OPINIONS NEEDED: Carnival fans who have tried "upgraded" lines. . . what is the advantage and is it worth it?

[brownc424]

47 minutes ago, cruizergal70 said:

I hope you know that all of this service is not truly "more human and friendly." The service staff are not your friends, they don't care about you, and they don't think you are special. It's their job to engage in these performative actions. 

I mean... DUH? Do you really think that needed to be stated? Although, somehow while pointing out the obvious you managed to also be wrong at the same time. The service is "more human and friendly". Even if it's simply a "performance". They're doing their jobs, which is literally to pretend to be your friend.

[DrSea]

6 hours ago, KmomChicago said:

 

Fair question!  I am turning 56 next month. I am still working full time. My dad has a cottage he owns that supposedly he plans to leave to me, and it is falling apart and needs a bit of work. I have a 16 year old who needs permit hours to get their license and meanwhile still needs to be ferried around. My mom turns 79 this year, lives with us, and has fallen three times since December, the last time breaking her arm up very high near the shoulder.

 

I volunteer as much as I can at a local cat rescue that is understaffed, volunteer-wise. In addition, the director, who is 50 and also works full time running her co-located full service horse farm and boarding facility, had an eye tumor this year (has been, we believe, successfully treated with a temporary radiation implant), but feels just a little bit less strong and energetic as a result. She also has a teenager at home, and her husband has been in a hospital in Chicago for almost 2 weeks and has had two abdominal surgeries. 

 

The kitties at the rescue would like me to be there petting and spoiling them about 120 hours per week. I also have two cats at home that I miss when we leave, that mom can't take care of anymore (we hire a local kid and it's fine). 

 

We flew to Orlando last August for Mardi Gras, drove to Baltimore in December for Legend, flew to Houston in April for Vista, and flew to LAX in May for Radiance.  Getting to Chicago airports is a pain, I am so over flying, because it is also a pain, driving to Baltimore was pretty terrible, logistics on the ground once you land are yet another hassle. 

 

Having to do a Covid test is stressful to me as for 3 of the 4 cruises we didn't even know if we would be able to sail 3 days in advance as we were getting ready for all those journeys. 

 

I used to love planning all these details but find a combination of my age, Covid, not wanting to leave mom or the cats too often or too long, and the details now feeling like a million little irritations rather than fun challenges, means I am losing my enthusiasm for what used to be one of my main passions.

 

Also because Carnival is so consistent across the whole brand, I am losing the novelty factor, and I have never really been a travel repeater, because there is so much else out there and I am wondering if a different line would refresh the experience. 

Thank you for sharing that with me. It seems that you have a lot your plate. You have been through a lot and I commend you for trucking onward.

 

I read through all of your posts on this thread and it seems that you want to try something new. My first advice is to try them all. I have about 25 cruises and I'm in my 30s. I am loyal to none (I'll admit I am partial to NCL [great shows] and RCL[wave rider]). Switching things up will highlight what you like and don't like about CCL.

 

A spoiler alert: All mainstream cruise lines are more similar than they are different. 

 

Here are my other thoughts:

 

- Try NCL - I think you will like them. You will like to lively atmosphere and the different entertainment shows onboard. I have a degree in theater, and am very particular about musicals. NCL > RCL in terms of the production quality etc. Their buffet is ok and better than CCL by a lot. They have a lot of ethnic food. My favorite is their Indian food. I dream of their curry beef. It's the best I have had despite eating Indian food in the states, the UK, and India. NCL invented the relaxed cruising concept where you don't have to wear anything fancy and you can customize your cruise. 

 

- MSC - great prices. I think you will like the different take of shows. Great bargain with beautiful ships. Their food is meh. But I think you will do fine if you think the CCL buffet is ok. It's a different take on cruising that I think you will find different and interesting. 

