Cinders411

We have sailed both lines and both are good. I do prefer RC for their entertainment. We tend to book Carnival for the price. I think it is good to try different lines just to see what is out there and which one fits you best. :)

We ate at the Steakhouse on the Dream and it was really, really, good. I have to say it was better than the steakhouse on the RC we did. We tipped an extra $20.00.

We generally use the same towel for a couple of days.

146 long days until we set sail on the Brilliance of the Seas!

Just posting to say, you will LOVE the junior suite! I had a nice long bubble bath one day!

Between the time we booked and our fast-approaching sailing, the drink prices and gratuities were increased prompting us to purchase the PDP. Now I read posts (several) that having a package makes it "difficult" to get bar service because of the pre-paid 18% gratuity. Having been herded into the package by reason of the drink price increases, and with full intent to make it financially worthwhile, we're curious if a $ or $$/drink will help avoid a post - cruise rant of the type others have posted here and in a number of reviews.

 

In other words, having been forced into the package to make our customary consumption reasonably affordable, must we further assent to bribing bartenders in order to secure drinks when desired? (We customarily do so for good service, but haven't felt compelled to do so to obtain service at all.)

 

 

I understand your concerns. I have also read about the difficulties in getting drinks with the package. Hopefully, RC is aware of this and will make the required changes.

We enjoy cruising in the fall (as you can see by my past cruises!). Either I book REALLY early as I did for our Brilliance cruise in Oct or I wait for a more last minute price. So far, I can tell you that the price of my cruise has gone down several times however, not lower than I originally booked it. Good luck whichever way you decide to go!

Just back from my RCI Independence of the Seas cruise. Pretty good! Some surprises though. Heres a couple quick comparisons

 

-Food- Carnival was so much better. I would have killed for a Blue Iguana burrito! The dining room service took longer and they had more staff! Anyone who complains here would be surprised with how it compares.

 

-Entertainment- RCI was so much better! LIVE REGGAE/CARIBBEAN MUSIC on the Lido Deck!!!

 

-The ship was awesome! and HUGE! RCI Doesn't have slides or a ropes course, but they do have flowriders and rock walls!

 

-Bow thrusters caused earthquakes in the front half of the ship! I wondered if one was about to come loose!

 

-No secret decks, but you can walk out on the bow!

 

I go more into depth on the RCI board.

http://boards.cruisecritic.com/showthread.php?t=1800736

 

I'll probably sail both lines again at some time. Its good to see if the grass really is greener across the street once in a while. In this case it was just as green.

 

 

I have had, good cruises on both lines but, I do agree with the OP that the entertainment on RC is better. The food is about the same to me.

I am hearing that all passengers will be required to work 30 hours per week in either house keeping or dining services to be able to afford going on a RCCL cruise. No word on if we get to keep part of the tips yet. :cool:

 

I am laughing so hard! :p

I always enjoyed sitting at a large table and meeting table mates until.............

we were seated at a four top on the Carnival Dream. It was just all kinds of awkward for me. I guess I felt more pressure to converse since it was only the four of us. After that, we decided to just do Any Time/ My Time Dining. It is okay but, you are sitting so close to everyone else it feels like you have table mates anyway LOL!

I am sad that RC is no longer leaving from New Orleans. I really wanted to cruise RC from there.

Darn, I am Gold & I didn't get a survey about Past Guest Party opinions. Maybe it was that letter I sent..............................:rolleyes: LOL!

It is so fun to see all the door decorations during Halloween cruises. Just makes it feel like more of a party!

Think your first sentence says it all.................................

Probably, some of the Halloween costumes. Some have been so creative and so funny that I laughed out loud. :D

I attended one of them. Believe it was on the Dream maybe? Anyway, one was enough. Really did not enjoy it at all.

I had the very same trouble. I called and they took care of it for me.

I can see the situation from all points of view and no, we Gold losing the Past Guest Party is not the end of the world but...................................

To me it is really the principle. I don't understand why some cannot or will not understand this. When I was cut as Red from the Past Guest Party we decided to try another line and really enjoyed it. When Carnival came out with the Vista I decided to give them another try and booked for next year. Now as a Gold I have been disinvited to the Past Guest Party yet once again. Really if I hung in I have no doubt by the time I reached Platinum, I would be disinvited for the third time. I am not saying I will never cruise Carnival again but, I will not choose them first again.

I do not begrudge the Platinums or the Diamonds for any benefits they receive. I don't want to beat a dead horse but, I get the anger and hurt feelings of the Golds. *Okay, stepping off my soapbox now :rolleyes:

My advice, is to definitely listen to the advice about sea sickness prevention! My first cruise could have become my last due to being sea sick. I did not bring anything because I thought I would not become ill. It hit me the first night at dinner. Throbbing head, queasy stomach..............It was AWFUL! Now I always take Bonine and ginger pills! :p

Have sailed on the Ecstasy, the Paradise, the Inspiration & the Sensation. To me they were all about equal. All are small ships without all the bells and whistles of some of the larger ones. We enjoyed all of our cruises. I would have to say, we preferred the Dream to the smaller ships. Whatever you decide you cannot go wrong with any cruise! :)

When we turned Gold during our last cruise the checkin staff and the port told us we were not eligible until after the cruise. From the folks on this site I knew we should have received them so we just went to Guest Services when we boarded. They changed our cards to gold and gave us our pin. If you should have a similar situation just go to Guest Services. Happy cruising.

I like a balanced review with both good and bad because I am trying to learn from other's experiences. I accept that what someone else may see as "bad", I may view as a minor issue. Everything is relative. I really appreciate all those who put the time in to complete reviews. Thank you! :)

Being a Diamond Plus member on Royal Caribbean, I can tell you that royalty is not completely something of the past in the cruise industry!

 

I have to agree with you here. On our second RC we were shocked to be invited to a past guest party. At first we thought there must be some type of mistake. :eek:

When I saw a misprint announcing the "Ladies Pampers Party."

 

Ha, Ha!!!!!!!!

We usually pack the night before we leave to prevent some wrinkling & drop the fur babies off at boarding. I go over EVERY document we need for the trip to ensure I don't forget anything (ie, flight boarding passes, cruise boarding passes, hotel reservations, luggage tags, passports etc). It is usually a very early night for us as we generally take the first flight out which is about 6 am. We have to drive to Indy airport so we are up about 3 am.