RoperDK

Carnival doesn't combine offers like Royal does.  On Royal, if my DH and I both have a free OV cabin, we will combine to get a free balcony cabin. On Carnival, you get the one person's best cabin offer only.  The extras (funplay, drinks, etc.) apply to each according to the terms of the offers.    

We booked the Star and upgraded to an Infinite Balcony. Can you lower the shade in increments or is it all or nothing? Thought it would be nice to partially lower the shade to block some sun, but still get some water view.  There really isn't much detailed info out there. thanks!  

37 minutes ago, KmomChicago said:

Next topic: Royal Caribbean as a cruise provider

 

I am going to get flamed for this, but honestly RCI and Carnival are so similar for me as to be borderline interchangeable. So I will tell you what, for me, each one does a little bit better than the other, and what I think is practically identical. 

 

What Carnival does better: 

1. Fun Ship vibe. 

2. Rock bottom price (usually). 

3. The most embarkation port options.  

4. Same deals booking direct or via a travel agency.

5. Uniqueness of Joe Farcus ships. 

6. Guy's Burger Joint, Blue Iguana, other included fast food options.

7. Ship on a Stick trivia prizes.

 

What Royal does better.

1. Cosmetic maintenance of the ships.

2. Slightly (noticeable but just barely) higher tier clientele.

3. The absolute, bar none, best new ships in the industry.

4. Live evening entertainment quality and variety.

5. More accurate and challenging trivia and similar game activities.

6. Better stateroom size and design on the newest ships.

7. Lower passenger count per ton of ship, theoretically less crowded.

 

What they both do about equally well.

1. Incredible international crew, staff, officers providing the same service.

2. Private island / private beach destinations.

3. Buffets and MDR.

4. Good variety of stuff to do onboard.

5. Standard selection of domestic itineraries.

6. Overall crowd control. I don't usually feel more crowded on Carnival despite the stats that suggest I should.

7. Mix of all-inclusive and upcharge pricing - in both cases once you pay for the cruise and gratuities, you never really need to spend another dime onboard, but there are plenty of very similar ways to do so if you want and the pricing models for all that jazz also look pretty similar to me.

 

I want to note here - I am not including comments on beverage packages.  I know the booze limit at Carnival is a factor for some cruisers. If I were a travel agent selling cruises, it is something I would possibly discuss with potential passengers for both lines.  However, it is not relevant to my own experience either way.

 

None of the items I note above is either a slam dunk or a deal killer for me so really I have no particular reason to prefer Carnival or Royal as cruise lines overall. 

 

I agree with your comparisons. I have settled into mainly Royal, with a dash of Carnival.  They each have positives.  Even though I am in my mid-sixties, I don't care for Princess (too stuffy and old fashioned) and I really doubt that Celebrity would be exciting enough for us.  Each has a good casino program, so that is where we are comfortable right now. 

8 hours ago, KmomChicago said:

At the rescue where I volunteer, I and other volunteers have tamed several former ferals. It’s amazing the first time they choose to push their forehead up into your hand for one of those scritches you’ve been pushing on them. 😻

 

My orange cat at home comes when I call him (meowing “coming mom” as he trots through the house). He’s surprisingly doglike except he sure doesn’t like the leash!

I've been surrounded by animals my entire life. I had horses before I got too old to safely ride.  I trained and showed dogs.  I've always had cats, too.  My most satisfying memories have been when a feral cat has finally decided to trust me.  

11 minutes ago, leafsnation said:

NCL Latitudes Rewards | Cruise Loyalty Program

8 minutes ago, shof515 said:

i like that NCL offers discounts based on your level. various % off of purchasing photos, shore excursions, spa,etc. its a small discount but it is something

Thanks for the input.  I still feel that my RCCL perks are better, especially when combined with the casino program, but to each their own. I may venture back to NCL one day.   

2 hours ago, leafsnation said:

HAL counts cruise days and an extra point for every $300 spent on board.

NCL counts a point a day. NCL move up fast and have the best perks of any cruiseline I have seen.

bob

Other cruise lines do extra points for suites or singles.  What perks does NCL offer that makes you think that they have the best perks.  

