guess #2 is out also.

Bottom line, even though some Cruises have been better than others, Carnival being at the bottom, we still had fun on all of them, so I guess I would have to say that we would pick nice roomy Veranda Cabins with the best locations on whatever ship offers the best itinerary, longer cruises etc. However will probably not go back on Carnival unless its one of their newer ships.

It will be fun to compare our first Celebrity (Infinity) with our first Hal (Oosterdam) Although we will have an SS on the "O" will only have an outside cabin on the Infinity, so to compare the cabins wouldn't be fair.

[RevNeal]

If cost were no option I would:

1. Take MUCH longer cruises on HAL with Suite accommodations.
2. Take such longer cruises more frequently.
3. Take cruises on Radisson -- my parents do like Radisson, and have always spoken well of their cruises with them; but they've also said that, in terms of price and quality balance, HAL provides the best alternative both for their budget and, indeed, for mine.

[Himself]

I would cruise HAL with Suite Accomodations

[jhannah]

I would likely try a super-premium line just to see what it was like. But I agree that HAL has a great balance of quality and price. I wouldn't choose a PH because nice as they are it's overkill for us. But the S suite ... ahhhhhh. Were cost no object, I'd primarily stay with HAL and as Revneal says take more frequent and longer cruises.

[trubey]

I'd try a premium line to see if I liked it, but they'd have to go quite a distance to beat the mix we found on HAL.

J. Paul Getty aside, I don't think owning a big private yacht (such as you see in the harbor in Monte Carlo) would be all that much fun.

[Sueseb]

HAL for a world cruise. But, having said that, have been on Carnival twice and never encountered the aforementioned rowdiness. But, did do this in the Fall when there were few kids.

[dakrewser]

For us, itinerary is at least as important as the ship or line. While I did enjoy the Oosterdam, we still prefer smaller ships (600-1000 pax). So, if price were no object, we'd look at both longer itineraries on HAL (still the leader in interesting destinations) as well as some smaller ships (Windstar, Oceania, Seabourne) for more "standard" itineraries.

[localady]

If cost were no object, put me in one the PH's of any 'Dam Ship' for the long and exotic itineraries, and I would be in heaven!!!:D

[RevNeal]

... if price were no object, we'd look at both longer itineraries on HAL (still the leader in interesting destinations) as well as some smaller ships (Windstar, Oceania, Seabourne) for more "standard" itineraries.

Absolutely. Sounds like a winner to me. I've been looking at the 2006 European and World offerings on the ms Prinsendam. I'm thinking about renaming the ship the "Priceydam." YOUCH ... HAL really thinks dearly of their cruise offerings on that ship!!!!!!

[GrammyPL]

If price was not a problem --- I would be on the Prinsendam for the World Cruise in a suite. Penny

[localady]

Absolutely. Sounds like a winner to me. I've been looking at the 2006 European and World offerings on the ms Prinsendam. I'm thinking about renaming the ship the "Priceydam." YOUCH ... HAL really thinks dearly of their cruise offerings on that ship!!!!!!

Well I looked at what they want for 7 days on the Oosterdam in Mexico for a Suite next year.....OUCH!!! Beware of rising cruise prices......:eek:

Too bad price is an object!!:rolleyes: :)

[wander]

I would go on several expedition travel trips a year through companies such as Zegrahm, Quark, International Expeditions and Micato to as many different and exotic places in the world as I could. Then to relax, I would go on several looooooong cruise on HAL (outside cabin is fine) and give one of the high end cruise lines a try as well.

[dakrewser]

Absolutely. Sounds like a winner to me. I've been looking at the 2006 European and World offerings on the ms Prinsendam. I'm thinking about renaming the ship the "Priceydam." YOUCH ... HAL really thinks dearly of their cruise offerings on that ship!!!!!!

Amen, rev! I really want to do the 6/24/06 16-night Baltic cruise on the Prinsendam, but they want $10,000/PP for an S suite - and $5,000 for an A!

[RevNeal]

That's the cruise christopher and I are now looking at ... we'd have to do it in an inside or just a low-level outside. That way we can afford a pre-cruise stay in Paris.

