Where do you even start?

[Rockysoap]

I apologize for posting such a general question, and especially if I am posting it in the wrong place. I'm sure this is something that has been addressed before, but I'm struggling to find a loose end of the knot to even start at!

 

I'm trying to plan a cruise for the first time, and there is so much information and so many options out there that I have planning paralysis. How do you even go about trying to get started? Here are our priorities:

• I know we (my husband and myself) want a balcony room
  
• We don't want a "partying" cruise
  
• We want a cruise line with a really strong record (regarding things like cruise ships functioning properly, illness outbreaks, etc.)
  
• Leaving from the US
  

I've read some reviews and hopped around to a few different websites, but there are so many different cruise lines, and then reviews seem like they vary so much from ship to ship even within the same cruise line. And then there is such a huge plethora of information from forums such as these. It seems like such a silly question, but... where do you start??? I'd appreciate any recommendations of sites or methods in trying to get this thing underway. :o

 

 

Thank you!

[1025cruise]

First, figure out when you want to go. Then figure out where. Then talk to a travel agent who can assist you.

[OctoberSky]

I usually start looking for cruises based on dates and destination. I'm not loyal to a particular cruise line. For example, I wanted a New England cruise this summer so I could narrow searches down by destination and limit to June, July, and August. Then I basically chose based on price, the cheapest cruise that met my criteria with dates that worked.

 

Port can play a factor too. Which port is easiest for you to get to, that you'd like to visit for a day or 2, etc.

 

If money, port, destination, and dates aren't limitations to you, then I don't have any advice LOL.

 

You can start looking at a large travel site that returns results from all of the cruise lines, then once you start narrowing it down, you can go to the cruise line's website for more details.

 

Or a lot of people use a travel agent, but I like control and have never done it that way.

[Bizmark'sMom]

First, I decide where I want to go. Second, I decide when I want to go. Third, what port I want to leave from.

 

Those 3 questions will narrow down the number of cruises available. From there, pick the one that suites you best.

[Oshawapilot]

Typically, but not always (but it's generally a reasonably safe bet), the more expensive the cruise, the less of a "party" crowd you'll get, since you mention that's what you're looking for.

 

But, that said, don't discount having a little fun. Even the more fun oriented ships will have lots of places where you can go and enjoy some quiet peaceful time if you want, but I've been on cruises where the average age was >80, and it leaned too much to the other side...there was absolutely zero vibe on the ship. ;)

[perditax]

I apologize for posting such a general question, and especially if I am posting it in the wrong place. I'm sure this is something that has been addressed before, but I'm struggling to find a loose end of the knot to even start at!

 

I'm trying to plan a cruise for the first time, and there is so much information and so many options out there that I have planning paralysis. How do you even go about trying to get started? Here are our priorities:

• I know we (my husband and myself) want a balcony room
  
• We don't want a "partying" cruise
  
• We want a cruise line with a really strong record (regarding things like cruise ships functioning properly, illness outbreaks, etc.)
  
• Leaving from the US
  

I've read some reviews and hopped around to a few different websites, but there are so many different cruise lines, and then reviews seem like they vary so much from ship to ship even within the same cruise line. And then there is such a huge plethora of information from forums such as these. It seems like such a silly question, but... where do you start??? I'd appreciate any recommendations of sites or methods in trying to get this thing underway. :o

 

 

Thank you!

 

I was the same way before I booked my first cruise, and I was terrified of choosing wrong. The thing is, unless this is the only cruise you will ever go on for some reason, it's not worth driving yourself bonkers over. (Didn't stop me.)

 

Couple things:

 

--You can be on a cruise with "partiers" and not have to deal with them. (For example, large ships with separate facilities for suites, like the Haven on NCL.)

 

--How important is good food to you?

 

--Do you gamble?

 

--Care about entertainment?

 

--Want the atmosphere formal or otherwise?

 

With a little more info, people can definitely help. The only mass market lines I haven't been on are Carnival (which you do NOT want to be on right now since they are failing regulations left and right) and Holland America.

[Blwd01]

I haven’t been on my cruise yet, but when choosing I looked at all of the sites and decided on the ports of call I wanted and then spoke with a travel agent to help me narrow things down. At the end of the day she presented us with a couple of options and we went with the cruise line that had some better deals offered.

