EAB123

Thank you Dave and everyone else! You turned a frown upside down! I'm excited again about our Westerdam cruise! I've never had to deal with the Neptune lounge before and I'm going to give it a try. Thank you, thank you.:)[/quot My Mother was in a wheelchair so being the " runner" is a role I know. Maybe when you and your Mom stop by the Neptune on departure day your Mom could make arrangements for tea or canapes to be served in her suite. Its another one of those nice suite perks she may enjoy and you get to kick back and relax with your Mom while someone else does some of the "running". Have a fantastic cruise!

I don't know what kind of cabin prices you are quoting but they sure aren't IN or PT cabins!!! :eek:

 

But this is why I am loyal to no cruise line. I look for the best price and itinerary and that is why I have sailed 5 different lines. But over half have been on Carnival specifically because they are usually the lowest price around.

I compared CCL Ocean Suites to HAL Superior Suites. I've stayed in both so had a basis for comparison. Thought this would be a fair "apples to apples" way to look at it. I'm with you on looking at price and itinerary. But when shopping I generally check HAL and CCL first. That's where the loyalty programs figure into the equation.

Thou there are some mighty fine folks that cruise carnival. If you charge walmart prices your going to get walmart shoppers on your cruise line.

ATTENTION WALMART SHOPPERS!!!!! I have done a little comparison shopping. March 2015 Eastern Carribean 8 day Ocean Suite on CCl is $1919pp. HAL 7 day Eastern Carribean Superior Suite for $1899pp. That's only $34 per day price difference. In my book that's not Walmart vs Neiman's.

Okay, I'll consider it. They do want to go with me, but I'm looking for reviews or stories or pictures to show them carnival isn't a cheap line. The atrium and the pictures of St.John, USVI got one, and the rating of people who loved the cruise got another. There's still other people.

 

But you are all right, if something does go wrong, it's my fault. I'll feel horrible, and I know our friendship will be effected it we miss Grand Turk, get stuck in a hurricane, liqueur falls off the shelves and shatters (oh god, enchantment of the seas all over again) and we get a wait or who doesn't speak amazing English.

 

Now that I think of it, I should try to just enjoy my vacation and if they come, they're doing it on their own volition and accord.

 

But it does bring up a valid point: people all around think carnival is cheap and bad, and that Royal Caribbean is the best line out there, but honestly, there's more room for me onboard if they don't go so I don't mind (:

 

Happy cruising everyone! I've been on the Glory for 12 nights combined between 2 cruises, with these 7 booked, and in 2015 our final two options are the Valor or the Glory. You can say I love the Glory .(:

 

Thanks!

There was a good thread a few months ago comparing Carnival to HAL. Sorry I can't remember poster's name. Your friends may find it informative. For what its worth, my ex-husband and I sailead HAL on several occasions in a Neptune Suite. Lovely cruises! In March of this year I sailed with a friend on Carnival Breeze 6 day Western Carribean in an Ocean Suite. Service was comparable, food was as good or better and did not encounter any problems with rowdy drunken passengers. I did miss the classical strings performing after dinner but in no way shape or form did I feel like I was "slumming " on Carnival.

Sailed on the Breeze in March and loved it . Was looking at cruises for next March and saw a good itinery on Conquest. But am a little hesitiant about feeling as if i will feel Im trading down after the Breeze.We were in an oceanview suite on Breeze and would book one on Conquest as well. How ado the public areas compare especially the Ocean Plaza? really enjoyed having drinks on the deck and listening to the music from the lounge inside. Any imput appreciated!

Could you tell me the cost for a Spa pass for 6 nights on the Breeze? Thanks!

Iwas on the Breeze March 9th sailing. A spa pass for 2 people was $209.

Really appreciate all of this insight since DH and I are empty nesters now and considering a more mature experience. We love Carnival though, just wanting to try something different.

 

One thing that I think is great about Carnival is the friendliness of everyone - staff and fellow passengers. How does HAL compare?

 

One HAL feature that I found intriguing is the personal development classes offered (cooking, art, etc.). Anyone willing to share experiences with the classes? Thanks.

I took a cooking class on one HAL cruise. It was fun. The class is taught in the culinary art center just off the Queens Lounge. It is set up like a kitchen one would see on a TV cooking show. It was taught by the chef ftom the Pinnacle Grill steakhouse. We were divided into groups to prepare each course for an Italian dinner. I was assigned to the appetizer course so did mostly chopping for the bruchetta. When we finished cooking we ate our meal at tables set in the lounge. The fee for the class was $40. I also enjoyed the cooking demonstrations given throughout the cruise. There is no cost to attend these. Topics such as easy appetizers, stir fry and cupcake creations . Lots of tasty samples!

I am just recently off of the Glory also. Did not care for the new menus...lots of things missing and hate the no tablecloths. Makes for a noisy dining room. Even the maitre de' didn't like it.

I cannot believe they would do away with tablecloths!What is next...paper plates???

I really would like to try HAL.

