Can anyone recommend a Carnival ship?

[lauren0309]

I did read title but she said was thinking of going on AOS Southern so just wanted to tell her of my experiences with that ship. Never tried Carnival so I can't recommend any of their ships.

[emdia43]

I just sailed on Freedom of the Seas and the price was cheaper than I would have paid to go on Carnival Valor in a similar cabin,doing the same itinerary.

It pays to do some price research and then watch prices carefully- my cruise price was reduced twice when I noticed new prices and called to ask for the reduction.

[KPLIONMA]

The trouble with Carnival....same ships...same layout....boring!

[nlcentralchmps03]

I caught your joke...lmao.

 

I like the secret 1As with double windows on the Conquest class ships or the 5As on Spirit class ships. (the 5As are like french doors/windows, obstructed view but they open).

 

Conquest class ships do have a lot to recommend them as well, like a fish and chips place, refrigerators in the cabins, large staterooms etc.

I caught it also, and actually lol at it :)

[Twaincruisers]

We've been on six Carnival (all on the older ships) and seven RCI. Both the food and service have been consistently better on Carnival, but we enjoy the the full outside promenades on RCI ships. And, yes, "you can't get there from here" on the Carnival ships, but you can learn your way around that. You can't do much about consistently bad service and bad food--sending the food back and lodging complaints gets old!

[funfamilyfun]

We priced both Carnival and RCI and we had a better price on RCI. I guess it just depends when you book?

[Dave's Girl]

I have sailed on Carnival 3 times previously on the Triumph, Legend, and the Valor. Absolutely loved everything about my cruises. Food and services were wonderful. Also traveled with large groups with ages ranging from 10 - 80. Everyone had a great time with absolutely no complaints! The Legend was my favorite, so easy to maneuver. The Valor was almost impossible to navigate. You constantly had to know if you were in the front of the boat or the back to figure out which elevator to take where! However, I liked the Valor's itinerary that took us to Roatan Island, most beautiful beaches I've ever seen. I don't think that you can pick a bad Carnival ship. As for the Destiny, I know lots of people who have cruised this ship and they all loved it! Good Luck!

[raina*faith]

I've only been on RCL for any of my major cruises, but with Carnival, I would say go with the newest and largest ships as one other poster said.

 

I can only recommend staying with RCL. :)

[Arizona Laura]

We went on the Carnival Victory to Eastern Caribbean in Jan.

The food was great.

$700.00 pp for balcony room.

Mind you was not a mega ship....

For me the friends I am with, the itinerary, and the price, all are really important to me besides what ship it would be.

I would go on the Victory again anytime.

Laura

[corkpopr]

we have done two recent carnival cruises (destiny '06 & liberty '07). good service, pretty good cabin, dining room food solid, harrys on the liberty fantastic, great casino on both, fair lido but good selections, cheap rates and good port stops. 75% of the passengers very nice but the 25% trailer park trash just ruins it for us!

[nmcrzer]

We did the Carnival Conquest for our honeymoon last year. I wasn't impressed. Had I wanted to sit around the pool and drink all day, then party all night, I might have enjoyed myself. There weren't many activities aside from bingo. The layout of the ship wasn't user friendly. And, I don't mean this in a bad way, but there were so many Texans! I guess sailing out of Galveston, it is to be expected. But, it was overwhelming.

 

We docked in Cozumel next to the Rhapsody, and I was instantly awestruck. We spent the rest of our cruise wishing we were on the Rhapsody instead. The layout looked so much better, and the public areas we could see looked nicer. Plus, for people like us who like sports, the rock wall looked so fun!

 

This year we are taking the Enchantment of the Seas. We wanted to get on the Rhapsody, but they aren't doing the itinerary that is Key West, Grand Cayman, Cozumel. We really want to see Key West this time. Also, we will never go back to Jamaica (but that's an entirely different discussion).

[villager70]

I would also advise to go to the Carnival site and get the latest feedback from recent cruisers. I have sailed Carnival quite a few times and have always enjoyed my voyages. Like any other line I have had bad and good but the good always far exceeds bad. Bob & Nancy The Villages Florida:) :) :)

[MAO]

Triumph!!

Been on her twice, loved her both times. Great crew, great service, fun all the way around.

JMHO:)

MAO

[AZDCruiser]

I would also advise to go to the Carnival site and get the latest feedback from recent cruisers. I have sailed Carnival quite a few times and have always enjoyed my voyages. Like any other line I have had bad and good but the good always far exceeds bad. Bob & Nancy The Villages Florida:) :) :)

 

Yeah, I agree -- I have been on the their board and also looking at the reviews for several ships. I just wanted to come on here first and see what fellow "usual" RCI cruisers thought.

 

I also agree that the good usually outweighs the bad..and even our Carnival cruise that we didn't rank as a "great trip" was still better than being at work!

 

Thanks to everyone for all your responses!

[JSQ01]

I've been on Carnival Valor and Carnival Ecstacy. Loved both of them. Yes, the ship's layout can be confusing at first, but it only takes a day to get used to it. The two we went on had about the same layout even though the Valor was much bigger and newer. Loved the Valor's itinerary too...

[Inshape]

If I were sailing without the kids and the price was great on CCL I might go on it for the cruise and the shows. But with the kids and only the pools and slide available it got stale very fast. They hated the camp and they were young. They are now 10 and 12. They did stuff all indoors and stuff like name that tune and magazine races in finding pictures. that is not my ideal camp experience. Although CCL cabins are larger, the rooms on RCI use the space better. The hallways are larger and decorated so nicely it is a pleasure walking down each deck to look at the art work. The balcony doors on rci are sliders not open and closed as in ccl. The bathrooms are nicer with more storage too on RCI. We find the RCi ships quieter and much less smokey.

[idlewood4]

We've cruised on CCL Glory and CCL Miracle and loved them both. I had a difficult decision on CCL or RCCL for this August's cruise, but chose RCCL for a new experience, and to try all those great things on board. My kids were 11 and 15 on the Miracle, and 12 and 16 on the Glory, and had a fabulous time both years. A cruise is what you make of it. Enjoy! I posted reviews after both our last cruises, If you check the review boards you can see what I specifically liked and didn't for each ship.