Need Reassurance About Booking Carnival

[CatServants]

I'm hoping you guys can help us. I know many of you also cruise Carnival so....

 

My FIL called last week raving about a Carnival Panama Canal cruise ad he saw. I looked it up, along with PC cruises on X, HAL, RC, NCL. I have to say, the Carnival PC cruise has an itin we love and the price was MUCH less than the other lines. My FIL is a bargain hunter so Carnival is the only option.

 

Here are my concerns. We're fun people, but we're not necessarily "FUN" people. We're Cabin Rats. I can walk by a casino on any ship, whether it's X or Carnival, but will we enjoy Carnival? How's the atmosphere? The service? The food? My DH LOVES eating a full breakfast in our cabin, am I correct in my belief that only a Continental breakfast is available on Carnival? Do they have mini-fridges in all cabins? (The Carnival web site is not very good & is often confusing for the novice!) Since we're comfy on X, will we be comfy on Carnival?

 

We had planned to expand our X cruising to include Silversea/Regent/et. al., not Carnival, but honestly, the more we look at the itin, the more we like the PC cruise on Carnival. The price can't be beat! Strange to get a PH (which is comparatively TINY) without a butler, but what the heck, we don't have a butler at home!;)

 

Of course the important thing is spending 2 weeks with family. Life is short and we need to cherish those we love while we can. Anyway, unless it's the Poseidon or the Titanic it will be a wonderful cruise. I guess the question is, will it be 'OK wonderful' or 'fantastic wonderful'?:o

 

I know I could, and probably should, ask for this reassurance and info on the Carnival board, but this is home, we're sort of family, and thru X, we share a common reference point. I think, unless you guys tell me otherwise, we'll be booking the Carnival PC cruise this week. What do you think?:confused:

 

Thanks! And Happy Cruising!

 

Denise

[reefexplorer]

Denise:

 

I think that you can have a wonderful time on this cruise, it has more to do with how you look things than things themselves. I think that Carnival offers a nice product, I also think that you have to go in with an open mind. My experience is that Carnival is a bit more crowded than Celebrity but in other ways it was just as good or better. Yes there are refrigerators in every room, fully stocked, although you can ask to have them emptied if you want.

 

Which ship are you looking at?

 

Linda

[63galaxie]

We sailed on Carnival Destiny because the ports and dates and prices were what we wanted and what we could afford to spend at the time.

I still have great memories of the ports of call and the shore excursions. In fact, my favorite shore excursion (whale watching) was during this cruise.

I personally didn't care for the atmosphere (or lack of it) on this particular ship. Specifically, I didn't like the waiters dancing on the tables in the dining room after dessert each night. However, we learned quickly to skip dessert and leave before the partying started. We still enjoyed the food (not nearly as good as Celebrity's, but still good most of the time). The waiters were nice (but not as attentive or funny as the Celebrity staff we've known), and they were attentive and did a fine job. The cabins were clean and the decor was okay.

I wouldn't seek out another Carnival cruise, but if the itinerary and price were right and it was a different ship, I might give it a try. I really don't think you'll know until you go.

I think you should try it. Expect a lot of differences, but you'll still enjoy the places you go, the people you meet, your family, and that PH!!! We are "cabin rats" too, and our balcony has always been and will always be, our refuge.

I agree with your statement about family. Making a few sacrifices now will yield a lifetime of memories that will be with you long after your relatives are not.:D

[bikinibottom]

We went on a Carnival cruise with 17 other family members 2 summers ago. That ranked up as one of my all time best vacations. I did enjoy the cruise and found the food to be excellent - I was expecting less and it surpassed my expectations. I found the crowds to be a bit much at times and the atmosphere was sometimes not what I was interested in - so I just went someplace else on the ship.

