[10 min to wdw]

Ok I'm thinking about taking a long weekend this spring time and going on a cruise with a friend. Now I've looked at disney and how much they want and its way too high priced for me. so with that said what other cruise ships would you recomend?I don't care one way or the other if its the bahama's or the caribean. My only thing is I'm looking for ships leaving Port Canveral or that area roughly. Like I have said I have researched the disney cruise line and it just seems a little too high priced for me right now.

[Jesserin]

Royal Caribbean hands down. There are only two ships that sail from Port Canaveral to the Bahamas other than disney and that is Carnival Cruise Line and Royal Caribbean - You'll find I'm very bias as I have sailed 12x's with RCCL and only 1x with Carnival - that is no coincidence that is how bad of a time I had on their ship.

RCCL's Sovereign of the Seas - runs 3 night and 4 night cruises to the Bahamas. The three night cruises sail Friday through Monday and the 4 night cruises sail Monday through Friday - I have been on this ship personally 3 times. The Sovereign just came out of dry dock in November '04 after being completly refurbished and updated - it now boasts a rock climbing wall, Johnny Rocket's 50's style restaurant, sorrento's Pizza, Seattle's Best Coffee, a large casino, 2 pools and a wonderful spa. The prices start around $300 and go up the more you get into spring break season and summer.

My personal reasons for cruising with RCCL is that they are a very moral cruise line - what I mean by that, is that they have all the fun (bars, clubs, etc.) of a similar cruise line (Carnival) but they do not offer things like topless decks or scantilly clad showgirls on stage - Their shows are amazing more theater than Vegas - very entertaining even for people like my husband who could give a rip about theater - he loved the shows!

Also there is no comparing the food at RCCL and Carnival - RCCL wins awards every year while Carnival sends home guests with food poisening (no joke that really happend)

Now, in all fairness Carnival is not a bad cruiseline - they are just known as the less of the two - and as far as price - RCCL beats them every time with the smaller ships. RCCL's larger ships are much more expensive than Carnival's as they are nearly twice as big as Carnival's largest ship - and in the cruising world, larger is much better.

The larger the ship - the more stable (i.e. less sea sickness) and the larger the ship - the more activities and more things for you to get your money's worth!

The Sovereign of the seas is 880' holding 2,852 passengers (double occupancy) The rooms range from least expensive being an interior no window (but a nice mirror ) up to a ocean view (nice window, no balcony) then up to the balcony rooms (wonderful to wake up to and eat your breakfast on!)

This is one of the smaller vessels that Royal Caribbean has - although now that it's made it though the refurbishment - you'd never know it - it is quite beautiful!



Ok, On to carnival.

The Carnival ship sailing out of Port Canaveral is the Fantasy. The Fantasy is a 15 year old ship that has yet to be refurb'd and needs it badly - frankly they need to retire this ship altogether as she gives Carnival a bad name - Carnival has several newer ships that are quite nice but as far as your money's worth - I'd stick to RCCL anyday.

There are no 3 day cruises that sail to the caribbean - the closest is a 4 night out of Ft. Lauderdale - and it will jump to approx $700 per person for the cruise,

I always recommend the bahamas for a first time cruise to get out there and see if you like it - the bahamas are close enough to land that you never really hit rough seas so it really gives people the chance to see what cruising is all about.

However, once you've cruised once (you'll be likely to book your second cruise while on board - that's how fun they are) You'll want to jump to a 7 nighter and try out one of the Mega Ships - largest ship on the water next to the Queen Mary and even she will lose that title back to RCCL in May of '06 when their newest ship comes to America the Freedom of the Seas - can't wait to get on her!


Anyway - if you have any other questions please ask away!

[10 min to wdw]

Thanks Jess, you gave me quite a few Idea's and got me to start looking around, I didn't think about Tampa as a port I didn't event know cruise ships go in there. So I would be open to Tampa as well does that create any more possibilities? They have ice skateing rinks in cruise ships???

[Jesserin]

Yes some ships do have ice skating rinks - right now it's the 7 day Mega Ships that I mentioned - there are only 5 of them on the water and they all do Caribbean Sailings for 7 nights (well one of them does Canadian sailings in the fall, but other than that)

The ships with the ice skating rink also have a full size basketball court, vollyball, inline skating track, put put golf, a golf simulator, a three story dining room (others have 2 story dining rooms), refridgerators in every room (even the smaller interior cabins), rooms service is ordered from your TV, they have an all adult solarium (all adult pool), and a HUGE spa entrance that boasts a sea salt pool (all of them have salt water but this one has really heavy doses so you feel like you are weightless) and all of this is included in the cost of your cruise - with the exception of the golf simulator on some ships is more advance and there is a minimal fee.

