Makono Posted June 16, 2014 #1 Share Posted June 16, 2014 Hi I'm planning our first trip to Florida next January. We were thinking about taking short cruise (3 or 4 nights) to Bahamas. I'm considering Majesty of the Seas or Enchanment of the Seas, or eventually NCL Norwegian Sky, however I prefer RCL. We have sailed only once before on Costa Concordia in Europe Any suggestions about above ships. I'll be traveling with my DH and 2 DD (8 & 14). Which ship would be better for our family in terms of attractions and entertainment for the whole family. As to ports depending on the ship they all stop at Nassau, private island (CocoCay or Stirrup Cay for NCL) and also NLC at Freeport and one of the RCL ships at Key West. We want to go to Key West by car, so this port it's not our priority. The truth is that I'd love to cruise with Disneycruise but it's much above our budget (we need to fly from Europe) :-( I would appreciate some tips and opinions of those who have experience with those ships Thanks Marta Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Clarea Posted June 16, 2014 #2 Share Posted June 16, 2014 (edited) Knowing nothing about NCL, our choice would be Enchantment. Larger pool deck than Majesty, balcony staterooms without having to go to a suite, adult solarium, specialty restaurants Chops and Park Cafe. Note that if you want to visit Key West on a 4 day cruise, then Enchantment would not be the way to go. Edited June 16, 2014 by clarea Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
FLACRUISER99 Posted June 16, 2014 #3 Share Posted June 16, 2014 (edited) HiI'm planning our first trip to Florida next January. We were thinking about taking short cruise (3 or 4 nights) to Bahamas. I'm considering Majesty of the Seas or Enchanment of the Seas, or eventually NCL Norwegian Sky, however I prefer RCL. We have sailed only once before on Costa Concordia in Europe Any suggestions about above ships. I'll be traveling with my DH and 2 DD (8 & 14). Which ship would be better for our family in terms of attractions and entertainment for the whole family. As to ports depending on the ship they all stop at Nassau, private island (CocoCay or Stirrup Cay for NCL) and also NLC at Freeport and one of the RCL ships at Key West. We want to go to Key West by car, so this port it's not our priority. The truth is that I'd love to cruise with Disneycruise but it's much above our budget (we need to fly from Europe) :-( I would appreciate some tips and opinions of those who have experience with those ships Thanks Marta I vote for Enchantment of the Seas, If KW is not important. I have never been on the NCL Sky. Edited June 16, 2014 by FLACRUISER99 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Makono Posted June 16, 2014 Author #4 Share Posted June 16, 2014 And one more question - any experience with kids/ teen clubs on both RCL ships ? What about evening entertainment ? Thanks for your help :-) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Clarea Posted June 16, 2014 #5 Share Posted June 16, 2014 And one more question - any experience with kids/ teen clubs on both RCL ships ?What about evening entertainment ? Thanks for your help :-) Evening entertainment is similar on both Royal ships. Standard production shows and headliners, Love & Marriage, Quest. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare BillOh Posted June 16, 2014 #6 Share Posted June 16, 2014 HiI'm planning our first trip to Florida next January. We were thinking about taking short cruise (3 or 4 nights) to Bahamas. I'm considering Majesty of the Seas or Enchanment of the Seas, or eventually NCL Norwegian Sky, however I prefer RCL. We have sailed only once before on Costa Concordia in Europe Any suggestions about above ships. I'll be traveling with my DH and 2 DD (8 & 14). Which ship would be better for our family in terms of attractions and entertainment for the whole family. As to ports depending on the ship they all stop at Nassau, private island (CocoCay or Stirrup Cay for NCL) and also NLC at Freeport and one of the RCL ships at Key West. We want to go to Key West by car, so this port it's not our priority. The truth is that I'd love to cruise with Disneycruise but it's much above our budget (we need to fly from Europe) :-( I would appreciate some tips and opinions of those who have experience with those ships Thanks Marta The only thing I can say about Norwegian Sky is my daughter had that cruise and enjoyed it. She was snorkeling at their private island and came across two manatees. As far as Majesty or Enchantment. I've only done Majesty and the 4 day has an extra stop at Keywest. I think the kids might be bored on a Sea Day on Enchantment when compared to another stop in Key West. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nemomof3 Posted June 16, 2014 #7 Share Posted June 16, 2014 We were on Enchantment in Feb my kids sons 17 and 16 and my daughter 12 loved it. There were not many kids since it was Feb but they still met a great group of kids and had a great time. Strangely enough they spent very little time on the rock wall. All 20 kids played ping pong which my kids had never showed interest in before but now all three love. I don't know anything about the other ships. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mac303 Posted June 16, 2014 #8 Share Posted June 16, 2014 Another vote for Enchantment over the Majesty, have been on both and Enchantment is much better. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
