What keeps you sailing with Carnival?

[cocacola86]

For the same price on Royal you can pretty much do, two cruises. Although they don't have bumper cars, sky diving. I think cruising should be about the ports and not about the ship.

[36kruzes]

They're the only ones that stayed in California year round.

 

Thanks, Sadie, for your candor. Yes, there is a dearth of ships sailing from L.A. and of course we have virtually NO destinations worth visiting around here plus cold waters so that's the reason.

 

Some say Carnival is like Hometown Buffet meets Circus Circus and I would agree -- slim pickings here so you have to make up your mind to ignore all the garbage around you and just stare at the sea and try to enjoy the ports. One couple on a Cabo overnight cruise, repulsed by the Miracle and its customers, split from the ship and stayed one night in a lovely land resort.

 

After some 36+ cruises over many years, I just KNOW I am too old and too finicky to deal with Carnival again, but a friend wants to do the Mexican route again because it's "cheap." Well, to me that's like throwing money away no matter how little it is, because I know I'd be miserable for the duration. Most reviews of the Miracle (ha) read like horror stories of a filthy ship, obnoxious children, bad service, mystery food, etc. But, hey, it's CHEAP so it apparently attracts a certain crowd (described by some as NASCAR/Costco).

 

Did you know Carnival is so accustomed to major complaints that they now PAY people to leave their ships when things are going badly for them? That in itself tells the tale. They won't do a better job and fix the many problems, just get rid of all complainers instead. Great way to run a business, eh?

[TravelLots]

I have had a varied enough set of 6 cruises over 30 plus years to make me a non loyal and one varied kind of cruiser and traveler. I have too much fun with all the differences. My last two cruises and soon I pray they will not be so far apart have been Carnival. You will find more upper middle and more middle budget people; Both on Carnival...both because of value. You will find clean ships and a real stab at giving a great varied experience for adults and kids separately and then together as families. I am a solo and at this point am more comfortable on a line that has singles and solos as much as families and people. On Carnival, they are often more geared to keeping it a "every man's experience" with some fancy things to jack it up a notch..a little better cabin etc, steakhouse, Chef's Table... but it is the most like "camp for adults and families"...a we are all together on this ship and like it this way feeling.

 

I love fancy and refined but still friendly. I also love the people in my life that never got out of our ranch area and the simple cake and coffee I can have popping in...the always super casual crowd; Carnival while going with trends..tries to offer the more relaxed..we are all together here feeling...with a couple traditional dress nights on a 7 day cruise...but it is relaxed dressy.

 

The guy that saves his pennies..works hard and has some luck in this economy...can still take a little cruise on Carnival and have a nice experience...this is so important..to have nice trips to stay sane if at all possible...Carnival delivers with many short, and one week and a handful of longer varied itineraries one can afford...and you are never alone on Carnival....Sarah

 

 

This is so true. I love the atmosphere of Carnival.

[LSUcajunmom]

Paying $50 pp for an interior on Triumph & then booking an OV on Elation for $75 pp foe another cruise 2 months later and this includes an OBC of $100 on both cruises. That's why I stay w Carnival!!

[Jay Sam]

Great staff.

Great food.

Great prices.

VIFP - currently gold level.

 

Favorite ship - Splendor.

Least favorite ship - Freedom.

 

Out of 10 cruises since 2010, 5 have been on Carnival.

I have traveled on 4 other lines, but Carnival comes out on top. Royal Caribbean is my other fave. The tie-breaker there is better pricing and food on Carnival.

Usually when I take other lines, it is because of the itinerary, and or a great deal.

 

I would leave Carnival if they prohibited smoking on the ship.

[SMSACE6]

I stay with Carnival mostly because of price. That being said; if the product for that price was not enjoyable, I would move on. So price paid for product recieved. I have enjoyed all 6 Carnival cruises very much. There have been changes over the years (some call cuts, and some are), but as of my most recent cruise last November, the product still gets great marks from me.

