Anyone done Carnival, how is it?

[DallasGuy75219]

On 3/9/2023 at 3:24 PM, Giantfan13 said:

Depending on how you cruise, like you want to party all the time, drink all the time, and have no worries that no one from the cruise line will interrupt your fun, then Carnival is for you also. 

 

I am certainly not putting anyone down who likes to sail on Carnival, but for us, they simply have no control over what the passengers want to do and it would be a cold day in hell if they told any passenger that they cannot do something. I'm sure RCCL has its share of the same thing, but Carnival is what it advertises a Party type cruise with, I hate to say this, with a bit of a lower-class clientele, more families, and kids. They simply had no control over the passengers especially right after the pandemic when everyone was supposed to wear masks and Carnival couldn't care less if anyone did.

 

1 hour ago, billslowsky said:

Okay, sure.

@Giantfan13 is correct; Carnival has a pervasive employee culture of not enforcing Carnival's rules, sometimes to the point of dismissing other passengers who complain about the offending behavior ("There's nothing I can do about it").  Not sure if it's an avoidance of a conflict or not wanted to piss off an entitled passenger and get a complaint against them or a bad survey, but it certainly negatively impacts the experience of other passengers.

 

On Oasis last week, someone was smoking at a slot machine on the non-smoking side of the casino.  A supervisor/manager came up to him and told him he was in the non-smoking section and needed to either put the cigarette out or go to the smoking side.  When the passenger didn't do either fast enough and started arguing with him, he took the cigarette out of the smoker's hand.  On Carnival no one other than Security would dare be that assertive in enforcing the rules. And to clear, I'm happy the rule was enforced.

[PolicromaSol]

The only thing I hear repeatedly about Carnival is that it has more drunks. That doesn't really have any bearing on their customer service, food, or ships. It just means it's the customers you gotta watch out for. 🤣

[billslowsky]

13 hours ago, PolicromaSol said:

The only thing I hear repeatedly about Carnival is that it has more drunks. That doesn't really have any bearing on their customer service, food, or ships. It just means it's the customers you gotta watch out for. 🤣

https://nypost.com/2023/03/12/australian-magician-ben-murphy-allegedly-assaulted-during-royal-caribbean-show/

[TravisP]

On 3/11/2023 at 3:02 PM, Gentryj said:

Well on our Last cruise with Carnival, I was on a Roll in the Casino, and I made the big mistake of having a few too many Long Island Ice Teas.  hahaha.....   I normally do very well playing Roulette and this mistake cost me some money.  Not too much because I don't bet really large amounts.  

But with that being said, I ended up ordering around 10 drinks (and I'm around a 220# guy) and that was way more than enough.  My friend, who was gambling with wasn't feeling very well either.  His wife had to aid him in his recovery and both of our wives go a good laugh out of it.  

 

Therefore, I am glad there is a limit (even though we didn't hit it) because it will help us out from being too stupid.  

 

You might want to just order stronger drinks and make sure to tip your server well and you will find out that most likely if you hit 15, you will be "under the table and inside the throne"......

 

Jim 

I am mainly a beer drinker. And 15 beers in a day is not a huge task for me. And even more so when I am on vacation. I know not everyone is like me on this but for me, the 15 drink limit is enough of a reason to keep me from booking a carnival cruise. 

[Tenderpaw]

If I were you, i would do the long Carnival cruise.  As has been said, the atmosphere will be laid back and the demographic will be more seasoned travelers.  There aren't going to be a bunch of obnoxious drunks by the pool.  A long Carnival cruise will be pretty similar to a long Royal cruise.

 

There is a lot of snobbery from "loyal to Royal" types against Carnival as seen by some of the comments here suggesting that you shouldn't even ask your question on the Royal board. Carnival has gotten bad press from some of the incidents on their cheaper cruises, but Royal has had incidents too that are documented on Youtube.  And I've experienced Royal not enforcing rules too.

 

[makeda]

i love carnival, in may will take out first rcl trip (not my choice) and see how it compares

[soremekun]

15 minutes ago, makeda said:

i love carnival, in may will take out first rcl trip (not my choice) and see how it compares

Which ship?

[RoperDK]

We've been on 26 Carnival cruises.  We have decided that Royal is our cruise line of choice now.  We were just on Mardi Gras (new ship) and Wonder.  There was no comparison with the experience. Mardi Gras was understaffed and it showed.  Quality of food, drinks, and entertainment was not as good as on Wonder (and we were full of spring breakers).  HOWEVER, you are on a newer ship with many food options.  It's a longer itinerary so the experience will be totally different.  I think it would be a great option. The only negative I can see is that Carnival doesn't do this itinerary very often and I don't know how the excursion planning and execution would be.   

[jordanaire]

On 3/6/2023 at 8:42 AM, Cruise5life said:

Shouldnt this be a carnival section ?  
 

carnival is like going to Walmart on Friday night.   
they’ve been classes as the booze cruises of the industry.   For smaller cruises.    
I personally won’t travel carnival anymore unless it’s more than 7 days 

I disagree with your "Walmart" description of Carnival. We have sailed on 25 Carnival cruises and have NEVER considered them booze cruises. We've sailed Royal cruises 3 times and have witnessed many drunken adults, fights and teenagers throwing things overboard in broad daylight. I will say that the food is better on Royal and the entertainment is better too Also, what's wrong with Walmart?

