Tell me this is a "no-brainer".....about to "jump ship" from RC to Carnival

[Joebucks]

$2500 is a lot of money. Period. Vacation is a spot where people will justify spending ungodly amounts of money and justify it however they want, regardless of what actually makes sense or what they will actually use. You may find one line has something you like, one has something you don't like, and vice-versa. It never hurts to try something. You can always go back next time.

 

It's funny when people think RCL only serves the most upscale royalty clients, while Carnival is its own breed.

[George C]

22 hours ago, joeyancho said:

You could not pay me to get on a Carnival ship.  Thanks but no thanks. 

Even though my only carnival cruise was almost 40 years ago , I have no intention of trying them again.

[lazydayz]

10 hours ago, George C said:

Even though my only carnival cruise was almost 40 years ago , I have no intention of trying them again.

 

You might want to open up your horizons, as a new Mardi Gras class ship is coming to Galveston.  We sailed in the MG and except for some standards like Guy's Burgers (included), Blue Iguana (included), and a massive number of comedy shows, these MG class ships are nothing like Carnival of the past.  They not only rival the Oasis class, with the number of restaurants and bars, they surpass them.  The Loft 19 area is quiet and beautiful, and includes a private pool and attentive bar service.  

 

Of our four cruises so far this year, three were on the MG.  The fourth was on a Royal ship, and it was fine (except for the MDR), but nothing game changing. 

[George C]

41 minutes ago, lazydayz said:

 

You might want to open up your horizons, as a new Mardi Gras class ship is coming to Galveston.  We sailed in the MG and except for some standards like Guy's Burgers (included), Blue Iguana (included), and a massive number of comedy shows, these MG class ships are nothing like Carnival of the past.  They not only rival the Oasis class, with the number of restaurants and bars, they surpass them.  The Loft 19 area is quiet and beautiful, and includes a private pool and attentive bar service.  

 

Of our four cruises so far this year, three were on the MG.  The fourth was on a Royal ship, and it was fine (except for the MDR), but nothing game changing. 

We do have harmony booked for next year, rccl gives us 5 drinks each since we are diamond plus, also they have a suite restaurant and great suite happy hour. We haven’t had a meal in mdr in a long time we do like rccl specialty restaurant plan UDP so we have breakfast and lunch in CK and dinners in specialty. Is loft 19 a suite area? 

[crusin okie]

Just got off the Allure from it's inaugural sailing from Galveston.  As you can see from our "Signature" we have been on both RCCL and CCL a few times.  I have to say that the new terminal in Galveston is absolute chaos.  I would not sail from there again until they get their act together. The terminal itself is great but until the kinks get worked out it is not my first choice.  Our experience on the Allure was great except for the service in the MDR.  Given the savings in time and $$$, were I in your situation, I would opt for the CCL cruise.  Just my opinion.  🙂 

[lazydayz]

1 hour ago, George C said:

We do have harmony booked for next year, rccl gives us 5 drinks each since we are diamond plus, also they have a suite restaurant and great suite happy hour. We haven’t had a meal in mdr in a long time we do like rccl specialty restaurant plan UDP so we have breakfast and lunch in CK and dinners in specialty. Is loft 19 a suite area? 

Yes, open to suites, with lounge chairs available to anyone in a suite.  There are 12 cabanas in Loft 19, which can be rented by the day or week (suite guests have first priority).  Each day, the staff brings you a bottle of champagne and orange juice - mimosas to start the day or save the champagne for later. 

Non alcoholic drinks are included, and the Cheers package is honored there. There is bar service all day and they also take your lunch order and bring it to you. Afternoons they bring around frozen treats.  Just a wonderful way to spend the day, or the week.  

 

We are diamond plus as well, and almost diamond (next year) on Carnival.  Really enjoy both lines.  

[Airbear232]

On 11/20/2022 at 6:42 PM, nanseev said:

Allure of the Seas vs. Carnival Panorama

 

History:  Live in Californian and been on about 9 cruises in my life, both Caribbean and Mexico/Mexican Riviera.  First was Carnival Miracle, second was RC Oasis....and then never looked back and travelled RC going forward - Harmony, Adventure, Liberty, Navigator x 3 ...and one MSC cruise in between those.  Embarked from various Florida ports, Galveston, and Los Angeles areas.  We live in CA, so airfare always adds the extra expense, so when Navigator came to the west coast it was fabulous, although I do prefer cruising in the Caribbean.    

 

We tend to stay on the ship - I enjoy the lack of crowds on port days, and try to save the $$ I would spend on excursions/food off of the ship for the casino on the ship 🙂 .  My daughter does enjoy the Flowrider, which has been one of the reasons we stayed with RC, but it's not the "end all, be all" for her, and my son enjoys the sports deck and will hang in the teen club.  My husband and I tend to enjoy the casino, comedy shows, trivia and just relaxation time versus the "rides" and "thrills".

