Hi! Looking for recommendations on cruises leaving from the East Coast (preferably Orlando, Miami, or Fort Lauderdale). I’m hoping for something that’s not super child-centric (though not a deal breaker), but more focused on socializing, relaxing, and trying new things. I’m comfortable with a relaxed vibe (I spend a lot of time with the ‘silver crowd’), but I’d also love to enjoy some adventure and new experiences, especially since this will be my first cruise . My BF (26M) is more into beach-eat-sleep-repeat . We’re thinking of a 5-6 night trip in April, with a budget of $2K or less for both of us (excluding shore excursions).
Also, for a first-timer, does an ocean-view cabin make a big difference compared to an inside one? Trying to decide if it’s worth the extra cost for the experience
There are normally not many kids around, if you aren’t traveling in the summer or during the school break. We were informed that the children we saw upon disembarking from the ship are on break from Georgia’s year-round educational program. The majority of ship activities, such as Flow Rider and Rock Wall at Royal Caribbean, are presumably offered by Carnival and Royal Caribbean.
We just traveled aboard the Vision of the Seas from Baltimore to New England and Canada. I think I spotted ten or so children on this considerably smaller ship, considering the season and ports. Smaller ships appear to draw less young families, which is why I enjoy them. My favorite cruise destination is Bermuda, which is also included in Vision. Baltimore’s port was a great place to arrive and depart from.
Because we are introverts, we always get a room with a balcony. We spend a lot of time reading or just lounging on the balcony; some individuals only use their room for sleeping and taking showers.
We just traveled aboard the Vision of the Seas from Baltimore to New England and Canada. I think I spotted ten or so children on this considerably smaller ship, considering the season and ports. Smaller ships appear to draw less young families, which is why I enjoy them. My favorite cruise destination is Bermuda, which is also included in Vision. Baltimore’s port was a great place to arrive and depart from.
Because we are introverts, we always get a room with a balcony. We spend a lot of time reading or just lounging on the balcony; some individuals only use their room for sleeping and taking showers.
@Hudson The intended destination was Gloucester, but the water was too choppy for tendering, so we continued on to the next port, Portland, ME, after a brief detour. I was disappointed.
@Dorea Make sure to visit Gloucester on your next trip! Good Harbor Beach is my favorite, and you can visit in the early summer to see the greasy pole competition!
I would stay away from Royal Caribbean, Carnival, or NCL as those lines tend to attract families. April is going to be tough to find a less expensive cruise, though, as Spring Break varies throughout the US, and trust me when I say the cruise lines know exactly which weeks will have Spring Break crowds.
I would suggest Princess, Holland America, and Celebrity for a more adult experience.
An interior will be your less expensive option as far as cabins go, but sometimes a window isn’t much more. Also, older ships tend to be less expensive than the newer ships. Another hack for getting a cheaper fare is waiting until after final payment due date to book the sailing you are interested in. Fares may drop a bit as the cruise line tries to fill the ship. This will not work if it’s a popular ship or high demand week.
Another thing to keep in mind, let’s say you find a fare for $999 pp. That doesn’t mean your final fare will be $1998 for 2. There will be port fees and taxes, as well as gratuities, unless you get a fare that includes them.
Would you please suggest a cabin with a balcony? Being able to enjoy coffee and observe the ocean from here is quite calming. We previously attempted an interior, but it was simply too cramped.
Carnival is less expensive if you’re trying to save some cash as well. Carnival can have a terrible reputation, but this is usually because of their shorter, three-day cruises from Florida or Los Angeles, which are packed with rowdy party animals. Of sure, go ahead and do that if that’s your thing. It is less common for their longer, customary trips, which last seven to ten days. Wishing you luck.
The first thing to be aware of is that many cruise lines will have a lot of extra charges, especially the mass market lines (Norwegian, Carnival, Royal) on top of what you are paying for the cruise. Norwegian is often considered the worst for nickel and diming passengers with upcharges for everything. Wifi is charged per device per person and is $150-200 per device on average. Fitness classes will be another $150+. If you want specialty dining (better food), it will be another $150-250 per person. They will charge you about $5 for each water or soft drinks, $8 per beer, $10-15 per wine, and $12-$15 per cocktail unless you get a drinks package but if you do the math you generally need to have about 10 drinks a day to break even on any of the drink packages (alcoholic or non-alcoholic). At the end of the cruise, you will be charged automatic gratuities of about $20 per person per day.
Virgin voyages might be a good choice for you because they require all passengers to be 18+ and include most of the above in the base fare.
Celebrity, Princess, or Holland might also be good choices as these are considered premium lines. They are a bit more expensive but generally have better food, entertainment, activities, and fewer children due to the higher price. Please note that if you cruise while kids are out of school (over the summer, winter break, or spring break), you are going to see a lot more kids. These lines will have more of what you refer to as the silver crowd. The other advantage of these cruise lines is that they aren’t in your face constantly pushing their art auctions or jewelry store partners.
The last thing to note is that a balcony is usually not much more than an interior room and well worth spending a few hundred extra bucks to have a private outdoor space for lounging, eating, napping, or enjoying the views.
. My BF (26M) is more into beach-eat-sleep-repeat 
. We’re thinking of a 5-6 night trip in April, with a budget of $2K or less for both of us (excluding shore excursions).