Help me decide

[chili]

My wife and I are trying to decide on a cruise for early this December. We sailed the Carnival Glory a couple years ago, and enjoyed it.

We plan on getting a balcony, and may have some friends joining us in an inside stateroom. We want interesting ports, good food, and a ship with a lot to do for people in their 20's-30's. We also want to cruise with fewer children around, but I suspect that will be the case in early December as most kids are still in school.

After looking at the reviews on this site, we've narrowed it down to these 6:
Holland America Zuiderdam (Grand Turk, Tortola, St. Thomas, Half Moon Cay)
Norweigan Sun (Roatan, Belize City, Costa Maya, Great Stirrup Cay)
Norweigan Dawn (Cayo Lavantado, Tortola, St. Thomas, Great Stirrup Cay)
Carnival Triumph (Half Moon Cay, St. Thomas, San Juan, Grand Turk)
Carnival Valor (Nassau, St. Thomas, St. Martin)
Carnival Freedom (San Juan, St. Thomas, St. Martin)

Any help would be appreciated.

[Mike M]

Because of the age bracket and the fact you are looking for more activity I would lean toward the Carnival Freedom or the Norwegian Dawn.

The food will be better on these two and the activity level will be higher. I personally love the Freestyle Cruising on the Dawn but you have to use the alternative restaurants to truly experience it.

The Freedom will give you more evening activities and the ports of St. Thomas and St. Martin are enjoyable for beaches and shopping.

Take care,
Mike

[colorcrazie]

If ports are your highest priority, I would go with Norwegian. I haven't been on NCL in years, so not up to speed on food, etc., but definitely more intersting ports in my opinion.
Marty

[LisaK]

The NCI ports are very interesting. Carnival Freedom would give you more activites day and night. You really can't go wrong either way

[chili]

So we decided on the Carnival Freedom. Which side of the boat should we book in order to see the cities/ports from our balcony?