Carnival vs royal Caribbean

[Motorman23]

I don't disagree.

Happy sailing! ;)

 

So you agree?

[TwinPrincessMermaids]

I cruised my first 10 yrs on RCCL (what it was at the time) including Hawaii, which was stunning. Although I can't remember which ship it was or much about the actual cruise, but the ports obviously were great. That was the last RCI one I was on in 2002.

 

Since then, I cruised 07-13 with CCL and am a gold member. After the Triumph (have been on it in 11, it was nice) accident, got lots of 'ribbing' from co-workers about going on a Carnival. We all decided that an incident like that would make them even more vigilant so we actually were more confident about our CCL late Feb. About a week after we got back from it (it was just ok, but having had MANY great experiences with CCL, this one just sucked the joy out of me, couldn't wait to get home) Mom calls me and asked which ship I was on. When I told her, she says "It's stuck in St Maarten too." And sure enough, it was the same ship, only 1.5 weeks after we debarked it. No thanks. I have had enough. Much too close to call for me.

 

It kind of does make me sad, because I have cruised and defended their service, food quality and excellent ports (Roatan anyone???) for years. Now, I have completely lost confidence in not only their machine upkeep (and I'm not sure why, except maybe that their fleet is just enormous to keep up with), but also with their cut backs to service and product. I'm not a picky service person, and normally I don't even drink water at the table, but after being in the hot sun all day and swimming in salt water, I was desperate to get the water filled. I would just stare at it and hope our waiter would come back. I was shushed at least once. And had to pour my own coffee twice in the Main Dining Rooms. Not that I'm a snob, but most cruising people know that this is not the norm for service. Again, we just got off of a Carnival first week of March. I cannot ever remember sitting in line so long. I waited my whole cruise. Waited to check off, check in, check out at the gift shop, don't even get me started about the hotdog grill line, waited for coffee cups in the buffet, waited for omelets...waited and waited.

 

For me, I am over being made to walk through smokey casinos on the promenade deck. I can't remember the layout of the RCI I was on last, so maybe it is the same or maybe it isn't. I don't have a problem with a casino on board, that is someone else's business. However, I do not feel like it should be made the thoroughfare and that it's being placed there is an obvious attempt to lure people to lose money. I also feel the same way about the bingo that was 'conveniently' in the main theater every night before the main stage show. We had to get there 30 min prior to get seats for our big group, and subsequently were made to sit through bingo too. Again, people can make their own decisions, but once again I felt like it was pushed on me as a captive audience. I started going to deck 2 and walking thru the main hallways to avoid the casino promenade (and hope their weren't a lot of housekeeping carts in the way!) and half the time, didn't get to the shows. Speaking of which, we never made to comedy on time because we hadn't yet had desert served to us in the MDR, and they would be flickering the lights like to 'get out, we have to clear for the next service.'

 

My other chief complaint with CCL (but my apply to all of them for the most part) is the very pushy drink sales going on. "What can I get you? Do you want another?" It isn't any better if you order one, than they come back even more. If you try to order a glass of water at the karaoke lounge, they never come back. I don't like a drink being placed into my hand as soon as I embark the ship the first day, as if it is complementary, and then you take a sip, and they say "Give me your key card". learned that trick a few years ago! Don't take it! Also, the same goes for checking bags with rum from the islands. Carnival definitely confiscates it if they can. I assume RCI does still too? But I could be wrong.

 

All in all, my last 2 carnivals have shown a serious lack of service and interest from the staff. They don't even look at you. I try to smile at them and appreciate them, instead they don't make eye contact and make me feel uncomfortable. (They are people too! Not just here to stack the cups and be invisible!) The appetizers are SOOO small now, its almost silly. You need to order 2 or 3, and then the plates would just sit there because it literally is like a bite or two. The entree portions are still pretty good, same lasagna type stuff. Soups were good, like the thai and indian options they offer. Of course, all CCL cruisers know the Melting Cakes, yum! They are always a big hit. Oh they also had the Old Wild West photos, that was fun to take. So there were a few things I enjoyed on the CCL. A few of us were in the Legends show, and the entertainment staff was totally hilarious. However, CCL still uses CD BOOKS for their karaoke- what?! (Unless its live band karaoke, which is cool but obviously limited material.)

