Carnival vs. Royal Caribbean - my Review

[knox72]

I have long considered myself partial to Royal Caribbean, but we recently sailed on Carnival Legend since Carnival accepts 2-year-olds into their children's program. While planning this trip, the most helpful review I read on here was from someone who compared RC to Carnival piece by piece. So I thought I would copy that review with my own. Here goes:

 

A little background - we are a young family of 4, kids are ages 4 and 2 1/2. Our last cruise was Navigator of the Seas on RC (without kids). We have always sailed out of Miami but I can now say, I never want to sail out of anywhere but Tampa from here on out. It was wonderful - clean, organized, convenient, a dream after the nightmares we've had in Miami (and flying into Fort Lauderdale on Southwest). Not to mention, since we had a 4:00 return flight, we got to spend the day at the Tampa Aquarium (where they stored our luggage for free) and my kids absolutely loved the outdoor water park that was included in the price of admission. Oh, and bonus for me -- since it was Mother's Day, I got in free :)

 

On to the review. Precruise: We stayed two nights at the Embassy Suites Tampa - Airport/Westshore. Got the room and a rental car on Orbitz for $248. Was very pleased with the price. I'd say the hotel gets 3 out of 5 stars, but the the hotel staff more than made up for anything lacking with the accommodations. Full breakfast buffet including made-to-order omelets was a great perk. The shuttle service they offer is $10pp and kids 12 and under are $5. It was a little disorganized so allow plenty of time to get to the port but we were in no hurry so it worked out just fine.

 

We caught a Tampa Bay Rays game since they were playing our hometown team. That was about a 25 min drive from the Embassy Suites and a fun way to spend the evening while waiting for cruise day. Busch Gardens was also on the agenda but we ran out of time and energy.

 

Cruise Day 1 -

We arrived at the pier at 11am. Checked our three bags with the curbside porters and zipped through the line. Received zone 10 cards and found a seat to wait for our number. They were going through the numbers very fast, but a sweet older woman on staff saw my kids sitting down and gestured to us to come on up. She told me she hated seeing kids wait and to go on through. I made my husband go back and get her name for the comment card. (Thank you, Margie!)

 

When we got onboard, the main elevators were not working and the others were being used for luggage, but that didn't seem to bother anyone because we were all just thrilled to finally step foot on the ship. At 11:45, we made our way up to the Lido deck for some lunch. My husband purchased the soda package for both of us. I was hesitant since it seemed pricey, $48.50 per person, but in the end I was glad to have it so we didn't have to hassle with paying for each drink individually or have to limit ourselves. We are not alcohol drinkers so soft drinks were the only thing we drank most of the time.

 

At 1:30, the doors opened and we found our cabin. Two out of three suitcases were delivered within a half hour. The third bag, a large duffel (the other two were suitcases) was delivered shortly after the muster drill.

 

I had intended to make daily notes so I could remember more for the purposes of a review, but surprise, surprise, I never got around to it. So rather than bore you all with a play-by-play of our trip, I'll (finally) start the comparison of RC to Carnival.

 

Food - we did not use the formal dining room for very many meals so I can't really comment too much on that, but the Lido buffet was good. Not great, but good. It reminded me a lot of a Golden Corral only a little fancier. My kids enjoyed the availability of pizza and french fries and fresh fruit salad at every meal. I love Asian food but was sorely disappointed in the Asian station (which is only available at lunch). The grill, which is available until 6pm daily, was popular because of the nachos and chicken fingers (and fries) but they also had a good grilled chicken sandwich you can request. In the morning, at least two stations offered made-to-order omelets, and while those caused longer lines, the wait was worth it because the omelets were delicious.

 

Food Winner: Just barely, Royal Caribbean (in taste and variety), although Carnival has RC's Windjammer Cafe beat in atmosphere, as it is much more elegant. And, we only had trouble finding a table two or three times the entire week, and enjoyed having booths available as those are better for our toddler boys.

 

Room service: We ordered breakfast twice and both lunch and dinner once. I was disappointed that they only offer a continental breakfast via room service, BUT, there is still plenty to choose from. I can't remember for sure, but I think you could get hot food on RC, so I would have to say the room service winner goes to RC. Carnival's room service was always right on time, and the chocolate cake was delicious.

