Yet more Carnival vs Royal ???

[JediMom]

We're looking at booking cruise #4 Feb 2015 and we're considering jumping ship and giving Carnival a try.

 

DH & I are both in our early 40's, DS will be 9. We're obviously looking for a kid friendly ship, but it isn't a requirement to have all the bells and whistles. I've spent a lot of time reading these threads and have come across all types of reviews, but of course I have some lingering questions:

 

- How bad is the cigarette smoke smell? The sewer smoke smell?

- How jam packed is the pool area? Is it crazy loud? Is there anywhere (on deck) to get away from the noise?

- Are there issues getting a lounge chair? Or are those stories far and few between?

- Going mid February shouldn't be an issue for crowds, will it?

- Any restrictions on the waterslides for height?

- We're not too interested in the nightclubs or late night activities as we're in bed the same time as DS (10-11ish), so that area is irrelevant for us.

- What do you love most about Carnival?

 

Specifically, I was comparing Carnival Breeze to Freedom of the Seas ... the price difference is almost $1000. So any insight whether we should give Carnival a try next time is most appreciated :)

[John Reid]

I'll only refer to one of your concerns. If by mid-February you are including Presidents week, crowds - including other kids - may well exist.

[Vitamin_Sea]

If the Breeze is $1K less. 2012 ship so its in great shape.

No question about it. Im taking the Breeze.

 

Reprint below:

 

Carnival Breeze presents unmatched amenities and entertainment for adults and children alike, making the ship an ideal option for families. Elaborate children’s facilities include Camp Carnival for ages 2-11, Circle C for ages 12-14, and Club O2 for teens 15-17. Visit the sophisticated Cloud 9 spa or the resort-style pool, break a sweat in the elaborate fitness center and then take a break in the Internet cafe or library. Other highlights include the WaterWorks aqua park, a two-level miniature golf course, and several lounges, bars and music and dance venues throughout the vessel. Looking for some solitude? Adults on board can also escape to Serenity, an adults-only retreat. In addition to a variety of traditional staterooms, Carnival Breeze offers a new category of cove balcony staterooms, located closer to the water line, as well as several connecting staterooms that are ideal for large groups.

Edited January 19, 2014 by limoguy1

[JediMom]

I'll only refer to one of your concerns. If by mid-February you are including Presidents week, crowds - including other kids - may well exist.

 

Ah good point! We have a holiday the same day as your President's Day. Having lots of kids around isn't an issue, it's the jam packed pool picture I saw where you can't get a seat that I have an issue with. It won't likely be that week as flights for us are double what they are any other time in Feb.

 

Thanks for the tip!

[fuddrules]

We're looking at booking cruise #4 Feb 2015 and we're considering jumping ship and giving Carnival a try.

 

DH & I are both in our early 40's, DS will be 9. We're obviously looking for a kid friendly ship, but it isn't a requirement to have all the bells and whistles. I've spent a lot of time reading these threads and have come across all types of reviews, but of course I have some lingering questions:

 

- How bad is the cigarette smoke smell? The sewer smoke smell?

 

In the casino in the evening you will smell it. If you're not a casino person and you're just walking through it's not bad and very short lived. If you have a balcony room and have a smoker next door, it could be an issue. Luck of the draw.

Sewer smell, it comes and goes in a few places on each ship. You also may smell it if they have to "unclog" a drain pipe. Othewise, it's not bad.

 

- How jam packed is the pool area? Is it crazy loud? Is there anywhere (on deck) to get away from the noise?

 

The pool area, at least main pool, is always crowded. It will be loud during mid-day. Early mornings and early evenings is not loud. But there will be chair hogs.

 

- Are there issues getting a lounge chair? Or are those stories far and few between?

 

Yes and it happens on many cruises. Since you're early in bed I assume you'll get up earlier than most. You'll be able to find a chair, many wont like this but....save one yourself early. I don't "lounge" but if I did, I'd save one early unless Carnival was enforcing their policy. They usually don't.

 

- Going mid February shouldn't be an issue for crowds, will it?

 

It'll be better than summer and major holidays.

 

- Any restrictions on the waterslides for height?

 

Not sure on breeze??

 

- We're not too interested in the nightclubs or late night activities as we're in bed the same time as DS (10-11ish), so that area is irrelevant for us.

 

- What do you love most about Carnival?

 

Ports and diversity of activities for all age groups.

 

 

Specifically, I was comparing Carnival Breeze to Freedom of the Seas ... the price difference is almost $1000. So any insight whether we should give Carnival a try next time is most appreciated :)

 

The Breeze has it all at least as far as a Carnival ship. Most really like the Breeze, a few don't.

