Help me decide. Oct 2016

[khrivnak]

I'm in the planning stage of my Oct 2016 cruise and have it narrowed down to 3. We're a family of 5, middle age, with kids from 16-9. We've been on the Pride twice and the Liberty once. We love the Pride for size and ease of navigation. We'll be driving down from PA. I know nothing about any of the ships we have it narrowed down to 3, but we look for nothing WAY crowded (*cough* Sunshine *cough*), we loathe American menu, but figure we're getting that no matter what anyway. 2.0 on all these ships? waterslides? enough pool space?

 

What about the ports? We've been to Grand Turk, but thats it for these stops.

 

Thoughts? Any help would be MUCH appreciated.

 

10/1 (Sat-Sun) - 8 day out of Ft Lauderdale. Conquest. $404/pp

Grand Turk, La Romano Dominican Republic, Curacao, Aruba.

10/8 (Sat-Sun) - 8 day out of Miami. Splendor. $354/pp

Grand Turk, San Juan, St. Kitts, St. Maarten

10/8 (Sat-Sat) - 7 day out of Port Canaveral. Magic. $339/pp

Amber Cove, St. Thomas, San Juan, Grand Turk

[kindatravelsavy19]

Since you are driving I would lean toward the Magic plus it is cheaper pp...but for me I think the Conquest is a good alternative due to itinerary, Splendors ports are going where we are going on my next cruise. The question is...6hrs extra driving vs. 1 more day cruising?...choices, choices.

[bakersdozen12]

The kids would probably like the Magic the best. It has the SkyCourse which looks like tons of fun!

[khrivnak]

We were leaning toward the Aruba, however, they all sound SO good. To be honest, the Magic was at the bottom of the 3, however, St. Thomas is appealing. (forgot to add... beautiful beaches draws me in like moth to light)

 

It really, I guess, comes down to ship. I didnt know Magic had a "SkyCourse". Im going to have to google to see what that is... that may bump that one back up. UGH.

 

aaaaaaand. Being a northerner.. I dont think I realized it was an extra 6 hrs from Port Canaveral to Miami/Ft Lauderdale.

Edited November 4, 2015 by khrivnak

[singbluesilver1]

Conquest the ports are better

[Cruisegirl6]

Hotels in Miami most costly followed by Ft. Lauderdale (hotels right close by to the cruise terminal) and least costly hotels in Pt. Canaveral and are right at the port area also. Pt. Canaveral is a shorter drive.....to Ft. Lauderdale be an extra 4-5 hour drive time depending upon whether you make stops and how many, then an extra hour to Miami. I like the parking a lot better in Pt. Canaveral and Miami the least.

 

Carnival Magic had her last dry dock 2015 this year, I always look for this because they do routine maintenance which involves painting, carpeting, bedding, etc. She also has a nice serenity area with spas, waterworks, mini golf, basketball, cucina del capitano a good sit down pasta place which is excellent, mongolian, and red frog pub.

 

Carnival Conquest her last dry dock was back in 2012, she has blue iguana, red frog, guys burgers, fish and chips and I believe maybe a comfort kitchen.

 

Carnival Splender last dry dock was 2011, she has a large serenity, rotisserie, mongolian wok, wine bar, mini golf, tandoor and I believe chopsticks.

 

About Aruba, you dock in the city area, so you really don't get to see the nice part of Aruba unless you take a tour, but there is something for everybody in Aruba, we love Aruba so much we always go there for a land based vacation for a couple of weeks each year, everybody is nice, no haggling, no venders begging, good restaurants/food, beautiful beaches, all watersports and even on the hottest day tradewinds keep you feeling comfortable.

 

Dominican Amber Cove can do without.

 

St Kitts watersports and nice beach

 

Grand Turk watersports, good beach, margarhitaville complimentary pool, chairs etc.

 

St. Maarten a good place to sightsee dutch and french side, good food/restaurants, good beaches

 

San Juan, you dock in the main part of the city...rainforest, casinos, limited I feel, to see the nice part of the island is a ways to get there.

 

Curacao has the tradewinds also, didn't see any decent beaches, buildings are all pastel colors nice but limited on what to see and do, my opinion. Suppose to have good watersports there also and the best kayaking in the mangroves.

 

The Conquest would be my personal choice of being last (remember most of the time your on the ship not in ports)

 

The Splender is an extra day, offers an overall of good ports, but she is the one that hasn't been in dry dock

 

The Magic, is closer drive, less costly hotels, easier parking at the pier, not as good ports but the ship is newer, offers more, been in dry dock this year.

