Coming Home!!!

Well, I am booked back on HAL for a 10 day partial Panama Canal cruise.

My last two cruises have been on Carnival and I would still cruise on that line but this cruise is cheaper on HAL.

On Carnival with grats it comes to $7233.10 for 3 ( in a Suite ). Of course there are no, and I mean no perks on Carnival for booking a suite other than first-ish on board and on tenders.

HAL was $7500.00 for a SC with free drink package, gratuities, internet free minutes , $300.00obc, PG dinner.

I would have spent $1500.00 alone to take the drink package on Carnival (and I would have bought it, I need it..it saves me money ) and the suite perks on HAL are nice and addicting so its a no brainer.

Carnival does do many things right. Great staff, activities for all ages, an overall "fun" vibe BUT this can go overboard fast. At HMC there was a large group in the water flashing their ta-tas and , gulp..nether regions. Not one crew member asked them to stop. I was seriously pissed.

There was smoking where smoking shouldn't be and no one stopped it (for the record I smoke but only in designated areas ). Kids in the casino, babies in the pools.

Carnival's Steak house tops PG. Guy's burgers tops HAL's, their drink package is better, Carnival has a bigger casino and better entertainment.

I've never met a stranger onboard Carnival..people are friendly and nice .

BUT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! HAL has elegance and grace. 1000 fewer people. A true suite program. Ive never seen a ta-ta or nether region onboard (unless it was mine in the privacy of my cabin ).

and now they are priced better than Carnival.

WEIRD!!!!!!!

Have a great cruise!

Welcome home :)

Sounds like you have a very nice cruise planned with great digs:)

As to pricing, I have noticed on my last two cruises that the early pricing was better than pricing later on. Not sure if HAL is going back to EBS or if my timing just happened to be right.;). Sure sounds like your timing was :)

Enjoy your planning.

Thanks!

I am super excited to be pampered again.

Welcome back.

Have a great cruise.

Right decision. Enjoy your cruise!

In the past we enjoyed our Carnival cruises. But there are no perks for their "suite" cabins. Once we discovered the NL suite on HAL, we couldn't go back.

I do miss the amount of activities on board that Carnival offers, but I can overlook this as I sit in the Neptune Lounge!

In the past we enjoyed our Carnival cruises. But there are no perks for their "suite" cabins. Once we discovered the NL suite on HAL, we couldn't go back.

 

I do miss the amount of activities on board that Carnival offers, but I can overlook this as I sit in the Neptune Lounge!

Me too!

I decided I'm going to make my own fun. I'm bringing Cards Against Humanity and I will look forward to meeting others with wicked senses of humor and thick skin.

We have also cruised with Carnival in the past. Maybe because as we get older we don't enjoy the crowds as much & find HAL a bit more laid back not as loud. We do enjoy the atmosphere on board HAL. To each their own. Enjoy your cruise.

Allan

For us, it is the ports of call and the time of year and the length of the voyage. We take all of those, and then decide which way to go. Carnival is fun (if you want a real blast, do New Years). Different demographics between the two.

Also, keep in mind that if you own 100 shares of Carnival Corporation stock, you get OBC with any Carnival Lines cruise ship. The amount of OBC is determined by the length of the cruise. Carnival stock pays dividends, it is almost like getting more OBC.

Jim

We usually cruise Carnival. My husband says we have more sea days than many sailors have.

Lately, we have wondered. Cruise on Princess. Then Carnival Sunshine which I cannot decide if I like or not. I don't like the way they do Trivia. And Trivia is a big draw to my husband and me.

Then first cruise on RCI. Freedom of Seas. Which I did not like. As to that........Any cruise is great.......but it Is not like Carnival. HAL. Princess. or even NCL. Could not find our way around Ship. Six days out , we figured out where Studio B was located. Did not like food. Staff was excellent. Cabin staff and Two waiters at Dinner in MSM who had me totally wrapped around their fingers. Charming. Funny. I loved them. I don't know what was wrong with their food.......but even desserts were not so good. Windjammer...Breakfast..food was good. Staff was always exceptional.

NOW HAL. After about six years, we are returning. We have been on Voleendam. Elevator did not half work. Air Conditioner did not work. After my complaining, fed up office staff came down to see for herself........she opened door and husband was on bed in skivvies. It was that hot. Still had a great time. I gained about five pounds.

Twice on Westerdam.. Again......ate like I was never going to see food again. Loved productions. Staff. Not much Trivia. But this time my Daughter and her family are coming with us on The Eurodam in March, God Willing of course.

Our grand child will be with us a lot ( age 6), which we enjoy a lot. My daughter and SIL are "foodies". they will love the cooking demonstrations.

I am looking forward to it.

I am a Carnival Person. Be it Carnival. Princess. Hal...................Not going to stray anymore. AND prices on HAL were very competitive with Carnival. We actually received a casino rate...not one of the super ones, but one we were very grateful to get...30% off price of cabin and then we were able to get a "G" category for Kids on deck with obstructed cabins at a good rate. The one they have is only slightly obstructed and they have a bathtub for grandchild. She is not a shower person.

I enjoyed this thread. I thought all of the comments were interesting and pertinent.

I LOVE the "fun" vibe Carnival has BUT I feel that staff is scared to stop certain behaviors.

Don't let the Pax smoke pool side while letting a diapered child splash in the pool.

Don't let naked people swim at HMC . No one wants to see some female spread eagle while naked being held up ( out of the water) by her equally naked partner.

Also during 3 different nights people were smoking pot in the showroom. One passenger actually confronted the group and crew did nothing.

I really don't care what people do unless it effects me. Those things did.

I still can't believe that Carnival turned a blind eye.

I still would cruise Carnival if the price was right , I think most passengers are fun and friendly. But Carnival needs to step up and put a stop to letting "us" run the ship.

I'm really hoping for a nude free cruise with HAL unless Brad Pitt or Channing Tatum is onboard.

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Were the nude swimmers possibly Europeans who are used to nude beaches?

Roz

Nope ! Drunk Americans who walked around when clothed in "Booze Cruise 2016" tshirts!

The nudity was all in the name of good, clean fun ( said in my most sarcastic voice ever)

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At HMC there was a large group in the water flashing their ta-tas and , gulp..nether regions. Not one crew member asked them to stop. I was seriously pissed.

I don't believe you. Got any pictures to prove it?:D

My Carnival cruise experience is small compared to my HAL days, BUT I would agree for the most part. Out of Tampa, the 7 & 14 day HAL cruises are mostly seniors. The 4 day Carnival, known affectionally as TTT, attracts a party crowd for sure. The 5 day and 7 day cruises attract better.

The alcohol content really goes up on those shorter Carnival cruises, leading to the behavior mentioned. Fun cruises are great, but especially with young families present, things get quickly out of control.

Thankfully we have a lot of choices in cruise lines and ships to pick from.:cool:

I don't believe you. Got any pictures to prove it?:D

No, but you got me thinking that I should check the memory card in my husband's camera [emoji106][emoji106]

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