NCL (Sky) or Carnival (Destiny) for 1st cruise?

[Mamabear17]

I've been researching cruises for months and thought I decided on the Destiny...until I came across a NCL itinerary I liked as well. This will be the 1st cruise for both my 8 yr old son and I. Not sure which would be best for him. Destiny has mini golf and a water slide. The Sky doesn't, but the itinerary on the Sky doesn't have any Sea Days, so I don't think it's as important. Any suggestions? :confused:

[crusinmama06]

Read the most recent member reviews posted here at CC for each ship. That's usually the best way to decide between ships. If there is anything wrong with the ships, it will be mentioned in those. :)

 

NCL Sky's are here...they look pretty good. Everyone seem pleasantly surprised, which is good.

http://www.cruisecritic.com/memberreviews/getreviews.cfm?action=ship&ShipID=150

 

Mixed Reviews from Destiny here....but they might have expected more to begin with.

http://www.cruisecritic.com/memberreviews/getreviews.cfm?action=ship&ShipID=2

[CanadianTwosome]

We were on the Sky last December for the three nighter, and besides being WAY too short, we had a great time. I will say that there was more of a party atmosphere on board than on other cruises we've been on, but the three nighter is over the weekend, which I'm sure makes a difference - we had a full wedding party that had the ceremony in Nassau and two bachelor parties on board!

 

My friends are sailing on the four day this coming Monday, and I'm very interested to hear if they notice the same thing - whether it was more about our cruise being over a weekend, or just the short duration of the cruise. I'm thinking it's the former. ha ha ha That being said, the only thing that happened that I could have done without was one evening when my husband picked up our daughter from Kid's Crew and they encountered a drunk man being escorted away by crew after banging on his cabin door and disturbing neighbors... apparently his wife wouldn't let him in, go figure. :rolleyes:

 

Other than that, which really could happen on any ship, we really enjoyed the Sky. Our daughter had a great time in the Kid's Crew, and the White Hot Party was the best one we've attended - it was held out on deck and really fun (this is a family-friendly party, though there is alcohol, so it gets a little less tame later in the evening).

 

I think either ship will be great, really. Cruisinmama is absolutely right (as usual! ha ha) about reading reviews, but just keep in mind that whomever wrote them is not you. Even what I've said here is entirely based on my own perceptions and opinions and I may have a completely different outlook than you. :)