Carnival v. Norwegian v. Royal Caribbean

[Justyman87]

So next Christmas/New Years we are thinking of doing a cruise. We have pretty much narrowed it down between the Carnival Sunshine, Norwegian Escape and Royal Caribbean Adventure of the Seas. Carnival and Norwegian would do Eastern Caribbean cruises, the RCL would be a Southern Caribbean Cruise. I will lay out the pros and cons of each and itineraries as well.

 

However, the biggest problem for us is that on our last cruise we sailed on the Norwegian Breakaway in the Haven. We were definitely spoiled. Our fear is going from the Haven to the other ships rooms. What is your suggestion?

 

Sunshine: We would either have two suites (cheap enough for us) or one bigger suite (captains suite). I am just afraid going from Haven to Carnival we will be very disappointed. around $9,000.

 Day 1: Port Canaveral, Florida- Depart 4:00PM

 Day 2: Day at Sea

 Day 3: Amber Cove, Dominican Republic 9:00AM Depart 4:00PM

 Day 4: St. Thomas, U.S.V.I- Arrive 11:00AM Depart 7:00PM

 Day 5: San Juan, Puerto Rico- Arrive 8:00AM Depart 4:00PM

 Day 6: Grand Turk- Arrive 1:00PM Depart 7:00PM

 Day 7: Day at Sea

 Day 8: Port Canaveral, Florida- Arrive 8:00AM

 

Escape: Because NCL wants $20,000 for the Haven (are they nuts??) we couldn't do that. We would have to do either two mini suites or two balconies which is about $10,000. However, we still wouldn't be in Haven so will we be disappointed anyway?

 Day 1: Depart Miami, Florida 4:00PM

 Day 2: Day at Sea

 Day 3: Day at Sea

 Day 4: St. Thomas, U.S.V.I- Arrive 8:00AM Depart 6:00PM

 Day 5: Tortola, B.V.I- Arrive 8:00AM Depart 4:00PM

 Day 6: Day at Sea

 Day 7: Nassau, Bahamas- 10:00AM Depart 6:00PM

 Day 8: Arrive Miami, Florida 8:00AM

 

Adventure of the Seas: We have done 1 RCL cruise and hated it. I think cause the ship was small and it didn't seem to have a lot to do for us kids back then. However, that is my fear again. We could do two junior suites on AOS for about $9,000.

 Day 1: San Juan, Puerto Rico- Depart 8:30

 Day 2: St. Thomas- 8:00AM Depart 6:00PM

 Day 3: St. Croix- 7:00AM Depart 6:00PM

 Day 4: St. John’s, Antigua- 8:00AM Depart 5:00PM

 Day 5: Castries, St. Lucia- Arrive 8:00AM Depart 5:00PM

 Day 6: St. George’s, Grenada- Arrive 8:00AM Depart 5:00PM

 Day 7: Day at Sea

 Day 8: Arrive San Juan, Puerto Rico 6:00AM

 

Any thoughts... suggestions. Feedback. Anything to help convince me which one we should do. HELP!

[qsuzi]

What is the order of your priorities? Knowing that will help with feedback but based on itinerary alone, AOS is the best. What RCL ship were you on? What Carnival ships have you been on? What are the ages of your children?

Edited December 25, 2014 by qsuzi

[OCruisers]

So next Christmas/New Years we are thinking of doing a cruise. We have pretty much narrowed it down between the Carnival Sunshine, Norwegian Escape and Royal Caribbean Adventure of the Seas.

We have done 1 RCL cruise and hated it. HELP!

 

Just wondering if you have been on either of the two other cruise lines you're considering -- Carnival & NCL?

LuLu

[Justyman87]

What is the order of your priorities? Knowing that will help with feedback but based on itinerary alone, AOS is the best. What RCL ship were you on? What Carnival ships have you been on? What are the ages of your children?

