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Help us pick a ship please!

~Christie~

By ~Christie~,
in Carnival Cruise Lines

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~Christie~

~Christie~

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We are trying to begin planning for next year's cruise. All the options go to same ports: Cozumel, Jamacia, & Grand Cayman. Our ship options are:

 

CCL Dream

CCL Freedom

RCL Naviator of the Seas

 

I would love to get thoughts and opinions of all three. We have decided on cabin type so that is not an issue. According to the rates as of right now they all seem to be within our budget & range. We have sailed CCL twice, Princess once, but never RCL.

 

Any advice is greatly appreciated!

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wickedhangover

wickedhangover

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That's three totally different ships, I think you have to pick based on what you like to do onboard as they are all kind of different in that respect. I prefer fewer people and a ship that has a few quiet places to grab a cocktail so I'd pick the Freedom but that's me, you could be totally the opposite.

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~Christie~

~Christie~

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Thanks! I have been reading reviews on all three and I see alot in each of the ships that I think we would like.

 

We want relaxing and peaceful, but we love a good night life on the ship. We recently went on the Caribbean Princess and loved it but what I missed the most was the comedy and entertainment as well as a variety of activities during the day.

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wickedhangover

wickedhangover

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yeah, that's my favorite class of ship. With the 2.0 upgrades, to me I'd pick it over the Dream. I just don't like the balconies all being over the promenade on the Dream/Breeze/Magic so I won't book on those anymore. I know it's a stupid reason to not like the dream class. But I also like that the freedom has fewer people.

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PROCRUISE

PROCRUISE

Posted
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We are trying to begin planning for next year's cruise. All the options go to same ports: Cozumel, Jamacia, & Grand Cayman. Our ship options are:

 

CCL Dream

CCL Freedom

RCL Naviator of the Seas

 

I would love to get thoughts and opinions of all three. We have decided on cabin type so that is not an issue. According to the rates as of right now they all seem to be within our budget & range. We have sailed CCL twice, Princess once, but never RCL.

 

Any advice is greatly appreciated!

 

We've never cruised with RCL yet, so perhaps this might be your opportunity to branch out with RCL.

Given the two CCL choices, we'd pick the Freedom. However, if you've never cruised in a cove balcony, which we liked, the Dream would afford you that opportunity although we're not great fans of the Dream otherwise.

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Crystalkrt

Crystalkrt

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If prices are about the same, then I would go with RCL, it's just an overall better experience than any carnival ships we have tried, including them ccl freedom.

 

I would go on youtube.com, check videos of all ships and then decide. Good luck

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~Christie~

~Christie~

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Thanks everyone!

 

I am really interested in the Freedom b/c of the size of the ship, if I am correct it is about the same size as the Caribbean Princess and we really liked that size.

 

I think the Navigator is about the same size as the Dream and if we can get it at the rate they are running now then I think I would pick that one over the Dream just to give RCL a go. (that is how we ended up on Princess this last time - b/c the rates beat CCL so we decided to try Princess).

 

I will continue to research! LOL!

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lorriv20

lorriv20

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Good luck on your cruise. Unfortunately, I have never sailed on any of those three ships, so I am unable to help with first hand experience. I have done a brief ship inspection of the Freedom, and liked the look of the ship. However; I also prefer to have "some quiet spaces", and would love to sail the Freedom after the 2.0 addition!!

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CB42

CB42

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Thanks everyone!

 

I am really interested in the Freedom b/c of the size of the ship, if I am correct it is about the same size as the Caribbean Princess and we really liked that size.

 

I think the Navigator is about the same size as the Dream and if we can get it at the rate they are running now then I think I would pick that one over the Dream just to give RCL a go. (that is how we ended up on Princess this last time - b/c the rates beat CCL so we decided to try Princess).

 

I will continue to research! LOL!

 

Can't go wrong with a Balcony stateroom on the Lido Deck of the Freedom!!

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Mizzouaholic

Mizzouaholic

Posted
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We are trying to begin planning for next year's cruise. All the options go to same ports: Cozumel, Jamacia, & Grand Cayman. Our ship options are:

 

 

 

CCL Dream

 

CCL Freedom

 

RCL Naviator of the Seas

 

 

 

I would love to get thoughts and opinions of all three. We have decided on cabin type so that is not an issue. According to the rates as of right now they all seem to be within our budget & range. We have sailed CCL twice, Princess once, but never RCL.