[kryos]

Having said that, both my husband and I want to do a work/learn cruise that encompasses marine biology, eco-touring, etc. Trouble is, I like the megaships when I cruise, so I know the services and comforts will be limited on the smaller ships. Ah, what price for knowledge!
If that's what you're after, you should check out semesteratsea.com. It would be perfect for you ... and the cost is reasonable too. I've always said, I have two dream cruises ... HAL's 30-day Hawaii/South Pacific and a Semester at Sea World Cruise. I never thought I'd be able to do either of them until I retire (about 17 more years from now). Well, thanks to a "changing of the guard" at work ... and a new boss who will bend over backwards to accommodate loyal and hardworking staff members ... I was able to book the Hawaii/South Pacific, but I wouldn't even have the guts to ask about a world voyage. That would really be pushing it.

Semester at Sea focuses on learning. It's primarily geared to college students, but they do take a certain number of adult travelers along too. The shore excursion program is in-depth and focuses on learning. Most port stops are multiple days and you can do homestays with people of the area, and other neat things that complement the learning that takes place in their classrooms. Also, adults can sit in on the classes of their choosing, though they don't get college credit for them.

The cruise itself is not your typical cruise. No midnight buffets ... just three square meals served cafeteria style each day. You do have a cabin steward and linen service, and I would assume there are bars in the adults-area of the ship, though I am not sure of that.

If I ever take a world cruise, I want it to truly be a unique experience. Sure, I love the ammenities provided by the big cruise lines ... the entertainment, the 24-hour eating options, etc. ... and those are fine for shorter cruises. But if I am blessed enough to go on a world voyage someday, I want it to be truly a "once in a lifetime" experience that I'll take to my grave with me. This program would seem to provide that.

Blue skies ...

--rita

[stanford's girl]

I could be happy on any ship and itinerary. Big or small, long or short, expensive or not, any cruising is good cruising.:D

But my dream one would be a world cruise. Someday I WILL make that a reality.:)

[dakrewser]

That's the cruise christopher and I are now looking at ... we'd have to do it in an inside or just a low-level outside. That way we can afford a pre-cruise stay in Paris.

Take a look at France Vacations (http://www.francevacations.net/home.cfm) which we've always found had good deals on air+hotel for Paris. (American Airlines Vacations is another good packager). Every $20 saved is another dinner in the Pinnacle!:)

[obriendan]

World cruise on the Prisendam in a suite (following the steps of Slinkie and Grumpy...).

[ron46936]

I shop more for itinerary and price than cruise line. If cost was no object my next cruise would be on the Rhine and Danube. I have only tried 5 lines and they were all what I call popular price. Given the same cost and itinerary I would pick Celebrity, then NCL, the HAl, then RCCL, and finally Carnival. Let me stress that those are strictly my preferences and are in no way intended to besmirch any particular line.

[cruznon]

A world cruise in a suite....THAT would be grand!

(There's also a cruise to Anarctica on an ice-breaker I heard of that sounds really interesting.)

But if $$ were no object, I'd like to sail several times a year.
Ahh, just to be able to pick up the phone and book a cruise whenever, wherever...just because you feel like cruisin'!

[ekerr19]

Well, as several have mentioned - the prices for 2006 are really high! Cruising in an S is going to cost, that's for sure. I had a rather lengthy conversation with my TA the other day and she told me that HAL has been booking the PS's on many sailings at almost full fare! So much for an upgrade... lol!

I am really amazed at how quickly some of the itineraries are booking and how high the fares are... I guess we won't see those post 9/11 fares again anytime soon.

If you are looking at something for Summer/Fall 2005, you better jump quick. The prices are not going to get any better.

[viennacruiser]

If $$ were not object...I would try one of the higher line ships, but I think 3 or 4 10 or more day cruises/year for now, :D at this point I would not be able to be away from my kids for longer than that:rolleyes:

I know what you mean about summer 05, the cruise we have booked with our family has gone up almost $300/pp .:eek: .glad we booked when we did:)

[kgjg]

If money were truly not an object, I'd have my own 110' power catamaran with a full crew.

My next choise would be living on the World of Residensea.

After that would be taking all the small ship cruises, such as Cruise West's Vancouver to Nome Alaska.

Failing to be able to do any on the above would I think of the high end cruise lines.

[venicecruiser]

I've cruised on Seabourn and loved every minute of it so my first choice would always be The Yachts of Seabourn.............:)

[bepsf]

Cost no object?


Find me permanently installed in an SS on Prinsendam...

[WindyCity]

If cost were no object, we would still choose HAL because of the cabin sizes and do back to back to back to back (ad infinitum) cruises (including the world cruise).:D

[Randyk47]

I think we'd give Radisson a try, then Seabourn, then HAL, then start all over again. :D