[kochleffel]

I apologize for posting such a general question, and especially if I am posting it in the wrong place. I'm sure this is something that has been addressed before, but I'm struggling to find a loose end of the knot to even start at!

 

I'm trying to plan a cruise for the first time, and there is so much information and so many options out there that I have planning paralysis. How do you even go about trying to get started? Here are our priorities:

 

 

• I know we (my husband and myself) want a balcony room
  
• We don't want a "partying" cruise
  
• We want a cruise line with a really strong record (regarding things like cruise ships functioning properly, illness outbreaks, etc.)
  
• Leaving from the US
  

I've read some reviews and hopped around to a few different websites, but there are so many different cruise lines, and then reviews seem like they vary so much from ship to ship even within the same cruise line. And then there is such a huge plethora of information from forums such as these. It seems like such a silly question, but... where do you start??? I'd appreciate any recommendations of sites or methods in trying to get this thing underway. :o

 

 

Thank you!

 

Others have written that, in general, short cruises (3 or 4 days, perhaps even 5) tend to have more of a party atmosphere than longer cruises--I suppose that they appeal to young working people who have limited time and money. Of the mainstream cruise lines, Holland America has the reputation of having a more mature clientele, maybe too mature for your taste, while Norwegian Cruise Line is thought of as having a higher percentage of families with children, during school vacations. These generalizations may not apply to a specific ship and itinerary that you might consider, and any sailing might turn out to have an atypical range of passengers.

 

The itinerary could make a difference, as well. Although people of all ages travel to all destinations, I'd expect a cruise on the Baltic Sea to have less of a party atmosphere than one in the Caribbean.

[NMLady]

First' date=' I decide where I want to go. Second, I decide when I want to go. Third, what port I want to leave from.

 

Those 3 questions will narrow down the number of cruises available. From there, pick the one that suites you best.[/quote']

 

Those are also our first three questions. Looking at ships with itinerary/timing we want leads to looking at prices.

That also helps narrow the decision.

[Gomez56]

As has been said, I looked at dates, port, and destination which narrowed my options tremendously.

As for the party crowd, think of it as a large hotel. There may be parties that you'll never be aware of.

[leaveitallbehind]

 

• We don't want a "partying" cruise
  
• We want a cruise line with a really strong record (regarding things like cruise ships functioning properly, illness outbreaks, etc.)
  

To reduce the potential for a partying cruise, avoid the short 3-4 night cruises. They tend to attract the younger partying crowds, in particular around spring break and summer periods. Sick with 7 night or longer itineraries.

 

Most mass market cruise lines have a "strong record" - that is how they got to be the market leaders that they are. These would include RCI, NCL, Celebrity, Carnival, Princess, HAL, etc. Any and all cruise lines and ships can and will have noro outbreaks from time to time. It has nothing to do with the cruise line or ships, but with passengers who are already infected prior to boarding who bring the virus on board. The ships do a very good job of sanitizing and fighting these outbreaks. Keep in mind as well that when you hear of outbreaks, the number of affected passengers and crew is usually a low few percentage with the vast majority on board unaffected

 

The ships are well maintained both while at sea and with periodic mandatory dry dock periods. Occasionally there will be a mechanical issue that can affect a ship, but with the hundreds of cruise ships sailing every week every year, the instances are very low. And rarely are any issues serious enough to affect a given itinerary. Again, the mass market lines mentioned got that way because of their reliability. So don't worry about illness on board or mechanical issues.

 

Your best bet is to contact a cruise specialist travel agent and discuss your preferences with them and let them help you plan your cruise. Enjoy your first cruise - it likely will not be your last.

[perditax]

To reduce the potential for a partying cruise, avoid the short 3-4 night cruises. They tend to attract the younger partying crowds, in particular around spring break and summer periods. Sick with 7 night or longer itineraries.

