Anyone done Carnival, how is it?

[ibarrio]

50 minutes ago, phd1003 said:

I've seen "Demographics" mentioned multiple times in this thread. Anyone care to elaborate? I've never cruised on Carnival and can only go by what I read on cruise junkie. However there is a extremely good deal on a school vacation week that is almost to good to pass up. 

 

Perception only, not saying it's true

 

Royal  - passengers are old, stuffy, but have more money.

Carnival - younger, drink more/party, have less money. The shorter the cruise the bigger the party. 

[mek]

3 hours ago, time4u2go said:

They are very similar. Both have their pluses and minuses.

 

As suggested above, if you have not already asked this on the Carnival board, you should.

 

I think the OP wants to hear from those of us who have sailed on both lines - not just folks who sail on exclusively on one line or the other.

I'm Diamond on Royal and Platinum on Carnival - only mentioning this because I have sailed frequently on both lines and honestly IMO, the lines are more similar than not.  If someone books a cheap, short cruise, regardless of the line, it's going to attract a different demographic than a longer one.

I wouldn't hesitate to take a longer Carnival cruise, especially if the itinerary was great. One year my husband and I took a Carnival cruise on one of their much older ships during the Final 4 and the ship was filled with students and alum from N Carolina,(who was in the finals that year.)  We had a blast and only one time during the 7 nights did we see any behavior that was somewhat questionable.

FYI - I'm 72, so definitely not a young party person.

Edited March 6, 2023 by mek

[Pandamonia]

53 minutes ago, alleghator said:

I've sailed on Carnival and RC and each has its perks. I don't really understand the disparaging "Wal-Mart" comments that are so frequently thrown at Carnival.

 

Some of the things Carnival does better than RC ... more variety and options for included food. Better organization and coordination of games and recreation events (trivia, other group contests). Some of the things RC does better than Carnival ... better signage, slightly more elegant decor.

 

Everything else we found to be roughly the same. I think the biggest differences in clientele are not going to be found between these two cruise lines overall, but between itineraries and what time of year you sail.

 

Well Royal cant cook a fillet steak any more to save its life. for 55$ + 18% tip you expect better but the waiter just looks at your chewy well done steak and cant understand whats wrong with it. 

 

On P&O (carnival brand) i got a 10oz fillet with a lava stone and cooked my own to perfection for around 18$ per person and it was amazing. The alcohol was also cheaper and better. 

 

They no longer charge tips anywhere or even the room but they only make your room once a day.

[TravisP]

My main issue with Carnival is the limit they have on drinks in a day. 

[EmiGirl826]

It's been years since I went on Carnival, but I did like the food in the MDR better on Royal, but I have to say I haven't been impressed with MDR food on RCL lately either. IMO there are far fewer rowdy children on RCL.

 

However, I did like the late night food options (Guy's burgers, etc)  better on Carnival and their on deck movies were good as well. I don't like watching the movies in the aqua theater. I prefer Carnival's screens on the pool deck where you can sit in a lounger with a blanket and (free) popcorn.

[Guest phd1003]

10 minutes ago, TravisP said:

My main issue with Carnival is the limit they have on drinks in a day. 

...but so does my liver...

[CruisinSinceIwasBorn]

Having sailed both many times, I think many of the comments here are accurate. I've been on short RCL, and those too are often a big party scene. Once made the mistake of going on a 5-day cruise when the Florida universities were on spring break and 2000+ Greek members were on board. Let's just say that "Alpha Alpha Alpha" was announced every 15 minutes and it was a 30+ minute wait to get a drink at ANY bar. 

 

Carnival, in my opinion, is more "Fun" as their name eludes to. Their activities are much more lively and well attended and there is always something going on. I often find RCL has many periods where there is nothing going on (pretty much all port days and from 5pm-10pm). I also love that Carnival has many pool side food options available. This is something RCL could really take a lesson on. I hate that when I am hungry by the pool, I either have to get dressed again (Windjammer) or eat what is in my opinion, horrible food (Minibites, El Loco). 

 

Also, ship matters. The Fantasy class ships were floating dumpsters, just like the Sovereign class at its end. Both Carnival and RCL are doing a nice job of modernizing their fleet coming out of COVID. While I haven't been on Carnival post-COVID, I am really looking forward to sailing the Mardi Gras in November.

[Ret MP]

12 minutes ago, Pandamonia said:

 

Well Royal cant cook a fillet steak any more to save its life. for 55$ + 18% tip you expect better but the waiter just looks at your chewy well done steak and cant understand whats wrong with it. 