stjohnpa Posted June 16, 2014 #9 Share Posted June 16, 2014 Been on all three...Enchantment when it was out of Baltimore. I would not go on Sky. The ship isn't bad, but it just doesn't have the same feel as RCL. Staff don't say hi or smile at you when they're walking by. And their private island is bigger, but very rocky. I did like their lunch buffet better though. As far as Majesty vs. Enchantment, I would pick Majesty for the extra stop in Key West. But both ships are great. Good luck:) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare LMaxwell Posted June 16, 2014 #10 Share Posted June 16, 2014 (edited) If you have the travel and expense anyway I'd take Majesty. Why? 1. Miami. Miami is a hot spot and great tourist destination 2. Key West is on the schedule. I like sea days but if I were going all that way for a short cruise I'd want the port stop honestly. Enchantment may be newer and nicer with more venues; but 4 days on either ship is tough to sample everything anyways. You'll have memories of KW. You won't remember much from a sea day. Edited June 16, 2014 by LMaxwell Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Clarea Posted June 17, 2014 #11 Share Posted June 17, 2014 If you have the travel and expense anyway I'd take Majesty. Why? 1. Miami. Miami is a hot spot and great tourist destination 2. Key West is on the schedule. I like sea days but if I were going all that way for a short cruise I'd want the port stop honestly. Enchantment may be newer and nicer with more venues; but 4 days on either ship is tough to sample everything anyways. You'll have memories of KW. You won't remember much from a sea day. Depends on the person. I'd remember a nice relaxing day in the Solarium, with an occasional trip to Park Cafe.:) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Makono Posted June 17, 2014 Author #12 Share Posted June 17, 2014 Thanks for all comments. It looks like more people would choose Enchantment :-) Any other opinions & thoughts ? Marta Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Grannycb Posted June 17, 2014 #13 Share Posted June 17, 2014 Enchantment is fine, nothing wrong with her, but I'd pick Majesty. We have been on both ships multiple times. I like the small ship feel to Majesty. The cabins are smaller but somehow the ship feels homey. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
FLACRUISER99 Posted June 17, 2014 #14 Share Posted June 17, 2014 We want to go to Key West by car, so this port it's not our priority. If you have the travel and expense anyway I'd take Majesty. Why? 1. Miami. Miami is a hot spot and great tourist destination 2. Key West is on the schedule. I like sea days but if I were going all that way for a short cruise I'd want the port stop honestly. Enchantment may be newer and nicer with more venues; but 4 days on either ship is tough to sample everything anyways. You'll have memories of KW. You won't remember much from a sea day. But the OP is going to KW by car. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bigque Posted June 17, 2014 #15 Share Posted June 17, 2014 I did a Sovereign class ship (Sovereign Of The Seas) for my first cruise. So now I am trying Enchantment in March for the same cruise as my first. I have not repeated the same class of ship yet and I have enjoyed them all! :cool: Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cruiseapril Posted June 17, 2014 #16 Share Posted June 17, 2014 Did anyone mention that the ships sometimes cannot tender in to Coco Cay due to the weather? That may be a consideration. We were not able to tender in to Coco Cay in March due to high winds- so we just had one port stop- Nassau. We did enjoy the Enchantment cruise even so. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
milhouse0506 Posted June 17, 2014 #17 Share Posted June 17, 2014 If you are going in January I would also take a look at the other ships doing shorter 4 and 5 night cruises too. Brilliance out of Tampa or Liberty out of Fort Lauderdale. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Makono Posted June 18, 2014 Author #18 Share Posted June 18, 2014 (edited) If you are going in January I would also take a look at the other ships doing shorter 4 and 5 night cruises too. Brilliance out of Tampa or Liberty out of Fort Lauderdale. Yes, it's good idea. I'll look at those ships. Are they better ? Speaking about January (second half) - will it be warm enough to swim in the ocean ? Edited June 18, 2014 by Makono Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Clarea Posted June 18, 2014 #19 Share Posted June 18, 2014 Yes, it's good idea. I'll look at those ships. Are they better ?Speaking about January (second half) - will it be warm enough to swim in the ocean ? Those ships are newer and larger than Majesty. If you go to the Caribbean, it will be warm enough to swim in the ocean. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
poncho1973 Posted June 18, 2014 #20 Share Posted June 18, 2014 Depends on the person. I'd remember a nice relaxing day in the Solarium, with an occasional trip to Park Cafe.:) Bob and I could hang out anytime. This is exactly what the wife and I do on sea days. Napping, reading, swimming a little, napping, having a snack, having a beverage, napping, did I mention napping? That's what vacation is all about... decompressing. A solid afternoon in the Solarium works wonders for us. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare CruisinCrow Posted June 18, 2014 #21 Share Posted June 18, 2014 Speaking about January (second half) - will it be warm enough to swim in the ocean ? If you go to Cozumel, yes. If you go to the Bahamas, no. At least not for me but I'm a Florida wimp. :) Water temp in the Bahamas in January is about 70 degrees. This year it was even colder because of the weird weather. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Makono Posted June 18, 2014 Author #22 Share Posted June 18, 2014 If you go to Cozumel, yes. If you go to the Bahamas, no. At least not for me but I'm a Florida wimp. :) Water temp in the Bahamas in January is about 70 degrees. This year it was even colder because of the weird weather. So Cozumel & Grand Cayman would be better stops than CocoCay & Nassau in terms of weather ? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Clarea Posted June 18, 2014 #23 Share Posted June 18, 2014 So Cozumel & Grand Cayman would be better stops than CocoCay & Nassau in terms of weather ? Yes, it's generally warmer in the Caribbean than in the Bahamas. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fla Mike Posted June 18, 2014 #24 Share Posted June 18, 2014 (edited) bob and i could hang out anytime. This is exactly what the wife and i do on sea days. Napping, reading, swimming a little, napping, having a snack, having a beverage, napping, did i mention napping? That's what vacation is all about... Decompressing. A solid afternoon in the solarium works wonders for us. like Edited June 18, 2014 by Fla Mike Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
beachlover777 Posted June 19, 2014 #25 Share Posted June 19, 2014 I was trying to decide between the same ships. I have NCL booked but am 99% sure we are switching to Enchantment since it has better reviews. I'm traveling with a two year old though so it's a bit different. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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