 

One thing that was of concern to me - one night while walking around the ship, the head chef, who was off duty and walking laps around the deck, started talking to my boys. They were very chatty and he asked us what our cabin number was. The next day, he had a plate of chocolate covered strawberries delivered to our room via room service. It was such a kind gesture and they were thrilled. The next morning we saw his assistant (who was with him during their walk) and he asked the boys how they liked the strawberries, and asked if they liked cookies too. A few hours later, my boys and I woke up from a nap and found a plate of cookies on the desk. I thought my husband had brought them back but he had been in the fitness center the entire time and didn't know where they came from. So someone entered our cabin while we were asleep, despite having the "Snoozing" (do not disturb sign) on the door. Although we were humbled by the gesture, it kind of creeped me out that someone was in our room while we slept. I am a light sleeper so they had to have been really quiet, which I suppose is good since I probably would have reacted if I'd woken while they were in there. I didn't want to seem ungrateful, nor did I want to get anyone in trouble so I did not report this but the more I think about it, the more I think I probably should have. Anyway.

 

The Legend Cafe offered more deluxe sweets for a small price ($1.25 for a cookie, $2.50 for carrot cake, black forest cake, etc., also chocolate covered strawberries, 3 for $2.50 I think). This was the black forest cake my sons devoured in less than five minutes!

 

Ice Cream Parlor: This was actually kind of a joke, as there was no "parlor" at all. It was a couple of soft serve machines and cups or cones. That was it, no toppings, just soft serve. I'd have to say the winner here is also Royal Caribbean since they had the Ben & Jerry's (on the ship we sailed on), even with the extra cost, it was better than Carnival's (lack of) options. Although there were three ice cream stations on the Lido deck, one was out of service the entire week and another was temporarily out of service part of the week.

 

Will create a new thread since this one is obviously getting quite lengthy. Next up: Cabins

[Name Of The Game]

Very interesting. Hope you keep writing. :)

[SMSACE6]

Thankyou for sharing your experiences, comparisons and photos. Im looking forward to more!:)

[knox72]

Our Cabin # was 5198, which I was initially hesitant to book since it was right by the elevators. I was pleased to discover there was never any problem with noise or excess traffic. It was a perfect location and we will try to reserve a cabin near the elevators on all future cruises.

 

We had a 4-person cabin but the top bunk was too high for my 4-year-old. I was afraid he would fall off since he moves around so much in his sleep. So even though we weren't supposed to, we took the mattress off the top bunk and put it on the floor. It was a pain in the butt, since we did it twice each day (naps and nighttime) but it was better than my husband and I taking the bunk beds and the toddlers taking the king size bed!

 

I brought an over-the-door shoe organizer for our cabin and was surprised we did not need it. The cabin had SO much storage. The cabinet on the right had 4 shelves and the other two had hanging racks. Our two large suitcases fit in one cabinet just fine and over a week of clothes for each person fit fine on the shelves. The desk also had 5 drawers and there were some smaller cabinets to the right of the fridge that provided even more storage. Also, there were two night stand cabinets on either side of the king bed.

 

 

The bathroom was also quite spacious for a cruise ship. All of our toiletries fit in the shelves with no problem. Oh, and our cabin had a random sampling of toothpaste, razors, and hand soap. I was thrilled since I'd forgotten my razor at the hotel! This is definitely a nice touch that Carnival offers.

 

We had a balcony but unfortunately, did not get to enjoy as much as we would have liked. Our next door neighbors were rude, fowl mouthed, and smokers. Every time we'd be out on our balcony we had to smell their smoke and listen to their crude humor. They knew the people in the cabin next to theirs, and they'd all sit on their balconies yelling through the partition to one another. On one afternoon, they thought it was hilarious to announce to everyone within earshot that one of them was constipated, and the others took turns yelling into the cabin asking if she need any help "digging things out". Gross. I don't think I will cruise with Carnival again unless they prohibit smoking on balconies because for non-smokers, it really is unpleasant.

 

I've read many people talk about the need for a bungee cord. I even packed one, but I can say, along with the power strip (more on that later), it is totally unnecessary. If you wanted to prop your balcony door open, you can simply use a chair or table. I can remember sailing on RC we'd fall asleep with the door open so we could hear the ocean, but perhaps it was just too hot for that in May, but we never wanted the door kept open on this sailing. It makes the air conditioning shut off in the cabin when you open the door. But again, if you wanted it propped open, just use a chair.

