Question for experienced river *and* ocean cruisers

[bubbulz]

I know we get a lot of questions on this board from experienced ocean cruisers who are looking at trying a river cruise for the first time. My husband and I are kind of the opposite and I'm looking for a bit of advice. We've never had any inclination to take a cruise on one of the large ships, but we're now starting to look at options for a Mediterranean cruise. We really don't want something with hundreds of other passengers so I've started looking at Windstar as one option. I'd appreciate any other suggestions you all might have. For river cruises, we've stuck to Uniworld's super ships and definitely would want to stick with a more upscale option if we do a Mediterranean cruise. The other thing I'm curious about is extras ... What is normally not included? I'm assuming that there would be more costs for tours, drinks, laundry, tips, taxes. Is that correct? Anything else I should know? Thanks for any tips!

[caripoo]

You can also look at Regent, Seabourn, Viking might be to large for you....Azamara is another, about 700 passengers. Some will be all inclusive, some you will pay for excursions, and some will include most alcohol...Part of the fun is in the planning....All will have great Med choices.

[SpringBreakMom]

Not sure if you wanted to avoid hundreds in general, or just on tours.  I have done two Med cruises both on the larger lines (Celebrity was my favorite!).  For us, the key to an amazing experience was arranging private tours.  I never went on one arranged by the cruise line.  As the ships are so much larger, there are usually active roll calls for each sailing.  I made lots of friends there and we all filled out private tours with people on our roll call.  Typical tour size was about ten people.  It was no more expensive that taking the ships tours, but it does take a lot of planning and research up front.  For me it was worth every minute!!!  

One tour on the Amalfi Coast I have done twice.  After our tour we visited our drivers family compound which has been there since the 1600's.  We had bread his mom made, along with homemade salami and limoncello.  Our group all agreed that this day was one of the top highlights of our cruise.

 

Whatever you decide, enjoy! 

[bubbulz]

Terrific feedback. Thank you both very much. Ideally, we are looking for a ship holding no more than about 250-300 passengers. I’m big on the trip planning end of things so arranging for private tours sounds like the way for us to go. 

 

ETA: Is a max of several hundred passengers a realistic expectation? Thx. 

Edited February 22, 2019 by bubbulz

[acwmom]

39 minutes ago, bubbulz said:

I know we get a lot of questions on this board from experienced ocean cruisers who are looking at trying a river cruise for the first time. My husband and I are kind of the opposite and I'm looking for a bit of advice. We've never had any inclination to take a cruise on one of the large ships, but we're now starting to look at options for a Mediterranean cruise. We really don't want something with hundreds of other passengers so I've started looking at Windstar as one option. I'd appreciate any other suggestions you all might have. For river cruises, we've stuck to Uniworld's super ships and definitely would want to stick with a more upscale option if we do a Mediterranean cruise. The other thing I'm curious about is extras ... What is normally not included? I'm assuming that there would be more costs for tours, drinks, laundry, tips, taxes. Is that correct? Anything else I should know? Thanks for any tips!

We will be sailing on Viking Star in 6 weeks, doing the Empires of the Mediterranean, from Athens to Venice. Inclusions seem to mirror their river cruises, one included excursion in each port, beer/wine at lunch and dinner. Port fees and specialty restaurants are included. Wifi is included. We plan to upgrade to their Silver Spirits beverage package for $20/person/day, and gratuities are additional as well. 

For excursions, we chose an additional one on Santorini, and have arranged for 2 independent ones (for less than Viking would have charged) We are usually very content with the included excursions that Uniworld offers, and I'm sure the Viking ones would be fine, but we wanted to cram more into the day then would be possible with their larger tours.

What attracted us to their Ocean product was the fact that the concept was very much like river cruising, with regard to the inclusions/excursions. We also like that there is no casino, no photographers, and no children.

If you're not in a hurry to book, I plan on doing one of my reviews/blogs upon my return.

 

Robin

[bubbulz]

2 minutes ago, acwmom said:

We will be sailing on Viking Star in 6 weeks, doing the Empires of the Mediterranean, from Athens to Venice. Inclusions seem to mirror their river cruises, one included excursion in each port, beer/wine at lunch and dinner. Port fees and specialty restaurants are included. Wifi is included. We plan to upgrade to their Silver Spirits beverage package for $20/person/day, and gratuities are additional as well. 

For excursions, we chose an additional one on Santorini, and have arranged for 2 independent ones (for less than Viking would have charged) We are usually very content with the included excursions that Uniworld offers, and I'm sure the Viking ones would be fine, but we wanted to cram more into the day then would be possible with their larger tours.

