Vista, Sunshine, Breeze or ?

[KalamityJane]

I'm debating booking the Vista in a FH suite for a 6 or 8 night Caribbean, but have heard good things about the Sunshine and the Breeze. Kids are 7.5, 5 and 3. I'm looking for

 

- good slides/water area (height/age restrictions?)

- good prices (obviously this is relative to Disney ;)

- beverage plan

- kids clubs that are involving and not just a madhouse

 

I'm a total n00b to CCL so if you all you give me some kind guidance as to why you love Carnival and maybe which ship might fit us better, I would be so appreciative! I'm crossing RCI off of my list for now due to the stuff like Flowrider being age limiting. My kids will likely want to play in the water or club most days.

 

Also, what shows are the best in your opinion?

 

ETA: I'm definitely looking for the Hasbro game night and Guy's BBQ on the boat too.

 

 

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Edited April 14, 2016 by KalamityJane

[jonbgd]

I want to do one of those Havana suites on the Vista but price to high for us currently

I don't know if it makes a difference but the Breeze will be sailing from Galveston in another month

can be a PITA sailing from their

Edited April 14, 2016 by jonbgd

[KalamityJane]

I want to do one of those Havana suites on the Vista but price to high for us currently

I don't know if it makes a difference but the Breeze will be sailing from Galveston in another month

can be a PITA sailing from their

Boo, guess that one is off the list (though we do have family in Dallas we could see if we cruised out of Galveston). From what I'm pricing out, it's DCL at ~5700/ 7 night Bahamian (roughly but that is about as good as I'm going to get with 5 people with DCL), ~4000 with Carnival in a FH suite on the Vista.

[CruzCrazy]

Have you considered the Magic out of Port Canaveral? It just got Guy's BBQ, along with Guys Burgers, and Blue Iguana.

 

We are waiting a year for the Vista, when the prices are likely to come down a bit.

 

We've been on the Breeze for our last two but won't be sailing her again in the foreseeable future since it will be moving to Galveston to replace the Magic, which is moving to Port Canaveral.

 

We've chosen the Magic for our next trip, and I think it has pretty much everything on your list. I would assume the prices would be much better than what you've listed, even in the summer (I'm assuming you're looking at the summer with your kids).

Edited April 14, 2016 by CruzCrazy

[TheTravelista]

For me its newest ship, always. Vista all the way.

[jonbgd]

Boo, guess that one is off the list (though we do have family in Dallas we could see if we cruised out of Galveston). From what I'm pricing out, it's DCL at ~5700/ 7 night Bahamian (roughly but that is about as good as I'm going to get with 5 people with DCL), ~4000 with Carnival in a FH suite on the Vista.

 

I cant speak on DCL

But Carnival Vista looks amazing and of the choices you mentioned Sunshine or Vista

I would take the Vista

We are looking at booking it next year

[KalamityJane]

Have you considered the Magic out of Port Canaveral? It just got Guy's BBQ, along with Guys Burgers, and Blue Iguana.

 

 

 

We are waiting a year for the Vista, when the prices are likely to come down a bit.

 

 

 

We've been on the Breeze for our last two but won't be sailing her again in the foreseeable future since it will be moving to Galveston to replace the Magic, which is moving to Port Canaveral.

 

 

 

We've chosen the Magic for our next trip, and I think it has pretty much everything on your list. I would assume the prices would be much better than what you've listed, even in the summer (I'm assuming you're looking at the summer with your kids).

 

 

The Magic did get put on our list! I was looking at jan/feb pricing actually on both ships, go figure :) how is the Magic as far as feeling crowded goes? I may actually book a cruise sooner (early 2017) and Vista in later 2017/early 2018, just for pricing.

 

Does the Magic have the Hasbro game night or no?

 

 

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[riclop]

Forget the sunshine and go for the new Vista.

[TomCruise48]

From what I've seen about the Vista, it will have the best water park and slides in the entire Carnival fleet. I think the other ships on your list will be about equal for your other "must haves."

[TheCriuseDirector]

I would say go with either the Magic (Since you did point out in a later post) or the Vista. The Sunshine I've heard many complaints about it being too crowded and loud. The Vista has a GREAT kid's area onboard with lots of activities and a Dr. Seuss bookville (If your kids are into that sorta thing). Also, the Vista has a really awesome waterslide that has fiberglass in it to make it look like you're in warp speed or something like that. So out of all your options, I'd choose the Vista, but I know that you'll have a great time onboard any ship!

[FloridaGram]

Boo, guess that one is off the list (though we do have family in Dallas we could see if we cruised out of Galveston). From what I'm pricing out, it's DCL at ~5700/ 7 night Bahamian (roughly but that is about as good as I'm going to get with 5 people with DCL), ~4000 with Carnival in a FH suite on the Vista.

 

You didn't say which ship was $4000 on CCL. I have been on Disney 4 times and while it is pricey if you can afford it, it is worth it IMO. The entertainment is incredible compared to CCL, which is not geared to kids.

 

The kids clubs are open all day until late at night. My grandkids from 3-12 loved it and never wanted to leave. On CCL the clubs are not open all the time. Someone else may speak to that, we have only done Carnival once with the kids, and that was AK which is so different than the Caribbean so they were not in there much. They did like it but there were times it was inconvenient because they closed. And I think they charge after 10 PM and Disney does not.

