princess cruise, or retirement home?

[MiamiTraveler]

In general..The longer the cruise, the older the cruisers. Particularly during the school year. A 10 day Carnival cruise probably wouldn't be much different

 

That is my equation for determining the average age group. Unless it is summertime, the longer the cruise the older the crowd.

[we2cruze]

The OP did ask CC about the age of cruisers on Princess several times. Basically, you will find an older crowd on the longer, more expensive cruises. I think this is true of any cruiseline.

We're slightly older than the OP.. just low/mid 40's. We've found on our Princess cruises (longer, more expensive cruises) that there are more older folks, but we've also seen a good number of people in their 30's, 40's, and 50's. OP, just in case you don't know, 50's isn't old.:p Come to think of it, neither is 60's.;)

We've met some older folks who were a lot of fun and we've met some younger folks who were whining and complaining. Really, attitutes are not confined to age groups.

At any rate, there is nothing like being among the youngest passengers on a cruiseship to make you feel like a kid again. :p :p :p OP, wait about 10 years and you'll start to appreciate feeling like a kid again. ;)

[Fairport]

How lucky you guys are to be able to take cruises in your 30's. When we were in our 30's we were too busy with family, and making a living, to go anwhere but Maine for a camping vacation. Don't let the old folks get to you. You have grumpy Gus's at all ages and the older they get the worse thee get. Most people are pretty good no matter what their age.

 

Me? I'm 63. Just got back from spinning class at the Y. Do you think you can outlast me on a spinning bike?:cool:

[LoveThisCruisingThing]

ummmmmm arent you complaining about the "old" people that were on the cruise? i hope that you are able to age more gracefully that what you perceive the fellow cruisers on your ship to be.

[rebeccalouise]

I have done two Princess cruises- both in the summer to Alaska and if it was mostly older people- I really didn't notice. It didn't impact my cruise one way or another.

 

I think if does depend on the time of year. Since many parents now take their kids along on vacations- look to the summer, Easter and Christmas cruises for a more mixed crowd.

[blackwing]

We are on the 7/12/08 Sea Princess sailing from Southampton to Scandinavia. We are mid/low 30's. Even though it is summer, because of the location, I fully expect the cruise to be about 75% filled with elderly British couples.

 

I have no problems with that, as long as nobody tries to run me over with their electric scooter. We tend to keep to ourselves on a cruise, and will enjoy the sights and the ship and the entertainment. A cruise is what you make of it. Even a cruise with somewhat disagreeable people occasionally complaining is better than no cruise at all.

 

If it weren't for elderly cruise passengers with their heaps of disposable cash, cruise prices would probably all be a lot higher! :)

[Capt. Mike]

Blackwing, that is an amazing observation and you are 100% right. If all us old geesers were not stuffing money into the casino and longer cruises, the youngsters couldn't afford to go on their 7 day.

Rock on!

[jmf123]

We've enjoyed every cruise and the people we meet, regardless of age. On the Crown last month I met a woman sitting next to me at a slot machine and we chatted and really enjoyed meeting each other. I'm in my 40s and I found out she is 91 years young! Then her husband (they've been married 63 years) came over from the roulette table and sat next to me on my other side, chatting away for a good amount of time. He still works! His wife (who was talking with her daughter in law) kept telling him to "let her play the machine" but I told her I was enjoying myself, and also that he was saving me money!

 

They were an absolute delight (did I mention he's 98 years young?!) and we ran into them several more times (mostly in the casino!), played trivia with them (and her son and daughter in law), and exchanged addresses & information before the end of the cruise. :)

[happy cruzer]

Sorry you had a surprise. Those happen when traveling even with the best precautions. That's when you have to snap out of it and enjoy your trip no matter what.

 

Also I don't think it would be illegal for cruise ships to publish what large groups are on a particular sailing. There would be other considerations but I don't think it would be illegal. I think the laws are more about equal opportunities and employement. Mainly the cruise lines know that folks don't like to take a chance on the large group taking up public spaces for private functions so they keep the group bookings secret but I don't think it is against the law.

