If the price was exactly the same,who would you choose?

[Thad409]

I'm just wondering if price was the same across the board on a booking. Out of all the lines who would you choose . I Cant really compare We've  only been on 1 RC back in 2006 and 7 past CCL and another booked on Glory 2020. If price wasn't a issue Id like to try NCL and maybe RC again. But with a growing family I wish price wasn't a issue when it came to booking but to stay with the cabin class that we prefer and the total days we like to cruise its is. Just  curious.

[Bases5]

Wynstar Viking or Crystal 

[keywest1]

Hands down, I'd choose RCCL.  Entertainment was a notch better than NCL and much better than Carnival, IMO.  But the other two lines had their strengths as well.  In order to cruise as often as we can, I have to chase the deals.  At the moment, MSC is way cheaper, so we are sailing on them next summer.  Some cruises have been better than others, but we haven't had a bad cruise or a truly bad ship--just a couple that would have to be close to free before we would choose them again.  

We are laid back folks who don't enjoy dressing up, so I think the higher end lines would be a poor fit for us.

 

Edited August 12, 2019 by keywest1

[Tapi]

Among the mass market cruise lines: 

 

1) Celebrity 

2) Royal

3) Princess

4) MSC

5) Norwegian

6) Carnival

 

If price were truly the same across ANY line, including premium and luxury, I wouldn’t even be looking at the cruise lines listed above. I’d be looking at Ritz Carlton, Seabourn, Regent, Scenic, Silversea or Viking. I also have my eyes on the new Virgin Voyages. So many cruise lines, so little time (or money 😂).

 

 

Edited August 12, 2019 by Tapi

[Darcy03231]

If the choices are between Carnival, Royal and Norwegian, I'd cruise Norwegian.   After our last Royal cruise I highly doubt I'd get DH to set foot on another Royal ship.   

[sprint180]

Been on CCL, Royal NCL, and Princess.   I never want to go on Royal again (but I will if my family did, but they didn't like it either)  so my choice would be NCL.  It fits our family well.

[Cruise Raider]

23 minutes ago, Tapi said:

Among the mass market cruise lines: 

 

1) Celebrity 

2) Royal

3) Princess

4) MSC

5) Norwegian

6) Carnival

 

If price were truly the same across ANY line, including premium and luxury, I wouldn’t even be looking at the cruise lines listed above. I’d be looking at Ritz Carlton, Seabourn, Regent, Scenic, Silversea or Viking. I also have my eyes on the new Virgin Voyages. So many cruise lines, so little time (or money 😂).

 

 

 

I pretty much agree with you on the listing above but having never sailed on MSC, I can't judge.  There were things I really liked about Norwegian that might give her a tie with Royal and Princess ... but, Celebrity is also #1 in my book.  

 

[babsee101]

I am going to have to say NCL. Dressing casual is important to us, so we prefer to stick with the lines that don't frown on it. While Carnival and NCL are similar in a lot of ways,  I really like the lack of constant annoying announcements (most of which you can't understand) that drive me crazy on Carnival. Still cruise Carnival because we live close to Galveston port and it fits our budget. Other that NCL and Carnival, I have only been on Princess. Very nice but at least back in 2005, not so casual.

[cruisemom42]

If we're truly talking "all" lines, then I'd pick one of the premium or luxury lines that normally charges a 200% solo supplement -- probably Oceania or Viking but maybe Crystal or Seabourne or Regent. Which one I'd pick would depend on the itinerary offered.

[Heidi13]

For us it is most definitely Viking Ocean - no kids, no casino, no formal nights, no annoying photogs, bring unlimited samples of beer/wine aboard and the waiters/barman will open & serve with no corkage, etc.

Edited August 12, 2019 by Heidi13

[Tapi]

1 hour ago, Cruise Raider said:

I pretty much agree with you on the listing above but having never sailed on MSC, I can't judge. 

 

I’ve sailed on MSC twice. First time was so so,  but the second time was absolutely phenomenal. The ship (Meraviglia) was amazing, in my opinion second in wow factor to Royal’s Oasis class. Pricing was very competitive. It was SO affordable that I decided to splurge and book a 2 deck, loft style suite with a long list of perks. It was actually cheaper than a standard balcony stateroom on another cruise line! I couldn’t believe it.  

 

The main thing to know about MSC is that they have different classes of service, from Bella (bare bones), Fantástica, Aurea, to The Yacht Club (top of the line), so the experience can vary greatly depending on how much you’re willing to spend. But overall, we had an absolutely memorable cruise and wouldn’t hesitate to sail on them again. 

[leaveitallbehind]

It would depend on itinerary, and to some degree ship and time of year, but it would be Celebrity, then RCI. (But it would never be Carnival!)

Edited August 12, 2019 by leaveitallbehind

[lenquixote66]

The most enjoyable cruise ever for us was a Cunard cruise.I would like to do another.

[ldubs]

This is an interesting question.   A choice is just not that clear cut to me.   Maybe have to factor in the ship too.   

 

Hmmm, I just don't know.   

