Normal
We traveled on Carnival and after a few decided to try RCI..we had just the opposite situation happen. We've always had things to do on Carnival - if we so choose. So the RCI cruise had five days at sea (after Hawaii) and we'd heard the cruise lines were similar so figured we'd have plenty to do. Not so! We searched and searched for things to do on the RCI cruise...and when we did find something it was so jam packed (from everyone else who was bored) that there was barely standing room - if that. We went back to Carnival. This isn't to say we won't try RCI again...just that for now Carnival is the right choice. Our RCI experience was back in 2001 so it's a possibility that things have changed by now. What we noticed was that the food was not always as good - especially the soup. We didn't think RCI had the selection of music/lounges to go to each evening that Carnival has.And overall...we didn't feel like we had the choice of whether we wanted to stay busy or not. (We aren't pool people so that wasn't an option...but on that particular cruise two of those sea days were too cold to be out by the pool anyway - and it didn't have a cover.)The service was about the same. We liked having our photo taken with the Captain on the RCI cruise. RCI had great chocolate covered strawberries. We did feel like we were always at a sales event...on RCI. The shops may be better on RCI...although I didn't think the "sales" items were as good. Really, I don't think you'll have a horrible time unless you look for trouble...and afterwards you will know for yourself whether you prefer one over the other.
We traveled on Carnival and after a few decided to try RCI..we had just the opposite situation happen. We've always had things to do on Carnival - if we so choose. So the RCI cruise had five days at sea (after Hawaii) and we'd heard the cruise lines were similar so figured we'd have plenty to do. Not so! We searched and searched for things to do on the RCI cruise...and when we did find something it was so jam packed (from everyone else who was bored) that there was barely standing room - if that. We went back to Carnival. This isn't to say we won't try RCI again...just that for now Carnival is the right choice.
Our RCI experience was back in 2001 so it's a possibility that things have changed by now. What we noticed was that the food was not always as good - especially the soup. We didn't think RCI had the selection of music/lounges to go to each evening that Carnival has.
And overall...we didn't feel like we had the choice of whether we wanted to stay busy or not. (We aren't pool people so that wasn't an option...but on that particular cruise two of those sea days were too cold to be out by the pool anyway - and it didn't have a cover.)
The service was about the same. We liked having our photo taken with the Captain on the RCI cruise. RCI had great chocolate covered strawberries. We did feel like we were always at a sales event...on RCI. The shops may be better on RCI...although I didn't think the "sales" items were as good.
Really, I don't think you'll have a horrible time unless you look for trouble...and afterwards you will know for yourself whether you prefer one over the other.
