Best Mediterranean Cruise for younger couple

[scorben]

My husband and I just got married, we are in our early 30's, and I am looking for a good Medditerreanean cruise this summer. I read ship reviews and several say the average age for this type of cruise is over 50.

 

I am looking at 10-11 day Med trips on Celebrity, and 7 day on RCCL.

 

Can someone recommend the best cruise line for our age group? We like luxury, but we also like excitement.

 

I cant make a decision, please help!

:confused: :confused: SCORBEN

[Queenk2]

Were older than 30, but have been cruising the med for many years. We did Splendor of the Seas when it first sailed 2- back to back and met many young people.[20's] Today, I just spoke to a honeymoon couple...younger than you and they are going on our ship...Galaxy July 25th. A cruise to the Med is a sightseeing adventure, not a relax and go swimming type of trip. If that is what you want, you realy have the wrong destination. The ship is a way to GET there! Happy Sailing!

[Tatka]

We were 32 + 32 when we did 7 dayer on Splendour. Loved it.

 

 

Med cruises are so port intensive there are no time for regular cruise activities.

 

But if you are looking for excitement, sightseeing over there is very exciting.;)

[scorben]

Wow. I feel better. Now we just have to decide which one to pick...7 days on RCCL with a balcony or 10 days on Galaxy with no balcony, but extra ports.

 

We have 2 weeks total so we can also hang out for a few days before or after the trip.

[Chick's pal]

We were on a 12 day itinerary and it just flew by.

If you're going through all that trouble to get to Europe, then you might as well take the 10 day cruise.

 

Despite your age, you will LOVE the trip. Think of it as a "taste" of European cities and plan your return trips based on the ports you liked.

 

I am envious. Have a great time!

[WeBeCruisin']

My husband and I just got married, we are in our early 30's, and I am looking for a good Medditerreanean cruise this summer. I read ship reviews and several say the average age for this type of cruise is over 50.

I am looking at 10-11 day Med trips on Celebrity, and 7 day on RCCL.

Can someone recommend the best cruise line for our age group? We like luxury, but we also like excitement.

N

 

People in your "age group" can vary from one extreme to the other. Some people in their 30s are incrediblly conservative and set in their ways, and others are immature idiots. Actually, you can almost say that for any age group. :) It's the people and their personalities, not the chronological age.

 

My wife was 28 when we took our first European cruise and 33 on our first Mediterranean cruise. She actually preferred being with the "old fogies" in their 40s and 50s, because she found them to be more interesting, and they had more to talk about than how much they had drunk the night before and how wasted they got on the tiki boat cruise. Also, she felt that her contemporaries were often so self-absorbed and self-centered that they were exceedingly boring. On our Summit cruise in 2003, one of our tablemates was 74 and went wind-sailing, snorkeling, and closed the casino every night. He also loved the disco. We had another tablemate who was 33 and refused to do anything except lie out in the sun by the pool all day long. She wouldn't take excursions or leave the ship at all. Her main topics of conversation were sun-tan lotions, tanning, and "cool" poolside drinks. What a waste of money. She could have just gone to her neighborhood pool for 11 days.

Anyway, don't be so quick to stereotype people by their age.

 

With the cost of airfare to Europe, I'd recommend taking the longest trip possible, which would be the Galaxy. Also, everyone who has sailed her raves about the Galaxy, and Celebrity's ships and service seem to be a step above Royal Caribbean. We're going to the Mediterranean again in July and the only reason we picked Royal Caribbean's Brilliance of the Seas over Galaxy was that it was 12 days, and that it included the Greek Isles AND Turkey, which we really wanted since we had seen the Western Mediterranean previously. Otherwise, we would have picked Celebrity in a heartbeat. Celebrity's Millenium (an M-class ship) also does 11-day Mediterranean cruises. We've heard good things about the Brilliance, and will better be able to compare it to the M-Class ships when we get back. We loved the Summit and Constellation, considering them the two best ships we've been on. We've never been on the Galaxy or its sister ships, but have heard great things about them.

 

Allen

[SoCalGal]

In August of 2001 we did a 12 night Med cruise on Celebrity's Mille. We were in our 50's, but there were all ages including tons of kids. The Med cruises are very port intensive, so many elderly people have a hard time with them. Our itinerary was fantastic--Istanbul to Barcelona. We really enjoyed our visit to Alexandria and Cairo, Egypt, the Sphinx & Pyramids. (Since 9/11 they no longer have that itinerary). Next time we will do the Venice itinerary. If you can afford it, I really think you'd enjoy a balcony stateroom...it is just the best way to cruise. Celebrity has wonderful ships and great service. Have a great time whatever you choose!

[scorben]

We decided last night to take the Galaxy. I got a really great rate. Now I am looking for airfare, and it is almost as much as the room from what I have seen so far. We are going to stay for a few days after the cruise and see rome, then take the train to venice.

