Which cruise?

My wife and I are looking at booking a cruise for 2016, but are unsure which to do...10 Day on celebrity or 14 day on NCL.

NCL

Fri Boston, Massachusetts (EMBARK) --- 5:00 pm

Sat At Sea --- ---

Sun At Sea --- ---

Mon At Sea --- ---

Tue San Juan, Puerto Rico 8:00 am 5:00 pm

Wed At Sea --- ---

Thu Kralendijk, Bonaire 8:00 am 10:00 pm

Fri Willemstad, Curacao 8:00 am 10:00 pm

Sat Oranjestad, Aruba 8:00 am 6:00 pm

Sun At Sea --- ---

Mon Ocho Rios, Jamaica 8:00 am 5:00 pm

Tue George Town, Grand Cayman 8:00 am 4:00 pm

George Town, Grand Cayman

Wed Cozumel, Mexico 10:00 am 6:00 pm

Thu At Sea --- ---

Fri New Orleans, Louisiana (DISEMBARK) 8:00 am ---

Celebrity

Day 1 Fort Lauderdale, Florida 4:30PM

Day 2 Key West, Florida Docked 7:00AM 4:00PM

Day 3 At Sea

Day 4 At Sea

Day 5 Willemstad, Curacao Docked 2:00PM

Day 6 Willemstad, Curacao Docked 8:00PM

Day 7 Kralendijk, Bonaire Docked 7:00AM 6:00PM

Day 8 Oranjestad, Aruba Docked 7:00AM 3:00PM

Day 9 At Sea

Day 10 At Sea

Day 11 Fort Lauderdale, Florida 7:00AM

If we booked on celebrity we would book concierge and get the 123 all inclusive promo. If we did NCL we would book ocean view and then purchase the drink package, and also get $200 in OBC. That would make them about equal in price. Which would you choose?

Knowing nothing more about you and your cruising preferences , I recommend a good Cruise Specialist TA who can qualify you to the right cruise . Perhaps there is even a better choice out there ?

Knowing nothing more about you and your cruising preferences , I recommend a good Cruise Specialist TA who can qualify you to the right cruise . Perhaps there is even a better choice out there ?

Well we like doing adventurous things, and want to go to the ABC islands (the reason they are in both options).

We are now thinking the ncl cruise as it has 4 more days and I like the port times in ABC better. Anyone know if I should book now, get the $200 in obc or wait to see if any better deals come up?

You should be asking this on the NCL board, where folks can tell you about price adjustments before final payment, etc.

As to your original question, I don't care for NCL, but for me, that's the better itinerary, and 14 days trumps 10 any time. EM

NCL! We absolutely loved it.

Book now for the obc. You can rebook to any better deals as often as you need up until final payment date 90 days before sail. Plenty of time to see a better rate, but if this ends up being the best rate, you have it and your choice of cabin.

I almost always recommend Celebrity over NCSmell, but that NCL itinerary is a lot better.

Which ships specifically? That would make a difference, though I probably would opt for the 14 nighter because it's longer time in my bliss on a ship. . . :p I prefer a Celeb Solstice class ship over their older ones. . . so if you're talking non-Solstice class vs. any NCL ship, NCL wins for me. and again, the 14 nights. . . :)

We are now thinking the ncl cruise as it has 4 more days and I like the port times in ABC better. Anyone know if I should book now, get the $200 in obc or wait to see if any better deals come up?

I would book now and then watch for price drops or other promotions. Note that some promotions may be for new reservations only and you would have to cancel and rebook, which is not a problem as I did this once through our TA to get the better rate or more OBC (don't recall which it was). If there are significant price drops after final payment, you can ask to be moved to a higher cabin category as well. But before final payment is due, you can reprice if a better promo comes up so your final payment is lower.

have a great time--what ship is this? Dawn from Boston? I like the repositioning cruises like this one.

I almost always recommend Celebrity over NCSmell, but that NCL itinerary is a lot better.

I thought so as well because the times in port were more conducive to adventuring out and making a day of it.

Which ships specifically? That would make a difference, though I probably would opt for the 14 nighter because it's longer time in my bliss on a ship. . . :p I prefer a Celeb Solstice class ship over their older ones. . . so if you're talking non-Solstice class vs. any NCL ship, NCL wins for me. and again, the 14 nights. . . :)

It would be celebrity infinity and ncl dawn.

I would book now and then watch for price drops or other promotions. Note that some promotions may be for new reservations only and you would have to cancel and rebook, which is not a problem as I did this once through our TA to get the better rate or more OBC (don't recall which it was). If there are significant price drops after final payment, you can ask to be moved to a higher cabin category as well. But before final payment is due, you can reprice if a better promo comes up so your final payment is lower.

 

have a great time--what ship is this? Dawn from Boston? I like the repositioning cruises like this one.

Yes it is the dawn and they have the same itinerary this October as well, and it still has the same promo $200 obc, dinners every night at the specialty restaurants ( would this be the better option to take?) or $75 pp airfare credit