jessiec33 Posted October 18, 2007 #1 Share Posted October 18, 2007 We would like to take a 4 night cruise to the Bahamas in March from Port Canaveral we have two kids 6 & 9. It seems like our only options are the RCL Sov. of the Seas or the Carnival Sensation which seem to be older ships and don't have great reviews so I am little worried I want to make our first cruise fun and exciting. What would you do? Disney is another choice but is at least twice as much! HELP Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cruisead Posted October 18, 2007 #2 Share Posted October 18, 2007 Unfortunately, it's a trade off. You either have to go with the older ships or pay the premium prices of Disney. But just because a ship is older doesn't mean it's bad. They just don't have a the bells and whistles of the new ships. Those short cruises can also be a different cruise---by different I mean that sometimes they tend towards being more rowdy as people are trying to shove 7 days of partying into a short cruise. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ellanora Posted October 18, 2007 #3 Share Posted October 18, 2007 The older ships can be pretty hit-or-miss in the reviews, but I can tell you that I took my son (9 years old at the time) on his first cruise Sept 2006 on the Sensation. It was a 4 night, and he and I both had a fabulous time, and he is as addicted to cruising now as I am! There are plenty of excursion options in Nassau, and Freeport makes a nice beach day if you don't mind taking a taxi to the beach and shopping area. Our service on board was top notch, and there were plenty of activities for him to participate in if he chose. Any specific questions about the Sensation, I'd be happy to answer them. :) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
crusinmama06 Posted October 18, 2007 #4 Share Posted October 18, 2007 I've done BOTH. I am not a fan of Sensation but I LOVE Sovereign. I'll post some my pictures from Sensation (taken this August) and if you can get past the purple neon, then you might love it...lol. Now don't get me wrong, my kids LOVE Camp Carnival. And they had an awesome time. The passengers on Sensation were some of the worst I have ever sailed with. They just treated the ship like one big garbage can. I have to post the pictures in two different posts Sensation.... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
crusinmama06 Posted October 18, 2007 #5 Share Posted October 18, 2007 And this is Sovereign....I don't have my pictures in the computer so I have to show you some from Web Shots.... RCCL just gives a classier product. http://travel.webshots.com/photo/2505464220068870005GVaQCl http://travel.webshots.com/photo/2952914930068870005fCtqiz Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sandy toes Posted October 19, 2007 #6 Share Posted October 19, 2007 My vote would have to be the RCCL Sovereign. I have sailed both. The itineraries would make we want to go RCCL because of the day on CoCoCay (their private island) not only will the kids have a great time but you will too. I have to agree with Crusinmama about that purple!!! The Sovereign was our ship after a Disney stay. We saved so much doing it without the Disney cruise. Compared to the cost had we done Disney, our Disney land was almost free. PLUS everyone had a great time on the ship. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ula Posted October 19, 2007 #7 Share Posted October 19, 2007 It might depend on if it is the kids first cruise or not. My sister has five kids, their first cruise was on Monarch which is a smallish older RCI ship. A tester cruise. They adored it. You could not get the seven year old out of the kids club, he closed it down. Kids really do not notice room size, they tend to be open for the next adventure. Also with young people because I can hear grandma now saying kids are goats, budget is a big consideration. The room they really are not so in to, it is the things planned. I think most lines now have excellent programs for the young people. Personally book in your budget and plan adventures. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dengail Posted October 21, 2007 #8 Share Posted October 21, 2007 Very good advice, Ula. We save $$ on our cabin and the kids have never complained. I don't think they have ever even seen a Balcony room HAHA, they think every one is just a kinda cramped inside! We do plan AWESOME excursions though, and spend extra bucks there, to experience different cultures- off the ship! Sometimes we have to get 2 insides when all our kids were younger and all cruised with us, (5 kids). It's cheaper than the bigger family suites. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
abitaturbodog Posted October 21, 2007 #9 Share Posted October 21, 2007 If it's your kids first cruise you can't go wrong with any ship! They'll be amazed at the size, colors, activities, pools, ocean, food, islands, etc., etc.!!!! Don't worry about the reviews, just book the ship that fits your budget and you will have a wonderful time. But beware....once you take the family on a cruise, you'll be hooked. You might as well start saving for the next on NOW! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
