Needing help on which ship and itinerary for our Carnival Cruise

[HaveWeMetYet]

For the summer of 2021 I would wait until at least November. If the cruise industry is still floundering with cancelled sailings then I would not book anything until it is back up to normal or close to it.

[skrufy]

48 minutes ago, karrotscruiser said:

 

I have narrowed down my two picks for my daughter and her friends grad trip in summer 2021. We want a fun ship with activities and fun nightlife but we also want an itinerary with relaxing beaches because we mainly wanna go to just stay on the beach for our stops. I need all the advice I can get I just want to make it the perfect trip but I’m having troubles deciding. please let me know what you think:

 

a 9 day eastern Caribbean on the Carnival Radiance (used to be victory) from Galveston, TX stopping in Key West > Grand Turk > Half Moon Cay > Nassau

or

a 8 day southern Caribbean on the Carnival Sunrise from Miami, FL stopping in Half Moon Cay > Grand Turk > Aruba > Curaçao

Any advice would be helpful as well!! let me know what you think the best option is whether it’s ship or itinerary

 

Number two with no hesitation. Beaches, beaches, beaches. HMC, tender right to the beach. Grand Turk, right at the pier. Aruba, you will need transportation to a hotel/resort. Curaçao, been there once, don have info on beaches.

[firefly333]

No difference to me in ships. I thought you said radiance used to be triumph? But now you say victory, but both same size

 

Sunshine used to be destiny and again same smaller size. Just converted and revamped and renamed.

 

Conquest class is next bigger, then dream class. Miracle class has the most space per pax. Just be aware the 2 ships you picked have the least space per pax because even more cabins added during revamp, though radiance will be more newly revamped.

 

Both will have a few fewer food choices, but there is always plenty to eat. Tbh I havent done either since they were redone but have been on triumph several times. I'd have to explore both ships on carnival to see what food added and removed. 

 

Carnival is known for its slides. Do the girls like slides?

[SNJCruisers]

3 hours ago, Illbcruzn4life said:

 

Carnival allows guest 18 years or older to gamble in the casino. 🙂

When I turned 18, gambling was the first thing I wanted to do. 🤔

Actually it was crossing the bridge into NJ where I could legally drink. 🥤🥃

[PhillyFan33579]

32 minutes ago, firefly333 said:

No difference to me in ships. I thought you said radiance used to be triumph? But now you say victory, but both same size

 

Sunshine used to be destiny and again same smaller size. Just converted and revamped and renamed.

 

Conquest class is next bigger, then dream class. Miracle class has the most space per pax. Just be aware the 2 ships you picked have the least space per pax because even more cabins added during revamp, though radiance will be more newly revamped.

 

Both will have a few fewer food choices, but there is always plenty to eat. Tbh I havent done either since they were redone but have been on triumph several times. I'd have to explore both ships on carnival to see what food added and removed. 

 

Carnival is known for its slides. Do the girls like slides?

Triumph became Sunrise and Victory is scheduled to become Radiance. I haven’t been on either ship (no one has been on Radiance) but they should be very similar. Only difference I can think of right now is Radiance is supposed to have Shaq’s chicken. 
 

I love slides and think overall RCI’s slides are better than Carnival’s for what it’s worth. But the best slides on any ship are on Carnival Sunshine, which has 3 really good slides. 

[firefly333]

1 minute ago, PhillyFan33579 said:

Triumph became Sunrise and Victory is scheduled to become Radiance. I haven’t been on either ship (no one has been on Radiance) but they should be very similar. Only difference I can think of right now is Radiance is supposed to have Shaq’s chicken. 
 

I love slides and think overall RCI’s slides are better than Carnival’s for what it’s worth. But the best slides on any ship are on Carnival Sunshine, which has 3 really good slides. 

Well of the deck toys I thought ncl breakaway won with their trampoline thingy..

 

I just meant all carnival ships have slides. 

 

Radiance is my only choice for partial panama out of Galveston. Freedom this year they suddenly cut off bookings, I'm booked on 9 day jewel next January, so cant do that freedom either, so radiance is my only choice later next year. I was hoping to jump in before prices went up so high. Yikes on prices on radiance late next year. Ouch.

 

They tell me cant do a really big ship to panama, i guess some ports wouldnt take huge ships like allure. I've looked at both rcl and ccl and only radiance works in my schedule.

[Illbcruzn4life]

48 minutes ago, SNJCruisers said:

When I turned 18, gambling was the first thing I wanted to do. 🤔

Actually it was crossing the bridge into NJ where I could legally drink. 🥤🥃

 

Walt Whitman, Ben Franklin, Betsy Ross, Tacony, or Burlington Bristol?

[ninjacat123]

5 hours ago, karrotscruiser said:

Next choice being an 8 day Southern Caribbean cruise starting in Miami, FL stopping in Half Moon Cay > Grand Turk > Aruba > Curaçao

Any advice also is great just let me know!! it’s our first time cruising

This!  Make sure you sign into Roll Call and FB roll call. That can connect your 18 year olds to friends and more info for where to go at each port. Booking a cabana at HMC is pretty sweet. Jack's Shack is fun and more often then not, a volleyball game with boys! Aruba is awesome, we did a snorkeling excursion.  If you are in Curacao at night, check out the floating bridge.  Can the 18 year olds go to Serenity on board? 🤷‍♀️

[karrotscruiser]

This!  Make sure you sign into Roll Call and FB roll call. That can connect your 18 year olds to friends and more info for where to go at each port. Booking a cabana at HMC is pretty sweet. Jack's Shack is fun and more often then not, a volleyball game with boys! Aruba is awesome, we did a snorkeling excursion.  If you are in Curacao at night, check out the floating bridge.  Can the 18 year olds go to Serenity on board? 🤷‍♀️

How can I access the roll call? Is that on the app?

