Is Carnival really that bad?

[OCruisers]

What is BAD for some, is actually GOOD for others! ;)

LuLu

[kelkel2]

I love carnival. We cruised our first cruise with them and it was on a small older ship and we decided to see what else was out there. We tried Princess, we liked them too but missed the younger crowd on Carnival. A lot of the aspects were similar. You could see the similarities in the entertainment offered such as the game shows and comedy shows etc. But some of the music that they played in the atrium and some of the other stuff offered just felt like it was fitted to an older crowd. But we still had a great time. We did Carnival for our next cruise and had a wonderful time, and will be on Carnival again for our next 2.

Honestly, I love having someone cook and clean and make my bed. To me that's a wonderful perk to vacation. Plus throw in a warm climate and a view of the ocean and I am one happy woman.

I guess there's people out there who like to find things to complain about, but I'm not one of them. That's why I take reviews very lightly. I like to read them for the information of what to do and see and for the pictures, but if someone is doing a lot of complaining I try to listen to what upset them and what I would do to handle it if it were happening to me on my vacation.

 

But is Carnival that bad? Absolutely not!

[Cruzface]

You will notice very little difference between Carnival and NCL. Enjoy your cruise!

[Martini Mom]

My first cruise, at least the one I count, was on Carnival. My dad took me on a short cruise when I was about 11 (in the mid/late 80's), but I don't remember all that much about it, or even which line it was on. He left me to just wander around and I was so bored.

 

DH wanted to take me on a cruise in my 20's and I was very against it. He'd never been and thought it would be fun. He actually just booked it and surprised me. It was so cheap that he couldn't pass it up and we sailed ONE week later. I ended up having a GREAT time and we were hooked!

[CallmeC84]

A vacation is what you make it- you will have a wonderful time as long as you go into it with a positive attitude. I love carnival!

[cruisincountrygirl]

Thanks for the input. I assumed it was just people that love to complain. But with so much of it i though id check. Any input on the Glory from recent travels? It really did have the best ports. And 1 more then ncl or royal because of halfmoon being in the mix.

 

It's been a few years since I was on Glory, but it's a great ship. I haven't had a bad Carnival experience yet. We love it. There's something for everyone. The food is good (sometimes fantastic), and there's always something to do from trivia in the morning, to casinos, to karaoke and dancing, to shows. Or sometimes we order in room service and just sit and relax on the deck or watch a movie. You're gonna love it.

[L&J]

We've sailed Carnival 4 times and have loved everyone of them. If you want the best of the best, book a different cruise line and pay a premium but if you want an incredible vacation and experience and don't want to pay a fortune for it then Carnival is awesome. Like others have said, its what you make of it as well.

[RobinKY]

Just did a cost analysis (yes I am a CPA) of my two cruises last year. 4 guests - me, wife 2 kids (12 & 10)

 

RC Brilliance - Balcony - $118 per guest per day, includes taxes and prepaid tips

 

Carni Sensation - Interior - $78 per guest per day, includes taxes and prepaid tips

 

Had a great time on both

[Ms Jo UK]

Is Carnival the best cruise line I have used? NO

Is it bad? No

 

It is a good cruiseline with good times.

[javamom]

We are taking our FIRST Carnival cruise in oct on the Glory. We were super excited to try a new line as we have only been on NCL. But seems all i read on the FB page and other review sites is negative feedback!! Is carnival really become that bad? It cost us alot in airfare to make these trips from Colorado and im kinda worried now...[emoji27]

How bad?

[PGCRUISERS]

Some people just love to complain, your vacation is what you make it and I have never been disappointed. Things are not always perfect, but I am on a cruise ship and not working. Good food, Good room and Great staff.....working on booking my next one

[arpie05]

It is going to be what you make of it. We tried NCL and it was ok but Half the specialty restaurants had an up charge. Including three that added a fee after we booked. We have only been on one cruise that didn't impress and if it had been a first cruise I could understand not liking it. But most of the problems were caused by weather and ccl didn't handle it the best but we did get some money back.

But I enjoy Carnival feel like sometimes people's complaints are dumb (example. We booked a private excursion in St Thomas but didn't know ship time and island time was different so we missed part of our excursion. I'm so mad at Carnival.... Seriously?!!? One, why not ask when you book time question? Second, They make announcements and it's usually on the Capers/daily schedule. whose fault is it?!?)

Travel with an open mind and you will have a great time!!

 

 

Sent from my iPad using Forums

[winddawn]

We are taking our FIRST Carnival cruise in oct on the Glory. We were super excited to try a new line as we have only been on NCL. But seems all i read on the FB page and other review sites is negative feedback!! Is carnival really become that bad? It cost us alot in airfare to make these trips from Colorado and im kinda worried now...[emoji27]

Some people don't like Carnival. Other people love Carnival. I think the same can be said for any cruise line. The thing about cruising is that you have to find a good match for YOU and your family because every cruise line has their own niche. Carnival does a lot of things well, but IMO they have made some poor decisions the last few years. Entertainment and music have especially suffered IMO. And the changes in their smoking policy have caused a concentration of smokers inside in the casino and casino bar which gets really smoky and uncomfortable.

 

Go though and have a good time and form your own opinions. Carnival has offered pretty good cruise value the past couple of years and it will be interesting to see how that plays out in the future.

 

Hope you have a good time.

[17andacruiseaddict]

I don't know if this was said already, buuut, I'm just going to go ahead and say what I was thinking anyway.

 

So you come on the Carnival board and ask if Carnival "is really that bad?"

 

Try doing the same thing on the NCL board ,"Is NCL really that bad?", and see if you don't get the same answers.

 

I personally think Carnival is awesome, that's why I frequent it. I'm sure that's the reason most people cruise Carnival or any other line.

