Advice Wanted on Planning Family Cruise from California.

[NeilFinnFan]

Hi All!
I am trying to plan a family cruise for sometime next year. I live in Arizona, so we want to drive to a California port to avoid airfare. My Carnival brochure has the following ships in California ports: Ecstasy, Paradise, Pride and Spirit. Does anyone have an opinion on which, if any, ship may be a little more fun (or whatever) for a family of four, kids 3 and 7? Mainly I am just interested in the ships, and your experience, since I have not been on any of them. Any input is greatly appreciated!!! Is the Paradise still smoke free? I thought it was not going to be, but the brochure mentions it as being smoke free. Oh, and my kids have never seen the beach [img]http://messages.cruisecritic.com/infopop/emoticons/icon_eek.gif[/img], so any opinions on the Baja Mexico and Mexican Riviera beaches would be great too. Would we be allowed to take home sea shells we find on the beach? Gosh, I feel so needy with all these questions! Thanks so much in advance!!!
Happy Sails!
Anna
Holiday, Fantasy and Sensational Sensation!

[Southern Sailor]

I might not be able to help too much because I'm near Atlanta and went to the E. and W. Caribbean, not to California. But, I did go on the Pride and LOVED it. The ship is the perfect size and since it has so many balcony cabins as opposed to the Paradise and Ecstasy, you might be easily able to afford a balcony. The Spirit is just like the Pride.
We kept shells from Cozumel. We just made sure we rinced them out well and they weren't the kind that had live animals in them. I guess you'll have to find out from others about the ports of call. Again, you can't go wrong with Pride or Spirit class ship.

[L2J]

<BLOCKQUOTE class="ip-ubbcode-quote"><font size="-1">quote:</font><HR>Originally posted by NeilFinnFan:
Is the Paradise still smoke free? I thought it was not going to be, but the brochure mentions it as being smoke free. <HR></BLOCKQUOTE>

Up to and including the repositioning cruise it will be.

Liv...Winds are 15 knots and holding....the whole world is a drop zone!
[img]http://heathersanimations.com/military/newparach.gif[/img]



[img]http://www.bigotis.com/saintsinners.gif[/img]
[img]http://www.bigotis.com/valorvampires.gif[/img]

NCL Sky 2/02

[EricS-unet]

We took the 7-day route a couple of years ago on the Elation (now being done by the pride). Honestly, the only port I liked was Cabo.

Just got back from a 4-day on the Ecstasy with our two kids (3 and 6) (and YES, I'm almost done writing the review). Had HUGE fun and loved Catalina. But, there are only 28 good balcony rooms (all Cat 12 suites on Main Deck). I wouldn't want to be in the balcony rooms on Verandah. They are up high and in front; we visited that floor on the last day and it was like living in a bounce-house.

Eric

[TomD]

Come down early, if your kids have never seen the beach. Arrive in California and stay at a hotel near your departure for a day or two. They can get a glimpse of the ocean then before you depart.

Conquest, we will be with you
[img]http://escati.linkopp.net/cgi-bin/countdown.cgi?trgb=000000&srgb=00ff00&prgb=191970&cdt=2004;6;27;18;00;00&timezone=GMT-0600[/img]

[phinfan63]

Eric said the only port he liked was Cabo - which is very nice. My only thought was that when I was there last year I didn't think it was a place that I would have taken my son (he is 13). It is very much a party town .

I personally enjoyed it alot but .... I was there to party so it worked out nicely :-)

[img]http://escati.linkopp.net/cgi-bin/countdown.cgi?trgb=000000&srgb=00ff00&prgb=8b0000&cdt=2004;08;23;16;00;00&timezone=GMT-0600[/img]
8/23 Holiday

[crewser]

Don't slam me, but Disney Cruise is doing a Calif/Mexico route starting this summer. Your kids are at a great age for it, but it is more expensive than Carnival.

[PokrChick]

I just had to tell you...
Every time I see your topic heading in the list, my dyslexic brain sees you looking for information on a family planning cruise! Sorry! [img]http://messages.cruisecritic.com/infopop/emoticons/icon_biggrin.gif[/img]

[carol459]

1.Ecstasy is relocating to Miami in September.
2.Paradise is replacing Ecstacy, but will no longer be non-smoking and has few balconies/suites.
3.Check the cruiselines for San Diego, Long Beach, Los Angeles, and San Francisco(if you are willing to drive that far from Arizona).
Carnival would be a good choice for a family because of their kids/teens programs. Other lines might be a little sedate, depending on the itinerary. We just came back from Alaska and the pax age group ranged ranged from infants to geriatric.