 

 

 

Any advice is greatly appreciated!

 

 

Dream for sure!

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k2excursion

k2excursion

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I have no experience with RCL, but I personally would eliminate Freedom right away. For me, the Dream is the best Carnival ship. Freedom got the bad Playlist shows, which totally kills the nightlife on the ship. Playlist shows have no live music, are really short, with very few performers, and pretty bad. Dream does not have these. They have the good shows, the kind that inspires people to get out at night and have fun. It's a big reason why the Dream is by far my favorite ship of all. If the deck 5 lanai sticking out bothers you, go for a cove balcony on deck 2. In my opinion, those are the best balconies anyway, being so close to the water. Plus, if you want a nice quiet place to relax in the daytime, they have a very nice serenity area, or you could find a nice spot on the lanai, away from all the noise, or you could hang out in the very nice aft area on lido deck. Dream has also been less crowded-feeling & had much shorter food lines than my 2 cruises on Freedom's sister ships.

 

The Dream has so much going for it, that she didn't need the 2.0 downgrades. Don't be fooled by 2.0. Just because something is labeled as 2.0 doesn't necessarily mean that it's better than what it replaced, nor does it mean that you personally will enjoy it more.

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Cruzaholic41

Cruzaholic41

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I have actually been on all 3, more than once, and I recommend RCI Navigator. She was just refurbished and a lot was added including virtual balcony interiors.

 

You are correct in size. Navigator is about the same size as Dream. But Navigator has a lot less passengers than Dream and has a lot more pool space, including a Flowrider and an adults only pool.

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Xina143

Xina143

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To be honest, we've only sailed on CCL, but life's too short to never try anything new, or at least that's how we look at it.

 

We just love to cruise, found a great deal on a RCL ship and decided to give it a go.

 

I say try something new

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~Christie~

~Christie~

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I have actually been on all 3, more than once, and I recommend RCI Navigator. She was just refurbished and a lot was added including virtual balcony interiors.

 

You are correct in size. Navigator is about the same size as Dream. But Navigator has a lot less passengers than Dream and has a lot more pool space, including a Flowrider and an adults only pool.

 

 

Thanks! that is good to know about number of passengers!

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SkyMaster

SkyMaster

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I agree with K2. If entertainment aboard the ship is important to you, then "Dream" is the answer to your question. Shows, and entertainment overall, aboard "Dream" is second to none. Shows are fantastic, and the entertainment staff/bands aboard "Dream" are also outstanding. :cool:

 

"SKY"

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~Christie~

~Christie~

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To be honest, we've only sailed on CCL, but life's too short to never try anything new, or at least that's how we look at it.

 

We just love to cruise, found a great deal on a RCL ship and decided to give it a go.

 

I say try something new

 

That is what we did this past cruise where Princess had a better rate so we booked with them. We loved the ship and the staff & ports. Just wished it had little more to do for us during the days at sea. But over all we will sail Princess again. Glad we tried it! So I am game for trying RCL as well! LOL!

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~Christie~

~Christie~

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I agree with K2. If entertainment aboard the ship is important to you, then "Dream" is the answer to your question. Shows, and entertainment overall, aboard "Dream" is second to none. Shows are fantastic, and the entertainment staff/bands aboard "Dream" are also outstanding. :cool:

 

"SKY"

 

 

I have heard that alot about the Dream. I think we are narrowing it down to between the Dream and the Navigator of the Seas.

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Cruzaholic41

Cruzaholic41

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Thanks! that is good to know about number of passengers!

 

Trust me, it makes a huge difference.

 

Entertainment - Navigator has Studio B - the ice rink - and I think the ice show far surpasses any of the shows on Dream. That, and there are live bands all over the ship - Boleros, Viking Crown Lounge, Star Lounge. Plus, there is still a live calypso band on the pool deck. I'll take live bands over DJs any day.

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~Christie~

~Christie~

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Trust me, it makes a huge difference.

 

Entertainment - Navigator has Studio B - the ice rink - and I think the ice show far surpasses any of the shows on Dream. That, and there are live bands all over the ship - Boleros, Viking Crown Lounge, Star Lounge. Plus, there is still a live calypso band on the pool deck. I'll take live bands over DJs any day.

 

We love the live bands! We missed that on our last Carnival cruise. Princess had a couple of live bands and the best piano player I have ever seen! But, their production shows lacked. The comedian was great! It seems that the ship shut down after 10:30 except for the night club.

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