 

What is more important to you ports or the ship? For Ports its the Conquest, for the ship its the Magic, my last choice is the Splender because of the ship not being in a current dry dock and out of Miami.

 

I would choose the Magic, it has more for the kids too.

Edited November 4, 2015 by lyndamr

[khrivnak]

Awesome breakdown lyn, thank you!! just what I was looking for.

 

Id have to say ports and ship are equal 50/50, but if a ship lacked where the ports were good, we would definitely look at another cruise, however, not dismiss it entirely. (which is why the skycourse on Magic moved it from the lowest to a frontrunner now).

 

Ease of getting TO the port has also moved the Magic up.

 

Any thoughts on St. Thomas? We know we enjoyed Grand Turk (biggest plus is everything is right OFF the ship), so the question remains on the other ports for Magic. I know there is still limited info on Amber Cove yet....

[sweetsixteencruisers]

I have been the Conquest Itinerary, very nice. We are on the Magic in December 2016 the same itinerary as the one you choose. I think the Magic will have more for the kids. Miami is about 3.5 hours from Port Canaveral about 220 miles. Fort Lauderdale is 3 hours about 194 miles from Port Canaveral.

[Cruisegirl6]

Amber Cove I believe has a lot of chairs and a nice pool, no beach from what I remember unless you take a cab somewhere, very similar to what Grand Turk has.

 

There is Ocean World where you also can swim with the stingrays and dolphins believe that may be around $139.00 per person. There is a catamaran sail and snorkel for around $80....honestly with three children it can be rather costly.

 

St. Thomas....been there over and over again, its a decent island, some good beaches. You can go to St. Johns using a ferry or a shore excursion with the ship or you can go to where everybody goes Meghans Bay honestly its a bay but pretty....there are snorkeling tours but St. Thomas isn't on the top of my list to do snorkeling, you can take a private tour of the island that be nice hire your own cab driver you make a deal how many hours and let him show you the island, its nice to do once, there is a catamaran sail also as well as kayaking, jeep tour and the screaming eagle jet boat. There is also an undersea observatory at coral world.

 

If you like to try to save money in doing shore excursions and being right at the pier, then the Magic gives you both Grand Turk and Amber Cove. San Juan you can do some sightseeing even if its walking around town and St. Thomas be the place to go to a beach or do something else, I feel the Magic gives you more variety.

[Cruisegirl6]

The OP will be traveling on I95 or the Turnpike.....so they would have to pass Orlando (not Pt. Canaveral as its more to the atlantic/shore), doing the speed limit with no stops Orlando to Ft. Lauderdale would be 236.2 miles or 3 hours 35 minutes....then add on another 45 minutes to 1 hour to Miami depending on traffic and yes there is traffic at certain times of the day.

Also, when you have kids in the car, they not happy sitting 2 days in the car an extra 4 hours or so seems to be a lot, then you have another 4 hours extra to get home.

Edited November 4, 2015 by lyndamr

[wantocruisemore]

I would go Magic. It's closer when driving and it's getting upgraded in March, hopefully with all the great 2.0 features.

[BenjiRodney]

We just did the Grand Turk/Dominican Republic/Aruba/Curaçao on the Breeze last week, the itinerary is fantastic. Sailed on the Conquest last year and loved it.

 

 

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[bubbles4ever]

It takes us 5 1/2 hours to get to Miami from Jacksonville going 195

[lagienomai]

To me I would go with the Magic. It appears to be a nice ship with lots to do and saves driving time. I am actually looking at the same ship and itinerary but a week after yours. I have been researching Amber Cove before I make the final decision because I was unsure of what to do there but many people seem to recommend Iguana Mama, if your interested in an adventure excursion. Look on Trip Advisor. From what I have read a taxi into town from Amber Cove is expensive and there isn't a beach in the port area.

[jonboy9756]

Hotels in Miami most costly followed by Ft. Lauderdale (hotels right close by to the cruise terminal) and least costly hotels in Pt. Canaveral and are right at the port area also. Pt. Canaveral is a shorter drive.....to Ft. Lauderdale be an extra 4-5 hour drive time depending upon whether you make stops and how many, then an extra hour to Miami. I like the parking a lot better in Pt. Canaveral and Miami the least.

