Will we be disappointed in Carnival after cruising with Celebrity?

[kwokpot]

1 minute ago, trummy said:

I agree with your post,

We are older. Carnival is more fun, even in your 60's. I have a blast with all the late night activities on Carnival. It's not uncommon for us to close the disco down. We're not ready to sit down yet.

It's has nothing to do with your age and everything to do with what type of vacation experience you want to have. 

[trummy]

1 minute ago, kwokpot said:

It's has nothing to do with your age and everything to do with what type of vacation experience you want to have. 

I agree. I was speaking for myself.

Though the age demographic was very different between Carnival and Celebrity. 

[kwokpot]

3 minutes ago, trummy said:

I agree. I was speaking for myself.

Though the age demographic was very different between Carnival and Celebrity. 

I was on the Celebrity Flagship Beyond in October and an older ship the Solstice in February. It was very,very obvious that Celebrity is targeting the younger demographic with their new Edge Class ships and the more traditional cruise experience with their other ships. Everything from music, shows, and activities were different on Celebrity's newer ships than the older ones.   

[trummy]

1 minute ago, kwokpot said:

I was on the Celebrity Flagship Beyond in October and an older ship the Solstice in February. It was very,very obvious that Celebrity is targeting the younger demographic with their new Edge Class ships and the more traditional cruise experience with their other ships. Everything from music, shows, and activities were different on Celebrity's newer ships than the older ones.   

ok, you win

[kwokpot]

Just now, trummy said:

ok, you win

My post wasn't an argument with you, I'm sorry if it came across that way. I was just posting about two recent Celebrity experiences and how different they were even on the same cruiseline. I don't disagree with your overall sentiments about both cruiselines.For the record, I'm Diamond on Carnival with 26 cruises and Elite+ on Celebrity with 24.

[trummy]

9 minutes ago, kwokpot said:

My post wasn't an argument with you, I'm sorry if it came across that way. I was just posting about two recent Celebrity experiences and how different they were even on the same cruiseline. I don't disagree with your overall sentiments about both cruiselines.For the record, I'm Diamond on Carnival with 26 cruises and Elite+ on Celebrity with 24.

It's all good. Have a great rest of the week.

[ibarrio]

6 minutes ago, kwokpot said:

I was on the Celebrity Flagship Beyond in October and an older ship the Solstice in February. It was very,very obvious that Celebrity is targeting the younger demographic with their new Edge Class ships and the more traditional cruise experience with their other ships. Everything from music, shows, and activities were different on Celebrity's newer ships than the older ones.   

 

I would think Celebrity is going to have a hard time stealing away the younger/party crowd that Carnival and Virgin attracts. 

[kwokpot]

6 minutes ago, ibarrio said:

 

I would think Celebrity is going to have a hard time stealing away the younger/party crowd that Carnival and Virgin attracts. 

Agreed. VIRGIN is the one to watch. I've done two Virgin cruises and for me, Virgin is an upscale fancy version of Carnival. It's a FUN cruiseline with vastly better food and more upscale ship environment and NO KIDS! If you thought Carnival deck parties were fun & crowded well, Virgin upped that game 1000%! Here's a video from the Scarlet Night Pool Party on the Valiant Lady this past January.

[mz-s]

3 minutes ago, kwokpot said:

Agreed. VIRGIN is the one to watch. I've done two Virgin cruises and for me, Virgin is an upscale fancy version of Carnival. It's a FUN cruiseline with vastly better food and more upscale ship environment and NO KIDS! If you thought Carnival deck parties were fun & crowded well, Virgin upped that game 1000%! Here's a video from the Scarlet Night Pool Party on the Valiant Lady this past January.

 

Virgin is definitely a line that my wife and I want to cruise on soon. It may well replace Carnival for us depending on the comps we can get from their casino department, now that the Charleston port (and easy/cheap drive-to cruises) will soon be gone for us.

