Why Should We Choose Carnival ??

[Unkle Fred]

We are in the process of selecting a cruise in 6/2005 for a bunch of friends. The ages range from 48 to 53. We are strongly considering booking on the Valor.

We have not cruised Carnival before. Carnival advertises as the "Fun Ships" which works for my wife and me...after all, that's why we like to cruise in the first place. However, given the age group, we're concerned that some of our friends may grow tired of all that fun (younger crowds, singles, etc.).

We know that cruising on a new ship (we were on the NCL Dawn and can appreciate that fact) and visiting ports we've not been to can only make for a better time.

Can any past Carnival cruisers provide advise that we can pass along to our friends as encouragement for choosing Carnival?

Your comments are greatly appreciated. http://messages.cruisecritic.com/infopop/emoticons/icon_smile.gif

Hope to be cruzin soon.

http://escati.linkopp.net/cgi-bin/countdown.cgi?trgb=000000&srgb=00ff00&prgb=FFA000&cdt=2005;7;3;16;00;00&timezone=GMT-0500 Until The Wife's Golden Birthday Cruise



NCL Dawn 5/2003
NCL Sun 1/2004

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[MERVYN BREMMER]

Aunt Fannie says you should book Carnival 'nough said. But while there are plenty of younger couples and singles there is also a large representation of our (ahem) age group. You'll enjoy the time no matter if you party til you ...well you know, or just lay back and relax. Go enjoy and come back and let us know what you think.

http://smileys.******************/cat/15/15_4_108v.gif ('http://www.******************/?partner=ZSzeb008')

USS RUSHMORE LSD14(MANYTIMES)
TRIUMPH 10/03
SENSATIONAL SAINTS AND SINNERS 10/04http://www.websmileys.com/sm/happy/1264.gif

[halos]

Why book a Carnival Cruise?
I guess the question should be, Why not?

I believe in Miracles
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MIRACLE JUNE 19, 2004
Calm Seas, Good Friends

[PINEVIEW01]

If you book the right time you can excpect and older group. Non summer, right after school starts and inbetween Thanksgiving and Christmas. Also the cost is less than.

Melody

Paradise, 9-5-04
Holiday, 4-10-04
Inspiration, 11-30-03
Inspiration, 1-26-03
Victory,3-31-02
Sensation, 11-28-98
Holiday, 3-19-94

[tef43]

I see that your prior cruises have both been on NCL. If you embraced "freestyle," you may not appreciate what Carnival has to offer. I detest "freestyle," so Carnival is a perfect fit.

Back in the day, pre-freestyle, the lines were priced similarly. NCL's passenger mix was slightly older.

Tom <--- Curmudgeon of the Seas
http://members.aol.com/guitarzen/detroit100.gif
Eleven cruises so far. Up next:
Shhhh, it's a surprise!
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And then:
Carnival Spirit 12/10/05 Mexican Riviera
http://escati.linkopp.net/cgi-bin/countdown.cgi?trgb=000000&srgb=00ff00&prgb=00bfff&cdt=2005;12;10;16;00;00&timezone=GMT-0800
Perhaps something else in the works as well. Watch this space.
Dance like it hurts, love like you need money, and work when somebody's watching.

[This message was edited by tef43 on 05-03-04 at 03:58 PM.]

[deborahjo]

Carnival is awesome. We saw all ages in November. Carnival had something for everyage and seemed to allow you to do what you wanted. That is why we are cruising Carnival again in 05 to Alaska.

[bencruzN]

While I'm not sure what the freestyle is, Carnival has something for everyone of all age groups. My husband and I are not "party'ers" and sometime turn in very early. We love Carnival, and has cruise several times with them and all their party people. I think if you have something nice to say about it, your friends will concur after cruising Carnival too. And if for nothing else, choose Carnival for the best cruise pricing no one else has.

Heading for my Destiny
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[BigDoug]

We have been on 7 Carnival cruises with an 8th booked. We have never been disappointed. Had an issue with embarkation in San Juan, but the Destiny was a great ship and the cruise was wonderful. The food and service is unbelievable. The entertainment is top notch. Carnival travels to so many destinations and from so many home ports. I don't think you can go wrong.

http://escati.linkopp.net/cgi-bin/countdown.cgi?trgb=000000&srgb=00ff00&prgb=0000ff&cdt=2005;3;19;16;00;00&timezone=GMT-0500
Beating the Winter Blues on the Legend


Tropicale 9/95
Sensation 9/97
Carnival Destiny 10/00
Fascination 3/02
Imagination 3/03
Carnival Legend 10/28/03
Carnival Triumph 3/13/04
Carnival Legend 3/19/05

[dsclark]

Carnival offers Cadillac quality for the price of a Chevy! In many ways, they are superior to other, more expensive lines.
They have good entertainment, large rooms and, drum roll please- great food!

[Cotton]

I would like to echo DSClark. http://messages.cruisecritic.com/infopop/emoticons/icon_smile.gif

I'm just over 60, and have a great time on any cruise. I've been on Princess and NCL, but most of my cruises have been with Carnival. Obviously, I like Carnival!

I suggest you don't cruise during the months when the kiddies of all ages are out of school; i.e., spring break, summer, Easter, Christmas, etc. There will be some on any cruise, but I usually go in the fall when I'm assured there won't be a whole shipfull.

