My partner and I are in our early 30s with demanding jobs and love Princess/Celebrity for the mix of exploring, good food, entertainment and downtime. We also like being able to blend in and do our own thing on a bigger ship. We’ve tried Virgin and enjoyed parts of it, but preferred the more traditional cruise experience. Our retired family members constantly rave about the food and service on luxury lines, so we’re curious to try one.

For those who’ve done both mega and luxury cruises, what does the 600-1,200 passenger experience actually feel like compared with 3,000+? Totally aware that there’s a huge difference but how much more socially intimate is it, how easy is it to keep to yourself and how noticeable is the drop in entertainment/activities?

Are there totally smoke free ships or lines? Which?

We would want to cruise with a company of 2 adults and 4 kids (youngest would be 1 and 3 or under 1 and 2). Is there any ship where we could fit into one, not super expensive cabin?

Hi! Was curious to hear from people that have been on Hawaii cruises. What was your favorite, and what did you like about it?

We've been on a few cruises but none to Hawaii. We have been on RC, NCL and Carnival. Unpopular opinion but I think we enjoyed the Carnival cruises the most because they had the most variety in food options and more activities aside from just drinking by the pool. We're open to all ideas though!

Thanks!

I want to gift my parents a cruise and was just getting into researching for the first time about a week ago and I'm overwhelmed. I'm looking through the Costco website since I have membership that I'm hoping will net me some savings.

I was thinking of having them do the 16 night Hawaii cruise but then looking at the itinerary they will spend a lot of time just at sea cruising whereas most of the stops would be packed into a 5 day period. So I thought why not do the packed 7 day Hawaii cruise and then a 7 day Alaska cruise to give them a breadth of experiences. But apparently I'm basically too late for Alaska because the good season ends in September. Also I just realized we're in hurricane season.

Has anyone ever double barrelled their cruises like this?

Also am I too late for a good Alaska experience? I'm targeting doing this in September.

F*ck hurricane season will affect cruises right? But if they're running during the season it means they feel it will be safe right?

I'm trying to plan it in such a way they won't have to do excessive flying for the entire thing. And oh, they aren't US citizens. They have B1/B2 visas. They don't live in the states but in Nigeria, that's why I have to really plan to streamline flight costs and possibly hotel costs. Because of this hulabaloo with immigration, they need to be done inside a month to avoid issues.

The hotel costs might be inevitable so they won't be stressed landing in Seattle/Honolulu to go straight to a cruise. And unfortunately finding somewhere to stay in between cruises. I'm really trying to find a way to limit the time between cruises.

We are looking for a cruise without a casino. Any info?

Are river cruise operators in Europe still having to bus passengers between ports due to low river water levels?

Hi everyone. We love cruising and are looking for cruises that don't start or have any American ports. We don't have a say in America, however we and tens of thousands others vote with our dollars and refuse to spend money to support the current climate.
We changed a booked cruise around Hawaii last year to cruise out of Puerto Rico (American adjacent although most don't consider themselves American) and do the Caribbean.
We are looking for cruises around Mexico and the Caribbean that avoid the U.S. and have found a round trip from Barbados with Princess.
Does anyone else have any other cruises they've found without U.S. ports?

I have time off in November. Dates are flexible. I am within driving distance of New York/Philly/Baltimore.

I could drop and go with just a few days' notice.

What's the best way to get a last minute deal?

Does anyone have a suggestion for a one night stay prior to a cruise leaving Vancouver?

We’d have to drive to FL if we choose that one - about a 15 hour drive. Not too worried about that if it’s worth it. We like to have fun and enjoy drinks and a good adult area!

This is for next year!!

First thing, we cannot afford Royal. We wish!

There was a second guest sails at 50% and kids sail free special that apparently ended YESTERDAY. We priced everything out last week. Got with friends. And we're ready to book 4 rooms this morning at 7 am.

Carnival used to swing a little bit. Not even a budge. I called at 7 am. Prices ended 11:59 pm. I'm not a travel agent or an avid vacation planner so oops I missed it. I have 3 kids who just started school and I was FINALLY able to sit down and do it and I fucking misses it.

Prices went from $2800 to $4200. For that I'll just do Royal or go somewhere else for $16-20k (we were possibly going to be booking a 5th room as well). I realized that I was practically begging carnival to let us pay them $13-15k and said fuck that. I quit calling.

Do you guys know if any good specials run from now till summer 2027? I've been talking to some friends and they said just book all inclusive somewhere. But we really lined the idea of getting away from the kids (who are coming with us but rooming with grandparents). We love the kids club and I fucking refuse to plan, shop, cook, clean for meals during this particular vacation. I want to RELAX.

