Does anyone have any suggestions for a good Caribbean cruise line out of Miami/Ft. Lauderdale? We are taking two kids in their late teens (17 and 19), so do not want a kiddie cruise nor an "old people" cruise. So far, I have received the following recommendations:


Carnival - kids, kids, kids. Do not take this line unless you have a tribe of young children in tow.

Royal Caribbean - the 40 crowd. Good food.

Holland America - old people.


I am looking for any and all input and advice.

I have taken 6 carnival cruises and have not found your observation to be true except on one of them. Some itineraries are better than others also. Of the Carribean sailings I myself prefer Western but each has its own good or bad points. Search pricing online too. You can save alot and get upgrades. Some competition will match others as well.

Go when school is in session and the kids aren't a problem.

Check out the forums at CruiseCritic for lots of good information.

I've sailed Royal Caribbean, Princess, and Celebrity in the Caribbean.

I would say Royal Caribbean is a good choice for both adults and kids, especially on one of their Voyager class ships. "Good food" is relative - probably better than Carnival, but not better than Princess, and certainly not better than Celebrity or Holland America. However, opinions about food are so personal...

I would also suggest Western Caribbean over Eastern Caribbean.

Since this is B$, I assume you're looking for a hot deal... so here are some links to Royal Caribbean and Celebrity time-limited specials:
Promowave (time lmiited)
Happy Hour (extremely time limited to one day only)

Hope this helps!

Thanks for the site, AEmgee. Looks like we'd stay home before going on Carnival if the members of that forum are accurate.

AMS, if you've never been on a cruise, you will probably love your first cruise experience regardless what cruise line you choose.

We've been on a cruise twice. First one was with Carnival. Then, we went on Princess.

We loved both cruises! Entertainment was better on Carnival. The food was definitely better on Princess. But overall, both were great expiriences, with the small exception - we got sick (cold) both times.

CruiseCritic is a great resource.

I think if you look in the Carnival forum there are people who swear by it

I honestly can't comment, since I've never done Carnival before. However, I have heard secondhand information that the Carnival of today is much better than the Carnival of years past. Many people who bash it haven't sailed on the line for >10 years.

LuS is correct... a cruise anywhere on any cruise line beats working!!!

Celebrity Century was nice

I know the Cubs usually have a cruise every winter/ off-season, that would be perfect for you and Goose

i've been on holland america (supposedly the old people cruise) and on carnival. and if i were to on another cruise again, it would not be carnival, especially not when school is out. kids, teenagers were EVERYWHERE on the carnival ship. the teenagers even wore t shirts to a formal night and wore shorts, tank tops and beachwear into the dining room (which is supposedly not allowed). even if we did not eat in the dining room on the HA ship, there was a very nice restaurant on the boat that served very nice food and did not require the very formal wear (but that requires a reservation). i thought the food on holland america was much better (although HA and carnival are the same company now). the HA buffet was better than the carnival buffet. when i go on vacation, i'd prefer some 'quiet' time, so i'd prefer HA. another person i met on the carnival ship said 'they say HA is for old people, but these old people like to have fun, that's why they go cruising. the ones that don't have fun stay home' - which i agree.

hopefully next time i get to try celebrity or princess.

so if you don't mind the kids, the teenagers and don't mind mediocre food, carnival is the FUN ship. (we went because it was out of houston and that was really convenient for us). and they take SOOOOOO many pictures. there's also a photographer that sleeps under your bed to make sure every moment of your vacation is captured.

but AJ would love it!

SURE!! I am positive that the first one an engaged or newly married couple want to consider is the teen!! Which cruiseline can Boscoe go on??

hah hah hah!

I've been on Royal Caribbean twice and they were one after another. First week (Western itinerary) had a younger crowd and the second week (Eastern) had an older crowd.

Regardless, it was fun. You'll only have a bad time if you look for things to bug you...see the forest (not working!!!) instead of the trees (absence of respect/consideration by some passengers)