Which one: Carnival Dream Balcony or Oasis Inside Stateroom?

[whitenack]

Run-on sentence alert!

 

I know these are impossible questions to answer, and usually the RC fans will vote for RC cruises and the Carnival fans will vote for the Carnival cruise, and the only good answer will be "whatever suits you best", but I thought I would just throw this out and start some discussion to see if I have thought of everything.

 

My wife and I are planning a cruise for our 10th anniversary in early April, 2011.

 

We are considering:

A large interior stateroom on Oasis of the Seas, deck 6, for $1099 pp, or...

 

A stateroom w/ balcony on Carnival Dream, deck 2, for $809 pp

 

Our attraction to Oasis:

• The biggest cruise ship ever to sail - pretty cool
  
• Larger ship means better for seasickness (wife is worried about it) - even though both are big and it probably won't be an issue at either ship, technically the bigger ship will be better
  
• cool places on the ship (7 neighborhoods)
  
• Has a dolphin ride & swim at one of the ports (as opposed to just a dolphin touch with Carnival) - I have always wanted to do this.
  
• Has outdoor water theater and other cool features not seen anywhere else
  

Our attraction to Dream:

• More affordable - can get a balcony for less money than the cheapest option on Oasis
  
• More ports of call than Oasis (4 vs 3)
  
• Has an "Amazing Race" -style land excursion - that would be really fun
  
• Has outdoor movie theater - would be really cool but it depends on the movie they play
  
• Saving money on the room allows for more "extras" during the cruise
  

A few thoughts I have on this...

• The Oasis is the better ship, and the Dream has the price and the ports.
  
• Since we are first-time cruisers, I don't think we are going to care as much about the ports of call because we will be so impresse with the boat.
  
• I think that we will be blown away no matter what we chose due to ANY cruise being unlike anything we have experienced before, so a simple interior stateroom will be impressive. However, for less money, a balcony should be that much MORE impressive.
  
• I am assuming that a balcony on the 2nd deck of the Dream would be a better room than an interior room on the 6th deck of the Oasis. Would that be correct?
  
• I am assuming the dining experience will be pretty much the same with both. Neither will be the best of the best, but both will be more than enough to impress a first-time cruiser.
  

As an inexperienced cruiser, is there anything else I should be thinking about? Anything, in your opinion, to consider? Or, anything I am considering that I should not?

 

Your time is appreciated.

[ExploreroftheSeas92]

Being that you are first time cruisers, I would go with the Carnival Dream. Then after your hooked onto cruising, you can try the Oasis of the Seas in a few years after its prices go down. As you said, you can save more money and put it to other things such as shore excursions.

[bradtoon]

Hello! I would choose the Carnival Dream if I were you.

A cruise expirience in itself has so many things to keep you occupied, and if I went on the Oasis for a first time cruise, I know I would personally be over whellmed and probably have a terrible time. And come on, if your cruise first on the Oasis, youll be way spoiled! Sea sickness, the Dream is Carnivals biggest ship, unless you hit oddly rough water, youll be fine! The dolphin experience, maybe check a private company? I bet youll get even more time with the dolphins if you dont use the cruise ships excusions!

 

$400 difference is huge! and you even get a balcony!!

Go the Carnival Dream! Expirience a Fun Ship Cruise!

[mainelymaniacs]

Whichever one you choose arrange to swim with the dolphins. It has been on my "to do" list since I found out you could do it. We swam with the dolphins in Cabo on our last cruise and I thought it was beyond belief enjoyable. Of course, I am just a little town girl, but I was impressed.

 

Lisa

[alexkrn46]

I am a Diamond member - but booked today on the Carnival Dream.

 

They have a new class of cove balcony which is close to the water line, I was dying to book it but my husband likes to be in the upper floors.

 

The Oasis looks good but a bit over kill. The jury is still out.

 

Save the money - and you will enjoy the ports.

[ALSEAU]

Run-on sentence alert!

 

I know these are impossible questions to answer, and usually the RC fans will vote for RC cruises and the Carnival fans will vote for the Carnival cruise, and the only good answer will be "whatever suits you best", but I thought I would just throw this out and start some discussion to see if I have thought of everything.

 

My wife and I are planning a cruise for our 10th anniversary in early April, 2011.

 

We are considering:

A large interior stateroom on Oasis of the Seas, deck 6, for $1099 pp, or...

 

A stateroom w/ balcony on Carnival Dream, deck 2, for $809 pp

 

Our attraction to Oasis:

• The biggest cruise ship ever to sail - pretty cool
  
• Larger ship means better for seasickness (wife is worried about it) - even though both are big and it probably won't be an issue at either ship, technically the bigger ship will be better
  
• cool places on the ship (7 neighborhoods)
  
• Has a dolphin ride & swim at one of the ports (as opposed to just a dolphin touch with Carnival) - I have always wanted to do this.
  
