To try something different or not

[cruzin4our10th]

Our 20th anniversary is approaching and DH and I are trying (mostly me) if we should try somethign other than Carnival. Really for no reason other than just to try. We have always sailed Carnival and have never had anything bad . . .we're pretty easy to please. Not too say that some waiters and room stewards haven't been better than others but for us that is minor.

 

We have been on several of the same class ships and will be on the Breeze in August. Trying to decide if we should do the Valor out of SanJuan or maybe try out Celebrity, Royal or NCL. I won't pay more or considerably more for another line.

 

Thoughts or suggestions. . .

[wrigley80]

Hello....fellow Illinoisan :p

 

If you like Carnival and that is who you are comfortable with then stick with Carnival. I couldn't possibly see myself cruising on another cruise line

[bjd2]

We take one 7-8 day cruise each spring but our 25th anniversary is late September this year. We are booked at a Secrets all inclusive for a week for that. We love cruising but really wanted this milestone anniversary to stand out in our memories down the road and not try to remember which cruise we were on :D

 

Happy Anniversary whatever you choose!!!

[cruzin4our10th]

We take one 7-8 day cruise each spring but our 25th anniversary is late September this year. We are booked at a Secrets all inclusive for a week for that. We love cruising but really wanted this milestone anniversary to stand out in our memories down the road and not try to remember which cruise we were on :D

 

Happy Anniversary whatever you choose!!!

 

 

I did just recieve a Sandals brochure but really not sure my husband would be thrilled. He likes being on the go. We always chose port intense cruises. And usually venture off on our own at each port. I haven't ruled it out. I'd really like to splurge on a suite or aft wrap this time. However we've been looking at the cruise out of SanJuan and I'm not sure I can justify that wrap balcony with only one sea day.

Edited March 19, 2014 by cruzin4our10th

[gracie65]

I have sailed mostly Carnival but like you several years ago wanted a change. I booked The Caribbean Princess and we had a great time. To me the ships were very similar in layout to The Conquest Class so they were easy to maneuver around. The layout seemed familiar but at the same time the design is more toward elegant. Depending on when you are sailing the prices on Princess should be fairly comparable. We have since been on 3 other Princess ships. Most recently The Royal Princess. This was by far the best food we have ever had on a cruise. We did 3 of their alternate dining options. One called The Winemaker's Dinner was amazing. Next cruise we are back to Carnival on The Valor. We sailed he while in Miami but wanted to book based on itinerary this time. If you are like us, there is no such thing as a bad cruise so I am sure you will love whatever you decide!!

[Havana Daydreamer]

We have had 2 great cruises with RCI. Only one experience with NCL and it didn't go well :(

[maldenmusic]

I see myself always cruising with CCL. As of now the port is close enough to drive to and that makes it affordable.

[cruzin4our10th]

I see myself always cruising with CCL. As of now the port is close enough to drive to and that makes it affordable.

 

Do you always cruise of of NO? I have alwasy left ouf of Miami or Ft Lauderdale. Leaving dreary IL in the winter I want to feel the tropics from the get go and didn't know if we'd have that feeling out of NO. The Dream out of NO is on our possibilty list. But it does only have 3 port stops which I'd prefer 4 (or my DH would)

[cbMcruiser]

Our 20th anniversary is approaching and DH and I are trying (mostly me) if we should try somethign other than Carnival. Really for no reason other than just to try. We have always sailed Carnival and have never had anything bad . . .we're pretty easy to please. Not too say that some waiters and room stewards haven't been better than others but for us that is minor.

 

We have been on several of the same class ships and will be on the Breeze in August. Trying to decide if we should do the Valor out of SanJuan or maybe try out Celebrity, Royal or NCL. I won't pay more or considerably more for another line.

 

Thoughts or suggestions. . .

 

We just finished (Feb 23 - Mar 2) the Valor cruise out of San Juan. It is pretty cool for a couple of reasons. #1, you don't leave SJ until 10:30ish. So, you can stay out in SJ until 8:30 or so. It is like having another Port of Call. So much to see, we walked around for several hours.