 

Carnival's water park is probably better on all ships you mentioned, but the Aqua Duck on Disney is a lot of fun.

 

Dinner is more kid friendly on Disney. The rotating dining rooms is a nice difference than other lines. The characters are available on sea days and that is fun, even for me to watch without my kids. Overall I just love the ambiance of Disney.

 

I will say that the food is no better on Disney than Carnival. But the staterooms are or seem larger than Carnival. And the split bathroom is nice, you can be bathing kids and others can use the rest room while you are. I think the Vista added that on Carnival in some cabins so that may be a moot point.

 

If one afford it I think Disney is worth a try. It really is a different experience. But Carnival is great and I would rather cruise more often for less since we are retired now and can go more than once a year. But if I ever got a great deal I would go on Disney again, even without the kids!

[KalamityJane]

You didn't say which ship was $4000 on CCL. I have been on Disney 4 times and while it is pricey if you can afford it, it is worth it IMO. The entertainment is incredible compared to CCL, which is not geared to kids.

 

The kids clubs are open all day until late at night. My grandkids from 3-12 loved it and never wanted to leave. On CCL the clubs are not open all the time. Someone else may speak to that, we have only done Carnival once with the kids, and that was AK which is so different than the Caribbean so they were not in there much. They did like it but there were times it was inconvenient because they closed. And I think they charge after 10 PM and Disney does not.

 

Carnival's water park is probably better on all ships you mentioned, but the Aqua Duck on Disney is a lot of fun.

 

Dinner is more kid friendly on Disney. The rotating dining rooms is a nice difference than other lines. The characters are available on sea days and that is fun, even for me to watch without my kids. Overall I just love the ambiance of Disney.

 

I will say that the food is no better on Disney than Carnival. But the staterooms are or seem larger than Carnival. And the split bathroom is nice, you can be bathing kids and others can use the rest room while you are. I think the Vista added that on Carnival in some cabins so that may be a moot point.

 

If one afford it I think Disney is worth a try. It really is a different experience. But Carnival is great and I would rather cruise more often for less since we are retired now and can go more than once a year. But if I ever got a great deal I would go on Disney again, even without the kids!

 

You are so talking me back into Disney and noooo! We are a huge Disney family, have Disneyland annual passes (and live in Idaho for what it's worth) and with family in Orlando, spend a decent time at WDW too. I only say noooo because I literally have been saving for a westbound Panama Canal cruise with Disney since 2014, and I've had them booked in 2015 and 2016 and had to cancel for various reasons. I know DCL like the back of my hand at this point as far as info goes :D The prices just came out for the WBPC and I can't fathom paying 10k without bar bill, gratuities and excursions on DCL. The CCL ship I was comparing the 7 night DCL Wonder Bahamian was the CCL Vista, and there's just so much more to do on the Vista. I would like for my kids to be in the kids club at points, but we are used to having them around and we likely will be doing a lot together as a family.

 

Don't worry though, all the money I saved up for DCL is likely going to go towards Disneyland :D

 

I showed my 7.5yo some of the stuff on the Vista and she is psyched up to go on the SkyRide and watch movies in the Imax, and my 5yo boy is dying to go on the tube slide. I think we may have a winner here!

[KalamityJane]

Holy cow, I priced out a Family Harbor OV for Jan 2018, 8 day Eastern or Southern for 2800-3100. That's some serious savings.

 

I'd like to get in on the Vista earlier than that though, but I'm looking at paying around 5600 for the 8 day Family Harbor Suite in Jan 2016. Any way to finagle things cheaper? I saw you can get Carnival gift cards for 10% off, that is my wheelhouse. I looked at Costco as a TA but apparently they don't service Carnival. Give me all you got :)

[AlmostToTheFun]

My kids will be 7 5 and 4 on our next cruis on the vista. We have it scheduled in May of 2017. We are so excited. There is so much to do on that ship with them. The water works looks amazing. Another awesome feature which I haven't really seen posted anywhere (but noticed looking at the deck plan) is that there is an outdoor play area connected to camp carnival. I am assuming it will be like the one on the freedom (I'll attach a pic). There is just so much to do with the kids. Also my 6 yo loves Dr Seuss so she is looking foward to Dr. Suess activities.

[CruzCrazy]

The Magic did get put on our list! I was looking at jan/feb pricing actually on both ships, go figure :) how is the Magic as far as feeling crowded goes? I may actually book a cruise sooner (early 2017) and Vista in later 2017/early 2018, just for pricing.

 

Does the Magic have the Hasbro game night or no?

 

 

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The Magic is laid out almost identically to the Breeze, which we didn't think felt crowded (except for maybe during peak breakfast times in the lido buffet on port days, but that's the case on most ships).

 

I just checked the website, and it looks like the Magic doesn't have Hasbro the Game Show. Although I've seen it advertised on other ships we've been on, I've never attended in person--have just seen it on the in-cabin TV channel that replays videos of ship activities. I mentioned it to our grandkids on the Breeze, but they weren't interested.

[sharse]

We were on the Sunshine last month. They have the Hasbro game show, but I must say we were disappointed. It was only one night of our 8 night sailing, and it lasted all of a half hour. So while it is fun, it is only 30 minutes of fun, so if you end up on a ship that doesn't have it, sadly you're not missing all that much.