Carnival to RCI ?

[auburn77]

Just booked the Mariner after six cruises with Carnival. On Carnival, there is free 24 hour pizza and ice cream, and a great deli(also free). I've heard that RCI doesn't have these. Also, that several activities, such as ice skating, rock wall, min. golf, etc. are extra $, as are most eating places. Is this true?

The RCI site doesn't help at all in explaining these things.

We are really looking forward to this cruise as we have heard how much better RCI is than Carnival. Because we have loved our Carnival cruises, we must be in for a fantastic time.

[karessamom]

My understanding is the ice skating, rock wall, mini golf etc are all included in the price of the cruise. I may be wrong tho as i've never sailed rccl before and are only going on the Monarch this time--but i've heard that the rock wall there is "free" as part of the cruise price. The only other cruise i've been on was last year on the Conquest! What a cruise!! Awsome!!!

[Dem920]

Rock Climbing - free

Ice Skating - free

Mini golf - free

Some exercise classes - $10 fee (Yoga and Pilates) all others are Free

Specialty Restaurants - Fee for Portofino's ($25 per person I think) and Johhny Rockets ($5 or $10 per person I think) Portofino's is worth it if you have a long time to eat. I didn't care for Johnny Rockets, but if you have kids they might - When I was on Conquest I had to pay for the specialty restaurant but it was well worth it

Pizza and Deli - available in the Windjammer on most of the newer ships, not sure if pizza is 24 hours but I got it at midnight one night on Adventure and Freedom. - free

 

Hope I answered all your questions. If you have any more you can email me at tdembek@optonline.net.

 

-DEM920

[songster2]

Just booked the Mariner after six cruises with Carnival. On Carnival, there is free 24 hour pizza and ice cream, and a great deli(also free). I've heard that RCI doesn't have these. Also, that several activities, such as ice skating, rock wall, min. golf, etc. are extra $, as are most eating places. Is this true?

The RCI site doesn't help at all in explaining these things.

We are really looking forward to this cruise as we have heard how much better RCI is than Carnival. Because we have loved our Carnival cruises, we must be in for a fantastic time.

 

Mariner is one of the Voyager class ships. It has a Promenade that has a 24hr Cafe where one can get food (sandwiches, desserts, pizza) at no extra cost. Ben and Jerry's ice cream is added cost, but there are soft serve machines at the Windjammer for no added cost. Ice skating, in-line skating, rock wall climbing, miniature golf are no added cost.

 

Go to the RCI web site and look at the deck plans for the ship. It will help you to become acquainted with her before you board.

 

Don't miss the Promenade parades, and enjoy your cruise. :D

[lyndamarie6]

Hi, I am 43 the past 10 years taken 15 cruises mostly on Carnival. We have taken 2 NCL cruises and 1 Princess. Last year got off Carnivals Glory anyway, this past year I felt "Carnival" out so we took a RC cruise and I honestly can say (because I was so happy on Carnival thought I would never change cruise lines again) I never want to go back on Carnival if I don't have to!

 

Royal Caribbean is so much better! Their ships are elegant, classy light colored unlike (what I used to think I liked) dark dreary neon as the Carnival ships have. There is so many places to sit on nice chairs and sofa's on three levels in the atrium looking out onto large windows. The Viking Crown Lounge with its 360 degree view all of windows to look out onto the sea is my FAVORITE place to be day and night. Pools are larger, buffets are better and they give you wide large platters unlike the regular dishes that Carnival gies you. Dinner is better on RC although I have to say the chilled soups on Carnival and desserts are better than RC but I am not on a cruise for soup and all dessert. Service is better on RC and their alcoholic drinks are always strong unlike Carnival's. Photo's are cheaper and you are not hassled to buy things as you are on Carnival. I saw the difference after experiencing a RC cruise.

 

About the trampoline, rock climbing wall and ice skating, I find them a waste they are only available to use just a couple hours each day thats all.

