Opinions please!!!

[robntawn]

I need some help here. My wife and I are booked on 2 cruises upcoming in the next 6 months, and she is telling me that we can only go on one of them. We have booked the 8/23/06 HAL Volendam Glacier cruise out of Vancouver and the Freedom of the Seas on 10/15/06. Here's some background...

1. We did the Volendam last year to Alaska and had a GREAT time, and that's why we booked it again this summer.
2. The price for the 2 cruises is nearly identical, and we are using frequent flyer miles so there is no difference in air fare as well.
3. Shore excursions in Alaska are VERY expensive when compared to Caribbean shore excursions.
4. We just did the western Caribbean (with teenagers) on the Carnival Triumph on 4/15/06 and had a great time. This cruise would be just the 2 of us.
5. October is hurricane season.
6. The Freedom looks awesome, but we do have some trepidation with at least 3600 passengers. The ship is completely sold out and it is a Crown and Anchor cruise.

I would appreciate your thoughts and insight. I realize that ultimately it's my decision, but this board has always been good about sharing thoughts and insight. Thank you!

[FlorenceItaly]

this is a bit of a tough one. Had you not just gone to Alaska last year, it would have been Alaska, hands down. As far as the RCI, Freedom of the Seas...well, we do some cruising with RCI, and our next one coming up is RCI, but I prefer HAL. For myself, a ship that size does not appeal to me. I have sailed on the Mariner of the Seas, and it is gorgeous, but since I have recently been doing more sailing with HAL, I prefer HAL, and their size ships.

May I suggest taking neither cruise and perhaps booking the Oosterdam out of San Diego to the Mexican Riviera. What do you think? It is a wonderful itinerary. I sailed on her in March. I mainly booked that particular itinerary because I was meeting my sister on the ship. She lives in Sacramento. I was not all that excited about the itinerary but I was pleasantly surprised. I loved it. I have booked another cruise next year on Celebrity Mercury to the Mexican Riviera, dh and I.

Or, have you done a Hawaii cruise yet?

I hope I've helped some :). Please let me know what you decide.

Marie

[benchmarklearning]

My suggestion would be to say, "I'm going on both cruises. If YOU want to only go on only one, take YOUR pick."

;)

[caviargal]

I will be on Freedom next week for a 2 night pre-inauguaral but, frankly, I would never choose to vacation on a ship that size. Voyager class are way too big and crowded for me.

Imagine the tendering situation, and the sheer volume of pax to be served. IMO, it will be completely impersonal.

Add to that the fact that IMO it will be filled with kids, and I cannot find a single reason to choose FOS.

JMO

[RuthC]

My suggestion would be to say, "I'm going on both cruises. If YOU want to only go on only one, take YOUR pick."

;)
That was my first thought, too. :D

[Bucky3]

I'd have to agree with benchmarklearning and Ruth C!! We're going on Volendam next week and because of all the hype on this board I am almost looking forward to the ship more than Alaska! I think it would be fun to "see" the FOS, but I'm not sure I'd like cruising on it. Having been on Caribbean Princess and Sapphire Princess, I can't imagine I'd like anything bigger! What a tough decision - is the Alaska cruise the one with Budget Queen onboard? That might make the decision for me. I wish she were on our cruise next week.

[DFD1]

If it were me and I wanted to sail on the FOS, I would wait a bit longer in hopes the staff would be settled in and the service MIGHT be better after she has a few more cruises under her belt.

Because of her size, I probably would not cruise on her anyway, unless the price was extremely low.

The Volendam, on the other hand, is one of the great ships sailing right now, in my opinion. I've sailed on her twice and can't wait to do so again.

Whatever, you decide, I hope you have a great cruise.

[Tricia724]

There is no question in my mind....Volendam. Even though you went last year, you had a great time....and Alaska is so spectacular that a repeat performance merely gives you the opportunity to enjoy some sights you missed the first time around.

I did an Alaska sailing two years in a row on Celebrity's Summit. The first year we did a southbound sailing Seward-Vancouver, and last year we did a 14-day Vancouver-Los Angeles sailing. We hit many of the same ports the second year but did completely different excursions. Even though both sailings were on the same ship, they were completely different experiences.

In February I sailed on RCCL's Explorer of the Seas. I enjoyed myself, but I have to tell you that was WAY too much ship for me. There were 3,250+ passengers onboard, and maybe it's my age or maybe it's my personal preferences, but there were times when I felt jammed in. Just trying to get something to eat in the Windjammer Restaurant was a daunting experience...to say nothing about trying to get off the ship when tendering. And...the Freedom is larger yet. Don't get me wrong....I'm glad I tried it and I did enjoy the trip, but if I ever sail RCCL again, it will be on a Radiance class ship and nothing larger.

Only you can assess your priorities....go with your gut.

[robntawn]

Thank you so much for your opinions in this matter. I have posted a similar question on the Royal Caribbean board and, not surprisingly, their responses were skewed toward the Freedom. Decisions, decisions...

It's looking like I will make my final payment for the Volendam this week, and await some reviews on the Freedom, with special emphasis on embarkaion, debarkation, and tendering. I know for sure that we loved the Volendam AND Alaska, so we certainly can't go wrong. If the Freedom gets glowing reviews, I may take the financial hit and cancel Volendam at that time.

Again, thank you for your opinions...

[ger_77]

Here's a totally mature answer: "She's not the boss of you - you're going on both!":D I'll bet you're going to enjoy the Volendam more than the Freedom of The Seas though.

Smooth Sailing ! :) :) :)

[user8]

If it was me, I would prefer to go to Alaska in August rather than in October.

[nanashirl]

When is the best time of the year to do the Mexican Rivera? I am not sure when it is the warmest. Really would want to go when it is warm. Doing Alaska next month. Don't mind the cold for that but other cruises prefer the warmth.

[Cinema15]

Cancel both trips and book the 9/28/06 Transatlantic from Rome to NYC on HAL's lovely Noordam. 16 wonderful days at a reasonable price to boot! ;)


09/06 Noordam
04/06 Noordam
09/05 Golden Princess
09/04 QM2
09/03 NCL Dawn
09/88 Chandris Fantasy Cruises

Yes...I like crusing in September!

[robntawn]

We've got 5 children in school, so we won't be doing anything longer than a week for at least 10 years...

[1cruiselvr]

Of course the RCI board is going to vote for the Freedom but I only needed one experience on a mega pax ship to say NEVER AGAIN. Too crowded. I go on vacation to get away from the masses and relax, not to stand in line and WAIT for just about every experience onboard and off. That's my 2 cents. Happy Sailing!

[jcloyal1]

i've been to the carribean and alaska and am heading to the carribean again with the knowledge that I WILL GET BACK TO ALASKA, if you can afford both ,do both, if you HAVE to make a choice, I don't really think there is one, it's ALASKA!!!

[msraye]

I agree with the others on two points. 1) the Freedom is just too big! 2) it won't have had time to "shake out".


Alaska would always get my vote. So far, I hae been 3 times. Not enuff. Never duplicated anything--except the Ketchikan Kandy Kompany.