Any ship you've been particularly impressed with?

[mom says]

On 4/10/2024 at 11:59 AM, DarrenM said:

is it possible to be on a Disney ship without kids?

Yes, they will sell cabins to child free passengers. There actually are grown ups who are fans of all things Disney.  And there are adults only areas of the ship in the evening. But you have to accept the presence of other people's rug rats for most of the day. Schedule a dental check up on your return home- the overwhelming level of sugary sweetness in all the character and staff interactions is something else. 

 

We did one Disney cruise as a couple (after a WDW vacation). It was fine, but it was one and done for us.

Edited April 11 by mom says

[capecruzer]

Its hard to remember all the details for each cruise but I know I was impressed by Celebrity Summit and Disney Wonder.  For those asking about the Disney ships, the restaurants on the Wonder remain the best of any cruise I've been on....both entertainment wise and food wise.  The Ships are super $$$ so I tell anyone who asks that the Disney ships are a "must -do - ONCE".  I'll likely do it again for grandkids but I've saved a small fortune taking my own kids on all the other lines (Carnival, RCCL, and NCL) instead and reserve Celebrity for my adult-only trips.

[sjde]

Unfortunately, I’d get so sick on those smaller ships! 

[57redbird]

We cruise for itinerary over ship but I really liked the K & we're on her again in December.  The only HAL ship I really don't like is the Eurodam.

[donaldsc]

Many of them but none of the ones from the lines that the OP has mentioned.  I like small ships.w less than 1000 passengers.   All of the ships from those lines ar overly large tubs or are floating amusement parks  in my opinion.

 

DON

[SelectSys]

On 4/25/2024 at 2:45 PM, capecruzer said:

I was impressed by Celebrity Summit and Disney Wonder

My first cruise was on the Disney Magic a bit more than 20 years ago.  I remember being really impressed.  Was it the ship or was it because it was my first cruise?  Probably a bit of both leaning more towards the fact that everything was new to me.

 

On 4/25/2024 at 2:45 PM, capecruzer said:

both entertainment wise and food wise

I can't remember the food all that well - other than my kids are Mickey Bars for desert every day - but I do remember the shows and think they remain the best I have seen on a cruise ship.

[CDNPolar]

We like the 1000 or less people ships.

 

We are very impressed with Viking ships for a few reasons.

 

1) What we feel is understated decor that is luxury in design.

2) Always a space on the ship to settle in - never seem to fight for a place to be.

3) Exceptional crew, service, and food.

[sjde]

I don’t love crowds but after 10 nts on a 700 passenger ship I felt a bit confined and like there were a lack of ( new) dining options and things to do. And I am

one who can usually easily entertain myself with a book . 

[CDNPolar]

With the intent of bringing this back on track.... All Viking Ocean ships are identical with the exception that some now have Planetariums on the upper deck of the Explorer Lounge.

 

We love the vibe of Viking from the decor to the crew, service, and the food.

 

This is true of Jupiter, Star, and Orion which we have already sailed and we will be sailing on Sea, Venus and Neptune soon.

Edited May 1 by CDNPolar

[sjde]

Viking was not my favorite river cruise lines so I am hesitant to take one of their ocean cruises.

[sjde]

CDNPolar-Viking was not my favorite river cruise lines so I am hesitant to take one of their ocean cruises.

 

 

[CDNPolar]

8 hours ago, sjde said:

CDNPolar-Viking was not my favorite river cruise lines so I am hesitant to take one of their ocean cruises.

 

 

 

Gotcha...

 

Our first Viking Cruise (of 10 now) was an Ocean cruise.  We fell in love with Viking from that cruise.  Our second Viking cruise was also Ocean.

 

We did not try Viking river until the third cruise.

 

The two "products" are so different yet similar but in very different ways.

 

If I could only go on one more cruise and you offered me ocean vs. river, I would choose Viking ocean.

 

Viking's river ships are very nice, and the river itineraries are more intimate and "inside" a country or region than the ocean itineraries are.

 

But, the Viking ocean ships have more space than passengers.  They are quiet and sedate and the experience is just so much more.  With specialty restaurants and entertainment and choice of lounges for a drink.  The Thermal Spa, the option of massages, etc.