 

Some day when I retire, and can book cruises closer to departure date, therefore find prices close to or equal to Carnival, I would like to try another line, just to broaden my cruise experience, but for now. I stick with Carnival.

[Sparky2]

Just wondering what everybody's thoughts on Carnival and what makes you so loyal to them, is it the price, destinations, ships, what is your favourite ship and your least favourite ship and would you ever switch to another cruiseline?

 

Prices are great, and we always have a fantastic time. Love getting price drops up till 2 days before the cruise.

 

Our favorite class of ship is Spirit, but we have gotten used to sailing the Conquest Class ships.

[Senoj84]

I particularly like the prices and the perks of having gold card status after reaching so many sailings, it gives me something to look forward to when I reach silver/platinum. Plus, the destination variety is good. Carnival is preferred for me but I will gladly try another cruise line.

[cocacola86]

What do you think of the loyalty program and how do you think it could be better?

[Ykgorbie]

We have just returned from our 10th cruise with Carnival, never having cruised on any other line.....we've thought about it, but as my hubby says, "If it ain't broken, why fix it ?"

;)

[cocacola86]

I love the food in the MDR, especially the warm chocolate melting cake, service is good, lido food on the pool deck is good.

[bplazo]

I doubt that I will cruise with them again unless it is a short cruise going out of New Orleans or Texas. I prefer small ships and less families. Do not care for Seuss unless someday I have grandchildren.

[bplazo]

I love the food in the MDR, especially the warm chocolate melting cake, service is good, lido food on the pool deck is good.

 

I forgot that this is my favorite dish. Had it every night when we cruised with Carnival.

[Jay Sam]

Have the private cocktail party for gold and above, to include cruises of less than 5 days. All I can think of.

[Native Floridian 26]

I've been on 25 cruises since childhood and the last 9 have been on Carnival. I've gotten to where I go straight to their website to research cruises without shopping others because they are almost always the low cost alternative.

 

The value you get on Carnival is excellent. The food, service and entertainment is on par with most other lines I've sailed.

 

I've enjoyed every ship so don't really have a most or least favorite.

[PatLuv]

with some hesitation I booked a second cruise for last week.We decided to try Carnival again as we wanted to see Jamaica but it was too expensive on Disney.I work with a number of people who are loyal to Carnival.We're just off the Victory,and loved the ship and the cruise,and the staff.Only complaint is not enough to do on sea days.They need more movies.a couple movies just doesn't cut it.Not everyone is a sun bunny,and I tried to stay away from the casino,but thats impossible! I really liked the casual idea for dinner.Its nice to be able to relax and enjoy yourself!;)

[OCruisers]

We always at least consider Carnival because Charleston is such a convenient port for us.

Unfortunately, we don't like Carnival Fantasy BUT are excited Carnival Sunshine is doing a 10 Day roundtrip out of Charleston on May 30, 2017.

LuLu

[katiel53]

We liked sailing from Pt Canaveral so our choice of ships was limited. We didn't and still don't take 3-4 day cruises. We sail Carnival frequently because the price was right.

 

We also have sailed many times on Royal Caribbean and that is my favorite line with Freedom of the Seas being my favorite ship. In many cases Royal Caribbean is far more expensive than Carnival even considering that we could have free drinks nights for 3 hours if we wanted to.

 

With the changes going on for the time being in Pt Canaveral, I don't see sailing from there for a while as Sunshine is too crowded and Valor won't have the 2.0 upgrades until next year.

 

We will sail on Dream for the 7th time and this will be our first time sailing from New Orleans, but we decided that we would extend our stay a few days to enjoy the port. Now that Iwe are no longer living in FL, and will have to fly to a port, we probably will choose to sail from other ports and that may have me sailing on Royal Caribbean again as they sail from Ft Lauderdale also and I really don't like sailing from Miami.

 

Who knows what the future will bring?