 

Anyway, good luck to you. I hope you will be able to form your own opinions based on your Glory cruise rather than from what you read on a Carnival fb page that has a lot of negative reviews.

 

I'm curious as to what fb page it is because all the ones I have joined have a majority of happy cruisers on it.

 

Stay Positive

[Jay Sam]

OK if one asks a question in maybe a different way: Is Carnival that bad, what a better place to go for some encouragement for taking their 1st Carnival cruise to ask questions. The media/social networks are all over Carnival in this or that or the other, and unfounded. I love Carnival in agreement with the one who responded. A solid product. I am 5 for 5 on Carnival. 5 great cruises. Amazing.

 

And I understand the responder's reply, but the question may not have been out of being critical but, "just give me some reassurance" of a new line.

 

So cheers to both of you; to you the Carnival fan, like me, and the soon to be Carnival fan.

 

My opinion: if you like NCL, you will love Carnival. Out of 10 cruises in 5 years, 5 have been on Carnival and 4 other lines. So in other words, I keep coming back, and hope to again and again.

 

The best all around value for a marvelous vacation. Celebrity may be more polished, but Carnival makes me feel the most at home. Love Carnival. Celebrity would be number 3 on the list of the 5. NCL is number 5. But even at number 5, I have enjoyed my time on their ships quite a lot.

 

Take care folks, and happy cruising. I hope to take Carnival Breeze and Carnival Sunshine this year. And maybe another one if I can squeeze it in. So many cruises and so little time.

[Beachdude]

I don't know if this was said already, buuut, I'm just going to go ahead and say what I was thinking anyway.

 

So you come on the Carnival board and ask if Carnival "is really that bad?"

 

 

Yes, but some people are capable of giving unemotional unbiased responses. And if you want the opinion of someone who has cruised Carnival, the Carnival forum is a logical place to find them. Of course there a lot of folks who are incapable of giving unemotional unbiased replies, but they are pretty obvious. There have been a few good informative responses in this thread.

 

Burt

[Jay Sam]

Yes, but some people are capable of giving unemotional unbiased responses. And if you want the opinion of someone who has cruised Carnival, the Carnival forum is a logical place to find them. Of course there a lot of folks who are incapable of giving unemotional unbiased replies, but they are pretty obvious. There have been a few good informative responses in this thread.

 

Burt

 

Yep, I was just typing some of the same of what you were saying, re: what a better place to find answers than on a Carnival forum. Happy cruising. Love Carnival.

[spankym13]

Jay thank you. That all im trying to do. Get some real input from people who really do enjoy them and not just the one timers

[Jay Sam]

Jay thank you. That all im trying to do. Get some real input from people who really do enjoy them and not just the one timers

 

Any questions? Feel free to e-mail me: jsamuel2@tampabay.rr.com

[DavyJoneses]

It's all what you make of it! If your looking for negative, that's what it will be.

 

Go be happy, your on a cruise. Enjoy!!!!

 

Well said!

[shealea]

I thought I would post to give my ideas on Carnival. I've never been on a cruise, but we are excited that I think we are doing the Carnival to Mexico this next October.

 

My dh and I sort of had a bad idea of Carnival.... and what is so crazy and goofy is that I can't even really tell you why. I wonder if it was portrayed as the "Party Ship". Not sure. Then when Carnival had the big problem with the ship stuck out to sea with no power for so long..... well, that did it for my husband. Whenever I mentioned a Carnival cruise, he said, no way.

 

And we are far from "fancy" people. We are cheap, only usually getting inside cabins.

 

On our last cruise to Alaska, we visited with a gal on deck who told us that the best food she's had on her cruises was on Carnival. Not sure what all lines she's been on.

 

I really do wonder why people have the misperception (is that even a word, lol!) about Carnival without having firsthand experience!

[shealea]

whoops.... my post above should not have said, I've never been on a cruise.... It should have said, I've never been on a CARNIVAL cruise.

 

We've been on one RCCL and 4 NCL and one Big Red Boat (Premiere)

[ajee622]

I think it's also people's expectations when on vacation. In all reality carnival is the cheapest of the majority of the cruise lines. People go on these cruises and expect to have a personal butler and be waited on hand and foot. The reality is that isn't going to happen on carnival and if you showed them a cruise line that could do it, they couldn't afford it.

[Jay Sam]

I think it's also people's expectations when on vacation. In all reality carnival is the cheapest of the majority of the cruise lines. People go on these cruises and expect to have a personal butler and be waited on hand and foot. The reality is that isn't going to happen on carnival and if you showed them a cruise line that could do it, they couldn't afford it.

 

Well said, and why pay more when Carnival gets the job done just fine. Carnival has always treated me just fine. And not on their Mega ships, but the ones I have been on Splendor, Freedom, Legend, Mircacle and even Paradise, all have been awesome. I do hope to take Breeze though, and Sunshine. Carnival is great. No complaints here.

[pe4all]

I just finished my 18th cruise on Carnival. I booked #20 while on board Splendor last week for next Feb. I had #19 booked a few weeks ago on a pack and play special for June. I have been "wandering" to NCL for a few cruises. It gives me a nice break from the "same old same old" I might be experiencing after 127 sea days on Carnival. We are easy to please, and food is not that important to us. Some ports we don't even get off the ship!! (Nassau, for example.) We are lucky to be able to afford several cruises a year, and could cruise any line we want. After doing a ton of research about other lines/ships, I still come back to Carnival for the value and type of vacation we want. (though NCL is coming up fast!!) Go with an open mind, knowing everything may not be perfect, or exactly the way, or when you want it! BTW - we didn't really think Royal was so outstandingly great for the price we paid. (through the nose for a Christmas cruise) As you can see from my signature, we haven't cruised Royal again!