Which cruise??

[travel4life93]

Taking a summer cruise Mother-son (Teenager) Going to Drive to one of the ports from Ohio.

Which one

 

Carnival Fantasy- 5 night Western Caribbean

 

Aug 8-13 2009

 

Sat: New Orleans, Louisiana

Sun: At Sea

Mon: Progreso, Mexico

Tue: Cozumel, Mexico

Wed: At Sea

Thu: New Orleans, Louisiana

 

 

 

Carnival Holiday- 5 night Western Caribbean (Least Expensive)

 

Aug 10-15 2009

 

Mon: Mobile, Alabama

Tue: At Sea

Wed: Cozumel, Mexico

Thu: Calica, Mexico

Fri: At Sea

Sat: Mobile, Alabama

 

 

 

Carnival Fascination- 5 night Bahamian Cruise

 

Aug 8-13 2009

 

Sat: Jacksonville, Florida

Sun: At Sea

Mon: Nassau, Bahamas

Tue: Half Moon Cay

Wed: At Sea

Thu: Jacksonville, Florida

 

 

Carnival Triumph- 5 night Canadian Cruise (Most Expensive)

 

Aug 10-15 2009

 

Mon: New York, New York

Tue: At Sea

Wed: Saint John, New Brunswick

Thu: Halifax, Nova Scotia

Fri: At Sea

Sat: New York, New York

[DarthGrady]

I would go for Fascination just for the stop at HMC. Its supposed to be the best that Carnival has to offer. We had that same cruise booked until we found a more attractive 7 day on Liberty that fit our schedule better.

 

After going to Coco Cay on Monarch OTS, I can say without hesitation that private islands are the way to go. Cleaner, no pushy natives hawking junk, no taxi rides to a beach, food usually included, and purchases can sometimes be made with your ship card.

[mzloolue]

What are your driving distances?

 

Is cost a consideration?

 

Personally I would do the one that has the least amount of driving and consider parking costs.

For me that would be Mobile.

In Mobile the port is easy to get to and the parking is fairly painless and there are some interesting things to see in Mobile, the Alabama battleship museum and Bellingrath Gardens

But if you choose New Orleans, it is fun to see the French Quarter or the River Road plantations or whatever.

 

Unless you are really wanting to go to Canada.

[travel4life93]

Under 1000 Miles is the distance we want. Ny is the closest followed by Mobile we just arent sure if we want a cruise going to Canada or the Caribbean. We have been to the Caribbean many times and know nothing about New England/Canada Cruises.

[mzloolue]

Under 1000 Miles is the distance we want. Ny is the closest followed by Mobile we just arent sure if we want a cruise going to Canada or the Caribbean. We have been to the Caribbean many times and know nothing about New England/Canada Cruises.

 

It does sound like an adventure.

The idea of having to drive in NYC would spook me a bit, but perhaps it would be relatively painless.

I'm sure that someone on here knows.

[JES11583]

GO WARM!!!!!! I Love the Fantasy,, been on it a few times.... I love the Bahamas.. and I love the WEstern Itinerary... I am going on Holiday in 10 days.. small ship.. but we dont care.. been on enough to where this is a quick, cheap getaway.... I'd say between the Fantasy or Fascination.... If you do western Itinerary, you are "really" doing the caribbean... :) FANTASY!!!

[KimberleyFL]

Taking a summer cruise Mother-son (Teenager) Going to Drive to one of the ports from Ohio.