 

Most mass market cruise lines have a "strong record" - that is how they got to be the market leaders that they are. These would include RCI, NCL, Celebrity, Carnival, Princess, HAL, etc. Any and all cruise lines and ships can and will have noro outbreaks from time to time. It has nothing to do with the cruise line or ships, but with passengers who are already infected prior to boarding who bring the virus on board. The ships do a very good job of sanitizing and fighting these outbreaks. Keep in mind as well that when you hear of outbreaks, the number of affected passengers and crew is usually a low few percentage with the vast majority on board unaffected

 

The ships are well maintained both while at sea and with periodic mandatory dry dock periods. Occasionally there will be a mechanical issue that can affect a ship, but with the hundreds of cruise ships sailing every week every year, the instances are very low. And rarely are any issues serious enough to affect a given itinerary. Again, the mass market lines mentioned got that way because of their reliability. So don't worry about illness on board or mechanical issues.

 

Your best bet is to contact a cruise specialist travel agent and discuss your preferences with them and let them help you plan your cruise. Enjoy your first cruise - it likely will not be your last.

 

Carnival has four ships with very recent failed inspections. This is only one of the threads.

 

https://boards.cruisecritic.com/showthread.php?t=2590466

[leaveitallbehind]

Carnival has four ships with very recent failed inspections. This is only one of the threads.

 

https://boards.cruisecritic.com/showthread.php?t=2590466

 

I did say "most" - there are always exceptions. Trust me, I'm not a fan of Carnival but even with this report, with 25 ships in their fleet they had 84% that passed. ;) However they have also had their fair share of rather significant mechanical issues in recent years........:rolleyes:

Edited January 28, 2018 by leaveitallbehind

[Keith1010]

When I first started to cruise I was at a loss as well.

 

Where do we start?

 

We did engage a TA to help us.

 

Spoke with friends.

 

And a terrific resource I got that helped me through the process and I still use to day is a book written annually by Douglas Ward, published by Berlitz about Ocean Cruising. I get updates every few years.

 

It is a good read for a first time cruiser and a seasoned cruiser and highly recommend it.

 

This link will take you to the Amazon site if you want to consider purchasing it:

 

https://www.amazon.com/Berlitz-Cruising-Cruise-Ships-Guide/dp/1780049781/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1517133389&sr=8-1&keywords=douglas+ward

 

Back then we didn't have Cruise Critic which of course is an excellent source of information.

 

Keith

[canadjineh]

From our limited experience.... the cheaper the cruise, the more it's like being stuck in a busy mall with a few thousand Walmart people. Unfortunately, I have a champagne taste and a beer budget, so take that for what it's worth. :/

[cb at sea]

On all cruiselines/ships, if it's a 3-4 day cruise, it's going to have "partiers" boards...You don't have to partake in the partying! On weeklong or longer cruisers, you'll find a more "reasonable" crowds, as they have plenty of time to relax and have fun.

 

I agree that you need to know WHEN you want to cruise, then WHERE....and that will narrow down your choices a great deal!

 

Being on the ship is just like being in a resort hotel (albeit, with much smaller rooms!)....you will have all kinds of folks doing all kinds of things. You will simply do YOUR OWN THING.

[SRF]

Most any of the main stream cruise lines will be OK (Royal, Norwegian, Holland, even Carnival). Stay away from the short cruises, as they to be more party oriented.

 

Then:

 

1) When do you want or are able to go? (avoid spring break).

2) What port is most convenient for you? Then second most.

 

Then look at the cruises.

 

To me, especially for a first time cruiser, the destinations are the least important. All the ports visited have good and bad points. And you are there only a day anyway. And they are new to you.

 

I do suggest that you pick a cruise with a mix of port days and sea days. So you can experience both and see what YOU prefer.

 

The other option, talk to a cruise travel agent. They can work with you, ask questions, and suggest cruises.

[TravelinGert]

I apologize for posting such a general question, and especially if I am posting it in the wrong place. I'm sure this is something that has been addressed before, but I'm struggling to find a loose end of the knot to even start at!

 

I'm trying to plan a cruise for the first time, and there is so much information and so many options out there that I have planning paralysis. How do you even go about trying to get started? Here are our priorities:

• I know we (my husband and myself) want a balcony room
  
• We don't want a "partying" cruise
  
• We want a cruise line with a really strong record (regarding things like cruise ships functioning properly, illness outbreaks, etc.)
  
