Southern Caribbean cruise - help

[nirc]

for my first ever cruise, i am thinking about taking 1 of these (departing jan 18 - 25) and was wondering if anyone has any experience with them or perhaps just thoughts:

Carnival Valor

Day    Port    Arrive    Depart
Day 1    San Juan, Puerto Rico       10:00 PM
Day 2    St. Thomas, USVI    7:00 AM    5:00 PM
Day 3    ...   Fun Day At Sea    ---    ---
Day 4    Barbados    8:00 AM    5:00 PM
Day 5    St. Lucia, WI    8:00 AM    5:00 PM
Day 6    St Kitts, WI    8:00 AM    6:00 PM
Day 7    St. Maarten, NA    7:00 AM    5:00 PM
Day 8    San Juan, Puerto Rico    7:00 AM    

Royal Caribbean's Adventure Of The Seas

18-Jan    San Juan, Puerto Rico          8:30 PM       
19-Jan    Charlotte Amalie, St. Thomas     8:00 AM     5:30 PM    Docked    
20-Jan    Basseterre, St. Kitts     8:00 AM     5:00 PM    Docked    
21-Jan    Cruising                   
22-Jan    Oranjestad, Aruba     8:00 AM     10:00 PM    Docked    
23-Jan    Willemstad, Curacao     8:00 AM     6:00 PM    Docked    
24-Jan    Cruising                   
25-Jan    San Juan, Puerto Rico     6:00 AM    



i narrowed it to these 2, since i couldn't decide on any 1 island/place to visit for a week long stay (within my budget). this way i can easily "check out" 4 different places (plus puerto rico for 2 days prior to departure).

[E-MAN]

for my first ever cruise, i am thinking about taking 1 of these (departing jan 18 - 25) and was wondering if anyone has any experience with them or perhaps just thoughts:

Carnival Valor

Day    Port    Arrive    Depart
Day 1    San Juan, Puerto Rico       10:00 PM
Day 2    St. Thomas, USVI    7:00 AM    5:00 PM
Day 3    ...   Fun Day At Sea    ---    ---
Day 4    Barbados    8:00 AM    5:00 PM
Day 5    St. Lucia, WI    8:00 AM    5:00 PM
Day 6    St Kitts, WI    8:00 AM    6:00 PM
Day 7    St. Maarten, NA    7:00 AM    5:00 PM
Day 8    San Juan, Puerto Rico    7:00 AM    

Royal Caribbean's Adventure Of The Seas

18-Jan    San Juan, Puerto Rico          8:30 PM       
19-Jan    Charlotte Amalie, St. Thomas     8:00 AM     5:30 PM    Docked    
20-Jan    Basseterre, St. Kitts     8:00 AM     5:00 PM    Docked    
21-Jan    Cruising                   
22-Jan    Oranjestad, Aruba     8:00 AM     10:00 PM    Docked    
23-Jan    Willemstad, Curacao     8:00 AM     6:00 PM    Docked    
24-Jan    Cruising                   
25-Jan    San Juan, Puerto Rico     6:00 AM    



i narrowed it to these 2, since i couldn't decide on any 1 island/place to visit for a week long stay (within my budget). this way i can easily "check out" 4 different places (plus puerto rico for 2 days prior to departure).

I would avoid Carnival. Just from what I've heard not personal experience.

[Marco Polo]

From what i know, Carnival is more of a "party ship" and not sure if that is what you want. I had a great time on RC and would recommend it.

[nirc]

From what i know, Carnival is more of a "party ship" and not sure if that is what you want. I had a great time on RC and would recommend it.

can you elaborate on "party ship" distinction?

since they had quite similar itineraries, i would lean towards Carnival because of price difference.

[Marco Polo]

can you elaborate on "party ship" distinction?

since they had quite similar itineraries, i would lean towards Carnival because of price difference.

Lot of young college kids... Could be not a big deal at all, but if you do not want to be around that, go with the other itinerary.

Check vacationstogo.com. You may be able to find something there.

[nirc]

Lot of young college kids... Could be not a big deal at all, but if you do not want to be around that, go with the other itinerary.

Check vacationstogo.com. You may be able to find something there.

for the above 2 cruises, that site is giving me the same price as what i get from Carnival or RC direct.

perhaps i am going about this all wrong. as this is my first cruise, i figured to try to do one with as many stops as possible. it seems to me that the above 2 were best options, as i dont want to spend more then $750 pp.

[Marco Polo]

for the above 2 cruises, that site is giving me the same price as what i get from Carnival or RC direct.

perhaps i am going about this all wrong. as this is my first cruise, i figured to try to do one with as many stops as possible. it seems to me that the above 2 were best options, as i dont want to spend more then $750 pp.

Are they offering any additional on-board credits or anything like that? Do you specifically want to leave from San Juan?

[nirc]

Are they offering any additional on-board credits or anything like that?

Do you specifically want to leave from San Juan?

RC officially is offering 50% on 2nd passenger + $100 in onboard credits. price w/ discount starts at $1000 for 2.

Carnival is offering $100 in onboard credit or free upgrade. Price starts at $840 for 2.

i choose PR because the cruises departing from there offer more exotic stops vs. leaving from FL/Texas. (in addition, i can tour PR before & after cruise for 1/2 day.)