There's something for everybody on Carnival ships. As advertised, you can do it all, or nothing at all. I'm one of the latter; like to curl up on a quiet deck with a good book and enjoy the wind and sun. I am usually a solo cruiser, but thoroughly enjoy times in the dining room meeting tablemates, and other places on the ship as well.

Hey, give it a shot. You CAN'T lose - you'll be on a cruise! http://messages.cruisecritic.com/infopop/emoticons/icon_wink.gif

Festivale 1987
Carnivale 1988
Mardi Gras 1989
Pacific Princess 1990
Norway 1994
Holiday 2001
Holiday 2002
Holiday 2003

[ParrotHeadFL]

<BLOCKQUOTE class="ip-ubbcode-quote"><font size="-1">quote:</font><HR>Carnival offers Cadillac quality for the price of a Chevy!<HR></BLOCKQUOTE>

Well, I don't know if I'd go THAT far...

[ralmyers]

I am in the younger couples "group" on the ship. Not that I am big into partying, but we found that most of the clubs in our cruise ships were deserted by midnight. So I would say that partying will not be a problem. I think it is a really fun atmosphere, but lots of time to relax. Each time we have been seated in the dining room with people older than us and we had no problems finding things to discuss and laugh over. Heck ... one of the couples at our table had just gotten married and were 70 years old. They each started their morning with mimosas -- now they could out party us. We both have very high stress jobs, and that is mainly why we go. Not to party, but for good food and relaxation. Give it a try -- you will LOVE IT :-)

Triumph
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&timezone=GMT-0500">

Fantasy - 94
Imagination - 95
Ecstasy - 99
Triumph - 04

[scottp]

I can give you a better analysis in a couple of months after my 6/19 sailing of the Carnival Triumph. This is a first for us. We have sailed RCI, Celebrity and Holland America. We like all of the above, but really wanted to give Carnival a shot. Our teenage boys are really looking forward to it too!

http://escati.linkopp.net/cgi-bin/countdown.cgi?trgb=000000&srgb=00ff00&prgb=00ffff&cdt=2004;6;19;17;0;00&timezone=GMT-0400&nbsp;Until the FUN begins!!!!

[margaritawoman]

My husband & I are in your age group we have been on Carnival many times as well as other cruise lines. We pretty much stay with Carnival & Princess now. We will be on the Glory May 29th. We picked Carnival this time because we will be with a group of 14 people ages ranging from 20 - 70 Carnival has something for everyone. As others have stated the food is wonderful entertainment the best out there a wide variety of things for everyone to enjoy.
Next cruise Glory 5/29/04

[pgmrdev]

Our group of six ranges in age from 44-77 and all are returning Carnival guests. As much as we most of us prefer Princess, cost is the driving factor. When it comes down to it, the differences don't justify the higher price paid for Princess. There is not a lot of difference between the food, shows and other factors. In addition, Carnival has the larger standard cabins and the preferred twin/king bedding as compared to the undersized twin/queen configuration of Princess. No matter who you cruise with, the time of year makes all the difference in the world. Personally, I would never travel on Carnival between July and Labor Day. And a casino is a casino is a casino ........
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<font color="#FF0000">Grand Princess 2-2001</font>
<font color="#0000FF">Grand Princess 12-2001</font>
<font color="#FF8000">Carnival Paradise 3-2002</font>
<font color="#FF00FF">Carnival Destiny 10-2002</font>
<font color="#008000">Golden Princess 10-2003</font>
<font color="#0000A0">Carnival Legend 6-8-2004</font>
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[Unkle Fred]

Wow....thanks for all the responses! My feeling is that Carnival does offer something for everyone and every age group, but, its encouraging to hear that from others who have cruised the line. Thanks.

Hope to be cruzin soon.

http://escati.linkopp.net/cgi-bin/countdown.cgi?trgb=000000&srgb=00ff00&prgb=FFA000&cdt=2005;7;3;16;00;00&timezone=GMT-0500 &nbsp;Until The Wife's Golden Birthday Cruise



NCL Dawn 5/2003
NCL Sun 1/2004

http://www.animationlibrary.com/Animation11/Nature/Sun/Sun_in_glasses.gif

[momofmeg]

My last 2 Carnival cruises-Inspiration and Miracle did not seem to have the usual party crowds-the cruises seemed alot more like RCCL as far as having more families and middleaged and older people.(I am 49 so I would fit right in with your age group)

We were on Miracle a brand new ship and loved it. The food,entertainment etc. was tons better then Inspiration. Now Inspiration is a good ship with good food and entertainment-it just seemed Carnival pulled out all the stops on Miracle their newest ship.

As I have posted before I have always said my one Princess cruise was the best when it came to quality of food,entertainment, and service, much better then Carnival, RCCL or HAL. I can geniunely say though Miracle was every bit as good.

Since Valor has her first cruise in Dec. she will be 6 months old when you cruise her-so still a new ship-I am sure Carnival will do the same for her that they did for Miracle and you will have a super cruise.

Carnival Tropicale 10/15/98 Western Caribbean
RCCL Sovereign of the Seas 11/22/99 Bahamas
Carnival Fascination 09/23/00 Southern caribbean
HAL Statendam 05/20/01 Alaska
RCCL Sovereign of the Seas 11/08/01 Bahamas
Pacific Princess 09/29/02 Bermuda
Carnival Inspiration 12/14/03 Western caribbean
Carnival Miracle 04/09/04 Bahamas