NCteacherlovescruising Posted August 30, 2015 #1 Share Posted August 30, 2015 I was looking for a spring break cruise today and narrowed it down to 3. We will be on a tight budget for this one, which leaves RCI out this time. It's down to the NCL Spirit, which would be going to my favorite port, Tortola. Carnival Breeze, which is going to all ports we've been to, although we like them. We would be choosing based on ship. The other is the Carnival Sunshine, which has 2 good ports...Aruba, Curaçao and Grand Turk which is okay. The two Carnival cruises are 8 days, inside for apx $1750. The Spirit is 7 days and would be $2500, but is a balcony and includes the alcohol package. Which would you pick and why? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
vwrestler171 Posted August 30, 2015 #2 Share Posted August 30, 2015 Between the 2 Carnival ships, I would choose Breeze. Breeze is my favorite ship of the fleet, and I have no desire to sail on Sunshine. Although Sunshines serenity deck is appealing. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
seannyice81 Posted August 30, 2015 #3 Share Posted August 30, 2015 Going with kids? Breeze and Sunshine would be better with them. I'd lean towards Breeze. Just adults? NCL to Tortola! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
trvlgirlmq Posted August 30, 2015 #4 Share Posted August 30, 2015 Breeze is my favorite ship but I have always wanted to do the Southern itinerary so I would go with Sunshine. It has all the upgrades of Breeze and I would give it a shot for the itinerary. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NCteacherlovescruising Posted August 30, 2015 Author #5 Share Posted August 30, 2015 Between the 2 Carnival ships, I would choose Breeze. Breeze is my favorite ship of the fleet, and I have no desire to sail on Sunshine. Although Sunshines serenity deck is appealing. I would love to try the Breeze, but the ports aren't exciting. We have been to all of them before. We liked them, but been there done that. It would most certainly be cruising for the ship. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NCteacherlovescruising Posted August 30, 2015 Author #6 Share Posted August 30, 2015 Going with kids? Breeze and Sunshine would be better with them. I'd lean towards Breeze. Just adults? NCL to Tortola! No kids are coming with us this time. Even if they were, our "baby" is 18. I LOVE Tortola! I'm hesitant because I haven't heard very many positives about the Sunshine, although we would love to return to Aruba (our favorite land vacation!) and have never been to Curaçao. We have only sailed inside once. I hated it but my husband didn't mind it at all. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
singbluesilver1 Posted August 30, 2015 #7 Share Posted August 30, 2015 I'd do the sunshine , I like to go to new places that always wins for me Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
evandbob Posted August 30, 2015 #8 Share Posted August 30, 2015 I was looking for a spring break cruise today and narrowed it down to 3. We will be on a tight budget for this one, which leaves RCI out this time. It's down to the NCL Spirit, which would be going to my favorite port, Tortola. Carnival Breeze, which is going to all ports we've been to, although we like them. We would be choosing based on ship. The other is the Carnival Sunshine, which has 2 good ports...Aruba, Curaçao and Grand Turk which is okay. The two Carnival cruises are 8 days, inside for apx $1750. The Spirit is 7 days and would be $2500, but is a balcony and includes the alcohol package. Which would you pick and why? If you are a drinking couple, the NCL is the bargain plus it is a balcony......where you can sip those libations without paying for an $800 cheers package Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NCteacherlovescruising Posted August 30, 2015 Author #9 Share Posted August 30, 2015 I'd do the sunshine , I like to go to new places that always wins for me Agreed. We have decided we would choose the Sunshine cruise over the Breeze due to the ports. Nothing against the Breeze ports, we've just been to all of them. So now it's down to Sunshine or the NCL cruise. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NCteacherlovescruising Posted August 30, 2015 Author #10 Share Posted August 30, 2015 If you are a drinking couple, the NCL is the bargain plus it is a balcony......where you can sip those libations without paying for an $800 cheers package We aren't big drinkers, although we drink more when it's included. The balcony would be a nice perk. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rivermist19 Posted August 30, 2015 #11 Share Posted August 30, 2015 I would choose the Sunshine because I love the ports it is going to. Curacao is a favorite of mine and I love Grand Turk for a great beach day. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mommabear2Five Posted August 30, 2015 #12 Share Posted August 30, 2015 I loved our 7 day on Sunshine, but the drink package and balcony would be nice, too! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Liverpoollovely Posted August 30, 2015 #13 Share Posted August 30, 2015 I was looking for a spring break cruise today and narrowed it down to 3. We will be on a tight budget for this one, which leaves RCI out this time. It's down to the NCL Spirit, which would be going to my favorite port, Tortola. Carnival Breeze, which is going to all ports we've been to, although we like them. We would be choosing based on ship. The other is the Carnival Sunshine, which has 2 good ports...Aruba, Curaçao and Grand Turk which is okay. The two Carnival cruises are 8 days, inside for apx $1750. The Spirit is 7 days and would be $2500, but is a balcony and includes the alcohol package. Which would you pick and why? I haven't been on any of those ships (will be soon on Sunshine in October) but I would go with your favourite port, go for the cruise that you will most enjoy, we tend to pick cruises based on the ports we enjoy almost always going to St Thomas (as my family and I all love that port) with the exemption of the next three cruises we have lined up we are going to newer ports never been to before .. I would choose the cruise where you will be going to one of your favourite ports, additionally for the NCL Spirit you are getting the alcohol package and a balcony room ... Sounds like win win to me :) Whichever cruise you choose have fun! