the money is exactly the same

[cruzobsessed]

so please help me help my friend decide.

she is a 1st time cruiser traveling with her mil and 2 college age kids.

the 3 cruises i have picked for her all leave from miami, have pratically the same itinerary, and are all on voyager class ships.

here are the choices.....please tell me your opinions:

1. explorer: jan 7, promenade deck 8, san juan, st. martin, st. thomas, and nassau.

2. navigator: jan 13, promenade deck 7, san juan, st. thomas, st. martin, nassau.

3. voyager: jan 6, promenade deck 7, nassau, st. thomas, san juan, labadee.

HELP!!!!!

[cb at sea]

Why are you picking this woman's cruise???? This is something she should be doing--you're robbing her of half the fun of cruising--the planning! Give her the info, and let her have at it! If, for some reason, she doesn't like the experience, it will be YOUR fault. What a way to ruin a friendship! Let her take responsibility for her decision--good or bad! After all, it's her money! (Isn't it?)

[cruisinfanatic]

Whats the big desicion? All practically the same itinerary and the same type ship. I'd say take the cheapest one.

[wolfcathorse]

with all things being equal the deciding factor would have to be the staff and crew. With that said, tell her to pick Navigator, I've read a lot of good things about Capt Bang (he'll be master during that time frame)

[bickee]

Wow people...relax. Some people (shockingly) don't love the planning part. And since she said the money's the same...

 

I would choose the Navigator, simply because I've read and heard nothing but great things about this ship. Friends agree that it was their favorite Voyager class ship by far. Just my opinion! :)

[Cruising89143]

Navigator. Newer ship.

[arabrab]

Might be a smaller number of children (and perhaps overall passenger count) on the Jan 6th cruises since they aren't over MLK holiday.

[cruzobsessed]

she is coming over tonight. i did the "preliminary" research and she's looking to me for advice. and.... i'm looking to you as well:)

[just4kixx]

I've done the Navigator, and will be doing the Explorer next summer. But if all else were the same, I would pick the Navigator because a) it is the newest of the Voyager class, b) I have only ever heard good things about this ship and c) I've sailed it before and loved it!

 

I think any of the 3 will be a good choice for your friend! Perhaps dates should be the deciding factor!

 

A~

[Alexis]

The Navigator.

I just did two weeks and her and she is a great ship with a fantastic crew.;)

[Cruising89143]

The Navigator.

I just did two weeks and her and she is a great ship with a fantastic crew.;)

 

Boy do we all love the Navigator...:)

[isujim]

Hey Alexis

 

Did you ever get your cruise credited? Just curious:)

[brn2crz]

Definitley the Navi....

 

I would hate to miss St Martin....To bad its not San Juan, St Martin,St Thomas and Labadee...really done with the Nassau thing..

I would not want to miss St Martin....So that would do it for me..

Plus Nav is newer,and I would give a edge to her over all..

 

Oh the problems we cruisers face :p

[MGoBlue2]

Since they're first timers, and likely interested in seeing ports, I'd eliminate Voyager. Its port stops are mostly shorter and at less convenient times. I'm doing it in a couple weeks, but it's all ports I've been to before - 2-3 times in some cases.

[TexasMom2]

One thing not mentioned is that with San Juan and St. Thomas being U.S. territories, wouldn't there be no immigration hassle if you picked the Navigator? I'm thinking without a foreign port between Miami and those two ports, there wouldn't be re-entry immigration? Just a thought, I'm sure someone will correct me if I'm wrong. :)

[lovemylab]

I would not want to miss St Martin....

 

This would be my reason for not choosing the Voyager.

 

I was on the Explorer last year and it is a beautiful ship.

[Cuizer2]

I would pick the Navigator because a) it is the newest of the Voyager class, b) I have only ever heard good things about this ship and c) I've sailed it before and loved it!

 

The Mariner is the newest of the Voyage class ships. However, the Navigator is the newest of the three ships listed. I would not choose the Navigator because it is the newest, I would choose it because it has some design features (shared with the Mariner) that give it an edge (in my opinion) over the other two.

[peteukmcr]

I'd choose Navigator for the following reasons:

 

Newer than the other 2 (although Explorer in 2008!).

Has Chops as well as Portofino's.

Haven't done the others!

Thoroughly enjoyed Navigator and Captain Bang.

[NancyIL]

The Navigator.

I just did two weeks and her and she is a great ship with a fantastic crew.;)

 

Is Graham Seymour still the CD on the Navigator? He was the CD on Splendour in April 2005 (my first RCI cruise) and I just loved him!

[just4kixx]

The Mariner is the newest of the Voyage class ships. However, the Navigator is the newest of the three ships listed. I would not choose the Navigator because it is the newest, I would choose it because it has some design features (shared with the Mariner) that give it an edge (in my opinion) over the other two.

 

Yes, I meant the newest of the three... and yes, you are entitled to your own opinion... I would still choose based on its "newest" ship status ;)

 

A~

[uksimonusa]

Is Graham Seymour still the CD on the Navigator? He was the CD on Splendour in April 2005 (my first RCI cruise) and I just loved him!

 

No graham left in August to go and get married

[PH8]

I would pick the NV cuz I love Vintages.......