Which one

 

Carnival Fantasy- 5 night Western Caribbean

 

Aug 8-13 2009

 

Sat: New Orleans, Louisiana

Sun: At Sea

Mon: Progreso, Mexico

Tue: Cozumel, Mexico

Wed: At Sea

Thu: New Orleans, Louisiana

 

 

 

Carnival Holiday- 5 night Western Caribbean (Least Expensive)

 

Aug 10-15 2009

 

Mon: Mobile, Alabama

Tue: At Sea

Wed: Cozumel, Mexico

Thu: Calica, Mexico

Fri: At Sea

Sat: Mobile, Alabama

 

 

 

Carnival Fascination- 5 night Bahamian Cruise

 

Aug 8-13 2009

 

Sat: Jacksonville, Florida

Sun: At Sea

Mon: Nassau, Bahamas

Tue: Half Moon Cay

Wed: At Sea

Thu: Jacksonville, Florida

 

 

Carnival Triumph- 5 night Canadian Cruise (Most Expensive)

 

Aug 10-15 2009

 

Mon: New York, New York

Tue: At Sea

Wed: Saint John, New Brunswick

Thu: Halifax, Nova Scotia

Fri: At Sea

Sat: New York, New York

 

The Canadian cruise sounds interesting if you have done Caribbean many times. If you go Caribbean, I'd pick the one out of Mobile. Progresso isn't much of a port...not much to do.

[trvlqueen]

New Orleans is a fantastic city to cruise from with a lot to offer before and after the cruise. The only reason I'd look at Fascination as my second choice is because of HMC ...

 

We've cruised from N.O. before and really enjoyed it (have had land based trips there a few times, too ... so if you need advice on what to do before/after, I can help ... Love Pere Antoine's restaurant as a low priced French Quarter spot to grab a quick bite of really good food without the high price and have 3 different hotels I'd recommend ... if you're not worried about proximity to the port or the airport my favorite has a midnight snack buffet!)

 

Canadian itin sounds interesting, too ... but depending on your budget, it may not fit.

[thomarvin]

I have been on the Canadien cruise. We went July 2007. It was soooo cold. And very windy. We were unable to go ondeck at all while at sea. We were in fog the whole way up and the whole way back. Canada was nice but I think my kids would have been bored. Only sightseeing. All the cool stuff to see was about an hour bus ride away.

 

Have you thought about the Pride out of Baltimore? That is the one we are doing. Goes to the Bahamas and Port Canaveral. Are you locked into August?

[walkswife]

Just my thinking but I don't see Canada being that interesting to a teenager.... he is probably more interested in the bikinis in the caribbean!!!:rolleyes:

[JES11583]

OP.. just looking at your past cruises.. youve been on Fascination (am I reading that right?) So.. either do Holiday or Fantasy... do the Western ....change it up a bit :)

[travel4life93]

OP.. just looking at your past cruises.. youve been on Fascination (am I reading that right?) So.. either do Holiday or Fantasy... do the Western ....change it up a bit :)

 

 

 

ya we just got back from the Fascination a few weeks ago and if we took the one in Aug on it, it would be the exact same itenerari lol

[travel4life93]

I have been on the Canadien cruise. We went July 2007. It was soooo cold. And very windy. We were unable to go ondeck at all while at sea. We were in fog the whole way up and the whole way back. Canada was nice but I think my kids would have been bored. Only sightseeing. All the cool stuff to see was about an hour bus ride away.

 

Have you thought about the Pride out of Baltimore? That is the one we are doing. Goes to the Bahamas and Port Canaveral. Are you locked into August?

 

no but that cruise is like double what most of the 5 day cruises we are looking at. 1400 would be the absolute max on an Inside room for 2 people

[JES11583]

lol... ok..OP...if youre trying to save a few bucks.. go on HOLIDAY.. although youll hear from a lot of people negative things about it.. but the cruise is what you make of it.. im going in 10 days with an opened mind and just going to have a good time (me, my hubby, my best friend , and her boyfriend).. we are doing a double "date" thing.. haha...

 

but if I had to chose for you.... do the FANTASY!!! :0)

[mzloolue]

The Canadian cruise sounds interesting if you have done Caribbean many times. If you go Caribbean, I'd pick the one out of Mobile. Progresso isn't much of a port...not much to do.

 

Progreso is great if you want to see Mayan ruins. Dzibilchaltum, Chichen Itza, Uxmal...