As for Tampa - no 3 nighters from tampa at this point - there is a 5 night carribean and 7 night caribbean though. Also none of the Mega Ships leave from Tampa either- there is one that leaves from Port Canaveral doing alternate Eastern and Western sailings - The Mariner of the Seas - By the way if you visit RCCL.com you'll find that the official name for the Mega Ships is the Voyager Class Fleet - just so you don't get confused that's what I'm talking about.

There are no 3 or 4 night sailings on the mega ships - why? you wouldn't have enough time to get to know the ship and explore your ports of call... they are just too big - in fact it takes me usually until about the 4th day to not get lost anymore - But for a 7 nighter they're the only way to go (well, so says my husband) I prefer the smaller ships actually when I'm wanting to relax, as much as I adore the mega ships - i usually feel like I need a vacation from my vacation when I'm done b/c I've kept so busy with activities! I guess it's all in what you want out of your vacation!

Again, keep asking if you have any more questions!

[10 min to wdw]

your starting to make those cruise ships sound too good. When I started working in the real world I passed up working on one of the cruise ships do to low pay but the more I listen to all that is on them I think of how intresting it would be.


EDIT: one more question are there any cruise ships that leave on a WED for a 3 day cruise? event if they leave from with in the state of FL it be ok.

[Jesserin]

They certainly are a blast! But don't let that sway you from the Sovereign - if you have never cruised or have never cruised with RCCL - she is a great introduction into the world of fine dining (as much as you care to eat!) and fun entertainment - I find that people that jump straight to the Mega Ships don't really realize what they have and then when they try another cruise line they are sorely disappointed. It's nice to have a taste of all the different ships as you're first time cruise will be an experience unto its own... When you are first rocked to sleep by the waves, or walk down the hall and fell the ship "come up and meet your feet" it's a really strange sensation - and a smaller ship is a great first to experience all this on (keep in mind when I say smaller ship, they're only about 100-200 ft smaller - when you are talking about a 880' ship - it takes alot to notice the difference)


Although I will send one last plug to the Mega Ships - my favorite part of the ship is actually something quite insignifigant. The dining rooms have bowed windows which go out from the ship about 25 feet on each site - There is also a balcony on the bottom floor that goes all the way around it as well - there is nothing cooler than stepping onto that balcony after dark and looking at the length of the ship - You can see all the way to the front with the waves crashing up on it and all the way to the back - it is the most Titanic (flying in the wind part) of the cruise you'll ever feel!

[jhastings74]

Gee, Jess...don't hold back...give us a little information


-Jeff

[10 min to wdw]

This will technically be my second cruise when I was 8 or 9 in cub scouts we went on a weekend cruise somewhere off the New England Coast in a decomisioned battle ship. Very intresting at the time But I imagine a RCCL ship would be much more comfortable.

[mikelan6]

I would also recomend Royal Caribbean in that market. I've personally tried about six or more different cruise lines over the years and RCI is consistently a great product. You'll have a great time.

[Jesserin]

I agree Mike!

Quick Cruise Rundown:

Norweigan Cruise Line: Freestyle Dining (Pro) teeny tiny ships (Con)
Celebrity Cruise Line: Top Notch Cruising (Pro) average age 60+ (Con - for those not 60)
Raddisson Seven Seas: Luxery Cruising at it's finest! (Pro) again all over 60+(con)
Holland America: Right up their with Celebrity (Pro) average age 45+ (pro/con)
Disney Cruise Line: Most Family Fun (Pro) Highest prices next to Luxery ships (con)
RCCL: something for everyone (Pro) larger ships=higher prices (con)
Carnival: most popular first time cruise (Pro) least popular second time cruise (Con)



10min~ Yep, i would surely say that a Crusie Ship would be much more comforatble than a battleship - namely, cruise ships don't use lead paint!

Jeff~ Don't even get me started on cruising - For each tidbit I know about Disney- I know three for cruising - Cruising was a long time passion before i really got into Disney!

[dizgrammy]

Crusin' is absolutely the best. If your first one, Disney is a good one to start on. You can take a 3 or 4 day one to start. So many choices you have.

Good luck and let us know when you cruise and how you like it.

HAPPY CRUSIN'