Carnival or RCCL

[oneteeny]

Hi Everyone,

I need some opinions. We are trying to decide on which line to take to Mexico and really don't know which way to lean. We have cruised on Carnival in the past and we like their ships. However, we have always wanted to try Royal.

Does anyone have any thoughts on which ship would be better and why? We are deciding between the Carnival Pride and Royals Visions of the Seas. Any thoughts?

Thanks!
Shelley

 

[Cruizer]

I've cruised with both lines three times and have two future cruises booked with both lines. I was on the Pride to the Mexican Riviera in May 2004 and had a great time. I have toured the Vision of the seas twice.

In my opinion, your experience on one will be similar to your experience on the other. The ships are about the same size. The Pride is a little bigger and carries about the same number of passengers, so the Pride has a better space ratio. The Pride is also about four years younger.

Both leave on Sunday and go to the same ports, just in a different order. In that regard, I like the Vision's itinerary better (one day at sea, Cabo, Mazatlan & PV, ending with two days at sea - the Pride is the exact opposite).

On board the atmosphere and service are very similar (in my opinion - others on this board will disagree). For the ultimate balcony experience, get one of the aft corner suites with a wrap-around balcony on the Carnival Pride.

But when all is said and done, in my opinion, the difference between the two ships is the Pride has a water slide and the Vision has a rock climbing wall.

 

[amylynn24]

I have been on both. Honestly, I really dont see a huge difference between the two. If i had to choose my favorite, I couldnt pick. Both are awesome.

If I were you, I would try Royal for the experience and decided which one you like better. If you go with Royal, you def. wont be disappointed.


Hope that helps

 

[Capt'n Yarrr]

We have done both. It seem that on Desinty, they were trying to sell you everything any where on the boat. I like the rccl, eos-vos-enc.os-vos-ros. better

 

[flipflops78]

I have been on both and I think Royal smacks Carnival in the face boat wise, but either way you end up at the same ports.

 

[Rubysky]

I've never been on a Carnival ship. However, my sister's first cruise was with them going to the Mex. Rivera. She did enjoy it, but had nothing to compare it with. After several years of her claiming I was a snob they went on RCI for the same itinerary. They called me several times throughout the cruise thanking me for getting them to change. This past year they did a Med. cruise on the Voyager with friends and are planning an Alaskan Cruise/Tour. They have no plans to ever go back to Carnival.

 

[jetblue]

I must admit that I do enjoy Carnival, especially there Spirit Class ships (Spirit, Pride, Legend, Miracle). To me the activities are extremely similar on both ships, the major difference is the size of the ship. Between the Vision and the Pride I would go hands down with the Pride. The Carnival Pride is a much newer ship and has some great balcony staterooms available for a cheaper price than the Vision of the Seas. But as Cruizer once said, it all really comes down to the Pride with a waterslide or the Vision with a rock climbing wall.

 

[spoheating]

Have never traveled with Carnival. My TA assures me the ships are similar until you try to go to sleep. Apparently in her estimation the insulation (level of quiet enjoyed in your room) is better on Royal's ships. That alone was enough to decide this for me. I have heard about sound transferrence from others as well. We had an infant next door on RCCL's Explorer of the Seas our first cruise who cried A LOT and we never heard it at all unless we were passing in the hallway by their door. It was blessedly quiet in our room.

 

[seabreeze2012]

RCCL all the way, okay okay i may have never been on a carnival cruise, but from chatting cruise to people and looking at response on this forum i'd give something new ago. Also i think ending with two days at sea is sooooo much better than starting with that, so you can have a proper lounge and chill out at the end of your holiday refreshed and ready to hit the grime stone again. Go crazy go with RCCL. Enjoy x

 

[jetblue]

Well obviously by posting this on the RCI board you are going to get more people in favor of RCI. Just remember that Carnival's product is also very nice and usually at a cheaper price.

 

[BruinSteve]

Okay...since this thread is still here, I guess I'll pipe in...
I was going to avoid it...Didn't want to risk insulting the Carnival fans (They always seem to take such criticism as snobbery)...But...here goes...

I actually have cruised Carnival three times...two of them were on the Mexican Riviera route...on the old Jubilee, then the Elation...I was very recently on the Carnival Liberty to Panama...

That last cruise cured me of Carnival for once and for all...
You see...I took it directly back-to-back with a Royal Caribbean cruise...
Doing that, you really notice the considerable deficiencies of Carnival...

It is just, flat out, an inferior cruise line, IMHO, of course...

The level of service is not even close...
The entertainment (which I once considered one of Carnival's strengths) was clearly subpar...
The ship's layout was poor, the overcrowding was incredible.

Now, I won't say that NOBODY should go on Carnival...
They do have some things that they do well, or at least passable...
I thought the food on Carnival has improved over the years and is now at least good (though Dining Room Service is awful)...
The cabins are ample and well laid out--though the Day-Glo Orange Vinyl decor requires you to wear sunglasses while in your cabin...
The purser's desk personnel are helpful and polite...

Carnival's prices tend to be lower (but not always, especially on the Mexican routes)...but beware--you get what you pay for...

If for you, price is more important than comfort or service...and if you're expectations are not incredibly high--you just want to go and enjoy yourself--Carnival may be for you...It is entirely possible to have the time of your life on a Carnival cruise--especially if you have little to compare it to...and if you don't mind long lines for everything...and like to show up an hour before showtime to stake out seats for the show...

As to RCCL's Vision, it's going to be replaced next year by the incredible Mariner of the Seas, after which there will be "no contest"...The newer, larger RCCL ships are incredible and the amenities are incredible...and they blow anything Carnival has right out of the water...But, for now, the Vision is an older (actually not that old--1998) smaller ship...the inside and window cabins are a little on the small side...but the balconies are quite ample at 195 sf with a 41 sf balcony...

We are going on the Vision next month...and there was never any question...We would not any longer even consider Carnival...