Should I try another cruise line?

[icat2000]

If you want something similar or slightly better than RCL and not wanting to travel to Sydney then your going to have to consider Princess and only during a short period of October to March when its ported in Melbourne. You will be limited to were you go with most of the cruises either going to NZ, or down South Australia away or occassional run up the coast to North Queensland or South Pacific.

 

Melbourne is really being burnt at the moment with the lack of variety of cruiselines. Even Princess 2024/2025 schedule is poor. Going to have to factor in flights to Sydney if you want variety.

 

Plus factors with Carnival or Princess is no USD on board when cruising out of Australia. That might help.

 

I cruise Princess or Carnival mainly. But I have cruised RCL, Celebrity, PO UK and PO Australia. I didn't see the fuss about RCL. Celebrity I liked very much both were overseas cruises but out of Australia I find their pricing STEEP. I actually loved PO UK. But I haven't seen them down this way. And last cruise I took was them was out of venice 14 nights. One of the best cruises I've ever experienced.

 

However, flights are really expensive at the moment for overseas.

Edited May 7, 2023 by icat2000

[cruise_critical]

I'm (young family with 2 boys 13 ,16) a newbie with only 2 RCCL Ovation cruises thus far, with a Quantum cruise booked for next year, but I recently looked around and booked a Princess cruise for end of this year as well as it was just so cheap with the recent Kids Free Sale (which applies to 3rd and 4th adults also like with RCCL).

 

Royal Princess cruise was only $4598 for 4 in a Balcony for 13 nights Fiji/Vanuatu in Dec. (only $353/night) In comparison, my previous Ovation (and upcoming Quantum) cruises (all booked during cheapest Kids Sail Free sale) was around $550/night for balcony. >50% more expensive! What I've also noticed is that the alcohol drink packages + WiFI (when bundled with Plus or Premier) on Princess is significantly cheaper (like nearly half price) than even the black friday sale prices on RCCL so that was a nice surprise as well. 

 

I'm definitely in the exploring various cruise lines stage atm. But I do want to become at least a Diamond on RCCL as it seems to have some really nice perks. (4 free drinks a day! lol) (just 3-4 more cruises then I'll be there)

Edited May 7, 2023 by cruise_critical

[cruiser3775]

I am relatively new to cruising, but I've caught the bug, so this year I'm trying out several different cruise lines.   I choose the itinerary first, then the possible dates. I can't afford the top of the line companies, so I've been booking the middle level.

A lot depends for me on what you get for the price.  I like that Princess uses Australian dollars for cruises out of Australia. When everything onboard is priced in US dollars, it makes problems for Australians with our weaker currency. HAL uses US dollars. However, I took a package on a recent HAL cruise that included some shore excursions and drinks and internet, and that meant I spend virtually nothing on board that wasn't already covered.

[mr walker]

16 hours ago, arxcards said:

Loyalty is a strange thing. I would think that brand loyalty should come from loving their product, but now with commercialised loyalty schemes it seems loyalty can be bought with the ambition of achieving a few free drinks at the bar, or getting free mini-spirit bottles & free laundry.

We had no knowledge of loyalty schemes etc when we booked our first cruise in 2011 & had chosen RC based purely on the itinerary, and expectation that this would possibly be our only cruise - a special event for our 30th anniversary. The next two cruises came as music charter cruises which were coincidentally on RC ships. I guess we just liked the RC product and booked a couple more, never expecting to climb the C&A ladder. We then did in 2014 34N B2B2B on Rhapsody (Alaska, Hawaii, Pacific) & almost by accident we were in sight of Diamond.

 

In between our 15 RC cruises we have also done 2 Carnival & 1 Princess (& even a 4N Yasawa Is cruise in Fiji) & enjoyed them all. Our next 3 cruises are P&O, RC (music charter) & Princess.

Our first option going forward is likely to be RC but we will choose based on itinerary & price as  we find them. 

[mr walker]

16 hours ago, arxcards said:

 

Edit: doubled up!

