As I was looking for a 2025 cruise I had some real limitations. Nailing down Jell-O would be easier than nailing down adult children. One is grown and married and not included in these plans. The next three are all in college and doing some spectacular travling themselves this year. One is going to Greece in March, one is going to UK (study abroad) for most of June, and one is doing an Ireland/Scotland trip (with people three times her age - a trip marketed to alumni LOL) in late May-into June. She and her brother might see each other in the airport.
So - I had limited dates I could work with - May 10 - May 20.
I also needed a ship with lots of āstuff.ā My kids and DH want waterslides and mini-golf at a minimum, but also hope for things like ropes courses or climbing walls, etc.
I also wanted a port I could drive to. From upstate SC, there are a lot within 12 hours, BUT I donāt have a 12-pax van anymore and just how far can five adults and two-teens drive in a minivan and still love each other.
I ended up with these choices:
Carnival Magic out of MIA, western caribbean; Carnival Celebration out of MIA, eastern caribbean; Carnival Vista out of PC, eastern, and NCL Escape out of MIA, canāt remember where. AND - some MSC choices out of PC AND/OR MIA.
My notes donāt even have prices for MSC. I just couldnāt get excited about trying a new line. Weāve done NCL, CCL, RCCL, DCL, and Princess. I just donāt have the energy to learn āall the thingsā about another line.
In the end I went with Vista because it is three hours closer to home than the MIA ones. The Celebration is a newer ship and was less expensive, butā¦ I think we will be happier not having as far to drive on the way home (can break it up on the way there).
MSC ships have nice commercials. But ???
I didnāt really look into RCCL. Iām not saying weād never do it again, but the whole vibe was off on that trip and I think we have the wrong impression.
So I need to go during the week after Easter which stinks. I donāt ever remember us having vacation so close to Easter. So we can go April 18-26ish. I can only really drive to NY/NJ and itās too early in the season for most lines to cruise from there. I do NOT want to go to Boston or Canada either.
I actually love RCL and would prefer to cruise with them but all of the good options with them go out of Florida. I found a cruise for $1600 but then flights become the same or more. I do also want a ship with lots of stuff to do.
MSC checks all of the boxes but the reviews are mixed. One of the ships has an INCREDIBLE water park. I know it is a Euro brand trying to come to the US. Many reviews complain about the European ācultureā which obviously does not bother us. The bottom line seems to fall under āyou get what you pay forā and I feel like I donāt want to be disappointed on a cruise so I am hesitant!
We have two RCL cruises booked in 2025. We did none in 2024, so Iām really looking forward to this. Both are out of Port Canaveral, and I have Pop reserved for 3 nights before and after each, just to stake a claim. Weāll drive, making us more flexible on actual travel dates. Itās far easier to drop the WDW nights than to book them closer to the actual dates.
6/15/25 - Wonder of the Seas - 7 night Western Caribbean
9/14/25 - Star of the Seas - 7 night Eastern Caribbean
We actually had an MSC cruise booked at some point, possibly it was 2018? But I canceled it before I got in too deep because we decided to do something else. Which is why I think it was 2018 when we drove to Southern California instead and did Disneyland, etcā¦ I remember reviews being mixed back then, but I also know so much has changed. Back then almost everything seemed to be Ć la carte.
I know that RCCL itās probably a great product and I do like how their website will let you book connecting rooms as easily as carnival does. I know that the issue we had with the dude approaching my daughters couldāve happened any line. It wasnāt the ships fault that I couldnāt spend time in Texas afterward like I planned on it. They had a decent nonalcoholic drink package. But for some reason, my whole family just came away with a -meh- experience.
My whole family would love to do another NCL. I couldnāt find any connecting rooms on my own when I was playing at it and I just got frustrated with their website.
My son is happy that the Vista has IMAX.
I hope you find something! The airfare piece is rough.
Not being flexible with dates has been one of the most difficult parts of traveling with older ākids.ā They are truly so appreciative that they are still welcome. It makes it easy for me to want to include them. I also love that my young adults will play heartily with my teen/tween.
Did you get an amazing rate on Star of the Seas in September?
The one negative for NCL from our point of view is that they donāt have traditional dining. We got around part of that in 2016 by just having reservations for every night so that we werenāt waiting around with hungry tummies. But itās not the same as having a dedicated staff.
me too.
When we did NCL in 2016 we got five nights specialty dining for all passengers. It was an amazing deal. We got two balcony staterooms with the specialty dining and gratuities included for less than two inside cabins on DCLā¦ it was a no-brainer.
Anyway - it really was fun eating in the specialty restaurants. We are a family that almost never went out to eat. My kids had hibachi for the first time ever. We went to a French restaurant and a churrascaria - both amazed the kids (and DH). We also did Italian and a magic show which were ok.
I always say someday I will do Alaska. But I really hate being cold. So I just donāt knowā¦
I am in Massachusetts. There does not seem to be decent airfare at anytime because itās Easter! And April is just a little too early for the East coast ports.