webcreatrix
DIS Veteran
- Joined
- Mar 10, 2009
I have taken one cruise, a "girls" trip without my family, on Royal. It was a southern Caribbean cruise sailing out of PR. This was in 2012 (?). Since then, I've been dying to get my family on a cruise, but we always end up at Disney World, or the last two years at Disneyland. I'd really like to finally get them on a ship this summer or next, but I'm having trouble deciding on a cruise.
We live in Texas, so cruising out of Galveston seems obvious, but I am looking at 3 potential cruises, each with their own benefits and am hoping someone can help me figure out which cruise provides the best overall experience for my group, so we can hopefully do this again. DH is reluctant cruiser.
My kids are DS13 and DD16 this year and here are the options we're looking at:
Edited to add: I can also currently get an inside and balcony on a "good" deck for Royal, but Carnival options are limited to all of us in a Spa balcony at the top and forward on the Freedom until someone cancels. We'd ideally have two cabins very close to each other. I'm not finding any on the Carnival ship.
We live in Texas, so cruising out of Galveston seems obvious, but I am looking at 3 potential cruises, each with their own benefits and am hoping someone can help me figure out which cruise provides the best overall experience for my group, so we can hopefully do this again. DH is reluctant cruiser.
My kids are DS13 and DD16 this year and here are the options we're looking at:
- Carnival Freedom out of Galveston: I am not sure this is the ship for us, but my sister and her family are cruising on this ship in June. Ship doesn't appeal at all. DH hates smoking and drinking, of which my sister and her husband will do a lot, probably on their balcony. My cousins and nieces, while we love them, are not my kids' ages - they are 30, 11, and 6. I don't feel like this ship has a lot to offer my kids, DH will hate it if it's a "party ship", and I just like Royal better?!? But it is the only chance we've ever had to vacation with my sister and family. Itinerary is Grand Cayman, Cozumel, Jamaica. Fun for kids seems to be a slide and sports court.
- Royal Liberty of the Seas out of Galveston: Shrek is going away, which is a disappointment for my kids, but they have a skating rink, rock climbing, flow rider, slides, etc. Activities here go above and beyond Carnival as far as I can tell. Itinerary is Grand Cayman, Cozumel, Jamaica.
- Magic 5 or 6 nights (?) out of Miami for Christmas or Spring Break: I have to dig deep to get to the same price as sailing out of Galveston, plus add airfare. Love the Key West, Nassau, Castaway Cay itinerary though. It's my impression that the ship and service may be nicer than Royal? We do love Disney, but not sure my kids will be into characters and shows at this age.
Edited to add: I can also currently get an inside and balcony on a "good" deck for Royal, but Carnival options are limited to all of us in a Spa balcony at the top and forward on the Freedom until someone cancels. We'd ideally have two cabins very close to each other. I'm not finding any on the Carnival ship.
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