Trying to pick a cruise

[famy27]

Here's some background for my plan. I'd like to take my daughters and one of their friends (ages 4, 10, and 10) on a cruise in the first week of January. I'm trying to keep the budget minimal, so I have narrowed it down to two options. I am really struggling to decide between them.

 

Option 1:

Jan 5-8 on Carnival Valor

Departs from Port Canaveral

One stop in Nassau

 

We would fly down on the 3rd, go to Disney World on the 4th, and then head to port on the 5th.

 

Option 2:

Jan 3-6 on RC Navigator of the Seas

Departs from Miami

Stops at CocoCay and Nassau

 

We'd leave on Jan 2nd and return on the 7th, spending a little time in Miami.

 

Based on the itinerary, I'd prefer RC, but here's the issue. We just cruised on Explorer of the Seas to Alaska in May. We liked the ship overall, but the Promenade was so smokey from the casino staircase that it was almost unbearable for me. I'm assuming Navigator has the same sort of set up. If so, that's a big mark against this option.

 

I'd love to hear any ideas and feedback.

[OCruisers]

Keep in mind you won't find the casino on Carnival ships to be any less smoky than they are on RCCL ships.. ;)

 

Your children would probably enjoy going to Disney World more than they would spending extra time in Miami in January.

[famy27]

Keep in mind you won't find the casino on Carnival ships to be any less smoky than they are on RCCL ships.. ;)

 

Your children would probably enjoy going to Disney World more than they would spending extra time in Miami in January.

 

It wasn't the smokiness of the casino per se. It was the fact that it opened directly onto the Promenade. We've cruised on other RC and Carnival ships and never had any issues. Explorer would have been fine if there had been some sort of door or barrier from the casino stairs to the Promenade. It's just bad design.

 

We go to Disney a lot, so that's not a huge consideration. We'll be there two weeks later for MLK weekend. We do always love a stop there, but it's not a necessity for this trip. We just want to get away from winter.

[Cruising Golfer]

Go to the Royal web site and look at the deck plans, that will give you a better idea of the location of casino to promenade. :cool:

[LHT28]

Keep in mind the short 3-5 day cruises are usually more party type ships

 

Maybe not the best option for young children

[simplelife]

I'll bet the girls will enjoy Disney a lot more than Miami.

 

 

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[OCruisers]

I'll bet the girls will enjoy Disney a lot more than Miami.

 

Totally agree with the above! The girls would enjoy Disney so very much more! :)

[Flatbush Flyer]

I'll bet the girls will enjoy Disney a lot more than Miami.

 

 

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Perhaps if it was the "real" Disney (i.e., Disneyland) rather than Swamplandia Disney.

:-)

[Cruisin' Chick]

make sure if taking children you are not related to on a cruise that you'll need to bring certain documents. You'll need to get a notarized permission signed by both parents as well as a permission for any medical treatment. If they have a passport, that would be handy. Else, on some cruises a birth certificate may be okay, but check with the cruise line that it's okay for your itinerary.

[Ski Mom 2]

Will the kids being using the kids club on either ship? When we cruised Alaska when the kids were young they loved the kids club on Royal Caribbean.