 

I did not bring a power strip but instead brought a 6-outlet adaptor since I had one handy while packing. It was useless since it needs a double outlet to work. There is only a single outlet in the cabins. Let me just say this - we had a Lot of things to plug in - a flat iron, two camera chargers, a white noise machine for my kids, a night light, and an air freshener (again, totally unnecessary but it was nice to have!). We also had the cell phone charger from Camp Carnival, and we never needed a power strip or extension cord. The only time there was a problem was at night, we couldn't use a night light and sound machine at the same time, but no one really needed either one, so we opted for the sound machine because it allowed my husband and I the ability to talk without bothering the kids while they slept. So stop stressing about how you're going to smuggle you power strip on and enjoy your planning! :)

 

So back to the comparison -- for Cabins, Carnival wins. The storage was wonderful, and the elevators being so quiet was great. There was NEVER a wait for elevators. They are very fast and really big, so several people can fit in them at one time. The glass elevators were also fun for the kids.

 

Next up: Entertainment

[duchessuta]

So which cruise line wins in the cabin category? I've been so hesitant to book RCI b/c the rooms are smaller (and more expensive). Do they have as much storage space as Carnival?

[snownyet]

Every cruisline we've sailed allows smoking on the balcony, including royal. If youre going to rule out a cruiseline due to balcony smokers it REALLY narrows your options.

[willyguy]

Thank for the information.

[SMSACE6]

To the OP, Im sorry you had a bad experience with your balcony neighbors, but I hope you wont let it stop you from cruising with Carnival again. I agree, that was really really gross behaviour/talk but I do keep hearing about lots of folks smoking on their balconies. I have never had a balcony, and tend not to want one due to that fact.

 

I met some really nice people on Carnival, so hope that you wont be swayed by one group of " foul mouthed, poorly behaved passengers". Looking forward to hearing more of your review.:)

[knox72]

The shows were good, but not great. However, one in particular, The Physical Comedy of Max Winfrey, was outstanding. He is so talented and was so much fun to watch. My husband and I watched the early show, and then got our kids from Camp Carnival and let the 4-year-old stay up extra late to watch the later show. If he is on your sailing, don't miss him!

 

I love to play Bingo but was a little disappointed in Carnival. I can't honestly remember how much Bingo cards costed on RC, but $20 a game seemed really high on Carnival. You get 3 cards for one game for $20. The second day, they had half price bingo, and the pot was $300 and cards were $10. As the week went on, the pot increased, usually to $1000. It is a little misleading toward the end of the week when they have Powerball Bingo, where the jackpot is either $3000 or $5000. The jackpot of 5k was enticing but in reality, you have to win bingo on one of two numbers to actually get that much. (Not that $1000 is anything to turn your nose up at!)

 

I was a little disappointed that we didn't get to play mini-golf on Carnival. For some reason they close that down at 8pm. I have good memories of playing mini-golf at midnight on our RC sailing, so I'd have to say RC wins on this one.

 

The casino was lots of fun. The penny slots were quite "loose" and if you bet the max, 90 credits, we almost always won. We walked away with an extra $250 in our pockets which made for a nice gratuity for the Camp Carnival staff and our cabin steward and his assistant (who, by the way, I don't think ever sleeps! We would see the assistant working at 9 in the morning and still working at 11 at night. Those people are so hard working, it's unbelievable).

 

Since I can't remember how much Bingo was on RC, I can't make a comparison on this one. The shows were a tie. But I'd say Carnival wins for the casino, though that is just pure luck and really shouldn't be a comparison. The quarter games were really popular, and it was fun watching the dollars move ever so slightly day by day. We probably spent $150 in quarters trying to get that bundle of 25 $1's!

 

 

Next up: Miscellaneous stuff that doesn't really fit into a category

[knox72]

So which cruise line wins in the cabin category? I've been so hesitant to book RCI b/c the rooms are smaller (and more expensive). Do they have as much storage space as Carnival?

 

I think Carnival definitely wins in the Cabin category. I don't remember being overly impressed with the amount of storage on Navigator, but then again, it was just two of us then so I probably wasn't as concerned with it then. I wish I had pictures from our cabin on RC to know for sure.

[knox72]

Every cruisline we've sailed allows smoking on the balcony, including royal. If youre going to rule out a cruiseline due to balcony smokers it REALLY narrows your options.

 

This isn't anything I've done any research on. For some reason I had it in my head that smoking is only permitted in certain cabins on RC. I'm sure this isn't accurate though. It is something I will look into before we cruise again though.