 

On P&O (carnival brand) i got a 10oz fillet with a lava stone and cooked my own to perfection for around 18$ per person and it was amazing. The alcohol was also cheaper and better. 

 

They no longer charge tips anywhere or even the room but they only make your room once a day.

Meals, actually any/all meats cooked to order, in the Main Dining Room vs., the meats ordered in the Steakhouses are two completely different things.  I very rarely eat in the MDR, for a dinner meal, or on any cruise line, just because of the lack of being able to cook the steak to my desired doneness.  However, I pay a premium in a Steakhouse to get a steak done how I like it on the first try and hopefully a "prime" cut of meat, too.  

 

YMMV

[Magicat]

We did the Victory a number of years ago. It was a pretty good cruise, food was great however didn't like the layout of the ship.  It just didn't seem to flow.  Also the entertainment sucked.  The comedy guy was a racist and while he was going through his bit a larger coloured gentlemen got up and walked out. All the while being insulted by this jerk for leaving.  

Anyway, we find Royal to be more to what we like so we have stuck with them.  But the only way you will know if you like it is to try it.  If the itinerary is something that appeals to you, at the very least that will be one plus thing for your cruise.

[true45]

In 30+ sailings on several cruise lines, this is the first time I lost weight (on Carnival).

[crusnbee]

I am Diamond Royal and Platinum Carnival. Like everyone else said, if you stay away from the shorter cruises, there is not such a large party atmosphere.

 

I thought Carnival has more activities, of differing types. Royal a little more laid back, which is absolutely OK. Havent been on Carnival since pre-Covid, but I thought then that the food was better on Carnival. There is a limit on the drinks, but I dont think I ever really came close to hitting it.

 

I did like the piano man/Schooner bar much more on Royal and spend many nights there. Casinos were similar, although I do still get Carnival MVP offers. Decor is much tamer, though sometimes all the neon is fun.

 

If there is an itinerary that Carnival offers, I say go. It is what you make of it.

CG

[resetjet]

41 minutes ago, firefly333 said:

Not cheaper for me. Carnival is hundreds more for me out of Galveston.  I get D+ and solo discount on rcl. I dont get casino offers. I think it's a myth people say carnival is cheaper. Used to be  cheaper... though I dont book the shorter cruises hardly ever on either line. 

 

If carnival was cheaper I'd have more than the one booked. I'm solo and carnival gives me no discount but rcl does. 

Its cheaper with no discounts.  Norweigian is best for solo the way i see it.  On ccl drink package is cheaper,  casinos have $5 tables,  and from what i see fares as well.  

[crusnbee]

Forgot to mention. Carnival has the best dessert EVER - chocolate molten lava cake.

CG

[firefly333]

4 minutes ago, resetjet said:

Its cheaper with no discounts.  Norweigian is best for solo the way i see it.  On ccl drink package is cheaper,  casinos have $5 tables,  and from what i see fares as well.  

Maybe you just need a ta with rcl group prices. Just your opinion prices are cheaper. As I said I'm only looking at Galveston and 7 days or more. Even a inside costs me more on carnival than a inside balcony on rcl. Each to his own. Each is entitled to their opinions. 

 

I dont know how to get refundable group rates for less on carnival. Nothing against carnival it just makes no sense to book and pay more.  .. I wouldnt be diamond on carnival if I didnt used to cruise more with them, but they sure raised prices. Yes I know so has rcl. My wallet decides. 

 

I'm older, the one thing I didnt like on carnival was the volumn of the pool music. I did vista since covid and b2b breeze so 3 since covid. 

[topnole]

Comparing cruise lines is maybe not the best way to look at it.  If one sails Enchantment and bases their opinion of Royal on that alone they are missing a lot.  Different ships in each company can vary a lot.  
 

I cruise Royal because I love flowriding and there is no other option.  But before sailing Freedom class I would cruise both  lines.  Laughed the first time I heard an older lady talk about Carnival like it was a Walmart on the ocean.  I’m about half way to pinnacle and I’ve sailed carnival more than Royal (albeit I’m all Royal now because I love oasis class and the suite options and benefits).  But when I switched to mostly or all Royal I really found most stuff similar.  To me though, it’s all about the ship.  Sail on a smaller older ship and you will have a different opinion than the newer bigger ships (even within the same cruise line).  Royal is quite inconsistent from ship to ship and the ships vary drastically.  