momto3sons Posted October 22, 2007 #10 Share Posted October 22, 2007 We've sailed on the Sovereign and Disney Wonder. The kids say they Disney cruise was the best vacation ever(DH and I agree). It is expensive. The Sovereign (3 day) was more rowdy. Will you be going during spring break? Disney cost even more then. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rebeccalouise Posted October 22, 2007 #11 Share Posted October 22, 2007 Cabins are tiny on Sovereign. I have done two RCL cruises and they have not been my favorite. I don't think you could beat Disney if you are sailing out of Port Canaveral. They do a great job with kids and the cabins are very roomy. The largest I have been in yet. I did the three night on the Wonder and my son was in 7th Heaven. I would do another 3 night but I had had my fill of Disney by the end. My son is 7 and still wants to do Disney- so I think I will do one more before he gets too old to enjoy it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
crusinmama06 Posted October 22, 2007 #12 Share Posted October 22, 2007 Cabins are tiny on Sovereign. I have done two RCL cruises and they have not been my favorite. I don't think you could beat Disney if you are sailing out of Port Canaveral. They do a great job with kids and the cabins are very roomy. The largest I have been in yet. I did the three night on the Wonder and my son was in 7th Heaven. I would do another 3 night but I had had my fill of Disney by the end. My son is 7 and still wants to do Disney- so I think I will do one more before he gets too old to enjoy it. I have to agree with this :eek: (I know, those that usually read my rants against Disney are having a heart attack right now...lol) More comparisons.... The cabin on Disney will be large. I don't know if it will be as large as Sensation though. :confused: But I wasn't a Sensation fan. It will be larger than Sovereign in the inside/outside categories. (but not the suite categories for the price, RCCL has more suite categories that are less than Disney) Disney will have no casino and 2 small shopping stores. RCCL will have a casino and something that resembles a MALL. Sensation will have a small shopping area and a casino. Disney has adult only areas that are kept ADULT only. Sensation has NO adult only areas. RCCL has adult dining. Your kids will be in 2 separate kid's club ages on all 3 cruiselines. RCCL runs - Ages 3-5, 6-8, 9-12 CCL runs - Ages 2-5, 6-8. 9-11 DCL runs - Ages 3-4, 5-7, 8-9, 10-12 Personally, as far as the kids' programs, you can't go wrong in ANY of them. I have the activities for each cruiseline listed at the link in my signature. My kids are 3 and 7. My 3 year old prefers Camp Carnival. My 7 year old prefers RCCL ships. Neither one of them have any desire to return to Disney, unless it's Walt Disney World which we tack on as a pre-cruise trip. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jessiec33 Posted October 25, 2007 Author #13 Share Posted October 25, 2007 Thank you all for your responses. We have actually decided on skipping the airfare and all the trouble that goes with it and we are sailing out of NY on the new GEM to Florida and the Bahamas. We are excited to leave out of the NY port and see all of the sights and we are already booked at the Comfort Suites so we are going to do the whole Atlantis thing. Hopefully this hooks us and we get to try out Carnival, RCCL and Disney in the next couple of years! Wish us luck on our first cruise!:) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
crusinmama06 Posted October 25, 2007 #14 Share Posted October 25, 2007 Thank you all for your responses. We have actually decided on skipping the airfare and all the trouble that goes with it and we are sailing out of NY on the new GEM to Florida and the Bahamas. We are excited to leave out of the NY port and see all of the sights and we are already booked at the Comfort Suites so we are going to do the whole Atlantis thing. Hopefully this hooks us and we get to try out Carnival, RCCL and Disney in the next couple of years! Wish us luck on our first cruise!:) Good luck! I know you won't need it because you will be having a blast at Atlantis!!!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sandy toes Posted October 25, 2007 #15 Share Posted October 25, 2007 Gook Luck!!! The NY harbor is so beautful. Your family is sure to have a great time. Be sure to check in on your roll call to chat with others sailing with you, to visit the NCL site and to write a review for all of us when you return. Altantis is fantastic!! The Comfort is the way to do it right. You will have so much fun. When did you say your next cruise was? Because, we all know you will be hooked! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Archived
This topic is now archived and is closed to further replies.