Would you recommend Carnival to tee-totallers?

We have always only cruised Carnival.

We love Carnival - love the food, the pricing and the fun we always have.

I might have 1 or 2 drinks all week on the ship (have to have at least 1 Kiss on the Lips) and I might spend $20 or $30 in the casino. Hubby doesn't drink at all and might spend about the same in the casino.

I had a really good friend call me yesterday and tell me that his wife wants to go on a cruise for their 30th anniversary. He wanted my opinion about which cruise line to take and which ports they might enjoy.

He is a pastor (Baptist) and she is a pastor's wife - need I say more. I love them both they are wonderful people and I respect their values and morals. I would never want to recommend something that would make them uncomfortable.

So, I guess my question is this - would you recommend Carnival to friends like mine? I know there is drinking and gambling on all ships - except Disney maybe, so I'm not sure what to tell them.

Maybe Royal or Princess might be better for them.

Give me some input guys - I don't want to steer them wrong.

Thanks!

My hubby is a pastor & chaplain...and Carnival is our favorite cruise line. We have sailed on others but find Carnival much less stuffy and more relaxing for us, and we don`t gamble at all or drink. If we want to, we can find quiet places on the ship, or busier spots where we love to 'people watch' or meet others. Our Hawaii cruise on the Miracle in January included a group of 16 Amish from Ohio, and for most if them, it was not their first Carnival cruise. Dont know if this helps but that is our experience. Booked on the 13 day Sunshine cruise in February next year.

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I think as long as you prepare them for things they might see on a Carnival cruise then let them draw their own conclusions.

You may see adults drinking, smoking, gambling and occasionally swearing. Despite all the drinking, I don't think I have ever seen a drunk, but in fairness I don't stay out all night. You won't see topless European sunbathing. Carnival took away the funnel deck about a decade ago. You might see the hairy chest contest, the ice carving and filming of Carnival newlywed game.

Well, we are Baptist (not preacher) and neither one of us drink. I love going on Carnival and our cruise last month we closed the piano bar 3 different nights. We normally do not go to the "adult" comedy shows as I have no desire to listen to someone who can not speak 3 words with the F-bomb, yet after watching the family comedy with the Biker guy and talking with him we went that night. VERY GOOD and not the first F-bomb. Had people laughing all through the show.

Also, neither of us gamble. It's just not our thing.

I feel that they need to decide what is important to them. Some ships are nicer than others, even on Carnival. What kind of cabin (whoops Stateroom) do they want? IS, OV, balcony or what. I've learned that although we like inside for several reasons, we do miss having a sofa to sit on, yet other cruise lines do have sofas in their IS's.

Whtever they decide, I hope they have a great time.

A couple of years ago, I met Pastor John Hagee on a Carnival cruise.

He seemed to be having a good time.

15 years sober, 12 Cruises in 12 years.

Love the Carnival experience.

Don't care that Carnival seems to equate to drunkeness in other peoples eyes, never seen what allegedly happens on Carnival ships. Kind of an urban myth in my book.

I enjoy seeing people having a good time. And Carnival delivers that.

Have a great cruise.

It depends on what kind of people they are. If they're going to insist that no one at their table drinks or requests the whole table do a blessing over the meal then no cruise would be good for them. I've read on here these types of situations.

If they don't have a problem with how others do things then Carnival is a good choice.

It depends on what kind of people they are. If they're going to insist that no one at their table drinks or requests the whole table do a blessing over the meal then no cruise would be good for them. I've read on here these types of situations.

If they don't have a problem with how others do things then Carnival is a good choice.

THIS! I totally agree!

We don't drink or gamble (we're Mormons), but it doesn't bother us at all if other people do. But I know other people who are really bothered by someone even having a glass of wine at dinner. So I'd say it really depends on their attitude.

One thing that will go a long way to helping them have a good cruise is to pick a departure port, date and itinerary that will be a good fit. We did our honeymoon out of NOLA, and it was like Mardi Gras the entire trip. So something like that or a cruise over Spring Break might not be a great trip for them. It seems like some ports are this way as well (people in Jamaica just don't want to take no for an answer when it comes to rum punch!), but it's never bothered us. We usually pick a longer cruise that's geared toward families now that we have kids, and while there tend to be people enjoying drinks, it's not really something that you'd notice unless you were trying. I've only found the one cruise (out of 4) to have that "party" atmosphere, and I think it was mostly due to the port and time of year.

