First cruise at 50!

[Guest]

DH and I were discussing (again ) options for my 50th in April 2020. As we have booked Orlando for September this year, we (he) won’t want to go again so soon. We had Australia as an option but I don’t think that will be feasible, so I am thinking West Coast US.

We will be land based for my actual birthday, which is my preference, but I have seen a seven night cruise from and returning to LA a few days later. I know nothing about cruising!

The ship is the Royal Princess, has anyone been on it and have any thoughts, is it a good ship for a first experience? Do you have to get dressed up for dinner (that would be a positive for us)?

The itinerary includes San Francisco, Monterey, San Diego and somewhere in Mexico. Quite happy with the itinerary, but I am aware I have not really put a lot of thought into it as I am thinking more of the cruise experience, is that a mistake?

Any other comments are welcome too. I think we might book today because we want a nice cabin and there are only a few of the type we want left.

[traceylou1972]

Hi. The Royal Princess is a beautiful ship. We sailed on her a couple of years ago on a Caribbean cruise. Everyone makes an effort on an evening and the formal night with the champagne fountain and balloon drop is lovely. Our favourite cruise line is Celebrity with Princess being a close second. DH is 50 in June and I'm 47 in June so we are of similar ages. For a first cruise with a great itinerary I don't think you'll be disappointed.

Tracey x

[Greyfriars]

We did our first cruise last September, we were 68 and 65! we did the Caribbean on the Celebrity Equinox. I was unsure if I would enjoy it but it was brilliant. Margaret and I are gregarious so we had flexible dining and always asked to sit at a table of 8 or 10.

[Guest]

Originally Posted by traceylou1972

Hi. The Royal Princess is a beautiful ship. We sailed on her a couple of years ago on a Caribbean cruise. Everyone makes an effort on an evening and the formal night with the champagne fountain and balloon drop is lovely. Our favourite cruise line is Celebrity with Princess being a close second. DH is 50 in June and I'm 47 in June so we are of similar ages. For a first cruise with a great itinerary I don't think you'll be disappointed.

Tracey x

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Well that sounds promising. I did think about Celebrity as an old school friend (just Facebook friend now) is Head of Sales and is always posting about them. Anyway they don’t seem to have much from LA.

Originally Posted by Greyfriars

We did our first cruise last September, we were 68 and 65! we did the Caribbean on the Celebrity Equinox. I was unsure if I would enjoy it but it was brilliant. Margaret and I are gregarious so we had flexible dining and always asked to sit at a table of 8 or 10.

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I read something in the dining section about sitting with others or by yourselves. We are not especially gregarious but it feels like a cruise should be a sociable thing, so we will definitely give the larger tables a go.

[mick]

We did our first cruise back in 2005 when we were both 59 with a few concerns as we didn't know whether to expect (with all due respect ) Butlins or expectations of wearing a DJ round the pool.

It was the Caribbean from Port Canaveral and in the event was happily in between with Carnival although I believe they are at the more informal end of boats. We've done two more Caribbean out of Florida. Another with Carnival and one with Emerald Princess. Also done the Med twice with RCI and the Canaries with the same Emerald.

Visited most of the big name Caribbean islands plus Mexico and Belize.

Recently retired from 50+ years wearing a suit and tie so that's the last thing I want to pack to be honest but lots of Dibbers love to be able to dress up. Quite right too.

So when we ate in the dining room I tended to wear long chinos and button through shirt. On formal nights we just went to the buffet.

Mick

[traceylou1972]

Hi again. We always have a table for two (apart from a Disney cruise). We choose anytime dining and request a table for two which we always get.

[Guest]

Originally Posted by traceylou1972

Hi again. We always have a table for two (apart from a Disney cruise). We choose anytime dining and request a table for two which we always get.

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Yes we would want anytime dining, I don’t want to be on a timetable.

Think I might be booking this after lunch. Gulp.

[Guest]

Originally Posted by mick

We did our first cruise back in 2005 when we were both 59 with a few concerns as we didn't know whether to expect (with all due respect ) Butlins or expectations of wearing a DJ round the pool.

It was the Caribbean from Port Canaveral and in the event was happily in between with Carnival although I believe they are at the more informal end of boats. We've done two more Caribbean out of Florida. Another with Carnival and one with Emerald Princess. Also done the Med twice with RCI and the Canaries with the same Emerald.

Visited most of the big name Caribbean islands plus Mexico and Belize.

Recently retired from 50+ years wearing a suit and tie so that's the last thing I want to pack to be honest but lots of Dibbers love to be able to dress up. Quite right too.

So when we ate in the dining room I tended to wear long chinos and button through shirt. On formal nights we just went to the buffet.

Mick

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We won’t want to dress up every night but we definitely will some. We will spend a few nights in Vegas and are going to do a dressed up casino night as well. Although that could be a very short night as we will be very strict with an allowance!

[mick]

Originally Posted by Claudette

We won’t want to dress up every night but we definitely will some. We will spend a few nights in Vegas and are going to do a dressed up casino night as well. Although that could be a very short night as we will be very strict with an allowance!

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Only spent 4 nights in LV and spent one whole dollar in the hotel's casino slot machine. Too many flashing lights and bells and whistles for me to understand. Enjoyed the trip to the Grand Canyon from there though.

Mick

[Guest]

Originally Posted by mick

Only spent 4 nights in LV and spent one whole dollar in the hotel's casino slot machine. Too may flashing lights and bells and whistles for me to understand. Enjoyed the trip to the Grand Canyon from there though.

Mick

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We got married in California and did LV and Grand Canyon afterwards, we did either one or two nights at the canyon so did it thoroughly and I don’t think we will go again. I am a bit scared of small planes and helicopters too.