 

However, I have never gotten off of a cruise and be thankful to be home! Normally I get the post cruise blues. Not this time, I was glad. That was a first for me. I told my friend "I'm cruised OUT! 3 yrs in a row, and I'm done." She said, "You are just Carnivaled out." And she was right. Because unbeknownst to me at the time, but 4 weeks later, I WAS on another cruise!

 

But it wasn't Carnival!

 

(Wasn't RCI either though.)

 

I have always been happy with my numerous RC cruises. Up until the last 2 yrs, I had been happy with my CCLs too. However, I have decided I am past the drinking and gambling floating casinos hotel that I feel like Carnival has moved towards especially in recent years. I also don't care for thongs on the mainstage, etc. They stop the dinner service to do waiter dances, it just sets us back.

 

I would be open to cruising RCI in the future. As a very (previously) happy CCL gold cruiser, I'm sad to say, I won't be going back any time soon, even if that IS the only one my friends will go on. It's just not for me anymore. I have lost confidence in both their mechanics, their staff, their service, and their business model. After our ship was a week out of stranding us, after we had been on a 7 day only 5 weeks before, Carnival actually called my cell phone to try and get me to book another one! Ever had that happen before? It shows they are desperate for cruisers! (I had just gotten off?! I can see them calling people who hadn't been in a yr or two, but...)

 

As it turns out, I told him "Sorry, I actually just got off of a Disney Cruise Sunday. I won't be coming back to Carnival due to the smoking on the pool decks, walking thru the smokey casinos, the pushy drink sales, and bingo etc. It's not your fault as a rep, just letting you know why."

 

So that is my most recent Carnival review. It's not biased in any terms. I would definitely cruise in this order: Disney (first and foremost, it completely and utterly blew my mind in only 3 days!), RCI (if itineraries and pricing beat DCL, which is quite possible, but I would still try to get DCL first), and possibly on the very low end NCL (because I think they could possibly compare to CCL, but I can't personally vouch for that, but I HATE freestyle dining!!!), and don't plan to spend a dime anymore with any CCL or affiliates, so out goes Celebrity and HAL too.

 

I liked all my RCCLs growing up, but there is nothing particularly outstandingly memorable about them (other than the great ports). CCL has great ports too. Nothing has compared to DCL for me. And I don't even have kids! I'm a 10 yr married 31 yr old! I couldn't get enough!

 

I hope that this post helps the OP? As mentioned, its been sometime since I cruised RCI, but CCL I have done LOTS and very recently and even I won't go back...

[Clarea]

I cruised my first 10 yrs on RCCL (what it was at the time) including Hawaii, which was stunning. Although I can't remember which ship it was or much about the actual cruise, but the ports obviously were great. That was the last RCI one I was on in 2002...

Very interesting insight, thanks for taking the time to post your thoughts.

[Big_G]

 

So that is my most recent Carnival review. It's not biased in any terms. I would definitely cruise in this order: Disney (first and foremost, it completely and utterly blew my mind in only 3 days!), RCI (if itineraries and pricing beat DCL, which is quite possible, but I would still try to get DCL first), and possibly on the very low end NCL (because I think they could possibly compare to CCL, but I can't personally vouch for that, but I HATE freestyle dining!!!), and don't plan to spend a dime anymore with any CCL or affiliates, so out goes Celebrity and HAL too.

