Tried Carnival, and it looks like we are Royalists

[dnwside]

It always amazes me when people try one old small Carnival ship for a short 3 or 4 day cruise during spring break and say Carnival isn't for them. Any 3 or 4 day cruise during spring break or an old ship or a small ship is not going to be as good as a 7 day cruise on newer bigger ship. Just a fact. I personally like Carnival. I have read that RCI has the wow factor that Carnival may not have. Although I've been wowed by Carnival. But considering RCI cruises are generally a lot more expensive, I'll continue to sail based on cost. If RCI is about the same cost, I'll take them. I'm on the Mariner next month and I know I will have fun but I've never had a bad cruise on Carnival. There are good and bad waiters on every ship just like a restaurant at home. Same for room stewards. I actually had the best cruise ever on my last Elation cruise that was just a short weekend getaway. Best service ever in all areas. I was on the same itinerary and same ship a few months earlier and the service was good but not as good as the other. A lot of variables.

Yes the Liberty is a newer ship and was a 7 day voyage, but our first cruise was the old smaller Soverign a 4 day voyage during spring break and was still better than Triumph.

[AZ Karaoke Girl]

Thanks Cruisingator2. I also found it here on CC. http://www.cruisecritic.com/reviews/review.cfm?ShipID=169 Same exact deck plan with different names obviously but the same layout. I love the layout of the ship. I didn't know about the Vista class you mentioned so I learned something new. Good to know.

[terisu10]

I have only cruised Carnival and have always been very pleased. I agree with some previous posters that the spirit class ships are wonderful. That being said, we will be trying RCI for the very first time this coming May when we sail on the Liberty of the Seas. I am a bit nervous because we have always had such positive experiences on Carnival, but the price was so good on RCI we could not turn it down.

[gkbiiii]

I found that my recent Southern Caribbean cruise on the Carnival Victory; the ship was by far the uggliest I have ever been to. It reminded me of the Imperial Palace Las Vegas. I hated all the decorating, the ship layout, the "average American" passangers. So many people are truly obese and with a sad lifestyle. Royal ships seem to have a much more active clientel; one in chich health and diet mean something. While not Disney/Celebrity standards, Royal does a good job.

[AZ Karaoke Girl]

So many people are truly obese and with a sad lifestyle. Royal ships seem to have a much more active clientel; one in chich health and diet mean something. While not Disney/Celebrity standards, Royal does a good job.

 

:eek:I'm not even sure how to respond to your comment. RCI clearly turns obese people away at the door.:rolleyes: and riding the flowrider, rockclimbing wall and ice skating is a pre-requisite or you are thrown overboard. LOL

[mtchg]

Carnival: Better Main Dining Room food...(but Royal's aint bad)

Royal Caribbean: Better Ships (but Carnival's aint bad)

 

All else pretty much the same except Royal generally (although not always) is more expensive.

 

Looking forward to Independence of the Seas!!!!

[Aquahound]

I'm pretty sure the new Queen Victoria is a Vista class.

 

When construction on Queen Victoria first started, wasn't it originallly for another Carnival Corp owned cruise line? :confused:

[Cruising89143]

When construction on Queen Victoria first started, wasn't it originallly for another Carnival Corp owned cruise line? :confused:

 

Actually the Arcadia was supposed to be built for HAL and then was decided it would be built as the Queen Victoria and then it was decided to move it to P&O. Confused yet?? :)

[terisu10]

I found that my recent Southern Caribbean cruise on the Carnival Victory; the ship was by far the uggliest I have ever been to. It reminded me of the Imperial Palace Las Vegas. I hated all the decorating, the ship layout, the "average American" passangers. So many people are truly obese and with a sad lifestyle. Royal ships seem to have a much more active clientel; one in chich health and diet mean something. While not Disney/Celebrity standards, Royal does a good job.

 

Interesting - Fat people don't travel on RCI? Have you seen the "average American" lately?

[terisu10]

Carnival: Better Main Dining Room food...(but Royal's aint bad)

Royal Caribbean: Better Ships (but Carnival's aint bad)

 

All else pretty much the same except Royal generally (although not always) is more expensive.

 

Looking forward to Independence of the Seas!!!!