 

#2 it is VERY port intensive, the only sea day is #2 as you go from St Thomas to Barbados. We had the tendency to settle down a little earlier at night to get ready for all the excursions. Three of the stops were new to us and we wanted to see them. We balanced our excursions, three with Carnival, three with local companies. We made it back on time, every time :)

 

#3 we are located up your way and we did an excursion to the Yungue Rain Forest on arriving back at SJ. This got our luggage to the airport without any hassle and us to a cool, very green rain forest with many neat things to experience.

 

We've done one RC cruise and it was quite a while ago. The one thing we didn't like about that ship was the recessed balconies. We like being "over" the water, not over the deck below.

 

Some of the family had some problems getting back to the area on 3/2 with the impending storm (JetBlue did not do a good job for some in our party). But we should be through the bad winter weather soon...shouldn't we?:confused:

[Anyislandwilldo]

Looks like you are building your cruise history with Carnival. I would stay with Carnival to get up to Platnium. We are looking at the Valor for next year. Did this itinerary on the Victory and it was fantasitc. There are many beautiful islands on the itinerary.

[mississauga]

Trying something new is always a good thing. You won 't know if you like something unless you try it. Since you are considering it, you will always wonder so why not try it to see.

 

The cruise lines are more alike than they are different. You may like another line a bit more or a bit less, just like how you may feel about the different ships on Carnival.

[TwinPrincessMermaids]

I did just recieve a Sandals brochure but really not sure my husband would be thrilled. He likes being on the go. We always chose port intense cruises. And usually venture off on our own at each port. I haven't ruled it out. I'd really like to splurge on a suite or aft wrap this time. However we've been looking at the cruise out of SanJuan and I'm not sure I can justify that wrap balcony with only one sea day.

 

Just from our personal experience, we LOVE Sandals for our honeymoon (laid back, don't have to rush to port first thing in the morning) but I haven't been able to get my honey to go back, not even for our 10th. That man LOVES cruising, and we have done like 8 cruises to 1 AI. He just always likes something to do, a change of scenery, and he loves to cruise...

Edited March 19, 2014 by TwinPrincessMermaids

[MCC retired]

Trying something new is always a good thing. You won 't know if you like something unless you try it. Since you are considering it, you will always wonder so why not try it to see.

 

The cruise lines are more alike than they are different. You may like another line a bit more or a bit less, just like how you may feel about the different ships on Carnival.

 

Well put !

Enjoy the adventure of something the same but different.

[stobe1]

Sometimes change is a good thing. At least if you do try something different, you won't every have to worry about the "what if we had done this" questions that will come up later in life. Give another cruise line a try. You might like it.

 

I am typically a Royal cruiser, and was hesitant to give Carnival a try until a few years ago because I was concerned that it was one big frat party. I assumed this because I had listened to what other Royal cruisers had told me. Well, I was pleasantly surprised when I tried Carnival for my first time and had a great time and it was anything but a frat party. I just booked my third Carnival cruise for May on the Inspiration and can't wait to go.

 

A little variety is a good thing. Take a chance!

[ShakyBeef]

Our 20th anniversary is approaching and DH and I are trying (mostly me) if we should try somethign other than Carnival. Really for no reason other than just to try. We have always sailed Carnival and have never had anything bad . . .we're pretty easy to please. Not too say that some waiters and room stewards haven't been better than others but for us that is minor.

 

We have been on several of the same class ships and will be on the Breeze in August. Trying to decide if we should do the Valor out of SanJuan or maybe try out Celebrity, Royal or NCL. I won't pay more or considerably more for another line.

 

Thoughts or suggestions. . .

 

We have cruised (once, each) with all these lines and preferred each of them to Carnival. Of course, each person's perceptions and preferences are different. Although you have enjoyed Carnival, you might enjoy what the other lines have to offer even more. You'll never know unless you try.:)

[boopsahoy]

I'm trying Carnival for the first time. Im pretty much an NCL fan but the price, dates and embarkation port fitted my needs so Im trying Carnival. I love NCL and Im hoping I love Carnival too. If you want something different try NCL (unless you love fixed dining times) they have small ships and mega ships so you have a choice in that regard. I think their prices are closest to Carnivals.

