CanadianCruiseCritic

1 hour ago, Riles34 said:

What excursions are you planning on doing that will run $2,000? Or is it the MG is $600 more and then $1200 in excursions? Either way, Amber cove has the pool and zip line plus some smaller water slides, Grand Turk has Margaritaville and the beach right at the ship, and Nassau is more of a walking port imo. What excursions are you looking at for MG?

We were looking at Blue Lagoon in Nassau ($350 for 4 ppl) and Catamaran ride in Grand Turk ($500) plus MG costs more as it is 7 nights vs. Odyssey is 6 night. I really didn't like walking around Nassau last time we were there so I would want to get on a boat and go somewhere else. Grand Turk we could just do the beach off the boat but figured it would be pretty packed with people. Amber Cover we plan to do the free pool! 

10 minutes ago, Itchy&Scratchy said:

we LOVED it!

What a gorgeous place, and when you go to the opposite side - wow, even better!

 Oh that's great to know! I read the water is nice and shallow for the kids to play in?

Thank you! Yes having to drive to Fort Lauderdale is a bit of a pain. Odyssey looks beautiful, but it is missing the Comedy Club that Mardi Gras has... we loved it on our last Carnival Cruise! 

Trying to decide between these two itineraries for March 2024. Will be taking our kids 5 and 7 after a week in Disney World:

Option1: Mardi Gras, 7 nights out of Port Canaveral 

Nassau

Puerto Plata

Grand Turks

Option 2: Odyssey of the Seas (Royal Caribbean), 6 nights out of Fort Lauderdale 

CoCo Cay

Labadee

Puerto Plata 

Mardis Gras costs about $2000 more when you factor in taking excursions in Nassau and Grand Turks (Odyssey's itinerary has things to do right at the port on all 3 stops, so no need to pay for extra excursions). They both look like beautiful new ships, but both get mixed reviews online. Is Mardi Gras worth the extra money? Any insights would be greatly appreciated! 

Yes I am fearing it will be the worst rooms left and I am guessing boat will be full as this is peak Spring Break season! I was wondering when we would find out- is it once you pay in full or is it not until a few weeks before you board? 

Thanks everyone! As many noted I am thinking this itinerary won't be the most "exotic" but it will be easy to do with two little kids (no need to cab or have car seats!).  Odyssey of the Seas does this same itinerary, but out of Fort Lauderdale. A bit of a pain as it is a longer drive to the port from Disney World, but Odyssey of the Seas looks nice and like there is more to do on board compared to Adventure of the Seas.

If we don't do either of those the other one we are considering is Carnival's Mardi Gras out of Port Canaveral. It is 7 nights and goes to Nassau, Puerto Plata and Grand Turks. Again not the greatest itinerary, but in Nassau I think the kids would like the excursion to Blue Lagoon, Puerto Plata has a free pool and Grand Turks either has a free pool or we would pay to do a catamaran excursion. It is $2000 more though once you add in the cost of excursions.

Thanks for any more insights! 

I am considering at booking an 6 night Eastern Caribbean Cruise on Royal Caribbean's Adventure of the Seas for March 2024. If I choose my own balcony room it costs $4500, however if I let cruise line pick my balcony room it is only $3500. I would normally pick my own cabin, as I can get motion sickness (especially in the forward part of the ship), but for $1000 savings wondering if its worth the risk and pray I get a mid or aft cabin. Thoughts? 

We are thinking of doing Disney World followed by a 6 night Spring Break cruise in 2024 with our 5 and 7 year olds on Adventure of the Seas that will go to:

Labadee

CocoCay 

Puerto Plata 

Will these places just feel too crowded?

The price for the cruise is very good and I like that you don't really need to book any excursions, since there are free beaches/pools/kiddie water parks at these locations. However, not sure if it will be as beautiful as your traditional Easter Caribbean/Southern Caribbean Ports we could do instead like San Juan. St. Thomas, Tortola, Aruba etc. The only thing is at these ports we will need to pay for excursions for family of 4 each time which adds up. We like to do anything on the water. Thanks for any input! 

We are looking to book a cruise for Spring Break in March 2024. We are a family of 4 and my kids will be 5 and 7 at the time of travel. We will be doing 1 week at Disney World followed by one of these cruises:

1) Adventure of the Seas (Royal Caribbean), 6 nights, $3700 CAD Balcony: CocoCay, Labadee, Puerto Plata, 2 days at Sea 

2) Vista (Carnival), 8 nights, $4400 CAD Oceanview: Aruba, Curacoa, Grand Turks, 4 nights at Sea

3) Apex (Celebrity), 7 nights, $4400 CAD Interior: San Juan, St. Marteen, St. Thomas, Puerto Plata, 2 days at Sea

I feel like Carnival's and Celebrity's itinerary will be more beautiful, but Royal Caribbeans will be cheaper since you can just walk off the ship in all 3 locations and go to the beach/pool without having to book excursions. Since we have young kids (and my husband and I have done many cruises pre-children) we don't need to do any crazy excursions. We just want water, sun, sand and a drink in hand. Celebrity's boat looks the nicest, but I read it's not as fun for kids. Thanks for any input! 

We are going on a Disney Alaska Cruise July 20, 2020 with our then 3.5 year old daughter and 22 month year old son. Our first Disney Cruise! We live in Vancouver and chose to do the Alaska Cruise not so much to see Alaska (although I know it’s going to be beautiful), but bc we don’t have to fly anywhere and the cruise provides child care so we can get a bit of a break! Plus my daughter is a Princess fanatic so she’s going to love it.

We chose the July 20th sailing bc of the Canadian Residents Offer, but didn’t realize this itinerary is the only one that goes to Icy Straights instead of Skagway. We can get the Canadian Residents Offer if we do the July 6th or July 13th departure instead (all 3 cruises are the same price for an interior room on deck 2) and go to Skagway instead. Thoughts? 

Not sure it would make much diff to us. With our kids being so young I don’t know if they could handle a 3h train ride in Skagway or the 4-6h round trip drive to Emerald Lake anyway. I read all the excursions in Icy straights are geared towards the older crowd. Maybe Icy Straight Cruise will be slightly less busy since my understanding is this is a less desirable port? Was thinking maybe Icy Straights day could be a good day to stay on the boat with the kids to meet characters and do other activities? 

Any considerations with weather/mosquitos late July vs early July departure? I read August is the rainiest month so worried July 20th is getting close to the rainier weather.  Any thoughts or advice much appreciated!