Edited January 19, 2014 by fuddrules

[jmak315]

We just returned from Freedom in October and while we have not yet tried Carnival, I can tell you that I would take the Breeze. With that kind of savings, it frees up a lot of funds for excursions (if that matters to you). I am on this board because we are looking to book a Carnival cruise. Freedom was a beautiful ship and my family had a great time but the service just was not what we were used to or expected and sadly I didn't see others had said the same thing until we returned and they agreed with my comments about the lackluster service in my review (and others).

 

I will be interested to see which one you pick and then see your review (if you do one) either way!

[Blk_Amish]

We're looking at booking cruise #4 Feb 2015 and we're considering jumping ship and giving Carnival a try.

 

DH & I are both in our early 40's, DS will be 9. We're obviously looking for a kid friendly ship, but it isn't a requirement to have all the bells and whistles. I've spent a lot of time reading these threads and have come across all types of reviews, but of course I have some lingering questions:

 

- How bad is the cigarette smoke smell? The sewer smoke smell?

- How jam packed is the pool area? Is it crazy loud? Is there anywhere (on deck) to get away from the noise?

- Are there issues getting a lounge chair? Or are those stories far and few between?

- Going mid February shouldn't be an issue for crowds, will it?

- Any restrictions on the waterslides for height?

- We're not too interested in the nightclubs or late night activities as we're in bed the same time as DS (10-11ish), so that area is irrelevant for us.

- What do you love most about Carnival?

 

Specifically, I was comparing Carnival Breeze to Freedom of the Seas ... the price difference is almost $1000. So any insight whether we should give Carnival a try next time is most appreciated :)

 

The fact that I can save a boat load of money on some sailings.

[JediMom]

If the Breeze is $1K less. 2012 ship so its in great shape.

No question about it. Im taking the Breeze.

 

Reprint below:

 

Carnival Breeze presents unmatched amenities and entertainment for adults and children alike, making the ship an ideal option for families. Elaborate children’s facilities include Camp Carnival for ages 2-11, Circle C for ages 12-14, and Club O2 for teens 15-17. Visit the sophisticated Cloud 9 spa or the resort-style pool, break a sweat in the elaborate fitness center and then take a break in the Internet cafe or library. Other highlights include the WaterWorks aqua park, a two-level miniature golf course, and several lounges, bars and music and dance venues throughout the vessel. Looking for some solitude? Adults on board can also escape to Serenity, an adults-only retreat. In addition to a variety of traditional staterooms, Carnival Breeze offers a new category of cove balcony staterooms, located closer to the water line, as well as several connecting staterooms that are ideal for large groups.

 

The write up sounds similar to what Royal has. We know the kids club is good, Carnival has the waterslides whereas Royal does not. Both have an adults only area. Royal has two pool areas for families - the one with the activities and the kids one. Ironically, the kid pool was empty most of the time on LOS and the weather was great!

 

We can get a balcony on Carnival for the price of an inside on FOS, but that's not really comparing apples to apples ... and I do love the balcony!!

[JediMom]

We just returned from Freedom in October and while we have not yet tried Carnival, I can tell you that I would take the Breeze. With that kind of savings, it frees up a lot of funds for excursions (if that matters to you). I am on this board because we are looking to book a Carnival cruise. Freedom was a beautiful ship and my family had a great time but the service just was not what we were used to or expected and sadly I didn't see others had said the same thing until we returned and they agreed with my comments about the lackluster service in my review (and others).

 

I will be interested to see which one you pick and then see your review (if you do one) either way!

 

We have friends who are avid cruisers who have taken their 4 kids and IL's on the Breeze. They are sailing for the first time on the LOS at the end of the next month - I'll pass along her comments/review as well.

 

Excursions are enh in my opinion ... I can't say there's been one that I really enjoyed to sway a cruise. This upcoming cruise we have a private (not through ship) tour to Stingray City which I'm really excited about.

 

Thanks everyone for your honest opinions - keep them coming!! It's snowing here (again) so the only thing keeping me sane is planning the next cruise :)

Edited January 19, 2014 by JediMom

[Vitamin_Sea]

We have not personally sailed the Breeze but would love to. I have not seen much negative about the ship. Both ships your looking at are awesome. You probably will have more amenities on the Freedom but it comes with a higher price. If a $1K difference comes into play, going into your pocket plus you can get a balcony, Im giving the Breeze a shot. :)

 

We are sailing the Splendor in 9 days

[sailingwithfriends]

These are my opinions of Carnival Dream (very similar to Breeze) and Freedom of the Seas. I travel with a group of people of all ages on both ships. I really like Freedom of the Seas and Carnival Dream. I think the entertainment is a little better on Freedom. I loved the ice show. The teenagers enjoyed the climbing wall. A couple of them tried the flow rider. No adults or children attempted those activities. The food was good. Our waiters did their job, but didn't really interact with us too much. The cabin steward was very good. All the staff was very friendly. My group enjoyed hanging out in the promenade area at the pizza restaurant or the coffee shop. The pools were nice. A deck chair could be found. The ship was very clean.

