HELP!!! Royal Carribean (Majesty of the Seas) vs. Carnival (Elation or Victory)

[funnyfarm9988]

First time cruiser. Doing this for daughters graduation. It will be me and my mom, my daughter and her boyfriend. We are not all into the party scene (including my daughter). I hear Carnival is more of a party boat, but not sure. We can go out of Jacksonville or Port Canaveral or Tampa. We are looking at these 3. Royal Carribean is the cheaper of the cruises. Which one and why.

 

Thanks.

[Keith1010]

Be sure to do a 7 day cruise as shorter ones are party ships.

 

I would do RCI over Carnival based on what you said.

 

Keith

[whataboutport]

I almost always suggest Royal over Carnival unless the people already have a bias towards Carnival for some reason.

 

Now if it is between an older Royal ship and a new Carnival ship, I would do the Carnival. IMO the staff and food on the newer ships, no matter the line is usually the better ones. The lines wouldn't spend more money on better staff and better quality food on an old ship.

 

Royal Majesty: 1992

vs.

Carnival Victory: 2000

 

I sailed on Monarch be she was retired and it a sister ship of Majesty. That ship is very old and outdated, and quite small. I have not been on any Carnival ships since the early 90s so I can't comment on them but I would pick a ship built in 2000 over one built in 1992. That being said, a 16 year old ship is not new.

Edited January 26, 2016 by whataboutport

[taglovestocruise]

Those ships are between 15 - 25 years old and are the smallest in their fleets, with three departure ports to chose from you should be able to find a much newer ship for the same price. All three ships have had major refurbishments and are in great shape, but for a first cruise something with all the bells and whistles would be my first choice. As mentioned above any thing less than 7 days will be a party ship..happy cruising

[cruiseapril]

What are the itineraries? We also would choose a 7 day.

[runner15km]

Victory ! The largest ship of the three choices and has a adult only pool area. Cabins are mostly larger also.

 

Now I don't like drunk people near me but don't most people go on a ship to have a good time.:D I know we like dancing at the deck parties and having a few drinks in the music lounges. We have done a few 5 day cruises and all was fine.

I just did a 10 NCL Gem cruise and there were a few tipsy people along with one fight between two women. :eek:

[funnyfarm9988]

We wanted to try a 4 day first to make sure we will like (I am sure we will). The itenarary is Nassau and Cococay. We rather go out at Port Canaveral and can only travel from May 29-June 15 (as daughter's boyfriend leaves for college then). I figure we will go on a longer one next time. my concern is the activities on the ship. It looks like a lot of fun. I don't mind drinking, but don't like being puked on by crazy drunks....... I can drink responsibly.

[SuiteTraveler]

Take a 7 day cruise. Believe me, it will seem way too short. 3 - 4 day cruises are terrible, poor service, drunk people, run down ships, bad behavior. These are typically the ships that will soon be put out of service so the cruise lines are just letting them wear down to squeeze whatever revenue they can out of them before they will sell them off as they get newer ships in their fleet. They are the dregs of the cruise business. Don't waste your money. Let me suggest some cruises that will be a real reward to your daughter:

 

NCL

Epic

Getaway

Escape

 

RCCL

Oasis

Allure

 

and less expensive, but still outstanding:

RCCL:

Freedom

Liberty

Independence

 

Pick one of the above and you will have an excellent cruise. These are some of the best ships in the world. They are great for your daughter's age group and also yours.

[carkeetj1]

We did the Majesty 5 day with Coco Cay and Bahamas and Key West last March. Yes, it is an older and smaller ship, but it was a very enjoyable cruise.

We have done newer ships and a Disney but felt that this was a great cruise for the price and the limited time that we had.

A lot of how you feel about a cruise is your attitude. If you go in looking to have a good time and realize that no cruise is perfect, you can have a terrific family vacation.

[whataboutport]

We wanted to try a 4 day first to make sure we will like (I am sure we will). The itenarary is Nassau and Cococay. We rather go out at Port Canaveral and can only travel from May 29-June 15 (as daughter's boyfriend leaves for college then). I figure we will go on a longer one next time. my concern is the activities on the ship. It looks like a lot of fun. I don't mind drinking, but don't like being puked on by crazy drunks....... I can drink responsibly.