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kingoftheicedragons Posted August 30, 2015 #14 Share Posted August 30, 2015 I would do the Sunshine. The Sunshine is currently my favorite ship because of the many restaurant choices, the Serenity, and the activities on board. Most of the restaurants are complementary for lunch, and it has four (or is it five?) upgrade restaurant choices for dinner. It's been a couple of years since we were on Sunshine, but really can't think of too many bad things about her. Also, while I wasn't the most impressed with Grand Turk (although we're doing that port two years in a row), Aruba and Curacao are amazing ports and I would definitely do those ports again (and Dominican Republic as well, but it doesn't sound like your ship is going to that port). Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LuckyZ Posted August 30, 2015 #15 Share Posted August 30, 2015 Loved the Breeze but we really loved Aruba and Curaçao ports. You definitely need to take a tour with Irie Tours in Curaçao . Great way to see the island for a small fee Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jana60 Posted August 30, 2015 #16 Share Posted August 30, 2015 I was looking for a spring break cruise today and narrowed it down to 3. We will be on a tight budget for this one, which leaves RCI out this time. It's down to the NCL Spirit, which would be going to my favorite port, Tortola. Carnival Breeze, which is going to all ports we've been to, although we like them. We would be choosing based on ship. The other is the Carnival Sunshine, which has 2 good ports...Aruba, Curaçao and Grand Turk which is okay. The two Carnival cruises are 8 days, inside for apx $1750. The Spirit is 7 days and would be $2500, but is a balcony and includes the alcohol package. Which would you pick and why? I would choose the breeze. I wasn't crazy about carnival sunshine. Sunshine had a weird layout. How much would a balcony run on the breeze? Because it's hard to compare apples to oranges but I wouldn't pay a lot more for an alcohol package. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ObstructedView2 Posted August 30, 2015 #17 Share Posted August 30, 2015 (edited) We would be choosing based on ship. If that's the case, I would choose the Breeze hands down over the Sunshine. There has to be things you didn't do yet at the ports you've been to already. :) Edited August 30, 2015 by ObstructedView2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Drazil65 Posted August 30, 2015 #18 Share Posted August 30, 2015 (edited) Spirit...with a $750 difference, it includes your alcohol (that in itself puts you ahead if you planned to purchase cheers program if you both drink) and a balcony, I will pretty much always choose a balcony every time especially over an inside. For us, $1750 is way too much to pay for an inside. Edited August 30, 2015 by Drazil65 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NCteacherlovescruising Posted August 30, 2015 Author #19 Share Posted August 30, 2015 I would do the Sunshine. The Sunshine is currently my favorite ship because of the many restaurant choices, the Serenity, and the activities on board. Most of the restaurants are complementary for lunch, and it has four (or is it five?) upgrade restaurant choices for dinner. It's been a couple of years since we were on Sunshine, but really can't think of too many bad things about her. Also, while I wasn't the most impressed with Grand Turk (although we're doing that port two years in a row), Aruba and Curacao are amazing ports and I would definitely do those ports again (and Dominican Republic as well, but it doesn't sound like your ship is going to that port). No, it's not going to DR the date we need to go. If it were, that would be a plus. Grand Turk isn't a negative, but we've been there 2 or 3 times already. I would prefer something new. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NCteacherlovescruising Posted August 30, 2015 Author #20 Share Posted August 30, 2015 I would choose the Sunshine because I love the ports it is going to. Curacao is a favorite of mine and I love Grand Turk for a great beach day. Curacao is toward the top of our list of ports we want to visit. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NCteacherlovescruising Posted August 30, 2015 Author #21 Share Posted August 30, 2015 I would choose the breeze. I wasn't crazy about carnival sunshine. Sunshine had a weird layout. How much would a balcony run on the breeze? Because it's hard to compare apples to oranges but I wouldn't pay a lot more for an alcohol package. A cove balcony on the Breeze would be $2385. If I'm paying that I'm going with NCL and getting the drink package for apx $100 more. A balcony on the Sunshine would be $2867. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NCteacherlovescruising Posted August 30, 2015 Author #22 Share Posted August 30, 2015 Spirit...with a $750 difference, it includes your alcohol (that in itself puts you ahead if you planned to purchase cheers program if you both drink) and a balcony, I will pretty much always choose a balcony every time especially over an inside. For us, $1750 is way too much to pay for an inside. We've never bought the Cheers package, doubt we ever would. We aren't big drinkers, although we do enjoy a good wine with dinner. The only time we have purchased a beverage package was on the Oasis because we had heard about their wonderful wine selection. If we go with NCL we would drink more than normal since it would be included. Otherwise, we mostly drink water and Diet Coke. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Drazil65 Posted August 30, 2015 #23 Share Posted August 30, 2015 With what you do drink and the balcony included, $750 still worth the upgrade, add the average amount you would drink plus a balcony upgrade on the other 2 ships (plus a port you love already) and I will bet it will add up to way more than the $750, seems like no brainer but we love our balcony cabins and cannot see paying that much for inside cabins. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NCteacherlovescruising Posted August 30, 2015 Author #24 Share Posted August 30, 2015 I found an interior with a picture window, walkway view on the Sunshine. At least I wouldn't feel like I was in a closet. I put a courtesy hold on it while we decide because they only had a couple of those rooms left. It says it's modified so we could get bumped. Does that mean they could bump us to an inside with no window? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SkyMaster Posted August 30, 2015 #25 Share Posted August 30, 2015 I agree with most of the others. Of the two left, I'd choose "Breeze" if you aren't a big drinker. If you are, then "NCL" gets the nod. "SKY" Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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