I have heard these same observations before. We are going on RCI this year because of the better deal - the Liberty of the Seas balcony cabin price I was able to obtain was way below any Carnival balcony I could get. I was really trying to make it to 10 Canival cruises to start getting some "perks" but the deal was so good on RCI, I forgot about future perks and went for present savings. "It's the economy, stupid." :D

[mtchg]

Quote:

Originally Posted by gkbiiii

I found that my recent Southern Caribbean cruise on the Carnival Victory; the ship was by far the uggliest I have ever been to. It reminded me of the Imperial Palace Las Vegas. I hated all the decorating, the ship layout, the "average American" passangers. So many people are truly obese and with a sad lifestyle. Royal ships seem to have a much more active clientel; one in chich health and diet mean something. While not Disney/Celebrity standards, Royal does a good job. Unquote

 

 

__________________ Royal Caribbean has no fewer obese travelers than any other mainstream cruise line. That post was so wrong on so many levels; the incorrect outdated 'Carnival/Trailer Trash" cliche...the suggestion that Royal Carribean only attracts physically fit, attractive, active passengers (and Carnival does not)...and most disturbingly the not so subtle bias against those that don't fit the posters definition of "fit" or "active" by their appearance.

 

Mitch

[Happy ks]

It always amazes me when people try one old small Carnival ship for a short 3 or 4 day cruise during spring break and say Carnival isn't for them. Any 3 or 4 day cruise during spring break or an old ship or a small ship is not going to be as good as a 7 day cruise on newer bigger ship. Just a fact. I personally like Carnival. I have read that RCI has the wow factor that Carnival may not have. Although I've been wowed by Carnival. But considering RCI cruises are generally a lot more expensive, I'll continue to sail based on cost. If RCI is about the same cost, I'll take them. I'm on the Mariner next month and I know I will have fun but I've never had a bad cruise on Carnival. There are good and bad waiters on every ship just like a restaurant at home. Same for room stewards. I actually had the best cruise ever on my last Elation cruise that was just a short weekend getaway. Best service ever in all areas. I was on the same itinerary and same ship a few months earlier and the service was good but not as good as the other. A lot of variables.

 

Buuuuutttttt.....If you don't have the opportunity to cruise often and have to watch what you are spending on cruises (like us), that one Carnival cruise, even the short ones, can make or break your decision to cruise with them again. I know I've looked at the Carnival web site and other web sites to see pics of the newer ships and the decor, both ship and cabins, just doesn't appeal to me.

 

They should put a good crew on the short cruises and make an effort for first timers to be amazed. So they will book that longer cruise. Monarch had the best crew of any ship we've been on when they were here on the West Coast.

[JohnGaltny]

I found that my recent Southern Caribbean cruise on the Carnival Victory; the ship was by far the uggliest I have ever been to. It reminded me of the Imperial Palace Las Vegas. I hated all the decorating, the ship layout, the "average American" passangers. So many people are truly obese and with a sad lifestyle. Royal ships seem to have a much more active clientel; one in chich health and diet mean something. While not Disney/Celebrity standards, Royal does a good job.

 

Narcisistic much?

[Aquahound]

Actually the Arcadia was supposed to be built for HAL and then was decided it would be built as the Queen Victoria and then it was decided to move it to P&O. Confused yet?? :)

 

Yes. Thoroughly.

 

So what was the original intent for the hull of the current QV? HAL?

[MrPete]

I found that my recent Southern Caribbean cruise on the Carnival Victory; the ship was by far the uggliest I have ever been to. It reminded me of the Imperial Palace Las Vegas. I hated all the decorating, the ship layout, the "average American" passangers. So many people are truly obese and with a sad lifestyle. Royal ships seem to have a much more active clientel; one in chich health and diet mean something. While not Disney/Celebrity standards, Royal does a good job.

 

OH MY :eek:

 

Sounds like you shouldn't sail anything less than the Titanic.

 

I've never read such a pathetic post.

[ddgleason]

Can you be more specific?

 

The food?

The entertainment?

Your stateroom?

Your servers?

Fellow passengers?

Your ports of call?

Activities?

 

We found sailing the west coast wasn't the same as a Caribbean cruise. It had just a different feel. Same with east coast Canadian cruises.

 

 

I really don't want any of this to sound like I am complaining a lot- because that is certainly not the intent. Carnival is a successful cruise line; they must be doing something right for their loyal cruisers. They just didn't suit us, I guess.

