yonich

I did purchase us both unlimited internet for our upcoming cruise, using the Go Better promotion - and I have to say it is primarily for iMessage! We can't stand waiting around or searching for each other on a huge ship, and we are both wanderers. It's next to impossible to message each other if we keep having to login and logout of one account. We also are not ones to separate ourselves from the rest of the world on vacation, due to both professional and personal reasons, so the package will be well used by us... however, that ability to message each other just takes so much stress out of my vacation!!

Btw, thanks for the recommendation on the map apps to download while on shore, I can't wait to check those out.

Marco - you're definitely right, we are going not only for a nice vacation but to also see regions of Europe. My husband and I would like to see areas of Italy, and luckily its central location makes it a part of most Med cruises.

Thank you Baltatcha and others - I appreciate all of the replies that we will not be the youngest cruisers, and that your kids were comfortable on it, too, While we are not bringing ours on this trip, we did take them this past winter on their first cruise. It is definitely something we want to do with them again, and while will may never be too brand-loyal, I have been looking for a new line to feel at home on.

So from your comments and those on the Norwegian board, I'm strongly leaning towards the Equinox. Thanks so much, I would appreciate any other opinions still, but I'm pretty sure my mind is made up. Now to customize everything else about our trip. :)

I appreciate the comments so much, thanks! Still leaning towards the Equinox, and reading up more on both. There are quite a few options for each to make the package I want, I do appreciate that.

Short version: Which ship should I choose for a Mediterranean cruise in July 2016 – Celebrity Equinox or the Norwegian Epic? Cross posting to both boards to get varied opinions.

Long version: A bit about us – my husband and I (mid-30s) are leaving our kids behind for a weeklong vacation/10th anniversary celebration excuse. We like nice food and hate surcharges. We’ve cruised Carnival and Princess a few times through the Caribbean, and while we don’t take part in too much nightlife, we enjoy seeing a couple shows if we’re not exhausted from the day. We have never eaten at the specialty restaurants because I just don’t feel like paying another $15 pp – but I wouldn’t blink an eye if the cruise has been another $15 pp up front and included a free specialty meal, I guess it’s just my perceived idea of a good value. That being said, I like to dress up a bit and have a great meal service, never doing the buffet for dinner. We will, however, both pay for wifi, preferably unlimited, as we feel very anxious without it for both personal and business reasons.

I’m looking at these two ships for our first Mediterranean cruise, each a 7 night itinerary. Having not sailed on either line, we obviously have no perks or credits, and will be looking at a mid-range balcony (no concierge class, or suite, etc.) I doubt I will use the spa. As for the ports, I really can’t decide, I want to go to them all, and will find something exciting in each, there are no “must-do” cities, really. The rates are quite similar, and each include some promotion right now (free beverages, dining, wifi, etc).

I just can’t decide which one we will be happier on – my reservations for each are that Celebrity will have great dining but will be a much older crowd and that the great reviews are coming from cruisers paying twice as much for their cabin as I will… and that NCL will have better entertainment but won’t meet our dining expectations without paying extra constantly and having to figure out the freestyle system.

That said and done, today I’m leaning towards the Celebrity Equinox with their new promotion of either the Go Better or Best, just to pay for everything up front, and sit back and enjoy. Thanks so much for reading and for your opinions.

Short version: Which ship should I choose for a Mediterranean cruise in July 2016 – Celebrity Equinox or the Norwegian Epic? Cross posting to both boards to get varied opinions.

Long version: A bit about us – my husband and I (mid-30s) are leaving our kids behind for a weeklong vacation/10th anniversary celebration excuse. We like nice food and hate surcharges. We’ve cruised Carnival and Princess a few times through the Caribbean, and while we don’t take part in too much nightlife, we enjoy seeing a couple shows if we’re not exhausted from the day. We have never eaten at the specialty restaurants because I just don’t feel like paying another $15 pp – but I wouldn’t blink an eye if the cruise has been another $15 pp up front and included a free specialty meal, I guess it’s just my perceived idea of a good value. That being said, I like to dress up a bit and have a great meal service, never doing the buffet for dinner. We will, however, both pay for wifi, preferably unlimited, as we feel very anxious without it for both personal and business reasons.

I’m looking at these two ships for our first Mediterranean cruise, each a 7 night itinerary. Having not sailed on either line, we obviously have no perks or credits, and will be looking at a mid-range balcony (no concierge class, or suite, etc.) I doubt I will use the spa. As for the ports, I really can’t decide, I want to go to them all, and will find something exciting in each, there are no “must-do” cities, really. The rates are quite similar, and each include some promotion right now (free beverages, dining, wifi, etc).

I just can’t decide which one we will be happier on – my reservations for each are that Celebrity will have great dining but will be a much older crowd and that the great reviews are coming from cruisers paying twice as much for their cabin as I will… and that NCL will have better entertainment but won’t meet our dining expectations without paying extra constantly and having to figure out the freestyle system.

That said and done, today I’m leaning towards the Celebrity Equinox with their new promotion of either the Go Better or Best, just to pay for everything up front, and sit back and enjoy. Thanks so much for reading and for your opinions.

No, Sunshine :). You're right, the weather could change :)

Thanks for your ideas everyone - the kids will love the beach anyway. :)

We will be in Nassau next Monday. Early weather reports show the high temperature will be 67 degrees, not exactly tropical. We were planning to go to Cable Beach but I'm not sure if it's worth it if we can't swim (bringing along our kids ages 2.5 and 6). Should we: just stay aboard? go to the beach anyway and walk in the sand? What about the pirate museum? I don't really have a desire to walk around and shop. I know it's February, but as we have over 4 ridiculous feet of snow on the ground here in Massachusetts, I was really hoping for some hot weather next week! Thanks for any advice!

Is the wifi social media plan available on the Breeze only? I'm sailing on the Sunshine in February, and want to know my wifi options. I would totally buy a package for $25-50, but if it's 3x that for overall access, I'll just use free wifi in port.

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Yes, that's the one I was referring to and made a reservation at... I think it's known as Comfort Inn and Suites, as well as Comfort Inn Cocoa Beach. 3901 North Atlantic Ave

This is so helpful - knowing that the Comfort Inn is on the same side of the road as the beach just sealed the deal!

I need to book a hotel and transportation to/from hotel and to/from airport before our cruise out of Port Canaveral in February. We're a family of four with two small children (will be ages 2.5 and 6 then) - I'm not looking to spend a fortune for just one night, but will need to get dinner that evening and perhaps swim at hotel pool or walk to beach (how cold in February?). Obviously won't have car, I don't even want to bring our stroller.

I think I've narrowed it down to either the Comfort Inn or the Holiday Inn Express. Both will be similar in cost, but I can get a package at the Comfort Inn for roundtrip transportation to the airport, and at the Holiday Inn Express I will need to book that independently. Both have breakfast included. Total cost for everything pretty similar.

So, with that in mind - which hotel do you prefer and why? Thanks!!

I just scored FTTF, as well! It just opened up for me for the Conquest in February. As a family of four in one cabin, seems like a great deal for $50.

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Thanks for sharing! I plan to call again. I will make sure I give myself some time to speak with the supervisor this call. $50 would make things better!

I have been following this topic as I too was booked on the Freedom next Feb out of FLL and got switched to the Conquest, and disappointed there's no Serenity. I called Carnival today speaking this concern and requesting the same $50 OBC - nothing! I'm going to try again, since it seems to be quite mixed in their response.

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