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Isn't there a rule against making people think so hard this early on a Saturday morning? 


Well, I figured the only way to tackle this one is to go line by line.  You are thinking of a balcony on the Dawn, or an ocean view on the Pearl or Freedom and you have a young child.  So, the first thing I thought of was safety.  No one has ever fallen out of an ocean view cabin.  Some people have fallen in an ocean view cabin, but no one has fallen out of one.  Here is a picture of the Dawn ...



As you can see, the balconies are glass, so your young one will not be able to climb it as long as you keep the chairs away from the railing.


Next, I know that Carnival has a good program for 2 to 3 year olds and will change diapers.  I'm not familiar with NCL's children's program.  Carnival has traditional dining (set dinning times and tables).  NCL is Freestyle - no set dining times or tables.  With such a young child, you might prefer the less formal atmosphere on NCL (not that Carnival is formal, it is just that NCL is less formal).  NCL actually has areas set aside for young children to eat.  Here is that area on the NCL Star (as sister ship to the Dawn and Pearl) ...





I have never seen a similar area on Carnival. 


There are areas in all the ports that are tourist traps.  Nonetheless, if ports is what you want to see, then choose the ship that visits the most interesting ports.  However, days at sea are very relaxing.  Given your child is not likely going to be as interested in exploring the ports as you are, I would suggest that you don't try to over do it, or you child is not going to be very happy, which can mean the parents are not going to be too happy.  A relaxing day at sea after a couple of port visits might be just the thing the three of you need.


I've been on two NCL cruises totaling 21 nights and five Carnival cruises.  Don't put too much stock in the reviews.  People tend to emphasize the negative.  It is really all in the attitude.  Go with a positive attitude and you will have a good time.  Go looking for things to complain about and you will find them.  Will your cruise be perfect?  Of course not.  But for most cruising is a fantastic vacation experience.  Don't expect a five star meal when 2000 people all sit down at the same time to eat.  If you want a five star experience, there are cruise ships that can deliver that kind of an experience - for a price.  And the other passengers on those five star lines will not be happy to see a young child on the cruise with them.  NCL and Carnival are very family friendly and both offer a three star experience that anyone looking to have a good time will enjoy.


On a shorter cruise (three and four nights) you will find the "party hardy" group.  However, when you get to the one week and longer cruises this is not a big problem.  Of course on any cruise you can run into the obnoxious drunk.  I've been on twelve cruises, including three weekend cruises (three nights) and I have yet to run into any obnoxious drunks.  But then again, I don't spend a lot of time in the same places that obnoxious drunks like to hang out.  Most families with young children don't either.


Carnival has some of the biggest standard rooms.  They are fairly standard at 185 sq ft each (some ocean view cabins are 220 sq ft).  A Carnival inside cabin of 185 sq ft is going to be bigger than a NCL balcony cabin of 170 st ft (unless you add in the 35 - 40 sq ft balcony).  The inside of a Carnival balcony cabin is also 185 sq ft (not including the 35 - 40 sq ft balcony).  So, if size is an issue, Carnival's standard cabins are bigger than NCL's standard cabins (even if you compare an Carnival inside to an NCL balcony). 


This is my balcony cabin on the NCL Star (which would be very similar to a balcony cabin on the Dawn or Pearl) ...






This is my (rear facing) balcony cabin in the Carnival Glory (a sister ship to the Carnival Freedom) ...




I cruised with a 15 month old for 14 nights and with a 4 1/2 year old for seven nights.  Keep the kid occupied and well rested and 3 nights or 30 nights will be fine.  If you don't plan for the fact that you've got a young child with you, even four nights will be too long.  You've got a young child with you.  You recognize that.  You will have to plan around the needs of the child.  You will be able to do some of the things you want to do, but not all of the things you want to do.  As long as you realize this, the length of the cruise will not matter. 


Extra cost items are tips (about $10 per day per person - including the young one).  Drinks.  Bottled water, soda and alcohol cost extra.  Milk, juice, tap water (very drinkable), coffee, tea and punch cost extra.  Special coffees (Seattle's Best) cost extra.  Photographs (you don't have to buy the photos), gambling, optional extra cost restaurants (NCL has several, the Carnival Freedom has one), shore excursions, spa treatments, art auctions, babysitting and souvenirs cost extra.  How much you spend depends on how much alcohol you drink, how much gambling you do, what shore excursions you purchase, how often you go to the spa, how much art work you are planning to take home with you and how many souvenirs you buy.  However, you are going to start off with $30 per day for tips.


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