We love Carnival, but, I would be inclined to recommend Princess or Celebrity. Btw, we've cruised on Carnival, RCI, Holland America, Princess and Celebrity.

I am a tee-totaller and Carnival is MY cruise line. The one thing I wish Carnival would use is the Coke Freestyle machines for Soda Plan. Was on RCL Enchantment last year and the Soda Plan used large cooler cups with a chip in the base that activated the freestyle machines. It was extremely convenient for the passengers and freed up the bar staff.

FWIW we saw more drunk people on our Disney cruise than any carnival one. We are not really drinkers or gamblers either and always enjoy Carnival!

He is a pastor (Baptist) and she is a pastor's wife - need I say more. I love them both they are wonderful people and I respect their values and morals. I would never want to recommend something that would make them uncomfortable.

 

Thanks!

Does the pastor and his wife ever eat out at restaurants where drinks are served? We have met several pastors on Carnival, and like most people, they are out to have a good time regardless if someone next to them is having a glass of wine, beer or whatever. We were on one Carnival cruise and there was a group of Mormons - who could drink and smoke anyone under the table. They were a fun group to talk to and party with. Ministers are just like any one else - no one will care who they are as they are there to have a good time - drinking or not.

Not sure what their congregation is made up of but Carnival might represent what they have to deal with every day. I'm sure they won't see anything new. They even might save a few souls.

Not sure what their congregation is made up of but Carnival might represent what they have to deal with every day. I'm sure they won't see anything new. They even might save a few souls.

That may not go over too well with some passengers. I sat in a hot tub once with a pastor who tried to save my soul. He got so frustrated with me and DH that he got out of the hot tub hotter than when he got in.:D

We are too! and LOVE Carnival! We don't cruise much not cause we don't like to but having the $ to do it ha! This will be our 3rd cruise in Aug and there is always something to do! Our very first cruise for our 20th anniversary was on the Conquest out of NO, then we liked that so much we decided to take our kids the following year and went on RCCL Monarch of the Seas for a 4 day didn't like that as much because I felt they were nickel and diming you to death (ice cream and pizza that was available on the conquest for free-- you had to pay for on the Monarch and it was expensive!) OP--yes we did see some drunks but we just ignored it and didn't bother us. hey it's their vacation too and if that's what they choose to do then so be it--it's not going to bother us in the slightest! The food is incredible, you feel like kings and queens even if you book the lowest cabin! also we were spoiled by the ice cream cones that we got almost every night as our before bed treat! there are also lots of Virgin drinks if you want to try that--although I think the only drink I had other than sodas or the free punch in the lido deck was a Shirley temple. We also are not gamblers however I think we did visit the casino once usually take like a $20 or something and when it's gone it's gone! I would definitely recommend Carnival! --just as a side bit--we were very overwhelmed when we first got into the ship just trying to "soak" it all in later that day and into the next my husband (type A personality) was literally ready to take the Carnival vacation guarantee because he didn't know how to turn off and just relax! it was hard for him -he'd finished his books and neither one of us were interested in the hairy chest contest, bar hopping etc. (now days they've got a ton more things to do than that which i'm really looking forward to) but he finally found a way to relax and really had a great time. oh and the shows that we went to were fantastic--we didn't do the comedy shows or the late night ones but on the 7 day cruises they usually have 2 or 3 music shows which were great! yeah you might notice the costumes a little skimpy for your tastes but nothing that bad and nothing that we had never seen before. they were very much family oriented and we loved them! I also went to the piano bar one night. it was really good but hubby didn't want to go and I felt "naked" (for lack of a better word ha) without him so I didn't stay long. One thing that they've changed now for the better is the smoking on the ships which we really appreciate! when we were on conquest on 2005 there were very few places that were non-smoking. Main dining room and I think part of the lido deck inside and maybe a few other places most everywhere else people could smoke and at times it was annoying for us to breathe smoke everywhere--now from what I've heard there are actually very few places you CAN smoke! yeahhhhh!! now we don't have to breathe it!

