Comments from our Friends on the RCCL Board

[CanTex]

There's a new discussion on the RCCL board under the heading "RCC or Carnival". It's more in the typical "bash the drunken Carnival party animals / TT vein," but frankly after what I read of the nickel and diming on RCCL (pay for your juice, burgers, etc.) the closest I'll come to sailing them is on Celebrity. Who wants to climb a rock wall ANYWAY -- I go on vacation to stop climbing the wall!

 

Here are some excerpts:

 

"We have sailed on CCL twice and RCCL the last four times. We had such a great time on the RCCL ships that we won't consider going back on CCL. We like the more laid back party crowds on RCCL versus the more younger out of control party type aboard CCL. CCL is great if you can't afford a better liner."

 

"I have sailed on RCCL, Princess and Carnival. Of these three, RCCL is my favorite, and the Voyager class at the top of my list, Carnival ranks a very distant third. RCCL ships are much more appealing to me, not garish and gaudy as was the Carnival Conquest. I have gotten very used to excellent service, Carnival doesn't come near! I don't understand when people say that there is much more to do on Carnival, I didn't find that to be the case, never lacked for anything to do on RCCL. Food good to very good on RCCL, OK on Carnival, but even after speaking with the waiter, Carnival just couldn't get the food to the table hot, or even warm! When I think of Carnival, the word Cheap comes to mind, not in the sense of being inexpensive, but in regard to quality, or lack of qualityu in Carnivals case."

[YaYaCruiser]

I guess that everyone has their own way of looking at things. We are about to go on our forth CCL cruise and we stayed with CCL

 

 

because we liked it. I've read posts from people that have been on both, and they said that the food on CCL is better than RCCL. We enjoy the Fun Ships.

 

Fascination 7/01

Inspiration 7/02

Triumph 5/03

Until we sail on the Destiny

 

[skigirl]

We did the CCL Destiny southern Caribbean two summers ago and RCCL AOS southern Caribbean last summer. We loved them both and would go back on either in a heartbeat. I think that people often go on another line with preconceived ideas (it's cheap, it's stuffy, etc.) and they they make them come true. Or people are veterans of one line, try one cruise on another and maybe have one less than prefect experience, then make huge generalizations, like the food is bad, the service is bad. We were actually worried about the Destiny after all the Carnival bashing but found it just wonderful, the food and service trememdous.

[teedee]

I've never sailed RCCL, but I've been on both Carnival and Celebrity. I don't know where people get this "low class" thing about Carnival. I've had a wonderful time on Carnival and Celebrity and while they are different experiences, I've never found Carnival to be the party till you puke experience that people on other boards make them out to be. The food has been very good on all the Carnival cruises I've been on. I have 2 cruises booked on 2 separate Carnival ships and I'm really looking forward to both of them. I know I'll have a good time, probably better without the "attitudy" type people who bash Carnival.

 

Terri

 

Skyward - 1989

Carnivale - 1991

Holiday - 1994

Fantasy - 1998

Century - 2002

Century - 2003

Jubilee - 7/04

Century - 9/04

Coral Princess - 3/05

Valor - 10/05

 

Days til Valor Vampires Cruise

[Vidimom]

I guess the group on those ships don't like having a good time!

 

We sailed on HAL last September and had a very nice cruise. Would we take our kids on that cruise, NO, there wasn't alot for them and quite frankly, Carnival has so much more to offer families. I have no desire to go on RCCL! I have been on several Carnival ships and booked on another one in November so Carnival is my favorite.

 

As far as price difference, they are identical pricing. We actually got the best deal on a cruise on HAL! WE got a Balcony cabin for two for under $1300.00! last September. We are paying more for the cruise on the Legend, but hey it's an 8 night cruise, along with a family member's wedding and we are looking forward to trying the spirit class (heard it's identical to HAL Zuiderdam we sailed on before). Carnival has really upgraded their ships and they are alot more elegant.

 

Sensation 9/98 10th anniv.

Big Red Boat 5/99

Ecstasy 10/00

Destiny 9/01 The week of 911

Victory 10/01

Imagination 12/20/01

Imagination 2/4/02

Zuiderdam 9/6/03 - 15th anniv.

Carnival Legend 11/27/04

Happiness is being on a cruise

with the one you love!