[cruisesss]

I'm Diamond on Royal and only Gold on Carnival but I have my next three cruises booked with Carnival. We've found the last couple cruises on Royal to have too many problems. 

 

We enjoy having all the comedy shows available on Carnival. We're also finding more food and beverage choices on Carnival. Overall there doesn't seem to be much difference between the two so for now we're going to pass on Royal. 

[Aquahound]

On 3/6/2023 at 5:27 AM, welshrich said:

Hi, We've done 40+ with RCI, we are going to do a Celebrity cruise later this year but have seen a great itinerary on Carnival from Singapore to LA.

 

Has anyone cruised Carnival and can advise whether it's comparable, I've heard good and bad but want 1st hand experiences to help decide.

 

Usually would sail RCI but have to look at other lines to see different parts of the world.

TIA.

 

My one and only Carnival cruise was on the Carnival Liberty.  Granted it was a 5-night cruise on an older ship; however, when compared to similar cruises I've taken on RCI, it just didn't compete.  Everything about the ship felt tacky and cheap, including the pink cabin.  I remember the only live music being a band that played in the casino, of all places.  

 

This is a dated experience of mine, so take it for what it's worth.  But, I have yet to book another Carnival cruise after that experience.

 

Edited April 22, 2023 by Aquahound

[soremekun]

Just back from the Mardi Gras.  Amazing ship!  Still doesn't match the Oasis class but I like it better than all other Royal Caribbean ship classes I previously sailed.  I will never again sail the other Carnival rusted buckets in my signature but I'm really liking this new class of ships.

 

Carnival, well done.  I wish they would homeport an Excel class ship in Boston or New York.

Edited April 23, 2023 by soremekun

[soccer2010]

it's been 3 years or so since we've been on Carnival.  My thoughts:

* sail at least a 7 night sailing and won't be a party boat

* a little more blue collar feeling but doesn't bother me

* comedy club is great

* MDR food equivalent to RCL

* casual food is much better than RCL especially the medium size RCL ships

* main theatre shows not good on Carnival

* no ice show on Carnival

[Cruise5life]

9 hours ago, jordanaire said:

I disagree with your "Walmart" description of Carnival. We have sailed on 25 Carnival cruises and have NEVER considered them booze cruises. We've sailed Royal cruises 3 times and have witnessed many drunken adults, fights and teenagers throwing things overboard in broad daylight. I will say that the food is better on Royal and the entertainment is better too Also, what's wrong with Walmart?

Says the person with a carnival cruise line picture as there avatar.   Lolol.  
 

[Thisguylikestocruise]

Walmart is expensive now, the term “Walmart of the seas” needs to be retired. 

[jordanaire]

6 hours ago, Cruise5life said:

Says the person with a carnival cruise line picture as there avatar.   Lolol.  
 

Meaning? I didn't post anything but the truth and I get flamed for it? Honest opinions seem to be a thing of the past nowadays. 

[Cruise5life]

8 hours ago, jordanaire said:

Meaning? I didn't post anything but the truth and I get flamed for it? Honest opinions seem to be a thing of the past nowadays. 

And I posted my honest opinion.   So just move along. 

[firefly333]

12 hours ago, Thisguylikestocruise said:

Walmart is expensive now, the term “Walmart of the seas” needs to be retired. 

I can book rcl for less than carnival these days. Otherwise I'd have jubilee booked to try. 

 

Carnival sure has raised their prices. Ouch. No bargains unless I fly to Australia.  

[jordanaire]

32 minutes ago, Cruise5life said:

And I posted my honest opinion.   So just move along. 

🤣

Edited April 23, 2023 by jordanaire

[bucfan2]

On 4/23/2023 at 3:47 AM, Thisguylikestocruise said:

Walmart is expensive now, the term “Walmart of the seas” needs to be retired. 

The term is used in reference to more than just cost.

[Ret MP]

5 hours ago, bucfan2 said:

The term is used in reference to more than just cost.

[Tree_skier]

On 4/23/2023 at 12:47 AM, Thisguylikestocruise said:

Walmart is expensive now, the term “Walmart of the seas” needs to be retired. 

"Dollar General" of the seas 🙂 

[firefly333]

On 4/23/2023 at 6:35 AM, jordanaire said:

Meaning? I didn't post anything but the truth and I get flamed for it? Honest opinions seem to be a thing of the past nowadays. 

Tbh I get flamed on the carnival boards because I favor rcl. It goes both ways. Rcl pax seem to delight in calling carnival pax low class names and making themselves sound silly.  Carnival cruisers are just as loyal. .. it goes both ways. 

 

Only you can decide which you prefer. I'm seeing new ports from Galveston on carnival next January.  I'll treat myself to some pay restaurants for dinner. I love their lobster rolls but I'm on dream where they put a indian tandoori where the pay seafood place is .. but I like indian too. And their white pizza.