That may not go over too well with some passengers. I sat in a hot tub once with a pastor who tried to save my soul. He got so frustrated with me and DH that he got out of the hot tub hotter than when he got in.:D

ha haa! now that's funny.

People from all walks of life cruise. There's a variety of things to do to keep you entertained. Or you can do nothing and relax the whole time. I see no reason why a Pastor wouldn't enjoy the experience. If they are wound too tight or hung up on judging, that's a whole other problem and maybe they shouldn't be in the ministry.

My entire family doesn't drink and we love Carnival cruises. We politely tell the bartender in the dining room at the beginning of the cruise that we won't be drinking and they have always been polite and understanding.

I see drinking alcohol like any other activity on board whether it be the casino, bingo, shopping, shows, trivia, nightclubs, etc. It's available if you want it and just as easy to avoid if you don't.

My entire family doesn't drink and we love Carnival cruises. We politely tell the bartender in the dining room at the beginning of the cruise that we won't be drinking and they have always been polite and understanding.

 

I see drinking alcohol like any other activity on board whether it be the casino, bingo, shopping, shows, trivia, nightclubs, etc. It's available if you want it and just as easy to avoid if you don't.

There's really no need to tell the bartender anything. Your waiter always asks if you want anything from the bar. The bartender isn't even seen from my experience.

Nobody puts a gun to your head and says drink. A simple no thank you if asked by a server , and enjoy your cruise

It depends on what kind of people they are. If they're going to insist that no one at their table drinks or requests the whole table do a blessing over the meal then no cruise would be good for them. I've read on here these types of situations.

If they don't have a problem with how others do things then Carnival is a good choice.

Well said. I agree.

My mother is a very conservative Christian. She doesn't drink or gamble, and is not a fan of risque humor. But she loves Carnival, and just recently went on her fifth Carnival cruise. In fact, she's booked the cabin right next to ours on the Pride next March!

I think, at least based on my mom's comments, your friends should be just fine on Carnival. :)

We have always only cruised Carnival.

 

We love Carnival - love the food, the pricing and the fun we always have.

 

I might have 1 or 2 drinks all week on the ship (have to have at least 1 Kiss on the Lips) and I might spend $20 or $30 in the casino. Hubby doesn't drink at all and might spend about the same in the casino.

 

I had a really good friend call me yesterday and tell me that his wife wants to go on a cruise for their 30th anniversary. He wanted my opinion about which cruise line to take and which ports they might enjoy.

 

He is a pastor (Baptist) and she is a pastor's wife - need I say more. I love them both they are wonderful people and I respect their values and morals. I would never want to recommend something that would make them uncomfortable.

 

So, I guess my question is this - would you recommend Carnival to friends like mine? I know there is drinking and gambling on all ships - except Disney maybe, so I'm not sure what to tell them.

 

Maybe Royal or Princess might be better for them.

 

Give me some input guys - I don't want to steer them wrong.

 

Thanks!

A cruise is what each person makes of it. I drink a few drinks while my husband does not drink. We both play in the casino. I do not let other people on the ship spoil my fun. No matter what line you choose it is up to yourself if you have a great cruise or not.

I don't drink, don't smoke, and don't gamble, but I have an ABSOLUTE BALL aboard Carnival ships, and would recommend them to almost anybody who wants to have a relaxing, fun vacation. No problem!

"SKY"

I can't drink for medical reasons, but I've found lots of great virgin drinks to sip while I join in activities.

Fun is what you make of it.

Wow guys! Thanks so much for all your responses.

I feel much better now. I guess I was just over thinking it.

When someone comes to you for advice on something that might cost them a few thousand dollars you want to be sure you are giving good advice.

I'm going to tell them our experiences and let them decide from there.

Like I said before we definitely aren't what you would call drinkers or gamblers and don't usually attend the adult comedy shows because we don't care for the language that you would normally associate with the "adult" shows but we always have a wonderful time on Carnival and we don't have any intention of even trying another line for now.

I'm like most of you - I don't let what other people do bother me and I'm not going to let them ruin a trip for me. My philosophy is to each their own - just because it's being offered doesn't mean I have to participate.

Once again, thanks for all your comments.

If I remember when they decide what they are going to do I'll come back and let all of you know.