First cruise Carnival or P&O?

[cheezyl]

We are cruising around NZ in Dec '16 on Celebrity Solstice. It's the first cruise I've ever booked. We'll be 56 & 60 then. I'm thinking of doing a 9 day pacific cruise mid year as a warm up but the choices are P&O or Carnival. Any recommendations please?

[The_Big_M]

Are any of those choices with P&O Eden or Aria?

 

If so, go for one of those. They have a more refined build, whereas the other P&O ships are more into activities (I assume you're not, but if you are then consider those instead.)

 

Carnival is generally more for family activities, which doesn't sound what you're looking for.

 

That said, if you wound up on a Carnival cruise, I doubt you'd have a bad time. It's just if choosing between them, some may have more appeal than others.

[MicCanberra]

I suppose you are in Sydney, but the P&O Pacific Aria out of Brisbane may give you a better journey / cruise as it is that little bit closer.:D

[Suzbluz]

I have done Pacific Jewel and Carnival Spirit and at the end of the day I had a great experience on both and would happily go back to either. We are a couple in our 40s with 14yo son and we all loved both ships with a very slight preference for the Jewel but it is a personal decision based on the nuances. The new P&O ships Aria and Eden look pretty special and also the itineraries out of Brisbane do vary from those out of Sydney. I think the rowdy behavior the ships can be notorious for is more common on the pool decks and we tended to avoid those and spent our evenings in the internal bars/venues. The Pacific island cruises are very, very relaxing. Great. Now I want to go too! Have fun

Suzanne