Please help me...

[Senabell]

I am planning on taking my girlfriend on a cruise for her birthday to propose in September 2003. I am thrity-two, she is twenty seven. I found the Carnival Fascination and the Royal Carribean Majesty of the Seas as being in my price range. I don't know which one to choose. I was told by a travel agent that we would have more fun on Carnival due to our ages. I was told by another travel agent that Royal Carribean was a bit more classy. I don't know if classy means "older" or what. Also is a interior room and a outside stateroom about the same size? She's very sociable and would love to meet people our age and have fun. What do you all think? Royal Carribean is also CHEAPER.

 

[aanowako20]

I will be on my first Carnival Cruise in about a month. I have sailed Royal Caribbean twice thus far though, and it has been on the two sister ships of the Majesty(Monarch and Sovreign of the Seas). Royal Caribbean is nice. They have good food, good service, good entertainment, good ports of call, and they have plenty to do on the ship. Like I said, I cannot compare to Carnival yet as I have not sailed, but I look forward to my cruise on the Carnival Paradise. I am 21 as is my girl-friend, and this will be her first cruise, so we are both excited. My oppinion on the interior vs ocean view is this... I would book the cheaper of the two at a guaruntee, and hope for an upgrade. I have had both, and I did not see that much of a difference to make me want to pay more money for a window. The outside light is great and all, but you really do not spend that much time in your room to have to worry about it. Besides, right now I think Carnival is doing an upgradething with their ships(Book interior, get Oceanview; Book Oceanview, get Balcony). It may be on select sailings only, but that is just something for you to consider. Anyway, if you have not booked by the time my cruise is over, I can give you a comparison, but I am sure someone else here will also be able to compare them for you. Good luck, and no matter what you choose, you will love it anyway.

 

[aliceinde]

I have sailed on 3 Carnival cruises and 1 Royal cruise. For your age I think either would be fine. Carnival ships do tend to have a younger crowd though. If your girlfriend is outgoing you may enjoy Carnival better. As for your travel agent saying that Royal was more classy I think she is right. But not in the older sense as we went on the Monarch of the Seas last year and it was in great shape. You would never guess the ship was 10+ year old. The service and staff were great and the shows were wonderful with a musical review theme one night and a 50's theme on another night. The diso on the ship was usually hopping most nights drawing out the younger crowd.

Carnival shows tend to be more Vegas show girl review and very glitzy. The crowd is younger as I stated above. The service and staff were just as good as Royal in my eyes.

I think the Pros of Royal for us was the shows and being able to book shore tours on their website before we even left home. I think the food was just slightly better.

Pros for Carnival - younger crowd and usually newer ships. Rooms were definitely bigger and the bath/shower definitely a plus over Royal.

Hope this helps!

Alice

P.S. I am 44, went on Carnival in my 30's though.

 

[Jeff & Susana]

We went on our first Carnival cruise last March and had a great time.
There was plenty to do and everything was fine.
Even though the ship was about 10 years old it was kept in very good condition.
Carnivals rooms are a little bigger than most others.
Our cruise had plenty of people of all ages.

We would be very happy to book Carnival again.
(we are in our mid-40's)

 

[zina]

I've been on both (actually, sister ships of Imagination and Majesty) and offer this comparison:

Staterooms: Carnival (Royal's are MUCH smaller!)
Housekeeping: Carnival
Food Quality: Royal
Food Qualtity: Royal
Dining Room Service: Royal
Bar/Lounge Service: Royal
Fun atmosphere: Carnival
Romantic atmosphere: Royal (can't beat their Viking Crown lounge!)
Spa/Health Club: Carnival
Casino: Carnival
Friendliness of staff: Royal
Kids program: Carnival
Nightly entertainment: Royal


That said, I don't believe that Royal is stuffy at all. you'll have a blast on both. So, its up to you. Good luck on the proposal!

 

[Rembrant]

I can't say that I've ever been on a RCCL cruise before, but it kinda surprises me that a cruise on the Majesty is cheaper than the Fascination.. If price is an object to you, and you have the flexability to drive to your chosen port, I would wait until a month (or less if you like, but be prepared to pick from less rooms) to book and watch the prices drop. I tend to be a bit over-enthusiastic about my cruises to the dismay of my friends and wife, but I also tend to price check up until the day before we leave too With other lines as well. I can't say I've ever found RCCL cheaper on a comparable ship than that of a Carnival price. Check wwwbestcruiseprices.com for a decent price.. that's who I booked through and they have good ratings with the BBB.

Other than price, I'd agree with the above statements that if your girlfriend likes to socialize more and meet people, Carnival definately facilitates those desires. And their newr ships, like the Pride, Destiny and the Conquest remind me more of a Bellagio or Luxor in Vegas rather than the old strip look that some people still associate with Carnival. Good times, good amount of glamour, but it isn't hard on the eyes and never gets old. Especially with the size of some of the ships

And Good luck with your Proposal!

Rembrant

 

[Tweety9]

Wow!! How romantic!! Well, I am 25 years old and very outgoing as well and I prefer Carnival over Royal!! In my experience the crowd is a bit younger on Carnival. As far as rooms go I would go for the inside room!! You dont spend much time in there, so why spend the extra money. They are the same side as an oceanview room. Any way ya go your going to have a GREAT time!! Good Luck on the proposal!!