Help me choose!!!

[kelkel2]

My husband and I are trying to make a decision on an anniversary cruise so we can submit vacation requests to our employers.

We have it down to 2 options...

 

Option 1:

Eastern Caribbean Carnival Glory 7 days- Miami (Balcony is $759/person)

Half moon cay, St. Thomas, San Juan, Grand Turk

 

Option 2

Eastern Caribbean Carnival Sunshine 7 days- Port Canaveral (Balcony is $849)

Nassau, St. Thomas, San Juan, Grand Turk

 

For either one we will be flying in and we fly southwest, who does not fly into miami, therefore we will have to fly into FLL. So we will have to take a transfer to Miami at some point. We have cruised out of miami before and stayed at the Holiday Inn POM, which we really loved.

The kicker is, the airfare to orlando generally runs cheaper than to the FLL airport, but the transfer from the orlando airport is more to port canaveral is more than the transfer from FLL to Miami. So, even though we are saving money if we fly to orlando, we lose the benefit because of the transfer.

Also hotels in Port Canaveral area are cheaper than downtown Maimi.

But the Maimi cruise is cheaper than the Port Canaveral Cruise.

[grandjj]

We were just on Glory in April. We loved the ship. Half moon cay is one of the pretties beaches we have been to. We were on the Sunshine back when it was Destiny.

 

 

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[runner15km]

We had good times on the Glory.

[FireEater]

Sounds like a flip of a coin at this point.

 

Which port have you been to? Which one you not been to?

[jsfromsc]

I think I'd rather go to HMC than Nassau. And the cruise is cheaper.

[gone_cruisin]

If you're going for the ports, the Glory has the best itinerary. However, I would personally pick the Sunshine for the ship because the itinerary is fairly close. The Sunshine, hands down, has so much more to offer than the Glory. We loved the extra places to eat on the Sunshine. Out of 7 days, we only ate in the main dining room once.

Edited July 18, 2014 by gone_cruisin

[thomarvin]

I would do the Glory. I loved HMC. I would pick a cruise on that port alone.

[hockeyluver]

My husband and I are trying to make a decision on an anniversary cruise so we can submit vacation requests to our employers.

We have it down to 2 options...

 

Option 1:

Eastern Caribbean Carnival Glory 7 days- Miami (Balcony is $759/person)

Half moon cay, St. Thomas, San Juan, Grand Turk

 

Option 2

Eastern Caribbean Carnival Sunshine 7 days- Port Canaveral (Balcony is $849)

Nassau, St. Thomas, San Juan, Grand Turk

 

For either one we will be flying in and we fly southwest, who does not fly into miami, therefore we will have to fly into FLL. So we will have to take a transfer to Miami at some point. We have cruised out of miami before and stayed at the Holiday Inn POM, which we really loved.

The kicker is, the airfare to orlando generally runs cheaper than to the FLL airport, but the transfer from the orlando airport is more to port canaveral is more than the transfer from FLL to Miami. So, even though we are saving money if we fly to orlando, we lose the benefit because of the transfer.

Also hotels in Port Canaveral area are cheaper than downtown Maimi.

But the Maimi cruise is cheaper than the Port Canaveral Cruise.

 

I would personally do the first option, I would rather go to Half Moon Cay than Nassau , we had a great time on the Glory. If I werent going with a first time cruiser next month, i would have just stayed on the ship in Nassau.

[maureencruiser]

I wouldn't worry too much about the transfer from Orlando to the port. I paid $20 each way with Cortrans, not a deal breaker..... FWIW, I loved the Sunshine....

[pungo3]

I would definitely do the Glory to go to Half Moon Cay. That is my favorite port. Such a beautiful beach, and so relaxing since it's only the passengers from your ship. I never get off the ship in Nassau. I think you'll be very happy on the Glory.:D:D Have a fabulous cruise.

[SkyMaster]

I too, would choose "Glory". I don't really care for Nassau, and my wife sailed "Sunshine" on her last Med Cruise, B2B with the trans Atlantic, and she wasn't enamored with that ship, and it's "upgrades". I'm sure you'd have a good time on either, but "Glory" would be my choice.

 

"SKY"

[kelkel2]

Thanks for the input! We haven't been to any of these ports so we would be happy with any of them because we just want to do something different than the same old western route we usually do. We are so bored with that. I know people don't like nassau but I just like the fact that it's different.

 

As far as the sunshine goes...Did it feel crowded to you or was it ok? We don't typically lay out at the lido all day but when we go to the pool would probably find ourselves at the aft pool instead.

[gone_cruisin]

Thanks for the input! We haven't been to any of these ports so we would be happy with any of them because we just want to do something different than the same old western route we usually do. We are so bored with that. I know people don't like nassau but I just like the fact that it's different.

 

As far as the sunshine goes...Did it feel crowded to you or was it ok? We don't typically lay out at the lido all day but when we go to the pool would probably find ourselves at the aft pool instead.

 

The only place that felt crowded was the main lounge. Since they did away with a portion of the orginal lounge area from the Destiny to add additional rooms, its much smaller.

 

We did not lay out by the Lido pool deck. We spent most of our time in the Serenity area. I have to say the Sunshine has the largest and nicest Serenity area of any ship we've been on.

 

Another thing to consider if you are looking at costs - while the Sunshine might be more expensive than the Glory on base cost, it might end up being the same price once you add in taxes. Port of Miami is absolutely ridiculous with their port fees!

 

Either way, you'll enjoy either ship.

[kelkel2]

The only place that felt crowded was the main lounge. Since they did away with a portion of the orginal lounge area from the Destiny to add additional rooms, its much smaller.

 

We did not lay out by the Lido pool deck. We spent most of our time in the Serenity area. I have to say the Sunshine has the largest and nicest Serenity area of any ship we've been on.

 

Another thing to consider if you are looking at costs - while the Sunshine might be more expensive than the Glory on base cost, it might end up being the same price once you add in taxes. Port of Miami is absolutely ridiculous with their port fees!

 

Either way, you'll enjoy either ship.

 

good point about taxes, that makes a difference, plus staying the night before in miami is absolutely more expensive than orlando too! I may have just made a decision. I really need to do more research on the connection between the airport and the actual port in orlando. Theres a lot of choices, but I am not seeming to find a whole lot of ride share options, more like town car options. Which honestly are fine, just more expensive.

[gone_cruisin]

When I went out of Port Canaveral, I rented a car from Budget. There is a drop just around the corner and they offer a free shuttle to the port.