HELP w/ cruise decision......

[cruiseluver]

Would like some input pleeeeez - looking for a cruise (newer ship)w/ a NICE casino that has texas hold-em high stakes open late (for him) and great food (prefer freestyle - for me)! Carnival, Princess, RCCL, Norwegian, Holland America price range. Prefer Eastern/Southern Caribbean but flexible. I heard Norwegian Jewel fits all the above criteria??? Thanks much!!

[Dwayne]

Welcome to Cruise-Chat!

I would reccomend reading the posts on the NCL forum, and posing the question there.

[LHT28]

Princes has Personal choice dining & traditional dining.
NCL has Freestyle but I am not sure of any other mass market lines where you can go to the dining room anytime most have the traditional (set time) dining.

Food is subjective so that is something only you can decide on .
Go to Cruise Critic and read the reviews on the lines you are interested in.
We sailed both lines (not the Jewel) but found Princess was better for us.

[LisaP]

That's a pretty big price range.

I toured Norwegian Jewel and thought her a beautiful ship. Yet, while NCL provides a decent product, Princess is a tad better and is worth the extra cost. These are the two lines (of the ones mentioned) on which you will find flexible dinner hours in the main dining rooms, although you will have to request it on Princess.

I don't know enough about the casinos to answer your other question... hopefully, someone will come along and do so.

[penny3333]

I'll second the Princess idea. The Crown is brand new, the Emerald is coming out next year. However, Princess ships are immaculate. The service is impeccable, and the food is great. The anytime dining is a wonderful option. The casinos are open until 2am. I'm not sure about Texas Hold'em, but I do know they have poker tables (I play video poker). I would expect that they have Texas Hold'em because it is so popular. Another popular item on Princess is the Movies Under the Stars, it's not available on all ships, but it is a wonderful addition. Even during the day, you can watch movies (they give you head sets). At night, they turn on the surround sound and it's great to watch the stars as well as a movie. However, any ship you choose, you will have a wonderful time. Best wishes!