 

Carnival does offer larger game rooms for the children and larger casino's but RC is just fine also. I have not had any problem with the bedding/mattress on RC where on Carnival practically all the cruises I have taken on Carnival the mattress all sagged, and I am only 135 pounds!

 

Drawbacks on RC is that everything closes at 2am even the disco but not the casino, where on Carnival everything is open later. I have to say the next few cruises surely will be on RC and not Carnival. TRust me. :)

[caviargal]

Rock Climbing - free

Ice Skating - free

Mini golf - free

Some exercise classes - $10 fee (Yoga and Pilates) all others are Free

Specialty Restaurants - Fee for Portofino's ($25 per person I think) and Johhny Rockets ($5 or $10 per person I think) Portofino's is worth it if you have a long time to eat. I didn't care for Johnny Rockets, but if you have kids they might - When I was on Conquest I had to pay for the specialty restaurant but it was well worth it

Pizza and Deli - available in the Windjammer on most of the newer ships, not sure if pizza is 24 hours but I got it at midnight one night on Adventure and Freedom. - free

 

Hope I answered all your questions. If you have any more you can email me at tdembek@optonline.net.

 

-DEM920

 

Not quite:).

 

Portofino and Chops, 20pp, Johnny Rockets 3.95 pp, spinning is also a charge as are many of the other classes (few freebies these days) and they add 15% to the class fee.

 

For my money, RCI provides a much better experience in every aspect than Carnival. JMHO.

[auburn77]

Thanks. I believe I was previously given wrong information. Can't wait to sail.

[MGilly]

After four cruises on Carnival and four on RCI, I feel I can tell you that there just is no comparison! RCI is SOOOOooooooo much more fun and so much classier. You will really love your RCI cruise! And after sailing on RCI, you'll probably never even think of going back to Carnival! Enjoy!

[REGINA]

We went on 1 Norwegien and 5 Carnival. Then we went on RC, the Grandeur.

 

The lunch buffet stunk! Dinners were ok but not up to Carnival. Pizza was fair. No sandwiches unless you count a 1/4 inch piece with a toothpick through it. More toothpick holding them together than meat on them. Burgers and hot dogs were sitting in a warming pan where as Carnival cooks them to order along with grilled chicken and steak sandwiches. That so called "selfserve yogurt" looked gross. Carnival has good self serv ice cream. Went to Ben and Jerry's. The scoop they used was the size of a melon baller and the ice cream was so soft you could drink it from the cone.

 

Now I know I am upsetting some people but we are all entitled to our opinion. Not looking for 5 Star food but compared to Carnival RC got 1 star from us.

[Cruising89143]

We went on 1 Norwegien and 5 Carnival. Then we went on RC, the Grandeur.

 

The lunch buffet stunk! Dinners were ok but not up to Carnival. Pizza was fair. No sandwiches unless you count a 1/4 inch piece with a toothpick through it. More toothpick holding them together than meat on them. Burgers and hot dogs were sitting in a warming pan where as Carnival cooks them to order along with grilled chicken and steak sandwiches. That so called "selfserve yogurt" looked gross. Carnival has good self serv ice cream. Went to Ben and Jerry's. The scoop they used was the size of a melon baller and the ice cream was so soft you could drink it from the cone.

 

Now I know I am upsetting some people but we are all entitled to our opinion. Not looking for 5 Star food but compared to Carnival RC got 1 star from us.

 

Also depends on the ship that one is cruising. On Carnival's older ships they do not have what the newer ships have for lido dining. Same way on RCI's newer ships. As you say everyone is entitled to their opinion and IMHO RCI blows Carnival out of the water but then again I don't just cruise for the food.

[DonnaK]

The biggest and most significant difference we noticed on the two cruiselines was in the attentiveness and quality of the service. There simply is no comparison - the service we received on the Carnival Miracle was horrendous. The crew to passenger ratio was too high, and the ship wasn't large enough for the amount of passengers on board so the public spaces were very crowded. The wait team was responsible for more than twice the number of tables/diners, and our cabin steward was responsible for 27 cabins, therefore they couldn't provide individualized service or grant requests in a timely fashion, as we've come to expect from our RCI cruises.

