> Cruising Questions & Advice > Questions/Answers > Casual / freestyle cruises?

Very grateful for a bit of advice please - my girlfriend and I are planning to take our first ever cruise later this year, to Northern Europe (fjords, Baltic, etc), but we're finding it very difficult to figure out which companies and ships might suit our needs.

What we are looking for specifically is a ship that will have a relaxed and informal atmosphere, without dress codes, but still be a relatively civilised and adult environment (ie not a "Butlins on a boat" type of feel!). We both really don't like dressing up and are completely put off by the prospect of formal evenings, tuxedos etc.

I've seen a lot of references to "freestyle" cruising which sounds like it might fit the bill, but the only company I've seen specifically offering this is NCL. Are there any others that might be suitable? Thanks for any help!

Carnival "Fun Ships" are worth a look if a more casual experience is your choice but they are not operating in Northern Europe this year.

I prefer them to NCL as they still have the option of fixed evening dining as opposed to a queuing system..........Each to their own, but unless you are prepared to pay 'top end' with Azamara, Seabourn and the likes, no formal nights, you are always going to find yourself in a Butlins at Sea cruise experience, to some degree or another with the lower key cruise lines.

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Wilba

Surely Carnival are the epitome of a "Butlin’s boat" and attract a young ‘party Crowd’ (hence their name)?

What you are asking for is pretty rare. It’s like asking for a fine restaurant with great food and great service where you can wear your shorts and baseball caps. There are fine restaurants where you are required to dress up a bit and cafes where you don’t have to.

The more upmarket big cruise lines (like Celebrity and Cunard) offer a more sophisticated experience (non-Chav) but have dress codes. (They also offer fine food, good service and have higher fares). The mass market lines (Carnival, RCI and NCL) are more relaxed; attract more young people and families. There is a ‘Butlin’s’ element, but the ships are big enough to avoid it, if you wish.

If ‘informal’ is really important to you, the 'Norwegian Cruise Line' are the obvious choice – although I feel Royal Caribbean are better, but slightly more formal.

The Baltic is an EXCELLENT cruise if you enjoy facinating cities and Culture, the Fjord's are more Senic of course.

By the way, what are range are you?

[QUOTE=sphagnum, London;41852]
What we are looking for specifically is a ship that will have a relaxed and informal atmosphere, without dress codes, but still be a relatively civilised and adult environment (ie not a "Butlins on a boat" type of feel!). We both really don't like dressing up and are completely put off by the prospect of formal evenings, tuxedos etc.
QUOTE]

Please don't let the idea of 'dressing for dinner' put you off a cruise that you fancy. In two weeks you will have three 'formal' nights at the most. You would need a dark suit with shirt and tie and your lady a cocktail dress or dark trousers and evening top(s). Other than that, just don't wear jeans and trainers in the dining room and you'll be fine. Bigger ships have a choice of dining venues so that you don't have to have a five course meal every night. Breakfast and lunch can be taken in the buffet.
From personal choice I'd choose a smaller ship for the fjords as they can get to places the larger ones can't, but for the Baltic it doesn't make much difference. I hope you enjoy whatever you choose. Judith

Carnival Cruise Lines is far from the epitome of a Butlin's Boat


Elevator area on a Carnival ship


Their shorter, 3- and 4-day cruises out of American ports can be party-hearty cruises
but their 1-week and longer cruises are far more civilized!



Does this look like Butlins?


Suggest you try a Carnival cruise for your first cruise, regardless of route/destination.



The Library on Carnival Victory. Does this look like Butlins?


You'll probably like it: Carnival is not a successful cruise line for nothing
but be ready for a decidedly-non-English decor..



Oh look! It's the theatre at Butlins!
.

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I can't actually agree with you there Malcolm. I have done 2 Carnival's, one out of Rome the other out of L.A. and the age and profile of the passenger mix was no different to cruises I've done on P&O, RCI or Celebrity.
Maybe that was just the luck of the draw, but definitely not a 'Butlin Boat' and the Speciality Restaurant was the best I've experienced.........Ever!

That said, I am sure the 3/4 nighters in the States attract a younger, hen/stag crowd at around $199 a pop and since my last they have relaxed the dress code to 'Elegant Casual' or some other barmy title.

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Wilba

Nothing might educate you more
than reading the first 150 pages of the Berlitz Guide to Cruising.
Suggest you go out and invest in a copy, at your local bookstore.





........................................


Meanwhile the shameless plug for Carnival continues
with sure proof of how much you might/might-not like it.


This lady was sooo completely bored, she just crashed out!

Couldn't relax for a minute, poor girl!




Neptune's Way




The Coral Sea cafe and coffee shop along Neptune's Way -Carnival Victory.
.

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MG! -Look at these party animals!!



Nice people we met -from N.Carolina!









Yours Truly -about as dressed up as I can manage!
.

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All of that looks like Butlins to me.....Neil

Sphagnum- we've travelled twice with NCL in Europe over the past 2 years, and are at a loss as to where this "Butlin's" ethos is. Yes, there were some very active discos on a night, and the decoration is anything but bland, but apart from that we neither saw nor heard disturbing, silly or bad behaviour. The buffet could be crowded, and the children's pool noisy, but I'm really struggling to find anything which made a difference from our cruises with P&O and Princess. Some people had to be given a pager at busy times in the main dining rooms, although this never affected us. The additional restaurants were all pleasant, with good staff and excellent food. If you can afford it, look at the Penthouse suites, which have their own areas for relaxation.
Some people have had problems with too many children on board ships in school holidays cruising the Med- but this seems to apply to all lines. I'm not sure if this applies to Baltic cruises. The majority of pax on board are from Northern America, and there are clubs for children.
NCL cruises remain amongst our preferred ones.- Jo (puzzled).