 

- Try Princess - I would recommend this as this is something that you personally would like to do as you have a lot of nostalgia for the love boat. Be warned, there is very little of it left on today. Or maybe it so minuscule that it's lost on me. There are a few places that say love boat where you can take pictures of. But by in large it resembles any other cruise line. There are maybe some couples games, but other cruise lines have them too. Their food is a lot better than CCL, but that's not a selling point for you. Their entertainment runs older. It's a more sedate ship. I miss the lively atmosphere of CCL when on PCL tbh. But I take it for what it is. I think doing PCL will make you appreciate CCL. It did for me. PCL is my parent's favorite line. Be warned, the medallion is a required part of your experience. It means being connected to your app for everything. When it works, it works beautifully. When it doesn't, prepare for a nightmare. For me, the medallion makes cruising a much worst experience. I had to wait about 2 hours over the course of 3 days to get IT to get it to work. Never have I ever had to spend so much time working with IT to get something to work while on a cruise. Oh, princess has a lot of seafood and fish. You will like that. Especially with the restart, their menu has a lot more seafood.

 

- Virgin (when prices come down) - I haven't done them. But I think prices will come down for a variety of reasons that belongs on a different thread. Then I will try them when it's cheaper. It's a fresh take on cruising with a lively environment. 

 

Consider Disney if you are a disney fan. They have special show and merchandise that you can only get on DCL. One of my friends wants to go, but cannot afford the ridiculous prices. They have great food, but again it's a wash for you. There will be TONS of kids running around. IDK how you feel about that. Doesn't bother me, but people teat kids on a cruise ship like they are untouchables. 

 

Cruise lines to avoid:

- HAL - Very stuffy. A little on the pricier side. You could save what you would spend on the upcharge for HAL for another cruise. The draws of HAL I don't think will appeal to you. They include better food, sedate environment, classical music, being more posh. I find that the pax are pretty pretentious. I have had people *attempt* to thumb their noses at me and look down at me like I am lower class and uneducated. I have had people literally ask me what I do for a living in order to try to size me up only to find out that I am a physician. Rude. Their tone changes and they usually leave me alone. On my vacation, I don't like dealing with pretentious pricks. I can go on and on how what we do for a living should define who we are or our class. But again, that's a discussion for a different thread. 

 

- Cunard - Never been, but it's obviously more formal that even HAL. 

 

- Avoid anything more upstream than the "luxury" lines due to price alone. You will get better food, but again that's a wash for you. 

 

With your mother falling and being not in the best health, cruising is a great option. You have access to physicians that speak English 24/7. When doing land based vacations, it can be a challenge sometimes. Trying to tell someone about chest pain during a heart attack can be an issue when you don't speak the same language. 

 

Mackinac Island is a great vacation option. But it doesn't appeal to me. It's like being transported to 19 dickty 7 with no cars. It doesn't appeal to me. Different strokes for different folks. They have great fudge though. But other food options are limited than say being in Grand Rapids. 

 

Would love to hear your thoughts.

 

Best of luck. 

Edited July 4, 2022 by DrSea

[DrSea]

3 hours ago, brownc424 said:

I think I can help you understand. It's the difference between a typical 5 star hotel, and a Real 5 star hotel. I'll try to explain.

 

If you stay at a nicer hotel, let's just say The Roosevelt (A Waldorf Astoria) in New Orleans. In a regular room, as an unknown. You'll get great service all around, all of the food options will be good, you won't have to wait particularly long for help, service, or even a taxi.

 

If you stay at a higher end hotel, generally a more boutique location, let's go with another Waldorf Astoria, The WA in Los Cabos, by the second day every single person, almost without exception, will refer to you by name. Your personal concierge will check in with you at least once a day, sometimes more. Any request you have will be answered almost instantly. Theoretically the food will be better (although I was very underwhelmed at this hotel), and if you have a special request, it will be done without any question. Your preferences will be remembered, and if you come again the next year, odds are Very Good that you will recognize and be recognized by the vast majority of employees from your last trip.