 

Anyway, I agree being around complainers is a pain. Sorry you seemed to run into more than your share.

[Stevesan]

If it weren't for elderly cruise passengers with their heaps of disposable cash, cruise prices would probably all be a lot higher! :)

 

Where's my heap? Dammit , I want my heap!!!!:mad:

[Stevesan]

For those looking for a cruise that are under 50 or those that want more of a "alive" feeling on your vacation, don't choose Princess. Choose carnival. They know how to have a good time.

 

 

That's for sure. Often my ship has been docked next to Carnival. I've seen many of those fun loving Carnival passengers staggering, crawling back to their ship! To continue the fun, I'll bet.:rolleyes:

[wernew2cruising]

With any luck you will be unfortunate enough to be that age one day ... when you are try not to complain too much, someone younger may not like it.

 

Good one! I totally agree.

 

I love spending time with older people. Quite honestly, if you give them the chance they can be more fun than your same age friends. And you can learn lots from them as well. Personally, I would rather be on a ship full of "seniors" than one full of college kids!

[Kolleen]

I have been cruising since I was 25 and I am now 53 and going strong. My personal experience is:

 

Destination, time of year, and length of cruise can affect age ranges.

 

Every cruise is different even on the same ship.

 

Carnival often attracts a somewhat younger crowd, so the OP will probably like it better.

 

Being grumpy, rude, or obnoxious is not exclusive to a single age group.

 

Sounds like the OPs cruise just happened to be one of many elderly grumpy cruisers.

 

No matter what, even when things aren't what I expected or don't go as planned, I always have a great time. It doesn't matter what others say or do.

[chasetf]

We just got back from the emerald princess on 10/27, and I have to say I was in shock with the amount of elderly people on the cruise.....................

Welcome to the "Greying of America". All us Babyboomers are now retiring.......... ;) :D

[Cruzin2paradise09]

agrip76, I just read all the posts you made prior to this thread. I can certainly see why you feel you were mislead as to the average age on Princess.

 

In all the threads you started asking for advise, you never once specified when you were planning on cruising. All you ever said was that you were planning a 10-day caribbean cruise on the Emerald for your honeymoon.

 

Had anyone here on CC known that your cruise was to be the end of October, anyone here would have undoubtedly told you that a 10-day cruise at the end of October would more than likely attract an older crowd . . .

 

Also, your TA did not tell you a lie . . . there are every ages found on Princess cruises - it's all dependent on when you're cruising, where you're cruising to and for how long.

 

I would have to agree with some of the other posters who said you didn't do your research well.

 

Sorry you feel like your cruise didn't meet your standards. We cruised on the Crown's 9-day caribbean cruise over the summer and had a blast (DH and I are early 40's)! We spent every night with people from CC, and others we just met ranging in age from high 50's to early 20's -- it was fabulous! (I just got back from Vegas with one of the older ladies that I met - so age really means nothing.)

 

Don't turn your back on Princess, just research better and try again. You'll be pleasantly surprised!

 

As a final note, I think that you are a bit unfair in your use of words in relation to some of the older, more mature, adults on board. Some of the others are right, we'll be in our 80's and 90's one day -- and God willing I will be on a cruise running the young whipper-snappers over with my scooter! :D

(Just kidding :p )

[rdsqrl]

I'm really racking my brain here to figure out what difference it makes to a honeymoon -- or any trip, for that matter -- HOW old the other passengers are? I'm always puzzled by questions like this. You were worried about the nightlife? Well, there are plenty of "younger" people who don't enjoy "nightlife" and plenty of older people who do, so I hardly think age is relevant -- it's just a question of the preferences of particular passengers (of any age) on any given sailing. So let's all refrain from age-ist stereotyping before the Gray Panthers come after us. Just sayin'

[cmontyburns2006]

We were on the same cruise, and honestly, had the same reaction: We were really surprised by the proportion of very, very, very old people. It's not to say I feel like we somehow got ripped off, or were in any way misled, or don't hope we're just as active at that age! But the age gap was particularly clear on this cruise, moreso than others with Princess we've been on.