 

 

It is a lot of planning...any hotel recommendations would be appreciated. :)

[boydsdaughter]

Congratulations on choosing the Galaxy, I think you made a great choice. We'll be on her for the May 23 sailing.

I spent months researching hotels in Rome before finally finding one. You might check Tripadvisor.com. They have wonderful reviews and forums. I found that hotels in Rome are very expensive and evidently very different than what we're used to here in the states, so do your research carefully (it sounds like you do).

Also jump over to the ports of call boards, the Europe section for lots of info.

Have a great time planning, it's half the fun.

Rita

[Queenk2]

We decided last night to take the Galaxy. I got a really great rate. Now I am looking for airfare, and it is almost as much as the room from what I have seen so far. We are going to stay for a few days after the cruise and see rome, then take the train to venice.

 

 

It is a lot of planning...any hotel recommendations would be appreciated. :)

What date are you on for the Galaxy??? We are on July 25th sailing. I have done lots of research...if I can be of help...let me know!

Karen Queenk2@aol.com

[nancyray7]

We decided last night to take the Galaxy. I got a really great rate. Now I am looking for airfare, and it is almost as much as the room from what I have seen so far. We are going to stay for a few days after the cruise and see rome, then take the train to venice.

 

 

It is a lot of planning...any hotel recommendations would be appreciated. :)

 

We are on the Oct 7 Med on Galaxy -- if you are on that one,let me know.

 

If you are leaving from Rome, plan on spending about $200- $250 per night for an average hotel (includes tax and breakfast)

 

Try Hotel Italia if Rome is your port -- you probably already know that the dock is 1.25 hours from the city.

 

Keep close watch on British Airways flights, they occassionally offer low rates, but it depends when you are going. Usually cheaper to fly out of major airport (NYC, BOS, Chicago, LAX) than your hometown.

A

I'll help any way I can -- haven't been there yet but I am the planner and could write a darn book! nancyray7@yahoo.com

Nancy

[scorben]

We switched our cruise to the 14 day med. on the Millenium leaving July 2 because it goes to all the ports we want to visit including Venice and Barcelona.

 

 

Has anyone ever done this cruise?

 

~Susan

[libramitch]

Great ship!!!! Did you get a balcony? If not, well worth the splurge. Nothing like waking the morning you arrive in Santorini and having your coffee taking in the incredible view. That morning alone is well worth the extra for the balcony. Dubrovnik is incredible. Oddly enough, was one of the ports we were least looking forward to. Easily has become on of favorites.

 

Make sure to utlilize the Persian Garden on the Millie as well. Well worth paying for the pass. Includes access to the T-pool. Comes in handy after an intensive day in port for some r and r before dinner.

 

We are on the Galaxy with Nancyray7 (hi Nancy) in October.

 

By the way, congrats!

 

If you like, email me at libramitch@yahoo.com and I will be more than happy to answer any questions that you may have that I can answer for you.

[tiger the teacher]

Hi Scorben

 

Welcome aboard the Millennium for the July 2 sailing. We're trying really hard to get our Cruise Critic party going and you'd be more than welcome to join us. I started my Mediterranean cruising in my twenties and have not looked back, even though I'm now a decade or two older! It's a great region for the best of cruising experiences - good weather and fantastic ports.

 

See you aboard!

 

 

Clive

[aggieastrosfan]

Our itinerary was fantastic--Istanbul to Barcelona. We really enjoyed our visit to Alexandria and Cairo, Egypt, the Sphinx & Pyramids. (Since 9/11 they no longer have that itinerary).

 

If anyone wanted to do that itinerary again, a friend just told me about a trip he's seriously considering (I'm so jealous!) on the Golden Princess in November '06. It's a 12-day RT from Rome with two calls in Egypt. It sounds amazing!

 

To the OP (sorry to hijack your thread!), sounds like you made the right decision! I hope to get a cruise on the other side of the pond some day, and there's just too much to see in 7 days. Besides, you'll be so busy that you'll barely be in your cabin to miss the balcony!

 

Have a great time. :)

[scorben]

Thanks all! The cruise is paid for...now we are trying to pick our hotel in barcelona. the majestic looks good.

 

We are so excited. i cant wait.

[Tatka]

Thanks all! The cruise is paid for...now we are trying to pick our hotel in barcelona. the majestic looks good.

 

We are so excited. i cant wait.

 

Plan to spend about the same $$ for tours as you spent for cruise itself. We spent more than $1500 for tours during 7 dayer on Splendour.

 

I would choose Celebrity any day of the week..but Splendour of the Seas (RCCL) has unique feature that X ship don't have. Open 24 hour solarium pool. With 9 hours spent on excursions it was really nice to relax in the pool at 12 AM;) .