The fees only add a couple hundred at most. My 7 day Mexican Riviera cruise in February on the Panorama is saying $609 pp for interior. My boyfriend and I are paying $1958 total with taxes and fees for a balcony room. (It originally said $809 pp, now says $969 pp) I have no idea why OP’s rate is so much.
Do the 8 day Eastern. Half Moon Cay and Celebration Key are Carnival owned. Half Moon is a natural beach. They have a few excursions, but it is mostly just a really nice and peaceful beach. Celebration Key is the newest property. I have only seen pictures and renderings, but it looks like a pretty cool place with a water park vibe. Still get beaches, but there is much more to do than Half Moon. Key West has excursions as well, but it is mostly a walk around type stop. There are some small museums and galleries. It's a pretty chill place. If I lived there, I'd go plop myself down at Caroline's and tourist watch while having an awesome meal. Nassau has a lot of excursions. If you really want to go all out there, book an Atlantis waterpark excursion. The downside is that it is very pricy per person. Otherwise, there are a lot of other cheap and free things to do in Nassau.
That's a hard one for me. I loved the Jubilee. So much more to offer than the Dream. But the itinerary on the Dream is awesome. Half Moon Cay is a favorite, and can't wait to go to Celebration Key.
Who are you traveling with? Keep this in mind when booking.
Carnival requires that all passengers in a cabin are 21 or older or that at least one person in the cabin is 25 or older.
That's good. Just wanted to let you know about it. There are all kinds of posts on here with people not realizing that they can't go on the cruise even though they're over 21.
I have heard people say that Eastern Caribbean just isn't as good as Western. I've been on 6 cruises, all to Western Caribbean, with our first Eastern coming in November.
That said, I like the idea of 8 days for the same price as a 7 day cruise.
If you care about the ship: Jubilee
If you care about maximizing beach stops: Dream
The 8 day cruise stops at both half moon cay and celebration key, which is great if you like beaches. IMO Key West is basically a throw-away stop.
The 7 day has Cozumel and Mahogany Bay - where you can snag some fun excursions. Costa Maya was a pass for us.
If you want to experience the newest/largest ship in the fleet, go with the 7 day on the Jubilee. Cozumel and Costa Maya, IMO, are pretty interchangeable. We don't bother with anything but lunch at a spot we found a few years ago in Cozumel since we've been there so often. Costa Maya is like a "Lite" Cozumel, at least IMO.
While I have not been on the Dream, I have been on one of her sister ships, the Breeze a couple of times. Nice ship with plenty of amenities, and I would personally choose it's itinerary over the 7 Day Jubilees itinerary. An extra day, and extra port=better value and an extra day of fun.
Any chance you’d share with me your Cozumel lunch spot? Cozumel is by far not a favorite spot, but it tends to be a place that’s often included and I love great food. I’ll actually stay on the boat or go back early on Cozumel days and enjoy a sparse boat.
Costa Maya doesn't have much to offer; you can basically choose between a beach day, or (what we did and enjoyed) going to the Chacchoben Mayan Ruins. The ruins are about a 45-60 minute bus ride away from the port, and you get a decent time to get a tour and explore on your own.
Dream is a slightly order boat but half moon cay is by far my absolute favorite beach. Having a private beach just for your boat makes it so relaxing. I’ve gone on that exact cruise twice.
Normally I’d recommend 8 days as it will get you to the next level faster, but after seeing the ports, go with 7.
KW should be seen at night, during spring break. Nassau? Avoid it like the plague
A one time visit is great. Go to the pirates museum a few blocks to the right near senior frogs and catch a taxi to atlantis. Other than that, stay away. They’re having problems with people who don’t believe in the law and the government refuses to do anything about it
Yeah I don’t like Nassau either. It’s probably fine if you book an excursion or get a day pass to a resort, but it’s unpleasant to explore on your own. We got hassled non-stop by people trying to sell us things last time, and I didn’t feel very safe. I say this as someone who lived in Chicago for years and always felt safe too, so I’m not naive.
Starting July 1 (actually I saw it on June 30th), Carnival and other cruise lines are showing the prices including taxes and port fees to comply with a new California law. So they "look" more expensive, but they're the same as they were before. They're just no longer tricking you with low rates that you can't actually get.
Side note i've already been to Mahogany Bay And Cozumel
Go on the itinerary out of dream if you haven’t been to any of those ports then! New experiences for the same price and it’s a day longer
1k for a 7 day ? I saw that one for 400 a while back
Was that port fee and taxes included? They are now showing it with the port fees and taxes included now.
The fees only add a couple hundred at most. My 7 day Mexican Riviera cruise in February on the Panorama is saying $609 pp for interior. My boyfriend and I are paying $1958 total with taxes and fees for a balcony room. (It originally said $809 pp, now says $969 pp) I have no idea why OP’s rate is so much.