• Has outdoor water theater and other cool features not seen anywhere else
  

Our attraction to Dream:

• More affordable - can get a balcony for less money than the cheapest option on Oasis
  
• More ports of call than Oasis (4 vs 3)
  
• Has an "Amazing Race" -style land excursion - that would be really fun
  
• Has outdoor movie theater - would be really cool but it depends on the movie they play
  
• Saving money on the room allows for more "extras" during the cruise
  

A few thoughts I have on this...

• The Oasis is the better ship, and the Dream has the price and the ports.
  
• Since we are first-time cruisers, I don't think we are going to care as much about the ports of call because we will be so impresse with the boat.
  
• I think that we will be blown away no matter what we chose due to ANY cruise being unlike anything we have experienced before, so a simple interior stateroom will be impressive. However, for less money, a balcony should be that much MORE impressive.
  
• I am assuming that a balcony on the 2nd deck of the Dream would be a better room than an interior room on the 6th deck of the Oasis. Would that be correct?
  
• I am assuming the dining experience will be pretty much the same with both. Neither will be the best of the best, but both will be more than enough to impress a first-time cruiser.
  

As an inexperienced cruiser, is there anything else I should be thinking about? Anything, in your opinion, to consider? Or, anything I am considering that I should not?

 

Your time is appreciated.

 

 

This is a tough choice. Taking your first cruise on the Carnival Dream would be a wonderful experience for you and your DW. It looks like you have already properly identified the pros and cons and given them a great deal of thought. The good news is that you can't make a wrong decision.

 

Too most of us seasoned cruisers and RCI fans the Oasis is the cruise ship of all cruise ships. It is our dream destination. It is a no brainer for us to pay the extra money. However for you and your DW, I would enjoy the better deal with Carnival this time around. After becoming hooked on cruising I would than put the Oasis of the Seas on my next vacation to do list.

[whitenack]

Thanks for all of the responses. With the help from everyone, and looking at our own wants a needs, we have decided we want a balcony stateroom. According to my numbers, a balcony stateroom is going to be too expensive for us to justify on the Oasis.

 

However, we are now considering Freedom OTS as a compromise between the Dream and the Oasis. I have posted a new question in the general RCI section asking whether the extra money for FOTS is worth it.

 

Thanks everyone!

[GeckoGirl]

One thing to think about is the location of the rooms on both ships. We were considering the lowest inside room on Oasis in May 2010 and found out they are next to and above the Disco which would be very loud.

 

Unless you are a heavy sleeper, I would not recommend being above or below the casino, dining rooms, discos or the theatre. Some people even avoid being below the pool deck becasue they can hear chairs scraping and the staff rearranging stuff on the deck. I always get rooms that have other rooms above and below them.

 

That's not to say you couldn't have a loud neighbor, but it's still better than lots of noise from music and other things.

[whitenack]

One thing to think about is the location of the rooms on both ships. We were considering the lowest inside room on Oasis in May 2010 and found out they are next to and above the Disco which would be very loud.

 

Unless you are a heavy sleeper, I would not recommend being above or below the casino, dining rooms, discos or the theatre. Some people even avoid being below the pool deck becasue they can hear chairs scraping and the staff rearranging stuff on the deck. I always get rooms that have other rooms above and below them.

 

That's not to say you couldn't have a loud neighbor, but it's still better than lots of noise from music and other things.

 

Hmmm. All of the balconies we were looking at are either on deck 6 (and just above the casinos, restaurants and theatres) or on deck 2 and just below the lobby and dance floor. We can always move up to deck 7, which would have rooms above and below, but that equates to more money.

[vermontcruisers]

Run-on sentence alert!

 

I know these are impossible questions to answer, and usually the RC fans will vote for RC cruises and the Carnival fans will vote for the Carnival cruise, and the only good answer will be "whatever suits you best", but I thought I would just throw this out and start some discussion to see if I have thought of everything.

 

My wife and I are planning a cruise for our 10th anniversary in early April, 2011.

 

We are considering:

A large interior stateroom on Oasis of the Seas, deck 6, for $1099 pp, or...

 

A stateroom w/ balcony on Carnival Dream, deck 2, for $809 pp

 

 

Our attraction to Oasis:

• The biggest cruise ship ever to sail - pretty cool
  
• Larger ship means better for seasickness (wife is worried about it) - even though both are big and it probably won't be an issue at either ship, technically the bigger ship will be better
  
• cool places on the ship (7 neighborhoods)
  
• Has a dolphin ride & swim at one of the ports (as opposed to just a dolphin touch with Carnival) - I have always wanted to do this.
  
• Has outdoor water theater and other cool features not seen anywhere else
  

Our attraction to Dream:

• More affordable - can get a balcony for less money than the cheapest option on Oasis
  
• More ports of call than Oasis (4 vs 3)
  
• Has an "Amazing Race" -style land excursion - that would be really fun
  
• Has outdoor movie theater - would be really cool but it depends on the movie they play
  
• Saving money on the room allows for more "extras" during the cruise
  

A few thoughts I have on this...

• The Oasis is the better ship, and the Dream has the price and the ports.
  
