I thought I would add since we have a similar (but different—LOL) experience. We started cruising in the early 90’s with Carnival on our honeymoon—being forced to sit with 4 other honeymoon couples was enough to stop us from cruising for over 20 years (it was an absolute nightmare). Flash-forward to my son’s HS graduation cruise (many land-based vacations in the interim) back to Carnival (we don’t learn) but we had an absolute fantastic time bringing our crew of favorite people with us (our two children) in a separate room and us in a suite (such as it were). Next we found ourselves the following year on NCL to Europe in an Owner’s Suite (kid’s still in separate rooms).
And we realized our cruising style: Suites with a differentiated experience (butler’s/Genies, no Main Dining, separate quiet spaces for adults and the freedom for our favorite people (which now includes my children and my parents) to have an experience to their liking. We have cruised with NCL in a Garden Villa and RCL in Aqua Suites and Loft Suites.
Now as we considered taking our first cruise on our own-and realizing like previous posters that without our favorite people we can cruise exclusively for what’s suits us—a revelation! (and an extension of being an empty nester) and so far it seems that Oceania might fit the bill—regardless it will be an adventure…next summer to the Middle East on the Riviera in an Oceania Suite.
Of course we will be shipping our favorite people to Paris to meet us after we disembark from Istanbul—try as we might we never learn…Cheers!