 

Which leads me to our single biggest disappointment with the cruise: EVERY night, without fail, someone sitting at the dinner table would make a joke about "the bears" -- the 500 gay men who were part of an organized group on the cruise. The jokes would quickly give way to complaining that Princess should have warned them that there would be "so many gays" on the ship, and many people said they never would have taken the cruise had they known about "the gays." On two separate nights, (elderly) couples noted they were glad there were hardly any children on the ship to see "all the gays."

 

Aging gracefully, indeed.

[DeepWaterMariner]

In case you missed the obvious, older people are wealthier and have more discretionary time than younger people. They cruise more often and for longer periods than younger cruisers. They also prefer to cruise when the schools are in session and there is a lower probability of having lots of kids on the shp. Cruise for 10 days in October and chances are there will be a large number of seniors on your cruise, no matter what the cruise line. The longer the cruise, the higher the percentage of older passengers. We just got back from a 16 day cruise. I would suggest waiting until you reach Medicare age before taking one that long or you will really be an unhappy camper.

[chasetf]

We were on the same cruise, and honestly, had the same reaction: We were really surprised by the proportion of very, very, very old people.................Aging gracefully, indeed.

So.... out of my curiosity... how old do you consider "very, very, very old" ? :confused:

 

I can remember my grandparents being the age I am now..... and I thought that was old at the time..... but I don't now. ;) :)

[Cruise Junky]

the 500 gay men who were part of an organized group on the cruise.

 

 

Ok, hold on, back up the truck....there were 500 gay guys on the ship, and the OP was complaining about no Night Life? how is that even possible? they made up over 15% of the ship.

 

And to the people who we're making jokes about it, that's just rude.

[Cruisin' Chick]

Gosh, I may be in my early 50s but I don't consider myself old, even with a 10-yr-old kid.

[Denisern2]

Early forties here good income to take those long cruises... I know I am lucky. I am also lucky to have made so many friends of all ages on my cruises. I think the op is just trying to stir the pot....I also sometimes travel with my parentsand it sickens me to come across someone with your attitude. These "old" people have worked their **** off and they deseve to cruise more then anyone.

 

OK I feel better now.....

[Guillermo]

I'm really sorry that our generation seems to have raised such a crop of whining, intolerant brats -- not many, thank heaven, but enough to make me respond to this OP.

I, too, used to think of anyone over 50 as "elderly," but as I enter my 80th decade, I'm grateful that I have the health and the income to holiday as I see fit.

So you don't like older people? Fine. Stay away from us and rock away in your little corner. Just remember that growing older is mandatory, while growing up is discretionary.

Flame me if you will.

[Scotto97]

I'm sorry but having 500 gay men on a cruise without informing other passengers ahead of time is going to lead to problems. As has been mentioned, Princess generally attracts an older generation. They grew up in an era when being homosexual was generally treated more discretely. They also have not been indoctrinated by political correctness and are therefor more likely to speak their minds on the subject (complain). Although everyone has a right to cruise when they feel like it, it still wasn't an ideal situation.

[MrsNoPlea]

I must be in the minority....my husband and I will be celebrating our 2 year anniversary in 2 weeks on the CB....and I couldn't give a rat's behind about another living soul on that ship. And please don't take that the wrong way, I love people...but I'm with people all day long at work every day and I want to go somewhere with my husband and be anonymous and left to ourselves....I don't care if there are people around but their age or anything else about them couldn't mean a hill of beans to me. I'm in my 30's and my husband is in his 50's. I can't wait and I hope everyone else on our cruise has a blast as well, even if they are all 80 +!!!!

 

I realize sometimes people want to go on vacation to meet up with strangers and find new friends....but that is never the case with me. I can do that at home, I want to vacation with my hubby and have no responsibilities of any kind to anyone else for those 7 days and nights!!!!!!:D :D :D I will say this....Carnival would give me a freaking headache!!!:eek: