Which ship would you choose?

[Bluefox]

I haven't cruised with Carnival before. I have been on about 6 cruises with Royal Caribbean. I hear you should never compare the two, so what I want to know is out of the following ships, which one would you go on and why? They basically have the same itinerary that we were looking for. I'm pregnant- within the cruise limits that are allowed- and just want to relax and have some fun! Thanks!

 

Legend

Dream

Conquest

or

Liberty

Edited February 26, 2014 by Bluefox

[4Tacos]

I can only comment on the Dream but we loved it. Lots to do, (if camp Carnival is important) we loved all the counselors, the water park was fantastic, ship was clean, lots of places to walk, plenty of food.

 

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[Crusin Hogs]

The Dream is the largest and newest on that list , LOT more to see and do on the Dream than the others on the list

[TwinPrincessMermaids]

Don't go on the Dream. Even a year later, I'm still miserable talking about that cruise. It's the one that cured me from CCL.

Edited February 26, 2014 by TwinPrincessMermaids

[Cruisegirl6]

Oh boy touchy subject for cruise critic here. I have been on 51 ships (I am 50) and honestly my opinion you can't beat RC!! We are going next week on the Carnival Fascination just to get a 5 night getaway but if you look below you see that I am booked on the RC Allure of the Seas for May. You can't compare Carnival and RC although I have to admit my favorite and best carnival cruise was on the Dream and I haven't been on the Breeze yet (the only carnival ship I haven't been on so far) but it was pretty much on par with RC if you take away the shows. Shows on Carnival are bla. The Steakhouse was so excellent on this ship that we dined there 6 evenings! You will find the MDR food to be ok, the best steak you can get nightly is flat iron which is truly tough and just ok where on RC you can get NY Strip or a sirloin which is better quality. The service in the MDR and cabins are mostly a hit or miss on Carnival. I have found everybody very friendly on Carnival as well as RC. They remain to serve the lobster on a formal evening along with having the baked alaska. I enjoy the casino more on Carnival and RC has fresh water pools where Carnival remains to have salt water pools. The bedding on both ship lines are very very good. On the newer RC ships you get shower doors on Carnival you get that curtain. As far as storage in the cabins both are similar. You definitely have much more choices as far as food after 10pm on RC where Carnival barely has anything. The buffets on RC blow Carnivals (except for the Dream which is on par with RC). RC remains to have a live band outdoors near the pool and Carnival changed to a DJ. We find the cocktails better on RC and the glasses are larger than what you get on Carnival.

 

For us if your going for food and entertainment you have to choose RC unless you go on the Dream but do know the shows are ok thats all. Both cruise lines have clean ships so thats not an issue.

 

DREAM DREAM AND DREAM!!

 

The Dream was last in dry dock in 2012 and the Liberty 2011.

Edited February 26, 2014 by lyndamr

[KPfromCT]

Don't go on the Dream. Even a year later, I'm still miserable talking about that cruise. It's the one that cured me from CCL.

 

Then why are you still on the boards?:confused::rolleyes:

[Cruisegirl6]

KPfrom CT good point!

 

OP...don't listen to that person trust me who has been on 51 cruises so far. I would definitely tell you the truth as you seen how honest I have been comparing both cruise lines. The Dream we would go back on in a heartbeat! She had the best selection/variety/quality of food, the pasta bar is very good, she offers a burrito/taco bar area, wok station and has so much to offer when it comes to food in the buffets. The MDR dinner I only say ok because I only dined there once during the cruise. We took my father in law with us on the Dream after he swore he won't take Carnival ever again and he says blindfold him he would think he was on a RC ship.

If the Dream remained in Pt. Canaveral we definitely would been back on her. Trust me we loved the Dream she was an excellent ship.

[apdchief]

I would have to take the itinerary into some serious consideration, the ship is only part of it for me. Unfortunately, I can't comment because I haven't been on any of those ships. But the ones listed below that I have been on I had a great time and would sail any of them again. But my favorite was the Breeze.

[Cruisegirl6]

What is the itinerary anyways and where is the ship leaving out of and where do you live is another thing to consider, although we really don't care about itinerary because your only on the island for a handful of hours its the ship that is your home.

[TwinPrincessMermaids]

Then why are you still on the boards?:confused::rolleyes:

 

Cuz I'm interested in all the changes and reviews and my friends cruise CCL. (I frequent all the boards that I have cruised on.) Its VERY entertaining! I voted for Conquest, mostly good experience. Dream had great Entertainment staff and the most unfriendly worst service I have ever had. I still liked my 2007 MS HOLIDAY the best, but Triumph in 2011 was great service and fun too. Dream had REALLLLLY crazy lines every where and all over the ship, I heard people as unhappy we were. But it was about 2 weeks after the Poop cruise incident so who knows. Coulda been CCL feeling the squeeze and the service cut backs were insane. They were way overworked bordering on rude and I was delighted to get back to land. Ports were good, but they are always good. I wouldn't go on the Dream if it was free.

[tlw440]

I haven't cruised with Carnival before. I have been on about 6 cruises with Royal Caribbean. I hear you should never compare the two, so what I want to know is out of the following ships, which one would you go on and why? They basically have the same itinerary that we were looking for. I'm pregnant- within the cruise limits that are allowed- and just want to relax and have some fun! Thanks!