 

 

Celebrity is owned by Royal Caribbean Cruise Lines and is a nice change of pace from Carnival and Royal Caribbean International. Just a tick upscale and relaxing with better itineraries. I wouldn't give it a thumbs down until you've tried it. Happy sailing. :)

[TwinPrincessMermaids]

Celebrity is owned by Royal Caribbean Cruise Lines and is a nice change of pace from Carnival and Royal Caribbean International. Just a tick upscale and relaxing with better itineraries. I wouldn't give it a thumbs down until you've tried it. Happy sailing. :)

 

Oops, I knew that! Complete apologies, you are correct. Who was I confusing them with... They own Costa and HAL, do they own anyone else?

 

No, I agree with you as others have said they only cruise DCL or Celebrity. How do the prices compare though? Because with my last DCL going so well, I almost would have to save the investment for them (at least until I am 'over' that and ready to move on again?)

[gtalum]

That may be, but they won't be getting mine;) And, I wouldn't say we are affluent by any stretch of the imagination...just picky with our vacation $$.

 

Seriously, by your own admonition you only sail Carnival. What is the impetus for coming here on a RCCL board to comment, what do you care what people who've chosen RCCL as their cruise line of choice have to say? Just wondering. I never go to your board and don't care what people who've chosen Carnival think. The only time I have is to offer sympathy for the Triumph, etc. More power to you and your chosen line, but by the same token, bully for our line too.

 

Thank you for so wonderfully exemplifying my point about so many cruisers being inexplicably defensive of their chosen cruise line. :D

 

Perhaps you didn't notice that I have also sailed NCL and that I didn't mention a single critical thing about Royal Caribbean.

[Big_G]

Oops, I knew that! Complete apologies, you are correct. Who was I confusing them with... They own Costa and HAL, do they own anyone else?

 

No, I agree with you as others have said they only cruise DCL or Celebrity. How do the prices compare though? Because with my last DCL going so well, I almost would have to save the investment for them (at least until I am 'over' that and ready to move on again?)

 

Carnival also owns Princess and others. Can't help you with a price comparison with Disney but Celebrity is not much higher than RCI and in some cases almost the same. After spending a few years with RCI we bounced to Princess and then back again. Princess is nice but after a few cruises we felt they weren't as nice as RCI. Mixed in a couple of Carnivals and then tried Celebrity. I was impressed but DW was wowed. We'll probably mix RCI and Celebrity as long as RCI keeps pumping out new ships. I find that loyalty for the perks is nice but it also can be a trap.

[TwinPrincessMermaids]

Carnival also owns Princess and others. Can't help you with a price comparison with Disney but Celebrity is not much higher than RCI and in some cases almost the same. After spending a few years with RCI we bounced to Princess and then back again. Princess is nice but after a few cruises we felt they weren't as nice as RCI. Mixed in a couple of Carnivals and then tried Celebrity. I was impressed but DW was wowed. We'll probably mix RCI and Celebrity as long as RCI keeps pumping out new ships. I find that loyalty for the perks is nice but it also can be a trap.

 

Ahah! Princess. I KNEW it was some 'fancy' one, my mistake for confusing it with Celebrity. I wish I could re-edit my first post to say Princess instead of Celebrity! But it won't let me.

 

It would be very, very, very hard to pry ANY cruise $$$ from this new DCL believer. We even got the new credit account so that all future points can go towards the next one. They converted my 36 yr old husband too on most accounts... At this point, I don't think I plan to spend $1.00 with another line. That's how happily I personally was. I would rather wait years and save up than go on another one *or go shorter days sooner.* Nothing against RCI, it's hard to compete with Belle, Cinderella and Crush (and I'm not that into Shrek...)

 

Also, its been years since I went to CoCoCay. To date, even though I was 11 at the time (yikes, more years than I thought!) it still has some of the most memorable stunning snorkeling I can ever remember (even compared to Hawaii!) Are the reefs still like that or have the hurricanes effected them some? And does CoCoCay offer complementary food and beverages as Castaway did? At the time, I know for a fact all they had was bottled water we had to buy. But that WAS 20 yrs ago, so maybe RCI is providing more with their island?

