which cruise ship to choose?

this is our first cruise and i can't decide which cruiseline to choose. carnival or ncl? both lines are more our speed need help!

Choose based on price and ports.

If you choose an older smaller ship you will love it , and have something to look forward to, that would be the Big New ships.

Choosing the other way around could be disappointing.

Pick based on port, dates, and price.

IMO, even the itinerary is not that important for your first cruise.

And pretty much, the mass market lines (Carnival, NCL, Royal Caribbean, etc) are more alike that different.

Also look at how far it is to the embarkation port.

thank you all for the advice. i have been doing that . it's so :eek:stressful finding the right cruise with what you want to do all wrapped in one.

thank you all for the advice. i have been doing that . it's so :eek:stressful finding the right cruise with what you want to do all wrapped in one.

Qualifying ,Tthat is what a Good Cruise Specialist TA can do for you for free .

Find one with no fees for booking , changes and cancelations.

Don't try to make your first cruise perfect. It's an adventure, an experiment. An older, smaller ship will still seem enormous and is a good place to start, to find out how cruising works once you leave the dock. Take notes about what you really liked, what wasn't so great, what was a big surprise...That will help you to plan the next one - should you enjoy the first...EM

Welcome to Cruise Critic! :)

Consider a NCL cruise that also goes to someplace other than the Bahamas.

A good travel agent would be so helpful to you. ;)

If this is your first cruise I am sure either one will be fine.

Let us know what you decide.

Keith

this is our first cruise and i can't decide which cruiseline to choose. carnival or ncl? both lines are more our speed need help!

Neither.

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this is our first cruise and i can't decide which cruiseline to choose. carnival or ncl? both lines are more our speed need help!

Carnival and NCL are cruise lines, but your title is asking which ship. What ships are you looking at? It's a lot easier to compare ships than whole cruise lines.

Carnival and NCL are cruise lines, but your title is asking which ship. What ships are you looking at? It's a lot easier to compare ships than whole cruise lines.

I agree.

Do you even know what you like? Beaches? Mountains? Fine dining? Singers? Comedians?

It's a little easier to make recommendations when we know a little more. And while you can generalize on the lines, you get more detail when comparing ships as even within a single line, the experience can differ a good amount based on the ship.

That said, you're cruising. Assuming you've done enough basic research to figure out Carnival and NCL are more your style than, say a Princess or Holland, you're gonna have a fun time no matter where you go and what ship you're on. After the first one, you'll have a better idea of what you like or want to see on your next cruise. I actually recommend line hopping until you really are set in what you like and find one line does it better than any other line.

I also highly reccommend pricing the difference in pre-cruise expenses. Closer isn't necessarily cheaper. The price difference between flying into Houston versus orlando was enough for a suite on an additional cruise! Wish I had figured that out ahead of time!

Thank you all for the advice. I took it all in and made a few changes. We are ⛵ away on Carnival newest ship THE HORIZON. I know some of you said to start small, but this has been a dream of mine for a long time. Plus I already drive a old 🚗 at least I can enjoy a new ship lol.:D:D:D:D

Which one will you suggest for beginners?I don't feel like a long trip is a good idea, especially when you don't know how you can handle it mentally...

I'm new myself.my cruise is for 6 days.

Honestly, I think the bare minimum is a 4 day cruise to figure out if you like it or not. If it's 3 or less, the embarkation and disembarkation process/timeline doesn't give you enough time to relax. 7 is actually what I would recommend (or 6 if you can find one).

The part I like about cruising is waking up at a new port each day without the hassle of traveling (sitting in a car/bus/plane, packing/unpacking, etc). I find it much more relaxing. I like the all inclusive aspect so I don't have to think too much about how much I'm spending (which is why NCL isn't for me). I like entertainment and where I'm going to eat already figured out. There's a lot less planning and stress. But you don't really get that except for the middle 3-4 days in the cruise.

But I cruise to relax. If you're a hard partier, the 3 day cruises attract that crowd a lot more than the 7 day cruises.

Makes total sense I will figure something out for 5 days. So it won't be too much but I can still get the experience. Is it a problem that I am newly pregnant? I mean, can this make my sickness worst?