Our family's cabins ranged from penthouse suites to inside cabins - I spent time in most of them and they were all comfortable. My 20 yr old nieces were perfectly happy in their inside cabins (and I don't think they spent much time in there anyway). We did spend a lot of time in our cabin - we had a suite - not the largest penthouse suite but the next category down and it was great. The bed was one of the most comfortable beds I have slept in on vacation. The linens were very nice I was surprised by that too. I felt very pampered! The experience with our dining room staff was actually better than that on our last X cruise on the Mercury. So much of that can be luck of the draw. The itinerary was great and so when I look back at it I remember the fun, fun memories with my family more than I remember much else about the cruise. Go and enjoy! It is fun to be able to compare cruise lines and experiences as you make memories. :)

[CatServants]

Denise:

 

I think that you can have a wonderful time on this cruise, it has more to do with how you look things than things themselves. I think that Carnival offers a nice product, I also think that you have to go in with an open mind. My experience is that Carnival is a bit more crowded than Celebrity but in other ways it was just as good or better. Yes there are refrigerators in every room, fully stocked, although you can ask to have them emptied if you want.

 

Which ship are you looking at?

 

Linda

 

reefexplorer - I absolutely agree with you - attitude is key, no matter what the cruise line or ship! We're looking at the Pride for March 09. Any info/advice?

 

Happy cruising!

 

Denise

[CatServants]

We sailed on Carnival Destiny because the ports and dates and prices were what we wanted and what we could afford to spend at the time.

 

I still have great memories of the ports of call and the shore excursions. In fact, my favorite shore excursion (whale watching) was during this cruise.

 

I personally didn't care for the atmosphere (or lack of it) on this particular ship. Specifically, I didn't like the waiters dancing on the tables in the dining room after dessert each night. However, we learned quickly to skip dessert and leave before the partying started. We still enjoyed the food (not nearly as good as Celebrity's, but still good most of the time). The waiters were nice (but not as attentive or funny as the Celebrity staff we've known), and they were attentive and did a fine job. The cabins were clean and the decor was okay.

 

I wouldn't seek out another Carnival cruise, but if the itinerary and price were right and it was a different ship, I might give it a try. I really don't think you'll know until you go.

 

I think you should try it. Expect a lot of differences, but you'll still enjoy the places you go, the people you meet, your family, and that PH!!! We are "cabin rats" too, and our balcony has always been and will always be, our refuge.

 

I agree with your statement about family. Making a few sacrifices now will yield a lifetime of memories that will be with you long after your relatives are not.:D

 

Thanks, 63galaxie - I guess your last paragraph says it all. Family is what counts. And I'm willing to make the sacrifice and suffer thru a cruise!;):D

 

I have to admit, I hate the baked alaska parade on X, dancing waiters sounds...um....amusing the first time? After that, I'll keep your tactic of a fast getaway in mind!

 

Cabin Rats unite! It's true. The cabin/veranda are the refuge of the Cabin Rat. It's NOT a cruise ship with zillions of other pax. It's my private yacht!;):D

 

Happy cruising!

 

Denise

[CatServants]

ARG!!! Is it just me the boards hate or is it everyone?! Or is it my computer?

 

bikinibottom - 17 family members?! Was there anyone on the ship who wasn't family?;):p You could have been anywhere and had a great time. I love family get togethers.

 

Thanks for the info. I hadn't thought to ask about the beds/bed linens. My DH and I need a soft bed and, like everyone, want yummy linens.

 

 

You've all been helpful and given great advice - "you have to try it to find out!". I've also been reading the Carnival vs X thread. I think we're gonna go for it. 2 weeks with my in-laws is a special gift that we'll cherish for the rest of our lives. I'm sure it will be a "fun" cruise!;):D

 

Happy cruising!

 

Denise

[bububr]

John and I have met some wonderful people on past Carnival cruises....however, we just prefer X now as it is a more relaxing vacation. However in my Hayday John has video of me in the talent shows and other comprimising activities that he treatens to pull out every now and then.....( hairy chest...Tarzan rescues the maiden...Nicest legs...Etc.. ). Of course the last time we were on Carnival I was 180 lbs;) , now theres almost two of me....just kidding, maybe 1 1/2.

 

The food is okay, the entertainment was fun, drinks were good.......but the announcements were VERY ANNOYING.....

 

However I still have to wonder if they still have the ladies 'stuff the fruit in your bathing suit' pool games....I always cringed when a contestant tried to stuff two pineapples in their one piece.....Ouch!!!! along with the apples, oranges, and cantelope. It is pretty funny.

 

To be honest we always had a nice time....we just outgrew the partying.

