What keeps you coming back?

[MamaTortuga]

I'll be on my first Carnival cruise in May and since there's more Carnival ships coming out of my home port (Galveston) I'll probably be sailing with them more than any other line. So I wanted to know what about Carnival keeps you coming back?

[bury me at sea]

Home port Galveston because I won't fly.

 

Value received for dollars spent.

 

Nice sized cabins.

 

I really enjoy the main dining room experience too.

[Pixelate]

The ship on a stick.

 

Nothing more; nothing less.

Edited January 26, 2015 by Pixelate

[RTRMom]

We live in the south, so we are within driving distance of most ports. That isn't why we sail Carnival. The main reason is price and just the fact that we know what to expect. We have always had a great time.

 

 

We will eventually try other lines, but we have never had a bad experience on Carnival. So no reason to change right now. We have plenty of time to try other lines after our kids get older. At that time, the main reason will be to try other ports.

Edited January 26, 2015 by RTRMom

[BigB0882]

LOL at the ship on the stick. :)

 

This will be my 2nd cruise in April and we are big gamblers so if we continue to receive perks from the casino then we will continue to come back. We also live in Baton Rouge so we are close enough to drive to the port in New Orleans so not having to fly really helps. There are other lines out of New Orleans as well but we don't want to start over and lose the points we have earned on Carnival. Carnival would have to run us off or quit making offers for us to sail with someone else. We would sail with someone else out of curiosity but its hard to do so when we know we could sail Carnival and save a little money.

[cntrydncr1]

BigB you are lucky that you have the Dream! my favorite ship!! What keeps me coming back is a good value for my money. I always have a good time on a carnival cruise.

[BigB0882]

BigB you are lucky that you have the Dream! my favorite ship!! What keeps me coming back is a good value for my money. I always have a good time on a carnival cruise.

 

We will be on the Dream in April! Our first time on her for both of us. Can't wait!

[sandij]

The price, the itineraries, the ocean, the food and it helps that we have a big selection to chose from. Have done several other lines and enjoyed them but always return to Carnival.

[MamaTortuga]

The ship on a stick.

 

Nothing more; nothing less.

 

I think I'm looking forward to this the most :p

 

And although I haven't sailed yet, I'll have to agree that one of the things that got me looking at Carnival is getting more bang for my buck. I booked early saver and I've already been able to get $200 obc from a drop in the price. And not to mention this ship has A LOT more for me to do than my first cruise on HAL which cost more than this one.

[A&Jfamily]

Well, we keep cruising in general because it is the most relaxing and cost effective way to vacation with two kids. We can afford two rooms and everyone can have their space, do what they want, and still get in good quality family time.

 

I'm not a RC fan - I don't think their staff is as pleasant and up beat as Carnivals, where you can't pass a room steward without at least a hello. I have never been Disney but have never seen a price low enough that I would pay in a time we could sail. Someday, DH and I will try Cunard and probably X. Not interested in NCL and their style of cruising.

 

And as a general rule, they are the most cost effective, because we need to book early and have a balcony with an inside across the hall for the kids.

My teen favors them, but my DS (10) and my DH and I actually prefer Princess ships, decor and atmosphere. But comparatively speaking, most princess cruises are longer, and thus school schedules conflict. Thus, for a while at least Carnival will keep us coming back.

[Sweet Dutch Girl]

Carnival is very very cheap and it excels at providing services for the kids and teens that we often travel with. I would never consider Carnival as a destination for an adult only cruise.

[Velvetwater]

Nostalgia and cost...I suppose theres always something special about your first cruise.

 

Although since Carnival is quite limited in their routes it is high likely I will be floating to other lines as well....especially for the right price.

[Cruisegirl6]

Although Carnival is not my favorite cruise line, I always keep coming back to Carnival because the casino offers are wonderful and occasionally are too good to say no to. I also never had a bad Carnival cruise.

 

When I go on Carnival I am not going for the food or the entertainment, its for getting away and having the casino. We can easily go to places with casino but find jumping on a Carnival cruise is more fun to do that than in a land based vacation.

 

Carnivals casinos do know how to treat their people well!

 

I was booked in May on the Oasis of the Seas, having gotten off the sister ship Allure of the Seas last May and having it be my most favorite ship of all time, I changed to the Carnival Valor one because we had a premier cruise casino deal which was incredible and secondly we get 8 nights now going to Aruba, Curacao and Grand Turk with four and a half sea days!

Edited January 27, 2015 by lyndamr

[Dectwins06]

I am trying Carnival again in March. I have done a few Disney Cruises, Princess (which is Carnival I believe?), RCCL, NCL. I am doing it again because of price and don't need the kids entertainment since I am going without! I wasn't real thrilled with the food or the crazy circus like décor and atmosphere the first time, but I am going in knowing it will be relaxing, great ports, fun people and I believe the food looks better than when I had it about 4 years ago :)

[kona_wahine]

Price.

 

Ease of booking. I've looked at other lines websites to play with bookings and they are very confusing. Carnival is just so easy.

 

They all go to the same ports, and that's why I cruise. I'm more about the ports than the ship.

 

Habit. We are relatively new to cruising, 4th cruise coming up. I Haven't found a reason to change....yet. Alaska cruise may be that change. Living in oregon we could actually drive to a port!! Could spend the extra $ we save on airfare for a change to see the difference.

[CJinFLA00]

We've only cruised Carnival (14 cruises) and it still works for us. Price, ease of booking, know what to expect, familiar with the process. We'll eventually branch out and most likely try Disney since we have grand kids now. We can afford other lines but as mentioned, Carnival still fits us.