Edited May 8, 2023 by mr walker
duplicate

[arxcards]

3 hours ago, mr walker said:

We had no knowledge of loyalty schemes etc when we booked our first cruise in 2011 & had chosen RC based purely on the itinerary, and expectation that this would possibly be our only cruise - a special event for our 30th anniversary. The next two cruises came as music charter cruises which were coincidentally on RC ships. I guess we just liked the RC product and booked a couple more, never expecting to climb the C&A ladder. We then did in 2014 34N B2B2B on Rhapsody (Alaska, Hawaii, Pacific) & almost by accident we were in sight of Diamond.

 

In between our 15 RC cruises we have also done 2 Carnival & 1 Princess (& even a 4N Yasawa Is cruise in Fiji) & enjoyed them all. Our next 3 cruises are P&O, RC (music charter) & Princess.

Our first option going forward is likely to be RC but we will choose based on itinerary & price as  we find them. 

Like most of us, when booking the first it was going somewhere you wanted to go based on a cruise line brochure/web page or a friend's recommendation. From most I have chatted with over the years, if they enjoyed their first cruise, they tend to stick with the line/ship. If they hated it, they tend to end up hating everything cruising. 

 

My point is that once reaching a loyalty status, it is harder to change camps. For us, if we are travelling distance I have to weigh-up if free laundry makes it easier to travel light, or if all else is equal P&O is not going  to give me free drinks each day and no longer a toss of a coin. In the grand scheme of things though, it is easy to become blinkered.

 

I like Royal. I like others, some a little bit more. I think Radiance is an awesome ship, but Ovation not so much. Rhapsody was awesome till they added more cabins around the atrium. Royal's suites are much better bang for our buck than on others. We have also done a couple of music charters on Radiance, but rumours are CYC will be switching to Carnival Luminosa for late 2024. We have had a few average days on P&O, but also a couple of the best experiences. Itinerary and date first, then we look at the ship. If the ship is below par, at least we get the itinerary.

[arxcards]

8 hours ago, DT1304 said:

I agree with you, and I am not loyal to RCCL for the few free drinks.

 

I tried Carnival and did not enjoy it as much as RCCL. I have also looked at other lines and RCCL was the best fit in terms of price, itineraries at my desired times etc.

 

I think celebrity is the next one I will try based on comments here as well as referrals from many family and friends that have cruised Celebrity.

Celebrity is quite different, but it is a nice difference. Eventually at the higher tiers, you can also carry your loyalty across between Royal & Celebrity too. Celebrity Edge is also a very different looking ship, so some new things to try. We were booked on Edge in March, but have reluctantly cancelled so we can start saving for a world cruise.

[cruise_critical]

1 hour ago, arxcards said:

Celebrity is quite different, but it is a nice difference. Eventually at the higher tiers, you can also carry your loyalty across between Royal & Celebrity too. Celebrity Edge is also a very different looking ship, so some new things to try. We were booked on Edge in March, but have reluctantly cancelled so we can start saving for a world cruise.

oh wow. That is good to know that you get reciprocol Elite status on Celebrity starting at Diamond on RCCL. Just read this blog and it's definitely a nice perk! https://www.royalcaribbeanblog.com/2023/03/23/celebrity-royal-caribbean-cruise-loyalty-reciprocity

[mr walker]

1 hour ago, arxcards said:

We have also done a couple of music charters on Radiance, but rumours are CYC will be switching to Carnival Luminosa for late 2024. 

Yes, I was wondering what CYC were going to do with no 'smaller' RC ships for 24-25 season.

[MMDown Under]

16 hours ago, icat2000 said:

If you want something similar or slightly better than RCL and not wanting to travel to Sydney then your going to have to consider Princess and only during a short period of October to March when its ported in Melbourne. You will be limited to were you go with most of the cruises either going to NZ, or down South Australia away or occassional run up the coast to North Queensland or South Pacific.