 

Specifics:

Food- The warm chocolate melting cake was/is as fabulous as you have heard. I had it the first night and was HOOKED. Had it every night there after without a backwards glance. The rest of the food? ehhhh. Take it or leave it. On all of our RCI cruises (14) we have managed to find something at dinner we like. This cruise, there were a couple of nights we just didn't care for anything on the menu- and we are NOT picky eaters. (I was quite disappointed at the lack of escargots.) The buffet had the same things every day. (lunch, I mean). Carnival did win on room service, however. Much faster and a better menu, ironically, than RCI. :confused: (I am still trying to figure out how that is possible when we didn't much care for the buffet.)

 

Entertainment- no question here. RCI wins. We left 2 of the 3 shows we went to. (always sit in the back in case you want to leave early). The show we stayed for was the hypnotist. That's always good for a laugh.

 

Stateroom- Carnival wins. Bigger. And I am comparing to Monarch with this. Yes, decor was, well, not aesthically pleasing, shall we say, but that's not that big of a deal when you are asleep.

 

Servers/Service- this really was the deciding factor for us. RCI takes care of their passengers. Carnival seemed, not indifferent, but not that same feeling of priority to take care of us. Again, we never got BAD service- it just wasn't the extra things the RCI staff provides. (i.e. waiter cutting my daughter's steak at dinner; sweeping crumbs off of the table before dessert; being greeted by EVERY employee you pass anywhere on the ship; etc.) We think it is that little extra that makes the difference in just good service and truly superior service. We wondered if it had to do with the fact that the crew knew they were getting their tips before we even left San Diego?

 

Fellow Passengers- I hate to stereotype. I have seen the worst passengers ever on RCI (LA Groove Cruise). So, I can't say the Carnival crowd was so out of control or rowdy. Seemed like the same type of people to me. (And I didn't notice a large amount of obese passengers- what was THAT comment about? :confused: (I know that wasn't you who said that, Pete.) We knew we were cruising Spring Break. We expected the standard Spring Break stuff. Surprisingly, there was not a lot of it. Maybe we just didn't go where they were. (We don't do karaoke)

 

Ports of Call- we knew what we signed up for. Cruised it MANY times on Monarch. And that is why we chose to leave from San Diego, not Long Beach.

 

Activities- Along with service, this was probably the other deciding factor for us. We just never found anything we wanted to do. On RCI, we always have found a few things a day that interest us. That didn't happen on Carnival. There was one activity my DH wanted to attend- The Euchre Players Meet Up. We went to that. There was 1 other couple there and no CD staff at all. When we asked the bartender to call and find out if it had been moved, he was told that the CD staff doesn't run that activity. They just let us know we can meet if we want to form a game. Seemed kind of odd to us. They didn't even provide the cards.

 

We did notice that everything seemed to run about 10-15 minutes behind schedule. Even my kids noticed that. When I asked them which they preferred, Camp Carnival or AO, they both said AO because the AO staff has better games/activities and they do things at the time they say they will. (Of course, our 5 year old said he loves both; he doesn't care where he dances and colors. :D)

 

Yes, the ship did look like an old Vegas casino, and as a Vegas native, I can speak from experience on that. But decor does not make or break a cruise for me. The layout of the ship just made no sense to us at all. We couldn't figure out how to get from aft to forward or back pretty much all week.

 

So, we will think long and hard before we book them again. (COME BACK, MONARCH!!!!!)

[ddgleason]

It always amazes me when people try one old small Carnival ship for a short 3 or 4 day cruise during spring break and say Carnival isn't for them. Any 3 or 4 day cruise during spring break or an old ship or a small ship is not going to be as good as a 7 day cruise on newer bigger ship. Just a fact. I personally like Carnival. I have read that RCI has the wow factor that Carnival may not have. Although I've been wowed by Carnival. But considering RCI cruises are generally a lot more expensive, I'll continue to sail based on cost. If RCI is about the same cost, I'll take them. I'm on the Mariner next month and I know I will have fun but I've never had a bad cruise on Carnival. There are good and bad waiters on every ship just like a restaurant at home. Same for room stewards. I actually had the best cruise ever on my last Elation cruise that was just a short weekend getaway. Best service ever in all areas. I was on the same itinerary and same ship a few months earlier and the service was good but not as good as the other. A lot of variables.

