Honeymoon Cruise Itinerary Debate

[jslev9]

Hi all,

 

My fiancé and I are currently booked on the seven night European sailing on Royal Caribbean's Jewel of the Seas (April 19, 2020) as a honeymoon cruise (with a fully refundable deposit). I just got an email from Carnival with an incredible promo and now I'm second guessing our original itinerary -- we'd love to hear your thoughts!

 

The new sailing we're looking at is a nine night European sailing on the Carnival Radiance (May 21, 2020). Both itineraries include stops at Florence/Pisa, Rome, and Naples. The Royal Caribbean sailing also visits Nice and Portofino plus has one day at sea while the Carnival Victory also stops in Sicily, Marseille, and Palma de Mallorca plus has two days at sea. The fares are within $12 of each other (total, not per person or per night). The Royal Caribbean sailing has a $225 OBC while the Carnival sailing has a $500 OBC plus free drinks while in the casino (OBC and drinks are part of the promo email I received today from the casino club).

 

For us, the pros of saying on the Royal Carnival sailing include sailing closer to our wedding (~3 weeks after the wedding) and having the time to spend a few days in Barcelona before embarking. Pros of the Carnival ship include an extra $275 in OBC, free drinks while playing in the casino, getting an extra day in port and an extra sea day, and sailing on a (basically) brand new ship.

 

I posted this in the Carnival forum, too, but would love to hear thoughts from RCCL fans, too! Penny for your thoughts?

[lazydayz]

I like both cruise lines but would probably stay with Royal due to timing and the ships. I don’t trust the rebranding thing and don’t have a good recollection of the Triumph. Good luck with your decision. Whichever you choose, have a great cruise and honeymoon. 

[taglovestocruise]

Both ships are close in size and age. After the refurb the  CCL Radience will carry about 800 more passengers than Jewel.  The RCL Radiance class ships have more glass and windows then just about any ship out there and the only ships with outside glass elevators.   Before the refurb CCL Radiance sailed as the Victory which was a very family and kid friendly ship. All things being equal I love RCL.  Which ever you choose congrats and happy cruising.

[matj2000]

If it was really a new Carnival ship than I would do that.

 

But they are taking an older ship and re-hashing it.

 

There is only so much you can do, it will definitely not be a "new ship" know matter what they say.

 

 

[George C]

I am a rccl fan and did a sister ship two years ago mostly same ports , ports are great , so I pick jewel. For Europe I do not think ship matters that much since you spend so much time in port.

[Jax129]

I don'r think you'll drink as much on a European cruise cause you will be tired from long days in Port. so I bet you won't even need all those free drinks. I think Nice & Portofino are amazing Ports.  I would stay with Royal. The Jewel is a great ship

Edited May 20, 2019 by Jax129

[papaflamingo]

We have done the Med on both Carnival and Royal Caribbean.  Since it's such a port intensive itinerary the ship makes little difference.  You'll be spending your time in port.  These will be long days of sightseeing and you'll be craving a day at seas just to get some rest.  Both itineraries look awesome. I think that for me, I'd go with Carnival for the extra port stops and you get a day at sea on the first day to relax after Barcelona, and you get a day at sea more in the middle for another relaxation day.  Also, for me, I prefer longer European cruises.  I feel like if I'm going all the way to Europe, I'm going to see as much as I can.  

I am a fan of RCCL (27 cruises on RCCL, 4 on Carnival).  But I will say, in Europe, Carnival was not like in the Caribbean.  Due to the nature of the cruise, port intensive, the entire "vibe" was different.  We enjoyed our Med. Carnival cruise very much.  

Congrats on your wedding!  What a wonderful honeymoon you will be taking.  

[shopaholic6]

I don’t think the Carnival one would be like sailing on a brand new ship to be honest - and I would probably do the Royal one, if only for Nice, it’s beautiful. 🙂

[Tree_skier]

 I just went and viewed your thread on the carnival forum.  Your responses from those on the carnival forum are almost the mirror opposite of what you are finding here on the Royal Caribbean forum. Looks like the deciding vote is going to have to be you. 

 

😁

[bearchele2]

I would go with the Carnival only because it's a 9 night as opposed to a 7 night and you said it is a $12 difference. I've never done Carnival but I enjoy more days.

[Crazy planning mom]

It does seem like Carnival is a better deal being a 9 day cruise.  However, Carnival hasn't been cruising Europe on a regular basis whereas the Jewel has been doing European itineraries for quite some time.

[mook1525]

9 day >>>>>>> 7 day 

[taglovestocruise]

$12 difference, two extra days. You may get what you pay for. 

[George C]

Just want to add that Barcelona is a fabulous city to visit we did two nights before cruise wish we had a extra day , I found the city extremely cheap to eat and drink , great art , would love to visit again. 

[olivertexas]

1 hour ago, taglovestocruise said:

$12 difference, two extra days. You may get what you pay for. 

Yep $6 per day in Europe - having sailed both lines - this is a no brainer - two extra days means everything! 

 

Carnival and Royal Caribbean are more alike than they are different.  Only brand snobs on both sides will argue they are drastically different.

[jslev9]

Thanks for all of the feedback! My fiance and I are going to make a decision tonight -- I'll let you know which we end up with!

[Hogbay]

Such a long way to travel for a 7 days . I would  do b2b 7plus 9 days 🙂 then you can come back and tell us all about it

[George C]

I agree ideally you want to spend a couple of weeks but some people have limited vacation, long and expensive flight for a 7 day cruise 

[vacationlover_mn]

I’ve done both Carnival and Royal- personally, I’d pick Royal 🙂

[jslev9]

Hi all,

 

Just wanted to follow up and say we ended up switching to the Carnival sailing! The longer cruise, plus the extra OBC, were too hard to turn down. Plus, with the sailing leaving mid-week instead of a Saturday and being over Memorial Day weekend, we're able to spend the extra days pre-sailing in Barcelona that we originally thought we'd have to give up by taking a longer cruise.

 

Thanks for all of your advice and helping us think everything through!

 

P.S. For those who mentioned it's a long and expensive flight for such a short cruise, we have enough frequent flyer miles to be able to round trip in business class, which makes the flights a (little) bit easier to rationalize.

[George C]

While I perfer rccl , I am sure you will love this cruise. Very cool you are doing business class. Check out hotel universal Barcelona we really loved it ,has a very cool roof top pool and bar with a great view of the city. Congratulations on marriage.  Cool thing about business class is a great free lounge at airport when departing free food and drinks. 

[cruisequeen4ever]

Even though the Carnival cruise would give you more cruise value and perks, the itinerary is more romantic on Royal for a honeymoon. I’d stick with the Royal.

[legaljen1969]

On ‎5‎/‎19‎/‎2019 at 8:43 PM, jslev9 said:

Hi all,

 

.... Pros of the Carnival ship include ....and sailing on a (basically) brand new ship.

Except that it's a refurbished ship with a brand new name- not so much a brand new ship.   
Whatever you decide, enjoy your honeymoon.  I am sure you will have loads of fun no matter what ship you choose.