Carnival devotee doesn't know what to do!

[Littlegoo75]

Hi all. I have only sailed on Carnival (3 cruises) aside from when I was a little kid and sailed on Sitmar with my parents and sister. I am looking to take a cruise out of Houston after Thanksgiving this year (we will be out there visiting family), and really am not too keen on the Conquest's itinerary ( I am kind of burnt out on Grand Cayman!). I do however like the itineraries offered by Princess and NCL. My favorite ports are the more rugged Western Caribbean ports like Roatan, Belize City, etc. So, it looks like I need to choose between the 2 cruise lines that will be sailing to those places out of Houston. I absolutely love everything about Carnival, and don't want to be bored. Which cruise line is more exciting and fun of the two? I'm 31, so I am hoping to also choose the cruise line that attracts a semi large crowd of late 20's to early 40's. The ships to choose between are;

 

1.Grand Princess

 

2. Norwegian Dream

 

Could somebody please tell me anything about these ships if you have been on them? I know this is a Carnival message board, but I know there are Carnival fans that have also sailed on these ships. I tend to favor the newer ships, and I think the Dream is pretty old. I am leaning towards choosing Princess, but would still like to hear what ya'll have to say.

 

Thanks!

[cruisealot]

I would go with Grand Princess. All though you won't get past guest treatment, you will be part of the Vacation Interchange Privilege, or VIP. This could get you a better deal on your cruise than going with NCL. Carnival and Princess are the only 2 lines I have cruised on but I enjoyed both of them. I would say Princess is a little more upscale than Carnival, but they are both lots of fun. I'm the same age range as you, and I've had no problem meeting up with people to hang out with.

 

cruisealot

[FriscoLady]

Hi! I am in my thirties and LOVE Carnival. That being said, if you're a little burned out on Cayman, I would suggest going with Princess. I have yet to try them but am always looking for an opportunity to do so.

 

I've done Norwegian, and while they are a nice line, and quite a bit less expensive than Princess (or Carnival) the average age aboard when we went was about 65 year old. We had a wonderful time getting to know so many seasoned travelers, but it would have been nice to have this bit of information ahead of time. Imagine our surprise when we went to a "Commercial Jingle trivia" game and all the jingles were pre-television! I kid you not. The jingles were from radio shows! We almost died laughing!

[robtx100]

I can second what ldr4girls said. We've sailed Norwegian out of Houston and loved the line, people were nice, but absolutely no night life whatsoever. The clubs were dead at 10pm, but there was always a line for coffee at 6:30am and the entertainment pertained to people who were "older". We went on Grand Princess earlier this year and the crowd was 30 something and older. It was nice, but still prefer Carnival.

[Darcy03231]

I have to agree, I'd pick Princess. While I haven't sailed that line yet (it is on my to do list), friends of ours have and they love it. They have also sailed Carnival and their opinion of Princess is that it has a more upscale feel (no Las Vegas style decor), they love the freshwater pools, and feel that the service is slightly better. Food is about the same. Hope this helps.

[LHP]

Having only been on Carnival...I have been giving Princess and RCCL some serious consideration. Again, look at the ship (age, size etc) to help make your decision. Does RCCL have a ship out of Galveston? (or does it do the same route as CCL) I heard Galveston is getting a Voyager class soon. That is the class I want to sail on.

[Gloryhound65]

You can open up your options considerably by being flexible about what port you sail from.

 

I think you'd like the Glory cruises to the Western and Eastern Caribbean. Out of Port Canaveral, FL.

 

Belize is definitely a stop on the western run.

 

 

I haven't sailed on other lines yet, but it would be difficult for me to imagine how any cruise line could put together a package that's any more fun than what Carnival offers, for our age group. (I'm 41.)

 

Well, I COULD, but then the cruise would be a bit more adult-oriented.:D

 

I can hear it now: (Cue sound of the three tone ship's announcement system) "Ladies and gentlemen, we have now reached the three mile limit. The brothels and casinos are now open. Enjoy!"

 

 

:D:eek::D:rolleyes:

 

 

Chris

 

 

 

 

Chris

[Littlegoo75]

Great, thanks for the input. I was leaning more towards Princess anyway because the cruise goes to both Belize and Roatan, there was a crazy deal on NCL - inside cabins starting at $399 / oceanview for $450, and receiving $150 onboard credit, but the rates on Princess weren't too bad either.