 

Maybe I'm outgrowing Carnival? I don't need all the pool side shenanigans.

 

When we first started cruising, we went to the shows, contests, etc. Nowadays, we just like to relax on our balcony, maybe take in a show if there's something that interests us.

 

This is the one thing that holds me back...I don't mind dressing up for dinner. But from what I've read, HAL wants the pax to stay in formal attire for the evening while in public spaces. I prefer to change after dinner. Can any HAL cruisers confirm if this is the case?

Yes you are correct. Passengers are asked to stay in formal attire on formal nights. I saw few passengers in casual clothes on those nights. Mostly in the casino. Nobody was asked to leave. On the Hawaii Holiday Circle cruise we had late dining. After dinner we would go to a show and then change into casual clothes before going to the top deck to the Crow's Nest lounge to party until closing. Most everyone there had done the same thing. If you want try HAL I wouldn't let that point steer you off. (P.S. The only time I saw anyone really "underdressed" was on New Years Eve. One of the young ship's officers was pushed through the Crows Nest in a baby buggy wearing only a diaper and a baby bonnet!)

How do they cook the burgers? Are they grilled like Five Guys or charbroiled ?

I just did my first HAL cruise last year in Alaska, and FELL IN LOVE WITH THE LINE.

 

I couldn't possible rave more about HAL---Carnival is about exactly the opposite of HAL. The clientele is different, the ships are very different (HAL more elegant, Carnival more kitschy)

 

I'm thinking you might have mis-typed and meant that the cure for cruise addiction is Carnival... I'm not going to say that's necessarily true.

 

If you're someone who generally cruises in the Penthouse Suite on HAL, you're probably not going to like Carnival, but if you're a regular person then Carnival will probably be fine for you. While there is no service equal to the Pinnacle Grill (we were in a suite, and ate breakfast there every single day--it was stellar) the steakhouse service is pretty close. The dining service, while the employees in HAL dress more elegant, was the same (both fantastic). The room stewards are about equally great, although the ones on HAL went above and beyond without hesitation whereas on Carnival I've had both great and mediocre stewards (but, I've cruised on Carnival much more than HAL--only one HAL cruise so far). The spa on Carnival has been a much more positive experience than my experience with HAL, but I"m pretty sure they're the same company running them so I wouldn't put too much stock in my one bad experience.

 

Now... kids clubs... my daughter LOVED HAL's but it was an Alaska cruise and they had naturalists and natives onboard and there were so few kids (it was a mid-May trip) onboard that it was basically a one-on-one experience for her. So I'm sure that's why she loved HAL's more.

 

Food... the food in the Pinnacle was a bit better than Carnivals steakhouse, but really I'd say HAL's dessert was by far and away the best one I've ever had in a speciality restaurant. the Main Dining Room food I would say is about equal. Room service on Carnival is better, although it was great being able to get dinner off the main dining room menu for room service on HAL because we were in a suite, that was a perk that i LOVED, and seriously wish Carnival had.

 

Activities... there was more bingo on HAL... otherwise, Carnival has the more goofy poolside stuff than HAL had, but our cruise was definitely an older demographic so there was no desire for hairy man contests and stuff like that.

 

If you want any specific comparisons more than what I've written here I'd be happy to help you.

 

Overall I liked HAL more because the experience was the "whole package" and the passengers were great... but with that said, I am leaving for a Carnival cruise in two weeks, so obviously HAL didn't ruin me for good.

Thanks for the response. When i sailed HAL I was in a Deluxe Veranda suite or Superior Suite. On the Breeze I have booked an Ocean Suite which appearsa to be about the same size as a HAL Superior. I realize theres no suite lounge on Carnival but that's OK . I never enjoued sitting in the Neptune Lounge anyway. (Why sit in an interior room when there is a beautiful ocean view from my balcony!) I guess Im just curious about what Carnival fans perceive as the differences between the 2 lines. Im excited about my upcoming cruise on the Breeze!

Im sailing on the Breeze next Sunday so have been reading Carnival posts. I have detected an ongoing theme in some posts about Holland America line that aren't very complimentary. One poster said the cure for cruise addiction is Holland america. The reason Im curious is that I have sailed on HAL several times and had great experiences. Are Caarnival and HAL really that different? Thanks for your imput.

Basically flip flops are sandles that you would wear to the beach. Just as you described. I always wear either low heeled or flat sandles with my outfits. Closed toe shoes are not required unless you are doing the chefs table dinner, but even then it's not really enforced.

Thanks for the reply.

Could someone please clarify what the folks at the Steakhouse consider "flip flops"? By my definition flip flops are thongs made of rubber or plastic whereas ladies sandals may be the same style but are leather. Im sailing on the Breeze March 9th and am planning to pack sandals for evening. If I am to wear closed toe shoes to the Steakhouse I will make quite an entrance in my water shoes...Squish Squish Squish! Thanks for any imput.

Do any of you ever tip your room steward on the day you sail rather than waiting until the end of the cruise?