 

Dave:eek:

[Drew B]

Denise, there is much more variety in the Carnival fleet vs the X fleet, so which ship you are on makes a BIG difference in terms of what you will experience. I believe that the only ship slated to do PC is the Pride. She is a member of the Spirit class, which is arguably the best and most popular class of ships they have. Spirit-class ships are known for having better flow and feeling less-crowded than their newer, larger, Conquest-class sisters.

 

My feeling is that Carnival very rarely offers a Panama Canal itinerary. They only do them as repositioning cruises and for the most part, their West coast ships stay on the West coast (whether Mexican Riviera or Alaska) and their East coast ships stay on the East coast (mostly Caribbean, but venturing to the Northeast or even Europe). I say that if you like the itinerary, BOOK IT. You probably won't get another shot to do the PC with Carnival for a while. If I could take that cruise, I most definitely would

[Schplinky]

I think the ship and the length of itinerary matter far more than the line. I think it's pointless the way some folks here compare lines as though there was actual consistency within lines. I think the price and distance fo your cruise will ensure that you'll have a great time.

[CatServants]

It's official - these boards hate me! I've tried to post 3 times and nothing! Grrrrr!:mad:

 

bububr - To paraphrase my earlier post to you. I trust you and your opinions. After reading your post I booked the cruise! I'll be fine with "ok" food - maybe I WON'T gain weight for a change! Partying? Well, I'VE ALWAYS been a perfect angel, but maybe now I'll see how Randy was in college. Yup. Nuclear Engineers love to 'Paaarrrtayyyy'!;) Oh, and Dave, have John send me a copy of those videos...purely for research purposes of course!;)

 

Drew - WOW! You're always well informed, smart, fun and knowledgeable, but, WOW! Your info was not only helpful, but it explained a lot. So this is a repo cruise. And that's why the reviews are all basically for the MR. I did like the layout of the ship. I'll see what I can dig up about it's sister ships. Thanks. You're a jewel! I would love to travel with some CC friends, c'mon, book it! PC, MAR 22 09, Carnival Pride. I'm waiting for you:D

 

Schplinky - You're right about every cruise line having inconsistencies from ship to ship, or even cruise to cruise. But I do think we should all search for lines which advertise/offer the amenities/activities/ambiance we want in a cruise. It increases the chances of being thrilled with our cruise experience. That being said, I'm branching out and trying new things. I booked the PC cruise on Carnival and am looking forward to a joy filled experience.

 

Thanks everyone!

 

Happy cruising!

 

Denise

[Schplinky]

 

Schplinky - You're right about every cruise line having inconsistencies from ship to ship, or even cruise to cruise. But I do think we should all search for lines which advertise/offer the amenities/activities/ambiance we want in a cruise. It increases the chances of being thrilled with our cruise experience. That being said, I'm branching out and trying new things. I booked the PC cruise on Carnival and am looking forward to a joy filled experience.

 

Thanks everyone!

 

Happy cruising!

 

Denise

 

Well I hope you have fun and approach it with an open mind. The one negative thing about sticking with one line is that you get rather used to the same menus, same activities, etc. While familiarity is comforting sometimes, branching out is a good way of discovering if all the hype is true about various lines.

[CatServants]

Well I hope you have fun and approach it with an open mind. The one negative thing about sticking with one line is that you get rather used to the same menus, same activities, etc. While familiarity is comforting sometimes, branching out is a good way of discovering if all the hype is true about various lines.

 

Schplinky - Thanks for your kind words, I'm sure we'll have a great time! And you're right. An open mind and a willingness to try new things makes life MUCH better. "Variety is the spice of life".... that's what I'm always telling My DH about womens shoes, and handbags, and....;):p

 

Happy cruising!

 

Denise

[Drew B]

I'll be very excited to hear your thoughts upon your return. I've only sailed on the older ships in Carnival's fleet, so I haven't experienced a lot of the amenities their newer ships offer. I'm doing a B2B on Carnival for Thanksgiving on the Valor (Conquest class). Hearing what you think coming from X may be a good barometer of what I will experience...

[ccletzgo]

You are correct as far as no breakfast in your cabin. Actually no dinner or lunch either!

 

there is, Fruit, cereal, yogurt. sandwiches and chips, deserts.

 

Nothing hot.