 

Legend Here We Come 11/27

 

 

[Cotton]

It kinda aggrevates me when I see reports like that.....but only for a second. I don't waste my time worrying about who goes on what line. I prefer Carnival, so who cares? Their loss, not mine.

 

Festivale 1987

Carnivale 1988

Mardi Gras 1989

Pacific Princess 1990

Norway 1994

Holiday 2001

Holiday 2002

Holiday 2003

 

[ppeckham]

Interesting comments. "More younger out of control party type" on CCL. I guess they didn't see the "more experience" (probably grandmother) who was completely snockered on the Conquest during March '03. I wouldn't classify that as "more younger".

 

I guess it's all a matter of opinion. A friend of mine just sailed RCCL in March. She said the food on CCL was much better.

[L2J]

Well my one and only cruise thus far was on NCL, but RCCL was a consideration. However after interaction via this board with RCCL and CCL PAX. I won't sail that "other" line because of the "holier-than-thou" attitudes that "most" of them display.

 

Their loss? Hardly, but I'd rather spend my hard earned $$ as well as time with people that don't act like the have a cobb stuck up their butt!! Nuff said.....WEENIES!!

 

Liv...Winds are 15 knots and holding....the whole world is a drop zone!

 

 

 

 

NCL Sky 2/02

[Vidimom]

Guess we know which cruiseline makes the stronger drinks!

 

I had my share of drunk old folks on HAL and they were driving scooters on the ship!

 

At least on Carnival, we have a good time!

 

Sensation 9/98 10th anniv.

Big Red Boat 5/99

Ecstasy 10/00

Destiny 9/01 The week of 911

Victory 10/01

Imagination 12/20/01

Imagination 2/4/02

Zuiderdam 9/6/03 - 15th anniv.

Carnival Legend 11/27/04

Happiness is being on a cruise

with the one you love!

 

Legend Here We Come 11/27

 

 

[mpffls]

I have sailed carnival twice and rccl once.....and we are going on carnival agian in a few months....for me they both have their atvantages....along w/ several other lines I would like to try..........

 

I can understand why some folks have the attitude they do about carnival and it has nothing to do w/ the garish decor...or the vegas attitude....it has to do w/ the luck of the draw on the fellow passengers that you are subjected to be w/.........

 

Sometimes things happen beyond carnivals control...they are in fact a bussiness and in order to coinue to conduct bussiness, decisions are made that do not always attract the most well behaved of guests....

 

A prime example was our first cruise on carnival....a weekend jaunt to the bahamas....this cruise will lend itself to some partying simply becasue it is on a weekend.... now add to the fact that it was weeks after 9/11 and folks had canceled so the cruise line dropped the price........remeber they are a bussiness and shipps do not make money unless there are passengers..........this was a rowdy bunch.....a really rowdy bunch.....this was a "booze cruz"...just out of port it got so rowdy that someone thru up in the pool....well guess what....it was closed the whole trip.... carnival did not cause this.....no more than hilton would be blammed for the frat boys taking over a hotel for the texas - ou game...

 

small minded folks who confuse guests behavior w/ corporate decorum....

 

just my veiw........

 

 

 

till the ELATION on Margaret's 21st B-day

 

 

 

[CruiseFever]

I just don't get why it's important what the people at RCCL (or any other line) think of those who cruise Carnival?

 

Are they jealous of our success?

 

I can't speak for anyone else but I know one thing to be true for me: Every Carnival cruise I have been on has been fabulous and I would not hessitate to recommend a Carnival cruise to anyone.

 

Oddly, I couldn't get my mom (88) on a Carnival cruise for all the tea in China. She's a Celebrity girl and that's just all there is to it.

 

Brand loyalty, much like the brand of car you drive, is a powerful thing I suppose. Everybody wants to believe they made the best choice when there are many to choose from.

 

Here is where I think the difference is between Carnival people and everybody else.

 

I think we (Carnival people) are happy with our cruise and have taken Carnival up on the offer to "make it our own". I think that is such a powerful part of the Carnival experience that it almost demands our loyalty.

 

Recently I've tried Princess and loved it. It IS a different product than Carnival. They have a lot of people over on that CC board that are every bit as loyal to their brand as Carnival people are to theirs.

