UPNYGuy

you would be seriously put off by Oceania. the evening entertainment is a string quartet that plays in the lobby (not an atrium)

Oceania ships are smaller and have the ability to get into ports that the Carnival (and other lines) cannot. The R Class ships are roughly 30,000 GRT with roughly 650 pax on them. Take Bermuda for example, Oceania will port right in downtown St George, and run over to Hamilton. With the larger ships you lose this ability. For what it is worth, my avatar photo is from an Oceania sailing to Alaska. DW and I have sailed on HAL, NCL (Haven), Oceania, MSC (Yacht Club), and Carnival. Each cruise line has plusses and minuses. If you are a more destination focused cruiser, Oceania will be more your cup of tea. But just be advised, casual for them is slacks and a polo (tshirts are discouraged). I usually dress like this anyway, so it does not bother me. We just got back from a 10 day sailing on Carnival, so we do bounce around.

I think the larger issue is that Carnival has issues doing rapid turnovers. They struggle with this even on the Spirit class.

Royal used to send a Freedom class (160,000 some GRT) to Grand Cayman. I know not Mexican Riveria, but they do tender.

Not if you stay in the Havana area on a Vista I will generally take a Spirit class, but same itinerary I will take a Havana cabin on a vista over a Spirit class (granted, you pay more)

navigator is similar size wise as panorama. I have been on both.

On the miracle right now. Had a martini. Did NOT read that correctly at all...thought you asked whose privates the ship visited. Must've been a damn good martini 🤣