I have cruised with Royal for 3 cruises, and we have our next one in a few days with Royal. You can say I am brand loyal, and my friends and I were having a conversation at work about our preferred cruise line. For those more experienced cruisers, what and/or how did you branch out from your first cruise line and why? I have had nothing but positive experiences with Royal, and hesitant to stray from what I know. Your wisdom and experience is appreciated!
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Captain
When did you decide to try another cruise line?
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Contributor Level:
Purser
I did Celebrity and Norwegian first. After that we did 6 Carnival cruises in a row. We decided to try Royal Carribbean and gave done several since. We're heading back on Carnival in a month. I'm looking forward to getting platinum in a few cruises.
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Captain
Our first cruise , like most, was on Carnival. Not for any particular reason. Maybe cost. Our second was on Norwegian, but not today's NCL. We were on the Norway, looooong before Freestyle Cruising was even thought of. Then we went back to Carnival. After that there was Princess, Celebrity, a really bad Royal Caribbean experience, and the HAL. A couple more Carnival, but for the most part we sail NCL. Mainly because they sail out of NY year round. We also like what they have to offer a lot. It's no longer about the itinerary, but the ship. We utilize the Thallossatherapy Spa all the time if available. We are able to cruise more frequently because we don't have to worry about airfare or hotels for one night
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Third Mate
I agree that it depends what age you are as to what line suits you. We started with Princess and were fairly loyal but we went on Celebrity to Bermuda and loved it. We have been on RC and Holland America also because we look to see where the trip is going. Also sometimes the price makes the decision for you. We are going back to Princess in Sept. because of the itinerary and we got a free drink package and some other perks. Looking forward to it
You are very correct and quite astute in your observations Kennicott. Things have changed. Monique and I will use NCL for Bermuda and Princess for 21 plus day cruises.
I do want to try Regent one day, but as you said they are expensive. We have spoken on the phone and they may be an option once we decide on an itinerary.
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Captain
Princess is our "alma mater", we started with them in 1990 but had no idea what cruising was about. Stuck with them for about four cruises but after being on their wait list for a cabin (any cabin) for about 6 months, on a circumnavigation cruise of South America, we checked HAL out who got us on virtually the same cruise immediately. Stuck with HAL and Princess for the next ten years then ran across a real good deal on Regent for a two weeker to Alaska from San Fran.
Today cruising is in a high state of evolution, in my opinion, particularly within the community of global majors who represent mass market cruising. Some changes are good while many are bad, but what is good and bad depends upon one's subjective viewpoint. Things are so volatile It seems like just about the time we really get satisfied with a feature, facility, venue or activity on a ship or line it all changes again.
It is quite evident that the great majority of today's cruisers prefer the business concept all seem to be employing nowadays, and that is, "welcome to the world of big ships and add-on cruising". The industry has evolved into a system of getting guests on board for a very low initial fee which provides them with an informal cruise, basic cabin, all you can eat in the buffets almost 24 hours a day and three squares in the MDRs, other than that, for most amenities, services, excursions, quality dining and facilities you pay extra (some lines are now charging extra for room service). Some call it the nickel and dime game.
We believe there is a currently a significant degradation of service and quality of the cruise experience we have cherished in the past. Although we only cruise on the three lines mentioned it is obvious from fellow cruisers sharing their experiences with us that all lines are going the same route.
When we began cruising 26 years ago it wasn't like that. Regent is a little different in that it is a so called "luxury line" and an "all inclusive", but man is that expensive now, not only initially but the entire overall cruise cost. It is my observation that Regent is experiencing the same slippage in quality as the rest of the industry appears to be. When we first began cruising on Regent we found that the total expenses for us, on an equivalent itinerary, were comparable to the billings on HAL or Princess if we factored in everything. Not anymore. In order to enjoy a cruise now, we pay a lot of extra charges including better mini-suites and specialty dining on Princess and receive almost the same quality on most aspects of the cruise as we would receive on Regent, but for about half the overall price.
Currently we are ready to make a jump, but where to? A jump primarily because we like to dress formally on special evenings, a practice that is rapidly evaporating on most if not all lines. Recently we thought that perhaps Cunard would be the last formal hold out, maybe so, but we received all their cruise literature, pitches, etc. and weren't really enamored, particularly with their balcony cabins. Another thing, it is very hard for us to walk away from all the perquisites that we have earned with the other three lines in almost 600 days of sailing.
From what I can glean, elimination of formal nights is a precursor to eliminating the labor intensive and expensive Main Dining Room experience in favor of much larger and more no extra charge buffet type eateries. Instead of multiple MDRs there will be gigantic "Golden Coral" venues. We shall see what the future holds in store for us here. For now, I can't see running from one line to the other just to experience more of the same.
Contributor Level:
Staff Captain
Personally myself, you change brands when you start to notice those things that drew you to the line in the first place are no longer there, or the quality of service has degraded so bad that it is not worth your time. We used to cruise with carnival and (I know, I know, I have read what the reviews have said about them) but we noticed a huge decline in service quality. So this year we are moving on to a different line to "give them a shot"
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Captain
I proposed a cruise in October, and possibly looking at Carnival, and my boyfriend had an adverse reaction... But what I want, I will get. He just needs to be educated a little :)
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Captain
I have cruised on most of the Cruise lines , they all have good and bad things about them
Contributor Level:
Staff Captain
We usually cruise Celebrity or Royal Caribbean. When we were booking our Hawaii cruise last year, we booked Carnival because the dates fit in our schedules.
Port Royal is a top notch PGA course. The other course I played is the Belmont Hills.
The biggest problem on both courses is the views from every tee box and putting green. Low Handicap= Port Royal Mid to High= Belmont Hills. Boy I miss those courses......
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