Best Line for "Senior Citizens"?

[bochata]

My husband and I are senior travelers going soon on Emerald Princess: choice made based on itinerary and timing. We know it is a family friendly cruise and if there are children on a Baltic cruise they are probably all on Princess. But we like having different ages around us. We booked a nice cabin where we can relax when tired.

[Keith1010]

I have yet to find a cruise line senior citizen discount.

Keith

[Scrapnana]

Originally Posted by suron

Have any of you considered Saga Cruises who are based in the UK? They have some great cruise itineraries and all their ships are adults only as they cater for over 55's only. They also have a lot of things included e.g. tips and insurance (although this may only be for UK persons). They sail mainly out of Southampton but also go from Dover and Harwich - why not combine a day or so exploring the areas around the departure ports if you are living outside the UK - they all have interesting places to see. The ships tend to be smaller than some of the other well-known cruise lines but the service cannot be faulted and I am sure you would enjoy the experience. We have travelled widely with Princess, Costa,MSC, Thomsons but Saga does cater for our needs in providing a child-free envorinment and personall service which is often lacking in these huge ships which seem to be the norm now.

Hope you manage to find something suitable.

Suron in Bristol, England

Going solo and with the current exchange rate Saga is pretty pricey! When I was pricing round the world cruises (I did like Saga's itinerary) it was almost $30,000 more than Cunard.

[GrandmaHofmann]

Read my recent review of our Carnival Imagination cruise. I would pass on Carnival. We have 3 NCL cruises under our belts and a fourth coming up in November. Granted they were longer cruises and 2 were in the Med, but they were nothing like Carnival!

[Onessa]

Originally Posted by Keith1010

I have yet to find a cruise line senior citizen discount.

Keith

DH is "well past" 55yo and we've gotten two discounts due to his age.

Originally Posted by Sunshine91

But this past fall's 17-day mediterranean/trans-Atlantic - total snoozefest after main dinner seating.

Med cruises of almost any type tend to be a bit quieter in the nightlife department. So much going on in port during the day that everyone (55+ and 55-) are ready to put their feet up and snooze off!

[misty57]

Originally Posted by Keith1010

I have yet to find a cruise line senior citizen discount.

Keith

Really? we had a discount on a 4 night to the Bahamas a few years ago, and on our upcoming 7 night to NE/Canada. Granted they may be only on less desirable sailings due to date or number of nights. They also may not be in the cabin category you prefer. We have yet to find a resident discount for those from Illinois ... sigh.... it's tough to be landlocked.

[kugamuga]

Originally Posted by bars7816

"do not go on holland america. By 10pm they're rolling up the sidewalks- nightlife is non-existent."

that's the impression i've gotten from friends, too. My main reason for cruising is for the nightlife and entertainment. Definitely found it on ncl epic and ncl pearl. It also depends on who one's traveling companions are. some people are just old poops no matter what their age! :d:d

lol

[Bridge Maven]

When my husband and I are cruising by ourselves we prefer Royal Caribbean and NCL.

When we are traveling with our daughter, son in law, and grandchildren we prefer Disney Cruise Line. Disney is great for three generation family cruises because their level of service is wonderful and there is something for everyone. Disney Cruise Line has a number of adult only areas, including specialty restaurants, an adult only pool, an adult only hot tub, and several adult only lounges.

There was a time when Celebrity was our favorite cruise line but it is very different now than it use to be.

[kugamuga]

Originally Posted by Bridge Maven

When my husband and I are cruising by ourselves we prefer Royal Caribbean and NCL.

When we are traveling with our daughter, son in law, and grandchildren we prefer Disney Cruise Line. Disney is great for three generation family cruises because their level of service is wonderful and there is something for everyone. Disney Cruise Line has a number of adult only areas, including specialty restaurants, an adult only pool, an adult only hot tub, and several adult only lounges.

There was a time when Celebrity was our favorite cruise line but it is very different now than it use to be.

Hello "Bridge Maven" My neighbors and my girl friend rave about Celebrity. How how has it changed? I have only been on NCL.

[Bridge Maven]

Originally Posted by kugamuga

Hello "Bridge Maven" My neighbors and my girl friend rave about Celebrity. How how has it changed? I have only been on NCL.

kugamuga - when we first sailed on Celebrity they cost more than other mass market cruise lines but had better food and service. In recent years they changed their business model to compete on price so they could fill their new ships. Consequently, you now have to eat at a specialty restaurant to get the quality of food that Celebrity use to have in their main dining room. Their waiters in the main dining room also have more tables to serve than they did a few years ago. The main thing that differentiates Celebrity from other mass market cruise lines today is that it attracts a demographic that prefers a more formal and laid back ambiance aboard a ship.

[kugamuga]

Originally Posted by Bridge Maven

kugamuga - when we first sailed on Celebrity they cost more than other mass market cruise lines but had better food and service. In recent years they changed their business model to compete on price so they could fill their new ships. Consequently, you now have to eat at a specialty restaurant to get the quality of food that Celebrity use to have in their main dining room. Their waiters in the main dining room also have more tables to serve than they did a few years ago. The main thing that differentiates Celebrity from other mass market cruise lines today is that it attracts a demographic that prefers a more formal and laid back ambiance aboard a ship.

So, if I understand you, Celebrity has become more like NCl except that it still has the more formal 6pm and 8 pm seatings for dinner

[Bridge Maven]

Originally Posted by kugamuga

So, if I understand you, Celebrity has become more like NCl except that it still has the more formal 6pm and 8 pm seatings for dinner

Celebrity allows you to choose between assigned seating and eating when you want to, but has several formal nights, and observing that dress code is required in the main dining room.

[kugamuga]

Originally Posted by Bridge Maven

Celebrity allows you to choose between assigned seating and eating when you want to, but has several formal nights, and observing that dress code is required in the main dining room.

Thanks for the info.

[ddbaab53]

We are getting ready to take #7 on Carnival and looking at #8 next Sept. I will be 60 this time and never found any issuses. I have found Carnival to have all varietites of ages up to the mid 80's so far. Remember you make your vacation what it is.

[True Texan]

We stay mostly on Carnival because of price. The wildest cruise we have been on was a RCCL believe it or not. We are happy just being on a ship.

[beshears]

I have not read all the postings.

I am "69" and most people think I am younger than that, which is good for my benefit. As for avoiding a ship for the "55" and over, I cannot think of any.

I like someone else posted like the Carnival ships, and NO, I am not a party person, but like to have a great time. I have never found on any of the Carnival ships I have been on, anything that was so bad, I didn't want to be around it, but then, if you don't like what is going on, you can always go another direction.

I have been on RCCL, HAL, Princess, and NCL. As for NCL, I would avoid it all together, but I don't care for the "freestyle", or as I call that style, the LAZY way. If you like it, then go for it.

[we're sailing away....]

Holland has it all ...