[fleckle]

Our one and only Carnival cruise was on the Spirit (sister ship to the Pride) a couple of years ago. We had previously avoided Carnival for years, having the same apprehension as you, but we booked the 12-day Carnival cruise to Hawaii because it offered the itinerary we wanted at an unbeatable price. Others assured us that Carnival's longer cruises have a different atmosphere and attract a different clientele from their short Caribbean cruises, especially if you pick your time carefully to avoid school holidays. That turned out to be very true in our case.

 

It did not have the nice little Celebrity touches, but we went with lowered expectations and were quite pleased. There were very few children on our cruise, and the ones we saw were not a problem. I can't recall ever seeing anyone who was drunk or disorderly on the ship. We met some very nice, friendly people.

 

We never saw waiters dancing on the tables in the dining room, but they did dance and sing in the aisles. The ship was attractive, clean and apparently well maintained. The beds were comfortable. We were satisfied with the service, the food, the condition of our cabin, and the entertainment. We are also cabin rats who make good use of our balcony on cruises.

 

In retrospect, the annoyances that come to mind were minor ones: plastic coffee cups at the buffet, needing to bring towels from your cabin to the pool area, and intrusive announcements over the PA system in the public areas. All things considered, we enjoyed the cruise and would take it again, although I admit that if Celebrity offered the same itinerary for the same price, our choice would definitely be Celebrity.

[teedee]

I'm hoping you guys can help us. I know many of you also cruise Carnival so....

 

My FIL called last week raving about a Carnival Panama Canal cruise ad he saw. I looked it up, along with PC cruises on X, HAL, RC, NCL. I have to say, the Carnival PC cruise has an itin we love and the price was MUCH less than the other lines. My FIL is a bargain hunter so Carnival is the only option.

 

Here are my concerns. We're fun people, but we're not necessarily "FUN" people. We're Cabin Rats. I can walk by a casino on any ship, whether it's X or Carnival, but will we enjoy Carnival? How's the atmosphere? The service? The food? My DH LOVES eating a full breakfast in our cabin, am I correct in my belief that only a Continental breakfast is available on Carnival? Do they have mini-fridges in all cabins? (The Carnival web site is not very good & is often confusing for the novice!) Since we're comfy on X, will we be comfy on Carnival?

 

We had planned to expand our X cruising to include Silversea/Regent/et. al., not Carnival, but honestly, the more we look at the itin, the more we like the PC cruise on Carnival. The price can't be beat! Strange to get a PH (which is comparatively TINY) without a butler, but what the heck, we don't have a butler at home!;)

 

Of course the important thing is spending 2 weeks with family. Life is short and we need to cherish those we love while we can. Anyway, unless it's the Poseidon or the Titanic it will be a wonderful cruise. I guess the question is, will it be 'OK wonderful' or 'fantastic wonderful'?:o

 

I know I could, and probably should, ask for this reassurance and info on the Carnival board, but this is home, we're sort of family, and thru X, we share a common reference point. I think, unless you guys tell me otherwise, we'll be booking the Carnival PC cruise this week. What do you think?:confused:

 

Thanks! And Happy Cruising!

 

Denise

 

I have been on several Carnival cruises and enjoyed each and every one of them! Celebrity is my favorite, I think the food and the overall decor is more to my preference, but I would not hesitate to book a Carnival cruise. In fact I'm doing a btb on Glory in September. A lot of the party,party,party rep that Carnival has is no longer true, especially on longer cruises.

 

Terri

[Jade13]

That being said, I'm branching out and trying new things. I booked the PC cruise on Carnival and am looking forward to a joy filled experience.

 

Thanks everyone!

 

Happy cruising!

 

Denise

 

Denise, now I am really curious. What is this great itinerary? I am looking at Princess in the future for PC because they do a full transit in 10 nights. One of the reasons I am hesitant is because they do not have full hot breakfast room service like Celebrity or HAL.

[CatServants]

Our one and only Carnival cruise was on the Spirit (sister ship to the Pride) a couple of years ago. We had previously avoided Carnival for years, having the same apprehension as you, but we booked the 12-day Carnival cruise to Hawaii because it offered the itinerary we wanted at an unbeatable price. Others assured us that Carnival's longer cruises have a different atmosphere and attract a different clientele from their short Caribbean cruises, especially if you pick your time carefully to avoid school holidays. That turned out to be very true in our case.