 

Hi thanks for responding so quickly. We have no real priority just keeping busy. We were on Enchantment of the Seas. For Carnival we have been on the Miracle, Sensation, Triumph and Destiny. I'll be 21 brother would be 17 parents early 50s.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Just wondering if you have been on either of the two other cruise lines you're considering -- Carnival & NCL?

LuLu

Yup both. Enjoyed all honesty just having been in Haven we fear going back to Carnival is like going from a Hyatt to a motel.

 

Thanks for the suggestions!

Happy Holidays!

Justin

 

 

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[SantaFeFan]

.... just having been in Haven we fear going back to Carnival is like going from a Hyatt to a motel.

 

That pretty much sums it up. ;)

 

Out of the three lines, I'd go with RCI as my first choice, RCI as my second, and RCI as my third. The other two cruise lines wouldn't even be in the running.

Edited December 26, 2014 by SantaFeFan

[NIATPAC29]

Carnival all the way !!

 

 

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[buggins0402]

If a suite is important, you could also consider the MSC Divina. The suites have butlers and a separate dining room. Cruisers have enjoyed the entertainment. Itinerary is similar to the NCL itinerary you posted. You would have to check pricing....but it might be less expensive than NCL.

[KKB]

for us a room is to sleep & shower wherever we travel. We have stayed in interior cabins and had just as much fun as when we stayed in a balcony. After nine cruises we do enjoy a balcony more but if the price isn't right we skip it--lots of places on deck to lounge and watch the ocean.

 

BUT if a great room is of utmost importance to your family you need to look long and hard. Are you in your room a lot?

 

Personally I love sea days BUT the itinerary for the RCL cruise looks amazing. Southern Caribbean has definitely been our fav itinerary. So that is another question, do you prefer more sea days or more port days?

 

We are big fans of Celebrity & Princess--and the Allure on RCL. My parents list NCL as their distant 4th fav line. (would still cruise it if the price/itinerary were right) My relatives cruised Carnival once & said never again (not snobs...big fans of Circus Circus in Vegas; they said Carnival was like the Super 8 after staying at the Hilton). My 87 year old aunt did Carnival a couple years ago and said she was bored (she is very active, dancing & gambling several nights/wk).So personally I cannot comment, can only go by what my family has experienced.

 

We like to be very busy on a cruise, which we found on Princess & the Allure (not so much on our other RCL cruise) but learned to relax more on Celebrity.

 

ANY cruise is a good one as far as I am concerned!!!

[attilamom1217]

It sounds like you are planning on being disappointed no matter what you choose since the Haven is not an option.

 

We like Celebrity and have sailed Carnival. We learned not to compare and enjoy each for what they have to offer - not to be disappointed because of the differences.

 

That said - I would choose RCI. We have been on the sister ship - Explorer of the Seas. There are lots of activities for the entire family - including the rock climbing wall, ice skating (free skate rental), mini golf, etc. Plus there is a disco (and a teen disco if I recall correctly). Lots to do together as a family as well as separately.

 

Whatever you choose - enjoy your cruise with your family.

 

Debbi

[LOVINCRUIZIN]

We did a Sounthern itinerary last year on an older RCCL ship. The itinerary you privide looks awesome, and is hard to come by. Although I am on a Carnival stint lately (great casino perks), I would choose the RCCL option.

 

HAVE A GREAT CRUISE, no matter what you decide!!!

[printingchick]

I avoided looking at the ships so I would choose based ONLY on itinerary. I would choose either #1 or #3. I like that there is only one sea day on itinerary #3. However, itinerary #1 includes some ports of call I've never visited.

 

I would never choose #2. Not only are there way too many sea days for a 7-night cruise, but there are two in a row. Unless I'm doing a very long cruise, I never want two sea days in a row.

Edited December 31, 2014 by printingchick

[Flatbush Flyer]

Don't automatically discount premium cruise lines. You should consider Oceania whose Caribbean cruise prices are significantly lower than their other itineraries. And remember the included beverages and specialties, free air (or fare credit) plus included gratuities, internet and OBC (both O and/or TA) on select sailings. You could end up with better than your "Haven" experience (definitely when it comes to the food) for a very reasonable bottom line price.