What attracted us to their Ocean product was the fact that the concept was very much like river cruising, with regard to the inclusions/excursions. We also like that there is no casino, no photographers, and no children.

If you're not in a hurry to book, I plan on doing one of my reviews/blogs upon my return.

 

Robin

Thanks! I’m just starting research so will definitely watch for your review. 

[acwmom]

3 minutes ago, bubbulz said:

Thanks! I’m just starting research so will definitely watch for your review. 

When I finished my response, I realized you wanted a much smaller ship. I have read that Viking never feels like a bigger ship, because of how they have designed their interior spaces. Time will tell!

 

Robin

[bubbulz]

Preference is smaller at this point but I’m not ruling anything out yet! Thanks. 

[Host Jazzbeau]

Another option to consider is Ponant.  They have some very interesting itineraries and their ships hold only 184-264 passengers.  We haven't sailed with them yet, but have Iceland [this summer] and New Zealand [next spring] booked.

 

It doesn't sound like it would appeal to you, but technically the MSC Yacht Club ship-within-a-ship sort of fits the size you are looking for, and the YC restaurant has been getting very good reviews.  You are on a huge mega ship, but the Butlers will escort you everywhere and cut all the lines.

[bubbulz]

Thanks! I will check them out. I appreciate all of the feedback. 

[Got2Cruise]

We sailed Regent on the Mediterranean last summer and loved it. Even though the ship, Voyager, holds 700 pax you’d never know it. It’s totally all inclusive including business class air unless you want to use your own and then receive a sizeable credit. Excursions, gratuities, transfers, alcoholic beverages, specialty restaurants all included in the price. The cabins are large with large bathrooms and verandas. We looked into Windstar and I don’t believe the cabins are large or have verandas. 

[bubbulz]

20 minutes ago, Got2Cruise said:

We sailed Regent on the Mediterranean last summer and loved it. Even though the ship, Voyager, holds 700 pax you’d never know it. It’s totally all inclusive including business class air unless you want to use your own and then receive a sizeable credit. Excursions, gratuities, transfers, alcoholic beverages, specialty restaurants all included in the price. The cabins are large with large bathrooms and verandas. We looked into Windstar and I don’t believe the cabins are large or have verandas. 

Thanks! Will check it out. Sounds great!

[jeb_bud]

Our first cruise was a river cruise on Scenic. We chose Scenic for the combination of casual atmosphere and all-inclusive cruising. 

 

We enjoyed our river cruise and decided to do an Alaska cruise. We don’t like crowds so we focused on smaller ships, again looking for an all-inclusive experience. We settled on Regent and enjoyed the cruise immensely. Most Regent ships are in the 700 to 750 passenger range but as Got2Cruise said, it didn’t feel crowded. 

 

We we will be cruising the Med with Regent this April. 

[jklc123]

We also enjoyed a sort of Med cruise on Regent's Voyager, Venice to Istanbul. Enjoyed it very much. I agree, it didn't feel as crowded as the other larger ocean ships we've sailed on. Had to tender in several places, which does require a bit of a wait, but all was well coordinated with staggered times to board a tender.

[bubbulz]

Thanks! Definitely checking out Regent. 👍

[jpalbny]

Silversea. It's upscale, and includes a lot more than many ocean lines. Drinks are included (see below), two specialty restaurants are included (more on the bigger ships), tips are included. We came to Uniworld from SS and find the lines quite similar. Silversea has free laundry rooms for passenger use, or you can send it out from your room for a fee. But once you get 100 days at sea with them - free laundry! Just made it on our November 2017 cruise!

 

If the Silver Wind is still doing Med cruises it's a 296 pax ship and it's all-inclusive except for excursions, one specialty restaurant, and the connoisseur's list (higher-end wines for purchase if you want). I say if, because Wind is being converted to an expedition ship and its future destinations are not entirely clear now. But we just did our last SS cruise on Silver Wind (trip report in my signature) and we loved it, as we have loved the other 10 SS cruises we've taken.

 

Their next-biggest ships are Shadow and Whisper (have never been a SS vessel that big) which hold I think 360 pax. Spirit and Muse are 500-600 range. More dining options on the larger ships. Come over to the SS boards and check it out. We are usually friendly... unless you start a thread about tipping or the dress code! 