[kwokpot]

6 minutes ago, mz-s said:

 

Virgin is definitely a line that my wife and I want to cruise on soon. It may well replace Carnival for us depending on the comps we can get from their casino department, now that the Charleston port (and easy/cheap drive-to cruises) will soon be gone for us.

TBH both Virgin cruises we took were casino comped. Just be aware their casinos are a quarter to half  the size of a standard Carnival cruiseship casino but still a fun time. I'll leave you with some photos of their wonderful pastries and sweets that bests even Celebrity and are speciality bakery quality, all included in your cruisefare!

 

[trummy]

13 minutes ago, kwokpot said:

TBH both Virgin cruises we took were casino comped. Just be aware their casinos are a quarter to half  the size of a standard Carnival cruiseship casino but still a fun time. I'll leave you with some photos of their wonderful pastries and sweets that bests even Celebrity and are speciality bakery quality, all included in your cruisefare!

 

I believe you have convinced me to try Virgin.

[ibarrio]

22 minutes ago, mz-s said:

 

Virgin is definitely a line that my wife and I want to cruise on soon. It may well replace Carnival for us depending on the comps we can get from their casino department, now that the Charleston port (and easy/cheap drive-to cruises) will soon be gone for us.

 

Unfortunately Virgin is still very limited in their ports so that can't be a yearly line for us

[Oceansaway17]

On 5/15/2023 at 4:34 PM, Itried4498 said:

 

I disagree.  We just got off our first DCL.  The cruise was exceptional, but the clientele was about what you'd expect from Disney: lots of impatient & entitled folks (especially their children) and ECVs everywhere.  I love people watching and this was a great cruise for it!  Nothing like a 400-lb. woman in her mid-20s dressed as Ariel cutting in line (during character meet + greets) with her three kids because she feels since they're younger, they're more entitled.

 

Excluding the weekend booze cruises, most of the clientele I've cruised with on Carnival is far better behaved.  

well yours must have been a bit off because I have done two DCL and everyone was nicely behaved.

I find entitled bad folks on all ships, but for DCL I give a lot of wiggle room as the kids are excited for the characters.  Sorry you had a large lady but in but that can happen at the parks too.

 

I think the food on Disney is very good and I am on the Fantasy May 27th and can't wait.

[CruizinSusan70]

7 hours ago, d-train said:

We have sails Celebrity Summit and Carnival Horizon.

While we have enjoyed any cruise we have been on,

we do enjoy Carnival more. Horizon has many amenities.

Our favorite thermal spa area, lots of great dining choices,

lots of activity for lots of fun - though late hours.

 

Summit's dining was great too, as was the cabin we were in.

The activities seemed few and far between.

The entertainment was comparable to our CCL sailings on Horizon and Mardi Gras.

Planned activities not so much.

And if you like late night adventure, Celebrity is not for you.

Things got very quiet after about 8:30PM...

 

Perhaps when we are older, sailing without kids again, we will try celebrity again.

For now Carnival meets many of our "vacation needs" and style of vacation.

As long as we are sailing through the Caribbean, the ports are all same old same old...

So that is not a factor either.

We talk about doing a couple European sailings when we are older too,

then Celebrity would be a contender for us then too.

Cruise on one of the Celebrity Edge class ships, Edge, Apex, Beyond, Ascent.  A step above compared to the rest of their fleet.  Similar to the Excel Class ships raising the bar compared to the rest of the Carnival fleet.  I'm sure that Kwokpot will agree.

[CruizinSusan70]

7 hours ago, trummy said:

I agree. I was speaking for myself.

Though the age demographic was very different between Carnival and Celebrity. 

It's so nice not dealing with unruly kids.

[Fredette]

On 5/13/2023 at 9:15 AM, NCteacherlovescruising said:

We haven’t sailed with Carnival for about 5 years now. We’ve found we liked NCL, Royal and Celebrity better. We are thinking about booking a last minute cruise for next month and for price and itinerary we like Carnival. I’ve heard they have stepped up their game. We’re looking at the Horizon. Is that a nice ship?  

