Thread: Help with choosing

So we are already looking ahead to see what cruises we would like after 2012, and have come up with 2 ideas and need help choosing the best one.

1) 2013 (1 year after the cruise) and take Carnival Pride out of Baltimore (we could drive) - 7 night, Nassau, Freeport and HMC, interior w/ french balconies

2) Wait till 2014 and take Victory out of San Juan - St Maarten, John and Kitts, Balcony...we would have to fly, but it is pretty cheap I found

I realize that Carnival does not have dates for these yet, but planning ahead is always good.

So which one would you choose?

Having done the Carnival Pride out of Baltimore and the Carnival Victory when it was in Miami, personally I prefer the Victory.

Having been to all the islands you mentioned with the exception of Nassau, personally I prefer the Southern Caribbean.

The Pride is going to only one place I really like and that's Half Moon Cay, where as the Victory is going to every place I like, with the exception of St. Kitts. I prefer the other itinerary they are offering.

But hey, that's just my personal opinion. What matters is what you want to do.

Pete

I enjoyed the pride out of Baltimore, fun cruise. Both sound good, and since the pride is sooner, I hate waiting, I would do that and then hopefully be able to afford to do the 2014 cruise too.

The reason the Victory cruise would need to be 2014 is because it would take longer to save up for with the airfare.

I would HATE to wait until 2014, but I do like the Victory itinerary better. However, we all have different interests. Can you look up the kind of excursions available at the different ports? Even if you decide to go on your own, the ship's excursions are a great way to learn what there is to do in the different ports.

I recommend you taking a look at the different ports and see what sounds good to you and your family. Both itineraries have great places for Beach days, so look at what else you like to do and see which itinerary would be more fun.

Our first cruise was out of San Juan, and we went to every fort (there are 3), because my husband loves military history. There is also good shopping, great food, and you can go on an excursion to see monkeys in a nearby "jungle".

St. Maarten has an excursion to a lake, where you can help race a yacht that was used in an America's Cup race. There's also good beaches.

Nassau has much more hustle and bustle, and many people take a day pass to take a look at the Atlantis resort. Don't go if it is a weekend or during a school vacation because it gets mobbed - that's my opinion, though. But you can also swim with the stingrays.

I gave you a sampling of what's available, but depending on the times you are in port, some of those may not be feasible. Happy planning!

The reason the Victory would need to be 2014 is because there is airfare. So we would need more time to save up money.

MCCruiser, first off, totally jealous of your upcoming cruise and hope you take tons of pics and post a trip report. Second, my husband is also huge into history (just got his masters) and we are going to San Juan on a cruise in Dec., just not sure which line yet. One line doesn't get there until 3. Will this late arrival prevent us from visiting all the historic sites? The other line arrives at 1, which I assume would be better.
Sorry a bit of thread hijack, but I agree with the others that the southern itinerary is much better. I guess depends on if you just want a cruise, or if you want a cruise to certain places. We almost always decide based on itinerary.

KayA - If you are only going to be in San Juan one day, I recommend El Morro as the fort to see. You should still be able to see the important parts even if you get there by 3. Here is the website from the National Park Service: El Morro National Monument - Operating Hours & Seasons (U.S. National Park Service)
I recommend getting a driver or cab to take you there from port, even if you dock near Old San Juan, because it is uphill from the town, and you want to save your energy for the fort.

As for our trip, I am planning to post updates here during the cruise. I am guessing that Norman will have a thread following my progress, and I will post there.

Welcome to CLF!

NOW! Back to freakcruiser's plans!

I suppose the choices will depend if I like the Destiny class or not - Victory is almost the same as her.

I would always pick cruises I could drive to. It is so much easier, no need to worry about luggage, you can bring wine from home and dont have to worry about buying wine and soda at the port if you want to carry it on. Fewer things to worry about going wrong.

I LOVE when I can drive to a port.

Until I am sick and tired of the same ships over and over, then I branch out a bit and fly to Florida, but I always try to get as many as I can out of drive to ports.

I also have a rule, I never fly for a Carnival cruise .. it has to be for a better cruiseline. I would not even consider flying to san juan to go on carnival unless I had friends on the ship. I know the meals will be the same no matter which carnival ship Im on, the service about the same etc. .. just no reason to fly to a carnival ship when I can drive. Im not a big enough carnival fan to fly to a Carnival fan that it would be worth it for me. .. (and I have 17 carnival cruises). carnival does cookie cutter cruises and the experience is so similar from one ship to another.