Cruise out of LA - Advice Please!!

[Fiona R]

DH and I have to go to Anaheim for work (yes OK, not that terrible!!), and we only have a week. Only two cruises fit with our work commitments, which one should we choose? ie only one date we can depart LA in Feb!!

RCI Monarch of the Seas 4 Night Baja Mexico.
Stops
LA
San Diego
Catalina Island
Enseneda Mexico
LA

Cost around $279 each outside cabin

Carnival Paradise 4 Night Baja Mexico
Long Beach
Catalina Island
Enseneda Mexico
Day at Sea
Long Beach

$259 each outside cabin

I read a couple of general reviews that RCI was more upscale, cleaner but awful food, and Carnival a bit "Las Vegas Motel", dirty but the food is much better.

We have NEVER been on a cruise, would hate a tacky fast food and have no idea if we would like cruising at all, but as we have a few days and the prices quoted are so low shoud we choose one or the other, or just go to San Diego and stay in a nice hotel for the same nights and spend a bit more,

I prefer the RCI itinerary as it goes to San diego, so if the ship is awful you still get off it a lot!! BUT I would want decent food. No problems with buffets as long as there is variety and fresh fruit etc, not just fast food and bland!!

What shall we do? All advice greatfully received, is this a great price to try cruising or will it be really nasty as they are cheap cruises?

 

[biolabetty]

There is a site that is more specifically about cruising that might be helpful to you. cruisecritic.com They have info about cruising and some message boards that are only about the different cruise lines. That's where I learned a lot about my first cruise and I highly recommend it.

 

[Fiona R]

Thanks for that, on the review board I found I could only find specificc reviews for RCI, but that was a British site so far less reviews for Western USA!!

Off to have a look.

 

[travelgirl06]

I haven't done that specific Carnival cruise, but I have done the RCI itinerary (it makes for a very nice mini-vacation!).

Both Ships/Lines
~Older ships (RCI has been refurbished recently, not sure about Carnival)
~ Decent food (not gourmet, but definitely not fast food, good variety & quality)
~ Good vacation value

RCI
~More "upscale" (less gaudy/party-oriented) ship
~San Diego - downtown port with lots to do!

Carnival
~I've had better experience with the service on Carnival; but, I think I may have just had bad luck with RCI, because most people are impressed by RCI's service.

Also, I believe Carnival has 5 night cruises out of San Diego, which go to Cabo San Lucas. You may want to look into these (although, I know you have schedule constraints) as Cabo is amazing.

 

[LindaM]

I did the Mexican Baja cruise last year, we had a blast with RCI. The food was good, the service was good. We have never done a cruise either before, we had so much fun, we are planning another cruise next year.

 

[Dandylyon]

I have been on Monarch of the Seas twice now, and would go again any day. It's a great getaway. Monarch, though an older vessel, is beautifully maintained, and the crew is wonderfully attentive.