[EmiGirl826]

12 minutes ago, crusnbee said:

Forgot to mention. Carnival has the best dessert EVER - chocolate molten lava cake.

CG

 

My favorite Carnival dessert is their bread pudding. They actually gave us the recipe once, but it's for like 1500 servings!! LOL

[jencruzin]

Many years back we did stray and took a Carnival New England cruise on their 'Glory' ship. From the miscommunication that we wanted to be seated at a larger table to (literally) being seated UNDER A STAIRCASE, ALONE, and the waiter asking, "what'll it be" without the napkin placement on RCL and not even waiting on us looking at the menu, the list went on. The food was comparable to DH's days underway on his navy ships. The port visits weren't memorable (nor was the overal itinerary, we'll never do that type of cruise again).

 

We didn't find Carnival up to snuff with RCL's quality, it further bolstered the old addage about them, "the walmart of cruise lines" never went back since!

[Guest phd1003]

3 minutes ago, jencruzin said:

We didn't find Carnival up to snuff with RCL's quality, it further bolstered the old addage about them, "the walmart of cruise lines" never went back since!

Well nobody has referred to them as the Salvation Army of cruise ships so we may take a chance on it.

[hannibal54]

3 hours ago, phd1003 said:

Guess your not allowed to say the "C" word on the hallowed boards of Royal. I was interested in the responses as well. Now they will be biased. Like going to a Cubs game and asking what people think of the Cubs. I'd rather know what a Rangers fan thinks of them that way your getting a honest answer...but what do I know.

 

Cubs are the best. They may not win a lot lately but once a Cubs fan, always a Cubs fan.

[soremekun]

I started out on Carnival but after sailing an Oasis class ship, I've been hooked on Royal.  I am going back to check out Mardi Gras and Celebration. I will never book a cruise on Carnival on anything older than Vista.

[ajtaylor29]

1 hour ago, TravisP said:

My main issue with Carnival is the limit they have on drinks in a day. 

lol, that is true! Hubby and I never had a problem with that (15 drinks a day!!!) but one year we took our 25 year old son on a cruise with us and bought the drink package for him. Most days he was whining about being out of drinks before the sun set and we were giving him our extras?!? That was many years ago, i thought maybe by now they had dropped that 15 drink limit, i guess not.

[ajtaylor29]

We've sailed numerous times on both RC and Carnival. We started out years ago on Carnival then switched over to RC and that's now our preferred line. While there are pros and cons to both of them, we just feel like things are better on RC. Last year, we took a Carnival cruise after being away for a while (because of a great itinerary in Europe). We had a great cruise mainly because of the ports, and we had a great cabin (aft-wrap). The food was a little disappointing, but the crew was friendly and engaged. It was an older ship, but we don't mind that especially on a cruise that is port-intensive and we're off the ship so much. This was a 12 day cruise, and there were few kids and few young partyers. 

That demographic just isn't going to be on a 12 day cruise regardless of which line you're on.

We would sail Carnival again for the right itinerary, and we haven't tried any of their newest ships so i'd like to do that at some point. We've also considered Virgin and Celebrity (one of these days we'll try them!) We did one on HAL and didn't love that one (even tho the food was good and the ship was nice and the Panama Canal was great), the ship seemed very quiet most of the time. I guess we prefer a little lively, not too crazy and not too dead. 

We love to cruise and really have never had a bad cruise! We always try to go at least 7 nights (any less than that what's the point?!?) which also keeps the wild party people away for the most part, regardless of which line you're on. And btw - while i know Carnival has the reputation for being the party cruise line - we've seen some wild behavior on RC too. 

So, my advise would be to book this one for the great itinerary and have a great time!

[crzndeb]

The most exercised organ on my body is really getting a workout today from some of the comments (🙄)

 

[Guest phd1003]

7 minutes ago, jencruzin said:

Well, I've heard they've improved, but it's hit or miss, really. But, for us, we'll never go back (it's just that type of people...kinda like going to walmart shopping).

Wife and I are big fans of people watching (Walmart is always good) Sounds like it might be worth atleast 1 try

[Guest phd1003]

30 minutes ago, hannibal54 said:

 

Cubs are the best. They may not win a lot lately but once a Cubs fan, always a Cubs fan.

I'm a Redsox fan but they (like the Yankees and Dodgers are polarizing) - Cubs are safe, almost everybody like the Cubs