Carnival vs. Norwegian for Mom and Daughter
 

I want to take my daughter on a cruise next March for her 21st birthday. It will be a first time experience for both of us. I would like to go out of New Orleans to avoid airfare so our choices are Carnival (Triumph) and Norwegian (Sprit). Both go to western Caribbean. One is 5 nights, the other 7.

From what I've heard, Carnival doesn't seem to have a great reputation. I'm not looking for luxury but I do want it to be nice. We're looking for good food (doesn't have to be outstanding), a good mix of activities/entertainment, nice pool, and good excursion options.

I would welcome any and all recommendations or suggestions!

If the Spirit is 7 days go for i.. The Spirit is last of the "smaller" ships with a good reputation..just be prepared to spend $$ for the alternative restaurants such as Cagneys which is well worthwhile and Le Bisto..

Carnival's dood is better. Activities and entertainment is similar. SHore excrsion options are simialr as they all use the same tour company.

The carnival has a reputation of a party boat and they call themselves the "fun ship".

Persoanl preference aside, pick the 7 days over the 5 days.
I prefer the Triumph and probably offers more for the first time cruisers.

My suggestion is to read the crusie info on the Fodor cruise section and the reviews on Cruise Critics.

You don't get a pick of the best ships (or those with all the latest offerings) by sailing out of New Orleans. I think Carnival and NCL are generally similar and it would be a wash, but I"d go for the longer cruise in any case.

I shouldn't let my fingers do the talking as my typing is terrible! I meant to say the Carnival food is better, not dood ... :)

Carnival and NCL caters to similar clients. However, there is a difference between the two ships. Carnival Triumph is over 100,000 tons, 3,000+ passengers and NCL Spirit is only 77,000 tons and 2000 passengers. There is more attractions on the Triumph.

The main pool on the Triumph is better, with a big water slide.

Not knowing which is 7 days and which is 5 days, I have previously recommend the 7 days over the 5 days. I still stand by that.

However, if you think the ship is going to make a difference, I persoanlly likes the Triumph better than the Spirit.

We left on December 13, 09 on the Carnival Legend out of Tampa, FL for the W. Carb. I must tell you it wasn't what one would expect. This was my second cruise the first on RCL which was fantastic. My spouse end up eating large chards of glass dishware hidden in his sauce breaking a front tooth in half and chipping the next one over. They have since "refuse" to repair it, the tooth needs a crown, possibly two with the second tooth chipped. We decided the damage to his teeth was unexceptable filed a report thereafter we were mistreated by security onboard. My spouse was even told in the infirmiry I can give you pain pills but I can't give you money! Shocking considering. After that every night we were awoken at three in the morning with someone trying to enter our stateroom I'm sure no coincidence. We finally blocked the door each night before retiring. Thereafter my spouse was searched when reentering the ship so many times. My spouse is a very attractive man, well dressed, very kind and very considerate. The security and other staff would not stop following us everywhere on the ship. We inform others due to our concern for our own safety. The head of security always how up where we were it's a big ship!

Add to that when I purchase this cruise I was told by the Carnival Represenative that we did not have an obstruction on our view, I discovered the next day we had one a life boat. The old bait and switch came into play at first he wanted four hundred more, then three hundred more.. finally his colleagues told me what was up one had the guts to tell me. The upgrade would have been free if the rep would not have chosen our state room. We purchase a balcony state room. The rep became rude, nasty to me on numerous occasions. He hung up on me, called me rude names. The cruise itself was okay. Belize was a horrific port of call, only the port itself was okay beyond lay poverty, filth, decay it's a facade. The Isla of Roatan you're left off at the port built by Carnival I believe. You can't leave the port there is nothing but a new port there. While lovely you are then forced to pay forty dollars to leave, thereafter someone else jumps into the vehicle down the road totally unexpected saying they're your tour guide, later you are badgered for money.. at any time they could strong arm you, force you out of the taxi.

One must consider you have no rights of any kind on the Carnival Cruise Lines.. I don't know about the other lines. You have no rights when you enter a port and what you see is what you get. Sure excursions exist but everything is for a price. We found Cozumel wonderful the people really nice. We also found Grand Cayman Island friendly, hot, clean and the people nice.

The food was good at times, nicely presented at times, hot at times but the buffet lines were horrific if they had something special. The pools filthy by health standards needing fresh water more then one time a day. The pools are shallow just what we'd call wetting pools. I can honestly say the best part was our room, it was prestine. Our cabin stewards were fantastic and kept all very good. They made wonderful towel animals, sea life, etc., for us just the best two cabin steards.

Be prepared to spend money, money and more money. When we arrived home I checked my bank account immediatley having taken my bill home to check it against my account. I found over nine hundred dollars of costs against my checking account that were not our purchases all these added after we left the ship. I had an accounting done the day before then match that up the next day when we left. I'm sure half the drink charges on our bill were not ours. You can't fight these people, or the charges. In order for my spouse tooth to be repaired we must file in Tampa, we live in California. I hope that explains better what does happen and what can happen and what to expect if you go Carnival.. never again.

Forgot to mention all the nine hundred plus charges were reversed immediately but there is no way we can prove all the other costs. We intend to find someone who can file my spouse complaint in court in Tampa, FL. They leave you no other choice. All he asked was for them to pay directly the dental costs to our dentist they flatly refuse.