 

I haven't been on an Oasis class ship in a few years, so I have been shopping for options.  I'm missing the sandwiches from the Park Cafe in Central Park...lol.  Wonder is out of my price range.  With Allure now going out of Galveston, I've found a decent price for my family for the week I need to travel (I'm a teacher so my travel weeks are not flexible).  We're not heavy gamblers, but do get some casino offers, but they are usually for interior or OV rooms during timeframes within the school year, so we tend to not be able to take advantage of them.

 

I was ready to book Allure...and then I did a random search for cruises during the week I wanted....and the Carnival Panorama popped up in my search.  After researching, I'm seriously considering the Carnival Panorama.  It's a "new" ship, a larger ship (more like Oasis class), and the price of the cruises is basically identical, but I don't have to pay for airfare with Panorama.  I'm giving up the Caribbean for Mexican Riviera, and giving up the Flowrider, but there's other fun things for the kids....but the biggest reason is that I'm saving around $2,000+ by the time I add in airfare and hotel.

 

I feel like saving $2k (and it would probably end up to be more with transfers, travel meals, etc.) is worth jumping ship.  I've been Loyal to Royal....so it's hard for me to pull the trigger.

 

Tell me it will be ok...lol....I know this group is skewed towards Royal...as am I.  But.....it's $2,000 of spending money (or money for another cruise this summer) that I will have.  Has anyone traveled on both and can give me some insight?

 

 

Do what works best for your family, have fun. 

[firefly333]

5 hours ago, lazydayz said:

 

You might want to open up your horizons, as a new Mardi Gras class ship is coming to Galveston.  We sailed in the MG and except for some standards like Guy's Burgers (included), Blue Iguana (included), and a massive number of comedy shows, these MG class ships are nothing like Carnival of the past.  They not only rival the Oasis class, with the number of restaurants and bars, they surpass them.  The Loft 19 area is quiet and beautiful, and includes a private pool and attentive bar service.  

 

Of our four cruises so far this year, three were on the MG.  The fourth was on a Royal ship, and it was fine (except for the MDR), but nothing game changing. 

The jubilee costs me 100s of dollars more for the lowest price inside as I can book harmony balcony. I would like jubilee but cant justify the price. I'm hoping the price drops once it gets here. Even vista costs more than I can book a oasis class. Galveston is popular with carnival. Unless you get special offers like casino ... I'm not paying extra for carnival. 

[simplelife]

On 11/21/2022 at 6:42 AM, AtSeaAlways said:

Staying in the same age and size of ship the differences between lines are perhaps minimal.  I have only been on older tonnage.  During a recent pandemic, Carnival rocked outdoor dining.  You had four choices poolside.   Steam table hot dogs and burgers are so 1991.  Real walk around promenade decks are more rare on Carnival.    I like breakfast and lunch in the MDR- a no on Carnival- who often has a brunch.    Dancing can be slightly better on RCCL.   Carnival has past guest only discounted cabin pricing.  RCCL has nicer inside cabins, Carnival has ditched tablecloths in the MDR.   Carnival can have vast deck spaces and a better craft beer selection.   

Carnival has early seated breakfast on port days and the brunch on seadays. Also they do  have table cloths on Elegant nights (I've notice that most land restaurants other than fine dining have ditched tablecloths as well - it's a cost saving on the laundry bill and also an ecological one - less water). 

[Cruise a holic]

Not a fan of Carnival.  Found everything on their ships inferior to Royal and Celebrity.  We especially love the Oasis class royal ships .  Hope the Icon will also be great.

[cruisinqt]

We’ve been cruising multiple cruise lines for the past 20 years including Royal, Carnival, Princess, Hal, Norwegian etc. And I have to say that of them all Royal and Carnival are the most similar. They may not have been that similar 20 years ago but Carnival has come a long way since then. And Carnival’s newest class (the excel class: Mardi Gras, Celebration, Jubilee) are more similar than any of them, especially with the way the ships laid out and the extra activities on board like roller coasters. I felt like I was on Royal when I was on the Mardi Gras. We are doing an Alaskan cruise on Quantam of the Seas in May but we just got off the Panorama last week and I think you’ll like it.
 

