Help us decide please!

[aaronisu]

My wife and I are planning a babymoon this January. We want to take a fun trip before our second child is born (we're leaving the first one with grandma and grandpa). Neither of us have ever cruised before.

 

We are trying to decide between these 2 options:

 

The big differences are option A is a day longer, $100 more, and an interior room vs. an ocean view for option B. We aren't sure if the interior vs ocean view is a big deal, if it's not then A is probably better and worth the extra $100. We would love some experienced cruisers' advice. Thanks!!!!!:D

 

Option A:

7 nights

Cruise Line - Celebrity

Ship - Celebrity Reflection

Room - Interior

Itinerary

Sea

San Juan, PR

St. Thomas

St. Maarten

Sea

Sea

 

Option B:

6 nights

Cruise Line - Royal Caribbean

Ship - Independence of the Seas

Room - Ocean View

Itinerary

Sea

George Town, Grand Cayman

Falmouth, Jamaica

Labadee

Sea

[1025cruise]

First off, make sure that your wife will be under 24 weeks. If you are beyond that, forget the cruise idea.

 

Second, based on itinerary, I'd go with A.

[paul929207]

Another vote for A

[NorthCarolinaBelle]

I would go with Option A. Personally, I will not spend the money for an oceanview. It's either inside or a balcony for me. Best wishes!:D

[Tiggertastic]

Having been on both of these ships I would go with celebrity for the ship and also A for the itinerary

[aaronisu]

Thanks so much for the replies!

 

She will be 18 weeks at that point, so we're good there.

 

So, you guys don't think an ocean view isn't a worth while upgrade or is it mostly that the ship and itinerary outweigh the view?

 

The other option is scrap both options and go with Carnival and maybe be able to get a balcony. Thoughts on that?

 

Thanks again.

[dorisis]

Option A...extra day

Celebrity..nicer ship

[hospvol]

Go for option A.

[Essiesmom]

You might also look at MSC Divina, as they have had such good prices you might be able to get a balcony. EM

[1025cruise]

Well, I like having a balcony, so for me, that would be my minimum. I wouldn't normally pick an inside or oceanview. Like I said, my vote was solely based on itinerary.

 

Have you checked out any of Princess's cruises? Not sure about pricing, but they are my line of preference.

[Colorado Kat]

I like Option A. The inside cabins are nice and quiet. Do check to see what is both above and below your cabin choice. Best is other cabins.

 

Do price Carnival as well.

[aaronisu]

What do you think of option c

Carnival - Carnival Magic

7 nights

Balcony

Itinerary

out of Galveston

Sea

Sea

Montego Bay, Jamaica

George Town, Grand Cayman

Cozumel

Sea

 

It's about the same price as option A (so about $100 more than B).

 

Thanks!

[suzski]

I'd still go with Option A.

 

Congrats on new baby!:)

[JimAOk1945]

We like having a view of the sea. I vote for B or C with a balcony!

Congrats on the new bundle of joy on its way! :D

[OCruisers]

I'd still go with A ... better itinerary and better ship! :)

 

LuLu

~~~~

[hansolosmom]

We were on celebrity Refelction this summer and I was not impressed, so I'd go with Independence or the Carnival with a balcony.

[20pluscruises]

We were on celebrity Refelction this summer and I was not impressed, so I'd go with Independence or the Carnival with a balcony.

 

Oh no, why?

[Lerin]

A or C

I'd pick A because of the ports, but my husband just said he'd go C because of the balcony.

Wouldn't pick B because those ports aren't our faves, it's shorter and there is no balcony.

 

We took a babymoon which was fun, but I really wasn't feeling up to a lot. Hope your wife is having an easier pregnancy than I. Congrats. :)

[boulders]

Definitely not option C.

[Keith1010]

I would go with the first option as it has an extra sea day and is one day longer and on Celebrity.

 

Keith

[Jimnbigd]

Both ships are owned by RCCL (Royal Caribbean Cruise Lines). I think Celebrity is no-smoking in the casino, which is nice.

I've had ocean views (ie, an outside window) before. The window tended to get dirty rather quickly from the salt water, clouding the view.

We usually book inside cabins and are fine with them.

We sail from Galveston, but we drive. It is somewhat expensive to get from a Houston airport to Galveston.

 

However, the Indy (Independence of the Seas) departs on Sunday, and the Reflection departs on Saturday.

From Minnesota with the winter weather there, you definitely need to fly in at least the day before, so the Reflection would mean flying in no later than Friday, which probably means another vacation day.

So, the 6-day Indy might actually be a better choice because it sails on Sunday.

If you go with the Indy, you might see if there are any promenade view cabins left.

These are inside with a window view of the Royal Promenade on the ship -- usually cheaper than outside window-view cabins.

And while you are at it, price the Friday vs. Saturday airfare. Sometimes one is significantly more than the other, which of course make a difference in your total price.

Edited November 25, 2013 by Jimnbigd

[aaronisu]

We found a Princess cruise we can afford.

Crown Princess

Interior room

7 nights

Princess Cays

Sea

St. Maarten

St. Thomas

Grand Turk Island

Sea

 

Thoughts?

[cruisescouter]

yeah option A is better even with the int.

[aaronisu]

Does the fact that the celebrity cruise is a gamble for room placement (we'd prefer midship) change anything?

 

Also, has anyone heard of people getting upgraded from an interior to an ocean or balcony? I've been day dreaming about it. :)

[cruisescouter]

If you pick a guarantee you might get an upgrade, but it is rare so do not expect it because it is a gamble.