Carnival Breeze vs. Horizon

[cruisekitty22]

Newbies to Carnival.  We are an older couple, over 60 who like to have fun eat/drink and find a cool bar to hangout in.  We like to be away from the kids. We are looking at the Breeze or Horizon.  Which ship would suit us better? Which ship has a Better Serenity deck? We know Carnival is known for families and kids.

[Saint Greg]

In general I would say if you like more specialty restaurants you're going to have a couple more options on Horizon. JiJis Asian which Horizon has is maybe the best specialty restaurant for the money ($15) on Carnival. Teppanyaki is also good but more expensive ($32). Horizon is going to have better internet, better TVs, better AC in the rooms. Breeze is going to have bigger lounges. If you're into the exclusive area you can book a havana cabin on Horizon. Breeze doesn't have that. Overall I don't think you can go wrong with either. I covered a lot of the differences between the Dream class which Breeze is and the Vista class which Horizon is in this: https://saintgregtravel.com/dream-class-vs-vista-class/

 

 

Edited June 6, 2020 by Saint Greg

[1025cruise]

In all honesty, if you want to be away from kids, Carnival might not be the best choice. But, I'd probably go Horizon specifically for a Havana cabin.

[Butterbean1000]

We love the Breeze.

[rwdtgb]

We loved the breeze and we just booked the Horizon for August 30

[PhillyFan33579]

All things being equal, I would pick the Breeze every time over Horizon. But I admit I am biased and I am not a big fan of Vista class ships for numerous reasons that have been discussed countless times on this forum. Specifically I like the thermal suite with a thalassotherapy pool, the larger theaters/lounges, and the lobby/atrium on Breeze better. I am also a big fan of the Red Frog Pub, which Horizon lacks. 

Edited June 6, 2020 by PhillyFan33579

[Saint Greg]

58 minutes ago, PhillyFan33579 said:

All things being equal, I would pick the Breeze every time over Horizon. But I admit I am biased and I am not a big fan of Vista class ships for numerous reasons that have been discussed countless times on this forum. Specifically I like the thermal suite with a thalassotherapy pool, the larger theaters/lounges, and the lobby/atrium on Breeze better. I am also a big fan of the Red Frog Pub, which Horizon lacks. 

 

That's interesting. So you specifically like the red frog pub over the pig & anchor pub and brewery? Because I feel like they're the same thing only the brew pub is bigger/better

[firefly333]

Un.ess its changed breeze has the pay italian option. It's free at lunch.

 

I did vista and would pick breeze if you want a chance at a seat in the solarium area, though both are hard imo. Vista class closed in the promenade deck where I like to sit and listen to music and watch the ocean. I also didnt like bbq out in the heat, idk if breeze still has it upstairs. Melty potato salad and coleslaw and I felt iffy about the meat seeing it sit outside on a hot day.

 

Vista class cut down the theater and comedy room so you have to stand in line early if you dont want to stand. 

 

If you are going to boom Havana room better on vista class. If you want to book a spa cabin, and t pool, dream class is the best.

 

Magic was my favorite over even dream so far. Vista so so, sure I'd do it again, but not my first choice. The closed in promenade really annoyed me

[Saint Greg]

5 minutes ago, firefly333 said:

Un.ess its changed breeze has the pay italian option. It's free at lunch.

 

I did vista and would pick breeze if you want a chance at a seat in the solarium area, though both are hard imo. Vista class closed in the promenade deck where I like to sit and listen to music and watch the ocean. I also didnt like bbq out in the heat, idk if breeze still has it upstairs. Melty potato salad and coleslaw and I felt iffy about the meat seeing it sit outside on a hot day.

 

Vista class cut down the theater and comedy room so you have to stand in line early if you dont want to stand. 

 

If you are going to boom Havana room better on vista class. If you want to book a spa cabin, and t pool, dream class is the best.

 

Magic was my favorite over even dream so far. Vista so so, sure I'd do it again, but not my first choice. The closed in promenade really annoyed me

 

Outside BBQ on dream and vista class. Upstairs on conquest class. Of course on Horizon that would be the Pig & Anchor Smokehouse/Brewhouse so you can certainly bring it inside. You can bring it inside on Breeze as well though you'd be in the ocean plaza area instead of in the restaurant.

