Carnival vs RCL

H

Hal

Guest
We have cruised three of the last 5 Christmas Holidays with Royal Caribbean. Although we have tried NCL (freesyle is way to informal for us) and HAL (too staid and old of a clientele), we have stayed with RCL. However, we have received a fair amount of mailings and e-mails from Carnival (perhaps because of having sailed on HAL) and are interested in an unbiased reaction to Carnival. We are in our late 40s with two sons (college senior - 20, and high school senior - 17) and are not looking for the senior citizen cruise (at least not yet) nor a college fraternity party. Unfortunately, the Carnival reputation from the "fun ship ads", and even our TA, is that Carnival is a bit too much fraternity like. However, what is it really like? We enjoy the relaxed days and the formal nights, even our two boys. Would would greatly appreciate some true words on Carnival so that we might expand our base of ships this Christmas, when we have to cruise because of school holidays, including my wife's teaching schedule.

Thanks,
Hal
Enchantment of the Seas - Christmas 2005
Voyager of the Seas - Christmas 2004
Zaandam - Christmas 2003
Norwegian Sea - Christmas 2002
Monarch of the Seas - Christmas 2001
Color Festivale - Summer 2001
 
M

Mbandy

Guest
Hi Hal,

Having been on about an equal number of Carnival and Royal Caribbean I can say that you probably won't be disappointed no matter which you choose.

As far as the "party boat" athmosphere, the shorter cruises on Carnival can get to be a little over the top at times but I have heard the newer, larger ships on a 7 night voyage are very nice.

While I have never had "bad" service on a ship I have found Royal Caribbean's service to be a little more consistant and very good every time.

I have found the food to be about the same on either. Never had a bad meal on a ship. Chops and Portifino on RCCL are great. We also really enjoyed the kosher deli on Carnival.

For a family of your (and my) age group the Voyager Class ships are hard to beat.
 
L

LHP

Guest
As you can see, Carnival is all we have cruised.

While we love Carnival, I would be apprehensive to recomment Carnival if RCCL is making you happy only because it is natural to constantly compare and I would hate for that to infringe on your cruise.

I do agree with the earlier poster that if you do try a Carnival cruise that you pick a larger ship and do a 7 day. The shorter cruises (especially the 3/4 day cruises) are a younger, more party crowd. I also believe that (from what I have seen) RCCL ships offer a solarium where you can escape from the children on board. None of the Carnival ships we have been on offer that feature except for a hot tub in the spa area. And sadly that is sometimes invaded by ignorant parents and their kids.

If you do try Carnival, a perfect cruise to try would be the Alaskan cruise on the Spirit. We did that one last July and it had a good balance of activities and not to many children.

I don't know what RCCL does for the 17-20 age group. That one is kinda tough on Carnival because they are to old for "Camp Carnival", but to young for the adult activities that include gambling and drinking. Carnival does not have the mini-golf, rock wall climbing or inline skating that your sons could enjoy.

As for the food and service, I have had many friends who have done both and find them pretty balanced on those areas.

Hope these comments help. I still love my Carnival, but I don't want to mislead someone for whom they may not be a good fit.
 
B

Babushka

Guest
I have sailed on both Carnival and RCCL and enjoyed both lines very much. Of course there are things about each line that I preferred over the other...it would be great to combine those preferences and have one perfect ship!! We've been on the Voyager of the Seas by RCCL and it is a great ship and there is soo much to do! Your sons would probably enjoy the rock climbing wall and the other activities on the ship. We've also sailed Carnival's Glory, which was new when we sailed on her, and very much enjoyed that ship also. I would say that the food is equal. I think your family would enjoy either line. In my opinion only a slight edge goes out to the Voyager class ships ONLY because there is a little more to do for your sons. This has nothing to do with the activities, service or food which I found to be fairly equal. And if you're concerned about Carnival having too much of a "party atmosphere" I wouldn't be concerned. I didn't find the class of people to be any different on RCCL and we cruised during Spring Break on both cruises...a time when it's supposedly really wild and did not find that to be the case at all. Perhaps you should give Carnival a try...I'd go for a newer, larger ship. This way you can judge the different lines for yourselves. Good luck!
 
G

gram

Guest
:wave :wave :wave


I have been on three Carnival ship and never found it to be all young people having wild parties. In fact, I find all age brackets representative from the very young 2 years to 80 years. Carnival is a fine cruise line. At first I was hesitant about going on Carnival because of what was being said. I took a chance and here I am have taken three Carnival cruises.

LIke it was said before stay away from the 3 & 4 day cruises as they tend to be the young party goers.
 
V

viet630

Guest
Gram
I see you were just on the Legend. How did you like it? Was the food good? How was embarkation and debarkation? How early could you board? Viet
 
H

Hal

Guest
Thanks for the input. It sounds like the lines are far more similar than their respective reputations would suggest. I wonder if Carnival is doing itself a disservice by not aggressively going after TA's regarding their image from apparently days long gone. I, like some of the other cruisers, initially did not even consider Carnival because of that image. Looks like we can begin to look at another cruise line for what sounds like a great experience as well.

Thanks,
Hal
Enchantment of the Seas - Christmas 2005
Voyager of the Seas - Christmas 2004
Zaandam - Christmas 2003
Norwegian Sea - Christmas 2002
Monarch of the Seas - Christmas 2001
Color Festivale - Summer 2001
 
L

LHP

Guest
Although all we have cruised is Carnival, I am seriously looking at RCCL or Princess strickly because I like the Adult only Solarium on RCCL and the fact that they restrict the number of kids on Princess.

I don't think it is the "cruiseline" as much as the "quality of passenger" that would make me change from Carnival. I am just getting to old for to many Bubbas that don't know how to act and parents that don't know how to parent.
 
V

viet630

Guest
LHP
I am affraid you will find the brat's running wild at all times of the night. And the parent's that are NOT parent's on all the line's. We were on the Celebrity Century last and it was full of teenagers running wild at all time's of the night.This is supposed to be a PREMIUM LINE.The so called parent's think that they are on a cruise ship, turn the kid's loose, we don't have to watch them.What can happen?Carnival has recently changed thier age for booking a cabin.This won't solve the problem though! The big problem is unruly teenagers with no suppervision.Ship's security!!! Is a BIGG JOKE! !WHAT IT IS GOING TO TAKE IS SOME SORT OF TRAGEDY BEFORE SOMETHING IS DONE.JMHO. Viet
 
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