We did a side-by-side comparison of Princess, HAL, etc. with O on our Alaska cruise this past summer. We picked exactly the right cruise window to end up with O at the same cost.

A little research and the right TA might surprise you.

 

 

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[LOVINCRUIZIN]

Certainly something to consider, but I don't think the amenities, especially for teens, would be as attractive on a smaller, or high end ship.

 

My vote is still the nice RCCL itinerary.

[Cruzaholic41]

I have been on all the ships you mentioned (actually, a sister ship of Escape - Breakway). In my opinion, the RCI option is the best for several reasons.

 

First and foremost, the Southern Caribbean is by far the best.

 

Second, AOS is the best ship option, in my opinion. Why? Because first, I hated the old Carnival Destiny, and when they tried to spray perfume on a turd by renaming it Sunshine and adding more cabins, it became one of the most crowded ships at sea. As for Breakaway Class - good luck finding a decent balcony. Either you are completely open to the balconies above, or your balcony is miniscule in size, or you are subjected to bass thumping from above until 1 am. Also, in my expereince, NCL service just isn't up to par with the others.

 

Third, of those 3 cruise lines, RCI is almost always the best option. Give AOS a try - it's nothing like the older, smaller ships of yesteryear.

[cruisemainiac]

If you have some flexibility, look at Dec. 12-19 on NCL. The price is half of what you're looking at. The promos are off the charts right now as well. If you wait a month or two to book you may be able to get 3rd and 4th passenger for free. It's worth a look.

[Aquahound]

I can't speak on Carnival or the Sunshine because I've never sailed them, but based in my experiences with RCI and NCL....RCI any day! I would book Adventure.

[LOVINCRUIZIN]

"Because first, I hated the old Carnival Destiny, and when they tried to spray perfume on a turd by renaming it Sunshine and adding more cabins, it became one of the most crowded ships at sea"

 

HAHAHAHAHAHA :eek: :D

[LOVINCRUIZIN]

If you have some flexibility, look at Dec. 12-19 on NCL. The price is half of what you're looking at. The promos are off the charts right now as well. If you wait a month or two to book you may be able to get 3rd and 4th passenger for free. It's worth a look.

 

 

Hello - I was looking at your signature line and see you have considerable sailings on NCL. As you can see from mine, I have never sailed them, but am strongly considering it for December 2015. With the Carnival casino offers, it is hard to "breakaway" (pun intended lol) from Carnival, but I think it's time. We are considering B2B (sort of), like taking a Carnival or RC for a week, then transfering the same day as debarkation to a NCL ship for another week. Love the simplicity of a true B2B, but think this is a second-best alternative

[LOVINCRUIZIN]

CONTINUED

 

Having just done a B2B on the Breeze, I can say that while it was nice not to have to pack inbetween, the kids were bored the second week, even with the amenities on the Breeze. I think a cruise-line switch will fix that.

 

I think Getaway is the ship that caught my eye. Any comments or suggestions?

 

If not NCL, we may do a RCCL for the other week. I still want to do a Carnival to take advantage of the casino offer (who can refuse a free cruise!). RCCL would give the kids an ice rink (which they have been missing), rock wall and flow rider.

 

Just wondering what your thoughts are :)

[declansdad]

After cruising with NCL this past summer I would be hard pressed to go back to them. We found they spent more time pushing their pay restaurants and the evening entertainment space was at a premium.

 

We are considering the Carnival itinerary that you listed for next December but on the Glory. We have sailed with Carnival twice and have no hesitation to going back to them again. That being said, we haven't tried RCL yet and are not adverse to giving them a try.

[LOVINCRUIZIN]

Thanks - that is what I worry about with NCL. I like traditional dining - not sure I am a freestyle type :o

 

RCCL is, in my opinion, a small step up from Carnival, although I am not complaining about Carnival. Give it a try!