 

The reason I am planning on sailing out of Houston is because the boyfriend and I will be there for Thanksgiving, visiting his family anyway, and we live in the D.C. area, and there aren't any cruises out of Baltimore that appeal to us, so since we will already be there, and there are cruises sailing out of there, why not? Saves a flight to Florida!

 

If only Carnival could add another ship (maybe a Spirit class) to Houston and sail to Roatan, Belize, and Cozumel or another place, now that would be a great itinerary.

 

I am definitely burned out on Grand Cayman...you can only swim with the stingrays so many times! I checked the RCCL itineraries, and they are almost identical to the Conquest's.

 

So, thanks to your help, we will probably go with Princess......hope it's almost as fun as Carnival!

[wrp96]

Having only been on Carnival...I have been giving Princess and RCCL some serious consideration. Again, look at the ship (age, size etc) to help make your decision. Does RCCL have a ship out of Galveston? (or does it do the same route as CCL) I heard Galveston is getting a Voyager class soon. That is the class I want to sail on.

 

LHP come join us on the 1/27/07 Voyager of the Seas Cruise Critic Group Cruise out of Galveston.

 

At the moment, Rhapsody does basically the same itinerary as the Conquest, next year it will start doing different itineraries, but that doesn't work for the OP.

[LHP]

LHP come join us on the 1/27/07 Voyager of the Seas Cruise Critic Group Cruise out of Galveston.

 

At the moment, Rhapsody does basically the same itinerary as the Conquest, next year it will start doing different itineraries, but that doesn't work for the OP.

 

 

Thanks for the invitation. I will have to check that out. Galveston is one of the ports we have never sailed out of before. I don't know why since I don't think it is any further from us than Tampa is. We prefer to drive to ports. Because of 3 free airline tickets, we are flying to Tampa in October for our Miracle cruise...but I definately prefer to drive.

 

I think Galveston has proven itself that it can deliver the "goods" (us passengers). I believe the Voyager of the Seas will do very well there.

 

Happy Cruising!!

 

PS: I love the idea of the Royal Promenade.

[wrp96]

LHP, the drive to Galveston should be about 10 to 12 hours from Memphis (depending on where you live in Memphis and what time you hit LR and Houston). I know I make the drive to Houston from Little Rock in about 7 to 8 hours. From Memphis, you could take I-40 to I-30 to US59 to Houston and it might even be shorter (not sure) taking I-55 south to I-10.

[LHP]

LHP, the drive to Galveston should be about 10 to 12 hours from Memphis (depending on where you live in Memphis and what time you hit LR and Houston). I know I make the drive to Houston from Little Rock in about 7 to 8 hours. From Memphis, you could take I-40 to I-30 to US59 to Houston and it might even be shorter (not sure) taking I-55 south to I-10.

 

 

I had never checked the mileage before, but according to Mapquest. Galveston is about 150 miles closer than Tampa. (650 vs 800) I would have never guessed that. I suppose we just got used to "going to Florida".

 

Now I do know that the route to Tampa is 4 lane all the way. I don't know about the Memphis to Little Rock to Galveston route. My husband just drove it to Dallas to deliver a 4 wheeler & trailer to a friend. I will have to ask him.

 

Who knows...we may have just found our new best port!!! (at least until New Orleans gets back up and running) Thanks for the info!!!

[eeclwa]

Whereas, I have only been on Carnival Glory, I work for a company that deals with the cruiselines. Anyway...Princess should probably be closer to what you are looking for.

However, I have been on Star Princess to work before (last Feb - a month before the fire) and I must say I wasn't real impressed with the embarkation lunch buffet. I can only say that if the food is like what we had during the entire cruise, I would be sorely disappointed.

In relation to Carnival, Star Princess seemed to lose big time in my eyes. It was an older ship, though and that could make the difference, I suppose.

Again...I wasn't actually on the cruise. I did some work and then we hit the embarkation buffet on Lido deck.

[rsjc]

I would say Princess as well. Nice ship.

[wrp96]

Now I do know that the route to Tampa is 4 lane all the way. I don't know about the Memphis to Little Rock to Galveston route. My husband just drove it to Dallas to deliver a 4 wheeler & trailer to a friend. I will have to ask him.

 

 

The only place where it might go down to 2 lanes, is a couple of spots on US 59 in Texas, but they are few and far between. I-40 into Little Rock is 4 lanes all the way, I-30 in Little Rock is 6 lanes, then goes back to 4 just to the South. US 59 has a few spots that are not interstate quality but they are improving that. As an option you could go all the way to Dallas and take the interstate down to Houston from there, but that is actually longer and takes more time.