Cruise line opinions and other random questions

Hi all - first time posting on these boards! My husband and I are planning a Southern Caribbean cruise for our anniversary in October 2015. While we have been on one cruise (Carnival Destiny October 2010), it was for our honeymoon and I did not have the time to research and plan as I do now and have some questions ;)

1. We are between Carnival, Royal Caribbean and Celebrity. We both enjoyed Carnival but have heard wonders about the other two lines. From your experience/opinion which is best for someone in their late 20s/early 30s? We aren't "party animals," but like relaxing by the pool, having some fun beverages and will visit the casino. Looking at online deals, a cruise fare and drink package on Celebrity could be cheaper than other options.

2. Rumrunners - I have read about these on the boards but wondered how often they get confiscated and how many you could realistically bring in your luggage? We are planning on getting a beverage package, but wanted to see if this was a legit option instead.

3. Since we are going for our anniversary, do cruise lines offer any "special occasions" perks? On our last cruise, a couple at our dinner table got a cake for their anniversary - but maybe this was ordered from the fun shops by family beforehand.

That is all for now. Thanks in advance for your help!

If you are getting a drink package, don't worry about bringing your own stuff...you need to make that package "pay" for itself!!! None of the cruise lines will allow you to bring anything but wine aboard...and they usually limit you to 2 regular size bottles.

Few cruise lines will do anything for your special occasion for "free" anymore....since almost everyone onboard will be celebrating something...anniversary, birthday, retirement...whatever! But, if they ask, tell them...who knows...they might do something!

I would go with the cruise that gives you the best cabin at the best price, assuming the itinerary is the same!

Welcome to cruise critic, you came to the right place for all your information.

We are currently very happy with RCI and after our next cruise will be diamond.

We love the Oasis class ships after sailing on the Mariner, Freedom and Oasis class.

We do not use rum runners but RCI does permit two bottles of wine per cabin brought on in a carry on.

As far as perks for an anniversary you can try, you may get a cupcake:eek:, you will probably be invited to one cocktail hour, but other than that, not much.

Many take a cruise to celebrate a special occasion, so cruises would go broke if they recognize everyones mile-stone.

Congratulations

When you decide on a ship, join your roll call.

Safe travels.

1. Celebrity

2. Not allowed. Don't do it.

3. Have gotten a small cake on HAL for my daughter's birthday, and a special dessert on Paul Gauguin for her birthday, but as stated, so many people celebrating something each cruise, that they don't hand out freebies.

Have sailed over my birthday three years in a row. If you let your waiter know, you will get a cake with one candle. Maybe it was one candle for a birthday, two for an anniversary. On Celebrity, it was about 6" square, and we cut it up so everyone could have a small piece. Very rich chocolate. EM

2. Rumrunners - I have read about these on the boards but wondered how often they get confiscated and how many you could realistically bring in your luggage? We are planning on getting a beverage package, but wanted to see if this was a legit option instead.

LOL......you know it's against the rules (otherwise you wouldn't be looking at Rumrunners), so you know there's no way it can be a "legit option". It's the exact opposite of "legit".

Thanks all!

Very good point about many cruisers celebrating special occasions - that is okay though, I will take advantage of the delicious desserts and treats already available :D.

I definitely think we will avoid rumrunners and purchase a drink package instead.

Haha, Calliopecruiser you are 100% - they are definitely the opposite of legit. My husband is still laughing at your response - touche' :p

I have cruised all three lines and love them all. Celebrity is the one I would choose for a quiet, relaxing, upscale, cruise with good food. Carnival works for the money. Both Carnival and RCL have lots of families and children.

Rumrunners -- don't do it. How much money would you really be saving? You are spending good money for your cabin to save what? As was stated by the others - it is not acceptable to bring your own alcohol. If caught, your rumrunners will be confiscated. You can bring 2 bottles of wine on board legally, but you cannot bring the wine into the dining room or any of the lounges. The ship will charge you a corkage fee of approximately $15-$25 to open the bottle for you.

We were on a Celebrity cruise for my birthday several years ago. The waiter in the dining room surprised me with a cake (which we shared with the table). I don't know if they still do it.

..... You can bring 2 bottles of wine on board legally, but you cannot bring the wine into the dining room or any of the lounges. The ship will charge you a corkage fee of approximately $15-$25 to open the bottle for you. ...

I think you might be referring to Celebrity? On HAL you can bring one bottle aboard free and drink it anywhere. You can then bring on as many other bottles as you wish, pay a "corkage" fee for each as you embark and drink them anywhere.

On NCL you are charged a "corkage" fee for all bottles you bring aboard but you can then drink them anywhere. There is no limit to number of bottles but none of them are free to bring aboard.

Thank you Attila and NM!

I think we may bring a couple bottles of wine on board and will take a look at the policies for this once we pick a cruise line. Not sure I would be up for paying a corkage fee for each bottle we bring, but we shall see.

1. Been on all 3, like all 3. Look at each ship's site and decide which amenities most appeal to you and pick that one. We are also not party animals and often cruise with our conservative non-drinking relatives. Their preferred line is Carnival because they feel they get the biggest bang for their buck. Of those 3 we probably lean more towards RC but don't cruise it a lot because we can't always justify the cost.

2. Since you're getting a package I'm not sure why this matters?

3. We've gotten cakes and cards on both CCL and Celebrity. Didn't celebrate anything special on RC so can't answer.

@ tank1016

Yes do look at your line's policies. Then consider this: we boarded HAL Zaandam at Valparaiso Chile, with our "allowed" one bottle of wine per person, to be consumed in stateroom only -- conveniently purchased in the passenger terminal! the average price of this very tasty wine was $15/bottle!

Additional bottles would have cost us $18/bottle in corkage fees, after which they could have been consumed anywhere on the ship.

What happened was that, after we had consumed our bottles, pre-dinner in the cabin -- we bought either wine by the glass at dinner, or a bottle of ho-hum table wine for $44/bottle! Could have saved $11/bottle and had our own taste in wine to boot!

When we board our April Transatlantic, be sure we will be carrying and paying corkage on as many bottles as we can carry! (Up to 6 apiece anyway, for a 26-day cruise.)

I would imagine you can compare special occasion packages on the different cruise line websites. Some like Princess will not charge you for a little cake and a sign for your door.