Cruise Lines Rated

Question: What is the best Cruise line for a couple? My husband and I are looking into going on a cruise. We want to go on a cruise ship that has good rates, but we also want to choose one that is high class with good service and destination. Which is best?

Answer: Look into Celebrity and Holland America - and perhaps Princess [I have never sailed with Princess]. From the reading I've done recently at CruiseCritic.com, it sounds like Celebrity has deteriorated somewhat in quality. Some people think HAL is only for senior citizens, but that wasn't our experience, even on a 10-day cruise. It is very subdued and classy - it doesn't have the activity level that some of the other cruise lines have, however. I suggest you get a book on cruising from your library to get an overall idea of the different lines. Then check out the CC website [click on "Boards" and/or "Reviews" at the top of the page - be sure and read passenger reviews!]. Hope you find just the right cruise for you.

Question: who knows about the cruise ship that goes to puerto galera, boracay and palawan? i saw this in mel and joey. they featured this new cruise lines. any idea if they have a website? their rates? sigh.. i wish i can try this! uhm..now im not sure if it's mel and joey. it was a sunday afternoon show aired june 1

Answer: all the info you need - http://www.positivenewsmedia.net/am2/pub...

Question: What's the best way to go on a cruise? Which is the best cruise line and why? How do I find the least expensive rates? Is it better to go with or without kids? Are there cruise lines that provide child care on the cruise? Does this add a lot of expense? And where would you suggest cruising to? (leaving from somewhere in mid-southern Florida)

Answer: I like Carnival, or if your in mid Florida near Orlando try the Disney cruises which can be fun with or without the kids.....and Carribean or Mexico are some good spots to see...

Question: Has anyone taken a cruise to Alaska? Has anyone taken a cruse to Alaska? Is so what cruise line did you use and how would you rate the trip? Also what kind of cloths did you pack? I am planning a trip in June or July.

Answer: Norwegian - Excellent - Best layout of ship Princess - Excellent - Best for cruisetours Holland - Excellent - Best food & service. I have taken 25 cruise/cruisetours to Alaska and each one is a rated a million. Amazing Scenery, Wildlife, Friendly people. To see the real Alaska a cruisetour is a must. There are different itineraries to choose from depending on what you would like to see. Denali National Park is a Beautiful place with the tour in the park, the lodges and things to do there. In Fairbanks they have the Stern-wheeler cruise (included in your trip) that takes you to a native Indian village. You will meet people from all over on any cruise to Alaska. As for clothes. I wear jeans 365 days a year & T=Shirts. Alls I took for all cruises was jeans, t-shirts, light weight jeans jacket & sneakers. I am from Upstate New York so I am use to different weather conditions. June & July you will find day time temps in the 70's and at night 40' & 50's. Always alittle cooler near or on the water. As for rain many say it rains alot but, in all my time there it rained once while traveling between ports. I feel everyone should see Alaska at least once. ENJOY.

Question: Cruise Single Rates? What cruise lines offer the best Single Rates?

Answer: As far as I know, all cruise lines and hotels base prices on double adult occupancy. Therefore, if you only have one adult, you will be paying 150% of their cruise fare. That means, if you take the fare for two adults and then split it in half, you have the price per adult. You have to pay that and then half of the second adult. So I suppose that the cheapest rates would be offerred by the cheapest cruise lines, i.e. Carnival. So you could search for some singles cruises, in which case they may be offering lower singles rates. Hope this helps!

Question: What is the best cruise to take? Boyfriend and I want to take a cruise, but want the best value. We are clueless on which would be the best cruise line and where to go. Also, when would be the best time to go? Are they over rated or really worth the trip?

Answer: I've recently taken a South Caribbean cruise with Princess. It was great. I've also heard that Carnival and NCL are good. http://www.expedia.com has very good prices for cruises.

Question: Please open if you've cruised with Norwegian cruise lines? Well my family and i are cruising on the Norwegian Jewel this February and i have a few questions.. 1. explain freestyle dining. 2. if i go to the restaurants (for example "Mamas italian kitchen or Chin Chin asian restaurant") will they charge me for food? or is that included in my vacation? 3. is room service free? 4. do they have a formal dinner like Carnival cruise does? 5. what ISN'T included in my vacation that they could secretly charge me for? also rate these between 1 & 5... 5 being the best.. service, food, and entertainment. Also how did you like your NCL vacation? if you''ve ever been on the Jewel tell me about it! Thanks! Also one more question, do they charge you to use the internet cafe?

