gzmtlock
DIS Veteran
- Joined
- Jun 3, 2010
Our family has decided to travel this coming Christmas. DS will be a senior in college, DD a sophomore. I will be on a temporary (12-18 month) work assignment in a city closer to DH's job (yay!), but none of us have lived there before or have any connections. It will be the kids' first Christmas away from the only home they remember. So we figure, since we won't be at "home" anyway, why not travel?
We've narrowed to two possibilities, both 5-night cruises Dec 18-23 followed by 4-nights at Universal. Will be driving from NC. The only difference between the two plans is the cruise and port.
We've cruised DCL many times (I'm the most, at 8). Option 1 is a Bahamian out of Miami on the Magic, with stops in Key West (never been before), Nassau and Castaway Cay, plus a sea day. We'd book 2 inside staterooms, and hope for but not count on an upgrade. We did a DCL Christmas cruise back in 2007, and loved it. We prefer the smaller ships (and their prices) over Fantasy/Dream. So this is our "tried and true" option.
Option 2 would break new ground (or ocean LOL) for us - same dates as the Magic, but on Oasis out of PC (we've never sailed anyone but DCL). Stops at Nassau and Labadee, plus 2 sea days. I've read a little about the Oasis, enough to know I'll want to book verandah rooms. I really can't stand large indoor malls for more than about 3 hours, and photos/descriptions of how much Oasis is like a mall, and lacks deck areas, pushed me in the direction of verandah staterooms. However, all the on-board activities that are different from DCL are attractive, especially for the more active members of our family.
Cost is comparable between the two. Given our family and circumstances, what would you choose? And why?
We've narrowed to two possibilities, both 5-night cruises Dec 18-23 followed by 4-nights at Universal. Will be driving from NC. The only difference between the two plans is the cruise and port.
We've cruised DCL many times (I'm the most, at 8). Option 1 is a Bahamian out of Miami on the Magic, with stops in Key West (never been before), Nassau and Castaway Cay, plus a sea day. We'd book 2 inside staterooms, and hope for but not count on an upgrade. We did a DCL Christmas cruise back in 2007, and loved it. We prefer the smaller ships (and their prices) over Fantasy/Dream. So this is our "tried and true" option.
Option 2 would break new ground (or ocean LOL) for us - same dates as the Magic, but on Oasis out of PC (we've never sailed anyone but DCL). Stops at Nassau and Labadee, plus 2 sea days. I've read a little about the Oasis, enough to know I'll want to book verandah rooms. I really can't stand large indoor malls for more than about 3 hours, and photos/descriptions of how much Oasis is like a mall, and lacks deck areas, pushed me in the direction of verandah staterooms. However, all the on-board activities that are different from DCL are attractive, especially for the more active members of our family.
Cost is comparable between the two. Given our family and circumstances, what would you choose? And why?
