My fam and I are booking a cruise this summer. We are driving from new york to sightsee along the way. I can't wait. My question is...which ship? The holiday gets a bad rap but that doesn't scare us away because just as many have awesome things to say. I just wanted to see what the "experts" had to say. Thanks.

well I am no expert but have cruised on the holiday 3 times. I LOVE IT. the ship is older (they tell me) but I had not problem with the character of the ship. As far as food, entertainment, friendlyness, great service it was great. We would take her again anytime but this yr we just want to see other ports. I think you will enjoy her.

The Holiday gets a bad rap? Not around here! I'll be taking the Holiday for the fourth time this coming July and have enjoyed the ship every time. It is the oldest ship in the Carnival fleet and is considered quaint in these days of mega-ships with all sorts of gimmicks to wow the passengers. But the Holiday is easy to get around on and has a reputation for outstanding service and good food.

The Fantasy does have more public areas, bars, etc., and is also a fine ship and crew.

You really can't go wrong with either one, although the port of Mobile is much easier to access and is more organized and efficient than the port of New Orleans.

I will be sailing on the Holiday next week. I will post a short review and some pics. Maybe that will help.
I have sailed on the Celebration, which is the Holiday's sister ship. I loved it!!!
I'm sure you will have fun with either choice.

I just booked the Fantasy for October 13th. Since I'll be on the Holiday in July this will give me a good comparison for both ships since the time between them is short.

We have sailed both in the last 6 months and I would say go with the Fantasy for several reasons:

1. It is a larger ship and it still has the deli (with those wonderful grilled reubens).

2. If you have never been to New Orleans, it is a place you need to visit. I am not knocking Mobile ( I lived there as a child on the East Fowl River next to Bellingrath) but New Orleans is more unique. Plus you get the experience of cruising down the Mississippi River (at least for 8 hours and some of that is during daylight).


3. Holiday is experiencing the brown water problem (rust) and does have a shimmy. She is also had some problems with her stabilizer in the past few months.

We have sailed both ships MANY times in past years and while I did have a good time on the Holiday....there is a reason she is about to be retired.

I just believe the Fantasy will give you a better cruise for your money. IMHO

quote:

while I did have a good time on the Holiday....there is a reason she is about to be retired.

Heard something?

quote:

Originally posted by Dave Beers:

quote:

while I did have a good time on the Holiday....there is a reason she is about to be retired.

Heard something?

Oh no...just the same ole same ole.

They are trying to get another year out of her, but (IMHO) I just don't see it happening.

The Celebration is suppose to go to Spain first but (again IMHO) they need to send the Holiday first and move the Celebration to Mobile if they aren't ready to move a Fantasy class ship there before March 09.

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they need to send the Holiday first and move the Celebration to Mobile

We were last on the Holiday in March 07 and it was a fine cruise. Everything looked to be in good order. As for the shimmy - it is more a part of the charm of the ship to me and not annoying. As you know we are on the Holiday again this July. I sort of suspected it might be the last time, and figure a Fantasy-class ship will move to Mobile within the next year. I do look forward to that, since that not only provides a newer ship with more "stuff" but also is a boost to the great Mobile cruise port.

quote:

Originally posted by Dave Beers:

quote:

they need to send the Holiday first and move the Celebration to Mobile

We were last on the Holiday in March 07 and it was a fine cruise. Everything looked to be in good order. As for the shimmy - it is more a part of the charm of the ship to me and not annoying. As you know we are on the Holiday again this July. I sort of suspected it might be the last time, and figure a Fantasy-class ship will move to Mobile within the next year. I do look forward to that, since that not only provides a newer ship with more "stuff" but also is a boost to the great Mobile cruise port.

Yes, our cruise on her a couple of months ago was not our best.

But some of that was due to the fact that Cahill had just cut 4 positions on the Holiday and it showed. Lots of confusion about simple matters that should be old hat by now.

Our son's Autism needs (which they have been doing for years) was overlooked and took some doing to get corrected. Steve Cassel, Cruise Director, could have cared less. I know he has been doing it a long time, but perhaps that is part of the problem. He acts like he has been doing it to long. It was the first time I had ever heard passengers complaining about a CD while they were on the cruise.