 

The cruise I did on the Monarch (sister ship now retired) was the same itin. It was a very short cruise, and the first one I had done in over a decade. There were a few issues, mainly near our cabin, the hallways reeked of raw sewage. It was awful. Inside the cabin was fine thank god. I hope the Majesty doesn't have the same issue, but I hear it can happen on any ship no matter the size or age.

 

But the cruise was basically a cruise to nowhere. If you've never been to Nassau before, then there are things to see and do, but Coco Cay not so much. It's a tiny private island and it's a tendered port. The bigger Royal ships go to Labadee. Coco Cay is pretty much a beach day. At least you will have warmer weather. I went in Feb and the water was too cold to get in more than knee deep.

[funnyfarm9988]

I have done a lil more looking. Majesty vs. Carnival Victory? We want to do this short cruise first and then after that go to Alaska cruise. I feel there is more on Victory that would appeal my daughter and her boyfriend. Since this will be all of out first cruise, just wanted something cheaper and short.

 

Also, are all food included in the price. I have heard nightmares when people checked out and owed over 2000.00, is there a way to budget for this? Can you take your own water and colas in the your luggage? What about cell phone usage.

 

Sorry, I am having first time cruise jitters.

[Jimnbigd]

I recommend the Royal Caribbean Freedom of the Seas from Port Canaveral, 7 days. As others have said, you'll find the shorter cruises are more of a party atmosphere. But it sounds like you really want a 4-day cruise for now.

 

There are extra expenses beyond the price of the cruise -- and be sure to include port charges and taxes pricing cruises.

 

* Tips (gratuities) -- about $12 per day per person. Plus a few more bucks for luggage handlers when you board (and possibly after the cruise if you can't handle your own luggage) and shuttle bus drivers that take you to and from the parking lot. (It sounds like you are driving to the cruise, right?) Plus, if you have more than a few hours driving time, it is best to drive down the day before and spend the night near the port, which of course adds a hotel to the budget.

 

* Drinks included are tea, standard & decaf coffee (but not specialty coffees), milk, cocoa, and sometime punch or flavored water; plus juice in the morning. Carbonated drinks (Cokes) and alcoholic drinks are extra -- and this is where some people can spend a LOT of money (or no money at all if you don't order any). Drinks are about the same prices as good USA restaurants -- $2.50 or so for a can of Coke; and $10 or so for a mixed drink. A tip (18% on Royal Caribbean) is automatically added to drink purchases. You don't use cash -- you use your ship's card which is a room key and ship's credit card.

 

* Food includes the buffet and main dining room (MDR), and sometime other areas such as Cafe Promenade on Royal Caribbean. Many ships also have extra-charge restaurants, usually a flat price but sometimes a-la-carte. Some passengers will only eat at the specialty restaurants; many eat at one one time during the cruise; others (like me) never eat there -- It's your choise.

 

* The general rule about bring outside drinks onto the ship is: No. However, RCI does allow one bottle of wine per passenger. As for the water, the ship's tap water is often better than a lot of the bottled water.

 

* I've heard horror stories of very expensive roaming charges for cell phones, so we turn ours off and put it in the cabin's safe.

 

* Shore excursions -- These can be pricey, or no charge at all if you just go and walk around on your own (not recommended in some ports-of-call). You can purchase excursions from the cruise line, or from independent operators. An average excursion is around $50 per person, but the price really depends on the excursion. Of course you don't even have to leave the ship at a port-of-call if you don't want to.

 

* If you drive, you'll pay for parking -- usually around $10 per day -- more or less depending where you park and if you get covered parking.

 

* The ship's casino can add to your budget should you choose to gamble.

 

* FYI: Shows are always free. No drink minimum. Just show up for the show (except some ships require advanced reservations, like the Royal Caribbean Oasis class).

 

* Some people spend a lot at the ship's spa; others spend nothing. I'm talking about salons and massages. The ship's gym is free, but some exercise classes are extra charge.

 

* I'd budget an addition $300 per person as a start -- more if you have to stay at a hotel the night before the cruise.

Edited January 28, 2016 by Jimnbigd