 

That's what I found on Celebrity, in a suite at least. It's a completely different sort of experience, and much more personal. I went to the buffet one day, and one of the assistant waitress for Luminae (the private MDR for suite guests) was working there that shift. She asked how everything was going and offered to get my food for me, we had a pleasant conversation and I continued to serve myself. Every single staff member that I dealt with on a regular basis was the same way. They all did their best to make me feel like they genuinely cared about my happiness, and were willing to do almost anything to ensure it, even if it was above and beyond what was necessary.

 

That's the type of experience you should expect on the smaller cruise ships, and the more expensive lines. A more human touch, and a friendlier experience. That isn't to say that you can't have the same experience on Carnival, or any of the other lines, it's just much less likely.

 

That kind of experience might not be for you, it definitely isn't for everyone. Personally, I only want that experience some of the time. Sometimes I want something similar but lesser, and sometimes I want to be an anonymous cog in the machine and just drink and relax.

I HATE that kind of experience. I get that it is for some. But not for me. I don't like it when others remember me. I just like to fade into the background. 

[cruizergal70]

3 hours ago, brownc424 said:

I mean... DUH? Do you really think that needed to be stated? Although, somehow while pointing out the obvious you managed to also be wrong at the same time. The service is "more human and friendly". Even if it's simply a "performance". They're doing their jobs, which is literally to pretend to be your friend.

Then why are people so impressed and touched by the artifice? How is pretend land considered "better?"

Edited July 5, 2022 by cruizergal70

[lazydayz]

On 7/3/2022 at 6:19 PM, KmomChicago said:

I am interested in the comment about HAL discriminatory to women. How so?

 

I have looked at those music theme cruises as well. When you figure what a single concert costs, that could be a really good value.  Seems to me they are typically on the big 3, which is, of course, fine and dandy with us anyway. 

In some dining venues, they deferred to my husband and asked him what I would like.  Very insulting.  I have a voice, and book, plan and pay for our cruises.  In over 70 cruises, that was the only one where I wished it was shorter and was thrilled to get off the ship. 
 

We did not have that issue on our two Eurodam cruises.  But I told my husband we were taking a break from HAL and haven’t felt the urge to even look at their cruises.  Too many other choices out there. 

[keels81]

10 minutes ago, cruizergal70 said:

Then why are people so impressed and touched by the artifice? How is pretend land considered "better?"

 

So, I'm intrigued by a lot of your responses on this thread and others ... humor me, if you will.

When was your last cruise -- line and itinerary -- and when is your next one?

And when was your last land vacation -- airline, destination and resort -- and when is your next one?

 

 

 

[lazydayz]

22 hours ago, UPNYGuy said:

 

This is what has kept me off that ship. I have looked at it, but I wouldnt sail on it without going in the Havana area, or booking a suite. 

We did extended balconies on our two Mardi Gras sailings and loved the rooms.  Only complaint was the tiny bathroom.  It didn’t bother me at all but my husband, who is tall, did feel crowded in there.  But the larger shower was great. 

[jimbo5544]

On 7/3/2022 at 6:19 PM, KmomChicago said:

I am interested in the comment about HAL discriminatory to women. How so?

 

I have looked at those music theme cruises as well. When you figure what a single concert costs, that could be a really good value.  Seems to me they are typically on the big 3, which is, of course, fine and dandy with us anyway. 

Thought the same thing….

[ItsADryHumor]

On 7/3/2022 at 3:29 PM, BlerkOne said:

Egos with too much money looking for Camelot and to avoid riff raff. Then the existing cruisers on those lines need to step up their game to avoid the newcomers.

I think you just described my mom. 🤣 We invite her to join us on cruises, and she’s always clutching her pearls. But she will sail one of the “luxury” lines. 🤷🏻‍♀️

[KmomChicago]

I hope this conversation continues but first I want to say THANK YOU all for being so respectful and courteous here. For some reason as we all know, people tend to get oddly mean and judgy about individual differences of opinion, when I’ve always been glad there are different options available for different tastes and budgets. 
 

