why choose carnival

[Runner Girl]

I've sailed RCCI, Princess and Carnival. They aren't vastly different. Other passengers, I think that's just a roll of the dice. You can get on board with a group of nasty grumpy passengers with any line. I have found that the Caribbean attracts younger more fun loving and easier to please passengers than other itineraries. I like to hop cruise lines because I love to cruise, but I want my vacations to be different. I did 2 Princess cruises in a row and the second seemed too "same old, same old" to me. I choose based on price, itinerary, ship and timing of the trip. Carnival isn't always the cheapest. I've gotten some really good deals on RCCI (An 11 day Hawaii cruise for $888 with a $99 air add on from Cleveland-how do you beat that?) and Princess.

[vermonter16]

If you really wanted to know why Carnival? Then just listen instead of try and make those who like Carnival "wrong". I will reiterate that like Carnival because of the food....I love the RCI ships, the voyager class is beautiful but...not the food isn't inedible but it wasn't that great. I had steak (I am not a fish eater) and on RCI I didn't finish my steak any of the nights I had it. I don't remember any meal being "great". It wasn't bad...just not great. On Carnival (I happen to love prime rib) their prime rib was very good (not spectacular...I'll save that for a few choice restaurants in DC) and their strip was good too....plus you could have it cooked the way you wanted....on RCI they never got it right... The desserts on Carnival were something to talk about.... On RCI the breakfast food was always a bit cool in the buffet....on Carnival it was generally hot with the exception of the pancakes (what can you do).... Lunches were better with lots more variety.... RCI did have a better salad bar though especially at dinner time in the buffet. But, DH and I will continue to sail Carnival and mainly because of the food....there are other reasons as well... I wish that RCI would get their act together because I really do love their ships.... So please don't get irritated because you happen to disagree...you are the one who posted the question and wanted to know why.... I guess if you really didn't want to know....then you shouldn't have asked. And why do you feel such a need to defend RCI? Every one likes different things about different lines and that's ok...that's why we have them :)

[Bonnie&Rob]

We pick our cruise by the iternerary for the most part. We've been on 2 Carnival cruises and had a blast, great service and good food.

 

Last year we tried RCCL and had an equally good time. Was disapointed in the food, but that could be because we had heard how much better it was going to be. It wasn't bad food, just not great.

 

The big difference for us is in the ports. I look for the number of days spent at sea and how spread out the sea days are, and then decide if the ports offered are interesting to us.

 

I think most of the lines have some good and some not so good to offer, and the experience will be what you make of it.

[Lauri32]

My husband prefers the food on Carnival to RCCL, but I enjoyed the food on both. I will give the edge to Carnival's pizza though. Not that RCCL's pizza is bad. I just think Carnival's is better. Service has been comparable as well. We haven't sailed HAL, Celebrity, or Princess, but wouldn't rule them out for future cruises if the price and itin were right.

 

We sailed the Navigator in June 03 and had the best cruise ever. We sailed the Glory in Oct 03. I was amazed at the difference in the decor. Much nicer than the older Carnival Fantasy class ships. Much classier and less Vegas style. We sailed the Mariner Sep 04 and weren't as impressed as we were with the Navigator. Shows weren't as good, food wasn't as good, there seemed to be less "life" to the Mariner compared to the Navigator.

 

Even though you mentioned that you don't care about the other passengers, you have to admit it does make a difference in your vacation. Imagine if you were at a sports event and your team was winning, but you were the only person cheering. Everyone else seemed bored and looked as if they'd rather be somewhere else. It would take a lot of the fun out of it. Carnival ships are livelier. RCCL ships seem to "shut down" pretty early. On the Glory the piano bar was always packed with people laughing and singing. On the Mariner I never saw more than 7 people at the piano bar and no one was ever singing.

[rchauv]

"So please don't get irritated because you happen to disagree...you are the one who posted the question and wanted to know why.... I guess if you really didn't want to know....then you shouldn't have asked. And why do you feel such a need to defend RCI?"