 

What's weird is that I like both of the lines. I don't see one as better than the other, but I do see differences. But then I see differences in Carnival ships which indeed go out of their way TO be different starting with the ship's theme.

 

On another post the question was asked about "going back" to smaller ships once you've tried the bigger ones and the board offered a lot of different responses. Some (like me) like Spirit class the best, others Fantasy classs, and so on.

 

The part I just really don't understand is that those discussions are simply a matter of opinion, no more, no less. When people get to comparing cruise lines it seems that they want to put on the boxing gloves as though they need to justify their decision.

 

I've never felt that way and I don't see that much on this board.

 

Has anyone else noticed this or is it just me?

 

Happy Cruising

 

Chris

 

www.LifeIsCruising.com

 

Next up:

Caribbean Princess 06/26/04

Star Princess 10/24/04

Diamond Princess 12/22/04

Carnival Miracle 03/13/05

 

[tef43]

Chris,

 

It's a jealousy thing. Seriously.

 

Back in the day, RCCL had a vastly superior product than what Carnival could offer. Years ago, one would make a comparison of "RCCL vs Princess," and "Carnival vs NCL." This is no longer the case.

 

While Carnival has steadily improved, and diligently worked to shed the "party till you puke" image, RCCL has been stuck in a rut, and perhaps their quality has even backslid to a point where the lines are nearly identical.

 

RCCL's answer: Rock walls and skating rinks.

 

Carnival's answer: Buy Princess. RCCL people are still upset about that one.

 

There is a level of pretentiousness about the "RCCL-only" customer that you do not find here. They are stuck in the early 90's when the best thing Carnival had going was the "new" Fantasy-class. RCCL had the "Song of Whatever" ships and the "This and That of the Seas" were just starting to make an appearance. I was on the Song of Norway in 1990 and it was one beautiful ship for its day.

 

I'm perfectly happy coming back to Carnival after all these years, and I don't give a rat's tukas what the RCCL apologists have to say about it.

 

Tom <--- Curmudgeon of the Seas

 

Eleven cruises so far. Up next:

Shhhh, it's a surprise!

And then:

Carnival Spirit 12/10/05 Mexican Riviera

Perhaps something else as well. Watch this space.

 

Dance like it hurts, love like you need money, and work when somebody's watching.

[LornaT]

1985 introduced Mom to cruising on a Panama canel cruise on the Royal Viking Sea, yes older folk (I was the only single on board below the age of 50) and you HAD to dress for dinner EVERY night.

Big event each day was Bingo and Tea.

Took Mom last year on the Carnival Spirit Honolulu to Vancouver.....I created a monster....she got me to book back-tobacks (12/21 &12/29) on the Legend for this year, and back-to-backs (4/2 and 4/10) next year on the Spirit again.

Says she will only go Carnival becuase they are so much fun and everyone is so nice.

Mom is 78 years young now with a bad back and Parkinsons.....but if cruising is what keeps her going and cruising Carnival makes her happy.......then Carnival better get some new routes before we run out of places to cruise.

[fascination 5/10]

Chris...

 

As an expert on Carnival and Princess, what will we find different on a Princess cruise in November (Caribbean Princess) out of Fort Lauderdale. I'm taking my second 4-day Carnival cruise next week (yeah!!) but we've been looking into a longer cruise with more sea days to really relax and enjoy the ship...plus have been wanting to go to St. Marteen's and visit Orient Beach for years.

Thanks for any info you can offer.... it will be easier to return from our short little trip if we have a nice one to look forward to in the fall!

 

Fascination 5/12/03

 

[ralmyers]

tef -- well said. Except, I would say I don't give a rat's patooty what someone else thinks! I do not have any other type of cruise to compare my Carnival experience, but I keep coming back for more. Just as Chris said, while I would not drive a certain brand of car, I love my own.

What I do not understand is the "party image" that Carnival has. I would not consider myself or DH a "mostly younger out of control party type". I would say that we are mostly younger, and we like to have a good time. I just have never seem anything that Rambunctious and as the younger folks say "off the hook" partying. I cannot imagine what their college days were like if they think Carnival is wild. Wooo---- they should have been at one of the many parties my Dh's fraternity hosted when we were in school. I always thought everyone on the ship had a fairly laid back attitude, and we all seemed to have a common goal .... TO HAVE A NICE TIME! Well, you know what they say about small minded people......