Your rational points have been so very helpful to what I asked at the start of the thread. 
 

My conclusions based on your comments so far:

 

Go back on another Oasis class ship if we want a change from Carnival. Alternatively, try another newish mega ship (minimum 150k tons) from RCI, NCL, or MSC, whichever I can find the best mix of timing, itinerary and deal on.
 

Other possible alternatives could be Virgin or Celebrity Edge class, again, only if I get a price close to my usual Carnival (beer) budget for what might be a champagne experience. Those ships are innovative and I am curious and intrigued by them, and I think we could blend in well enough to feel comfortable.

 

I already sailed Disney back in my youth when I worked at WDW and have little interest in returning, again, unless I found some anomaly fire sale. Children on board are not a deciding factor for us. They don’t bother us at all, and we don’t need to have them around. We just don’t interact with other passengers at all, really.
 

I agree that from my experience so far, mainstream cruises are much more similar than different. 
 

It sounds like Princess, HAL, Cunard, and everything higher up the chain are probably not worth adding to the short list as the benefits mentioned are simply not things we want, at any price. The smaller Caribbean islands would be fine but do not call to me.

 

Of course we never say never. I always start with an online TA site when the planning begins, so I will see if something different pops up for a bargain during a timeframe or for a destination I’m looking at, and we could then consider if we want to venture out just so we can say we tried it.  This process has thus far led me mostly back to the CCL website. 😎

 

I think the earliest we’d consider our next cruise will be summer 2023 but I feel no urge to lock anything in right now.

 

Please, keep the conversation going. This is my favorite thread I ever started!!❤️❤️❤️

 

 

[lazydayz]

Op, great discussion.  I agree with your conclusions. This has made me think my next straying experience will be VV or MSC newer ships.  Nothing written made me rethink NCL or HAL.  We get such great benefits from Royal and deals from Carnival, it is difficult to not book with them.  

[Yankeegirl49]

This is a great discussion and relevant to my own needs right now. I have been on 11 cruises, all 11 with Carnival. My most recent was last week on the Magic (yea, the one with "the fight") which was also my first cruise in 10 years. 
I just booked a sailing to Bermuda on RC simply because the dates/price and embarkation port worked the best for me. I am curious to see the difference if there is one. I feel like a "newbie" though because I have so many questions as to how they do things as compared to what I am used to. 
We are "beer and burger" types rather than 5 star restaurant types, we love the "fun ship" atmosphere. I expect it will be similar on RC. I truly have no desire to try the other lines unless of course there is a REALLY good deal and or an itinerary I cannot pass up. 

[Honolulu Blue]

22 hours ago, BoozinCroozin said:

Carnival is just more fun. I can't put it into words, but the people just have more fun and the line entertains during the day. Gets people doing stuff on the Lido deck and feels like a party atmosphere. The casinos are more lively and realistic.

 

I think you put the Carnival vibe into words quite well, better than I could.  I like it too, though I'm not necessarily one that partakes in a lot of the activities.

 

On 7/3/2022 at 6:19 PM, KmomChicago said:

I have looked at those music theme cruises as well. When you figure what a single concert costs, that could be a really good value.  Seems to me they are typically on the big 3, which is, of course, fine and dandy with us anyway. 

 

And back to you, our OP.  There are theme cruises on Celebrity and Holland, and Princess has been developing their own themes on certain cruises.

 

I did a couple of music theme cruises, back to back, a few months ago.  They were amazing experiences, but also expensive by mainstream cruise standards.  It's just a matter of picking a genre, era, or even specific band you like.  If there are enough there that tickle your fancy, you'll find a way to make it work.

[2teach2cruise]

I have really enjoyed reading everyone’s perspectives. We have done CCL, RCL, and NCL multiple times, but all 12+ years ago. We were introduced to Celebrity and found what we felt was the perfect amount of pampering. We love their all inclusive pricing and feel our cruises have been similarly priced to the other lines once the other costs are factored in. However, our choices are limited if we stick with just Celebrity. 
 