[gsb]

ntnt

[katondeck]

Topless deck, sushi, entertainment and until recently a no smoking ship. If they still had the no smoking ship I would just be following her around where ever she was going - oh well. When my child is 4 I will pay to cruise Disney, when she is older I will pay for RCCI and the rock wall etc. ( I do not know how old you need to be to climb the wall).

 

Why eventually every other cruise line? To see for myself what is different. I have only cruised on Carnival and Princess. A lot of reveiws said the food on Princess was better, I did not find that to be the case. In fact the decor was different and the shows on Princess were not as lavish, not worse just not as much of the Vegas style. I do not cruise for the decor and different shows are fine. So at this point if a Carnival and Princess ship were going to the same ports, I would go with the least expensive but pay a little more for personal choice dining. Some people would pay to not have personal choice -they hated it.

 

Next cruise is on NCL - just to try something new and judge for myself.

[PINEVIEW01]

24 hour ice cream, pizza & the other stuff. My husband is still upset that I booked with a cruise line without 24 hour soft serve. Now, I won't know where to find him:)

[Newcastle]

Look at the share holder earnings report before making such a stupid statement.

 

I guess I need to correct some things. First of all the pizza is not frozen. They make it fresh. Second they have deli sandwiches not "finger sandwiches." I know better, I cruise rccl all the time.

 

And as for people attacking rccl, not to be mean but they didn't have two ships fail their sanitation test in the last year.

I did not ask people to attack other cruise lines. I just want to know what carnival has.

 

 

Carnival may have had two ship fail the sanitation test last year but RCI has had five sexual assault's this year so far, four of them were crew on pax or crew on crew, given the option I think I would take the dirty ship.

[smeesq]

Perhaps "inedible" was an inaccurate term for me to use to descibe the food on the Radiance. I'm sure it COULD have been eaten safely, but not without some degree of distaste. What I recall are "steaks" that looked (and tasted) more like a thin(no more than 1/2" thick) piece of gray leather(even tho ordered rare) than anything that had been cooked to order. A hot seafood pasta that was barely warm, and the "shrimp" were those tiny ones that look more like pink bugs than crustasceans. Worst of all were the "lobster tails" which obviously were langostinos, 3 of them each about 1 1/2 inches long, swimming in melted butter, and so mushy and tasteless they were indeed inedible. Awful desserts, all of them based on various gelatin bases and some synthetic version of Cool-whip, colored and flavored in various artificial combinations.

 

Here's the food I remember from my Christmas cruise last year on the Carnival Conquest: filet mignon, at least 1/3 of a pound, perfectly cooked medium rare, and served with a fabulous REAL bearnaise sauce, so tender it could be cut with a fork. Fresh bright green tender crisp steamed broccoli, beautiful big real african rock lobster tails still in the shell, which the dining staff deftly removes at tableside if you ask. Served with hot butter and fresh lemon. Several interesting and flavorful ethnic meals, which I love, esp. the Indian food. And desserts...there was one I still dream of and I hope they include on my cruise on the Miracle in Jan...it is a warm dessert in a little ramekin which holds a thin layer of semi-sweet chocolate sauce on the bottom, a vanilla custard on top of that, with 4 cubes of angel food cake on top of that, that is toasted, dusted with powdered sugar, and then the serving staff punches a hole in the top and pours creme anglaise into it. Not to mention a hidden little seafood specialty buffet on the top floor of the Lido where you could get a few deep fried oysters served on a lovely oriental tray at lunch, or sushi served before dinner at one of the bars near the casino, GREAT fresh hot pizza and calzones out by the hot tubs and perfect for a snack if you are at the late seating for dinner, and I always have at least one shrimp salad sandwich and cold beer from room service to eat on my balcony if I'm hungry after returning from a shore excursion.

 

Thats my comparison of RCCL and CCL food, and thats why we consistently take our big family group on Carnival.

[glrounds]

Look at the share holder earnings report before making such a stupid statement.

