Sara

I choose Princess.

Cathy

Interesting comment, Sara, since choosing Princess will soon be the same as choosing Royal Caribbean. I am looking at a Celebrity Cruise - my first, but I have sailed Royal Caribbean many times and I can apply my Crown and Anchor discounts with Celebrity.<BR><BR>I think the food and service you get depends on the ship and the crew of the ship you sail. I think this is true of all cruise lines. The food on the Voyager had improved greatly when I sailed June 2001 over what it was June 2000.<BR><BR>There is one great advantage that Carnival has over RCCL as far as I am concerned - the single share program. If you are a part of an odd numbered group where cabin sharing is not possible, such as a single traveling with friends who are couples, or if you are divorced or single and not in a relationship, you are stuck with a single supplement - essentially if a cabin costs $800 you pay $1600. With Carnival, you don't have this problem - they have a share program, which I have used and have been very lucky with the cabin mates I have had.<BR>Sometimes I am to have someone to share cabin with (boyfriend or other friends), sometimes I am not. As much as I like RCCL, I am sailing with Carnival more because I am not held hostage to some "supplement" or can only travel during limited times in the year when a single's group can be put together.

Ian

Try Celebrity. Much better than Carnival and better that RCCL (their parent company). If you shop, you can get Celebrity at the same price as, or very close to Carnival pricing.

Sara

Cathy,<BR><BR>Have sailed Grand and Explorer this past year. Princess is so much better. <BR><BR>If and when they do merge - they plan on keeping the lines separate.<BR><BR>And for your information - Princess will hold a majority stake in the merger - they will own 50.7% of the company with RCCL owning 49.3%.<BR><BR>Not sure if you are aware but Carnival owns HAL and those lines are kept very separate.

Cathy

Yes, Sara, I knew Carnival Incorporated includes Carnival, HAL, Seaborne, Wind Star, and Cunard. Recently, Carnival purchased Costa.<BR><BR>Lets hope for Princess' sake that the money spent during the merger combined with a weaker travel industry does not result in a decline in service. This happens during other corporate mergers; the cruise industry is not immune.

Sharon

I have been on 8 cruises and all of them but ONE was booked in September. In fact I had early booked a Southern cruise out of San Juan the year that about 17 or 18 hurricanes ripped thru the islands. Was it '95 or '96? Anyway, I still had a marvelous cruise and only a couple of the islands were rerouted. One substitution was St. Lucia (not shabby at all) and another sub was a British Virgin Island. I am having a senior moment and for the life of me cannot remember the name of the island. Good grief!! I prefer the deep Southern route. I even took an Alaskan cruise the first week of September. <BR><BR>I usually book September as the price is great, plus I do early booking about 9 to 10 months in advance. I prefer Carnival because of the "share program". Because of these very factors I have been able to take very nice cruises and have wonderful vacation memories. I am now 55 and have always encountered those in my age group. I have always been somewhat amused at the misconception that everyone on Carnival is under 30 and no one over that age could possibly have any fun.<BR><BR>I have never encountered any rough seas in September. Cruise ships now have state of the art equipment and can easily sidetrack a problem area in case of bad weather.<BR><BR>I have sailed Carnival and HAL. I have not sailed RCCL. This I DO know: every Carnival ship that I have been on has had a promenade that skirts the casino. I have NEVER had to walk thru a casino to get to the showroom. <BR><BR>Whatever you decide, just HAVE FUN!!

xxx

If you really want to have fun, go to Europe during September. It is absolutely beautiful at that time of year and 80 percent of the people do speak English or will try to accomodate you. If you are re routed during storm season that means you don't go to the ports of call. The seas are usually to rough for them to dock. Which means you get to spend them on the ship. Now even a mega ship can be bounced about in a good storm.<BR><BR>There was one poster that said something that made a lot of sense. GO TO A WEATHER WEB SITE. Past history is not subjective. As much as most of these people mean well, SEPTEMBER IS IN THE MIDDLE OF HURRICANE SEASON.

mike

adv/ seas...did it xmas...food four stars, entertainment great, ship gorgeous...souther carib beautiful...