 

 

But I am not comparing this cruise to our last cruise on the Mariner. I was comparing it to the Monarch, which I would think is comparable considering Monarch is an older ship, she did the 3 & 4 day runs, and she is a smaller ship also. I would say that is apples to apples, wouldn't you? And, again, I never said it was a bad experience. I tried to make it clear that was not the case. It was a cruise, therefore by my definition, it was a good time. We were on vacation on a ship- nothing bad about that. We just felt like it wasn't a good fit for us. I could be wrong, of course. Maybe other carnival ships and their crews are much better, but if I KNOW we like Royal, why would I spend my money on Carnival on the off chance that it might be better? It makes more sense to me to stick with the cruise line that I know I will enjoy.

[SeaSagain]

Okay, as an avid cruiser for many years, I have to address this thread...When you book a cruise vacation...people choose a destination, itinerary, price, personal preferences...etc. There are so many factors that enter into a cruise vacation that it can be a good or bad experience, it depends on so many things...mostly on YOUR frame of mind during YOUR vacation. When did a vacation, (which we should be so grateful in this day and age to be able to attend), become nothing more than a critique?

I can't imagine my depression era parents, who would save all year for the 2 weeks at the beach, or lake, or mountains...do anything but make the best of whatever went on...they had FUN! If it was a 2 week rain storm, etc. there is always the next time...

Let's put it to rest...YOU have a preference for a cruise line...great! Stay loyal...but never put down another line, or the people that like that line...

We are ALL entitled to our opinions..

Sea you around..each line brings something different to me..so I'll stick with them all...FYI...NONE are perfect!

[AZ Karaoke Girl]

We were on vacation on a ship- nothing bad about that. We just felt like it wasn't a good fit for us. I could be wrong, of course. Maybe other carnival ships and their crews are much better, but if I KNOW we like Royal, why would I spend my money on Carnival on the off chance that it might be better? It makes more sense to me to stick with the cruise line that I know I will enjoy.

 

True. I certainly can't fault you for this cuz I will probably do the same thing. I like Carnival. Haven't been on my first RCI cruise yet so I'm counting the days til my May Mariner cruise and I'm really looking forward to it. But in all reality I like Carnival will probably sail CCL over RCI in the future unless the price/itinerary is right. Lots of options out there. I just get frustrated when someone takes one cruise and says the entire line is horrible. I'm not saying thats what you said but it happens a lot so I find myself defending CCL. I've had some pretty awesome cruises on Carnival.

[Love_the_summer]

We also tried a Carnival cruise last year. It wasn't bad, persay, but we do enjoy RC much more.

[Celandine]

it's funny how people have such different experiences.

 

On my recent Majesty cruise I found that activities that were listed, never happened (and I looked) I found myself bored. And when I spotted a Carnival ship while at sea, I was wishing I was on that instead!

 

I'll likely try Royal again, (if I get a good price) but Carnival has never let me down.

 

oh, the crumb sweeper thing...our table thought it was hillarious and odd. Personally, I don't enjoy the waiter in my personal space that much, so after night 1 I tried to make sure I had no crumbs.

 

One lunch on the Majesty actually made me sick, and we were quite disappointed with lunch in general.

 

I didn't find any extra service on Royal, except to be herded to the open side of the buffet seating to desperately hunt for a seat (while walking past a bunch of empty tables) - not the best as my dad was recovering from knee surgery.

 

I do look forward to trying the Oasis or even the Liberty of the Seas though.

[ddgleason]

Okay, as an avid cruiser for many years, I have to address this thread...When you book a cruise vacation...people choose a destination, itinerary, price, personal preferences...etc. There are so many factors that enter into a cruise vacation that it can be a good or bad experience, it depends on so many things...mostly on YOUR frame of mind during YOUR vacation. When did a vacation, (which we should be so grateful in this day and age to be able to attend), become nothing more than a critique?

I can't imagine my depression era parents, who would save all year for the 2 weeks at the beach, or lake, or mountains...do anything but make the best of whatever went on...they had FUN! If it was a 2 week rain storm, etc. there is always the next time...

Let's put it to rest...YOU have a preference for a cruise line...great! Stay loyal...but never put down another line, or the people that like that line...

We are ALL entitled to our opinions..

Sea you around..each line brings something different to me..so I'll stick with them all...FYI...NONE are perfect!

