| T.R | Title | User | Personal
Name | Date | Lines |
|---|
| 464.1 | | LEDDEV::CULLISON | | Wed Aug 18 1993 19:01 | 54 |
| I would pick RCCL over NCL by small margin, I've done both. Crowd
on RCCL and NCL are fairly similar. As far as Carnival, I've
never gone on it, but here is some information from a travel agent
we met on a RCCL cruise.
First, Carnival is not mostly singles. It does have on average a
younger age crowd. Majority will be couples and some will be older.
Generally there will be more kids on carnival and especially the
older kids. There will be more singles than most cruises. Of course
the cruise date determines a lot, if school
vacation week then expect larger number of kids than normal for
any cruise. Example, our first cruise in 85 was on NCL Norway, in Jan.
week after New Years. Week we went 100 kids on board out of 1900
passengers, not many kids. Week before, New Years, kids out of school,
500 kids on board.
Basically the travel agent went on 4 or 5 cruises a year. She
definitely preferred RCCL and usually traveled with a friend, she
was divorced. During summer she took her older kids, 15 and up. They
had been on various cruises and always wanted to go on Carnival only,
actually they demanded it, they really liked Carnival.
If your kids like to have a lot of fun with other kids then Carnival
will probably be the one they like the most. On some Carnival ships
they have teen disco's for teens only. I believe RCCL Majesty of Seas
and Monarch have same. Most RCCL ships during winter will have very
few kids except for school vacation weeks in which they probably will
have a lot.
If your are going Feb school vacation week then I would believe that
Majesty would have plenty of kids. It has the teen disco I believe,
it should be on the plan. They also have activities all day long for kids.
The youth programs during the day typically work best for the
younger kids, mainly because teenages are more independent and want
to do their own thing.
I suggest search through notes for the many reports from Carnival.
I do not know anything about Cozumel.
Just some thoughts, hope they help a little. My cruises have been,
4 on RCCL, 1 on NCL, 1 Disney (with our 3 yr old) and 2 on Regency.
All except Disney with my wife only.
Harold C.
|
| 464.2 | | PARVAX::SCHUSTAK | Who IS John Galt!? | Wed Aug 18 1993 19:52 | 28 |
| I agree with most of -1. Additionally (all IMHO) that Carnival will
certainly have more young kids (infant-teen) AND will have a generally
younger crowd, but that the number of teens on-board an RCCL or NCL
cruise will not differ greatly, and may even be more. Rationale...
Carnival generally ranks slightly behind NCL which generally ranks
behind RCCL in service/quality and price. This comes only from my own
experiences and what other friends/family have shared with me. I THINK
it would follow that generally the 35 - 45 crowd is NOT the focus for
Carnival (assuming that most teenagers parents are in that age group,
or older), and more affluent than the young/singles crowd Carninval
does pursue. Personally, I believe the 15 yr olds will have a great
time on any of the 3 ships/lines, and the number of 15 yr olds will
mainly be determined by school vacation schedules.
Re Cozumel...I've been there 2 times on cruises (NCL and
Sitmar/Princess) and spent both days snorkeling/swim,ming at beaches
with an hour or two spent shopping in the center of town. I don't
believe there's all that much to see/do during the daytime there (but,
if you're there for an evening, DO go to Carlos 'n Charlies for a
Corona and some Rock & Roll!). Downtown and beaches are either a
longish walk (1.5-2 miles) or a short cab ride from the pier.
I'd save the motorbike tour for Grand Cayman (did that the first time I
was there, reasonable price and a beautiful/safe island to tour and
stop when YOU want instead of some tour bus or staying downtown or on
seven mile beach.
Steve
|
| 464.3 | | LEDDEV::CULLISON | | Thu Aug 19 1993 10:02 | 20 |
| It is true that most people that I've talked with that have actually
cruised on both Carnival and RCCL would always generally say
that RCCL food and service is much better. It can vary and this
is not to say the food and service is not good on Carnival, just
RCCL is better. Holland which is owned by Carnival generally has
a little higher rating for service than RCCL. I believe NCL is
just below RCCL and better than Carnival. Of course this is all
highly subjective and there are lots of opinions either way out there.
