Which cruise to pick? Help!

[colesc15]

Hi! My wife and I are starting to dabble in Carnival because of their casino status match program. We've both only sailed Royal and done about 20 cruises (both in our 30s). 

Right now, we already have Mardi Gras booked on an 8 nighter in August. I'm needing to pick one more cruise to has under my account, and I think I've narrowed it down but looking for opinions. 

 

Just a call out, any of the cruises, I'm only paying the port fees and taxes, the rest is comped.

 

Option 1) Celebration 7 nighter to cozumel, mahogany bay and Costa Maya. Obviously thumbs up to the ship, down to the itinerary as we've been to them a million times. Also experiencing Mardi Gras a month or two before this. 

 

Option 2) Carnival legend 8 nighter to Limon, colon, and grand cayman. Limon and colon would be new ports to us. Biggest concern is the age of Legend as we like the newer Royal ships and the interior videos I've seen I'd legend remind me of stuff I'd see 30 years ago. 

 

Option 3) Carnival horizon 8 nighter to Aruba, bonaire, la Romana and amber cove. La Romana would be the only new port, but Aruba is one of my favorite ports. Horizon appears to be newer and more modern, just not to the extent of celebration/mardi gras. 

 

Option 4)?? Could do Jubilee but not crazy about going out of Galveston 

 

Thoughts? There's a ton I can choose from, but the older ships I've kind of ruled out since my best "bang for my buck" on this free cruise is the more expensive ship's. 

[mz-s]

Since you're used to Royal, I'd stick with Excel class so that would mean Jubilee, Celebration, or Mardi Gras.

[ShortCruising]

Personally I’d have to do option 2 or 3. Extra day, great ports. I think a unique itinerary makes up for an older/smaller ship. It’s seems that’s the conundrum lately: hot, new ships or interesting ports. You rarely get both in the same shot. Horizon really isn’t all that old, though, and I’ve heard good things about it.

Enjoy whatever choice you make. No such thing as a bad cruise!

[staceyglow]

I would vote for the Horizon cruise.  Newer ship - not  every single one of the bells and whistles of the Excel class, but very very nice.  And the ports are  way more interesting than Celebration.

[Theosprey247]

Yeah if you like Royal’s newest ships then the closest equivalent (but not) would be the Excel class ships. Me personally I’ll take the southern Caribbean on the Horizon or the Legend due to the length of the cruise and the unique ports. 

[Essiesmom]

If you have only sailed Royal, I’d be surprised if you have been to Mahogany Bay, as it’s a Carnival Corp property.  Suspect you e been to Coxen Hole on Roatan…. EM

[colesc15]

2 minutes ago, Essiesmom said:

If you have only sailed Royal, I’d be surprised if you have been to Mahogany Bay, as it’s a Carnival Corp property.  Suspect you e been to Coxen Hole on Roatan…. EM

Good point. Forgot it was a different port! 

[colesc15]

1 hour ago, ShortCruising said:

Personally I’d have to do option 2 or 3. Extra day, great ports. I think a unique itinerary makes up for an older/smaller ship. It’s seems that’s the conundrum lately: hot, new ships or interesting ports. You rarely get both in the same shot. Horizon really isn’t all that old, though, and I’ve heard good things about it.

Enjoy whatever choice you make. No such thing as a bad cruise!

I see from your signature you've done carnival and recently oasis.. What are your thoughts on the difference in product and ship? 

[vwrestler171]

Personally I'd take option 3 any day out of those 3.  The Horizon is actually my favorite ship.  The Celebration, which is Carnivals Excel Class takes a ship 25-30% smaller than Royals Oasis class and then crams the same amount of people on it.  I sailed on Mardi Gras(Celebrations slightly older sister) back when cruising was limited to 60% capacity and still had issues in certain spots such as the comedy club, piano bar, and the pizza place. The pizza place would have lines stretching back to guest services around midnight.  