[WetToes]

I think that's an exaggeration. Most of the criticism I read was from regular Carnival cruisers. There were a couple that insisted on comparing RCI to Carnival and one of them was just a troll stirring the pot.

 

 

Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk

 

So you agree?

 

 

SPDBigG - You're welcome to your thought.

 

Motorman23 - I agree that it's a bit weird, there's a better word but I can't use it here ;), that people who don't cruise on a certain line post on that lines site, ... to do nothing but bash.

[GaNavy]

I don't understand the us-vs.-them thing re Royal and Carnival cruisers - and even the esteemed Mr. Heald seems to stir this pot, albeit with more humor than posters on this thread.

 

To get back to OP's point, I think Carnival and Royal have both had good and bad days. Royal handled the Grandeur situation very well, but they probably had to after the hash they made of the San Juan boarding incident a while back, where they left passenger stranded because of a storm and then basically told them "tough luck"...unlike Carnival, which took good care of its passengers. Carnival seems to have had some maintenance issues, though, something that most on these boards probably never considered when they were yakking about cutbacks in the food or entertainment.

 

I've loved all my cruises - yes, the cutbacks in entertainment were most noticeable on my last Carnival trip, but it was a short one and I was traveling with a friend I hadn't seen in some years so I didn't care. And my Navigator trip last year was so great that I've booked the same trip for this year. But overall, my opinion probably jibes with lots of others -

 

Royal's ships are prettier and bigger, meaning that there are more choices.

Carnival's ships have better food and a livelier atmosphere.

 

Take your pick.

[TEXASMUNK]

Between the Carnival triumph and the Grandeur...

 

Folks on Triumph were texting and making phone calls...all with basically the same complaint.....lack of onboard communications from the ship's officers and staff.

 

Those comments quickly found their way into the media....Early on for RCI, some folks onboard were complaining about having to stay a lifeboat stations, but with RCI using social media very, very quickly those comments were soon forgotten.

 

Anyone in PR will tell ya, do not run and hide! Communicate again, and again and again!

[TwinPrincessMermaids]

Royal's ships are prettier and bigger, meaning that there are more choices.

Carnival's ships have better food and a livelier atmosphere.

 

Take your pick.

 

Hehe. I like that: "livelier".

 

That's one way to put it. When we boarded the Triumph '11, we had just got our key cards into our cabin doors when security came up hauling our 'neighbor' on both sides who was SOOO toasted, I guess she passed out and they had to escort her back. (Asked if she was with us? Um nope...)Much, much before sail away party. We had JUST had our rooms released, so there ya go. (Also, she wasn't a 'college age' partier...unless the years were rough, she was not far from retirement...)

 

Our Carnival deck parties were almost always a bust. We would dress 'tropical' and go to them and no one would show up... I would like a 'lively' cruise that way. (and not the ABOVE mentioned way...)

 

**with respect to posting on a RCI page, I will just on the sly mention that our funnest liveliest non-boozed out group of cruisers was on a previously mentioned line...**

 

That is funny though. "lively"

 

hehe

[RSLeesburg]

This is an interesting thread because I am considering a Carnival cruise out of Boston because it is close to home and a quick little getaway.

 

I would do it - the convenience of not having to fly makes up for a lot, and despite the comments flying back and forth, there are plenty of people who sail on her and have a great time.

 

Of course, RCCL also sails out of Boston sometimes too;)

[Cindy]

Between the Carnival triumph and the Grandeur...

 

Folks on Triumph were texting and making phone calls...all with basically the same complaint.....lack of onboard communications from the ship's officers and staff.

 

Those comments quickly found their way into the media....Early on for RCI, some folks onboard were complaining about having to stay a lifeboat stations, but with RCI using social media very, very quickly those comments were soon forgotten.

 

Anyone in PR will tell ya, do not run and hide! Communicate again, and again and again!

 

Plenty of threads about the overall differences between RCI and CCL, but going back to the initial question raised by the OP of this thread, I absolutely agree that the biggest difference in the two incidents was communication. In this day and age, there's no way to run and hide...news is instantaneous. I think Royal Caribbean started communicating early and often, which cut off a lot of speculation before it even started.