RCL----------------------------------------CCL

 

9.55 Billion - - - - - - - -Market Cap - - - - - - - - - - - 43.66 Billion

 

.52 (1.09%) - - - - - - - - Dividend Yield - - - - - - - - -.60 (1.18%)

 

Hmmmmmmmmm . . . . . . .:D

 

Eric,

Several threads ago I was incorrectly accused by you of "attacking" you because I disagreed with some of your statements. Does calling dsclark stupid qualify as an "attack" ? ? :confused: (especially when you're dead wrong ? ? ) :D

[halos]

RCCL, I have heard so much about..are supposed to be the ultimate cruise line in the world when it comes to sophistication.

 

 

RCCL is supposed to be better than Carnival...I love the names of the RCCL ships...I think that they are very pretty....and one of a kind.Plus I have also learned that RCCL is more strict in enforcing their rules of controlling all of the wild and crazy kids running all over the entire ship. On Carnival...they did not care, that the kids were causing all kinds of problems onboard...Camp Carnival was there to babysit the little buggers...but still the kids were very hyperactive and bored.

 

 

 

WHOA!!! :eek:

Honey, if you think that RC is the ultimate in cruise sophistication, you need to do more homework. :rolleyes: Carnival and Royal Caribbean are mainstream lines with different amenities to attract different people but both are on the same exact level as far as 'sophistication' goes.....and I'd hardly call either sophisticated if you compared them to other cruise lines.

 

As far as control over kids running rampant...I'm not so sure RC has a better handle on it than any other line.

AND lastly...to base an opinion on a cruise line by the names of the ships is a bit absurd, don't you think?

[sotadragon]

I have to agree with halos. Tudor Rose, if you want sophistication, try the QE2, not a mainstream line! :rolleyes:

[dsclark]

QUOTE=Ericknow32]Look at the share holder earnings report before making such a stupid statement.

 

 

It's not a stupid statement at all. CCL makes more $ per passenger than RCCl. I DO look at shareholder statements as I own stock in BOTH! Last month, CCL announced that they were making so much dough that they were increasing their dividend and buying back stock.

Do YOU own any stock? Do tell why RCCL can't offer the same performance and dividend payout as CCL? Also, why can't they reduce their debt load like CCL? I look forward to the jump my RCCL stock will sustain when CCL buys them out........

[Ericknow32]

I made this inquiry to find out about Carnival not to hear attacks on Royal Caribbean. I have sailed Royal Caribbean enough to know what is good about Royal Caribbean and what needs to improve. I don't really don't care to hear attacks on Royal Caribbean. I just want to know why you feel carnival is so special.

 

And the reason I defend Royal Caribbean is because some of the things being said are not true. (Except I have to agree, the food quality is slipping and I hope it improves)

By the way Rccl will never be bought by Carnival and it was a stupid comment to claim they would. Rccl stock is booming they are in no financial strain. Maybe the reason carnival makes so much is because they don't use the money for cleaning supplies. After all two of their ships did fail sanitation inspections.

[glrounds]

[i][font=Comic Sans MS][size=3][color=navy][u][b]NOTE TO ERIC:[/b][/u][/color][/size][/font][/i]

[i][font=Comic Sans MS][size=3][color=#000080]When you find you've dug yourself into a hole:[/color][/size][/font][/i]

[i][font=Comic Sans MS][size=3][color=#000080][b]Rule #1: STOP DIGGING [/b](and dump your obsession with the word "stupid" it only degrades your arguement)[/color][/size][/font][/i]

[i][font=Comic Sans MS][size=3][color=#000080]Frequently the financial health of a company has little to do with a leveraged buyout. If the majority of RCI's stockholders think it would be better to be in the Carnival camp, if and when a price is offered, its a done deal. [/color][/size][/font][/i]

[i][font=Comic Sans MS][size=3][color=#000080]I can't see why Carnival would want RCI anyway as they have a virtually [u]identical[/u] passenger [b]demographic[/b] (they would, in effect, be competing against themselves). :( [/color][/size][/font][/i]

