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Second guessing my Getaway booking...

losbun

By losbun,
in Norwegian Cruise Line

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losbun

losbun

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We went on our first cruise last year on the Caribbean Princess and the family liked it so much they wanted to do another one this year. Having a high-schooler we are stuck going spring break week which for Michigan is always the first week of April. Unfortunately there just didn't seem to be a combination of ship and itinerary that I was really excited about so I kind of settled on the Getaway. And while after reading reviews I'm sure we'll have a good time I'm still just not 100% sure this is the right ship/itinerary for us so below I listed what I'm excited about and what are my concerns. I know it's my decision but it's our big yearly vacation and a good chunk of change so I'd love to get people's two cents:).

 

What I like about the Getaway:

 

*Newer ship will appeal to DH

*Kids (OK and adults) excited about the slides and rope course

*Entertainment quality and options

*Food options and variety

*Free UBP for me (We're 5 so have to get 2 cabins, inside = no UBP)

*Great sideways IC for the kids directly across hall

*2 new ports: Jamaica and GSC

*4 port days (Ports are our biggest priority)

*Mojito Bar (that one's for me:D)

*Wanted to try NCL

 

Concerns I have:

 

*The size of the ship and crowds. Not a big fan of crowds and oh did I mention it's spring break.

*Lack of swimming pool. Last year on sea days we spent the entire day at the pool with the kids. And please don't tell me that the large kids bathtub is a pool, it's not.

*Poor seating. Since there's no pool I'm assuming the kids will spend the entire day at the slides - where do we sit and supervise??

*We did 2 of the ports last year

*Crowds: getting seats, getting drinks, getting food, seeing shows

*Small balcony - we were out on it a lot last year and there are five of us.

*Port of Miami - we're driving so that's an extra hour to over two hours past the other ports.

 

Like I said I don't see anything on my negatives that would stop us from having a good time...I think my biggest hesitation is the itinerary since we just did the western last year and I'm really worried about the crowds.

The Carnival Glory has a better itinerary at a slightly lower price but the ship, food and entertainment options aren't as good.

 

Another option I'm thinking of is a shorter Bahamas cruise on the Sunshine coupled with some land days (Harry Potter here I come?). It has more dining options and the slides/rope course although a lot of people complain about the ship. In an ideal world I think a 4 port Eastern itinerary on the Pearl, Jewel or Jade would have been perfect for us.

 

Anyway sorry for the long post but even if no one replies it helped organizing the thoughts swirling in my head. As I said I know it's my choice and personal and blah, blah, blah but I would value a second opinion and to hear what other's thoughts are. Thanks for the help, Laura.

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AZ ParrotHead

AZ ParrotHead

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Posted (edited)
Look at the Carnival Conquest, she leaves from FLL on April 2nd for an 8 nighter to the Eastern Caribbean. 4 Port and I believe she is a newer ship. Carnival; it's the fun ship

 

Conquest is actually one of their oldest ships--the second of the "next generation" CCL ships (behind Sunshine--nee Destiny).

Edited by AZ ParrotHead
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AZ ParrotHead

AZ ParrotHead

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We went on our first cruise last year on the Caribbean Princess and the family liked it so much they wanted to do another one this year. Having a high-schooler we are stuck going spring break week which for Michigan is always the first week of April. Unfortunately there just didn't seem to be a combination of ship and itinerary that I was really excited about so I kind of settled on the Getaway. And while after reading reviews I'm sure we'll have a good time I'm still just not 100% sure this is the right ship/itinerary for us so below I listed what I'm excited about and what are my concerns. I know it's my decision but it's our big yearly vacation and a good chunk of change so I'd love to get people's two cents:).

 

What I like about the Getaway:

 

*Newer ship will appeal to DH

*Kids (OK and adults) excited about the slides and rope course

*Entertainment quality and options

*Food options and variety

*Free UBP for me (We're 5 so have to get 2 cabins, inside = no UBP)

*Great sideways IC for the kids directly across hall

*2 new ports: Jamaica and GSC

*4 port days (Ports are our biggest priority)

*Mojito Bar (that one's for me:D)

*Wanted to try NCL

 

Concerns I have:

 

*The size of the ship and crowds. Not a big fan of crowds and oh did I mention it's spring break.

*Lack of swimming pool. Last year on sea days we spent the entire day at the pool with the kids. And please don't tell me that the large kids bathtub is a pool, it's not.

*Poor seating. Since there's no pool I'm assuming the kids will spend the entire day at the slides - where do we sit and supervise??

*We did 2 of the ports last year

*Crowds: getting seats, getting drinks, getting food, seeing shows

*Small balcony - we were out on it a lot last year and there are five of us.

*Port of Miami - we're driving so that's an extra hour to over two hours past the other ports.

 

Like I said I don't see anything on my negatives that would stop us from having a good time...I think my biggest hesitation is the itinerary since we just did the western last year and I'm really worried about the crowds.

