Various Cruise Lines About This Page:

[mestitch]

My DMIL and DFIL want to go on a cruise next June for their 40th wedding anniversary. DMIL really wants to go to Bermuda. Does anybody have and pros and cons of the different cruise lines? If they were traveling with us then I would push the DCL, but I know they wouldn't enjoy it without us around.

[Chelledun17]

My parents aren't that far from that age and they really enjoy Princess. The anytime dining option is nice - you can sit with other couples one night and by yourself the next night. We've been in the Crown Princess and Emerald Princess and enjoyed both. I'm not sure if they go to Bermuda , but their Southern Caribbean itineraries out of San Juan are really fabulous.

If you have any specific questions we've done five Carnival cruises and two Princess to the East, West, and South Caribbean and Europe, so I'd be glad to answer if I can! We'll be doing Mexican Riviera in December.

[SweetDisney]

I might not have been to WDW yet, (7 wks to go), but I have been on 10 cruises. All I can tell you is that I highly recommend Royal Caribbean. I have only cruised on them, but they are the best. They have fantastic service, food to die for and they have plenty of entertainment. I have heard from many people that have cruised on other lines that they will always come back to Royal Caribbean. I have been on three cruises where 40, 45 and 50 yr anniversaries have been announiced. I love cruises because you can be as active or as inactive (aka relaxed) as you want. I have not had the pleasure of the bermuda cruise on Royal Caribbean, if I remember correctly I think it leaves from Virgina or New Jersey which is a new one for me, but I would totally check it out. I also think that it is just a five day cruise and only goes to Bermuda. Also an FYI, last month my brother went on a RCC for his honeymoon - the plane was delayed and the missed the boat. Long story short they had to fly to the first port and catch up with the boat there. Although they missed the first two days of their cruise RCC gave my sister in law and brother $700 on board credit each. They had massages, dinner in their room and other neat things. Point is that RCC will take care of ya. Hope all this rambling helps!!

[JoanW]

We've done DCL and are getting ready to do a Royal Caribbean next year. RCL does go to Bermuda, out of Baltimore. It's a 5 nighter, usually. Crystal recommended RCL to us.

[scdisneyfan]

I think it really depends on which port that they want to sail out of. Certain lines go out of certain ports. I know that my in laws really enjoyed the Celebrity cruise and the RCL as well and they are in their 50's. They said they were very upscale and not a lot of riff raff. It too depends on what they are willing to pay, if cost is not an issues i'd highly recommend that when they do book they book a balcolny because his parents always do that and love it.

[YoHoTales40]

We took a Royal Caribbean cruise in Dec. and were really impressed by the ship and staff. And we have heard really good things about the Princess line. I might also recommend that you check out some websites that review cruise lines like cruisecritic.com or cruisereviewsonline.com.

[mestitch]

They're willing to leave from anywhere on the east coast pretty much.. and money is not an issue with them, and booking a balcony is a must for my DMIL.

[Dave Marx]

The port authorities in Bermuda have a PDF document that reports on 2008 cruising schedules . There are six ships from three lines that do the lion's share of the port visits - 1 Princess ship, 2 Royal Caribbean, and 3 Norwegian - 112 visits between them. 68 out of 138 total cruise ship visits were made by Norwegian. 22 other ships are responsible for 25 visits.

The vast majority of sailings come from Middle and South Atlantic ports - New York, Cape Liberty (New Jersey), Baltimore, and Charleston.

[crystalloubear]

I don't know if she is set on Bermuda for a particular reason but it wouldn't be my first choice for a first timers cruise.
Anyway, of the ships listed on that doc that Dave posted - we have been on Royal Caribean's Explorer of the Seas and NCL Norwegian Dawn. Both are gorgeous ships but they offer very different experiences. RCCL offers your traditional cruise experience with assigned seating for diners and a more casual option. NCL offers only freestyle dining which in our experience was just us sitting alone and never had much experience to enjoy the company of others at dinner. Personally, when I cruise alone with my husband - I enjoy being seated at dinner with others - gives you an opportunity to meet new people and get a break from 7 straight days of listening to your spouse (Melissa - you met Doug - you know what I mean lol).
Anyway, if they are not 100% for Bermuda my recommendation would be to cruise on Celebrity. That is my favorite. Not many kids (if I'm leaving mine home, I really don't want to see other people's), the food is superb, and the service wonderful. Since you said money's not really an issue, If they book a suite, they get a butler which is most excellent! If you have any more questions, you know where to find me

[mestitch]

Crystal I actually wondered about Celebrity. I don't know why she wants to go to Bermuda... She asked me to look into it for her and her main things were wanting to go to Bermuda and wanting a balcony.. she also really would like to leave out of Charleston but I couldn't find anything leaving from Charleston for the dates they want to go. And they want to go next June so I told her she really needs to start thinking about it. Where do the Celebrity cruises go?

[lukeandbrookesmom]

Originally Posted by Dave Marx

There are six ships from three lines that do the lion's share of the port visits - 1 Princess ship, 2 Royal Caribbean, and 3 Norwegian.

All very nice cruise lines.

[crystalloubear]

Originally Posted by mestitch

Where do the Celebrity cruises go?

You could search Celebrity's website for their dates. We did a Bermuda one with them when I was pregnant with Jeanette. A hurricane hit Bermuda the day before we were to leave and the boat was diverted to a Canada/New England route. Still fun. We did another one that was 11 days and was a combo Southern/Eastern cruise.
Anyway, browsing around I found a pretty good option for them to get Bermuda with some other ports. Royal Caribean's Explorer (great ship) has a 9 day leaving from Port Liberty (Bayonne) NJ for 9 days going to Bermuda, St Martin, St Thomas, and San Juan (all ports that I enjoyed visiting and I would imagine they are like me and like more sightseeing relaxing shore excursions as opposed to highly active ones lol). It sails June 11 and 25. The nice thing is you get 4 ports and 4 sea days. Sailing out of Bayonne is nice - you go right by the Statue of Liberty - an amazing site no matter how many times you have seen it - you haven't seen it like from your own balcony.

[KathyL]

Another thought about Bermuda... Most ships that just "cruise to Bermuda" don't do alot of sailing. Many of the ships spend several days docked at one part of Bermuda and then move to the other part and spend several days docked there. So, you are missing out on part of the fun of just cruising the open sea going from port/island to another. I always enjoying visiting different places and spending time at sea.

[mestitch]

Crystal I'm going to mention the one that you talked about that leaves from NJ to them. My MIL has all of her family up in the NY/NJ area so that would be a great way for them to go visit some family first and then go on the cruise. And that's a nice long cruise, with lots of stops and lots of opportunity to see new things. Thanks for your help!! If they aren't interested in leaving from NJ them I might just have to push the Celebrity suite with a butler

[minniemanor]

There is also a 9-night Princess cruise out of NY that goes to Bermuda, San Juan, St. Thomas and Grand Turk.

Any of the 5-7 night cruises to Bermuda will spend a day at sea in each direction and then just stay in one port the entire time. They do sail out of Boston, Baltimore, NY, NJ and Norfolk next June, however some of those cruise are older ships.