The Majesty is so large, if you hit school vacation week there
will plenty for the kids to do.
One thing to think about, I believe the best comments to listen too
generally are from repeat cruisers who have tried multiple lines.
Someone that has been on one cruise does not have much to compare
against. I only have indirect info on Carnival, no actual experience.
Boy, if I could only afford to Cruise more often then I could try them
all maybe. Dream on!
Harold C.
|
| 464.4 | Teens Have Romance Too! | ISLNDS::FAUST_CLANCY | "In God We Trust, Others Pay Cash" | Fri Aug 20 1993 12:42 | 43 |
| I've been on Carnival three times and on Costa once ( and I'm getting
ready to do a RCCL cruise in October.... But! (I digress) The teens
that I have seen aboard all Carnival as well as Costa cruises have had
the time of their lives (literally). They were so overjoyed to be
treated as adults, that they acted more mature in response to this
treatment. At dinner, in the bars, in the activities on the ships
the teens sometimes had more maturily than some soggy adults.
There are so many different activites on board the ship specifically
designed for the younger set, that they will be entertained and you
will not have to worry. The teen disco that Harold mentioned is
really fun for them. Everybody's always shy at the beginning, but
that's only natural and normal and after a while, everyone's more
comfortable and finding things in common and having a great time.
I would try to get some Fodor's travel guides on the places that
you plan to visit from the public library. The guides will list
places to rent mountain bikes, etc, etc, that you can call or
write in advance of your trip to find out how much $$ and how far
from the cruise terminal they are located. If you do your homework
in advance, it will make for a lovelier vacation time, as when you
are on vacation, even a phone call seems like work!!! I haven't
been to Cozumel yet, but I would imagine you will only have about
6 hours there.....? So you will have to plan well to be able to
get to the bike rental place, and then from there do your explorations.
and back to the ship, pooped but happy. Take one of those cheapo
plastic disposable cameras to take quick snaps during your bike
ride. No one ever wants to steal a $10.00 camera and if you should
fall on it, or it should disappear over a railing or a waterfall....
it's only $10.00. They take great shots.
I've seen a few shipboard romances among the teens as well. So I
hope you're ready for that!!! It was kind of cute to watch the
relationship develop over the course of a week. But most of the
kids/teens that I've talked with without their parents around
were really nice and very polite. You could almost "see" them
gaining polish and sophistication before your very eyes.. Like
a chia pet! (argggh!) They'll come back a lot more grown up...
Have fun. They'll remember this cruise with you always.
DFC
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| 464.5 | Can't lose no matter what the choice!! | BRIEN::ROSCETTI | Owwww.... Quit it | Fri Aug 20 1993 15:39 | 13 |
|
Thanks...
Your right. Since we are going during school vacation any ship is
bound to have it's share of kids. I'm still leaning toward RCCL/Majesty
but I'll have to check Carnival a little closer. I don't have to commit
for a couple more days so I can continue to hem and haw for a while...
Thanks again, I'm really looking forward to my first cruise. I'll
be sifting through the other notes for advice from now till Feb..
brien
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| 464.6 | | MISERY::VASQUEZ_JE | livin' on blues power | Fri Aug 20 1993 16:58 | 14 |
| We sailed on RCCL with friends who took their two teenage sons, 15 and
18 at the time. These kids had a great time. One fell in love, one
broke a dozen hearts. There were kids of all ages and I didn't see
anyone who appeared bored or lonely! The boys weren't idle for a
minute.
I have friends who have gone on Carnival during school vacations and
they said that their particular cruises seemed overrun with grads and
young adults who drank to amazing excess. Very loud, very drunk.
(Note that the above is plural... more than one friend, more than one
Carnival cruise.....)
Our next cruise isn't until November and I am already marking the days
off the calendar. Hope you and your family have a great trip!
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