[Name Of The Game]

Now I've read on the Royal Caribbean boards that their bingo is much more expensive than Carnival!

[BND]

This isn't anything I've done any research on. For some reason I had it in my head that smoking is only permitted in certain cabins on RC. I'm sure this isn't accurate though. It is something I will look into before we cruise again though.

 

As far as I know, smoking isn't allowed in ANY cabins on RCI (which is how we prefer it). We've been on both lines (as you can tell from my sig block) and we found Carnivals' food is superior to RCI, especially if you eat your meals in the MDR, which we do. Carnival's hamburgers are a lot better too.

 

And, yes, bingo on RCI is more expensive than on Carnival.

 

The reality is, they are more alike than not. Unless you pay more for a really upscale line, the mass market lines are all very similar.

[Ilovepj]

As far as I know, smoking isn't allowed in ANY cabins on RCI (which is how we prefer it). We've been on both lines (as you can tell from my sig block) and we found Carnivals' food is superior to RCI, especially if you eat your meals in the MDR, which we do. Carnival's hamburgers are a lot better too.

 

And, yes, bingo on RCI is more expensive than on Carnival.

 

The reality is, they are more alike than not. Unless you pay more for a really upscale line, the mass market lines are all very similar.

 

I have been on RC 2 times, and smoking is allow in the cabin.

Just for your info.

[Kurbanfan]

I have been on RC 2 times, and smoking is allow in the cabin.

Just for your info.

 

It wasn't on the Mariner last August.......

[candigirl41]

My understanding is that smoking is allowed in all Carnival cabins. On Royal it is only allowed on the balcony not in the room. I am sure someone will correct me if I am wrong.

 

Candi

[duchessuta]

Smoking is the only reason I'm a little hesitant about our balcony on the Victory in a couple days. I'm really hoping we'll be lucky enough not to have smokers on either side of us.

[knox72]

Dress code:

We appreciated the more laid back dress code of Carnival, but it was almost *too* laid back. I wish they would enforce a rule in the dining areas. The last thing I want to see while enjoying my lunch is some old lady's butt cheeks hanging out of her bikini bottom, or worse- bare feet. I don't know why this grosses me out, but standing next to someone scooping food onto their plate with a bikini and bare feet just screams health code violation to me. I'm no germophobe, but that just doesn't seem right. That, along with the smoking on the balconies, are really my only true complaints.

 

Oh wait, I totally forgot about something. We booked the Sub-ocean view excursion in Cozumel. We were reallly excited about this. It wasn't quite as much of the real deal as the actual submarine excursion, but it was dramatically cheaper and more importantly for us, our 2-year-old was allowed to go. (You have to be 4yo to go on the regular submarine excursion). The shore excursion desk closed at 6pm, and at 5:55, we got a note in our mailbox that the excursion the following day had been cancelled. Major disappointment but we weren't going to let it ruin the rest of our trip.

 

On another day, my husband lost his wedding ring in the locker room. We thought it was long gone and even got a note from Guest Services saying they were sorry, but it was not going to be found since a day had passed. However, a few days later we got a phone call from the spa saying a very nice man named Doug (who I think is on Cruise Critic!) found it, so my husband went to his cabin and sure enough, there it was. We were thrilled to find it, although secretly, I was a little disappointed because I wanted the excuse to get him a new one and have it engraved, "PUT IT BACK ON!" ;)

 

I've heard some discussion about how the crew wasn't as friendly or helpful ever since they implemented automatic gratuities. I did not find this to be the case at all. Every single crew member we encountered was so very nice, and helpful, and professional, I could go on and on.

 

I would not recommend booking spa appointments in advance. As the week went on, they offered more and more specials and the deals and the specials got better towards the end of the week. The same applies to the merchandise in the gift shops. By the end of the week almost all the clothing was on sale.

 

Our cruise director was Weee Jimmy, and he was good. Didn't inundate us with announcements which is a plus in my book.

 

I packed light wind breakers for all of us and never got them out of the suitcase. The ship was never chilly, if anything, it was a little on the warm side.

 

Many of the shore excursions were not applicable for us since we had the 2-year-old. We are not snorklers and aren't much for sight-seeing with the kids. So we stayed on the ship most of the time. Had we known in advance the sub-ocean view excursion wasn't going to happen, I would have planned something else for Cozumel, but we enjoyed having the ship to our selves that day so it all worked out. We briefly got off the ship in Belize and the kids enjoyed the tender ride, but it was like one giant flea market once we got there. I think we would have enjoyed it a little more if it hadn't been so HOT but we were all cranky and tired and got back to the ship within an hour and a half.