Answer: I've taken the Jewel twice this year, once in July 2008 (on the Baltic) and once in September 2008 (trans-Atlantic). I love the ship and the crew. I'm thinking of going back on-board in April. I am biased because I had a great time on this ship, and I love going on cruises anyway. Having said that, I hope I can answer your questions well. 1. Freestyle dining means that you can go to the dining rooms (Azura or Tsar's Palace, the 2 main dining rooms) with or without a reservation. You may go anytime between 6pm and 9 pm (those were the hours on my cruises) to have dinner. You are not assigned to a specific table for your meal each day, and your waiters are different each time. You may request a table for 2 or share with others, and you probably won't be seated with the same people each time, either. It's your choice when you enter the dining room or make your reservation. It's like going to a nice restaurant in your home town. If you dine in Tsar's Palace, ask for Wayan as your waiter, if he isn't on vacation. He gives wonderful and friendly service. If you are on Deck 10, just hope that Charlie is your stateroom attendant. He and his assistant Gary are fantastic! It is all the people working on board that make your cruise a wonderful experience. The ports are nice, too. 2. All other dining rooms, except for the main dining rooms, have a service charge. I think it's $20 per person, but check that with your travel agent or go on line to NCL. The main dining rooms are included in your vacation package. Note that alcoholic beverages and sodas are extra charge everywhere on the ship. 3. Room service is free, but you should tip (in cash) the server who brings the service to your stateroom. I usually give $2 or $3 to the waiter. 4. Ther are no formal evenings such as on other cruise lines. Although they do have formal-type evenings, you are not required to dress up for dinner. You cannot wear shorts or jeans with a T-shirt and sandals to dinner at any time. 5. There are no secret charges. All purchases in the shop, tips of $10US per day per person, shore excursions, photo gallery, spa/salon services, alcohol and soda beverages, purchases from housekeeping (if you want to get one of their bathrobes, for example) and phone calls to home are all openly charged to your on-board account. If your pool towel goes missing and you don't inform your stateroom attendant, you'll find that charge in your account. If you take anything from the minibar, that, too, will be charged. All of this information is on their site and in your documents package. Read it carefully, and you'll have no surprises. My ratings are: Service: 5 - Everyone from stateroom attendants to waiters to shop assistants were, in my opinion, exceptional. They alwyas provided service with a smile, and because I'm genuinely interested in people, I had the opportunity to talk with them and to learn about their homelands and a bit about themselves. They are wonderful human beings, not servants to the passengers on board and shouldn't be treated as such. They have a hard job to do and they do it well, professionally and personably. Unlike other cruise lines, they are not distant, in my experience. Food: 3 - While there is a good variety on the menu, it does get repetitive. The presentations are nice and the food itself is adequate. I am rather a fussy eater, but I was always able to find something good to have. I must say that food is not a major priority for me, so I do not judge restaurants solely on that criterion. Service is more important to me. Entertainment: 3 - I do not often go to the shows on board a cruise, but what I saw was impressive for the most part. I do not want to sit in the theatre; I'd rather go to the casino or take a walk around the ship and on the decks outside. I go on a cruise vacation to relax and have peace. I find that on the decks watching or listening to the sea, or simply looking at the sky, whether it is day or night. The internet café is not free. I didn't use it, but I heard it was rather expensive. You could bring your laptop, but I'm not aware of charges. I never use the internet cafés on cruises - I'm on vacation and I don't want or need to be connected 24/7 while ona cruise especially. I go to internet cafés while in port if I want to check or send email, and that doesn't happen very often. I hope I've given you some useful information. All cruises are wonderful vacations, but I really liked the service on board the Jewel. I went back on the Jewel a second time because I enjoyed the service from everyone on board. As I said above, I am planning to go back on board the Jewel in April to do a trans-Atlantic to Europe. Enjoy your cruise and do...whatever, whenever! EDIT: Some other people here have really criticized their cruises. If you bring certain expectations and they are not met, no matter what kind of vacation you take, you will not be satisfied with the experience. It would be better to stay home. If you think you'll find eveything "just like at home" in any other country, you will be sadly disappointed with any vacation you take.Travel with an open mind, live new experiences, and enjoy! After all, that is why people take vacations, isn't it? I don't think we should compare ships and lines. There's good and bad with each. Paying more doesn't necessarily mean better, and going cheaper doesn't mean dreadful. Ships and cruise lines are as different and unique as cities and countries are. You might like one ship on one line and dislike another on the same line. Likewise, you might like one cruise line over another. It comes down to personal choices and how you react to and treat each situation.