We are excited for an upcoming cruise on Horizon this fall. We will be sailing with our daughter and friend who are in their late 20s, and they picked the ship. We will be staying in the Havana area. We were honestly worried we may be too old to still enjoy CCL, but these perspectives and reviews on CC have eliminated our fears. We hope we love it and a new door will be opened for us. 😀

[KmomChicago]

2 hours ago, Yankeegirl49 said:

This is a great discussion and relevant to my own needs right now. I have been on 11 cruises, all 11 with Carnival. My most recent was last week on the Magic (yea, the one with "the fight") which was also my first cruise in 10 years. 
I just booked a sailing to Bermuda on RC simply because the dates/price and embarkation port worked the best for me. I am curious to see the difference if there is one. I feel like a "newbie" though because I have so many questions as to how they do things as compared to what I am used to. 
We are "beer and burger" types rather than 5 star restaurant types, we love the "fun ship" atmosphere. I expect it will be similar on RC. I truly have no desire to try the other lines unless of course there is a REALLY good deal and or an itinerary I cannot pass up. 

Hi, Yankee girl. Having sailed RCI twice, I feel the overall difference is a very, very slight - almost unnoticeable unless you are really paying attention - upgrade to the condition of the ships, the sense of classiness onboard, and very slightly less issue with crowds and bottlenecks. The vibe is relaxed and fun but again just slightly less fun-oriented than Carnival, as evidenced by how Carnival uses the word Fun in all their marketing and programs. 

[KmomChicago]

22 minutes ago, 2teach2cruise said:

I have really enjoyed reading everyone’s perspectives. We have done CCL, RCL, and NCL multiple times, but all 12+ years ago. We were introduced to Celebrity and found what we felt was the perfect amount of pampering. We love their all inclusive pricing and feel our cruises have been similarly priced to the other lines once the other costs are factored in. However, our choices are limited if we stick with just Celebrity. 
 

We are excited for an upcoming cruise on Horizon this fall. We will be sailing with our daughter and friend who are in their late 20s, and they picked the ship. We will be staying in the Havana area. We were honestly worried we may be too old to still enjoy CCL, but these perspectives and reviews on CC have eliminated our fears. We hope we love it and a new door will be opened for us. 😀

 

You will find the wacky Farcus decor is completely gone on the Vista Class ships. They felt more like RCI ships, more tasteful and neutral decor. They are also nearly new and you can see the difference to their older ships.  Thus you may feel Horizon is a bit of an upgrade from your last experience.

 

We still see all ages on Carnival including many, many, MANY seniors who are enjoying themselves just fine. My mom's last cruise - likely will be her last cruise ever, was Legend this past December and she had a very good time at 78 years, having been on Disney, Celebrity and RCI with me in the past. She did not feel Carnival was really any different. 

 

My dad and stepmom have only been on 2 cruises, both Carnival, at age 74/68 and 78/72.  They have no interest in any other line.

 

I can tell you my peeps would not have enjoyed something like HAL or Cunard nearly as much. It's about the vibe you are comfortable in. 

[Yankeegirl49]

19 minutes ago, KmomChicago said:

Hi, Yankee girl. Having sailed RCI twice, I feel the overall difference is a very, very slight - almost unnoticeable unless you are really paying attention - upgrade to the condition of the ships, the sense of classiness onboard, and very slightly less issue with crowds and bottlenecks. The vibe is relaxed and fun but again just slightly less fun-oriented than Carnival, as evidenced by how Carnival uses the word Fun in all their marketing and programs. 

Thanks! Thats pretty much exactly my expectations. 

[tinkr2]

On 7/3/2022 at 11:10 PM, KmomChicago said:

Good to know. Would you call it an upgrade over Carnival, back to my original question?  I have sometimes seen pricing for MSC that is very competitive, plus I can sometimes get My Vegas deals with them.

