Princess vs Carnival vs Norwegian

beachlovers · #1 (**permalink**) May 21st, 2006, 09:24 PM

I'm planning a mexican riviera cruise next March with my daughter. We've sailed to Western Carribean on RCCL voyager. We've sailed to Alaska on Celebrity. I'm trying to decide between Princess out of LAX, Carnival Pride out of Long Beach or Norwegian Star out of LAX. If I've sailed RCCL and Celebrity will I be disappointed in Norwegian? I don't mind casual atmosphere and people having fun but am not into the party scene myself. Truthfully, I'm leaning towards Carnival just because I won't have to fly into LAX and have that hassle. Any suggestions

froggy · #2 (**permalink**) May 25th, 2006, 07:04 PM

Hi beachlovers

You might have better luck getting an answer if you posted on the Princess, Carnival, or Norwegian threads.

Hopefully someone can help you out with some comparisons of the lines.

Sorry, I can only compare Celebrity, Princess and a line that no longer exists. Otherwise, I'd help you out.

Good luck, though, getting someone out there to respond.

Regardless, enjoy your Mex Riv cruise. I am booked on the Mercury December 2006!

SharB · #3 (**permalink**) July 22nd, 2006, 10:52 PM

Hi! I'm not sure I understand why you feel you'd need to fly into LAX for a Princess cruise. Princess cruises out of San Pedro, which is 10 driving miles from Long Beach. When cruising out of either of those ports, you have the option of flying into Long Beach or John Wayne (Orange County) as well as LAX.

Shar

Rev22:17 · #4 (**permalink**) July 22nd, 2006, 11:44 PM

beachlovers,

I'm planning a mexican riviera cruise next March with my daughter. We've sailed to Western Carribean on RCCL voyager. We've sailed to Alaska on Celebrity. I'm trying to decide between Princess out of LAX, Carnival Pride out of Long Beach or Norwegian Star out of LAX. If I've sailed RCCL and Celebrity will I be disappointed in Norwegian? I don't mind casual atmosphere and people having fun but am not into the party scene myself. Truthfully, I'm leaning towards Carnival just because I won't have to fly into LAX and have that hassle. Any suggestions

It's true -- the Port of Los Angeles is in a section of the city known as San Pedro, which is right next to Long Beach. There's a thin strip of land along the Harbor Freeway that links San Pedro to the rest of the city, but Long Beach's airport is much closer to the port than Los Angeles International. Whether each cruise line offers transfers to Long Beach's airport or not is another matter. Some cruise lines don't operate transfers to Long Beach because it has a lot fewer flights than Los Angeles International.

That said, I would recommend sticking with Royal Caribbean International unless you were dissatisfied with their product. My sources indicate that Royal Caribbean International is now competititive with Princess Cruises and superior to both Carnival Cruises and Norwegian Cruise Line.

Norm.

showcat · #5 (**permalink**) July 24th, 2006, 12:51 AM

My advice is take the Princess cruise. More elegant, great reviews, not a loud party atmosphere that is on Carnival. I've heard the Pride is quite a party ship. Carnival attracts more familys with kids and singles. Princess is supposed to be quieter with excellent service and movies at sea.

I do like one feature Carnival has that the others don't offer. Self serve laundry mats. I like to wash a load of clothes so I have clean stuff to wear, don't like to wear things twice.

SUSAN CURTIS · #6 (**permalink**) September 24th, 2006, 08:29 PM

How old at heart are you and your daughter. I have sailed on all three of these lines to the Mexican Riviera. They all had different things that I loved most about each. Carnival is just the most laid back. Princess was the more elegant and a very nice balcony cabin. Our 18 year old daughter was with us and she said the people were just "too old". We went in January. The NCL Star was the most relaxing cruise. No rush for a dinner seating, etc. Although you also had this option on Princess. In addition, we had a mini suite, which was very nice. We absolutely loved them all and will cruise on each of them again. The decision will be made, based on cabin type, date and price. Hope this helps.

BigMike'nSparky · #7 (**permalink**) September 29th, 2006, 01:03 AM

We have done Princess twice, Celebrity twice, and Carnival once to Mexico but not NCL. If you want a more elegant cruise with great shows go with Princess. True, Carnival is more of a party cruise but it all depends on what you want. When any cruise is over 7 days you tend to get an older crowd.
Any way you cut it, a week or more relaxing on a ship ore a beach beats sitting at home with winter staring us in the face. We are off to Mexico on the Mercury on Oct. 30th. Can't wait.

Mike

kitty2 · #8 (**permalink**) September 29th, 2006, 01:38 AM

we did Princess from San Francisco and it was very good. I would steer clear of NCL the food is not very good.

Rev22:17 · #9 (**permalink**) September 29th, 2006, 06:20 PM

showcat,

I do like one feature Carnival has that the others don't offer. Self serve laundry mats.

Princess's ships also have self-service laundry facilities.

I like to wash a load of clothes so I have clean stuff to wear, don't like to wear things twice.

I agree with your sentiments about not wearing things twice, but I usually bring enough clothes so I don't have to spend part of my vacation doing laundry.

Norm.