 

Isla Roatan was far and away, the most beautiful place we've ever been (and we've been to Ireland twice)! We rented a private cabana which I realize seems like a lot of money, but I can tell you, it was worth every penny. For $200, you get the air conditioned cabana, with a lock so you can leave your stuff secured, a hammock, two rafts, a chair float, two chairs on the front porch of the cabana, and a 2-person cushioned chair by the beach. All of this in addition to use of a semi-private beach area. (Only those with cabana rental wrist bands were allowed to be in that area). You also get butler service but the food was an additional cost. The kids loved the chair lift to the beach. There was a photographer waiting at the end of the ride. I did get some sand flea bites but if I hadn't seen them on my arms and back, I never would have known. They didn't hurt and went away on their own within a day. I was the only one in my family who got them. It truly is paradise and I wish we would have had more time there. Here are a few photos.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

I am out of time but believe it or not, I still have more to say. I need to do a review on Camp Carnival.

[sharecruises]

As far as I know, smoking isn't allowed in ANY cabins on RCI (which is how we prefer it). We've been on both lines (as you can tell from my sig block) and we found Carnivals' food is superior to RCI, especially if you eat your meals in the MDR, which we do. Carnival's hamburgers are a lot better too.

 

And, yes, bingo on RCI is more expensive than on Carnival.

 

The reality is, they are more alike than not. Unless you pay more for a really upscale line, the mass market lines are all very similar.

 

Royal allows smoking on balconies only I think.....

 

Celebrity has NO smoking in cabins and balconies

 

An oceanview on Carnival can be a good deal...large, and they can even double clean it/power clean it so no remnant of smoke or anything remains

 

FYI : You never said which ship you were on ?? Legend???

 

I personally love the POM....so fast, so easy to board the ship

plus Tampa won't get any ships bigger than the Legend

they won't fit

[C Cruise Dude]

Our Cabin # was 5198, which I was initially hesitant to book since it was right by the elevators. I was pleased to discover there was never any problem with noise or excess traffic. It was a perfect location and we will try to reserve a cabin near the elevators on all future cruises.

 

We had a 4-person cabin but the top bunk was too high for my 4-year-old. I was afraid he would fall off since he moves around so much in his sleep. So even though we weren't supposed to, we took the mattress off the top bunk and put it on the floor. It was a pain in the butt, since we did it twice each day (naps and nighttime) but it was better than my husband and I taking the bunk beds and the toddlers taking the king size bed!

 

I brought an over-the-door shoe organizer for our cabin and was surprised we did not need it. The cabin had SO much storage. The cabinet on the right had 4 shelves and the other two had hanging racks. Our two large suitcases fit in one cabinet just fine and over a week of clothes for each person fit fine on the shelves. The desk also had 5 drawers and there were some smaller cabinets to the right of the fridge that provided even more storage. Also, there were two night stand cabinets on either side of the king bed.

 

 

The bathroom was also quite spacious for a cruise ship. All of our toiletries fit in the shelves with no problem. Oh, and our cabin had a random sampling of toothpaste, razors, and hand soap. I was thrilled since I'd forgotten my razor at the hotel! This is definitely a nice touch that Carnival offers.

 

We had a balcony but unfortunately, did not get to enjoy as much as we would have liked. Our next door neighbors were rude, fowl mouthed, and smokers. Every time we'd be out on our balcony we had to smell their smoke and listen to their crude humor. They knew the people in the cabin next to theirs, and they'd all sit on their balconies yelling through the partition to one another. On one afternoon, they thought it was hilarious to announce to everyone within earshot that one of them was constipated, and the others took turns yelling into the cabin asking if she need any help "digging things out". Gross. I don't think I will cruise with Carnival again unless they prohibit smoking on balconies because for non-smokers, it really is unpleasant.

 

I've read many people talk about the need for a bungee cord. I even packed one, but I can say, along with the power strip (more on that later), it is totally unnecessary. If you wanted to prop your balcony door open, you can simply use a chair or table. I can remember sailing on RC we'd fall asleep with the door open so we could hear the ocean, but perhaps it was just too hot for that in May, but we never wanted the door kept open on this sailing. It makes the air conditioning shut off in the cabin when you open the door. But again, if you wanted it propped open, just use a chair.