 

Besides being dark and gaudily decorated, Carnival was very smoky - the odor of stale cigarette smoke wafted through the passageways and came into our cabin via the inadequate ventilation system. The ship's layout was very awkward too. Even though Carnival does have a slight edge in quality of food in the buffet area, the Lido buffet was located between the pool and the aft elevators, so there was a lot of through traffic providing an unappetizing parade of bathers in various forms of undress walking past us while we were eating. The children's club was located in the front of one of the passenger decks in a difficult to reach, out-of-the-way location (not next to the pool as on RCI) and therefore it was very impractical and under-utilized.

 

I could go on and on about all the ways we were dissatified with our cruise on the Miracle, but I'll end here by saying that we wouldn't sail Carnival again if it were free.

[time4u2go]

We went on 1 Norwegien and 5 Carnival. Then we went on RC, the Grandeur.

 

The lunch buffet stunk! Dinners were ok but not up to Carnival. Pizza was fair. No sandwiches unless you count a 1/4 inch piece with a toothpick through it. More toothpick holding them together than meat on them. Burgers and hot dogs were sitting in a warming pan where as Carnival cooks them to order along with grilled chicken and steak sandwiches. That so called "selfserve yogurt" looked gross. Carnival has good self serv ice cream. Went to Ben and Jerry's. The scoop they used was the size of a melon baller and the ice cream was so soft you could drink it from the cone.

 

Now I know I am upsetting some people but we are all entitled to our opinion. Not looking for 5 Star food but compared to Carnival RC got 1 star from us.

I definitely agree with this! Went on 3 Carnivals and one RC. Loved them all, but the food was defintely better on Carnival. The service was outstanding on all of them. We'd definitely go on both Carnival and RC again.

[Tatka]

We sailed on new Carnival Liberty and while we liked food (better than RCCL) and ship was newer (compared to 1996 Splendor) and beautiful (Splendor was beautiful too) I say we won't go on Carnival any time soon.

 

Maybe design , maybe number of people, but I hated lines everywhere. We had to stand in line (not even seat in chair) for 2.5 hours just to get on Liberty!!! We are family of two 33/34 yo at that time + 14 yo, but we were tired, what about older people and kids???

 

I ddn't liked pool area a bit... also didn't really get where was promissed "fun" on that Fun ship.;)

 

We loved our room and beds were much better on Carnival though, but all lines made me want to hide in our room.:(

[MGilly]

Admittedly, the food on the Carnival cruises we took was not bad. In fact, I'd have a hard time deciding which line has better food - they're very comparable. It's in the area of service that RCI beats Carnival hands down. And the condition of the ships. And the entertainment. And the shipboard activities. (Get my drift?)

[barbaragrace]

We went on 1 Norwegien and 5 Carnival. Then we went on RC, the Grandeur.

 

The lunch buffet stunk! Dinners were ok but not up to Carnival. Pizza was fair. No sandwiches unless you count a 1/4 inch piece with a toothpick through it. More toothpick holding them together than meat on them. Burgers and hot dogs were sitting in a warming pan where as Carnival cooks them to order along with grilled chicken and steak sandwiches. That so called "selfserve yogurt" looked gross. Carnival has good self serv ice cream. Went to Ben and Jerry's. The scoop they used was the size of a melon baller and the ice cream was so soft you could drink it from the cone.

 

Now I know I am upsetting some people but we are all entitled to our opinion. Not looking for 5 Star food but compared to Carnival RC got 1 star from us.

 

I thought the buffet food was much better on the Carnival ships too. Also, I am surprised no one mentioned the RC couch beds!:eek:

[KShea]

no comparison....RCCL in almost every way. The rooms on Carnival were slightly larger....loved the bedding on the Valor...after that..nothing else even came close ....( in my opinion to RCCL ) food, service ....layout of the ships...not even close..RCCL in a landslide...