Edited February 23, 2019 by jpalbny

[texasstar]

We have taken 4 Windstar cruises and love the line.  We prefer the "sailing ships, the Wind Star, Spirit, or the Surf.  The Wind Star and Surf cover the Mediterrean and the Spirit is mainly in Tahiti.  The Star and Spirit hold around 150 passengers and the surf 300.  The yacht ships hold 200 currently, but are undergoing a renovation (split and add rooms).  The rooms on the yachts are all suites and much larger than the sailing ships, but we prefer the ambiance on the sailing ships.  The staff is exceptional on all ships.  They are able to go to destinations that larger ships can not go to.  I usually book our excursions privately because I think the ships excursions are expensive, and I prefer a more personalized experience.  If you are thinking of visiting Greece, Windstar is a wonderful choice.  You can't beat a deck BBQ while docked in the caldera of Santorini.  I suggest looking at the Windstar site.  It may not be as upscale as you prefer, but it is a great low-key  choice.  

 

[Host Jazzbeau]

I have looked at Windstar from time to time as some friends really loved it, but the sailing ships have small cabins with no balconies.  The non-sailing ships are old ex-Seabourn ships – but the renovation sounds like a really good plan to bring them up to modern standards:  not just adding more cabins [capacity goes from 212 to 312, still pretty small] but also more crew cabins to keep the ratio at 1.5 to 1, two additional dining venues, other new or enlarged public spaces, and complete replacement of the engines with modern environmentally-friendly types.  I will have to put them on my radar.  

https://www.cruiseindustrynews.com/cruise-news/19952-windstar-to-stretch-three-ships-in-250-million-refurbishment.html

[4774Papa]

We have done river and ocean cruises.  Very different experience.  River cruises usually have about 150 passengers, you get to know many of them on your cruise.  Getting on and off the ship is easy and it is fun to sit on the deck of the river boat and watch the scenery.  Most river cruises are close to all inclusive ( wine with your lunch and dinner), but ocean cruises you have to book your own excursions or private tours.

 

Both experiences are great.  We prefer Celebrity, and like their ships which are not mega ships.

 

If you do a river cruise compare Vantage World Travel with others like Uniworld, Viking, Scenic, AMA and others.  We love Vantage and it usually beats the other in prices.

[Lois R]

I agree with JP suggestion of Silversea.  After many years of sailing the big ships I tried SS for the first time in 2017 and then sailed with them again last year.  The passenger count is more than your 250-300 but I have to say, I LOVE THE LINE

One ship I sailed was 400 and the other 500.  Plenty of space, no lines, wonderful food, service, ambiance and both itineraries were Europe...…..overall, fabulous cruises.

[Lois R]

I forgot to post that I have been on 1 River cruise on AMA...…...I loved it too...….about 125 people were on my sailing so yes, much smaller in size but I love Ocean cruising too much to give it up

[Peregrina651]

I have two thoughts for you. First, I think that part of your decision process should be looking at where you want to cruise to and then look at who can get you there. Second, if you are interested in a quick overview of why you try Viking, check out this thread

Tell Me Why.....

[AllisonJames]

The Windstar ships are interesting — they used to be the Seabourn “triplets” and we we were on the Legend years ago.  10,000 tons, about 200 or so guests and very large staterooms so they might be a very good choice for you and not feel overwhelming after river boats.  We are big Azamara fans, we find the ships to be a nice size to have a variety of amenities, never really feel crowded, very friendly guests and officers, low-key, country club casual, boutique hotel atmosphere.  We also did the Med on Viking Star last year and loved the new-build ship, the spa, the three pools (two inside) and although it’s about 900 guests it didn’t feel really crowded even during a sold-out holiday cruise.  Viking includes tours which is a good value, but not a full beverage package, and gratuities are also extra.  I don’t think you can go wrong with any of these just find a time and itinerary that works for you and a fare you are willing to pay!

[bubbulz]

Wow! Thank you all for the great suggestions! Lots of research to do for sure! Have added Silversea to the growing list! Also, a friend of mine just returned from a Windstar cruise and absolutely loved it. Never realized there'd be so many good choices!

[philw1776]

Silversea is an excellent cruise line with ~630 passengers in their largest ships.  Done the Med with them & loved it.  All inclusive cocktails & wine choices. They DO require more formal dress, e.g. suit coats for men in several venues. 

But my favorite is the 930 passenger Viking Ocean ships.  I've sat upstairs in the 2 level glass Explorer Lounge after dinner...alone.  The ship has lots of places to go and the only crowds I've encountered is a stampede to The Restaurant at 6PM.  :)  Plenty of other dining venues aboard without a 5 minute wait.

Sailing Silversea to Alaska in August. 

Edited February 24, 2019 by philw1776