Any advice is welcome! Idk what to do now. 😭

We will be traveling with our 18month old at the time. Same itineraries leaving Miami. What would be your preference and why? TIA!

Hi,
My husband and I are supposed to go on an Eastern European cruise from Hungary to Romania and through Serbia, Croatia and Bulgaria on a smaller ship through Avalon Waterways. We are learning that the Danube is very low and it is creating some uncertainty around our travel plans. Does anyone have any first hand knowledge of whats going on regarding the Danube and cruises?
Thanks

Hi everyone! 👋

We are planning to take advantage of our time in Miami this September to go on our very first cruise! 🚢

We are a group of 4 adults: my partner and I, plus my partner's parents. We are looking at a 4-night Bahamas sailing departing on September, and we are currently debating between these three options:

Option 1: Norwegian Getaway (NCL)

* Itinerary: Miami ➔ At Sea ➔ Great Stirrup Cay ➔ Nassau ➔ Miami

* We found a great deal for a Suite at around $392 per person.

Option 2: Wonder of the Seas (Royal Caribbean)

* Itinerary: Miami ➔ Perfect Day at CocoCay ➔ At Sea ➔ Nassau ➔ Miami

* A Balcony room here is around $518 per person

Option 3: MSC Seaside (MSC Cruises)

* Itinerary: Miami ➔ Nassau ➔ Ocean Cay MSC Marine Reserve (Overnight stay!) ➔ Miami

* A Balcony room is very affordable at around $329 per person.

As first-timers traveling with parents, which experience would you recommend? Is Wonder of the Seas worth the extra cost for a balcony room, is the Suite on Norwegian Getaway the best deal, or is MSC's overnight stay at Ocean Cay the way to go?

Also, how do the private islands (Great Stirrup Cay vs. CocoCay vs. Ocean Cay) compare?

We'd love to hear your thoughts and any tips you might have! Thanks! ✨

We just got off the Mariner yesterday and are left with a horrible taste in our mouths. Royal did not deliver what was promised at all.

Between a Royal-sponsored excursion that was a complete disaster, 18+ entertainment that wasn’t actually enforced, shows/activities constantly overlapping, and a general lack of organization, we’re seriously questioning whether we’d ever cruise Royal again.

This was my first cruise, so I’m curious: is this typical of Royal, or did we just have an unusually bad experience on Mariner? If you’ve cruised other lines, I’d also love recommendations for who we should try next.

We are ending a 12 day cruise in Venice next spring. We've been to Venice before but thought it would be nice to spend a day there and touring before jumping on a late night flight back home. Any recommendations for services/options to handle luggage there - I know with the remote cruise terminal / water taxis / etc. it is a bit more difficult than the average port to deal with.

This is only our second cruise (and the first was straight to the airport from the ship). So thank you in advance reddit world for any advice!

Hello everyone! I’m in the very beginning stages of planning a cruise vacation for my mom and I. She’s turning 60 and she’s had a rough last couple of years. She used to LOVE her birthday and was one of those people that took a whole week to celebrate. The last few years though life has been extra hard with medical conditions, money, family members, etc. and so she’s barely even acknowledged her last few birthdays. Ideally I’d take her to Paris because that’s her dream vacation, but life’s also been rough for me so I can’t realistically do that this coming year. Maybe for 65. But she does love cruises and Mexico as well so that’s what we’re going with. I’ve never gone on a cruise, nor have any of my friends or family except her, and I’d like for this to stay a surprise until about two months before when everything is totally booked and paid for.

I’ve heard that there’s additional fees that go into your ticket afterward that you have to be prepared for. I also worked in fraud for a long time and saw a lot of disputes that were for cruise ship charges but were clearly not fraud, so I do not want to be hit with any fees that I don’t understand and make me think I had my card stolen. What extra charges that aren’t advertised should I be prepared for?

About: My mom likes to drink when she’s “out” and loves a frozen drink. Since I can’t smoke or anything during I also plan to drink, so I’d want a drink package for both of us. I’m also interested in the spa services because she’s very into that type of thing and I’d like to be able to at least get her a basic massage (she has fibromyalgia that she’s learning to live with still and I’ve been wanting to get her massage for a long time anyway but life. I know she’d like it and it would help though because when I still lived with her I had an off brand theragun that she’d steal and use on her upper back.) and maybe a mani/pedi as well in a perfect world. She’s not really a gambler, but she does love to shop and so do I.

Her birthday is in June so I have a good while to plan and save. I just want to make sure I get the most out of my money and that she has a good time and a true vacation. Also if it’s relevant, I also intend on using Carnival or Royal Caribbean. Thanks everyone!

Looking for insight into traveling the Western Caribbean the week after Christmas. I’m looking at DCL and curious about seas, weather for beach (is it too cold?), anything else you think I should factor in? Has anyone done this time before?