 

Edited June 6, 2020 by Saint Greg

[PhillyFan33579]

10 minutes ago, Saint Greg said:

 

That's interesting. So you specifically like the red frog pub over the pig & anchor pub and brewery? Because I feel like they're the same thing only the brew pub is bigger/better

I like all the games in the Red Frog Pub plus the atmosphere is different, although I don’t know how to really describe that. I also didn’t like any of the draft beers in the P&A on Horizon, they all had a smokey after taste I wasn’t crazy about. On the other hand I really liked the beers they brewed on Vista. Several friends and my wife all said the Bloody Marys at the P&A on Horizon were excellent, but that is another drink I don’t really like. 

[Saint Greg]

7 minutes ago, PhillyFan33579 said:

I like all the games in the Red Frog Pub plus the atmosphere is different, although I don’t know how to really describe that. I also didn’t like any of the draft beers in the P&A on Horizon, they all had a smokey after taste I wasn’t crazy about. On the other hand I really liked the beers they brewed on Vista. Several friends and my wife all said the Bloody Marys at the P&A on Horizon were excellent, but that is another drink I don’t really like. 

 

It's definitely the best bloody mary on carnival. My problem with it is the bar doesn't open until 10:30 and I was usually done with my boody marys by then. I liked the beers as well...especially the porter. It's hard to get a good stout on a carnival ship.

 

To me the games have just been people getting in the way. The one thing about the P&A is if you were wanting to watch sports at the bar they just have the one small TV. But they have some really big ones back in the back. But on Horizon I'd rather watch sports in the sports bar with much better TVs than the pub has...where breeze lacks a sports bar. So you just have to go with what the pub has...unless you want to sit a the smokey casino bar.

 

 

Edited June 6, 2020 by Saint Greg

[firefly333]

11 minutes ago, Saint Greg said:

 

Outside BBQ on dream and vista class. Upstairs on conquest class. Of course on Horizon that would be the Pig & Anchor Smokehouse/Brewhouse so you can certainly bring it inside. You can bring it inside on Breeze as well though you'd be in the ocean plaza area instead of in the restaurant.

 

Yes I brought it in, just didmt like vista closed in promenade. Sometimes at my age I just want a place to sit in the ac where I can see the ocean.

 

I got dream booked august if it goes, and freedom oct 4th. Did vista last time

 

I do like their blood Mary's. Glad you reminded me. ...on all ships. I'll have one in your honor if I cruise in august. I read posts absolutely sure will go, and some absolutely positive I wouldnt. Surely October for sure will, go.

[Saint Greg]

6 minutes ago, firefly333 said:

Yes I brought it in, just didmt like vista closed in promenade. Sometimes at my age I just want a place to sit in the ac where I can see the ocean.

 

I got dream booked august if it goes, and freedom oct 4th. Did vista last time

 

I do like their blood Mary's. Glad you reminded me. ...on all ships. I'll have one in your honor if I cruise in august. I read posts absolutely sure will go, and some absolutely positive I wouldnt. Surely October for sure will, go.

 

Well specifically the Pig and Anchor bloody mary. It's different than other carnival bloody marys.They put more stuff in it (bacon and whatnot) but then I think they use a bbq tabasco that gives it a little bbq taste. It's better than the ones from other bars.

 

 

[firefly333]

7 minutes ago, Saint Greg said:

 

Well specifically the Pig and Anchor bloody mary. It's different than other carnival bloody marys.They put more stuff in it (bacon and whatnot) but then I think they use a bbq tabasco that gives it a little bbq taste. It's better than the ones from other bars.

 

 

Hmmm, I'm not sure about bbq sauce, I like a lot of hot sauce in mine. I've had some good ones on carnival

[Saint Greg]

1 minute ago, firefly333 said:

Hmmm, I'm not sure about bbq sauce, I like a lot of hot sauce in mine. I've had some good ones on carnival

 

It's not bbq sauce. I think it's a bbq flavored hot sauce.

[HectorAchilleus]

If you enjoy standing in lines and being packed into smaller spaces - then the Horizen is for you. I would, however, prefer the Breeze. or any other Dream class (or Spirit or even Conquest class) over the Vista or Horizen. 

[PhillyFan33579]

29 minutes ago, Saint Greg said:

 

It's definitely the best bloody mary on carnival. My problem with it is the bar doesn't open until 10:30 and I was usually done with my boody marys by then. I liked the beers as well...especially the porter. It's hard to get a good stout on a carnival ship.