 

It did not have the nice little Celebrity touches, but we went with lowered expectations and were quite pleased. There were very few children on our cruise, and the ones we saw were not a problem. I can't recall ever seeing anyone who was drunk or disorderly on the ship. We met some very nice, friendly people.

 

We never saw waiters dancing on the tables in the dining room, but they did dance and sing in the aisles. The ship was attractive, clean and apparently well maintained. The beds were comfortable. We were satisfied with the service, the food, the condition of our cabin, and the entertainment. We are also cabin rats who make good use of our balcony on cruises.

 

In retrospect, the annoyances that come to mind were minor ones: plastic coffee cups at the buffet, needing to bring towels from your cabin to the pool area, and intrusive announcements over the PA system in the public areas. All things considered, we enjoyed the cruise and would take it again, although I admit that if Celebrity offered the same itinerary for the same price, our choice would definitely be Celebrity.

 

Thanks fleckle. You read our concerns perfectly. I appreciate your insight and candor. We realize we'll be getting what we pay for. We'll be paying far less than we would be on X for a 2 wk PC cruise, and we can live (very happily) without a butler or eggs benedict on our balcony. I've been called an X cheerleader before because I love the X product. But I'm sure Carnival has much to offer that X doesn't. I guess I'll learn what those things are and make 'informed' decisions about future cruises. Thanks again!

 

Happy cruising!

 

Denise

[CatServants]

I have been on several Carnival cruises and enjoyed each and every one of them! Celebrity is my favorite, I think the food and the overall decor is more to my preference, but I would not hesitate to book a Carnival cruise. In fact I'm doing a btb on Glory in September. A lot of the party,party,party rep that Carnival has is no longer true, especially on longer cruises.

 

Terri

 

 

Terri - I've heard and read that the "party, party, party" rep is no longer the case. I guess it depends on the particular cruise and time of year. I was concerned about the decor (although I'm not a fan of the burnt orange of the Summit either). But I was pleased to read that the Pride is "dark", has "lots of wood and muted colors" (they meant those statements as complaints), and has a less "neon" color scheme. Sounds great to me!

 

Happy cruising!

 

Denise

[63galaxie]

I'll be very excited to hear your thoughts upon your return. I've only sailed on the older ships in Carnival's fleet, so I haven't experienced a lot of the amenities their newer ships offer. I'm doing a B2B on Carnival for Thanksgiving on the Valor (Conquest class). Hearing what you think coming from X may be a good barometer of what I will experience...

I'll be excited to hear your thoughts too. Two weeks on a balcony on the ocean sounds like a dream come true to me!!!! And, I'm betting that a newer Carnival ship will be much better than the Destiny.

Please let us know!!

Enjoy your cruise!!!

Karen:p

[CatServants]

Denise, now I am really curious. What is this great itinerary? I am looking at Princess in the future for PC because they do a full transit in 10 nights. One of the reasons I am hesitant is because they do not have full hot breakfast room service like Celebrity or HAL.

 

Hi, Jade! Here's the link to the itin:

 

http://www.carnival.com/Itinerary.aspx?embkCode=LAX&itinCode=PC3&durDays=14&shipCode=PR&subRegionCode=T&rateCode=BCA&sailingID=47937&sailDate=3/22/2009

 

The bad news? No hot breakfast in suite. Continental breakfast only. I get the impression from your post that you prefer a shorter (10 nite) cruise for the transit. Am I wrong? What we love about this itin is the number of days at sea (we love them), and that the Carib stops are places we haven't yet visited. I can't compare Carnival and Princess. You know what I know about Carnival and I know even less about Princess.

 

Happy cruising!

 

Denise

[CatServants]

I'll be excited to hear your thoughts too. Two weeks on a balcony on the ocean sounds like a dream come true to me!!!! And, I'm betting that a newer Carnival ship will be much better than the Destiny.

Please let us know!!

Enjoy your cruise!!!

Karen:p

 

 

Karen - I know! Sounds like a terrible hardship with lots of suffering, huh?;)

 

By the way. I just noticed that you're on the Millie this Mar 31st. We'll be boarding the Millie on Apr 6th. I appreciate the loan of your yacht for a week! Be sure to leave everything ship shape for us.:D

 

Happy cruising!

 

Denise

 

PS - I'll need details when you get back!!!