 

Carnival Magic had her last dry dock 2015 this year, I always look for this because they do routine maintenance which involves painting, carpeting, bedding, etc. She also has a nice serenity area with spas, waterworks, mini golf, basketball, cucina del capitano a good sit down pasta place which is excellent, mongolian, and red frog pub.

 

Carnival Conquest her last dry dock was back in 2012, she has blue iguana, red frog, guys burgers, fish and chips and I believe maybe a comfort kitchen.

 

Carnival Splender last dry dock was 2011, she has a large serenity, rotisserie, mongolian wok, wine bar, mini golf, tandoor and I believe chopsticks.

 

About Aruba, you dock in the city area, so you really don't get to see the nice part of Aruba unless you take a tour, but there is something for everybody in Aruba, we love Aruba so much we always go there for a land based vacation for a couple of weeks each year, everybody is nice, no haggling, no venders begging, good restaurants/food, beautiful beaches, all watersports and even on the hottest day tradewinds keep you feeling comfortable.

 

Dominican Amber Cove can do without.

 

St Kitts watersports and nice beach

 

Grand Turk watersports, good beach, margarhitaville complimentary pool, chairs etc.

 

St. Maarten a good place to sightsee dutch and french side, good food/restaurants, good beaches

 

San Juan, you dock in the main part of the city...rainforest, casinos, limited I feel, to see the nice part of the island is a ways to get there.

 

Curacao has the tradewinds also, didn't see any decent beaches, buildings are all pastel colors nice but limited on what to see and do, my opinion. Suppose to have good watersports there also and the best kayaking in the mangroves.

 

The Conquest would be my personal choice of being last (remember most of the time your on the ship not in ports)

 

The Splender is an extra day, offers an overall of good ports, but she is the one that hasn't been in dry dock

 

The Magic, is closer drive, less costly hotels, easier parking at the pier, not as good ports but the ship is newer, offers more, been in dry dock this year.

 

What is more important to you ports or the ship? For Ports its the Conquest, for the ship its the Magic, my last choice is the Splender because of the ship not being in a current dry dock and out of Miami.

 

I would choose the Magic, it has more for the kids too.

 

 

I agree with your decision and am doing this itinerary on the Magic next September. But... Magic did not do dry dock in 2015. It will be in dry dock in Feb/March 2016. And according to John Heald will be getting the full package.

[trvlgirlmq]

Magic all the way! Your kids will love the ropes course and waterworks. Dream class ships are our favorite! San Juan is fabulous if you like a little European flair. St Thomas has Magens Bay with a gorgeous beach. Everyone is correct that hotels and parking are less expensive in Port Canaveral.

[Cruisegirl6]

jonboy9756 you know I thought it was for March 2016 but when I checked a website cruzin it said she already went for dry dock I was surprised because I truly recall carnival saying next march, 2016 so it is true thats great news, even newer for us lol.

 

I bet a lot of people be happy with Guys Burgers, I never had one generally don't eat that type of food, fast food types that is, but I will definitely have to see what people rave about it be fun.

[MickeyIsMyHomeboy]

For outside the box ideas on the ports, check out Trip Advisor. That's how we found the Botanical Gardens in St. Thomas, and then the owner and I have been in contact and we've created our own awesome excursion based on her recommendations. I'll let you know in a few weeks how it goes!

[eaCruiser4Life]

I'm in the planning stage of my Oct 2016 cruise and have it narrowed down to 3. We're a family of 5, middle age, with kids from 16-9. We've been on the Pride twice and the Liberty once. We love the Pride for size and ease of navigation. We'll be driving down from PA. I know nothing about any of the ships we have it narrowed down to 3, but we look for nothing WAY crowded (*cough* Sunshine *cough*), we loathe American menu, but figure we're getting that no matter what anyway. 2.0 on all these ships? waterslides? enough pool space?

 

What about the ports? We've been to Grand Turk, but thats it for these stops.

 

Thoughts? Any help would be MUCH appreciated.

 

10/1 (Sat-Sun) - 8 day out of Ft Lauderdale. Conquest. $404/pp

Grand Turk, La Romano Dominican Republic, Curacao, Aruba.

10/8 (Sat-Sun) - 8 day out of Miami. Splendor. $354/pp

Grand Turk, San Juan, St. Kitts, St. Maarten

10/8 (Sat-Sat) - 7 day out of Port Canaveral. Magic. $339/pp

Amber Cove, St. Thomas, San Juan, Grand Turk

 

I would go for conquest. Never been to Aruba and would love to go there some day.