[i][font=Comic Sans MS][size=3][color=#000080]Plus with Carnival controlling 47% of the market share now, I think the SEC would look upon such a buyout as "acting in restraint of free trade" and put a thumbs down on it. :) Thank goodness. [/color][/size][/font][/i]

[i][font=Comic Sans MS][size=3][color=#000080]Getting big and buying up other cruiselines so they can operate more efficiently with their purchasing and fixed costs is [b]GOOD[/b]. :) Getting so big that they can [u]control the pricing[/u] in the market place is [b]BAD[/b]. :( [/color][/size][/font][/i]

[i][font=Comic Sans MS][size=3][color=#000080]Would love to hear the answer to [b]dsclark[/b]'s question. Do you have shares in either or [b]both [/b]companies? :D [/color][/size][/font][/i]

[GoinCruisin]

[quote name='Ericknow32'][b][color=blue]I made this inquiry to find out about Carnival not to hear attacks on Royal Caribbean. I have sailed Royal Caribbean enough to know what is good about Royal Caribbean and what needs to improve. I don't really don't care to hear attacks on Royal Caribbean. I just want to know why you feel carnival is so special.[/color][/b]

[b][color=blue]And the reason I defend Royal Caribbean is because some of the things being said are not true. (Except I have to agree, the food quality is slipping a[/color][/b][b][color=blue]nd I hope it improves)[/color][/b]
[color=red][color=#ff0000][color=red][/color][/color][/color]
[color=red][color=#ff0000][color=red][b]By the way Rccl will never be bought by Carnival and it was a stupid comment to claim they would. Rccl stock is booming they are in no financial strain. [color=#ff0000]Maybe the reason carnival makes so much is because they don't use the money for cleaning supplies. After all two of their ships did fail sanitation inspections.[/b]
[b][/color][/b][/color][/color][/color][/QUOTE]
Eric, you have come over here to the CARNIVAL board and attacked Carnival on many levels, and in your OPENING post, you said you wanted to keep an open mind and see what Carnival HAS, yet everytime someone offers THEIR opinion, you knock it down. Don't say you are going to be open to others OPINIONS and then tell them they are wrong... All cruiselines have good and bad, RCCL and Carnival INCLUDED. If you didn't want others opinions, WHY oh WHY would you come over here and ASK for it? :confused:

[Ericknow32]

[quote name='GoinCruisin']Eric, you have come over here to the CARNIVAL board and attacked Carnival on many levels, and in your OPENING post, you said you wanted to keep an open mind and see what Carnival HAS, yet everytime someone offers THEIR opinion, you knock it down. Don't say you are going to be open to others OPINIONS and then tell them they are wrong... All cruiselines have good and bad, RCCL and Carnival INCLUDED. If you didn't want others opinions, WHY oh WHY would you come over here and ASK for it? :confused:[/QUOTE][b][color=blue]I really do want to keep an open mind. I would like to know what Carnival offers. I just get really offended when people criticize something that I care about immensely. I did not ask for what people think of Royal Caribbean. [/color][/b]

[b][color=blue]The worst thing that I said was that a comment was stupid, and it was. Even [color=red]glrounds[/color] said that carnival wouldn't buy out Royal Caribbean. Oh and I said that two ships failed sanitation inspection ([color=red]this may have been uncalled for, sorry[/color]). [/color][/b]

[b][color=blue]Please read what I have said. The only things that I have knocked down were attacks on Royal Caribbean. I only stated one comment about carnival and as I said earlier it was uncalled for and I'm sorry.[/color][/b]

[b][color=#0000ff][b][color=#0000ff][color=red]Once again please, without mentioning other cruise lines, what does Carnival have that I might enjoy[/color][/b]
[/color][/color][/b]

[GoinCruisin]

[b][color=blue][i]I really do want to keep an open mind. [/i][/color][/b]
[b][color=blue][/color][/b]
[color=black]Yet, you really haven't[/color]
[b][color=blue][/color][/b]
[b][color=blue][i]I would like to know what Carnival offers. [/i][/color][/b]
[b][color=blue][/color][/b]
[color=black]Others have tried to tell you, yet you seem to "not believe" them[/color]