 

I am not sure to whom your post is addressed, but as the originator of the thread and an avid cruiser for many years myself, I will address it. If you reread my posts, you will see that I never put down Carnival or the people that cruise Carnival. Quite the contrary. In fact, I made a point to say several times that it was NOT bad, it just wasn't for us. I also pointed out that we really wanted to like Carnival since that is our only short cruise option in the West now. We went on the ship with a completely open mind and we tried to find a fit- we just couldn't. I believe that everything I presented regarding the specifics were fair and, again, if you reread that post, you will see that I did say several things on Carnival are better than Royal. You say we are all entitled to our opinions and you are 100% correct- this includes me, and my opinion is that Carnival is not the line for me. I also am aware that no line is perfect (I did mention the LA Groove Cruise which was on Royal- that cruise was 10 times worse than this one.)

 

I am glad that your depression era parents could have fun no matter what. (I am not sure of the relevance of that to this thread.) I am incredibly grateful for every blessing I have, believe me. Yes, I am grateful that I am able, in this economy, to be able to cruise. I never said the vacation was nothing more than a critique; others asked for specifics about why we prefer RCI and I provided those details. When you think about it, aren't all the reviews critiques then?

 

I am sorry if this thread offended you for some reason, but to say let's put it to rest is a little rough, IMO. Is this not what the boards are for? To share information and offer differing opinions?

 

Of course, I may be taking your post completely the wrong way (wouldn't be the first time), if that is the case, I apologize. In no way was the thread a slam on Carnival or the people who enjoy Carnival. As I said before, a day on a ship is a good day on vacation.

[ddgleason]

it's funny how people have such different experiences.

 

And when I spotted a Carnival ship while at sea, I was wishing I was on that instead!

 

I do look forward to trying the Oasis or even the Liberty of the Seas though.

 

It is funny how people can be on the same exact cruise and have completely different cruises!

 

When we docked back in San Diego, there was a Royal ship right there (Radiance, I think- don't remember) and I was wishing we had taken that one!!!

 

It took us a while to work up to the Mariner! I don't know about the Oasis. So big!!!

[Piepkorn]

I just get frustrated when someone takes one cruise and says the entire line is horrible. I'm not saying thats what you said but it happens a lot so I find myself defending CCL. I've had some pretty awesome cruises on Carnival.

 

We had the misfortune of being on Celebrity Millennium in summer 2006. Absolutely HATED the ship. There were no quiet spots to relax, and all public venues were over-crowded. Crew was tired and overworked. Stateroom attendent tried to enter room 3x with DND sign up. Typical dinner service well over 2 hours, and missed shows due to this. Kids breaking out in fights breaking out during the day onboard (while parents in port). Then at night they would take their parents cards, and overtake the nightclubs and get drunk with no action by staff. Even so, the itinerary was to die for, and would do it again in a heartbeat....but not the same (type of) ship, and hopefully not the same crew. But our experience with that caused us to cancel a booking for Panama canal we made for April 2011 after much thought. Pretty loyal to RCCL, and want to first wait to see if they offer anything for 2011. Then we will look elsewhere.

 

Okay, as an avid cruiser for many years, I have to address this thread...When you book a cruise vacation...people choose a destination, itinerary, price, personal preferences...etc. There are so many factors that enter into a cruise vacation that it can be a good or bad experience, it depends on so many things...mostly on YOUR frame of mind during YOUR vacation. When did a vacation, (which we should be so grateful in this day and age to be able to attend), become nothing more than a critique?

I can't imagine my depression era parents, who would save all year for the 2 weeks at the beach, or lake, or mountains...do anything but make the best of whatever went on...they had FUN! If it was a 2 week rain storm, etc. there is always the next time...

Let's put it to rest...YOU have a preference for a cruise line...great! Stay loyal...but never put down another line, or the people that like that line...

We are ALL entitled to our opinions..

Sea you around..each line brings something different to me..so I'll stick with them all...FYI...NONE are perfect!

 

Yes I know you love Carnival :D....waiting forward to you twisting Debbie's arm for this one. I am ready to book :cool: Date is flexible (see sig line). Wishing you well while you are back east.

 

Dave

[Celandine]

It is funny how people can be on the same exact cruise and have completely different cruises!

 

When we docked back in San Diego, there was a Royal ship right there (Radiance, I think- don't remember) and I was wishing we had taken that one!!!

 

It took us a while to work up to the Mariner! I don't know about the Oasis. So big!!!

 

I know! I see it all the time.

 

it's a matter of perception and taste I think.

 

I think I'd settle for a ship tour of the Oasis, but I think it would take me a week just to see it! lol