The Carnival Glory has a better itinerary at a slightly lower price but the ship, food and entertainment options aren't as good.

 

Another option I'm thinking of is a shorter Bahamas cruise on the Sunshine coupled with some land days (Harry Potter here I come?). It has more dining options and the slides/rope course although a lot of people complain about the ship. In an ideal world I think a 4 port Eastern itinerary on the Pearl, Jewel or Jade would have been perfect for us.

 

Anyway sorry for the long post but even if no one replies it helped organizing the thoughts swirling in my head. As I said I know it's my choice and personal and blah, blah, blah but I would value a second opinion and to hear what other's thoughts are. Thanks for the help, Laura.

 

Personal opinion here.

 

If you don't mind flying, you might consider a Southern Caribbean cruise out of San Juan. It's more travel but you get great ports (usually 5 of them) since you are in the Caribbean when the cruise leaves.

 

The Orlando/Cruise option is, to me, just a totally different vacation. Parks will be crowded in March so keep that in mind.

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losbun

losbun

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Conquest is actually one of their oldest ships--the second of the "next generation" CCL ships (behind Sunshine--nee Destiny).

 

It also gets very poor reviews both on CC and in the forums

 

Personal opinion here. If you don't mind flying, you might consider a Southern Caribbean cruise out of San Juan. It's more travel but you get great ports (usually 5 of them) since you are in the Caribbean when the cruise leaves.

 

I actually looked into that but the cost was just too prohibitive

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Taylor95

Taylor95

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I have not been on Getaway but have sailed Breakaway (sister ship) as well Carnival Glory just a few weeks ago. Glory was our first Carnival cruise; I loved the itinerary, thought the food and service was good, but there was no comparison to NCL entertainment. It was only my DH and I on the Glory and I kept thinking how bored our DD (she is 19) would have been if she were with us. Some evenings the only thing to do was spend time in the bars or casino - I like to spend a little time there but not a whole night several nights because there are no other choices.

 

As far as crowds, we were on the Breakaway during a peak time (July 4th) and it didn't seem more crowded to me than the other ships we have been on. The balconies are small - if you decide to keep your reservation maybe look into the large balcony cabins. We had a mini suite with large balcony on the 8th floor and loved it!

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AZ ParrotHead

AZ ParrotHead

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I actually looked into that but the cost was just too prohibitive

 

I understand. We used to live in St Thomas and we go back in March for our birthdays. Air is 200-400 more than it was last year.

 

An alternative: keep the getaway booking but build in a little extra budget for vibe and/or some specialties. This will keep the crowds down for a minimal increase in costs.

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losbun

losbun

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If you are already having concerns and are far enough away from final payment, I would personally cancel. The one thing you don't want, is to be worrying for months, as a vacation's anticapation should be exciting without worry.

 

That was kind of my inclination also but living in Michigan by the end of winter I need to leave to someplace warm. The question becomes if not a cruise - where? I had even pretty much decided to just do the keys and see what cruises were offered for next year but the kids revolted on me. And really, at the end of the day yes I want the best cruise, time and value for my money but come on it's still a cruise going to tropical islands. How bad can that be?:)

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losbun

losbun

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I actually looked into that but the cost was just too prohibitive

 

I understand. We used to live in St Thomas and we go back in March for our birthdays. Air is 200-400 more than it was last year.

 

An alternative: keep the getaway booking but build in a little extra budget for vibe and/or some specialties. This will keep the crowds down for a minimal increase in costs.

 

And now you live in Mexico? Rough life:p

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brookie848

brookie848

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You mentioned your kids being in an inside cabin right across the hall from you. You might want to double-check that. While the cabin itself may be right across the hall, the door is likely in an inside corridor.

 

Depending on your kids' ages, this may be another factor for you to consider.

 

We're booked for the Getaway in 2017 and am looking forward to it. There's a lot to do and most commenters on the board here love the ship.

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losbun

losbun

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Not sure where you are getting that there are "no pools". There's two.yes, some don't think they are big enough, but there's no reason at various times of the day you wouldn't use them....

 

My understanding is the main pool is adults only leaving a quite small, fairly shallow pool near the slides for anyone under 18. Can someone who's been on the getaway confirm or correct me?

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mpcaruth

mpcaruth

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My family cruises for the ports too. But, we also want a good family/activity friendly fun ship, especially as the kids become teens. We are booked on the Getaway this January, and was on the Carnival Sunshine earlier this year.

 

Honestly, my family really liked the Sunshine - more good free food options than we have ever seen on a cruise. It offered most of the amenities of the larger ships. (The main theater shows are not the best, but we always opted for the nightly family comedy or outdoor movie theater). I recommend you read my detailed picture review of our Sunshine cruise. http://boards.cruisecritic.com/showthread.php?t=2169332 . We did Disney and a short Carnival cruise one year, and it really was the best of both worlds. We had a great time in Orlando, and then boarded a cruise ship to relax and have meals, ports, and entertainment taken care of.