[b][color=blue][i]I just get really offended when people criticize something that I care about immensely. [/i][/color][/b]
[b][i][color=#0000ff][/color][/i][/b]
[color=black]As do WE, you came on the CARNIVAL board and criticized CARNIVAL... something WE care about![/color]


[b][color=blue][i]The worst thing that I said was that a comment was stupid, and it was. Even [color=red]glrounds[/color] said that carnival wouldn't buy out Royal Caribbean. Oh and I said that two ships failed sanitation inspection (this may have been uncalled for, sorry).[/i][/color][/b]
[b][color=blue][/color][/b]
[color=black]Go back through your posts... I don't think you have been terribly kind in your words about Carnival. ALL cruiselines have ships that fail inspection... FACT. And yes, all cruiselines have sexual assault incidents as well...[/color] And yes, calling something someone says "STUPID" is not going to be taken too kindly.

[b][color=blue][i]Please read what I have said. The only things that I have knocked down were attacks on Royal Caribbean. I only stated one comment about carnival and as I said earlier it was uncalled for and I'm sorry.[/i][/color][/b]

Just to refresh your memory...

[i]Well I guess robots run other cruise lines. They don't make huge horrible mistakes. [/i]

[i]WHAT HAS CARNIVAL CONTRIBUTED TO THE INDUSTRY LATELY?

REGARDING CARNIVALS SLEAZY BUSINESS DEALINGS, CARNIVAL HAD NO BUSINESS INTRUDING IN THE DEAL THAT ROYAL CARIBBEAN HAD MADE WITH PRINCESS.
[/i]
[i] I do have some hostility towards Carnival. There are manly three reasons. Reason one, I think their ships are ugly (my opinion). Reason two they stole the deal with Princess out from under Royal Caribbean. The final reason and the most significant is that I don't know how much they care about their customers. Two of their ships have recently failed sanitary checks. (One that I sailed on) and when the Noro virus was going around it was primarily on their cruise line. Coincidence I think not. So yeah I don't really like them.[/i]
[i]yeah carnival sure does suck

[/i][b][color=#0000ff][b][color=#0000ff][color=red][/color][/color][/b][/color][/b]
[b][b][color=black]Many have stated WHAT they enjoy about Carnival... take it at that. MANY enjoy one line over another, does NOT make them wrong just as it doesn't make you wrong![/color][/b][/b]

[Ericknow32]

[quote name='GoinCruisin'][b][color=blue][i]I really do want to keep an open mind. [/i][/color][/b]

[color=black]Yet, you really haven't[/color]

[b][color=blue][i]I would like to know what Carnival offers. [/i][/color][/b]

[color=black]Others have tried to tell you, yet you seem to "not believe" them[/color]

[b][color=blue][i]I just get really offended when people criticize something that I care about immensely. [/i][/color][/b]

[color=black]As do WE, you came on the CARNIVAL board and criticized CARNIVAL... something WE care about![/color]


[b][color=blue][i]The worst thing that I said was that a comment was stupid, and it was. Even [color=red]glrounds[/color] said that carnival wouldn't buy out Royal Caribbean. Oh and I said that two ships failed sanitation inspection (this may have been uncalled for, sorry).[/i][/color][/b]

[color=black]Go back through your posts... I don't think you have been terribly kind in your words about Carnival. ALL cruiselines have ships that fail inspection... FACT. And yes, all cruiselines have sexual assault incidents as well...[/color] And yes, calling something someone says "STUPID" is not going to be taken too kindly.

[b][color=blue][i]Please read what I have said. The only things that I have knocked down were attacks on Royal Caribbean. I only stated one comment about carnival and as I said earlier it was uncalled for and I'm sorry.[/i][/color][/b]

Just to refresh your memory...

