Which ship to choose (BoS vs Norwegian Dawn vs Carnival Paradise) ?

[ChristianDecker]

Dear fellow Cruisers,

we are planning a cruise in Jan 2013 ... the following 3 ships are a possibility.

We never did any other cruise line other than RCCL and that's why I'm posting here ...

 

1. Brilliance
   (5 nights: Tampa – George Town – Cozumel – Tampa)
   Nice ship, did it already in VAE last year.
   
2. Norwegian Dawn 4*
   (7 nights: Tampa – Roatán – Belize City – Costa Maya – Cozumel – Tampa)
   
3. Carnival Paradise 4*
   (7 nights: Tampa – Cozumel – Belize City – Roatán – Grand Cayman – Tampa)
   

From a booking/upfront price point of view (balcony) all are equivalent...

Don't know the Dawn nor the Paradise.

 

Any thoughts, tips, dos vs. don'ts ... ? I was hoping to get some ideas on top of what I found reading various threads. Plus most threads are not comparing those ships ... ;-)

 

Thank you in advance.

Best regards

;-)

[Aquahound]

Stay away from the Dawn. I just cruised the Dawn in December and it was awful. The ship was in disrepair, decking was breaking apart, balconies were terrible, and service was horrible. 20-30 minute wait times for dinner didn't help.

 

I chose Dawn because of the 7 night itinerary out of Tampa over the 5 night Jewel of the Seas. In the end, I actually wished I had booked the JOS with 2 less nights.

 

Paradise, I can't really speak of. Personally, I wouldn't book a 7 night cruise on such an old ship.

 

So, I say book Brilliance. Radiance Class ships are beautiful.

[green eyed lady]

Dear fellow Cruisers,

we are planning a cruise in Jan 2013 ... the following 3 ships are a possibility.

We never did any other cruise line other than RCCL and that's why I'm posting here ...

 

1. Brilliance
   (5 nights: Tampa – George Town – Cozumel – Tampa)
   Nice ship, did it already in VAE last year.
   
2. Norwegian Dawn 4*
   (7 nights: Tampa – Roatán – Belize City – Costa Maya – Cozumel – Tampa)
   
3. Carnival Paradise 4*
   (7 nights: Tampa – Cozumel – Belize City – Roatán – Grand Cayman – Tampa)
   

From a booking/upfront price point of view (balcony) all are equivalent...

Don't know the Dawn nor the Paradise.

 

Any thoughts, tips, dos vs. don'ts ... ? I was hoping to get some ideas on top of what I found reading various threads. Plus most threads are not comparing those ships ... ;-)

 

Thank you in advance.

Best regards

;-)

 

I agree with Aquahound. The Dawn was our least favorite cruise ever :eek: And I wouldn't sail on a ship as old as Paradise - especially for 7 nights!

[ChristianDecker]

Oh my ... :p ... thanx ... so my assumption (in my other thread) that I will not 'cheat' on RCCL soon, still seem to hold also for 2013+2014 ;)

Hmmm... AND I can work on my RCCL rating, take benefit of my RCCL shares ... EEEEEAAASY decision.

[gelo7]

I would go with the Brilliance.

[Topo Gigio]

And she is going to dry dock in April for her revitalization!