• Since we are first-time cruisers, I don't think we are going to care as much about the ports of call because we will be so impresse with the boat.
  
• I think that we will be blown away no matter what we chose due to ANY cruise being unlike anything we have experienced before, so a simple interior stateroom will be impressive. However, for less money, a balcony should be that much MORE impressive.
  
• I am assuming that a balcony on the 2nd deck of the Dream would be a better room than an interior room on the 6th deck of the Oasis. Would that be correct?
  
• I am assuming the dining experience will be pretty much the same with both. Neither will be the best of the best, but both will be more than enough to impress a first-time cruiser.
  

As an inexperienced cruiser, is there anything else I should be thinking about? Anything, in your opinion, to consider? Or, anything I am considering that I should not?

 

Your time is appreciated.

You have ME wanting to book a cruise on the Carnival Dream!

[michelle6213]

I agree with many of the other posters. Go with the balcony room. This being your first cruise and an anniversary, you may find yourself spending more time in your room. Nothing can beat sharing a bottle of wine on your own balcony watching the ocean go by. The smaller ship will be just as special if not more than the larger Oasis. A ship that is as large as the Oasis is almost something you have to work your way up to in the cruising world.

[Dave85]

Go with the Dream and the balcony! If it was balcony vs. ocean view for a similar price I'd probably suggest Oasis -- but versus an inside... I'd definitely take the balcony, for less money, on a brand new Carnival ship.

[CaptData]

A balconey with dinner on it one night vs inside. I too would go with the balconey. As for the Dolphin touch vs smiw. I would check the board where you are goin on the touch and see if a pay your own is available (off ship choice)..

[mtebor]

Being that you are first time cruisers, I would go with the Carnival Dream. Then after your hooked onto cruising, you can try the Oasis of the Seas in a few years after its prices go down. As you said, you can save more money and put it to other things such as shore excursions.

 

I agree.

[Hobiecat01]

Having sailed both lines, in your case I would go with the Dream as well. Now you opened a can of worms by mentioning the Freedom. That is one cool ship! And I would bet the prices are much more in line with the Dream. Oasis vs. Dream for your first cruise = Dream... Freedom vs Dream = Freedom. At least if the number line up better. Just my opinion.

 

ps: You will have an absolute BLAST on any of these ships! You really can't lose.

----------------------

Sea ya!

Ron and Lee

Canton, Ga

RCCL Platinum Member

Previous Cruises

Carnival Mardis Gras - 3 Day Bahamas - April 1982

Carnival Destiny - 7 Days Western Carib. - April 1998

Princess Grand Princess - 7 Days Eastern Carib. - April 1999

Princess Sea Princess - 7 Days Western Carib. - March 2000

Princess Grand Princess - 7 Days Western Carib. - March 2001

RCCL Navigator of the Seas - 7 Days Western Carib. - March 2003

RCCL Mariner of the Seas - 7 Days Western Carib. - April 2005

RCCL Freedom of the Seas - 7 Days Western Carib. - 6/18 - 6/25/2006

RCCL Liberty of the Seas - 7 Days Eastern Carib. - 7/19 - 7/26/08

Planned Cruises

Something in 2009 - just have not decided yet

RCCL Oasis of the Seas - April 17, 2010

The BIG One - Southeast Asia 14 day - 2011

[whitenack]

Having sailed both lines, in your case I would go with the Dream as well. Now you opened a can of worms by mentioning the Freedom. That is one cool ship! And I would bet the prices are much more in line with the Dream. Oasis vs. Dream for your first cruise = Dream... Freedom vs Dream = Freedom. At least if the number line up better. Just my opinion.

 

ps: You will have an absolute BLAST on any of these ships! You really can't lose.

 

Yeah, I think it is between the Dream and Freedom right now. Freedom is more expensive (aprox $250 pp) for a similar room in a similar location. I could get a room for even cheaper on the Dream, but it would come with compromises (less privacy on balcony or a cove balcony which has some risk since it is a new concept).

 

A distant third option is taking a 5 night cruise on the Radiance or Navigator, but I'm not sure we'd be happy with 5 nights, and the cost savings isn't really enough to compromise.

 

So, I think it comes down to this..

 

Carnival Dream, center of ship on Deck 8 for $1838 (ESR for 2 people), or...

Freedom OTS, center or ship on deck 6 for $2398 (for 2 people)

 

I am a little antsy about booking an ESR this far in advance. However, without the ESR, the Dream is $2138. At that price, the cost savings isn't enough to pull me away from the Freedom. If there were no ESR offered, I think my mind would be made up. However, the ESR has me wondering if it is worth the compromises in ship and flexibility (to make changes or cancel) to save some money.

 

decisions, decisions!

[whitenack]

OK, I think I am going to go mad (or broke) with all these options. The more and more I think about it, the more and more I seem willing to spend.

 

I have started a new thread with a few new options here:

 

http://boards.cruisecritic.com/showthread.php?p=19332627#post19332627