What about the freestyle crusing with I think Norweigan...does that sound more our speed?

NO NO NO NO!!! I absolutely HATED freestyle cruising.

Why? One of the main reasons is that you get a different waiter every night. I like having the same waiter. They get to know you...your likes and dislikes. After the first night, they almost ALWAYS remember who likes coffee, who gets tea, who likes wine..etc. Your waiter almost becomes like a member of the family. With freestyle cruising, you get a new waiter every night. Have to explain the same things over and over! We even tried asking for the same waiter...were told she was busy.

Just my opinion of freestyle cruising.

You're right sunshine, NCL does the freestyle. A friend of mine went on them out of New Orleans and had a ball.

I must agree with most and say it is relative.

But even as a Carnival Fan, I would have to still agree with Sunshine's review. And this has been over 2 years ago! The ship is no where near as clean as the Holiday, and the crew can be considered rude and un-caring in some ways.

As someone else said, it is what you pay for. But I think the standards should be the same as far as service and attitude.

Another thing is the mix of passengers they have as someone else mentioned. It is a cheap regional cruise. You do get a alot of local first timers going to Freeport. Maybe the crew gets an attitude from the short turn around and being stiffed so much? I don't know.

But there is a difference for some reason IMHO in these two identical ships. I would book Holiday again. Celebration would have to be on sale.

Celebration's Casino is better though

Here are some of our pictures...I tried to scale them down as much as I could but just didn't have the time at work...you will notice we are a silly silly couple, so please ignore...also some of the pics are from siesta keys...everyone besides adam and I in these pictures are new friends we made on the ship...i wanted to include them so that you could see that aspect of cruising as well...enjoy

http://new.photos.yahoo.com/sunsickle37919/album/576460762403149882

Amanda, Thanks for posting the super pics!

Everyone, I did not mean in my previous post to dis-courage anyone from going on the Celebration. I still had a great time, was just making some comparisons that I noticed. I will probably cruise on her again. I actually should be praising her, the casino was generous enough to pay for that cruise and then some

Amanda,

Looking at your great photos, it looks like you had a nice time!

Thanks for sharing your pics Amanda! It looks like you are a fun couple, I hope that we can meet some nice, fun people on our trip too.

Thanks you guys...like i said, we had a great time...just not what i had anticipated...adam and I could have fun in a cardboard box though

Amanda, It does look like you had a great time! Yall make a great looking couple. The pic with the coconut drink looked like cabbage beach beside Atlantis..was it? When I was on Celebration they didn't have purple tables on lido. What the heck was that sandwhich?

IslandCruz

The coconut drink was at the beach next to Atlantis. It was the absolute best drink I have ever had in my life!!! He had a machete and opened the coconut right in front of you...let you drink the coconut water/milk out of it if you wanted and then made the drink with rum and pure coconut milk...it was sooooo good!!! The sandwich we got at the deli in the Atlantis...we got a cheeseburger and that sandwich to go and it was 40 bucks...but adam was so enamored by how big it was he had to take a picture

quote:

Originally posted by sunshine37922:
The coconut drink was at the beach next to Atlantis. It was the absolute best drink I have ever had in my life!!! He had a machete and opened the coconut right in front of you...let you drink the coconut water/milk out of it if you wanted and then made the drink with rum and pure coconut milk...it was sooooo good!!! The sandwich we got at the deli in the Atlantis...we got a cheeseburger and that sandwich to go and it was 40 bucks...but adam was so enamored by how big it was he had to take a picture

Is it true that you have to pay to get on Atlantis grounds. I read somewhere that it's like 29$ pp.

That isn't true at all. We took a taxi to Atlantis and you are able to walk right on the beach or you can walk into the atlantis with no charge as well. A couple of girls that we made friends with had an excursion cancelled so they went to atlantis and i'm not exactly sure how but they managed to pay 15 dollars and use the pool and restrooms there. We just stayed on the public area of the beach and walked in the public areas of the hotel with no charge.

bumping up for a fellow poster looking for info on the celebration...link to pics included in one of my posts

quote:

Originally posted by sunshine37922:
bumping up for a fellow poster looking for info on the celebration...link to pics included in one of my posts

I tried the link and I cant get to the pics. It said the pics had been moved. Maybe I am doing something wrong?

sunshine37922 - I am probably 2 or 3 times as old as you - we have enjoyed all 19 carnival cruises we have been on. Do not like freestyle on NCL. Have done Hawaii twice on NCL - probably never again.

I just talked to honeymooner friends of ours today and they said they enjoyed time at beach motel in Jamaica more than cruise. Maybe you just have to have been around more/longer to enjoy the cruises. Don't give up - when you are old and gray you will enjoy cruises. We enjoy seeing all ages - love going to all the ports - love the shows. Food is good - last time I think I had melting choc. almost every night (even though I make it myself, this was better). We have learned to enjoy the food but not gain the weight - just have fun. We love dancing but they don't have enough big band music for us. Just celebrated our 50th anniv.
grandma g

Whoo hoo! Congratulations on 50 years! Keep on cruisin'. . .

Doulabug