Expert: Linda - 7/3/2007

Question
Linda - I would like some help in selecting an Eastern Carribean cruise for my teen daughters (16 year olds) and my wife to go on for a birthday present.  The teens are looking to cruise with activities they would enjoy and hopefully other teens on the cruise.  We are looking at the week of Thanksgiving this year.  Carnival was the line suggested to fit this bill.  We have never cruised before and I would appreciate your thoughts on which cruise line and what ship may be best.  Also, if you suggest Carnival, is there a better port to leave from?  Thanks for your thoughts.

Answer
My first question...if push came to shove...who's the most important to please?  Wife or kids?

I'll give insight to both.  Since you're going at Thanksgiving and kids are off, you'll have lots of kids, young to older.  They will all end of meeting as all cruise ships have "meet and greet", or "meet your companions",  At 16, they're pretty self-sufficient, you just want to make sure you know where they are and they're safe (my assumption)  That being said, my recommendations would be Royal Caribbean (newer ships) over Carnival.  Here's my reasons.  RCCL has a LOT to do for the teens, they have their own part of a deck where they serve "mocktails", chairs, bar, couches, ping pong, basketball.  Also on RCCL there is the rock climbing wall, ice skating, depending on the ship, the surf tide or whatever they call it; putt putt golf, shopping, coffee cafe's, ice cream bar.

(go back to first paragraph...wife will be happy knowing kids have plenty to do and she can also shop...gamble, great wine bars etc)

Why do I like RCCL over Carnival?  We've done both many times.  RCCL has more to do; Carnival has usually more teens, BUT that doesn't insure they're the kind your kids (or you) might want them to hang with.  Since Carnival generally costs less.....you get my drift.

Can you have a great time on Carnival...absolutely.  Carnival beats RCCL with pool games, knobby knee contests, belly flop contests, battle of the pugel sticks, diving for golf balls.

If ALL you're going to be doing is the pool all day, then either one will be fine.  Most of the ships, Carnival and RCCL leave from Fort Lauderdale or Miami.

Eastern Caribbean is a great choice, history in San Juan, beach and shopping and sightseeing in St. Thomas, private island if you choose RCCL (great by the way), then either Nassau, or St. Maarten.

Don't know if you know that the least expensive time to cruise is the week before and the week after thanksgiving.  Probably not an option with the girls. If you book RCCL, just book using their site.  Price is the same with them and TA.  Watch for specials.  Go to Cruisecritic.com, join (free), then click on "boards", scroll down to either RCCL or Carnival and read about the ships, read others posts, you can ask questions; it's a sight I use daily.

If you're coming from up North. stronly suggest coming in the day before.  You can use PRICELINE.COM and get a great rate on a room and save yourself in case of bad weather, late or delayed flights.

So Kevin...go back to line one....

Ask away if you have other questions.

Linda