 

To me the games have just been people getting in the way. The one thing about the P&A is if you were wanting to watch sports at the bar they just have the one small TV. But they have some really big ones back in the back. But on Horizon I'd rather watch sports in the sports bar with much better TVs than the pub has...where breeze lacks a sports bar. So you just have to go with what the pub has...unless you want to sit a the smokey casino bar.

 

 

The lack of a separate sports bar is one negative with Dream class ships, although I have always been able to watch the Eagles play in the Red Frog Pub when I was on Magic during football season. The best sports bars are on Spirit class ships where they show every NFL game Sunday afternoons and you literally feel like you are at a sports bar on land (RCI’s Playmakers Sports Bars are the same way for what it’s worth). 

[Saint Greg]

4 minutes ago, PhillyFan33579 said:

The lack of a separate sports bar is one negative with Dream class ships, although I have always been able to watch the Eagles play in the Red Frog Pub when I was on Magic during football season. The best sports bars are on Spirit class ships where they show every NFL game Sunday afternoons and you literally feel like you are at a sports bar on land (RCI’s Playmakers Sports Bars are the same way for what it’s worth). 

 

The TVs in the RFP aren't as big and nice as the sports bar/hero's bar though.

[PhillyFan33579]

3 minutes ago, Saint Greg said:

 

The TVs in the RFP aren't as big and nice as the sports bar/hero's bar though.

Agree, although I can’t directly address the Hero’s Bar since I have not cruised on Panorama yet.  

[Saint Greg]

1 minute ago, PhillyFan33579 said:

Agree, although I can’t directly address the Hero’s Bar since I have not cruised on Panorama yet.  

 

Basically the same as a sports bar except the opened it up where it's not in an enclosed area. The bar is smaller but now you have a big screen in front of the tables as well. They added in an electronic poker table and ribbon boards that scroll scores and stats.

[stellarose]

The breeze is amazing!

[samiam0403]

5 hours ago, HectorAchilleus said:

If you enjoy standing in lines and being packed into smaller spaces - then the Horizen is for you. I would, however, prefer the Breeze. or any other Dream class (or Spirit or even Conquest class) over the Vista or Horizen. 

 

I am clearly the odd duck out, as I much prefer Horizon over Breeze. After 15+ years of sailing Carnival, the ships were all starting to feel the same. Then I sailed on Horizon and was wowed. Loved everything about it, and the crew was beyond amazing and personable. Had dinner one time at Teppanyaki early on, and every night after that, the hostess would greet me by name whenever I walked by for the rest of the week. Sailed on Breeze this March (the last sailing this year) and was not similarly impressed. Everything was so jam-packed crowded and blah. I know people love Breeze, and I'm sure I'll give it another try someday, but for now it's at the bottom of my list of Carnival ships. 

[PhillyFan33579]

12 hours ago, samiam0403 said:

 

I am clearly the odd duck out, as I much prefer Horizon over Breeze. After 15+ years of sailing Carnival, the ships were all starting to feel the same. Then I sailed on Horizon and was wowed. Loved everything about it, and the crew was beyond amazing and personable. Had dinner one time at Teppanyaki early on, and every night after that, the hostess would greet me by name whenever I walked by for the rest of the week. Sailed on Breeze this March (the last sailing this year) and was not similarly impressed. Everything was so jam-packed crowded and blah. I know people love Breeze, and I'm sure I'll give it another try someday, but for now it's at the bottom of my list of Carnival ships. 

It’s interesting how experiences can be so different, which I don’t think is surprising since every cruise is unique to some degree. 

 

The two most crowded ships I have experienced are Vista and Horizon. The Limelight Lounge was always packed for every comedy show and the Alchemy Bar was always crowded when we were on these ships. Considering these are two of my favorite things to do on Carnival cruises heavily impacts the way I feel about Vista class ships. These ships are also extremely crowded outside on sea days.

 

On the other hand, I have cruised on Magic and Breeze multiple times and have never felt crowded on these ships, including sea days. We frequently hang out on deck 5 outside and have never found this area to get too crowded, to include the hot tubs.  
 

I don’t think you are the odd duck out. There are a lot of people who love Vista class ships. 

[Buffalobills]

I loved loved the Horizon. I’ve been on the Breeze 4 times and just booked again on the Horizon in February. 
I never felt over crowded and the ship has more outdoor spaces to relax.