[Thad409]

33 minutes ago, Tapi said:

I’ve sailed on MSC twice. First time was so so,  but the second time was absolutely phenomenal. The ship (Meraviglia) was amazing, in my opinion second in wow factor to Royal’s Oasis class. Pricing was very competitive. It was SO affordable that I decided to splurge and book a 2 deck, loft style suite with a long list of perks. It was actually cheaper than a standard balcony stateroom on another cruise line! I couldn’t believe it.  

 

The main thing to know about MSC is that they have different classes of service, from Bella (bare bones), Fantástica, Aurea, to The Yacht Club (top of the line), so the experience can vary greatly depending on how much you’re willing to spend. But overall, we had an absolutely memorable cruise and wouldn’t hesitate to sail on them again. 

On MSC if you book Bella are you limited to certain things on the ship or is there just a additional fee for the things that may come with a different class booked.

[Tapi]

9 minutes ago, Thad409 said:

On MSC if you book Bella are you limited to certain things on the ship or is there just a additional fee for the things that may come with a different class booked.

Bella’s cabin locations are the least desirable (they may be above a lounge for example). Also you are at the bottom of the list for dining assignment and you can’t select flexible times. You also have to pay for room service. Fantástica bumps up to better cabin location, selected dining time and free room service. The perks really start adding up with Aurea (which we had). On this class of service you get a complimentary drink package, priority embarkation, access to a private solarium deck, free massages, free access to the Aurea thermal suite, and a dedicated section of the MDR with open seating. The Yacht Club is (literally) a world apart, with a private ship within a ship concept, and a butler among all other perks. 

[dmrrn73]

Out of Cruise lines I have been on, I would have to go hands down Celebrity if price was the same (and affordable) across the board.

[DarrenM]

Celebrity. It's the only one I have been on but I loved it and have booked again.

 

Luxury without the need to feel like you have to show everyone else how wealthy you are.

[crystalspin]

4 hours ago, Heidi13 said:

For us it is most definitely Viking Ocean - no kids, no casino, no formal nights, no annoying photogs, bring unlimited samples of beer/wine aboard and the waiters/barman will open & serve with no corkage, etc.

This sounds interesting! If itinerary was right, we would try this. But the Gala Nights on HAL are not burdensome anymore, and we don't miss most of the things that have been cut... we do think they are short-sighted for a company that wants to be in the business in future years. I've booked Princess a few times, but something always caused us to cancel. They too are making cuts that make no sense.

 

Sorta reminds me of my former corporate employer, which cut and cut and sold off anything that made money, and then closed our facility. Hmm... 

[DarrenM]

But most corporations havent got the sense they were born with. Its all about profit, and more of it year on year. And nothing else.

 

So they just do anything they can to make a bit more moey than they did the year before.

 

Proof? A supermarket chain in the UK put out a profit warning last year. In essence they were going to make £200million profit instead of £250million. The stock market took this as an admission of failure, Share holders dividends were down, so the only thing left was to close stores and lose many people their jobs.

 

But hey the shareholders greed for cash needed to be fed.

 

£200m pound profit in year just isnt enough for some.

[ilikeanswers]

If price really was the same amoung all the cruise lines I would be doing all the expedition cruises I could do till I wasn't physically able😎

[geoherb]

Of the major cruise lines, my order of preference would be:

1. Princess
2. Holland America
3. Celebrity
4. Royal Caribbean
5. Carnival
6. Norwegian

We've sailed more on Princess than the others combined, so the past passenger perks do come into play when making a decision. It's hard to give up free laundry and internet minutes, but I will when the price is right.

[DirtyDawg]

If price really wasn't a factor I wouldn't be caught dead on any Mass Market or Luxury cruise line. 

I'd be sailing on a private yacht with just enough room for my family , friends, and enough crew to pamper to our every whim. There won't even be enough cabins for the in-laws 😁. 

Edited August 12, 2019 by DirtyDawg

[DirtyDawg]

4 hours ago, DarrenM said:

But most corporations havent got the sense they were born with. Its all about profit, and more of it year on year. And nothing else.

 

So they just do anything they can to make a bit more moey than they did the year before.

 

Proof? A supermarket chain in the UK put out a profit warning last year. In essence they were going to make £200million profit instead of £250million. The stock market took this as an admission of failure, Share holders dividends were down, so the only thing left was to close stores and lose many people their jobs.

 

But hey the shareholders greed for cash needed to be fed.

 

£200m pound profit in year just isnt enough for some.

 

Hi Darren,

What's so bad about a business trying to maximize the profits for it's owners, the shareholders? 

If I could invest the same in two companies, one making 200 million pounds, and the other 400 million pounds I'd invest in the latter, so would most people.

[pris993]

2 hours ago, geoherb said:

Of the major cruise lines, my order of preference would be:

1. Princess
2. Holland America
3. Celebrity
4. Royal Caribbean
5. Carnival
6. Norwegian

We've sailed more on Princess than the others combined, so the past passenger perks do come into play when making a decision. It's hard to give up free laundry and internet minutes, but I will when the price is right.

for us it is Princess, HAL, Cunard... we have most cruises with Princess too, elite on both Princess and Celebrity... but don't see Celebrity in our top three for some time... newer Celebrity ships are like the newer Princess ships.... something missing for us.  We prefer Grand class over Royal class on Princess