• Leaving from the US
  

I've read some reviews and hopped around to a few different websites, but there are so many different cruise lines, and then reviews seem like they vary so much from ship to ship even within the same cruise line. And then there is such a huge plethora of information from forums such as these. It seems like such a silly question, but... where do you start??? I'd appreciate any recommendations of sites or methods in trying to get this thing underway. :o

 

 

Thank you!

 

Some information gleaned from experience.

 

 

You probably don't want to book the maiden transatlantic voyage of a new ship in November for your first cruise. That particular cruise seems to be the bar for bad cruises here on CC.

 

 

And we still had a wonderful time and came home absolutely hooked on cruising.

 

 

Much depends on your attitude. No matter how carefully you pick and plan there will be the occasional snafu.

 

 

Decide what you want to do - for example beach cruise, Alaskan cruise, Med cruise - and pick a price point. There are agregate travel websites out there which will allow you to pick a cruise based on time of year and area such as Alaska, Caribbean, and European and they can be a good jumping off point for making a choice because you can get a wide view of the price points available there. If one looks good, come back and look at their area of CC boards and on their cruise line website examine the details on the ship. You should be able to do alright from there. Happy cruising!

[Chloesmom1]

I just wanted to reiterate the whole, "avoid short cruises" advice you've been given. We went on a 4-night cruise so we could see if cruising was something we would like and found out the hard way that short cruises tend to lean towards the whole party thing. We almost couldn't even get to the bar by the pool because of the crowd.

[CruisinFinsUp]

Lots of good advice here already. One point I didn't see is that you should read the basic info about each cruise line (not the ships - the companies that own the ships) right here on cruise critic..

 

https://www.cruisecritic.com/cruise-ships/

 

There is a list of cruise lines when you scroll down this page and each has a description of what they are all about. Read and look for something that interests you. Also, eliminate the lines that do not interest you. For example - water slides or not? Then you can at least narrow it down, then apply the dates, destination, pricing to narrow it down some more.

 

A cruise specialist travel agent will help.

 

Be careful of some cruise sale websites as they may show only the cruises they sell and not all of them. Best to check each line's website directly for best info.

 

Enjoy the planning!

[Unibok]

Just want to point out that the smaller ships are supposed to have less of a party vibe.

 

When I was trying to choose, and experiencing the same sort of overwhelm that you mention, I started with the cruise lines that had smaller ships and fewer passengers.

 

Then dates, then place.

 

Because I have a very narrow window of opportunity this spring, that got the choice down to 3 options. I chose the one with the best overall package for me: a short $200 flight to the embarkation port, a free 2-category room upgrade to a mid-ship balcony, and most shore excursions included in the fare. At that point it was a no-brainer.

 

Enjoy!

[Rockysoap]

Thank you for so many responses! This definitely helps me at least find a starting point, which is where I was floundering. I think part of my struggle is that we're flexible on most things you can "search" by (i.e., dates, cruise line, destination, etc.), and the things we care about tend to be more subtle.

 

 

--How important is good food to you?

 

--Do you gamble?

 

--Care about entertainment?

 

--Want the atmosphere formal or otherwise?

 

With a little more info, people can definitely help. The only mass market lines I haven't been on are Carnival (which you do NOT want to be on right now since they are failing regulations left and right) and Holland America.

 

In addition to what I listed before, I would say our wishlist probably goes in this order:

1. Comfortable room. I know it'll be small, so that's definitely relative. I'm not expecting a hotel room. We'll likely spend a lot of time hanging out on the balcony (we're definitely getting a balcony room) and just relaxing in the room, so it needs to be a room that is not miserable to stay in. My dream vacation is basically reading on a boat. :)
   
2. Good food where you're not being nickel-and-dimed for everything. We'd definitely prefer more of an all-inclusive setup. The food certainly doesn't have to be 5-star, but it should at least be enjoyable.
   
3. Relatively casual setup. We definitely don't want to have to dress up for dinner every night.
   
4. Decent entertainment (preferably not too vulgar - I know sometimes Carnival's entertainment is not exactly G-rated). I think we'd prefer shows as opposed to games or audience participation type events.
   
5. My husband would probably like for there to be some kind of gym or workout option.
   

We don't really have any interest in gambling. The list above is kind of my dream scenario - I know I might not get to check all of those boxes on the same cruise, and that's fine, but that's what we're looking for. :)

 

Again, I really appreciate all of the responses! I've felt like I'm stumbling around blind so far.