[Pootersmom]

I think it would be interesting to know the ship-to-ship comparison that the posters who have expressed an opinion on here. From all that I have read, you may see a difference between the two just line-from-line, and yet you get such wide ranging opinions. So my theory is that some "ships" (not necessarily lines) may provide better food and service than others. Whaddaya think?

[Esmerelda]

Wow...Auburn 77...sounds like we are in the same 'boat'....no pun intended ;).

 

I too booked a RC this year for summer of 07 and I too have only cruised on Carnival on 4 other occasions.

 

Our last Carnival cruise was May of 05 and it was our honeymoon on the Valor. We started off our cruise by waiting outside in the baking sun from 11:00am or so until after 1:30pm before anyone even moved in the line...?? I was expected folks to start dropping from heat strokes. Almost every person we encountered while trying to board was very rude so we started out on a very sour note to say the least. (yes, I realize some of these were not Carnival employess..but geeez did they all have lemons that day or what!!) Once we boarded the ship...the service personnel were fine. Our room steward was the absolute most fabulous ever on any ship I've sailed! My gripes were the 'adult only' areas were NOT 'adult only' and no one seemed to care? The tendering process was an absolute nightmare on two stops. The food was quite good..no complaints here. The spa overcharged us for something then swore they didn't? (yes, I did call and dispute it...it remained the same) The folks in the jewelry shop were awesome! The room service on two days never came...then other two it came quite a bit later than asked. As you can see for a honeymoon...there were some issues (there were more also). We are NOT picky people but when you add all this up....we were not happy. I mean we spent $2,000+ on our trip. I wrote all of our complaints (and compliments) to Carnival upon our return. They responded by sending us a letter of apology and said to bring this letter to my PVP for our next cruise. We have never had the desire to cruise with CC again. We are quite looking forward to sailing on RC next summer!

 

Esmerelda <feeling much better after her vent :)

[lmmn]

No cruiseline has better pizza than Carnival....so you'll miss the pizza! Carnival is the "fun" ship and has more nightlife. I'm sure you'll find some things on RCCL that you will like better than Carnival too. So....enjoy!!!

[lyndamarie6]

Service overall on RC is wonderful! Carnival in dining room, buffet and statroom service could be very slow, not efficient. I have no complaints on any of the service on my past RC cruise. There is a difference. As far as the food, I have to say that they are very similiar only that presenation is better on CArnival and there are more choices as far as alternatives to eat for dinner on RC relating to their dining room menu. The escargot on RC was outstanding and the lobster was TENDER, the best that I had on the past 10 ships (Carnival, NCL and one Princess)!!

 

Overall you can't compare all the service on RC to CArnival. RC is just so much better in fact, we will not be taking another CArnival cruise after experiencing RC!

[threeofus]

No cruiseline has better pizza than Carnival....so you'll miss the pizza! Carnival is the "fun" ship and has more nightlife. I'm sure you'll find some things on RCCL that you will like better than Carnival too. So....enjoy!!!

 

Princess makes a decent pizza...they actually have pizza ovens poolside and it's pretty good.

I love RCL - but the pizza is barely ok....DO THEY READ THESE BOARDS???

[Cruisenut1966]

I've been on both, 5 Carnival and one RCCL. The thing I misses MOST when we went on Carnival last was NO hot breakfast for room service. RCCL has hot breakfast on there room service list. Thats what I missed the most on Carnival. So for me it's RCCL from now on....

 

 

300 more days until Mariner......

[KandMGIn]

Big thing I remember was when we went on our first cruise AOS...every crew member was smiling and saying "hello...welcome aboard!". We felt sooooo special we could not stop smiling!

 

We went on the Conquest and though the crew members were not rude...they were not happy. Noone made eye contact with us. Many crew seemed to aviod personal contact with passengers.

 

Also...the midnight buffet on Carnival was awful compared to the size, artistry and variety of RCI's midnight buffet.

[time4u2go]

One thing that I definitely like better about Carnival was that there was both inside and outside seating available at the buffet eating area. I understand that some RCCL ships have this, but the newer ones don't.