 

I did not bring a power strip but instead brought a 6-outlet adaptor since I had one handy while packing. It was useless since it needs a double outlet to work. There is only a single outlet in the cabins. Let me just say this - we had a Lot of things to plug in - a flat iron, two camera chargers, a white noise machine for my kids, a night light, and an air freshener (again, totally unnecessary but it was nice to have!). We also had the cell phone charger from Camp Carnival, and we never needed a power strip or extension cord. The only time there was a problem was at night, we couldn't use a night light and sound machine at the same time, but no one really needed either one, so we opted for the sound machine because it allowed my husband and I the ability to talk without bothering the kids while they slept. So stop stressing about how you're going to smuggle you power strip on and enjoy your planning! :)

 

So back to the comparison -- for Cabins, Carnival wins. The storage was wonderful, and the elevators being so quiet was great. There was NEVER a wait for elevators. They are very fast and really big, so several people can fit in them at one time. The glass elevators were also fun for the kids.

 

Next up: Entertainment

 

I agree that there should be more plugs. Those air freshener are a potential fire hazard so it's good not to plugs those in especially on a ship. I plugged electronics in the bathroom outlet (Carnival Dream). I would be terrified to have children that young have access to a balcony while I was sleep. It's unfortunate that you had scum for neighbors.

[C Cruise Dude]

I have long considered myself partial to Royal Caribbean, but we recently sailed on Carnival Legend since Carnival accepts 2-year-olds into their children's program. While planning this trip, the most helpful review I read on here was from someone who compared RC to Carnival piece by piece. So I thought I would copy that review with my own. Here goes:

 

A little background - we are a young family of 4, kids are ages 4 and 2 1/2. Our last cruise was Navigator of the Seas on RC (without kids). We have always sailed out of Miami but I can now say, I never want to sail out of anywhere but Tampa from here on out. It was wonderful - clean, organized, convenient, a dream after the nightmares we've had in Miami (and flying into Fort Lauderdale on Southwest). Not to mention, since we had a 4:00 return flight, we got to spend the day at the Tampa Aquarium (where they stored our luggage for free) and my kids absolutely loved the outdoor water park that was included in the price of admission. Oh, and bonus for me -- since it was Mother's Day, I got in free :)

 

On to the review. Precruise: We stayed two nights at the Embassy Suites Tampa - Airport/Westshore. Got the room and a rental car on Orbitz for $248. Was very pleased with the price. I'd say the hotel gets 3 out of 5 stars, but the the hotel staff more than made up for anything lacking with the accommodations. Full breakfast buffet including made-to-order omelets was a great perk. The shuttle service they offer is $10pp and kids 12 and under are $5. It was a little disorganized so allow plenty of time to get to the port but we were in no hurry so it worked out just fine.

 

We caught a Tampa Bay Rays game since they were playing our hometown team. That was about a 25 min drive from the Embassy Suites and a fun way to spend the evening while waiting for cruise day. Busch Gardens was also on the agenda but we ran out of time and energy.

 

Cruise Day 1 -

We arrived at the pier at 11am. Checked our three bags with the curbside porters and zipped through the line. Received zone 10 cards and found a seat to wait for our number. They were going through the numbers very fast, but a sweet older woman on staff saw my kids sitting down and gestured to us to come on up. She told me she hated seeing kids wait and to go on through. I made my husband go back and get her name for the comment card. (Thank you, Margie!)

 

When we got onboard, the main elevators were not working and the others were being used for luggage, but that didn't seem to bother anyone because we were all just thrilled to finally step foot on the ship. At 11:45, we made our way up to the Lido deck for some lunch. My husband purchased the soda package for both of us. I was hesitant since it seemed pricey, $48.50 per person, but in the end I was glad to have it so we didn't have to hassle with paying for each drink individually or have to limit ourselves. We are not alcohol drinkers so soft drinks were the only thing we drank most of the time.

 

At 1:30, the doors opened and we found our cabin. Two out of three suitcases were delivered within a half hour. The third bag, a large duffel (the other two were suitcases) was delivered shortly after the muster drill.

 

I had intended to make daily notes so I could remember more for the purposes of a review, but surprise, surprise, I never got around to it. So rather than bore you all with a play-by-play of our trip, I'll (finally) start the comparison of RC to Carnival.

