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Design of the Ship |
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| While size dictates a lot about the ship in broad strokes, the design of the ship determines how all that space gets used. And design priorities have changed a LOT in the past decade, just like everything else about cruising. |
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| For example, ships built in the ‘80s and ‘90s had far fewer balcony cabins than those built in the last 10 years, and the designers didn’t pay much attention to the activities and options available to younger cruisers. But in the modern cruise age, having plenty of balconies and making sure the kids have fun are important factors in keeping customers satisfied and coming back. |
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| Whether it’s accomplished with an extreme makeover or during the building stage, cruise ships place a premium on the design. Some are designed for luxury, some for fun, some try to strike a middle ground. Ships are often given “star” ratings similar to those given to hotels. Some ships are 5-star, such as Holland America. Others are 4-star, such as Carnival or Royal Caribbean. Keep in mind, if you want 5-star, take a cruise on a 5-star ship. Don’t take a cruise on a 3- or 4-star ship and then be unhappy because it’s not top quality. A good source available on the internet, is the “Galaxsea.com” Cruise Ratings site (http://www.galaxsea.com/ratings.html). |
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| Another resource that I highly recommend are the various message boards that populate the internet. Such sites as Cruisecritic.com or Cruisemates.com are an excellent way to see what other people say about the ship and the itinerary you are considering. Not only can you browse the hundreds of posts by people who have been there, you can ask specific questions. You’ll get first-hand information from people who take cruising very seriously. Most cruise lines, especially the Big Four, also have their own internal message boards that cover topics realted to their ships and itineraries. |
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| Within the broad strokes allowed by the size of the ship, there’s as much variation as there are flavors of ice cream. How many pools? How kid-friendly is the ship? Can you get golf lessons or learn how to make towel animals? Is there a jogging deck or putt-putt course? Are the pool decks covered with indoor/outdoor carpet or mosaic tile? With a little bit of pre-search, you can get a good feel for the how comfortable and happy you will be with whatever facilities the ship has to offer. |
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| in about 95% of the cases, you can find whatever features you need, especially on the bigger ships. If there is something specific that you really want, such as a water slide or enrichment programs or salsa dance lessons, then make sure your ship has it. But, in the end, it’s really a matter of how much you enjoy the atmosphere of the ship. |
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| Type of Entertainment |
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| Whether it’s the combo that plays at poolside, the bands that perform in the clubs or the glitzy production numbers that grace the theatres, cruise ships put a lot of thought and a ton of money into presenting entertainment. Pick the right entertainment environment and you’ll spend sun-drenched days in blissful happiness. Pick the wrong one, and you’ll feel like you’re surrounded by a bunch of people scratching their fingernails on a chalkboard. |
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| For example, I cruised on Holland America’s VeenDam and was massively impressed with the quality of everything on board. But the laid-back, semi-formal 3-piece combo lounge entertainment was the last thing I wanted to do at night. Nonetheless, the lounge was filled each night with dancing couples and animated groups having a blast. I imagine these folks would have absolutely hated the high voltage strobe-lit energy of the Voltage Disco on Royal Caribbean’s Sovereign of the Seas. One man's pain... |
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One entertainment aspect that is pervasive on pretty much all ships is the commitment to extravagant, Vegas-style productions in the
ships’ main lounges. Make no mistake, some shows are absolutely amazing and others are gussied-up versions of local dinner theatre.
Especially on the Big Four ships, some cruise lines have invested tens of millions of dollars in technology, production sets, choreography
and professional entertainers in an effort to lay claim to being the best shows on the high seas. And it shows. The higher budgets and
larger production casts allow them to really kick out the jams and bring in high quality performers. That's not always the case with smaller
ships, and smaller cruise lines. Whichever ship or itinerary you choose will have a glitzy production show. But, if that's a major draw for
you, you're probably going to prefer the shows on the bigger ships.
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| Entertainment isn’t just about the lounge/club/party scene. It’s also about cooking classes, lectures, watching a movie, wine tasting, the casino, getting your golf swing computer analyzed, karaoke, bingo, “game-show” games, touring the galley, and lots of other stuff. There’s a lot to do on cruise ships. One of the trully stellar evolutions of the cruise industry is the amazing diversity that is available in the area of themes and activities aboard the ships. We’re not really sure how it all got started, but the playful aspect of cruising has definitely taken root in a big way. It’s like the cruise lines have co-opted the summer camp mentality of always having goofy, upbeat games and competitions going on somewhere all day long. |
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| One of the best ways to get a good feel for the type of entertainment and activities a ship offers is to check out the ships on-board newsletter. Every ship has its own version, published every day and placed in your cabin the night before. It lists EVERYTHING happening on the ship, and we mean everything. Each cruise line’s website will have a link that takes you to a sample version of their newsletter. If your travel agent is any good at all, they will have copies from a variety of cruises they have taken. |
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| in about 95% of the cases, you can find whatever features you need, especially on the bigger ships. If there is something specific that you really want, such as a water slide or enrichment programs or salsa dance lessons, then make sure your ship has it. But, in the end, it’s really a matter of how much you enjoy the atmosphere of the ship. |
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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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