Don't do it.

[NCteacherlovescruising]

10 hours ago, Fredette said:

Don't do it.

We ended up going with MSC, but Carnival was our second choice.

[CruizinSusan70]

5 hours ago, NCteacherlovescruising said:

We ended up going with MSC, but Carnival was our second choice.

Which ship and what level did you pick?  Bella, Fantastica, Aurea or YC?

[NCteacherlovescruising]

1 hour ago, CruizinSusan70 said:

Which ship and what level did you pick?  Bella, Fantastica, Aurea or YC?

Seaside in the YC

[Eli_6]

@kwokpotYou are making me want to leave my kids at home and try Virgin!

[CruizinSusan70]

3 hours ago, NCteacherlovescruising said:

Seaside in the YC

There is nothing on Carnival that's comparable.  We did the Seaside YC 5 years ago in a YIN cabin.  Nice trip but very European skewed.  Enjoy.

[NCteacherlovescruising]

11 minutes ago, CruizinSusan70 said:

There is nothing on Carnival that's comparable.  We did the Seaside YC 5 years ago in a YIN cabin.  Nice trip but very European skewed.  Enjoy.

I see you haven’t been back on MSC yet, but looks like you have another one booked.  Were you disappointed?  What is an YIN?  We have a deluxe suite. Everyone says it’s more European. In what ways?  

[CruizinSusan70]

1 hour ago, NCteacherlovescruising said:

I see you haven’t been back on MSC yet, but looks like you have another one booked.  Were you disappointed?  What is an YIN?  We have a deluxe suite. Everyone says it’s more European. In what ways?  

A YIN is an inside cabin.  Unfortunately since our stay there 5 years ago things have changed and I am relegated to a scooter.  Not all of the ships in the MSC fleet have inside handicapped cabins in the YC.  The fact that the World ships don't have them was disappointing.  Because of the popularity of them and the value versus the Haven on NCL, the prices have rose substantially over the past 5 years.

Since MSC has so many international people sailing on them, it is European skewed.  No comedy shows, no piano bar, lots of fish on the menu, standoffish employees.  It's not like the mainstream cruises based in the US.  Many like it that way, but it can be off putting. We are going to give them a chance in a Fantastica cabin on the Meraviglia in July and that will determine any future sailings on them.  In 2023 we have 86 days at sea and in 2024, it's 66 days, so we cruise fairly often.  The July cruise will determine whether MSC is in the loop or not for future sailings.

[calbred01]

I enjoyed our Celebrity cruise (we have cruised Royal & Carnival before Celebrity) and the vibe is different. By that  we had an older clientele on our Pacific Coastal (or at least a more laid back cruise) and our Carnival cruises are more lively (according to my husband who prefers Carnival's vibe). We are early 60's and I enjoyed the differences, I must say that I felt more pampered on Celebrity but this was also pre covid so not sure of any changes. Also, we felt that the balcony rooms were larger on Carnival but once more I think the Celebrity ship we were on was an older, smaller ship.

[CruizinSusan70]

3 hours ago, calbred01 said:

I enjoyed our Celebrity cruise (we have cruised Royal & Carnival before Celebrity) and the vibe is different. By that  we had an older clientele on our Pacific Coastal (or at least a more laid back cruise) and our Carnival cruises are more lively (according to my husband who prefers Carnival's vibe). We are early 60's and I enjoyed the differences, I must say that I felt more pampered on Celebrity but this was also pre covid so not sure of any changes. Also, we felt that the balcony rooms were larger on Carnival but once more I think the Celebrity ship we were on was an older, smaller ship.

Check out the four Edge Class ships on Celebrity.  Edge, Apex, Beyond, Ascent.  They raise the bar compared to the rest of the fleet and offer more things to do.