[Big_G]

I don't understand the us-vs.-them thing re Royal and Carnival cruisers - and even the esteemed Mr. Heald seems to stir this pot, albeit with more humor than posters on this thread.

 

To get back to OP's point, I think Carnival and Royal have both had good and bad days. Royal handled the Grandeur situation very well, but they probably had to after the hash they made of the San Juan boarding incident a while back, where they left passenger stranded because of a storm and then basically told them "tough luck"...unlike Carnival, which took good care of its passengers. Carnival seems to have had some maintenance issues, though, something that most on these boards probably never considered when they were yakking about cutbacks in the food or entertainment.

 

I've loved all my cruises - yes, the cutbacks in entertainment were most noticeable on my last Carnival trip, but it was a short one and I was traveling with a friend I hadn't seen in some years so I didn't care. And my Navigator trip last year was so great that I've booked the same trip for this year. But overall, my opinion probably jibes with lots of others -

 

Royal's ships are prettier and bigger, meaning that there are more choices.

Carnival's ships have better food and a livelier atmosphere.

 

Take your pick.

 

I wish I could remember who posted it recently but a wiser than me commenter pointed out that many are just protecting their purchasing choices as opposed to the actual cruise line. I tend to agree. Both boards have their enthusiasts that believe their line of choice can do no wrong and they're usually the most vocal. During the Triumph episode, some of the enthusiast were taking a beating on the Carnival boards for claiming it was no big deal that people were stranded on a powerless cruise ship for five days and they should be happy with the compensation. My favorite was the comparison to being no worse than a camping trip. I haven't seen that in this instance but I haven't heard anyone claiming they were treated poorly either.

[WetToes]

The Baltimore Sun's article had quotes from a passenger above the fire who was not happy. They praised the firefighting crew, but after the fire was out they felt like they "didn't exist", "just a number", "treated like animals". Just sayin' ... give it time.

[Mikew0805]

I believe you are focusing a bit too narrowly on Fain's comment and perhaps out of context. That reply had more to do with not setting up a fire sale culture (maybe that is not the best metaphor right about now;) but I'll go with it:D) that people will wait anticipating deep discounts as the sail date nears. Their business model is to keep the price variances in a closer range and really does not stem from arrogance.

 

Yeah thanks, I am aware of what RCI does. Now before anyone jumps to any conclusions, please look at my signature! I am obviously not loyal to any one line, as I think a customer being loyal to a company is completely backwards.

 

As far as the comment. I responded to a written post as it was written. Sorry if it hurts anyones feelings, but that written statement was as arrogant as arrogant gets.

[Big_G]

I wish I could remember who posted it recently but a wiser than me commenter pointed out that many are just protecting their purchasing choices as opposed to the actual cruise line. I tend to agree. Both boards have their enthusiasts that believe their line of choice can do no wrong and they're usually the most vocal. During the Triumph episode, some of the enthusiast were taking a beating on the Carnival boards for claiming it was no big deal that people were stranded on a powerless cruise ship for five days and they should be happy with the compensation. My favorite was the comparison to being no worse than a camping trip. I haven't seen that in this instance but I haven't heard anyone claiming they were treated poorly either.

 

We sail both Carnival and Royal. So do not have a dog in this childish "my cruiseline is better than your cruiseline" banter.

 

Folks defend their favorite cruiseline primarily because they are actually defending their own buying decision.

 

 

Sorry couldn't find your comment earlier in order to give you credit when I quoted it. Nicely said.

[Big_G]

Yeah thanks, I am aware of what RCI does. Now before anyone jumps to any conclusions, please look at my signature! I am obviously not loyal to any one line, as I think a customer being loyal to a company is completely backwards.

 

As far as the comment. I responded to a written post as it was written. Sorry if it hurts anyones feelings, but that written statement was as arrogant as arrogant gets.