 

Id call the MSc ships an upgrade. They are really beautiful. If you can grab a 30% off on MyVegas , you can use it on any cabin and promo. Its a great deal. and apparently it combines with the voyager 5% discount. I haven't used it but have done plenty of research on it. My cruise this weekend on Seashore is a "free" cruise. 7 nights in a deluxe balcony for 300,000 points plus 150pp taxes. I am pretty excited to see a new MSc ship.

[tinkr2]

On 7/4/2022 at 11:29 AM, firefly333 said:

When I'm on carnival I miss free offee in diamond club, 5 vouchers a day for drinks and my free wifi. Just being honest carnival is more expensive unless I book shorter cruises which i wasnt very satisfied with.

Agree. Definitely check prices bc they're all over the place on both lines. But I do have to figure in the value of my free drinks, coffee, internet and picture.

[tinkr2]

On 7/4/2022 at 1:14 PM, LatinaInTexas said:

Call me crazy

Not crazy at all, its a heck of a deal. I have flexibility so that close one is awesome. And everything is cheaper also with them.

Edited July 5, 2022 by tinkr2
posted without my response

[firefly333]

36 minutes ago, tinkr2 said:

Agree. Definitely check prices bc they're all over the place on both lines. But I do have to figure in the value of my free drinks, coffee, internet and picture.

different  ports trump the perks on rcl once in a while.

 

I'd do the 8 day to the private island if the price was right and fit into what I've booked.

 

I'd love the 14 day easterns out of Galveston but prices imo are just crazy. My friend has a balcony this fall on dream for $5900. .. I'll wait for dan 2024. The 2 eastern look great but prices are too high. I'll fly to florida before I'd pay those prices. Hoping for a deal . I keep looking. Carnival seems to have taken analyst advice about firming up prices. Luckily I can hop on last minute. 

[tinkr2]

On 7/4/2022 at 10:32 AM, edspec said:

We've cruised DCL, HAL, MSC, NCL, RCL, Princess, and Carnival.  I like them all for different things.

I will say that DH and I absolutely loved our MSC cruise.  Great variety of food, a beautiful two bedroom suite for a reasonable price, good entertainment, and the pizza was wonderful.  I could eat pizza every meal so that was a biggie for me.  Tried Princess earlier this year and while I'll definitely sail with them again I hated their pizza.  No flavor dough, sweet sauce, bad toppings.  

Speaking of Princess enjoyed the many quiet areas to sit, lower volume music, and daily activities.  The medallion is genius, and one of the reasons I was so taken with them.  At this time you can use the medallion to order drink and food options to your room free of charge, unlike other lines where you have to pay for drinks delivered to your room even w/ a drink package, and room service generally has a fee.  They also have good itineraries. 

DS loves RCL Oasis class, so when a ship is the destination that is our choice.

NCL I like for itineraries, the solo cabins, great specialty restaurants, and entertainment, at least on the newer ships.  I'm sailing on the Sun in September and interested to see what entertainment is like on an older, smaller ship.

Carnival...with Panorama driving distance it is an easy choice for us.  We enjoy the comedy club and the included food options, as well as specialty choices.  It is a relaxing cruise which is sometimes exactly what I'm looking for.

I'm 60 and the hassles of travel have definitely impacted my recent choices. DH and I want to book a Viking cruise, so see that happening soon.  Neither of us has any interest in paying the high cost of ship w/in a ship...with a price tag that large we can sail a higher end line.  

Your view of cruises exactly matches mine. Ship within a ship was glorious but got it on a bid deal. otherwise, nope.

 

On 7/4/2022 at 1:07 PM, keels81 said:

 

I had a way too long post that disappeared about my love for Crystal (RIP) but I completely agree with you!