 

Melbourne is really being burnt at the moment with the lack of variety of cruiselines. Even Princess 2024/2025 schedule is poor. Going to have to factor in flights to Sydney if you want variety.

 

Plus factors with Carnival or Princess is no USD on board when cruising out of Australia. That might help.

 

I cruise Princess or Carnival mainly. But I have cruised RCL, Celebrity, PO UK and PO Australia. I didn't see the fuss about RCL. Celebrity I liked very much both were overseas cruises but out of Australia I find their pricing STEEP. I actually loved PO UK. But I haven't seen them down this way. And last cruise I took was them was out of venice 14 nights. One of the best cruises I've ever experienced.

 

However, flights are really expensive at the moment for overseas.

For P&O UK keep an eye out for segments in Aust/NZ of the world cruises.

[Gwendy]

I have cruised with 8 different cruise lines, all have good and not so good factors.  Fir me I chaise itinerary and price as main deciders.  Royal Caribbean is excellent for young people, but it’s worth a change every now and then.

 

P&O Aust, Princess, RCL, Carnival, Cunard, MSC, Celebrity, CMV (went broke during covid)

[arxcards]

14 hours ago, Gwendy said:

I have cruised with 8 different cruise lines, all have good and not so good factors.  Fir me I chaise itinerary and price as main deciders.  Royal Caribbean is excellent for young people, but it’s worth a change every now and then.

 

P&O Aust, Princess, RCL, Carnival, Cunard, MSC, Celebrity, CMV (went broke during covid)

One of the main players in CMV has returned with Ambassador, which seems to be CMV MkII. Their flagship is the old Pacific Dawn, which will be down here as part of a world cruise in Feb/Mar next year. It would be nice if they have some local vacancies to see how they look in their new pyjamas.

[MMDown Under]

1 hour ago, arxcards said:

One of the main players in CMV has returned with Ambassador, which seems to be CMV MkII. Their flagship is the old Pacific Dawn, which will be down here as part of a world cruise in Feb/Mar next year. It would be nice if they have some local vacancies to see how they look in their new pyjamas.

I had decided to look for a segment of a world cruise in February and had pencilled it in.

Now my girlfriend from NY, plus a couple of

friends, plan to travel down under in

Feb 24!  Should be lots of fun so change of

 cruise plans for Feb 24.  

[Gwendy]

When we cruised with CMV, the Columbus was the former Pacific Pearl so we felt right at home.  We did part of the world cruise from Singapore to London, in 2018.  Price was excellent and itinerary also great.  
I loved the Pacific Dawn so nice to see it getting a rerun.

[ceeceeDee]

Would love to get a look at Ambience (aka Pacific Dawn). Dawnie was our absolute favourite of the P&O fleet. Grand old lady, glad she didn't get scrapped!

[sherri3802]

I am in Melbourne too and like you, I found most cruises at the moment seem to leave from Sydney.

There's a short cruise coming up in Jan to Tassie, leaving from Melb, which I thought was at least something different.

I've only been on Princess (Sth Pacific & NZ) and P&O (South Pacific, Far Nth Qld, Moreton Island)

 

I found Princess definitely up a notch or two, although P&O cabins were a better lay out.

 

My last cruise though was last month on P&O. I have not been on a cruise since covid and I was a bit surprised by the changes. Not impressed. The cost cutting re meals etc was extremely evident.

I don't know if this is the case across all cruise lines but personally, I won't be going on P&O again unless the cost is really a bargain.

[arxcards]

1 hour ago, sherri3802 said:

I am in Melbourne too and like you, I found most cruises at the moment seem to leave from Sydney.

There's a short cruise coming up in Jan to Tassie, leaving from Melb, which I thought was at least something different.

I've only been on Princess (Sth Pacific & NZ) and P&O (South Pacific, Far Nth Qld, Moreton Island)

 

I found Princess definitely up a notch or two, although P&O cabins were a better lay out.