 

Could you link the statement so others could read it? Thanks.

[mdwcruises]

Lucky? Maybe but while there have been fires on both lines recently, three Carnival ships have been completely disabled while all the RCI ships have continued under their own power. You have to wonder if Carnival is a victim of a build or design issues. That could explain the retrofits.

 

Oh I agree the cause of Carnival's fire was more suspect. What I meant is the result of fire is luckier for RCCL. At least the fire wasn't in the engine room so the ship could power itself to a port that was close by. Also it happened over night so it had time to get under control before the media had a chance to go into overdrive, not that the media didn't try. :p

[m*u*g*]

CEO Richard Fain stating that he’d rather RCI sail with empty cabins than discount the prices.

 

 

That's called Strategy. Nothing wrong with having a business plan.

[Cruising89143]

That's called Strategy. Nothing wrong with having a business plan.

 

 

There was a lot more to that comment than was posted. Someone is just trying to make it one sided. Take it with a grain of salt.

[Chris4205]

I would do it - the convenience of not having to fly makes up for a lot, and despite the comments flying back and forth, there are plenty of people who sail on her and have a great time.

 

Of course, RCCL also sails out of Boston sometimes too;)

 

Very true on all accounts. It is a pretty reasonable deal as well for a Balcony.

[CRUISEFAN0001]

Overall - the 2 cruise lines have taken different approaches regarding severe cruise ship issues.

 

With dozens of ships out to sea, and these all being complex technologies and mechanical devices...it's actually surprising more issues don't arise.

 

IN just looking at the past 6 months or so, and the major ship problems that occured...

 

Carnival clearly took the easy, cheap, and lowest effort approach to handling cruisers. There was a lot of hesitation in what they chose to do along the way as well. Maintenance depth and frequency is less than RCI's schedules. That's been well-documented in the media.

 

In contrast, the executive management and engineering staffs of Royal Caribbean acted quickly and took the approach of personal involvement and making rapid decisions with cruisers in mind.

 

Specifically...making sure passengers were safe and comfortable first, then proceeding to handle their immediate accommodations and return transportation promptly. In addition, they did not hesitate to offer refunds and additional compensation for the inconveniences.

 

The differences have been shown loud and clear in these 2 companies - enough to have us never sail with Carnival and have no hesitation to continue sailing on RCI.

[gtalum]

Overall - the 2 cruise lines have taken different approaches regarding severe cruise ship issues.

 

With dozens of ships out to sea, and these all being complex technologies and mechanical devices...it's actually surprising more issues don't arise.

 

IN just looking at the past 6 months or so, and the major ship problems that occured...

 

Carnival clearly took the easy, cheap, and lowest effort approach to handling cruisers. There was a lot of hesitation in what they chose to do along the way as well. Maintenance depth and frequency is less than RCI's schedules. That's been well-documented in the media.

 

In contrast, the executive management and engineering staffs of Royal Caribbean acted quickly and took the approach of personal involvement and making rapid decisions with cruisers in mind.

 

Specifically...making sure passengers were safe and comfortable first, then proceeding to handle their immediate accommodations and return transportation promptly. In addition, they did not hesitate to offer refunds and additional compensation for the inconveniences.

 

I'd like to see documentation of Carnival handling maintenance less frequently or less "in depth" than Royal Caribbean. With strict USCG regulation, I seriously doubt the veracity of that claim.

 

Secondly, an objective analysis will show that the passengers in both incidents were treated similarly. In both cases the cruise lines handled the immediate emergency to get the passengers out of danger, and then got them ashore as quickly as possible. In both cases full refunds were issued as well as credits for future cruises and reimbursement for travel expenses. In both cases passengers were routed home as quickly as possible. In both cases, the CEO came aboard to address passengers as soon as it was feasible.

 

The only significant differences between the incidents were that the fire on Grandeur didn't occur in an engine room (and therefore did not take critical power systems offline) and it occurred while the ship was in close proximity to shore.