[PSkinner]

We take one 7-8 day cruise each spring but our 25th anniversary is late September this year. We are booked at a Secrets all inclusive for a week for that. We love cruising but really wanted this milestone anniversary to stand out in our memories down the road and not try to remember which cruise we were on :D

 

Happy Anniversary whatever you choose!!!

 

You sound like us. We are cruisers but last year for our 21st anniversary (in September) we decided to try an AI in Cancun. Long story short... tropical depression went through the week we were there so rain almost every day. On day 3 hubby slipped on wet floors in hotel lobby and had to go to ER in Cancun (7 stitches). We decided cruises are the way for us.

 

Good Luck and Happy Anniversary.

[put me on a ship]

Variety is the spice of life, right? We have mostly sailed with Carnival, did a Princess (to Alaska) early on, and recently tried NCL, which we LOVE!! We are also going with Disney for the first time this August, but that is a special occasion (youngest daughter graduates from PA school, so her grad present is a Disney cruise for her, her husband, and son...can't wait!).

 

I say go for something different....the perks of being platinum aren't really that good with Carnival (the biggest advantages are boarding early, room ready early, and priority tendering, and well, face it, you can buy that for fifty bucks now!)

 

Whatever you choose, have a great anniversary!:)

[samzgirl84]

We have sailed on 7 Carnival cruises and have always had a great time. I've often wondered what another cruise line would be like, but never tried another as I was afarid we would not like it as well. Plus, Carnival's price keeps us coming back.

 

Our 30th anniversary is approaching so for something special and different we thought we would go for a B2B for a longer vacation. I researched and researched on the Carnival website and came up with a few that we liked.

 

I tried the RCCL website just for fun and found a 13 day cruise that goes to 2 ports we have been to and 3 that are new to us. It was also cheaper than any B2B with Carnival. So we thought we would give it a try--our 1st RCCL cruise.

 

We will see how we like it and then we may have two favorite cruise lines! After this cruise we will never have to wonder what if....

[Mysticks1]

Our 20th anniversary is approaching and DH and I are trying (mostly me) if we should try somethign other than Carnival. Really for no reason other than just to try. We have always sailed Carnival and have never had anything bad . . .we're pretty easy to please. Not too say that some waiters and room stewards haven't been better than others but for us that is minor.

 

We have been on several of the same class ships and will be on the Breeze in August. Trying to decide if we should do the Valor out of SanJuan or maybe try out Celebrity, Royal or NCL. I won't pay more or considerably more for another line.

 

Thoughts or suggestions. . .

 

I have sailed on 4 different lines so far. I have enjoyed all of them. My favorite was the cruise on Celebrity Solstice. The service on the ship was amazing. It had a very classy and relaxing décor, no neon anywhere on that ship. The stateroom was very comfortable. We splurged for an Aquaclass cabin (spa cabin) and I had access to the spa rooms that are similar to some on the Dream class. If you like relaxing and fine food then I would suggest you try Celebrity if it works into your budget. When I booked that cruise Celebrity was very close in price to the similar cruise I priced on Carnival.

 

You really don't know if Carnival is the best for you if you never try anything else. I determined that so far I liked all of them and would cruise on any of the 4 again.

[cdamion]

I am not one to just stick to one thing because I want to experience as much as possible. Of the major cruise lines, Carnival is my least favorite. I still love Carnival and can't wait until my next cruise.

 

Why not try something else. I think NCL would be similar (I won't know for a year), RCI is similar, but I prefer their ships. Princess and Celebrity are definitely a step up. If the price is similar, go for it. I would say Celebrity is probably where they will pamper you the most.

 

If you spend time in the casino, Ocean Players Club will recognize you on Princess and Cunard as well.

 

While Carnival is slightly below the others in my mind, nobody's crews are better than Carnival's when it comes to genuine friendliness.