 

My last cruise though was last month on P&O. I have not been on a cruise since covid and I was a bit surprised by the changes. Not impressed. The cost cutting re meals etc was extremely evident.

I don't know if this is the case across all cruise lines but personally, I won't be going on P&O again unless the cost is really a bargain.

I I agree. In most ways, Princess is a notch or two above. I am not a fan of P&O's dining rooms, but their menus on the first cruise after the restart were the same as they had been 5 years before. Same now as it was back then, it is a bit hit and miss for my liking. Princess is better but has also slipped a bit too.

 

Regarding cabin layouts, all of P&O's ships used to be Princesses (Explorer was Dawn Princess, Adventure was Golden, Encounter was Star). The decor in the cabins has changed, but the layout and furniture have not. Yes, there will be a difference from ship to ship, but it isn't a Princess to P&O difference. On Pacific Explorer, as it was on Dawn/Sun/Sea Princess, there is even 2 different cabin layouts for identical grades of cabin.

[Blackduck59]

On 5/7/2023 at 10:52 AM, MMDown Under said:

I imagine cruising on the same ship all the time would be like Aussies who camp in the same camp spot every year for the long Summer holidays.

One of my coworkers is going "Camping" this long weekend. He is taking his 30' trailer to a campground less than 20km from his home; yes he has been there before.

I don't really "get" camping but I think I would shoot for someplace that's more than a 15 minutes away from my house.🤔

[MMDown Under]

2 minutes ago, Blackduck59 said:

One of my coworkers is going "Camping" this long weekend. He is taking his 30' trailer to a campground less than 20km from his home; yes he has been there before.

I don't really "get" camping but I think I would shoot for someplace that's more than a 15 minutes away from my house.🤔

Australian camping is all about being in the outdoors/beach away from the city.  Around 5 pm campers will pull out their chairs and a group will gather to talk about their day and the fish which got away,  Camping is a social occasion.  It would be a wonderful way for you to meet Australians when you travel Down Under.  We camp in a tent when we go to music festivals.  My younger daughter is currently travelling around Australia in her camper van  

[Blackduck59]

5 minutes ago, MMDown Under said:

Australian camping is all about being in the outdoors/beach away from the city.  Around 5 pm campers will pull out their chairs and a group will gather to talk about their day and the fish which got away,  Camping is a social occasion.  It would be a wonderful way for you to meet Australians when you travel Down Under.  We camp in a tent when we go to music festivals.  My younger daughter is currently travelling around Australia in her camper van  

 

My coworker "camps" in a 30' trailer, so for me it just seems like a lot of load in, hitch up, set up and load out to go to a place literally down the road.

[MMDown Under]

9 minutes ago, Blackduck59 said:

 

My coworker "camps" in a 30' trailer, so for me it just seems like a lot of load in, hitch up, set up and load out to go to a place literally down the road.

Is a trailer self contained a caravan or motor home?

[Blackduck59]

20 minutes ago, MMDown Under said:

Is a trailer self contained a caravan or motor home?

 

I guess it would be a caravan, as it requires a tow vehicle. 

[MMDown Under]

1 hour ago, Blackduck59 said:

 

I guess it would be a caravan, as it requires a tow vehicle. 

We call a trailer, a small box trailer in which we take rubbish to the dump. 
Caravans are very popular here. Two of my neighbours have sold their old caravans recently not knowing they are trendy with the young.  Another neighbour has a 5th wheeler.

 

[Aus Traveller]

5 minutes ago, MMDown Under said:

We call a trailer, a small box trailer in which we take rubbish to the dump. 
Caravans are very popular here. Two of my neighbours have sold their old caravans recently not knowing they are trendy with the young.  Another neighbour has a 5th wheeler.

 

In North America, I think there are more 5th wheelers than caravans.

[MMDown Under]

Just now, Aus Traveller said:

In North America, I think there are more 5th wheelers than caravans.

Yes they take a powerful vehicle to tour them.

Trouble is they take a lot of room in our smaller caravan parks.