Need help deciding

[Twolittleboys]

I can't make up my mind between two possible cruises over Easter next year. Here are the options:

 

RCI-Serenade-Dubai cruise (7 night but would add on several days in Dubai)

 

Pros:

- We've been on two previous RCI cruises and enjoyed them a lot

- Looking at the pictures, I do prefer the Serenade

- I am really excited about the itinerary

- Weather in Dubai should be reliably good/warm

 

Cons:

- There is no active roll call yet which leads me to believe that there will be fewer English speaking guests and maybe few children, could be a problem in the kids club

- Price, this option would be significantly more expensive (cruise is more, flight is much more, adding on in Dubai won't be cheap)

 

NCL-Jade-Med Cruise from Rome

 

Pros:

- Price; this would be much less expensive than the other option

- Rome is easy to get to/inexpensive (could maybe even take the train)

- There seem to be quite a number of kids aboard (according to the roll call)

- Chance to try out a new ship/cruise line

 

Cons:

- While the itinerary is nice (Athens, Ephesus, Istanbul, Naples) they are almost all ports we have been to last year. I would really have prefered something new

- Weather in late March might not be that great yet

 

Basically, I really like the Dubai cruise but NCL cruise would cost about half as much as RCI for around 12 days.

 

What do you all think? Any ideas for interesting, different things to do in Greece/Turkey?

 

Thanks - I really need to make up my mind here.