Here’s some things Carnival does right that is available on the Panorama that you should check out:

 

1-Go to the late night adult comedy shows

2-Try a beer sampler at the micro brewery

3-Try the Sky Zone indoor trampoline park

4-Do the Sky Ride on the top deck 

5-Eat at Bonsai Teppanyaki where chefs cook your meal right in front of you

6-Get a Thermal Suites pass ($149-$159pp) and enjoy a hot bubbly therapy pool, steam rooms, saunas, & heated marble loungers for the whole week

7-Go to the Deal or No Deal show it’s a blast & if you’re a contestant you may win $

 

 

[crzndeb]

I have had fun on all my Carnival cruises, but I’m at their highest level now, so unless they offer a long unique cruise at a great price, I probably won’t sail them until then. I was lucky enough to take the Spirit and Legend to Australia in 2012 and 2014, and the Splendor to Singapore in 2019. Fantastic cruises!! 
I will hit the magic 340 on Royal in the Spring, and that solo discount is what I’m aiming for now. 
Have a great time!!

 

 

Edited December 9, 2022 by crzndeb

[Crazy planning mom]

On 11/20/2022 at 6:42 PM, nanseev said:

Allure of the Seas vs. Carnival Panorama

 

History:  Live in Californian and been on about 9 cruises in my life, both Caribbean and Mexico/Mexican Riviera.  First was Carnival Miracle, second was RC Oasis....and then never looked back and travelled RC going forward - Harmony, Adventure, Liberty, Navigator x 3 ...and one MSC cruise in between those.  Embarked from various Florida ports, Galveston, and Los Angeles areas.  We live in CA, so airfare always adds the extra expense, so when Navigator came to the west coast it was fabulous, although I do prefer cruising in the Caribbean.    

 

We tend to stay on the ship - I enjoy the lack of crowds on port days, and try to save the $$ I would spend on excursions/food off of the ship for the casino on the ship 🙂 .  My daughter does enjoy the Flowrider, which has been one of the reasons we stayed with RC, but it's not the "end all, be all" for her, and my son enjoys the sports deck and will hang in the teen club.  My husband and I tend to enjoy the casino, comedy shows, trivia and just relaxation time versus the "rides" and "thrills".

 

I haven't been on an Oasis class ship in a few years, so I have been shopping for options.  I'm missing the sandwiches from the Park Cafe in Central Park...lol.  Wonder is out of my price range.  With Allure now going out of Galveston, I've found a decent price for my family for the week I need to travel (I'm a teacher so my travel weeks are not flexible).  We're not heavy gamblers, but do get some casino offers, but they are usually for interior or OV rooms during timeframes within the school year, so we tend to not be able to take advantage of them.

 

I was ready to book Allure...and then I did a random search for cruises during the week I wanted....and the Carnival Panorama popped up in my search.  After researching, I'm seriously considering the Carnival Panorama.  It's a "new" ship, a larger ship (more like Oasis class), and the price of the cruises is basically identical, but I don't have to pay for airfare with Panorama.  I'm giving up the Caribbean for Mexican Riviera, and giving up the Flowrider, but there's other fun things for the kids....but the biggest reason is that I'm saving around $2,000+ by the time I add in airfare and hotel.

 

I feel like saving $2k (and it would probably end up to be more with transfers, travel meals, etc.) is worth jumping ship.  I've been Loyal to Royal....so it's hard for me to pull the trigger.

 

Tell me it will be ok...lol....I know this group is skewed towards Royal...as am I.  But.....it's $2,000 of spending money (or money for another cruise this summer) that I will have.  Has anyone traveled on both and can give me some insight?

 

 

So, how was Panorama?

[nanseev]

On 5/18/2024 at 7:23 AM, Crazy planning mom said:

So, how was Panorama?

It was very good…and looking back at this post I’m so GLAD I made the decision I did to go on Panorama!  We enjoyed the cruise, although it took me a while to get used to the difference in layout between Panorama and Royal ships - Panorama felt more “closed in” and claustrophobic.  But after a few days I got over that and really enjoyed some of the differences.  I felt like it was easier to wander on Royal and “stumble” across tithings to do….Panorama I felt like you had to go “into” areas/rooms/areas to find things (not sure if that makes sense).  I couldn’t be walking and hear music in the distance and say “Oh..that sounds fun..let’s go check it out.”  Guys Burgers was amazing and I wish Royal had an equivalent.  I actually thought the buffet was better (comparing to Navigator), MDR a slight edge to Navigator (especially service - Royals service is much better), Carnivals brunch is better than Royals lunch, and I loved the gelato in Carnival’s buffet.  The Steakhouse on Carnival was much better than Chops, although the service was lackluster.  I liked having comedy available every night.  Royal’s overall service is much better in every aspect - food, beverage, guest services, and all other staff interactions.  There was absolutely a difference in clientele - Carnival had more “booze cruise” feel with servers coming around with “test tube” shots and fruity drinks in specialty plastic glasses.  It’s been a year since this post, and we haven’t been back on Carnival (but have been on Royal 5-10 times since)…but truly the only reason is because we’ve been able to book Navigator with Casino offers instead of paying….I wouldn’t hesitate to book Panorama again - especially if price is equal or better, but still prefer Royal overall.