 

Although when returning to the same port, you do not get that new port excitement, but there are always numerous excursions at each port so that the day does not have to be repeated.

 

So, my recommendation to you based on your pros and cons listed is to either 1) stick with the Getaway or s2) witch to the Sunshine/Orlando trip. All ship pools are overly crowded on sea days. I really don't think the Glory will be what your family will want (unless the ports are gotta-have-it-now ports).

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kollegekreed

kollegekreed

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My understanding is the main pool is adults only leaving a quite small, fairly shallow pool near the slides for anyone under 18. Can someone who's been on the getaway confirm or correct me?

 

I just got off the ship this morning. Granted there were about 15 kids on the ship. But that pool was almost always fairly empty. I wouldn't call it shallow. It's 2/3 as big as the adult pool.

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weltek

weltek

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I question if the cruise for spring break is really best for you, but your family seems set on that. I think crowds WILL be an issue for you, particularly on the Getaway. The Getaway doesn't have great flow for crowds and people have complained about the pool space. So, I'd continue to do research on that issue in particular, as compared to other ships you'd consider.

 

FWIW, I love the Getaway and all it has to offer. I think it's a beautiful ship. I've just never sailed Norwegian during the holidays or spring break because I hear the crowds are awful. In addition to crowded pool areas, the Freestyle dining concept is harder during crowded times. It's so unpredictable when you'll have a wait and when you won't. If you can let go of those issues, and just know you'll have to be flexible (e.g., have lots of snacks so nobody gets "hangry"), I'd say go for it!

Edited by weltek
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escentialssoycandles

escentialssoycandles

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I understand. We used to live in St Thomas and we go back in March for our birthdays. Air is 200-400 more than it was last year.

 

An alternative: keep the getaway booking but build in a little extra budget for vibe and/or some specialties. This will keep the crowds down for a minimal increase in costs.

 

And now you live in Mexico? Rough life:p

 

When did you book? Right now the Getaway is doing 2 offers for 2016 on bookings. You might want to do a mock booking and see what you come up with. You can get UBP and Specialty dining for 4 nights even on interiors.

 

How old are the kids?

I am booked on a Balcony and adjoining Interior for Thanksgiving 2016 on the Getaway.

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garnet115

garnet115

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I haven't been on Getaway yet (will be in February!) but have done several cruises on Breakaway and I imagine the experience/issues are similar. Obviously, I like Breakaway or I wouldn't keep sailing on her. Are there crowds? Absolutely. Are they so awful as to keep you from enjoying your trip? Absolutely not. I think your thought to budget in for spa or vibe passes, along with some specialty dining is a great plan for helping to minimize the impact of crowds on your cruise experience.

 

As for the pool situation, I'm not going to lie - on a hot sea day it is PACKED. That said, my dd loved the slides and spent more time there than in the actual pool. While there is not good deck chair seating in the vicinity of the kids pool (and what is there tends to be taken early by the chair hogs), I've never had trouble finding a spot to sit along the ledge between the kids pool and splash area when I have needed to supervise my dd in the water.

 

As another poster said, if you are that concerned, you may want to cancel and book something else. But I do think that your pro list outweighs the cons, and so long as you have realistic expectations, you can have a great time.

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losbun

losbun

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My family cruises for the ports too. But, we also want a good family/activity friendly fun ship, especially as the kids become teens. We are booked on the Getaway this January, and was on the Carnival Sunshine earlier this year.

 

Honestly, my family really liked the Sunshine - more good free food options than we have ever seen on a cruise. It offered most of the amenities of the larger ships. (The main theater shows are not the best, but we always opted for the nightly family comedy or outdoor movie theater). I recommend you read my detailed picture review of our Sunshine cruise. http://boards.cruisecritic.com/showthread.php?t=2169332 . We did Disney and a short Carnival cruise one year, and it really was the best of both worlds. We had a great time in Orlando, and then boarded a cruise ship to relax and have meals, ports, and entertainment taken care of.

 

Although when returning to the same port, you do not get that new port excitement, but there are always numerous excursions at each port so that the day does not have to be repeated.

 

So, my recommendation to you based on your pros and cons listed is to either 1) stick with the Getaway or s2) witch to the Sunshine/Orlando trip. All ship pools are overly crowded on sea days. I really don't think the Glory will be what your family will want (unless the ports are gotta-have-it-now ports).

 

Okay, I just read your sunshine review. What a great review! One can tell that you have a great sense of humor and I think we're very similar in what were looking for in a vacation and blending fun, adventure and value. And OMG your spreadsheet is genius - I am so stealing that.

 

I agree with you that I think at this point it's between Getaway and Sunshine. Personally I think the Sunshine makes more sense but I'll let the family decide what they want to do. Although after reading your review I'm going to go one last time and look for the same itinerary you did because I'm dying to go to Belize.

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