We almost did not get our Platinum Logo items.
It was literally the morning that we got off the ship that we finally got them.

The karaoke system is shot. Distorts in the middle of a song and continues through the rest of the song. I wanted to tell them to wait 15 minutes and I would go to Best Buy and spend $150.00 to buy them a new player.

Of course, all three of those problems are individual needs and will not affect the average cruiser.

I alway knew about the shimmy...but now they are having problems with the stabilizer and power outages. She gave us a pretty rough ride on seas that were not that bad.

You just hate to see ships like this that have given such wonderful service all these years, not go out on top of their game.

Thanks for the report LHP, always good to have current info on the ships from those cruising them. Very sorry to hear this one was not up to par. Am interest in reading Dave's report as well upon his return in July.

Cheers, Neil

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Am interest in reading Dave's report as well upon his return in July.

You'll have several reports, given that those going are mostly staff members here or their families. Many a jaundiced eye, for sure!

Yes Dave, please update us on Holiday. I've been thinking about a cruise in October for my 15th anniversary. And as much as I like the Holiday, if the old girl is tuckered out, I'll remember her the way she was, not the way she is (if you follow).
BTW, this outage up here at Watts Bar is wearing me out. Say Hi to Shooters for me in MIG if you see him.

quote:

Originally posted by Marty Clowers:
Yes Dave, please update us on Holiday. I've been thinking about a cruise in October for my 15th anniversary. And as much as I like the Holiday, if the old girl is tuckered out, I'll remember her the way she was, not the way she is (if you follow).
BTW, this outage up here at Watts Bar is wearing me out. Say Hi to Shooters for me in MIG if you see him.

Marty:

We sailed on her one last time to say goodbye. (silly to some, I know) But she did give us lots of wonderful cruises. And while it wasn't our best cruise, to me there is no such thing as a bad one.

I certainly would not want to deter anyone from booking her. I was simply comparing her to the Fantasy.

The issues we had are individual ones and would not affect the average cruiser.

It was interesting that I know that Cahill has probably made the same personnel cuts fleet wide...but we did not notice any problems on the Imagination earlier this month.

The absolute bright spot on the Holiday was the fact that I got to sail with Emme again. We sailed together years ago and had lost touch. I did not know she was going to be the KH (karaoke host) and she did not know we were going to be there. It was a wonderful reunion.
(We are Cruise sisters)

Enjoy the Inspiration. We loved the New Imagination!!!

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BTW, this outage up here at Watts Bar is wearing me out. Say Hi to Shooters for me in MIG if you see him.

I retired from TVA on January 4th, but came back as a contractor for 5 weeks to do GET for our outage workers. Working evening shift doing dress-out training and running CBT. I don't even have a TLD or badge!

Being retired means I can cruise more often - well - not too often but enough!

Just to sail on her before she goes away, the wife and I are booked on the Holiday leaving Mobile on April 14. She has always been a fun ship and I look forward to sailing on her again. (Not to mention, I am going into withdrawals missing Pancho's Backyard) I will give you updated info when I return.

Oops... Make that leaving Mobile on April 12.

we were in the holiday 3 months ago and it was the same wonderful ship it was when we cruised on her the first time 3 yrs ago. Maybe I missed something but I never saw or hear or felt anything wrong. I hate to see anyone discouraged from cruising on her because of a bad review. I would be intrested in peoples reviews in the last few months. Maybe i am just bias....

I may be biased too. I have not sailed on the Holiday since late Sept. 2001. It was a 7 day cruise from San Juan, and we had multiple connections. The ship was such a welcome sight. The crew were awesome and very personable. They made a big deal about everyone just getting onboard.

All the passengers were extremely friendly, and everyone was talking with total strangers and making friends. The service and food was exceptional.

I love the Holiday for sentimental reasons. Would I sail on her again?..Yes! Because I know what to expect. I am quite happy with the ship's size, age, and amenities.

I would not recommend her over the Fantasy though for first time cruisers.

Dwayne

I am so thankful for everyone here. Actually, we ended up booking the inspiration out of Tampa. Pretty much the same itinerary, and we are going to squeeze in Disney which is my first obsession cruising a VERY close second. I am almost sad I would have liked to try the holiday before she "dies"
Thanks again. OP Holly