chill6x6 Posted December 12, 2014 #1 Share Posted December 12, 2014 So…. If someone were to ask you to recommend CCL's BEST cruise(8 days or less) what would your response be? When I say "best" I mean as in best combination of ship, itinerary, crew, amenities, port of embarkation, and ports of call. What do you think Carnival's BEST cruise is? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rferr Posted December 12, 2014 #2 Share Posted December 12, 2014 I have not been on them all but to me the best itinerary is Southern Caribbean out of San Juan. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cbMcruiser Posted December 12, 2014 #3 Share Posted December 12, 2014 OK, I will bite! I would nominate the 7 day out of Puerto Rico. It leaves from OSJ, goes to St. Thomas, Barbados, St Kitts, St Lucia and St. Maarten. We did it on the Valor. Puerto Rico is wonderful, the ship doesn't leave port until 10:00 pm. You can take your time getting on, grab a quick lunch and then get out and explore the city on foot. There are many things to do and see. Then you can stroll leisurely back to the pier, stopping for a nice dinner before getting ready to depart. The islands visited are all unique and beautiful. The ports are diverse, some are more industrial, some very typical of cruise terminal ports. Three of the stops were new to us. On them we swam with turtles and sea lions, saw fantastic scenic views and emmersed ourselves in the local cultures and heritage. We walked around, ate local when we could and just flat out enjoyed ourselves. The crew was great, the cruisers were very diverse. There was music everywhere, from both Carnival and passengers. Also, it is really two cruises in one. You leave Puerto Rico, go to St. Thomas and then down to Barbados. Then some leave and others get on and back up through the other islands you go. I would do it again this Sunday if I could! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bwlr1985 Posted December 12, 2014 #4 Share Posted December 12, 2014 I am going to have to agree with the previous posters about the Southern Caribbean out of San Juan. We did the Valor last January and are doing it again because we like it so much. Each island is unique and although the Valor is a bit old it is clean and neat and the crew are great. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
michiganredrose Posted December 12, 2014 #5 Share Posted December 12, 2014 I completely agree, the Valor from San Juan. Loved the islands, the ship, the crew. It was all wonderful. Sent from my iPhone using Forums mobile app Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
missymac Posted December 12, 2014 #6 Share Posted December 12, 2014 The previous posters were right. This has been the best cruise. We have done this one twice and will probably do it next year as well. Lots of fun ports, and the price of this cruise is very low for all you get to do. :) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TennesseeTater Posted December 12, 2014 #7 Share Posted December 12, 2014 I agree that the one out of San Juan is definitely on my bucket list. This past January I sailed the Breeze to Grand Turk, La Romana DR, Aruba and Curacao and that was my favorite cruise so far. I loved Aruba and Curacao. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
5MNtravelbugs Posted December 12, 2014 #8 Share Posted December 12, 2014 I also agree with southern Caribbean -Carnival Valor. Beautiful and diverse islands! If only they would add Dominica and Grenada it would be perfect!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cruizinisthebest Posted December 12, 2014 #9 Share Posted December 12, 2014 That one out of SJ sounds great, but not enough sea days for me. I would need more of a chance to enjoy the ship and relax. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare Tapi Posted December 12, 2014 #10 Share Posted December 12, 2014 Now that the Liberty (our favorite Carnival ship) will be based in San Juan, it's a no brainer. Best ship from the best port of embarkation visiting the true Caribbean (not the tourist trap crap found at places like Cozumel and Nassau, ugh). Sent from my iPhone using Forums mobile app Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
evandbob Posted December 12, 2014 #11 Share Posted December 12, 2014 It's not a regular itinerary, but Carnival Glory has an 11 day cruise out of San Juan on Feb2, 2016. Ports are St Croix, St Maarten, Dominica, Grenada, Bonaire, Curacao and Aruba with 3 sea days, ending in Miami. I'm actually combining this with a 10 day cruise from Miami to the eastern Caribbean ports, so it becomes a 21 day B2B. I've sailed the old Destiny and Celebrity Summit out of San Juan and they were both great cruises, but I have a feeling this one will top those. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cruizinisthebest Posted December 12, 2014 #12 Share Posted December 12, 2014 THAT one sounds nice evandbob! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
glorog Posted December 12, 2014 #13 Share Posted December 12, 2014 For us the best cruise is the one we are on. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Aplmac Posted December 12, 2014 #14 Share Posted December 12, 2014 . . Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
