Try a 7-day cruise on Carnival, instead.
We are avid Carnival cruisers. We started late, around 3 years ago, and are now 63. We like the mix of ages on their cruises, but HATED the short cruise we went on. Those cruise, are very much geared for the younger, partying crowds. The 7 and 8 day cruises are on a different class of ship, most with a wonder supper club (for which there is a $30 surcharge, but it is wonderful, and talk about pampering). The newest ship, that will be going out of Cocoa Beach starting next year will be wonderful, the "Dream". We went out on its sister ship, last year, the Splendor, stayed in the SPA accomodations and had the time of our lives. As business was off, they called us on December 24th and bumped us into a SPA suite (we were in a SPA balcony), for an additional $100 per person. Carnival has been good for us. It's a big price point difference from the Holland America, with newer ships, and also a big difference from Royal Carribean also. We took the 8-day trip that goes down as far as St. Kitts two years ago, and the whole ship was Seniors, it seemed, and by the way, they were all partaking of the craziness on deck.
I just thought I would add my take on Carnival. We also plan to try other lines once we retire and have time to get good deals, but don't count Carnival out based on a 4 or 5 day trip.
Lee in Tampa
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