Which itinerary?

[epixx]

We have a narrow window for travel, due to school and summer schedules for 2 teens (19 and 15). We have been to the Med (Barcelona, Rome, Naples, Florence, Monaco) and are now considering two cruises that have a number of ports that are new to us. The RCI ship would be better for the teens, but the HAL cruise is $1000 less expensive for 4 more days, and the teens know what to expect on HAL as we have cruised with them in the past. Which August itinerary would be more interesting for teens interested in history, museums, architecture, scenery?

RCI Adventure of the Seas:

Southampton
Sea
Sea
Malaga (port time too short for Alhambra)
Sea
Villefranche
Civitavecchia
La Spezia
Genoa
Sea
Gibraltar
Lisbon
Sea
Sea
Southampton



HAL Ryndam:

Dover
Sea
Oslofjord
Kristiansand
Stavanger
Lysefjord
Ulvik
Handangerfjord
Sea
Dover
Zeebrugge
Sea
A Coruna
Leixoes (Porto)
Lisbon
Sea
Cadiz (Seville)
Gibraltar
Motril
Sea
Barcelona

[skisteamboat]

$1000 less for four more days? sounds like a no brainer to me.

Don't know about the ports on the HAL cruise but the RCI one on the Med usually involves a pretty good bus ride to see anything worthwhile.

Cheers

[TLCOhio]

Originally Posted by skisteamboat

$1000 less for four more days? sounds like a no brainer to me. Don't know about the ports on the HAL cruise but the RCI one on the Med usually involves a pretty good bus ride to see anything worthwhile. Cheers

Agree with above by our Ohio "neighbor" who also does time in Colorado. Paying $1000 less and getting four more days is very good. BUT, having done lots along the Norway coast (see my live/blog below for added details on the fjords, etc.), the wider range of options with the HAL cruise would be a major plus.

And finishing in Barcelona, allows a sampling of that great and interesting city with so much culture, architecture, charm, etc. For many parts of Europe, it is more about the ports than the ship. The HAL option seems to be a winner for many different reasons.

Tell us more on your personal interests, travel style, other Europe experiences, etc. Then we can make added suggestions.

THANKS! Enjoy! Terry in Ohio

Did a June 7-19, 2011, Celebrity Solstice cruise from Barcelona that had stops in Villefranche, ports near Pisa and Rome, Naples, Kotor, Venice and Dubrovnik. Enjoyed great weather and a wonderful trip. Dozens of wonderful visuals with key highlights, tips, comments, etc., on these postings. We are now at 111,256 views for this live/blog re-cap on our first sailing with Celebrity and much on wonderful Barcelona. Check these postings and added info at:
http://www.boards.cruisecritic.com/s....php?t=1426474

For details and visuals, etc., from our July 1-16, 2010, Norway Coast/Fjords/Arctic Circle cruise experience from Copenhagen on the Silver Cloud, check out this posting. This posting is now at 87,990 views.
http://www.boards.cruisecritic.com/s....php?t=1227923

[LHT28]

I would do the HAL cruise

[dsrdsrdsr]

If someone offered to pay me $1000 if I went on a 4-day cruise, I'd take it every time. Unless there were HUGELY powerful preferences not to - and a mild personal preference of someone who isn't paying the bill wouldn't be enough!

The RCI wins on history, because of Rome. Architecture and Museums, probably a marginal win for RCI because Norway's speciality is scenery, and a lot of buildings were destroyed in the war. (Though HAL does have 13 days ashore to RCI's 8, by my count, so plenty of catch-up opportunities.) As for scenery, Norway wins by the length of Route 66 - not only do they have the scenery, they also have 3-hour sail-ins to the more inland ports. In the Med, it's open sea till you reach the harbour, then straight in.

[epixx]

OK. Too good a deal to pass up the HAL 18 day trip. We're booked.

[roothy123]

I think you made the right choice! To me, the more ports and fewer at sea days sounds great. Also, the ports sound more interesting and varied.

[4774Papa]

Originally Posted by skisteamboat

$1000 less for four more days? sounds like a no brainer to me.

Don't know about the ports on the HAL cruise but the RCI one on the Med usually involves a pretty good bus ride to see anything worthwhile.

Cheers

Agree, no comparison, go with HAL. However, HAL is not a cruiseline known for attracting teens.

[CruiserBruce]

Originally Posted by 4774Papa

Agree, no comparison, go with HAL. However, HAL is not a cruiseline known for attracting teens.

An 18 day cruise on any cruise line isn't going to have a lot of kids.

[epixx]

Yes; fortunately (or unfortunately) we know all about HAL, long cruises, and teens. We sailed with the teens twice on HAL's 14 day Alaska itinerary because of its outstanding itinerary. The teens know what to expect, i.e., very little in the way of comrades or entertainment, and even the adults find HAL pretty boring. However, we all agree that we're going to Europe for the itinerary, and we'll just be prepared to spend a lot of time reading on the ship!

[loma linda ca a & j]

plus, you can let your teens keep the laundry caught up on the ryndam !!

[4774Papa]

Originally Posted by epixx

Yes; fortunately (or unfortunately) we know all about HAL, long cruises, and teens. We sailed with the teens twice on HAL's 14 day Alaska itinerary because of its outstanding itinerary. The teens know what to expect, i.e., very little in the way of comrades or entertainment, and even the adults find HAL pretty boring. However, we all agree that we're going to Europe for the itinerary, and we'll just be prepared to spend a lot of time reading on the ship!

The floating hotel theory. Itinerary is the most important reason to take a specific cruise. Entertainment is not even second.