 

Legend

Dream

Conquest

or

Liberty

We have never been on the Liberty but have it booked in April 2015, the other 3 we love. If we had to pick, can we pick all 4?:D:D:D

[Georgiagolfer]

I wanted to vote for Dream and Liberty. WE haven't been on Legend or Conquest. I like the decor on Liberty, kinda toned down from other CCL ships. Never experienced any longer lines on Dream or Liberty vs. our RCCL cruises, except at peak times (shows, lunch, etc.)

 

Staff friendliness same on both lines for us, and service always good. Unless something life changing happened, I don't think I can say I will never sail a ship, or a cruise line, even if the cruise were free.

 

Give me a free cruise, and if possible, I'm there.:D

[OntCruise]

Dream had great Entertainment staff and the most unfriendly worst service I have ever had. They were way overworked bordering on rude and I was delighted to get back to land.

 

I am always so surprised to read comments like this because in 8 cruises I have never ONCE encountered a rude or unfriendly staff member ... ever! I've witnessed many rude and unfriendly passengers, but never the crew.

 

OP I just got off the Liberty on Saturday and it was awesome. Clean ship, friendly crew, awesome food. Entertainment.. not so great.

[DarthGrady]

I'd go with the Legend. The Spirit Class ships have the best layout of the Carnival fleet IMO. They also have the best passenger to space ratio, so in theory it should seem less crowded.

[ccarpenter1963]

Then why are you still on the boards?:confused::rolleyes:

 

Because she wants everyone to know, everyday, how horrible it was. And how much better off she is sailing Disney. :rolleyes:

[Mysticks1]

I voted the Dream because of the Cloud 9 Spa and the Spa rooms. It is really nice and would be good for your goal of relaxation. I also think it is closer to what you have experienced on RCI.

[BenjiRodney]

Conquest is our next cruise on Carnival.

[GottaLuvCruising]

Liberty still has real shows (not Playlist) so I picked her.

[cruisinqt]

We have done over 10 cruises on numerous lines. Of all of our cruises, we loved the Dream the most. Our second favorite was the Rhapsody of the seas followed by the Conquest. My vote would be for the Dream. It is the largest ship out of all of your choices. It also has an upgraded pool/slide area with a cool new water park. It has numerous slides but we liked the toilet bowl flush styled one the best. There's water spray things, dueling slides, etc. Then there's my favorite, the huge new spa. :D It has a bubbly mineral water pool, saunas, steam rooms, it's amazing!

[APDMOM]

I would choose Legend simply because you may not have a chance again - she is moving Down Under :) It is a beautiful ship with a great layout. You can see pics in my signature. My personal second choice would be Liberty because it leaves from Port Canaveral and has the Blue Iguana :D

Dream was a lot of fun too, though. Those three are the ones we sailed and each one had pros and cons.

 

Enjoy planning!

[wings34]

I voted for the Liberty. The ship is great in nearly every way. I may be biased a bit because I have only been on two different ships, but I really enjoyed my time on the Liberty, and many other people say that it is one of the best in the fleet. With that being said, Legend was just refurbished and had many new features added. Though I haven't been on the Legend, I have been on its sister ship, Spirit, and I would actually say I prefer the size and design of that a bit better. It seemed a little less crowded, slightly calmer, and was easier to get around on. If it were up to me, I would choose one of these two.

[Vitamin_Sea]

I love the Conquest class ships..

 

so, Conquest or Liberty!

[TwinPrincessMermaids]

Because she wants everyone to know, everyday, how horrible it was. And how much better off she is sailing Disney. :rolleyes:

 

Aw!!! You know me SOOO well! :):):)But hey the OP asked, I voted for Conquest cuz for the most part, I really liked that cruise. I've had great cruises on CCL, Dream just left so much to be desired from a typical cruise experience, even by CCL's standards. It wasn't just one night, the service was bad everywhere. I think the company was in a panic due to low bookings or something. The crew was beyond desperate for pushing sales. And hey, in case you didn't check, DCL is again sweeping the CruiseCritic 2014 Awards, particularly in almost every top of the LARGE SHIPS category. It is what it is. But if CCL wants to make a comeback to how they were in 2007 and even 2011 at least from my experience (cuz my experience is all I have to go on?) than I'm all for it.

[Tapi]

Don't go on the Dream. Even a year later, I'm still miserable talking about that cruise. It's the one that cured me from CCL.

 

 

The Dream was the ship that restored our faith in Carnival after a steady decline. We absolutely loved it! She ranks as our second best Carnival cruise ever (only second to the Liberty) :)

 

 

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Edited February 27, 2014 by Tapi

[TwinPrincessMermaids]

The Dream was the ship that restored our faith in Carnival after a steady decline. We absolutely loved it! She ranks as our second best Carnival cruise ever (only second to the Liberty) :)

 

 

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Not doubting you at all Tapi, my 2011 cruise was a great one too. Just seems to be the hey day. Feb 2013 was :eek: for CCL and to me, it was really amplified on the Dream.

 

Different crew experience would have made it different. Others in our party got wonderful staff, but not us. I liked the ship well enough and enjoyed its entertainment crew. I missed the pizza and sushi from the year before on the Conquest, had a shortage of cups, plates, coffee all kinds of things at the buffet, and you can't go off times, or they close etc.

 

Whatever, a lot of others seem to love her... must have been our sailing. Even the chicks behind me at the gift shop who I had never met said they couldn't 'wait to get off this forsaken boat, worst cruise they were ever on.' I thought it was me, until a nurse I talked to last summer said the Dream was her least favorite CCL she had ever been on, that the bar staff were screaming at each other in front of her and really unprofessional and unfriendly.

 

Wasn't it the Liberty that got a pretty good review on the Best Value for 2014? That says a lot there, OP.