 

To me you cannot compare Viking River to Ocean or in fact any River to Ocean cruise.  They are different.

 

I guess I would need to know what you did not like about your Viking River experience.

[TravelinGert]

On 4/8/2024 at 9:06 PM, sjde said:

Have there been any particular ships that you've been really impressed with or blown away by? Especially in these lines-RCCL, HAL, Princess and Celebrity. TIA!

Best ocean cruise I have had to date was on Adventure of the Seas. Great crew, great ship, and we had such a smooth experience that cruise. Second best was MSC Seaside which I really enjoyed.

 

Best boat/ship I have been on ever was the American Steamboat Company Countess but that line just shut down recently. I'm very sad about that as I had planned to cruise with them again next year. I did 3 cruises on that boat and got to know several crew members. They were good people and I hope they were easily able to get work elsewhere. 

[ecs66]

I have a soft spot for Island Princess.  I like the size, the vibes, the decor.  Classy not brassy.  Did the HI round-trip from Los Angeles one year.  Another year was the Panama Canal.

 

When Sapphire was new, we loved that.

 

Was on Celebrity Silhouette and it was too cold and stark for our taste.

 

Other ships we've had sort of blend together after a while.

[ecs66]

On 4/9/2024 at 10:42 PM, ldubs said:

Right now if we had to name one it would be Enchanted Princess.  

We're reserved for Enchanted in December.  Can't wait to see her.

 

We've mostly sailed Princess since Hubby and I started cruising in 2005.  (Cruised often with my ex since the '70s.)  As time passed, Princess seemed to go downhill and we gave up for a while.  We've read recent passenger reviews on Enchanted and many specifically say that Princess has has their game back.  Looking forward to December!

[ldubs]

14 hours ago, ecs66 said:

We're reserved for Enchanted in December.  Can't wait to see her.

 

We've mostly sailed Princess since Hubby and I started cruising in 2005.  (Cruised often with my ex since the '70s.)  As time passed, Princess seemed to go downhill and we gave up for a while.  We've read recent passenger reviews on Enchanted and many specifically say that Princess has has their game back.  Looking forward to December!

 

We also moved away from Princess for a while.  We are back now and also looking forward to our next Princess cruise (in October).  

Enjoy!    

 

 

[donaldsc]

On 5/1/2024 at 4:30 AM, sjde said:

Viking was not my favorite river cruise lines so I am hesitant to take one of their ocean cruises.

 

I have an interesting take on Viking River Cruises.  I have done 2 river cruises and one of them was a Viking Rhone (not Rhine) River cruise.  I was a bit disappointed w it because I had too high expectations for it.  Everyone who had done Viking river cruise had told me that it was totally wonderful and I would have the best cruising experience of my entire life.  It was a good cruise and I would do Viking river if I found a river I wanted to do but it was not as good as I expected.  Now the Clipper Cruise line 2 week Greece sailboat cruise was one of my best cruises ever.

 

BTW - if you have not done a Douro River cruise in Portugal you should check them out.  I can't remember which line we used for that cruise but it was a high end cruise and the Douro is a great river.

 

DON

[DeclanAllen]

Royal Caribbean's Wonder of the Seas seems to be a crowd-pleaser, especially for families. My parents liked this ship a lot. It's got these crazy things called "neighborhoods" with different themes, like a Central Park area and a Boardwalk.  Sounds pretty cool!
 

Personally, I tend to favor smaller ships with more of a classic feel.  Maybe something from Celebrity Cruises or Holland America?  They might not have all the bells and whistles, but some people prefer that.

[TravelinGert]

Getting back to the original topic:

 

I was really seriously blown away by American Queen Steamboat Company's American Countess. Had such a great time in March of 2021 I booked it again for that following October. I can't say I have experienced that level of kindness and care from the crew on any other travels anywhere. I can't begin to tell you how saddened I am they're not operating any longer as my husband and I had hoped to sail with them again next year for our big Anniversary celebration.

 

Up until that first American Countess cruise, my best experience had been on Royal Caribbean's Adventure of the Seas. Had a really great crew and experienced and witnessed so many incidences of crew going above and beyond on that cruise, and thoroughly enjoyed every minute of it.