mtchg
April 25th, 2004, 03:12 PM
continuing from Part I RCI SPlendour vs Conquest and other CCL cruises:
Main Dining Room Service: CCL: 3 1/2 RCI: 4
I was impressed with my Splendour wait team. They were professional and responsive and personal and friendly. Quickly learning our names and personal tastes (lots of water, etc).
My Conquest team, while professional, lacked that personal touch. However other CCL cruise I've had experiences more in line with the Splendour. RCI gets the benefit of my limited experience with them, and score higher.
Main Dining Room Food Quality CCL: 3 1/2 RCI: 3
My main comments don't apply to breakfast. Splendour's service, variety and quality of breakfast was markedly superior to Carnival's.
Lunch and Dinner: Compared to the service, Splendour's food disappointed slightly; primarily because of the poor beef. One evening, four of us sent back the meat selection (and that wasn't even the infamous 'club steak') Carnival's beef, both sirloin and prime rib are consistently good.
However, with the exception of the lobster, with Carnival again getting the nod, Splendour's seafood select was excellent and tasty.
Casual Dining: Food Quality and Service:
CCL: 3 RCI: 3
Splendour's windjammer, while lovely..seemed cramped for space. Food quality was similar though again CCL has better beef. I was impressed with Splendour's slection of upscale condiments and sauces always available, like A1 and Grey Poupon. Carnival never does this. Splendour also offered coffee and sea service right at your table.
Main Pool/Outside Lido CCL: 3 RCI: 4 1/2
The Conquest and it's newest sisters would rank at least a 4, but the Fantasy class, the closest in size and age to the Splendour can't even compare with Splendour's beautiful pool and hot tub area. The hot tubs are covered, protecting users from the occasional sprinkle, and the main pool is actually the size of, uh.. a pool!! The largest ship pool I've seen. The Splendour and Conquest have a similar design with a tiled ankle deep area surrounding the rest of the pool, but the Splendour was longer. Also, nothing Carnival has compares with the beautiful Solarium..a pool area with retractable roof and a Greek /Roman motif with beautiful classical sculptures and plentiful lounge chairs. It was never crowded and a great place to get away from it all to read a book or take a quiet swim. Very nice.
Spa/Excercise area RCI 2 1/2 CCL 4
Not really a fair comparison as I'm sure RCI's newer ships have larger and better facilities.
The Splendour suffers from a lack of room to put much equipment, and don't have a separate room for formal excercise classes. Several times I had to step over folks on the floor in a class, to get to some equipment. The Conquest and even the Fantasy class ships have larger better equipped facilities. But, the Splendour decor even here was very classy, and I had to be impressed with the fresh fruit the staff put out in the Spa lobby along with hot tea and coffee. Would Carnival ever think of doing that???
Coming in part III. Further comparisons of entertainment, and some final miscellaneous thoughts about CCL vs RCI. List any questions you may have, and I will try to answer them, or email me at mtchg@aol.com
MitchC
Carnival Miracle 02/13/05
Splendour of the Seas 01/26/04
Carnival Conquest(adors!) 01/11/04
Paradise 03/02/03
Carnival Spirit 01/03
Carnival Legend 12/02
Carnival Victory 04/02
Sensation 01/02
Carnival Triumph 11/01
Imagination 11/00
Paradise 01/00
Holiday 11/98
Norway 1986
Mardi Gras 1986
(original CCL vessel)
Main Dining Room Service: CCL: 3 1/2 RCI: 4
I was impressed with my Splendour wait team. They were professional and responsive and personal and friendly. Quickly learning our names and personal tastes (lots of water, etc).
My Conquest team, while professional, lacked that personal touch. However other CCL cruise I've had experiences more in line with the Splendour. RCI gets the benefit of my limited experience with them, and score higher.
Main Dining Room Food Quality CCL: 3 1/2 RCI: 3
My main comments don't apply to breakfast. Splendour's service, variety and quality of breakfast was markedly superior to Carnival's.
Lunch and Dinner: Compared to the service, Splendour's food disappointed slightly; primarily because of the poor beef. One evening, four of us sent back the meat selection (and that wasn't even the infamous 'club steak') Carnival's beef, both sirloin and prime rib are consistently good.
However, with the exception of the lobster, with Carnival again getting the nod, Splendour's seafood select was excellent and tasty.
Casual Dining: Food Quality and Service:
CCL: 3 RCI: 3
Splendour's windjammer, while lovely..seemed cramped for space. Food quality was similar though again CCL has better beef. I was impressed with Splendour's slection of upscale condiments and sauces always available, like A1 and Grey Poupon. Carnival never does this. Splendour also offered coffee and sea service right at your table.
Main Pool/Outside Lido CCL: 3 RCI: 4 1/2
The Conquest and it's newest sisters would rank at least a 4, but the Fantasy class, the closest in size and age to the Splendour can't even compare with Splendour's beautiful pool and hot tub area. The hot tubs are covered, protecting users from the occasional sprinkle, and the main pool is actually the size of, uh.. a pool!! The largest ship pool I've seen. The Splendour and Conquest have a similar design with a tiled ankle deep area surrounding the rest of the pool, but the Splendour was longer. Also, nothing Carnival has compares with the beautiful Solarium..a pool area with retractable roof and a Greek /Roman motif with beautiful classical sculptures and plentiful lounge chairs. It was never crowded and a great place to get away from it all to read a book or take a quiet swim. Very nice.
Spa/Excercise area RCI 2 1/2 CCL 4
Not really a fair comparison as I'm sure RCI's newer ships have larger and better facilities.
The Splendour suffers from a lack of room to put much equipment, and don't have a separate room for formal excercise classes. Several times I had to step over folks on the floor in a class, to get to some equipment. The Conquest and even the Fantasy class ships have larger better equipped facilities. But, the Splendour decor even here was very classy, and I had to be impressed with the fresh fruit the staff put out in the Spa lobby along with hot tea and coffee. Would Carnival ever think of doing that???
Coming in part III. Further comparisons of entertainment, and some final miscellaneous thoughts about CCL vs RCI. List any questions you may have, and I will try to answer them, or email me at mtchg@aol.com
MitchC
Carnival Miracle 02/13/05
Splendour of the Seas 01/26/04
Carnival Conquest(adors!) 01/11/04
Paradise 03/02/03
Carnival Spirit 01/03
Carnival Legend 12/02
Carnival Victory 04/02
Sensation 01/02
Carnival Triumph 11/01
Imagination 11/00
Paradise 01/00
Holiday 11/98
Norway 1986
Mardi Gras 1986
(original CCL vessel)