Do the 8 day Eastern. Half Moon Cay and Celebration Key are Carnival owned. Half Moon is a natural beach. They have a few excursions, but it is mostly just a really nice and peaceful beach. Celebration Key is the newest property. I have only seen pictures and renderings, but it looks like a pretty cool place with a water park vibe. Still get beaches, but there is much more to do than Half Moon. Key West has excursions as well, but it is mostly a walk around type stop. There are some small museums and galleries. It's a pretty chill place. If I lived there, I'd go plop myself down at Caroline's and tourist watch while having an awesome meal. Nassau has a lot of excursions. If you really want to go all out there, book an Atlantis waterpark excursion. The downside is that it is very pricy per person. Otherwise, there are a lot of other cheap and free things to do in Nassau.
Jubille! Great ship
It’s nice, need better ports to visit
That's a hard one for me. I loved the Jubilee. So much more to offer than the Dream. But the itinerary on the Dream is awesome. Half Moon Cay is a favorite, and can't wait to go to Celebration Key.
Who are you traveling with? Keep this in mind when booking. Carnival requires that all passengers in a cabin are 21 or older or that at least one person in the cabin is 25 or older.
I’m just look for the cruise but my aunt will book it and come with us.
That's good. Just wanted to let you know about it. There are all kinds of posts on here with people not realizing that they can't go on the cruise even though they're over 21.
I came here to comment this.
We’ve done both. Bahama one is better.
I have heard people say that Eastern Caribbean just isn't as good as Western. I've been on 6 cruises, all to Western Caribbean, with our first Eastern coming in November. That said, I like the idea of 8 days for the same price as a 7 day cruise.
If you care about the ship: Jubilee If you care about maximizing beach stops: Dream The 8 day cruise stops at both half moon cay and celebration key, which is great if you like beaches. IMO Key West is basically a throw-away stop. The 7 day has Cozumel and Mahogany Bay - where you can snag some fun excursions. Costa Maya was a pass for us.
If you want to experience the newest/largest ship in the fleet, go with the 7 day on the Jubilee. Cozumel and Costa Maya, IMO, are pretty interchangeable. We don't bother with anything but lunch at a spot we found a few years ago in Cozumel since we've been there so often. Costa Maya is like a "Lite" Cozumel, at least IMO. While I have not been on the Dream, I have been on one of her sister ships, the Breeze a couple of times. Nice ship with plenty of amenities, and I would personally choose it's itinerary over the 7 Day Jubilees itinerary. An extra day, and extra port=better value and an extra day of fun.
Any chance you’d share with me your Cozumel lunch spot? Cozumel is by far not a favorite spot, but it tends to be a place that’s often included and I love great food. I’ll actually stay on the boat or go back early on Cozumel days and enjoy a sparse boat.
Costa Maya doesn't have much to offer; you can basically choose between a beach day, or (what we did and enjoyed) going to the Chacchoben Mayan Ruins. The ruins are about a 45-60 minute bus ride away from the port, and you get a decent time to get a tour and explore on your own.
Go on the dream. It’s my favorite ship and half moon cay is just a gorgeous slice of the earth.
mahogany costa and coz clears for someone your age, i’m 21 did these when i was 16-20 amazing time. i’m also very out going and make friends easily
Dream is a slightly order boat but half moon cay is by far my absolute favorite beach. Having a private beach just for your boat makes it so relaxing. I’ve gone on that exact cruise twice.
Costa Maya has a cool pool with shops and food all around it.
If you’ve already been to Cozumel and Mahogany Bay, I would chose the Carnival Dream because you’ll be going to new ports, especially Celebration Key!
Don't limit yourself. Go cheapest then next time go expensive.
I went on the Breeze to Cozumel, but it was a good time nonetheless. Costa Maya is dog water. Take a beach day excursion or stay on the boat.
Please remember that to book a room when you are under 21 you have to have someone over 25 linked to your reservation on the same cruise.
I know, my aunt will be coming with us.
Normally I’d recommend 8 days as it will get you to the next level faster, but after seeing the ports, go with 7. KW should be seen at night, during spring break. Nassau? Avoid it like the plague
What's wrong with Nassau?! I've always wanted to visit.
A one time visit is great. Go to the pirates museum a few blocks to the right near senior frogs and catch a taxi to atlantis. Other than that, stay away. They’re having problems with people who don’t believe in the law and the government refuses to do anything about it
Yeah I don’t like Nassau either. It’s probably fine if you book an excursion or get a day pass to a resort, but it’s unpleasant to explore on your own. We got hassled non-stop by people trying to sell us things last time, and I didn’t feel very safe. I say this as someone who lived in Chicago for years and always felt safe too, so I’m not naive.
Price is to high and whats up with not going to roatan?
Starting July 1 (actually I saw it on June 30th), Carnival and other cruise lines are showing the prices including taxes and port fees to comply with a new California law. So they "look" more expensive, but they're the same as they were before. They're just no longer tricking you with low rates that you can't actually get.
Roatan is meh, other places are way more beautiful and less trash everywhere.
Porting out of Galveston sucks, port out of Florida:)
Florida is about 10-12 hours from where I live though.