Gwendy914 Posted August 20, 2018 #1 Share Posted August 20, 2018 I wish there was an easy way to choose a line. We're looking at cruising to Alaska next September. I'd kind of love to find just the right line for me so that I can accrue better status with one line. If any of you are good at matchmaking, I'd love your input. Here is my profile: 1. Married emptynesters in our 40s. Early to bed, early to rise. Non-smokers. Non-clubbing/dancing. We are pretty introverted and quiet. 2. Balcony a must. I like people, but crowds wear on me quickly. 3. Going in September because we prefer fewer children--we do like kids--just not that many. So we don't need an adult only vacation. 4. We like comedy shows and some variety shows. Despite being introverted, I did win a ship-on-a-stick for 80s trivia. But we don't do or need a lot of activities to keep from being bored. 5. We are vegetarians and enjoy eating well. I would not consider us foodies, but we are not big on processed foods. 6. Some kind of hydrotherapy spa is a must. (I love Carnival's thalasotherapy (sp?) pools but they are such a boisterous line.) 7. When we get unlimited beverage things, we use most of it on good coffee drinks because I'm a coffee snob. Hubs does like brandy in the evenings. But we don't hang out in the bar areas for long. 8. No need for waterslides and the like. Would prefer midsize ship without all the exciting features. I enjoy everything about being on the ocean and want as few distractions from it as I can get. 9. I think we sound like we're about 30 years older than we are. 10. We've done the formal thing a couple times and no longer want to pack the extra outfits. Would prefer not to have assigned dining, although I do enjoy getting to know my tablemates. I just don't like having a set time to eat. 11. If we could afford the smaller lines, we'd probably love those the best. At this time, our budget is under 5k. Seattle roundtrip is best for us because then we don't have to fly. 12. Choosing Alaska trip for the nature, not the adventure. Who would you set me up with if you were making a match? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
caribsun Posted August 20, 2018 #2 Share Posted August 20, 2018 Princess ! :) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
matadams4u Posted August 20, 2018 #3 Share Posted August 20, 2018 Princess or holland America would be good bets. Vancouver would be less expensive and you could wait for a last minute deal. Sent from my iPhone using Forums Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare Got2Cruise Posted August 20, 2018 #4 Share Posted August 20, 2018 Celebrity. Look into the Aqua Class which includes a special “healthy” restaurant for Aqua Class only. Great solarium pool. After Alaska many other wonderful itineraries to chose from. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sykimball1498 Posted August 20, 2018 #5 Share Posted August 20, 2018 I also vote for Celebrity. We recently (last summer) did an Alaskan cruise on the Solstice. It was a round trip from Seattle. We were in Aqua Class and enjoyed it very much, access both to the Persian Gardens and Blu were great. The food was very good and I believe they have full vegetarian menus if you let them know you need one. However, there is a solarium on Celebrity but the pool is not heated on S-class ships. If you want a heated pool (can't spell the darned name so I just call it a heated pool...LOL), then the M-class ships like Millennium or Infinity will have one of the heated pools. Are you planning on next year? If so, I don't think they will have the M-class in Alaska. They look to only have S-class ships so no heated pool, although the Solarium is plenty warm for sitting or going for a dip. It also has 2 indoor hot tubs for you to use. I believe they will have the Solstice and Eclipse in Alaska for Celebrity next September. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
57redbird Posted August 20, 2018 #6 Share Posted August 20, 2018 Holland Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare Roz Posted August 20, 2018 #7 Share Posted August 20, 2018 Why would Vancouver be less expensive? :confused: Roz Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
beachbum53 Posted August 20, 2018 #8 Share Posted August 20, 2018 I would suggest that you go talk to an experienced cruise agent in your area. He / she will try to match you up with a cruise line that best suits your interests. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PROCRUISE Posted August 20, 2018 #9 Share Posted August 20, 2018 Would also suggest Celebrity and Holland America. Cruising into or out of Vancouver, I believe, offers inside passage which is quite stunning. I don't know if it is within your budget but we did the one week by land/ one week by sea with Holland America in Alaska and it was phenomenal. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Heidi13 Posted August 20, 2018 #10 Share Posted August 20, 2018 I wish there was an easy way to choose a line. We're looking at cruising to Alaska next September. I'd kind of love to find just the right line for me so that I can accrue better status with one line. If any of you are good at matchmaking, I'd love your input. Here is my profile: 1. Married emptynesters in our 40s. Early to bed, early to rise. Non-smokers. Non-clubbing/dancing. We are pretty introverted and quiet. 2. Balcony a must. I like people, but crowds wear on me quickly. All cabins have a balcony - No inside cabins. Viking ships have significantly higher pax/space rations (55) compared to most mainstream line ships (low/mid 30's) 3. Going in September because we prefer fewer children--we do like kids--just not that many. So we don't need an adult only vacation. Viking have few if any kids on any cruise 4. We like comedy shows and some variety shows. Despite being introverted, I did win a ship-on-a-stick for 80s trivia. But we don't do or need a lot of activities to keep from being bored. Viking's focus is on the culture of places visited, although the do provide a show/performer every night. No casino, no annoying photogs, no art shows, no shopping demos. Ships have a resident historian or astronomer. 