The next cruise we took was on Carnival Dream. I enjoyed the entertainment. The children (ages 10-18) enjoyed the putt-putt and water slides. None of them used the children's program, but my research found great results for that program. The kids played in the pool, which was crowded. A deck chair could always be found. It might not be right in front of the pool, but there are chairs every where on the ship. We enjoyed the outdoor BBQ. I think the food on the Carnival Dream was much better than the food on Freedom. It was so good we decided there was no need to try the "for a fee" steakhouse, even though I've heard it was fantastic. I loved our waiters. They constantly interacted with all the guest and really entertained us. However, the waiters at the table behind us were not as entertaining. I guess that is the luck of the draw. I looked forward to dinner every evening. For lunch, we tried the Pasta bar, the buffet, the Punchline brunch, the outdoor BBQ and the deli. All the food was great. We also had room service every morning for coffee. We had really good room stewards on this ship also. The ship was clean. I never experienced any smells. From what I understand, it comes and goes to different parts of the ship. We had a balcony and did not experience any cigarette smoke blowing our way. When you walk through the casino, you will experience a faint smell of smoke. If you stayed in the casino, there is one area that is more smoky.

We are going on another cruise this summer. We want to leave from Port Canaveral. That way we can drive down. Because we had such a good experience on our last Carnival cruise, we chose to go with them again. The price was also a deciding factor. I loved Royal Caribbean, but I also love Carnival. I don't think you can go wrong with either cruise line.

Edited January 19, 2014 by sailingwithfriends
Typo errors

[Tapi]

But there will be chair hogs....

 

...many wont like this but....save one yourself early. I don't "lounge" but if I did, I'd save one early unless Carnival was enforcing their policy. They usually don't.

 

Please correct me if I'm wrong. On one answer you warn the OP about chair hogs, but then on your next answer you encourage them to BE the chair hogs?? :confused:

Edited January 19, 2014 by Tapi

[Tapi]

Specifically, I was comparing Carnival Breeze to Freedom of the Seas ... the price difference is almost $1000. So any insight whether we should give Carnival a try next time is most appreciated :)

 

IMHO, the main reason to choose Carnival is price. At $1,000 less, give them a try. It's the only way for YOU to know if the Royal experience is worth $1,000 more than the Carnival experience. For some it is, for others it's not.

Edited January 19, 2014 by Tapi

[jmak315]

 

Excursions are enh in my opinion ... I can't say there's been one that I really enjoyed to sway a cruise. This upcoming cruise we have a private (not through ship) tour to Stingray City which I'm really excited about.

 

 

This was the best excursion we have ever booked - my family still talks about this

 

[morganboys]

for $1000 less I'd take the breeze but don't go on the breeze expecting it to be the freedom of the seas.

[cruzfitter]

 

Specifically, I was comparing Carnival Breeze to Freedom of the Seas ... the price difference is almost $1000. So any insight whether we should give Carnival a try next time is most appreciated :)

 

Yes, but you're comparing a 6 day Breeze with a 7 day Freedom OTS. It would be better if you compared $/ day. Breeze is still less expensive but if you book with the right online TA you can get per-paid gratuities on RCCL, which will bring the prices even closer. You should have fun either way.

[Mysticks1]

If you want a balcony and it is not in the budget for Freedom then I would choose the Breeze. Have you looked at the Serenity Area and Spa on the Breeze? If your son participates in the Camp Carnival activities then you could take advantage of those areas. (Cloud 9 Spa has a charge but well worth it in my opinion). My daughter loved Camp Carnival at 10 and made several friends there that she did things with both in and outside of the camp activities. She even stayed with them until 2AM one night and they walked her back to the cabin and made sure she got in okay (that was 10 years ago).

[fuddrules]

Please correct me if I'm wrong. On one answer you warn the OP about chair hogs, but then on your next answer you encourage them to BE the chair hogs?? :confused:

 

You're correct. She asked the question and I answered honestly as opposed to lying.

 

As far as being a Chair Hog - When in Rome.......

 

And if Carnival isn't going to enforce it, then it doesn't apply and I prefer to take care of myself.