[Cuervosar]

I apologize for posting such a general question, and especially if I am posting it in the wrong place. I'm sure this is something that has been addressed before, but I'm struggling to find a loose end of the knot to even start at!

 

I'm trying to plan a cruise for the first time, and there is so much information and so many options out there that I have planning paralysis. How do you even go about trying to get started? Here are our priorities:

• I know we (my husband and myself) want a balcony room
  
• We don't want a "partying" cruise
  
• We want a cruise line with a really strong record (regarding things like cruise ships functioning properly, illness outbreaks, etc.)
  
• Leaving from the US
  

I've read some reviews and hopped around to a few different websites, but there are so many different cruise lines, and then reviews seem like they vary so much from ship to ship even within the same cruise line. And then there is such a huge plethora of information from forums such as these. It seems like such a silly question, but... where do you start??? I'd appreciate any recommendations of sites or methods in trying to get this thing underway. :o

 

 

Thank you!

 

Check Celebrity, Princess, Royal Carribean, Holland Ameica websites and see which “feels” better to you. They all go wherever you could possibly want to go.

 

 

Agree with you on a balcony, don’t get talked out of that.

 

 

I recommend one week minimum, the cruises we’ve enjoyed most were 14-15 days.

 

 

Then pick a destination and itinerary. If you stick with one of the 4 lines mentioned above, do a little bit of home work, or work with a travel agent, you will almost be guaranteed to have an amazing time.

 

 

If you can afford upsells, such as Celebrities Concierge Class, don’t hesitate. The little touches enhance the experience.

[Cuervosar]

Thank you for so many responses! This definitely helps me at least find a starting point, which is where I was floundering. I think part of my struggle is that we're flexible on most things you can "search" by (i.e., dates, cruise line, destination, etc.), and the things we care about tend to be more subtle.

 

 

 

In addition to what I listed before, I would say our wishlist probably goes in this order:

1. Comfortable room. I know it'll be small, so that's definitely relative. I'm not expecting a hotel room. We'll likely spend a lot of time hanging out on the balcony (we're definitely getting a balcony room) and just relaxing in the room, so it needs to be a room that is not miserable to stay in. My dream vacation is basically reading on a boat. :)
   
2. Good food where you're not being nickel-and-dimed for everything. We'd definitely prefer more of an all-inclusive setup. The food certainly doesn't have to be 5-star, but it should at least be enjoyable.
   
3. Relatively casual setup. We definitely don't want to have to dress up for dinner every night.
   
4. Decent entertainment (preferably not too vulgar - I know sometimes Carnival's entertainment is not exactly G-rated). I think we'd prefer shows as opposed to games or audience participation type events.
   
5. My husband would probably like for there to be some kind of gym or workout option.
   

We don't really have any interest in gambling. The list above is kind of my dream scenario - I know I might not get to check all of those boxes on the same cruise, and that's fine, but that's what we're looking for. :)

 

Again, I really appreciate all of the responses! I've felt like I'm stumbling around blind so far.

 

Based on this, I would steer you to Celebrity or Princess. Maybe Royal Caribbean as well, but I personally am afraid of their Mega-Ships.

 

 

Norwegian is an option, the difference will be dining. Norwegian doesn’t have set dining times/locations whereas the others offer “traditional” dining with set times.

 

 

Celebrity is our line of choice, and we’re experimenting with MSC’s Yacht Club. But honestly, If you went on Celebrity ot Princess, with a balcony (research which cabin!) for at least 7 days and the trip sucked I’d be shocked.

[Nevada Jen]

You got good advice. Since it was only mentioned once and you may not have caught it, cabin location will be important to you if you plan on hanging out on your balcony. You probably want a room with rooms above and below you. Pick a few cruises that sound good and then research that ship using the reviews here. These ships still the same itinerary many times in a row. You will likely be able to find ship reviews for your exact cruise just different days. Also, you say embarkation Port doesn't matter but it's worth checking flight costs to the port. My first cruise I only found after I booked a fare I did not know was non refundable that if I had flown into Galveston instead of Orlando I could have gotten a 3 day longer cruise and a suite with the difference in airfare! So once you pick your few that look good, check flight prices before you book.