 

Food - we did not use the formal dining room for very many meals so I can't really comment too much on that, but the Lido buffet was good. Not great, but good. It reminded me a lot of a Golden Corral only a little fancier. My kids enjoyed the availability of pizza and french fries and fresh fruit salad at every meal. I love Asian food but was sorely disappointed in the Asian station (which is only available at lunch). The grill, which is available until 6pm daily, was popular because of the nachos and chicken fingers (and fries) but they also had a good grilled chicken sandwich you can request. In the morning, at least two stations offered made-to-order omelets, and while those caused longer lines, the wait was worth it because the omelets were delicious.

 

Food Winner: Just barely, Royal Caribbean (in taste and variety), although Carnival has RC's Windjammer Cafe beat in atmosphere, as it is much more elegant. And, we only had trouble finding a table two or three times the entire week, and enjoyed having booths available as those are better for our toddler boys.

 

Room service: We ordered breakfast twice and both lunch and dinner once. I was disappointed that they only offer a continental breakfast via room service, BUT, there is still plenty to choose from. I can't remember for sure, but I think you could get hot food on RC, so I would have to say the room service winner goes to RC. Carnival's room service was always right on time, and the chocolate cake was delicious.

 

One thing that was of concern to me - one night while walking around the ship, the head chef, who was off duty and walking laps around the deck, started talking to my boys. They were very chatty and he asked us what our cabin number was. The next day, he had a plate of chocolate covered strawberries delivered to our room via room service. It was such a kind gesture and they were thrilled. The next morning we saw his assistant (who was with him during their walk) and he asked the boys how they liked the strawberries, and asked if they liked cookies too. A few hours later, my boys and I woke up from a nap and found a plate of cookies on the desk. I thought my husband had brought them back but he had been in the fitness center the entire time and didn't know where they came from. So someone entered our cabin while we were asleep, despite having the "Snoozing" (do not disturb sign) on the door. Although we were humbled by the gesture, it kind of creeped me out that someone was in our room while we slept. I am a light sleeper so they had to have been really quiet, which I suppose is good since I probably would have reacted if I'd woken while they were in there. I didn't want to seem ungrateful, nor did I want to get anyone in trouble so I did not report this but the more I think about it, the more I think I probably should have. Anyway.

 

The Legend Cafe offered more deluxe sweets for a small price ($1.25 for a cookie, $2.50 for carrot cake, black forest cake, etc., also chocolate covered strawberries, 3 for $2.50 I think). This was the black forest cake my sons devoured in less than five minutes!

 

Ice Cream Parlor: This was actually kind of a joke, as there was no "parlor" at all. It was a couple of soft serve machines and cups or cones. That was it, no toppings, just soft serve. I'd have to say the winner here is also Royal Caribbean since they had the Ben & Jerry's (on the ship we sailed on), even with the extra cost, it was better than Carnival's (lack of) options. Although there were three ice cream stations on the Lido deck, one was out of service the entire week and another was temporarily out of service part of the week.

 

Will create a new thread since this one is obviously getting quite lengthy. Next up: Cabins

 

That is a nightmare to have someone entering your room while your sleep. I think I would have to talk to someone about that one. There was a lock on my cabin that appeared to be like a deadbolt, I always locked it when I slept.

 

As for the ice cream machines, they were my fav on both of my Carnival Cruises. I never had a problem with availability. The Paradise had the extras to put on the ice cream but I didn't notice on the Dream since I like mine without any extras.

[nothomeonacruise]

Our neighbor smoked cigars on his balcony on our RCCL cruise. We just closed the door. You'll get obnoxious neighbors on any line.

[bobbie0253]

Thanks for the review!

 

We sail in a few days on our first Carnival ship as a family. (I did the Inspiration back in 2000 with my ex)

 

As you can see we are pretty loyal to RCCL but also like trying other lines. I am even more excited after reading your review. :)

[S.S.Oceanlover]

It wasn't on the Mariner last August.......

 

IlovePj hasnt been on an RCI ship since October 2007 according to their sig. That's an eternity as far as cruising and rule changes go.

 

Look at how many new rules CCL has come out with just in the last few months.

 

Bill

[louann123]

"The Legend Cafe offered more deluxe sweets for a small price ($1.25 for a cookie, $2.50 for carrot cake, black forest cake, etc., also chocolate covered strawberries, 3 for $2.50 I think). "

 

Is Carnival selling "dessert upgrades" now?