Royal Caribbean's Oasis Class of ships might suit you. In that class, they have the Oasis (which was the first one), the Allure, and the Harmony (which is the newest one). The Oasis sails out of Port Canaveral. This class is the largest cruise ship afloat. The first time we booked this class we did it "just because:" we cruise a lot and thought we'd try it--but we were expecting it to be too big, too crowded, etc. We were stunned to discover that the ships are so well laid out, with so many things to do, that it seems much less crowded than the other ships (and we've been on every size they have). We loved it! The ship won't be in port every day, but we often don't get off the ship when it is in port; we like just hanging out on the ship, and there are still things to do (shopping and gambling will be closed until the ship leaves port, but other things, like the spa, are open.)
Since the ships are large--and this would apply to all of the larger ships, no matter what line--if you have any difficulty walking, you might want to consider booking a cabin relatively close to the elevators. This site
https://cruisedeckplans.com/DP/deckplans/index.php has deck plans and cabin layouts for all lines. A cabin in the center, obviously, allows you to minimize walking to the various spots.
As to pricing, there a couple of things to keep in mind:
1. ALL resellers (100% of them) are forbidden to sell a cruise for less than the cruise line is currently selling the cruise for--otherwise, the cruise line
will refuse to let that travel agent sell the cruises again.
a. However, IF the travel agent is a large one (like
www.vacationstogo.com,
www.crucon.com,
www.onlinevacationcenter.com, and a host of others),
they often reserve blocks of cabins (by paying the deposit in advance) when the pricing is low at the time the cruise is first announced), and if
the travel agent "owns" the cabin because of that, they can sell the cruise for whatever price they want to. In those circumstances, you can
find a travel agent actually selling the cruise itself for less than the cruise line is selling it.
b. The rest of the time, the travel agent--big or small--must sell the cruise for what the line is selling it--BUT THE TRAVEL AGENT CAN OFFER
"INCENTIVES" for booking with them. Incentives are typically such things as 1) the agent pays the gratuities for you (typically about
$25.00 per day per cabin), 2) the agent gives you a free dinner in one of the speciality restaurants that you pay to go to if you don't want
to dine in the main dining room, which is free--speciality dining is typically $60.00-$70.00 per couple 3) the agent pays for a spa
treatment, typically about $100.00 4) the agent pays for wifi--quite a bit, figures escape me at the moment, 5) the agent pays for a
beverage package, typically expensive.
c. There is, in my opinion, no way to make sure you have the best deal available for a cruise; the best you can do is find a good deal that suits
you. When I'm shopping, I make a grid showing company, price quoted, and incentives offered. I always shop a minimum of two agents, and
sometimes quite a few. If you start shopping on a hypothetical basis now, you'll soon get a feel for where the prices are in general, and then
if you see a real bargain, you can grab it.
d. Cruise lines discount/change prices on a more or less continuous basis. The cruise you booked yesterday, may cost hundreds less in two weeks.
There is no way to predict that. Until the date of the final payment, you can get the price changes if they are in your favor IF YOU ASK FOR
THEM; the cruise line will not advise you that it has happened. That means that you should--in my opinion--continue to monitor the price on
your cruise even after you have booked it. Prices often drop significantly shortly after the due date for the final payment; they have cabins that
will go empty if they don't discount the prices, so they do. SOMETIMES you can get the line to upgrade you if there is a significant price drop
even after final payment due date. (Due date refers to the final date the cruise line sets--not when you made your final payment.)
e. Beverage packages are expensive. Whether they are worth it to you depends on your drinking habits. As a rough guide, figure $10.00 a drink and
how many you would expect to drink per day. With a drink package, the gratuity the ship adds of 15% or so is covered, but you will still need to
tip the waiter a bit who brings you the drink.
I have travel agents I use at a number of the big on-line agencies that give excellent service: answer questions, check with the line about special requests, call me back promptly, re-check prices for me if the line has a sale, etc. I'm sure others do also. Any of us could give you agent names at the various big on-line cruise agencies that would work with you. You definitely don't have to give up good service from a travel agent if you use one of the big on-line companies.