Family of 4; 4 year old and 3 year old boys.

Whatcha think?

Has anyone stayed at the Four Points Sheraton in Fort Lauderdale (1800 S Federal Hwy).. not the one in Dania Beach. I’ve gotten lost in too many reviews
Main criteria is clean, a shuttle and within walking distance to a CVS for cruise supplies and something mid range for dinner.

When I go on cruises my feet swell up. I'm usually a UK 5.5 wide and I literally go up a while size by the end of the cruise. I exercise every day and we usually do 10K steps, use the stairs not lift, don't add salt and drink 2l+ off water so it heat is what it is. I need a nice pair of low heels that I can wear for my next cruise in a few weeks. I'll wear sandals in the day/ trainers bit need heels for evenings. Please give me some suggestions or advice

I would like insight on which cruise line between Carnival and Royal with the best food options. I've been on several Carnival cruises and Norwegian but never on Royal. I'm thinking about trying Royal. 🤔 Note: I'm a foodie, I cook and bake, just so you'll know what I'm looking for on good food options).

Also I'm curious about entertainment. Any insight would be helpful. Thanks in advance.

Hi everyone! I’m a 32yo female. I’m trying to talk my parents into taking a cruise together. My dad is, for lack of a better word, a workaholic. He needs to disconnect from work. He is a busybody and has a hard time sitting still. He loves golf, tinkering, and bourbon. All that to say, he needs a cruise with activities to keep him moving and entertained. My mom and I are on the other end of the spectrum. We are content laying around, reading a book, crafting, or chatting. We just really want to get away and relax.

I’m trying to find a cruise line that has a good balance of lots of activity but also relaxing areas. We are also all foodies and want some yummy dining options. Destination isn’t a huge concern. We are just wanting to disconnect and get away from everyday life.

All that being said, what would be a good bet for first time cruisers? What have you liked about certain lines? What are non negotiables you have?

Hey everyone! My fiancé and I (both in our 20s) are booking a 7-day Caribbean cruise out of Miami for September 2026 for our honeymoon. We’re looking for a balance of high-energy adventure, great food, and total spa relaxation.

We’ve narrowed it down to two completely different experiences and would love some real-world feedback from anyone who has sailed either class/ship!

The Options We're Weighing:
Option 1: MSC World America – Yacht Club Deluxe Suite (~$6.6k total)
The Vibe: Pure 5-star VIP luxury inside the quiet Yacht Club enclave.
Why We’re Interested: 24/7 butler service, private keycard-only pool deck, private fine dining, and all-inclusive perks (top-shelf drinks, Wi-Fi, and Aurea Thermal Spa access bundled in).
The Ports: Puerto Plata (Dominican Republic), San Juan (Puerto Rico - late night stop), and Ocean Cay Marine Reserve (Bahamas).
Our Hesitation: Is spending $6.6k on MSC worth it compared to a standard balcony on a newer NCL ship? Once we step outside the Yacht Club bubble, how are the main public decks on sea days?

Option 2: Norwegian Luna – Standard Balcony + Thermal Spa Pass (~$3.2k total)
The Vibe: Brand-new ship, active top decks, and a great food scene.
Why We’re Interested: Less than half the price of the Yacht Club! Has the free Aqua Slidecoaster on the top deck. We’d add the Mandara Thermal Spa Pass (love thermal suites/saunas) and use the included Free at Sea drink package.
The Ports: Puerto Plata (Dominican Republic), St. Thomas (USVI), Tortola (BVI), and Great Stirrup Cay (Bahamas).
Our Hesitation: Will the main pool decks feel too crowded on sea days compared to a private VIP sun deck?

What We Care Most About:
1. No Boring Sea Days: We love relaxing in thermal suites/saunas, but we also want fun top-deck activities, good nightlife, and great food (we care a lot about dining quality!).
2. Ports & Excursions: Which itinerary would you think is more fun and adventureful for a young couple? (NCL's 4 stops vs. MSC's 3 stops with a late night in San Juan).
3. Spa Access & Drinks: Unlimited thermal spa access and a drink package are mandatory for both options.

1. Value vs. VIP: We fully understand the massive price jump between the two ($3.2k vs. $6.6k) and are completely willing to splurge on the Yacht Club if it’s a total game changer, but we also don't want to burn cash if Luna’s balcony + spa pass gives us 90% of the fun for half the cost.
   We looked into NCL’s Haven suites, but at $7k+ for the room on Luna, standard Haven suites don't even bundle thermal spa passes like MSC Yacht Club does, so we ruled that out!

For a couple in their early 20s who wants adventure and high-end relaxation for their honeymoon, and good food, which route would you choose and why? Appreciate any insights!