[firefly333]

14 hours ago, colesc15 said:

Hi! My wife and I are starting to dabble in Carnival because of their casino status match program. We've both only sailed Royal and done about 20 cruises (both in our 30s). 

Right now, we already have Mardi Gras booked on an 8 nighter in August. I'm needing to pick one more cruise to has under my account, and I think I've narrowed it down but looking for opinions. 

 

Just a call out, any of the cruises, I'm only paying the port fees and taxes, the rest is comped.

 

Option 1) Celebration 7 nighter to cozumel, mahogany bay and Costa Maya. Obviously thumbs up to the ship, down to the itinerary as we've been to them a million times. Also experiencing Mardi Gras a month or two before this. 

 

Option 2) Carnival legend 8 nighter to Limon, colon, and grand cayman. Limon and colon would be new ports to us. Biggest concern is the age of Legend as we like the newer Royal ships and the interior videos I've seen I'd legend remind me of stuff I'd see 30 years ago. 

 

Option 3) Carnival horizon 8 nighter to Aruba, bonaire, la Romana and amber cove. La Romana would be the only new port, but Aruba is one of my favorite ports. Horizon appears to be newer and more modern, just not to the extent of celebration/mardi gras. 

 

Option 4)?? Could do Jubilee but not crazy about going out of Galveston 

 

Thoughts? There's a ton I can choose from, but the older ships I've kind of ruled out since my best "bang for my buck" on this free cruise is the more expensive ship's. 

I'd choose 2 or 3 for the ports. Unless you only do oasis class rcl, carnival ships are no better or worse than older rcl ships. I just did dream for better ports and it was a awesome cruise. Of course I'd like to do mardi gras class for the new food, but given the choice I went for new ports, over newer ship. 

 

I'm not a big fan of vista class, which horizon is. Unless you are in their special area  and in a regular cabin, theater and other venues smaller. And promenade deck closed in. Older ships have more views of the ocean. 

[pcvtmom]

We've done the Horizon twice. It's a great itinerary and an awesome ship.

[txcruiser1234]

one note on the spirit class (Legend) is that it is the favorite class among many, many Carnival cruisers (including us). If it was my choice, I'd take new ports + a spirit class ship. That being said, we've never had a cruise (Carnival or otherwise) we didn't enjoy. Of your choices, they look like four ice cream sundaes, one with a cherry on top!

[Drazil65]

I agree with sticking to the bigger, newer ships especially if you are a regular sailing RCCL.  I would choose Celebration out of Miami, I also agree with you to skip the Galveston port.    

 

That being said, my 2nd choice would be Horizon if you want to try something a little smaller and you are inclined to visit Aruba again.   Have a blast on Mardi Gras, we love that ship!

 

 

Edited February 21 by Drazil65

[csm5986142]

18 hours ago, colesc15 said:

we already have Mardi Gras booked on an 8 nighter in August.

 

I think it depends on if ship or the ports are more important to you.  I have been on all the ships you mentioned.  In general, the excel class ships are awesome (and we loved Jubilee) but the Galveston port is a pain (drink package doesn't start until second day, long drive from airport to port, etc) so I'd eliminate that one.

Legend is the smallest/oldest ship on your list, but we'd still book it for a great itenerary. It has a nice layout and doesn't feel crowded.  But if food options are important to you, it won't compare to Mardi Gras/Celebration.

I like your itenerary on Horizon, and I like the ship.  It would be my second favorite on your list.

Celebration - my favorite on your list (for ship, not necessarily itenerary, but we've done about 35 cruises, and have been there/done that for most itineraries).  

[sgttami]

I'd take Legend since I'm a fan of the older and smaller ships. Wouldn't give it a second thought

 

Same for RCL :  Favorite ships were Song of America and Nordic Empress(tiny by today's standards) and Radiance and Serenade of the Seas.

[thenexus2k]

Option #3. having been to most of those ports, the itinerary is far superior IMO, and while the ship is not brand new, it's a long way from being old either. La Romana is not a great port though.