8 hours ago, island lady said:

I kind of like here in Titusville myself...thanks!  🙂 

If I were to move back to Florida, Titusville would probably be my first choice.  I grew up in South Florida and there are very few places left that have that "old Florida" charm.  We always eat a meal at Dixie Crossroads. It brings back so many memories of the way things were when I was growing up.  I absolutely LOVE the Wildlife Refuge and all things space.  We have started staying an extra hotel night before our Port Canaveral cruises and spend most of our free day in the Titusville area.  

@colesc15 I have an odd question, if you don't mind.  We have an OV cabin on deck 4 and my husband wants to know if the escalator is accessible from the cabin corridor?  It would be a great location if we could access the casino and escalator to deck 5 from that cabin location.  I doubt that is the case, but it would be nice to know ahead of time.

Thanks!   

5 hours ago, Mum2Mercury said:

That's certainly a valid opinion.  We've done it, and it's worked out well.  

 

But these days we've fallen into a different pattern, and we prefer it for the savings:  We drive, and we stop in Titusville, which is a 26 minute drive from the port.  We always stay at Days Inn (again, Titusville), which is nothing fancy but is clean, literally in view of the interstate and provides a very basic breakfast. I just checked prices for our next cruise, and we're paying $74 for that single night.  I compared the same night at Hampton Inn near the port; they're $229.  Yes, a Hampton Inn is a nicer hotel and provides a better breakfast, but since we arrive late and leave early, we've been completely happy with the savings.  I mean, that'll pay for an excursion.  

 

The next morning our drive is less than 30 minutes.  We're always in the first boarding group, so we're up and out early (always so excited!) and we've never experienced traffic delays, but IF we ever do, we'll have hours to make that short drive.  

I totally agree about staying in Titusville!  I consider that close to the port.  I have stayed in the Orlando area or Jacksonville area before.  It does make our drive shorter than going all the way down.  However, all you need is an accident on 528 (Orlando) or I-95 (Jacksonville) to ruin your day.  We are Hilton Diamond members and have enough points to pay for Canaveral hotels, but I wouldn't hesitate to stay in Titusville.  It's actually a hidden gem.  Shhhh...don't tell anyone. 😉  

7 hours ago, la_croisiere_s'amuse said:

@cruisegirl1, @RoperDK, I hope you enjoyed your cruises. 🙂 Any thoughts to share with us on the ship's condition after dry dock?

 

 

We enjoyed our B2B cruises very much.  We usually cruise on the larger ships and we were pleasantly surprised with Grandeur.  I thought the common areas looked quite nice.  I didn't notice anything in disrepair.  We were in a Grand Suite and the cabin condition inside was great.  Carpet and fabric coverings looked brand new.  Bed was very comfy.  Even though the cabinetry and bath fixtures were older, they looked and worked just fine.  Balcony furniture was a little beat up.  Our AC stopped working at some point, but it was fixed quickly.  I did hear that people in lower deck cabins didn't feel they were in as good a shape as ours. 

The internet worked very well.  There was good connectivity in all areas.  The crew were amazing.  I guess that is a big plus on the smaller ships.  We really enjoyed the Centrum entertainment.  We didn't go to any of the theater shows.  We felt that the food was good.  Food was great in the specialty restaurants, very good in the MDR, and the Windjammer was just fine.  I'm not sure that kids would have enough to do on this size ship.  We will definitely book Grandeur again!

Let me know if you have any other questions.   

I love staying close to the port overnight.  The drive from Orlando can back up if there is an accident with no exit to make an escape.  I like being stress free morning of embarkation.  

Enjoy your cruise! Can't wait to hear more. 

37 minutes ago, KmomChicago said:

Informal poll: 

 

Does baklava, by any chance, happen to count as a fruit or maybe even a vegetable? 
 

Select your best answer:
 

1. Yes

 

2. No

 

3. Well, it’s not meat so maybe 

 

4. One piece per day is fruit, two is cheating 

 

4.  If you only do something once a day, you can assign any category to it.  In my book, it doesn't actually happen until you do it twice.  Vacation rules are different than home rules.  That's how I get around the "I never eat bacon" rule.  😉

Isn't the MDR open for breakfast on all days and on all ships?