[E R K]

Has anyone ever heard of or had experience with MSC cruises? It's a European cruise line but has some that leave Miami.

[nirc]

Has anyone ever heard of or had experience with MSC cruises? It's a European cruise line but has some that leave Miami.

was thinking about, but decided against it since would cost double the price for a similar cruise from RC. the one from MSC would depart from dominican republic (vs puerto rico), cost $2300 for 2 ppl and would visit:

Day    Date    Port    Arrival    Departure    Activity*
1    Sun Jan 18    La Romana    ....    23:00    Docked
2    Mon Jan 19    Road Town    14:00    19:00    Docked/Tender
3    Tue Jan 20    St John s    08:00    18:00    Docked
4    Wed Jan 21    Fort de France    08:00    21:00    Docked
5    Thu Jan 22    Castries    08:00    18:00    Docked
6    Fri Jan 23    Pointe-a-Pitre    08:00    21:00    Docked
7    Sat Jan 24    Philipsburg    09:00    15:00    Docked
8    Sun Jan 25    La Romana    13:00    ....    Docked

[Marco Polo]

RC officially is offering 50% on 2nd passenger + $100 in onboard credits. price w/ discount starts at $1000 for 2.

Carnival is offering $100 in onboard credit or free upgrade. Price starts at $840 for 2.

i choose PR because the cruises departing from there offer more exotic stops vs. leaving from FL/Texas. (in addition, i can tour PR before & after cruise for 1/2 day.)

Nothing leaving from NY or FL that interested you?

[Yaalili]

Nothing leaving from NY or FL that interested you?

The ones leaving from NY or FL go to the northern area in the Caribbean, unless you go on a 14+ day cruise.

[nirc]

The ones leaving from NY or FL go to the northern area in the Caribbean, unless you go on a 14+ day cruise.

exactly.

plus i spend shabbos/sunday in PR.

[BrooklynCPA]

@ nirc: I've been on 3 cruises with Carnival, RC and NCL. Comparing RC to Carnival is like comparing Park Hyatt to Motel 6!!!! It is worth the extra money for RC!!!

To me the ship is more important then the Destinations they stop at. Most islands are similar with similar activities. In fact the comedian on my last cruise joked about how they just sail from one side of the island to the other and change the sign!!

[mochada]

@ nirc: I've been on 3 cruises with Carnival, RC and NCL. Comparing RC to Carnival is like comparing Park Hyatt to Motel 6!!!! It is worth the extra money for RC!!!

To me the ship is more important then the Destinations they stop at. Most islands are similar with similar activities. In fact the comedian on my last cruise joked about how they just sail from one side of the island to the other and change the sign!!

+1
I've been on 2 NCL ships.  For my 2nd cruise, I was going to consider Carnival but was warned it was a big college party. If that's what you're into then Carnival is your way to go

[E R K]

was thinking about, but decided against it since would cost double the price for a similar cruise from RC. the one from MSC would depart from dominican republic (vs puerto rico), cost $2300 for 2 ppl and would visit:

Day    Date    Port    Arrival    Departure    Activity*
1    Sun Jan 18    La Romana    ....    23:00    Docked
2    Mon Jan 19    Road Town    14:00    19:00    Docked/Tender
3    Tue Jan 20    St John s    08:00    18:00    Docked
4    Wed Jan 21    Fort de France    08:00    21:00    Docked
5    Thu Jan 22    Castries    08:00    18:00    Docked
6    Fri Jan 23    Pointe-a-Pitre    08:00    21:00    Docked
7    Sat Jan 24    Philipsburg    09:00    15:00    Docked
8    Sun Jan 25    La Romana    13:00    ....    Docked

The one we were considering was a quick 3 or 4 day from Mami. It's $199 I think. Would prefer a cruise line I've heard of before but the dates don't  work.  Is it a reliable company?

[Marco Polo]

.02

I was very impressed with RC and really enjoyed all the ship had to offer. Look into the on-board features to see what each ship offers.

[BrooklynCPA]

+1
I've been on 2 NCL ships.  For my 2nd cruise, I was going to consider Carnival but was warned it was a big college party. If that's what you're into then Carnival is your way to go

Even if that's what you are into I would still stay away. The people that carnival attracts are low class. There is plenty of partying on RC too if that is what you are looking for.

When we were in Cozumel, Mexico we were docked next to a Carnival ship. We were on the the Allure of the Seas, the largest ship in the world,  and it made the Carnival ship look like a sail boat. Our cruise director said the following jokes that evening.

1. I finally had a chance to get off this ship today and keyed the Carnival ship as I passed!!
2. One  of the excursions offered by Carnival today was a tour of the Allure!!!

[nirc]

The one we were considering was a quick 3 or 4 day from Mami. It's $199 I think. Would prefer a cruise line I've heard of before but the dates don't  work.  Is it a reliable company?

see this review for them. albeit its for a different cruise, but may give you an idea.
http://www.cruisecritic.com/reviews/review.cfm?ShipID=361

[mochada]

Our cruise director said over the following jokes that evening.

1. I finally had a chance to get off this ship today and keyed the Carnival ship as I passed!!
2. One  of the excursions offered by Carnival today was a tour of the Allure!!!

ALOL