help me pick! please! Empress or these Carnival Ships...

[LegalCat]

Helllp! Ok now I'm confused... here is the cruise we have been considering:

 

Empress of the Seas

April 29, 2005, leaves out of San Juan, PR on a Friday and returns to Ft. Lauderdale on a Thursday. The ports of call are: St Thomas, St. Maarten and Hispaniola.

Cabin: Oceanview Stateroom, 139 sq feet, $1,288.50 total for two people including taxes/fees

The next size up cabin would be $500 extra total for 157 sq feet and $700 for 194 sq feet/Balcony.

As this is a kind of get away and not our "splurge" vacation, we don't think the extra $500 or $700 is called for on this cruise.

We will have to fly to San Juan and the airfair will cost us $355.20 total for a total cruise cost of $1,643.70

 

NOW, my dilema is... the price seems good, although it was cheaper a few days ago, I'm hoping it may go back down or will go down after I deposit and hopefully we can get an upgrade or refund.. no big deal...

 

We are a couple travelling alone, no kids, like to have fun but not crazy... we like to relax, spend a lot of time just chilling out, having a few drinks and sitting and relaxing, maybe a little dancing at night.. watching the shows especially watching karaoke and the comedy shows (which can usually be the same thing, lol). We are pretty easy to please, we have been on 8 cruises prior and have never been disappointed, a cruise is what you make of it, and we have good attitudes and low expectations <g>.

 

The other options are:

 

Carnival Victory, May 1, 2005 sailing

goes to San Juan, Tortola and St Thomas

 

Carnival Valor, April 10, 2005 sailing,

goes to Nassau, St Thomas and St Maarten

 

Carnival Triumph, May 7, 2005 sailing,

goes to San Juan, St Thomas and St Maartin

 

 

Because we can get a friends and family discount through Carnival, and we live close to the Port of Miami we wouldn't have to pay any airfare, we should be able to get a balcony stateroom on Carnival for about the same price, maybe even less, to the price of the oceanview cabin plus airfare on the Empress.

 

Please give me your opinions. Also if we fly to PR, we will be flying in early the morning of the cruise... we don't anticipate this being a problem as we fly to PR all the time without problem.. we live in Miami so its not like we might get snowed in or some thing... but it also means that we won't be spending extra time except one afternoon in PR, so thats not really a factor in the decision.

 

My husband thinks it will be fun and unusual to fly to PR to catch the ship and then return back to Ft Lauderdale...

 

I look forward to your comments ;)

[joeyancho]

Try one of the Carnival ships. They are much newer and larger. The Empress is old and small. I have sailed the Victory and it was very nice. Bon Voyage

[98Charlie]

LegalCat

 

We have sailed RCCL once (not Empress) and never been on Carnival. But, here are some thoughts:

 

It really does seem that the only thing going for the Empress trip is that it would be unique to do a one way sailing. Comparing like cabins, you indicate that the Empress will be more expensive. It is definately an older and smaller ship (frankly we like all sizes and ages, each has it's own personality).

 

How about the ports? Which are most interesting to you?

 

Have you considered going with one of the Carnival's in an oceanview and earmark all of the savings for the "splurge" vacation?

 

Good Luck,

 

Charlie

[Linda/Ohio]

Was on the Empress in November and she is in fine shape. Recently redone. Sailed from San Juan. It was a nice adventure.

 

Linda

[sppunk]

I would chose the Victory cruise, because you get Tortola - a very unique and quiet island that not many people get to visit.

 

Flying to San Juan for the stops isn't worth it, and for the ship isn't worth the exhorbant airfare costs. I've sailed the exact same Triumph route, and arriving in San Juan at dusk is really a waste of a stop.

[mtchg]

....These Carnival ships are superior, as will your cabin be. I agree the San Juan stop is sort of a waste..been there and done that on the same ship.

The Valor is a brand new Carnival mega-ship, too. In this particular situation, considering the prices..Carnival is the choice.

 

Mitch

[Shanafan]

I would go with the Carnival Ship. The rooms are larger and the ships are all nice ( the ones you refer to )

[LegalCat]

Well, we aren't as concerned about the stops. We have done 8 cruises so far mostly in this area so we have been at Nassau several times, San Juan several times both as a port of call and several days pre-cruise stay, St. Thomas and St. Maarten several times each.

 

We have not been to Hispaniola or Tortola so those would be two new places. But with that said, we are the kind of people who wouldn't mind staying on the ship and chilling out at the pool and enjoying the peace and quiet... so we don't really mind if we have done all the ports before, we will still have fun even if we don't get off the ship or do get off the ship but only to go for lunch etc...

 

I think I'm now leaning more towards one of the Carnival ships... now I just have to see which one is newer/nicer/etc... Thanks for your responses everyone.

[micdee]

Hi Linda

 

It's Mickey from the Destiny 2/29 sailing last year. We're sailing on the Serenade out of SJ next month. Can't help you, but have a fab cruise no matter what you choose!

[mtchg]

..but the newest (just out a few months) is the 110,000 grt Valor. Go for it.

 

Mitch

[cish39]

I just got back from a holiday cruise on the Victory. Our room was very clean. The meals and shows were very good. I've also heard wonderful things about the Valor.