Can you use the dollar value to offset the price of a newer ship (Icon) when casino offers aren't yet valid for that ship?    

Could you be confusing Royal and Carnival?  They have a Crown lounge with coffee machines, infused water, continental breakfast, mid-day snacks, and evening hot appetizers. There is evening drink service although you must use your free drink vouchers. Perhaps you meant the departure lounge.  They usually have coffee and maybe snacks.  I haven't seen embarkation extras in a while.  

Thanks for your balanced review.  We have decided that Excel class just doesn't suit us.  We've tried it twice and it just missed the mark for us.  A lot of people love that class of ship, but we now cruise on other classes.   

We are on the next Grandeur cruise.  I thought there would be more info.  I guess everyone is enjoying their cruise, lol.    

7 hours ago, audcc77 said:

I’ve use FaceTime and it works. I called my sister in Indiana.  
 

Also, on one cruise, only I had WiFi and my husband was on the balcony and I texted him from the cabin.  It worked.  
 

I think some of these scenarios work but officially Carnival doesn’t support it just because sometimes it doesn’t work.  
 

Just my theory.  

We use FaceTime, Messenger, What'sApp and Gmail. They are great for people you expect to have contact with.  It doesn't help for a random call that you might get that you weren't expecting such as a Dr's office, appt. scheduling, or a neighbor trying to get in touch with you about your property.  I've gotten used to that communication on other lines.  If you have an IPhone, then I think a lot of texts still go through.  I haven't had that luck with Android.       

18 hours ago, BlerkOne said:

Fair enough. One person's bribe might be another person's perk. But the "free" alcohol that Royal "gives" to upper level cruisers is a consideration for some to book Royal.

Someone could also turn that around to say that Carnival bribes its upper tier cruisers with the laundry perk.  The "free" laundry that Carnival "gives" to upper level cruisers is a consideration for some to book Carnival.  It's all just perks to me. I don't label them differently depending on what cruise line I'm talking about.     

We have an OV cabin on deck 4 mid-ship starboard side.  Is there cabin hallway access from the casino escalator area or is it closed off.  In other words, from the cabin hall areas can you only access the casino from both elevator banks or is there also a shortcut near the escalator side to the cabin hallway? 

I think Carnival blocks wifi calling and texting for some financial reason that is as bizarre as no bacon or sauteed mushrooms.  Other cruise lines have these items and with Carnival's full ships and higher prices there really isn't a reasonable explanation. I  just complain on my surveys and prepare a workaround.  When I think it is a big enough issue, I will cruise elsewhere. 

1 minute ago, BlerkOne said:

I have said similar for some time. Carnival wants cruisers who cruise for the brand, not because of perks. Royal prefers to bribe past guests. 

Well, I do agree with the first part of your post, but not that Royal bribes its past guests.  We will be Diamond on Carnival and Diamond+ on Royal soon.  The product is just different.  I enjoy both for different reasons.     

14 minutes ago, BlerkOne said:

Who care if gamblers get free cabins. It is the marketing program that some think is a loyalty program that has been wrecked. That is a primary reason why there will never be a higher level than Diamond.

Carnival's loyalty program is nothing special.  People cruise on Carnival because they like the Carnival product.  Diamond on Carnival is nothing like Diamond, Diamond + and especially Pinnacle on Royal. If Carnival added another level above Diamond, then they would have to offer upgraded amenities that would go against the business model that everyone is the same and no one is more important than a first timer.  Sure, we get benefits, but they aren't eye opening.    

On 4/22/2024 at 2:50 PM, nc762shooter said:

Now who wants to bet on the likelihood of a thread where someone complains about the bacon shortage onboard? 🤣

Here you go....why IS the bacon still on bacation?  It annoys me to no end.  Along with no sauteed mushrooms at Guys and WiFi calling and texting being blocked. It makes no sense.  Can someone give a logical reason?  I'll offer a suggestion...make those items an upcharge.  I'll bet there won't be a shortage then!