Big Cruise Ships

I've been on a cruise once. I won't go again unless it is a super luxury cruise of something like the Baltic or Alaska.

We felt like it was a combination of a Casino & Walmart on the water.
We enjoyed the ports the most and hated being on the ship.
I would much prefer to pick a destination and stay there rather than just get 6-8 hours in a port and spend the rest of your trip fighting off the fatasses.

On the other hand, we didn't have kids. And it might be a bit more acceptable with all of the things they had catered towards kids.

And don't listen to RCCL snobs who thumb their noses at Carnival.

RCCL, Carnival, and Norwegian are all about the same. Take any of their newer ships and you'll have a great time!

Check out the Carnival Vista porting in Miami til Sept then it sails out of Galveston. Sailed it in Nov and was blown away. Book a family harbor room on deck two. Access to a private lounge with your own buffet and video games, movies, and activities geared toward families. Ship has an IMAX on it. A freaking IMAX. Carnival's kids' programs are really solid, too. They've teamed up with Dr. Seuss. They have Seuss-themed breakfast one morning on the ship. Yes, you can order green eggs and ham. Yes, yes, you can.

If you're sailing with a 5 year old go for the bigger ship. It will have more cruisers in your family demo, more kids in the play areas, more to do, etc.

Port Intensive itineraries are hard on small kids..alot of the places you're talking about are an hour + transports back and forth from the port. Stick with the big ship on this one, don't overthink it, keep it simple, pick an all inclusive resort to visit on one day, maybe book something through RC on one port and rome the area around the port on another.

ETA..Ive sailed on Allure, Granduer, Vision and Liberty. All are great but different. The key will be to plan the right trip for the right ship. On Liberty and Allure we were on the go...we did the ship up right. On the smaller ships we tend to sleep in a little more, alot slower paced, spend the full days in port don't ge the alcohol packages, etc

Hard to beat the customer service and cleanliness of a Disney Cruise.

Also kid oriented of course.

I detest crowds. Cruises have not really bothered me in regards to crowds. Actually love the experience now and have been on several Disney Cruises.

Note: After my first cruise, since I am a bit anti social, we always get a room with a balcony so I can be away from the crowd and be outside whenever I want.


We usually get off the ship at all ports. However, we now stay on board the ship when in Bahamas, none of us really enjoyed our first time there.

Another plus for us with Disney is always spending a day on the beach on their private island the day before returning to Port Canavarel.

i like cruising, but much prefer port days, and get a little bored on the sea days.

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We ended up booking the Harmony of the Seas for April

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Awesome..I look forward to your report. We're sailing Allure in may and I just booked a crazy cheap cruise on Vision in December out of NOLA.

7 night western caribbean for $1100 for two adults.

The wife and I will be sailing without our daughter and the ports are Cozumel, Costa Maya and Roatan so it will give us the opportunity to get off, rent a car and spend the day driving into town and "exploring" a little with no plans.

Still not sure what 2019 holds for me yet but looking into something in europe on a smaller ship as well with our daughter or flying to san juan and doing a week in the southern on something very port heavy

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I much prefer their itineraries that have Castaway Cay earlier in the trip or with a sea day behind it...I hate sitting on that beach knowing I've still got to go pack.

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We have just always considered it a great way for us, and kids as well, to end the trip.

As far as dreading the packing, I will try to remember to ask my wife about that next trip.

Just kidding, she and I both tend to get that kind of thing done early on any trip...both leaving and returning home.


Either way, Disney Cruises are great and we have never had any complaints.

Liberty is an awesome ship, you;ll love it...one thing I always suggest its to don't feel pressured to go to the main dining room every night (at least one night just sit by the pool, do the water slides and flowrider, etc),

Check to see if Sabor is doing the guacamole class. It's a good time.

Go to the spa raffle on embarkation day. Usually about 50 people show up and they give away a good bit of free shite. It will be after lunch just before the muster drill and listed in your cruise compass.