 

Triumph

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&timezone=GMT-0500">

 

Fantasy - 94

Imagination - 95

Ecstasy - 99

Triumph - 04

 

 

[Cruising89143]

I have been on many Carnival cruises and am going on my third RCI cruise in December. Other than the decor of the ships I do not see much of a difference between the two lines. They both target the same demographics.

 

There have been many complaints lately on the RCI board from the RCI faithful about how the quality of food and service has gone down hill and also about the recent additions of charging for such things as Johnny Rockets and the Ben and Jerry's ice cream. You can find fault with any cruise line just as you can find the good things.

 

I will say that on my two RCI cruises I have never met anyone with a snotty attitude. I just think that you have a few on the RCI board that are trying to be something that they are not. I take them with a grain of salt.

 

Gordon

 

http://community.webshots.com/user/cruisingator

 

NCL Starward-86, Starship Atlantic-91, Caribe-92, Seabreeze-93, Fantasy-93, Norway-94, Celebration-94, Sensation-95, Imagination-96, Destiny-97, Celebration-98, Triumph-99, Victory-00, Majesty of the Seas-01, Fascination-01, Carnival Pride-02, Majesty of the Seas-02, Carnival Legend-02, Fantasy 7-03, Glory 9-03, Fantasy 11-03, Triumph 3/04.

 

9/02/2004 Fantasy

 

Navigator of the Seas 12/04/04

 

 

 

 

[BrendaB1]

Four Carnival cruises down & 3 more booked. I'm one happy Carnival customer. I've looked at others but activities & menu doesn't appeal to me.

 

Valor 10/05 Miracle 2/13/05

Sensation 10/04

Conquest May 2003

Holiday Sept 2002

Inspiration 2001

Celebration 2000

Crown Princess 1999

Oceanic (Big Red Boat) 1998

 

Days til Miracle Partae Pirates Cruise from Tampa

[afdds]

Have sailed other cruise lines and love the food, service and crew on Carnival.

 

Bottom line for this family: Carnival offers military discounts in advance, not just when the ship needs filling up.

 

Thanks Carnival for supporting the military family!

 

 

 

Take care,

 

http://community.webshots.com/user/afdds

 

5/23 Carnival Victory

 

Carnival Legend, Panama, 2003

Norwegian Star, Hawaii,2001

Aida, Sicily 1999

Fasination San Juan-1995

 

[dsclark]

The RCCL apologists are unwilling to admit that RCCL is not the same cruise line that it was five or 20 years ago. The best they can offer is the tired old "Look at the prices- they are a bargain".

Well, if you compare their prices to CCL, it can llok way over priced. My cruise in June on the Glory, for four would cost over $2,000 more on ther Mariner.

So, outside of a rock wall,pool sized ice rink and mini-mini golfing, what am I giving up? Well, here it goes:

1)RCCL inferior food. Compare CCL food to RCCL, item to item, CCL comes out ahead. The CCL prez even made a similar boast last month.

2)Smaller rooms.

3) Lower quality of service. I don't care what quality of service Joe Blow said they got on the Enema of the Seas five years ago, RCCL is reducing the cabin cleanup staff. My cabin service last year on the EOS was the worst of all my cruises. Reducing staff will not help.

4)Turning off the stabilizers to save fuel. That's a good one!

5) Higher prices for drinks and drink cards.

You'll note that many of the people who hate CCL have never been on CCL cruise and proudly say they never will. Fact is CCL puts out a great product, better than RCCL. Proof? Cruise loyalty is so high that they don't need a loyalty club like the Crown and Anchor. They are so successful that were able to buy up Seaborn/Windjammer/Costa/ Holland America/Cunard/Princess and a few others. More people like CCL than RCCL. More people cruise them than RCCL. RCCL? They still have a lot of debt. RCCL does have one thing that CCL doesn't- a lot of debt. That's why I don't think CCL will buy them out. Rather, they'll run them out of the water then buy their ships at auction prices.

[CruiseFever]

Well first of all I can't argue with your choice in the Fascination. She was our first cruise ship and still has a special place in our hearts; I'd sail her again in a heartbeat.