5. We are vegetarians and enjoy eating well. I would not consider us foodies, but we are not big on processed foods. Meals are excellent quality and both specialised restaurants are free. 6. Some kind of hydrotherapy spa is a must. (I love Carnival's thalasotherapy (sp?) pools but they are such a boisterous line.) Spa services (massages, etc) cost extra, but the spa pool, hydro pool and ice room are free 7. When we get unlimited beverage things, we use most of it on good coffee drinks because I'm a coffee snob. Hubs does like brandy in the evenings. But we don't hang out in the bar areas for long. Beer & wine free at lunch & dinner + specialty tea/coffee/bottled water free at all times. 8. No need for waterslides and the like. Would prefer midsize ship without all the exciting features. I enjoy everything about being on the ocean and want as few distractions from it as I can get. No waterslides, ice rinks, etc. All ships are 930 passengers 9. I think we sound like we're about 30 years older than we are. 10. We've done the formal thing a couple times and no longer want to pack the extra outfits. Would prefer not to have assigned dining, although I do enjoy getting to know my tablemates. I just don't like having a set time to eat. No formal evenings, every evening is smart/elegant casual (no shorts and/or jeans) 11. If we could afford the smaller lines, we'd probably love those the best. At this time, our budget is under 5k. Seattle roundtrip is best for us because then we don't have to fly. They depart from Vancouver and suspect they are over 5K, but ZERO nickle & diming. Unlimited wi-fi is included, as is self-service laundry. 12. Choosing Alaska trip for the nature, not the adventure. With Viking it is all about the culture Who would you set me up with if you were making a match? Until reading line 11 and reading your budget, every point you make is more consistent with a premium line such as Viking or Oceania, rather than the mainstream lines. I have included comments in red as to how Viking may meet you needs. However, I believe Viking is fully booked, or almost fully booked for 2019 already. Now working on 2020. If your budget only extend to a mainstream line - I would probably consider HAL or Celebrity. Good luck finding a cruise that meets your needs. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gwendy914 Posted August 20, 2018 Author #11 Share Posted August 20, 2018 You guys are all amazing. Thank you. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gwendy914 Posted August 21, 2018 Author #12 Share Posted August 21, 2018 We ended up choosing Celebrity. Thank you for the matchmaking services. The Aqua class stateroom will be perfect and I remembered we were on Celebrity another time and felt less bombarded. Thank you again all who helped me. I think HAL and Princess would also be good matches. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare LHT28 Posted August 21, 2018 #13 Share Posted August 21, 2018 you may like Oceania once you include all the extras you pay for on other lines it is not that much more for the premium lines Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare Got2Cruise Posted August 21, 2018 #14 Share Posted August 21, 2018 We ended up choosing Celebrity. Thank you for the matchmaking services. The Aqua class stateroom will be perfect and I remembered we were on Celebrity another time and felt less bombarded. Thank you again all who helped me. I think HAL and Princess would also be good matches. Another great thing about Celebrity — Cafe Baccio. If you get the standard drink package, cafe Baccio coffee drinks are included. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
George C Posted August 21, 2018 #15 Share Posted August 21, 2018 Celebrity is best line for non smoker Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JMorris271 Posted August 21, 2018 #16 Share Posted August 21, 2018 Celebrity was a nice match for us and have pretty much the same criteria as yours. Viking worked best for is. Scrampling kids and lower noise factors were a big plus on Viking. Enjoy your cruise. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AmberCascades Posted August 21, 2018 #17 Share Posted August 21, 2018 Not a flowchart, but I always recommend the Ports of Call books (Alaska Ports of Call, Caribbean Ports of Call, etc.). They describe each line, the ship culture, amenities, dress code, etc. They also describe the ports to help you choose itineraries. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gwendy914 Posted August 21, 2018 Author #18 Share Posted August 21, 2018 you may like Oceania once you include all the extras you pay for on other lines it is not that much more for the premium lines I'll keep them in mind for next time. Thank you. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare LHT28 Posted August 21, 2018 #19 Share Posted August 21, 2018 I'll keep them in mind for next time. Thank you. You will probably enjoy them No extra charge for ANY non alcoholic beverages no package required :) Enjoy exploring the different lines Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gwendy914 Posted August 21, 2018 Author #20 Share Posted August 21, 2018 I've been hanging out in the Celebrity threads today and I think this is going to be a good move. I can't thank you all enough for reading my long laundry list and helping me make sense of what I was looking for. The Blu restaurant sounds like exactly what we were hoping for when it came to food on the other lines. And if I'm not out looking for bears or petting sledding dogs, I will be found in Persian Gardens for sure. Now I just have to wait A WHOLE YEAR. lol Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GUT2407 Posted August 21, 2018 #21 Share Posted August 21, 2018 I’d say Celebrity or Princess. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Heidi13 Posted August 22, 2018 #22 Share Posted August 22, 2018 Celebrity is best line for non smoker Not sure what other cruise lines you are using for a comparison, but many ships are now mostly non-smoking. From what I read, Celebrity permits smoking in a couple of areas on the outer decks. Viking Ocean ships are completely non-smoking except for 1 small area on the outer decks. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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