 

And I agree with Jes11583, the Holiday is fine.

I like it and will soon be on Holiday cruise #3.

[travel4life93]

ya I agree with you guys on going cheap with the Holiday. That was the initial thought. The only thing I am worried about is what if there is a Hurricane or tropical storm. I would rather be on a ship bigger than that one lol.

[singbluesilver1]

ah they will just take you somewhere else not in striking distance.....

 

i vote for fantasy or holiday...mainly because i think the bahamas are kinda dull..

 

and canada seems like it wouldnt be too much fun..maybe full of older people who want to look at leaves??

 

no offense to anyone on here who wants to look at leaves lol

[thomarvin]

I suppose. The price on the Pride in July keeps changing. We booked 2 OV originally for 1089. It then went down to 799:). Thank god I am on top of it and keep checking the prices. For 5 of us I saved 1100. Hubby was very proud:p. It is now up again to 899. You have to keep watching the rates.

 

Well whatever trip you take it will be great because you CRUISING!!!. No dishes, making beds, cooking. Sounds like heaven to me no matter where I go.

[Frenchsnowhite]

OP We are in the same decision making position:p

 

Don't go to Canada in summer, nothing to see at all.(I,m from Canada and I've been to those places....:rolleyes:) If you had to do Canada wait until fall so could see the beautifull leaves;)

 

So for us too is down to New Orleans, Jacksonville or Tampa, all 5 days cruise Western except from the Jacksonville one that goes to HMC..

 

Hard choice to make! But life is cool if we are cruising:D

[Sea Born]

My vote would be for the Fantasy out of New Orleans. That was probably one of the best cruises we have taken and there is a lot to do in New Orleans too! We actually went down a day early to exlpore and then we "hit" the casino and ended up winning enough to pay for our whole trip! That was really awesome!

 

Sue

[dan40]

I'd pick the Fantasy. The cruise down and back up the river is different than most cruises. And the stop in Progreso will show you a nice view of Mexico without tourism overkill. That will be gone in a few more years. Just a relaxing little beach town that might have seemed the same 50 years ago.

There is a 'commercial' sameness about most cruise ports now. Progreso hasn't caught that infection yet.

 

Dan

[mzloolue]

I'd pick the Fantasy. The cruise down and back up the river is different than most cruises. And the stop in Progreso will show you a nice view of Mexico without tourism overkill. That will be gone in a few more years. Just a relaxing little beach town that might have seemed the same 50 years ago.

There is a 'commercial' sameness about most cruise ports now. Progreso hasn't caught that infection yet.

 

Dan

 

True.

When I first saw Progreso I was less than impressed, but after a bit I loved the place.

[2PinaColadas]

Fascination-- I love Half Moon Cay. I don't want to go to Progresso, and we like to cruise the Caribbean. We've been to Calica/Playa del Carmen, it was okay, but nothing compared to HMC. Friends of ours who were there (Playa) recently said that the beaches suffered from a lot of erosion as a result of the last hurricane season.

[dan40]

Fascination-- I love Half Moon Cay. I don't want to go to Progresso, and we like to cruise the Caribbean. We've been to Calica/Playa del Carmen, it was okay, but nothing compared to HMC. Friends of ours who were there (Playa) recently said that the beaches suffered from a lot of erosion as a result of the last hurricane season.

 

Interesting, the Fascination doesn't get within 500 miles of the Caribbean.

 

Nassau is on New Providence Island in the Bahamas, EAST of Florida. And HMC is one of the tiny Berry Islands of the Bahamas, also EAST of Florida.

Both 500 to 1000 miles NORTH of the Caribbean.

But if that is what you like, that is what you like.

 

Dan

[Frenchsnowhite]

We went to New-York for a week-end get away with the kids, and while driving the 6 hours that led us to NYC we've decided that the Fascination going to HMC would be it for us!:)

 

Thanks alot guys for all of you help;)