[JediMom]

Yes, but you're comparing a 6 day Breeze with a 7 day Freedom OTS. It would be better if you compared $/ day. Breeze is still less expensive but if you book with the right online TA you can get per-paid gratuities on RCCL, which will bring the prices even closer. You should have fun either way.

 

Another good point! I hadn't factored that in. Something else to consider.

 

You're correct. She asked the question and I answered honestly as opposed to lying.

 

As far as being a Chair Hog - When in Rome.......

 

And if Carnival isn't going to enforce it, then it doesn't apply and I prefer to take care of myself.

 

I know there are chair hogs everywhere and that i'm not too concerned with. It's the inability to get 2 or even 3 chairs together somewhere in the pool vicinity that I was worried about. A couple of pictures I saw of the pool area looked absolutely jam packed ... But if there are other areas we can snag some chairs we're OK with that.

 

Thanks to everyone who responded :)

[JediMom]

This was the best excursion we have ever booked - my family still talks about this

 

 

 

Wow!! This looks amazing!! DS is going to be so incredibly excited on this excursion!!

[1kaper]

We sailed on the Breeze last September in Europe. I have no complaints about the ship.

I've never noticed cigarette smoke enough to bother, outside of the casino. I am not super sensitive to it but I don't like it. It certainly wasnt prevelent/strong enough to bother me.

 

The pool area is packed, I believe one is quieter than the other. We are always up and out to the pool area early and didn't have a problem getting two together. Later on in the day you may have problems as others noted. I have found there are always plenty of chairs available in other spots if you are willing to move away from the immediate pool area. There are chair hogs (I've seen this in lots of other places, not just cruises).

There are quieter spots if you are willing to move away from the pool.

I enjoyed the slides, can't remember restrictions, sorry.

 

We also did sting ray city a few years ago through a private company and also really enjoyed it.

(its supposed to be good luck to kiss a sting ray)

 

[TwinPrincessMermaids]

We booked the Sting Ray City SANDBAR (make sure it says sandbar so you can get close) thru CCL on a nice modern brand new yellow catamaran with stairs into the water (had a party with limited mobility). It was super cool! Like a giant party out in the middle of the ocean only waist high water, tons of huge friendly stingrays and fish too. Totally different and really neat. After, we could take a bus back to ship (older ones in the group went back) or your excursion wristband allowed entry to Royal Palm Beach so we spent the afternoon there, snorkeled, swam in the pool and had an incredible lunch. It cost $4 to bus back to ship and we still had time for some shopping. Was a great great day!

 

Sent from my Galaxy Nexus using Forums mobile app

Edited January 20, 2014 by TwinPrincessMermaids

[bjd2]

We booked the Sting Ray City SANDBAR (make sure it says sandbar so you can get close) thru CCL on a nice modern brand new yellow catamaran with stairs into the water (had a party with limited mobility). It was super cool! Like a giant party out in the middle of the ocean only waist high water, tons of huge friendly stingrays and fish too. Totally different and really neat. After, we could take a bus back to ship (older ones in the group went back) or your excursion wristband allowed entry to Royal Palm Beach so we spent the afternoon there, snorkeled, swam in the pool and had an incredible lunch. It cost $4 to bus back to ship and we still had time for some shopping. Was a great great day!

 

Sent from my Galaxy Nexus using Forums mobile app

 

We are booked on this excursion on our upcoming Sunshine cruise. It's so great to hear such fantastic reviews about it! We've never done a sting ray tour before so we're very excited. :D

[pe4all]

We just got off the Freedom of the Seas (our first RCCL cruse) 3 weeks ago from a Christmas cruise. We have been on the Breeze two times, so I can give you a pretty good comparison! For the price we paid on Freedom, we could have taken almost 2 full Breeze cruises! (Christmas week - remember) Cabins on Breeze (regular balconies - can't offer any other views as we are balcony snobs) are slightly larger. Breeze is a larger ship as compared to Freedom of the Seas - but there are plenty of places to find loungers - especially if you don't need to be on top of the main pool. The waterpark is wonderful, especially for a 9 year old - as is the ropes course! My niece and nephew (ages 9/10) loved the kid's clubs. We actually were disappointed in the food on FOS - thought the dining room food on Breeze was better. As far as smoke goes, the casinos on both ships were very smoky. Otherwise, no problems. No freestyle soda machine on Breeze. (loved that on FOS!!) I loved the shows on FOS - but all the shows will be "new" to you on Breeze, so give them a try. As others have said - you will be hitting President's week, so the ship may have more families than usual - but we never felt overrun by kids. (I cruised on Breeze during that week, and Christmas also) For $1,000 difference, I would definitely give Breeze a try.

[Topo Gigio]

If you want to jump ship, then Carnival Breeze is the ship!