 

For us, the destination was the Crystal ship itself and what a destination she was. I just loved that my husband and I could enjoy each other, sleep in, take our time with dinner, etc., without feeling rushed or crowded. Virgin Voyages felt really similar to Crystal -- the ship is a modern, trendy destination ... I didn't even get off the ship in Key West. I would've paid a higher fare to have cocktails included on Scarlet Lady, but the offerings and program were top-shelf and I didn't feel the prices were unreasonable compared to what I pay for a quality cocktail at a nice bar here in New Orleans.

Oh so glad to hear, I have a Virgin booked for May in Europe. And Im paying top dollar full price bc a friend wants to try it. I hope its amazing.

 

On 7/4/2022 at 1:53 PM, cruizergal70 said:

Everything you just said speaks to perception. I totally understand going to different ports and needing smaller ships. However, that doesn't make it "better." It's just different. As far as food, you have to be someone who believes (i.e. perceives) filet, lobster, or scallops to be "better." I can have those things any day I want. They aren't "special." I'm not impressed when those things are on a menu.

 

Have you been on the forums for some of the "luxury" lines? Many people speak of the absence of things is what makes a line "better."

Yes I have been on the forums. Id say they mean a lack of say slides, attracts a different crowd which makes them happier. Id agree. Husband hates Princess bc he wants to do stuff, flow ride all day, etc.  But we pay for specialty dining and feel we get the best of both. The uncrowded ports are better bc you get to experience more IMHO

21 hours ago, cruizergal70 said:

I hope you know that all of this service is not truly "more human and friendly." The service staff are not your friends, they don't care about you, and they don't think you are special. It's their job to engage in these performative actions. 

 

Also, everyone doesn't believe it's a big deal to be called by name. In fact, it can feel intrusive.

They may be acting but that doesn't mean they do not value you and enjoy seeing you again. We own a resort and love our repeat guests and genuinely wish to make them happy. Thats why people enjoy the hospitality business. When I was a bartender, I loved talking to people and getting to know them. bc you don't value those things, doesn't mean they hold no value.

[Tippyton]

On 7/3/2022 at 3:29 PM, BlerkOne said:

Egos with too much money looking for Camelot and to avoid riff raff. Then the existing cruisers on those lines need to step up their game to avoid the newcomers.

Sadly, Blerk and I agree again.

[Sea Hag]

On 7/3/2022 at 1:41 PM, KmomChicago said:

Exactly, I’m the riff raff they were trying to get away from!
 

To be fair, we are quiet and well-behaved, respectful to crew, and never drink to the point of embarrassment or cause any other sort of trouble. But as our income has slowly increased with age and job promotions, we’ve done nothing to improve our appearance nor had any ego changes whatsoever.
 

 

We're a pair of retired, quiet people who don't value ostentation and definitely devalue pretention. Casual is what we like and what we look for. Having said that, I'll now say that I prefer Princess over Carnival. I like Carnival, and we've cruised several times on Carnival. Our first cruise was on Carnival. But Princess just pleases me more. More quiet people than rowdy people. 

 

Dress standards on Princess have relaxed over the years to the point that I've told hubby first that a full suit was no longer required for formal nights, only a shirt and tie, then recently I've told him that only a dress shirt and decent slacks are required. No tie needed. This isn't a problem with dining room staff. Funny thing is that on our cruise this April he forgot his dress slacks and went into the dining room on formal night in a nice pair of jeans and a dress shirt, top two buttons unbuttoned. No problems with that.  He's a very happy camper these days. 

 

On Princess, there's also the bed thing. Those beds are wonderful! 

[BlerkOne]

21 hours ago, DrSea said:

I HATE that kind of experience. I get that it is for some. But not for me. I don't like it when others remember me. I just like to fade into the background. 

Yes. I don't need an attendant to flush the toilet for me.

 

I'm embarrassed on Carnival enough by staff who remember me from years gone by, and I can't place them to save my life. They aren't phony at all.

Edited July 5, 2022 by BlerkOne