Going On Carnival Destiny In July, Have MANY Questions?

Hi, I'm planning a vaction, and we (a family of 5) want to kind of celebrate many things, like gradutaing high school, 25 yrs of marrage, first year of middle school and high school... And we wante to do something special as afamily. We have kids ages: 13, 15/16, (turning 16 during cruise, if we go on it), and an 18 year old. We wanted to go on a cruise, so we decided on the '5 Day Exotic Eastern Caribean' cruise on Carnival Destiny. Do you think we should get an 2 ocean views or 2 balconies? We would do 1 of each, but they would be on different floors, and that wouldn't be good. What is included in the price? What is not? If you have been to: Nassau, Half Moon Cay, or Gran Turk, what activities did you do there? Was it expensive? After reading MANY reviews, some people seem to have an issue with Carnival. We are not expecting 5-star rooms and food, but people give mixed reviews. What do you think? We would go o Royal Caribbean, but it is a bit to expensive for us at the time, and Carnival is more of in our budget. What things can you do on Carnival Destiny? Thanks!

btw, do you need a passport to go if you leave from Miami and go back to Miami. Also, were is the port in Miami for Carnival Destiny? Google Map link would be helpful, if available...






Answer :
That is a lot of questions.

I would say ocean views. They are cheaper and for me, I've never been that impressed with balconies. Some people are but you don't get any sun on the balcony plus some are not all that private. They have swing doors like bathroom doors so you can see your neighbor and mine was broken for the first 2 days so it swung back and forth. We saw our neighbors a lot!

Some people love to order the room service and drink their coffee but my husband and I are speed demons. As soon as we wake up we want to put on the suit, the sun screen, go grab our omelet and get on the Lido deck asap. My husband and I can both sit in an oceanview window too so it isn't a small window but we just don't spend enough time in the room to appreciate a balcony.

Personally the Destiny is my least favorite of Carnival's ships. I found the layout difficult to navigate. Plus I do not like that itinerary too much. Half Moon Cay is not a real island--it's a private island so there will be nothing to do there. Grand Turk is very unspoiled. Still a new port of call and very little things so far to do as well. So for me I like a cruise with more ports.

You are right--many people have an issue with Carnival. I'm a huge fan of it. It's a party ship. There are a lot of kids. Many people do not like kids being around them but you have kids as well so the fact that teenagers are on board...well that's what they want! Yes it's not 5 star dining but you are still eating Lobster and Beef Wellington and I find it amazing. I personally think the dining rooms are a bit too casual. Carnival is the slowest to enforce their dress code and basically only shorts and a tank are banned from the dining room. Anything else goes. It's a budget cruise line. I love it though and don't believe I'd get 3 times more enjoyment if I spent 3 times as much to go on Celebrity or Princess. I feel the same way on hotels. I never stay in a Ritz or Waldorf b/c it just doesn't matter that much to me. But I'm still young and I'm one of the "party people" on Carnival so I'm a huge fan.

What is included? Cruises include all the food you can possibly eat (something like 17 places onboard to eat), all the entertainment and activities and of course different ports each day. Room service is also included for free. What it does not include is liquor, soda, tips (something like $70 per person which is already included on your sail and sign card) and shore excursions. Shore excursions are expensive but in no way do you have to do one. You could just explore the island or you could book your own. Read the reviews at Cruise Critic to get some ideas--I went to Belize and decided on cave-tubing.com b/c of the cruise critic recommendations.

As for what you can do, you will get a newsletter each day. In it you will see all of the activities and the kids will receive the activities Camp Carnival is doing for their age group that day. At their ages they can go in and out of Camp Carnival as much as they want. I go to the art auctions--great prices and definitely one of my favorites. There is lots of trivia games, a casino, and many other things during the day though I have only seen the pool as I'm a sun goddess. There is supposedly a fitness area too though I have never seen it (never looked either). Every ship has an amazing spa and the last day there is a great special. They also auction off a package at the art auction. Cash is not needed. Your sail and sign card (aka room key) can be directly linked to the credit card or you can put cash on it. For the kids you can get Fountain cards that allow the kids to get all you can drink soda.

You do not need a passport at this time. However you will by the time your cruise happens--if it does not get pushed back again. It's been pushed back 2 years already. However if you guys are not traveling often you could save money and get the passport card. Passports are valid for 10 years though so it might be a good idea at least for the 2 adults to go ahead and get them. If something happens and let's say you miss the ship at a port of call, it will be very hard to fly without your passport. Plus having your passport makes it easier to get through customs after your cruise, saving you close to an hour at disembarkation.