 

As far as the CP is concerned I'll be better able to tell you specifics about that ship after we sail her in June. I'm especially interested in the Movies Under The Stars feature. I will say that as far as I can tell so far after only one Princess cruise that there are a lot of similarities in the ships. It is often difficult for me to tell the difference when I see webshots of, say, the atrium of different Princess ships.

 

I thought that might be boring but actually I think it will make it easier to get in the swing of a new ship.

 

If you like Carnival you will like Princess. Princess has all the features you'll find on the Fascination but they're a bit more laid back about it...until you get to the disco. That place, Skywalkers Lounge, hovering high above the aft deck , really rocks at night.

 

I'd sure be looking forward to the longer cruise, I know that was THE one thing we regretted about our Fascination cruise...that it wasn't longer!

 

You are wise beyond belief to be planning another one to look forward to

 

Happy Cruising

 

Chris

 

www.LifeIsCruising.com

 

Next up:

Caribbean Princess 06/26/04

Star Princess 10/24/04

Diamond Princess 12/22/04

Carnival Miracle 03/13/05

[gymbrat33]

I've only cruised Carnival and have found the passengers to be super friendly.

 

On my Last cruise on the Victory 3/28/04 there was this couple in their 80's. They were having the time of their lives. They would dance at the disco, sing at Karaoke, and they were super dressed up even on casual nights. Everytime I would run into them they had a smile on their face. They had so much energy, and were always so happy. THAT'S HOW ALL OF US CARNIVAL PASSENGERS WILL BE IN OUR 80'S BECAUSE WE SAILED ON THE HAPPY SHIP NOT THE PARTY SHIP.

 

Imagination 8/02

Glory 8/03

Victory 3/04

 

Days til Miracle Partae Pirates Cruise from Tampa

 

[judyf]

I just booked a RCCL cruise for May 21st. I wanted another cruise before fall out of the NYC area and the Voyager of the Seas came up the best bet for us.

 

I will be able to tell first hand which I like better. I'm sure I will like them both just not the snobs if there's any. I like any cruise I'm on!!!!

 

Judy

CCL Inspiration 4/4-4/11/04

NCL Sea 4/14-4/27/03

Wonder 5/16-5/19/02

Wonder 5/3-5/8/01

Fantasy 2/15-2/18/01

 

[dosi]

It seems to me that alot of the folks on other boards and even this one that complain about lousy customer service in fact seem to be lousy customers. I have had many service industry jobs and worked as a bartender and cocktail waitress for many years. If you approached me with a pleasant attitude then that is what you got your service with. Come at me with a bad attitude then things are just going to go downhill from there. While I fully understand that there are some bad servers and service out there, I can tell you from real life experience there are alot more bad customers.

 

doris

 

"I travel a lot; I hate having my life disrupted by routine"--Caskie Stinnett

 

Elation 10/20/02

Paradise 9/21/03

Star Princess 10/24/04

[dsclark]

I am not a lousy customer! I too, have worked in the service industry, both as a waiter and a restraunt manager.

It would have been nice if our cabin boy would restock our ice bucket without us having to call every day for ice.

It would have been nice for our cabin boy to replenish our towels each day, instead of us having to call for some towels.

It would have been nice for our cabin boy to to give us our turn down service on the last night, take his tip, and remove the stinky salt water soaked towels that remained there until we left the next day.

It would have been nice to have our room made before 3:00pm each day.

It would have been nice for the cabin boy to remove the room service trays for us.

Need I go on? I have had way better service on my CCL cruises, and I was the same customer each time. At a minimum, I expect housekeeping to be at least as good as you'd get at a Motel 6 (I don't consider that too high a goal).

[jemingway]

My experiences with RCCL as a company have been that they have a certain corporate arrogance. They know that they are #2, like Burger King to McDonald's, and don't like it. As a result, they take on an air of superiority over Carnival. Their dislike of Carnival is so intense that the company will usually not contribute to a charity unless the charity has asked RCCL before Carnival. Then, they condition the gift on not asking Carnival and not accepting anything from Carnival should it be offered. That being said, they are very generous and support many local concerns that do not seem to benefit them at all. It seems that they are trying to go upscale and raise the prices with the main sales point being "we're not Carnival". Obviously, there is a market that eats that up.

 

JV The 4 stages of cruising: planning, anticipation, experience and reflection.