[ninjacat123]

3 minutes ago, karrotscruiser said:

How can I access the roll call? Is that on the app?

Cruise Critic Roll Call is accessible through Forums, scroll down to Roll Calls.  Find your ship's name and date of embarkation (start of cruise). Click on and introduce yourself!

FB, just do a search on FB with your cruise line and ship name.  If someone has set up a thread you can ask to join. Usually acceptance is within a day.  Let me know if you have more questions, first time cruiser😁! 

[jsglow]

The ships will be nearly identical.  Sunrise is the old Triumph; Radiance the old Victory.  We've recently sailed on Sunrise (and have previously sailed Sunshine).  We think the massive overhauls were well done.  Neither ship is perfect but the huge upgrade in food options make them very good ships.  I like the Dream class better but not so much better to ignore good cruises on the new 'Sunshine/Sunrise/Radiance' class.

 

As to itinerary; no competition at all.  The Aruba route every day and twice on Sunday.

Edited May 14, 2020 by jsglow

[luvcruzing]

First cruise?  Wow, you’re brave.

[broberts]

As others have suggested, 8 day Southern Caribbean itinerary offers the best beaches.

 

One consideration in waiting to book is the possibility of sellouts due to pent up demand.

[seaman11]

idk about a 9 day one if its a first time,  what if someone in the group doesnt like it or gets sea sickness.  i did a 4 night one with a first timer last summer  and he wanted to leave at the next port.   

[SNJCruisers]

4 hours ago, Illbcruzn4life said:

 

Walt Whitman, Ben Franklin, Betsy Ross, Tacony, or Burlington Bristol?

Tacony....could get 6 packs at Roger Woolco and drink at the bar at the Pennsauken Mart or the Penalty Box.

[Illbcruzn4life]

7 minutes ago, SNJCruisers said:

Tacony....could get 6 packs at Roger Woolco and drink at the bar at the Pennsauken Mart or the Penalty Box.

 

Ah yes Tacony, back in 75 became known as the double nickle bridge and the Pennsauken Mart with the fresh smell of ground horseradish when you walked in the place. Memories...lol

[Cafedumonde]

Is Galveston closer for you?  If so, I would do that one because both are great beach cruises.  The southern is more exotic, but all of the stops on both cruises are gorgeous.  Hmc is the best beach in the Caribbean IMO.

[Cafedumonde]

And I personally wouldn’t hesitate to book.  This is just my opinion of course!  We have 3 booked with carnival at this point— one is sold out, the second and third have very limited availability.  I check periodically for price drops but unfortunately they are only going up.  Galveston especially sells out.  I think there are a lot of cruisers in Texas and folks who drive down from the Midwest and there are not that many cruises leaving from Texas compared to Florida.

[Joe817]

1 hour ago, seaman11 said:

idk about a 9 day one if its a first time,  what if someone in the group doesnt like it or gets sea sickness.  i did a 4 night one with a first timer last summer  and he wanted to leave at the next port.   

Good point! It could leave an ugly taste in their mouth, and will never cruise again. On the other hand, a shorter 4 or 5 day cruise will give them enough cruising experience to make a good judgement. Our first 5 day, put the cruise craving in us for sure. 

[SNJCruisers]

1 hour ago, Illbcruzn4life said:

 

Ah yes Tacony, back in 75 became known as the double nickle bridge and the Pennsauken Mart with the fresh smell of ground horseradish when you walked in the place. Memories...lol

Became the double nickel because the one way toll went from 5 cents to 10 cents.  And always free on Christmas.   Kids would look at you like you had 3 heads if you told them about the tolls. 

Kids still can't  believe that we were the remote control growing up.

[Honolulu Blue]

15 hours ago, Illbcruzn4life said:

 

Carnival allows guest 18 years or older to gamble in the casino. 🙂

 

True.  My mind was elsewhere.  I apologize for the misinformation.

[sanger727]

11 hours ago, seaman11 said:

idk about a 9 day one if its a first time,  what if someone in the group doesnt like it or gets sea sickness.  i did a 4 night one with a first timer last summer  and he wanted to leave at the next port.   

might depend on where the OP lives. We have to fly (and are rarely able to get nonstop) to any port. So the time and money investment to get to a port isn’t work it for less than a 7 day cruise for us. I wouldn’t even consider a 4 day cruise.

 

OP, if you find a cruise u like at a price you are happy w, personally I would book the cruise now. You can get price drops if the price goes down but are locked in case the price goes up. Don’t put any more down than the down payment until final payment date and you can always cancel right before if things are looking bad. I would assume things will to be back to normal well before next summer, but you know what they say about assumptions....

[HaveWeMetYet]

If you can book at a low deposit then I would consider booking now especially if there is a specific cabin you want. I would not put down any money you would be uncomfortable losing though.