[Gardeneroflove]

I'd rather Disney, way more fun, and better service.

 

But carnival does have robes and the best pillow mints!!

 

The price of Disney would be 4500 for us, we got a suit on Carnival for 3000. Yeah.

 

We only do 7 days, if it's not disney, then out of New Olreans, that limits who can cruise with (we don't care where we go, we cruise for the vacation, not for the ports). RCL sucked, old ship full of old people, no family fun stuff, no open hours in the kid's club.

 

So, if we're not getting Disney, might as well go cheap. :D

[cocacola86]

My big thing with Carnival is its in U.S. Dollars, where Royal you can book in CDN dollars, so what do you do book with Carnival and pay in U.S. Dollars or try something new?

[deliver42]

Mostly because of price. Great value compared to Royal, though I prefer Royal because of the differences in the Ships. Carnival's are basically the same except for the size. I booked the Vista because of the Havana Cabanas. My last Carnival was on the Dream. Great cruise. The only downside was the assistant cruise director, who shall be nameless. She was very annoying. On the Vista, I will miss being able to smoke in comfort on deck 5, but I can live with it. I believe it will be on deck11, outside, and that will not make the cruise less enjoyable.

[Cherrys]

For me it's the vibe - the down-to-earth crowd and the loud fun party vibe! I also love the bright colors and the bold and unusual architecture. Of course there's also the obvious - great prices and terrific service.

[keishashadow]

I walked away twice in a huff from CCL but they keep sucking me back in with the itineraries & pricing structure.:)

 

I'm getting ready to pull the trigger & book one of the longer Journey sailings. It goes to some great ports & will replace our existing planned vacation for that time frame

 

While I will still always compare all the lines when making a decision, it's a no brainer for us as to this specific vacation:

 

*11 nights on CCL for less than double the price of an existing 3 day DCL sailing I have booked (at a 'great' rate no less...love my Disney but will stop in Orlando a few days before the cruise & get my fix.;), then fly into SJU)

 

*Many of our favorite ports & even one brand new one - woohoo!

 

&

 

*We can save on airfare since we'll catch a break on airfare out of FLL for flight back home.

Edited April 19, 2015 by keishashadow

[just4cruzin]

I am not loyal to any line, I look for the best price and which ever itinerary we are in the mood for. Living in the Tampa Bay area, it's convenient to leave from Tampa, however, any Florida port works. Each cruise line has 2-3 things that they do better than the other lines, so when you flush it all out, we are there to have fun and relax. Granted, there are better cruise lines, but you do pay more for the service. You can't go wrong value wise compared to any other vacation. Where else can you go and have room to stay in, food around the clock and fun for the amount of money you spend.

[sjn911]

This is so true. I love the atmosphere of Carnival.

 

Thank you so much..I was trying to get it out just right...thanks so much for commenting...some people just don't want that family fun feel...I think there are tons that do that are not wild and crazy or like all the highest energy photos all the time.....it is not that all the time...there are lots of ways to find alone time, pampered time or feel "with" and jovial time on a budget..but I just do not buy that worst case scenario poorly behaved people thing...that is there but minimal to me and only some cruises ans some times. And I had one "good" and one "not so good Easter one"..but all the sweet stories here from sweet people...it is not the Wallmart of the Seas...it is the chance and repeated chance of a lifetime for many who need OR just want to put resources out carefully and go "nice affordably" and as a solo even with less 150% fares..I love their 1a cabins..cozy and nice...Sarah

 

PS When 50 or so and dancing on the MJ hr with others my age for a whole hr in the disco...and everyone just getting their groove on..that was just one hr..and a great one...and I was just on Cocacola...LOL..and the Cruise Director was looking down from above on those Spirit class discos.... they are 2 level discos.... and folks can look down on to the floor..CD smiled and enjoyed all of us..a long time...we were all good and 18 -25 again....LOL...a great memory that holds me....sarah

Edited April 19, 2015 by sjn911