Carol

12/2004 Spirit(Mexico)
09/2004 Paradise(Panama Canal)
05/2004 Mercury(Alaska)
02/2004 Regal Princess(Hawaii)
01/2004 Ecstasy(Mexico)
12/2003 Ryndam(Sea of Cortez)
09/2003 Paradise(E. Carrib)
02/2003 Conquest(W. Carrib)
05/2002 Elation (Mex.Riviera)

[TomD]

Our last, and only, cruise was on NCL. We didn't see very many children at all. Either they weren't there, or were not noticed. You may be able to get the actual data somewhere.

Conquest, we will be with you
[img]http://escati.linkopp.net/cgi-bin/countdown.cgi?trgb=000000&srgb=00ff00&prgb=191970&cdt=2004;6;27;18;00;00&timezone=GMT-0600[/img]

[NeilFinnFan]

Hi All!
Thanks so much for the help and advice! I called a local travel agent and asked about a seven day cruise in June, since my son will be out of school, and the price for a 7 day cruise was way out of our price range. [img]http://messages.cruisecritic.com/infopop/emoticons/icon_eek.gif[/img] I so had my hopes up, but the good news is that this has greatly narrowed down my decision. Looks like a 3 or 4 day cruise, which may, after all, be better with the little ones. I am thinking about just taking my son out of school for a few days so we can go in the "off season." Does anyone know how to find out when the off-peak times are?

TomD--Great idea about visiting the beach before the cruise! I see you are from California, do you have any recommendations for where to stay? It does not have to be super close to the port. [img]http://messages.cruisecritic.com/infopop/emoticons/icon_cool.gif[/img]

Crewser- No slamming from me! But I am a devoted Carnival cruiser. [img]http://messages.cruisecritic.com/infopop/emoticons/icon_biggrin.gif[/img]

PokrChick--Family Planning Cruises! What a concept! [img]http://messages.cruisecritic.com/infopop/emoticons/icon_wink.gif[/img]

Carol-Thanks for the information. I am not sure when we will be cruising so I do not know which ship we will get, Ecstasy or Paradise. Should we wait for the Paradise?

Eric-What did you like about Catalina? The bounce house sounds fun to me, but my hubby would not like it I am certain!

Thanks again y'all! The Carnival board crew is the best!!! [img]http://messages.cruisecritic.com/infopop/emoticons/icon_smile.gif[/img]
Anna, The Neil Finn Fan!

[digitcallous]

Anna,

My wife and I and our kids (10 & 8) are going on the Pride 6/27. We are looking forward to it.

By the way, you have great taste in music. The Finn brothers and Crowded House are some of my favorites.

DC

[NeilFinnFan]

DC,
Thank you! You have great taste in music as well! [img]http://messages.cruisecritic.com/infopop/emoticons/icon_wink.gif[/img]

Enjoy the Pride, there are many great reviews on the Pride, and it should be wonderful!!
Anna

[carol459]

We are cruising PAradise in September on her relocation cruise through the Panama Canal. She is probably in much better shape than Ecstasy, which we cruised for 4 days in January of this year. A 3 day cruise on the Paradise will go on the weekend and will be a real party-animal cruise. The 4 day cruise leaves on Mondays and will be a little mellower. I recommend the 4 day if you cannot afford a 7 day cruise.

Carol

12/2004 Spirit(Mexico)
09/2004 Paradise(Panama Canal)
05/2004 Mercury(Alaska)
02/2004 Regal Princess(Hawaii)
01/2004 Ecstasy(Mexico)
12/2003 Ryndam(Sea of Cortez)
09/2003 Paradise(E. Carrib)
02/2003 Conquest(W. Carrib)
05/2002 Elation (Mex.Riviera)

[bjkeen]

The Pride and Spirit are classy ships. The others (in my opinion) are good party ships.

Disney has beautiful ships, but no Casino.
Best of luck!

Becky
[url="http://community.webshots.com/user/bjkeen100"]http://community.webshots.com/user/bjkeen100[/url]

Miracle Cruise
[img]http://escati.linkopp.net/cgi-bin/countdown.cgi?trgb=000000&srgb=00ff00&prgb=008080&cdt=2004;11;5;16;00;00&timezone=GMT-0500[/img]

Mandy's Graduation Celebration Glory Cruise 2006
Miracle 2004
Pride 2003
Regent Rainbow
Sensation 2000
Fantasy 1996, 2001