YubaSutter Posted December 12, 2014 #15 Share Posted December 12, 2014 So…. If someone were to ask you to recommend CCL's BEST cruise(8 days or less) what would your response be? When I say "best" I mean as in best combination of ship, itinerary, crew, amenities, port of embarkation, and ports of call. What do you think Carnival's BEST cruise is? The next one I'm on. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare Honolulu Blue Posted December 12, 2014 #16 Share Posted December 12, 2014 I also agree with southern Caribbean -Carnival Valor. Beautiful and diverse islands! If only they would add Dominica and Grenada it would be perfect!! The October 18, 2015 voyage on the Liberty (taking the Valor's place) will swap out St. Kitts and the sea day for a stop in Dominica. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DDPage17 Posted December 12, 2014 #17 Share Posted December 12, 2014 Definitely the Dream 8 day itinerary! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rferr Posted December 12, 2014 #18 Share Posted December 12, 2014 That one out of SJ sounds great, but not enough sea days for me. I would need more of a chance to enjoy the ship and relax. You could just stay on the ship at the ports. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rferr Posted December 12, 2014 #19 Share Posted December 12, 2014 (edited) I first did this cruise on the Festivale 20 years ago and then it was called the "Exotic Southern Caribbean" Cruise and we stopped at Dominica and Martinique as well as Barbados and St. Martin. No stops at St. Lucia or St. Kitts back then. I have done different versions of this cruise over the years on Princess and NCL as well stopping at different islands over the years but to me its still the best. I have done eastern and western caribbean but sourthern is the only cruise I will take now. Have never done Alaska or Hawaii. Would not do Alaska cause I do not like to be cold but I would like to do Hawaii someday. Edited December 12, 2014 by rferr Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Relayer Posted December 12, 2014 #20 Share Posted December 12, 2014 I also agree with southern Caribbean -Carnival Valor. Beautiful and diverse islands! If only they would add Dominica and Grenada it would be perfect!! Sailed on the Victory a few years ago when Dominica was still on the itinerary. An absolutley beautiful island and so glad we had the opportunity to visit. The excusion to Ti Tou gorge will always be fondly remembered. Seven islands-seven days says it all. Very close second is the Breeze 8 day sail to Aruba and Curacao. Just an awesome triup. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Aplmac Posted December 13, 2014 #21 Share Posted December 13, 2014 (edited) If only they would add Dominica and Grenada it would be perfect!! Grenada is just too far South again when home-porting out of P.Rico. You have to consider transit time and Carnival's fuel expense while trying to keep costs low for you and me. Dominica could happen again (maybe) since they used to stop there anyway but Grenada is very doubtful. Too far. And... not enough days in a week! ___________________ Now if Carnival home-ported a ship out of Barbados they could do St.Vincent, Grenada, Tobago, Isla Margarita, the Dutch ABC islands and call it a Spanish Main cruise but Barbados is not a U.S. territory like P.Rico is and I reckon that has a lot to do with home-porting. . Edited December 13, 2014 by Aplmac Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare Tapi Posted December 13, 2014 #22 Share Posted December 13, 2014 Grenada is just too far South again when home-porting out of P.Rico. I've done Grenada out of San Juan. In fact, I did it on Carnival aboard the Tropicale when she used to be home ported in San Juan. Sent from my iPhone using Forums mobile app Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
crusnbee Posted December 13, 2014 #23 Share Posted December 13, 2014 Did a southern itinerary out of SJ on Fascination years ago. Went to Aruba, Grenada, Martinique, etc. Great, but now I like sea days better. Did an 8 day from FLL that went to Costa Rica and Panama on Liberty. Hands down best to date.... Sent from my iPhone using Forums Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SuperPowers Posted December 13, 2014 #24 Share Posted December 13, 2014 Well I haven't been on all of the Carnival ships. But my favorite Carnival cruise was aboard the Carnival Breeze on a 8 night exotic eastern Caribbean cruise including ports such as, Miami, St. Thomas, Antigua, Tortola, and lastly Nassau. Hope this helps! Enjoy your next Carnival Cruise! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
manmachine Posted December 13, 2014 #25 Share Posted December 13, 2014 My favorite cruise was our 'Three Saints and a Miracle' trip aboard the Miracle. Something about that ship... And St Maarten, St. Kitts, and St. Lucia were fabulous. The Miracle is something special. Close runner up was our Freedom cruise to San Juan, Tortola, St Kitts, and Antigua. 8 day cruises rock. Leave on Saturday, come back Sunday. Mm mm mmm. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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