[i]Well I guess robots run other cruise lines. They don't make huge horrible mistakes. [/i]

[i]WHAT HAS CARNIVAL CONTRIBUTED TO THE INDUSTRY LATELY?[/i]

[i]REGARDING CARNIVALS SLEAZY BUSINESS DEALINGS, CARNIVAL HAD NO BUSINESS INTRUDING IN THE DEAL THAT ROYAL CARIBBEAN HAD MADE WITH PRINCESS.[/i]

[i]I do have some hostility towards Carnival. There are manly three reasons. Reason one, I think their ships are ugly (my opinion). Reason two they stole the deal with Princess out from under Royal Caribbean. The final reason and the most significant is that I don't know how much they care about their customers. Two of their ships have recently failed sanitary checks. (One that I sailed on) and when the Noro virus was going around it was primarily on their cruise line. Coincidence I think not. So yeah I don't really like them.[/i]
[i]yeah carnival sure does suck [/i]

[b][color=#0000ff][b][color=#0000ff][color=red][/color][/color][/b][/color][/b]
[b][b][color=black]Many have stated WHAT they enjoy about Carnival... take it at that. MANY enjoy one line over another, does NOT make them wrong just as it doesn't make you wrong![/color][/b][/b][/QUOTE][b][color=blue]Please don't get me wrong I do not want an argument. In previous threads I have disputed with people over Royal Caribbean vs. Carnival. I did not think much of Carnival. But I respect the word of other people. there is a reason that Carnival is the number one cruise line in the world. I wanted to know what they might have that I have overlooked. So I opened this thread to find out why other people choose to cruise Carnival. I am trying to enlighten myself, so my previous statements in other threads are irrelevant. I do listen to all the people that I have disputed with and I mostly respect their opinion. On the other hand when I see a mistruth about something I will call it the way I see it.[/color][/b]

[GoinCruisin]

I understand and as long as you do indeed keep an open mind and not refer to others comments as stupid, everything will be all good...keep in mind, what YOU might think is not true, may be reality for someone else... if someone has the opinion that everyone on RC are snobs, or someone thinks everyone on Carnival are a bunch of drunks... those are OPINIONS, doesn't make it true, but everyone is entitled to their opinion. I LOVE Carnival but have nothing to compare it to, so I make no judgements on other lines... I don't believe everything I read and I am sure the other lines are fine, I just prefer to cruise Carnival because it is something I know and love...

[rchauv]

[quote name='Ericknow32'][b][color=blue]Please don't get me wrong I do not want an argument. In previous threads I have disputed with people over Royal Caribbean vs. Carnival. I did not think much of Carnival. But I respect the word of other people. there is a reason that Carnival is the number one cruise line in the world. I wanted to know what they might have that I have overlooked. So I opened this thread to find out why other people choose to cruise Carnival. I am trying to enlighten myself, so my previous statements in other threads are irrelevant. I do listen to all the people that I have disputed with and I mostly respect their opinion. On the other hand when I see a mistruth about something I will call it the way I see it.[/color][/b][/QUOTE]People are less likely to find you on one of their ships compared to RCL. ;)

[Ericknow32]

[quote name='rchauv']People are less likely to find you on one of their ships compared to RCL. ;)[/QUOTE]
[color=blue][b]See what happens when i try to be nice.[/b][/color]
[b][color=blue][/color][/b]
[b][color=blue]P.S. I have sailed on the Fantasy[/color][/b]
[b][color=blue][/color][/b]

[GoinCruisin]

Eric, before making a judgement on Carnival based on one very old ship... try one of the newer ships, you might just like it!!!

Good luck!

[Ericknow32]

[quote name='GoinCruisin']Eric, before making a judgement on Carnival based on one very old ship... try one of the newer ships, you might just like it!!!

Good luck![/QUOTE][b][color=blue]Thank you that's all I wanted to hear. I appreciate your comment. I can’t say that I will be able to do this really soon since I'm booked up for the next year. But after that I will definitely look into it. Do you have any suggestions on which ship?[/color][/b]
[b][color=#0000ff][/color][/b]
[b][color=#0000ff]Are you sure you want this jerk to be on a Carnival cruise, you might accualy run into me HA, HA.[/color][/b]