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The very things that one cruiser likes about a cruise are the things that other cruisers vigorously dislike. The good news is whatever you do like, there is somebody out there doing a bang-up job providing it. |
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| In 2007, there were 112 different cruise ships transporting about 10 million passengers on some 4,500 cruises. 70% of those passengers went to destinations in the Caribbean, and four cruise lines (Carnival, Royal Caribbean, Norwegian and Celebrity – we call them the BIG FOUR)) accounted for over 70% of market. The big boys in the game are Carnival (28% market share) and Royal Caribbean (25% market share). |
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| All of the Big Four operate large, modern, elaborately-designed ships ranging in size from 45,000 tons to 200,000 tons. They cater to customers who like to cram as much activity and diversion into their cruise as possible. When you cruise on one of these ships you will be in the midst of lots of people (often with kids), theme-park environments, and luxury levels in the 3-1/2 to 4-star range. They will visit the popular ports, which will also be loaded with tourists. |
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| Generally speaking they all specialize in the “more-is-better” approach including casinos, Vegas-style productions, varied lounge entertainment, water-park designs for pool areas, upscale dining, lots of booze and non-stop activities including everything from bingo to talent shows. They all have youth programs for kids from about 2-17 and daycare/babysitting services. About 50 % of the people on these ships will be cruising for the first time, the cruisers are singles, couples and groups, and most are in the 27-55 age range. |
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| If you want quiet pool time, secluded beaches, remote destinations and spoil-you-rotten service, these are probably NOT the ships you should choose. You’d probably be happier on a cruise line such as Princess or Holland America. They’re usually more expensive (sometimes quite a bit more expensive) but they are much more geared toward the 5-star luxury experience than they are the party-hearty approach of the Big Four. And quite often, when you sail on one of the smaller, more luxurious cruise lines, many of the items that you pay extra for on the bigger lines (such as non-alcoholic beverages, alternative dining, etc) are included in the price. |
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| The truth of the matter is that most people who book a cruise for the first time (92%) will make their selection based on when they can go and how long they can stay. The second most important factor will be how much it costs. Everything else is dependant on those two items. If you fall into that broad category, your choices will be fewer, but that doesn’t mean you have to settle for something you don’t want. |
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| For the greatest majority of cruisers, whatever the experience is, it’s good enough that they want to do it again. And again. While we know of plenty of people who have complaints about some aspect of their cruise, they are definitely in the minority. And of those people who have less than satisfactory cruise experiences, we just betcha that their dissatisfaction could have been avoided completely if they did a little research before booking. |
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| The very things that one cruiser likes about a cruise are the things that other cruisers vigorously dislike. The good news is that whatever you do like, there is somebody out there doing a bang-up job providing it. Here are some factors you can consider when choosing your cruise. |
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| Size Of The Ship |
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| Some general observations one can make regarding the size of the ship. |
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The type of activity on the ship. The bigger the ship, the greater the attention paid to make sure that the ship-board experience itself is as unforgettable as possible. This translates into activities, distractions and a festive, socially liberal, fun-and-games atmosphere. If that annoys you, these big ships may rub you the wrong way. |
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The number of people you're travelling with.The bigger the ship, the more people there will be on it (duh). Generally speaking, families, singles and singles-traveling-in-groups will prefer the non-stop beat of the large ships. On the other hand, if you prefer quiet and don’t like the crush of crowds at poolside or in the dining room, you’ll have much better luck in the smaller ships, especially the ones that hold fewer than 1200 passengers. |
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The types of ports you will visit. Big ships go to big ports. Certain ports, such as Roatan, Honduras or Vera Cruz, Mexico, are only available to smaller ships. Sometimes those ports are the very thing that makes the cruise quite special. If the ports of call are at the top of your list of reasons to take a cruise, consider booking passage on smaller ships that have extended itineraries. |
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Age Of The Ship |
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“Old” is a relative term in the cruise industry, meaning ships that were launched around 1990 or before (15+ years a go). Many of these ships were state-of-the-art at the time and trumpeted the absolute best cruising had to offer. But in the last 15 years, cruise ships have gotten bigger and more extravagant in ways that were unimaginable two decades ago. |
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Older ships are not bad, just different. Many are less efficiently designed and have more traditional layouts. Some of the extras and amenities that are common on the newer ships, like internet in your cabin, themed alternative dining restaurants, wave pools and ice rinks don’t usually exist on the older ships. Cabins are smaller, critical traffic areas (such as elevator lobbies and disembarkation lines) are congested and shops can be pretty cramped. Some passengers (not all) notice stale odors or complain that the ventilation systems in the cabins are cranky. |
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On the flip side, many of the older ships have been up-fitted and remolded in the last few years, and so are fine cruising vessels. They are primarily used on the shorter cruises (3-5 days) and generally charge lower fares. Take into the account the value of the cruise experience. Maybe the older ships aren’t as fresh and perfect as the newer ones, but the value they offer – what you get for what you pay - can be outstanding. |
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Choosing The Right Cruise - (cont.) [1] [2] [3] [4] |
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Articles we've written about
Cruising In The Caribbean |
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Ten Mistakes When Taking A Cruise - It’s a shame to lay out
$250 - $2,500 on a dreamy
cruise vacation only to encounter unnecessary mishaps and
inconveniences. So, in an effort
to minimize the likelihood of a
bump in the road to your perfect
vacation, here are some common
potholes that can tarnish your
experience.
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Eleven Expert Cruising Tips - Some useful,relevant tips and
ideas, and other neat stuff you
can use to make their cruising
experience better.
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Hooked On Cruising (And I Like It!) - It's official! I have a
condition, a disorder by some
people's assessment. It's called
"Caribbean Obsession Disorder",
and there really is such a thing.
Imagine that!
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