[dabear99211]

I'll be on my first Carnival cruise in May and since there's more Carnival ships coming out of my home port (Galveston) I'll probably be sailing with them more than any other line. So I wanted to know what about Carnival keeps you coming back?

 

Because Carnival is a great cruise line, low fares and a wide range of ages, I have been on a 3 other lines and didn't like being the youngest on the ship (at 60) and the food is not any different than the other lines, although some will tell you that is not true, everyone has their favorite line. Of coarse now that I am Diamond why would I change.

[KatieBug28]

For me there are several factors. This will be our fourth cruise, all with Carnival.

 

Price

I'm an odd man out on this site, because cruising is NOT my preferred way to vacation. I'm more the type who would spend a week at Disneyland or spend 10 days in one country in Europe. I like staying for a longer amount of time. But my MIL loves to cruise with the family, so I go along with it every now and then. Carnival lets me cruise for a decent price so I can save money for the type of vacation I REALLY want to do.

 

Family friendly

Our upcoming cruise will have 4 generations, and I feel like we'll all be able to find something to do. The kids clubs on Carnival are very good, and while I'd love to try Disney, it's just not worth the price to me.

 

Mexican Riviera

We much prefer to visit Mexico over the Caribbean. But lots of the "family lines" like Disney and RCI don't cruise from LA/Long Beach at the moment, so our options are somewhat limited.

 

I've never had a BAD cruise, it's just not my preferred way to travel. So Carnival suits our needs for now, and we'll keep coming back as long as the extended family wants to cruise.

[SMSACE6]

I'll be on my first Carnival cruise in May and since there's more Carnival ships coming out of my home port (Galveston) I'll probably be sailing with them more than any other line. So I wanted to know what about Carnival keeps you coming back?

 

I now cruise solo mostly, so price is definitely a factor, but also, that the product recieved for that price has always been great IMO. I have enjoyed all six of my Carnival cruises, and the most recent one on the Freedom topped them all. I have been on the Freedom twice both before the 2.0 changes and after.

I had an excellent time both cruises.

 

I have cruised on two other cruise lines which were both great cruises, but I no longer can afford their prices. When I step aboard a Carnival ship, I always feel

like I am "coming home", just a "home away from home". The employees make

me feel welcome, and I am always impressed by their smiles and friendliness.

 

That's it!:)

Edited January 27, 2015 by SMSACE6

[Pixelate]

I am trying Carnival again in March. I have done a few Disney Cruises, Princess (which is Carnival I believe?), RCCL, NCL. I am doing it again because of price and don't need the kids entertainment since I am going without! I wasn't real thrilled with the food or the crazy circus like décor and atmosphere the first time, but I am going in knowing it will be relaxing, great ports, fun people and I believe the food looks better than when I had it about 4 years ago :)

 

Carnival Cruise Line is not the same as Carnival Corporation.

[Terri0305]

My husband and I also live in Baton Rouge as well and love that we can travel to New Orleans to cruise, I love Carnival prices and there's always so much to do but I also know that I probably won't find another cruise line that has my favorite that is BITTER AND BLANC!!!! LoL. December we'll be on the Dream but since I have family in Houston we'll be on the Freedom next year so we'll be able to drive and stay with them the day two days cause I gotta hit the museum district before cruising!!! 😃😃

 

 

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[cruizinisthebest]

Prices are very manageable for families and adults alike. I took 4 cruises before we brought nare a youngin' along. Have had a wonderful time on every one!

 

Love the overall vibe of a Carnival cruise. And I've met some really cool people onboard and in roll calls.

 

Lots of sailing options; especially if you live on the East Coast.

 

Great food (although I think the desserts are horrible).

 

Carnival fits our needs. Period. I do look forward to trying other lines, but it's not because I'm unhappy. Rather to explore what I consider one of the best vacation options there is....cruising! I would stop sailing with Carnival before I became jaded and bitter. Too many options to waste time with stuff like that. We have RCI booked for next year. Looking forward to it, but Carnival will always have my heart.:):)

[pirate4me2]

The value, the fun, and the call of the ocean. :)

[cruising maniac]

After 25 cruises, we pick based on itinerary, cost, and date. Sometimes it is Carnival and sometimes it is not. Last time it was the Celebrity Reflection and next time it will be the Breeze. I am not loyal to any one cruise line but of my 2 favorites, Carnival is not on the list. With that being said, the food is really some of the best we have had on any cruise ship.

[lizziez00]

Well, we keep cruising in general because it is the most relaxing and cost effective way to vacation with two kids. We can afford two rooms and everyone can have their space, do what they want, and still get in good quality family time.

 

I'm not a RC fan - I don't think their staff is as pleasant and up beat as Carnivals, where you can't pass a room steward without at least a hello. I have never been Disney but have never seen a price low enough that I would pay in a time we could sail. Someday, DH and I will try Cunard and probably X. Not interested in NCL and their style of cruising.

 

And as a general rule, they are the most cost effective, because we need to book early and have a balcony with an inside across the hall for the kids.

My teen favors them, but my DS (10) and my DH and I actually prefer Princess ships, decor and atmosphere. But comparatively speaking, most princess cruises are longer, and thus school schedules conflict. Thus, for a while at least Carnival will keep us coming back.

 

Not to hijack the thread but I wondered what it is about NCL Style that you dont care for as opposed to Carnival? I have a "free" NCL cruise that I am taking on the Getaway in July, and I had never considered straying from Carnival at this point and I wonder what I am in for (but hard to decline a almost free cruise and why not try it! )