Big difference between Carnival and Royal Carribean?

[frito58]

Oh, I think we agreed about that. After 6 days of tours in just 7 days we were exhausted. By the time we hit St. Marteen we just couldn't enjoy it like we shoudl have. This time I made sure I picked out a less port intensive cruise for us.

 

 

 

We did end up doing 2 independent tours impormptu while on the Victory. In St. Thomas our all day excursion to the British Isles (Baths at Gorda) was canceled so we walked into town and then picked up an independent tour while down there. THen when we were in St. Kitts I realized they had misadvertised the hours online and a tour ran longer than the online purchase had claimed. I had purchased 2 excursions for that day based on the times they gave us. Thankfully they let us refund the morning tickets at the port (St. Kitts) and since we had such a good experience with the independent tour in St. Thomas we decided to take a taxi out to the Brimstone Fortress. We had the place all to ourselves because we got there before the tours did. We also had a very knowledgable driver who gave us a personal tour of the place.

 

This time around I'm consider both. If there's something I know I want to do listed I'll go with the ships plans. If not we'll just go a little more freestyle and pick something to do when we get there.

 

 

LOL , we cruised on the Summit , basically the same cruise we met some people on CC that had all these tours booked , I said you will be sorry , take it from a veteran cruiser , mix in a beach day , by port 3 they were found us and said we are not doing this one we want to just relax we are exhausted. But live and learn we did the same thing figured we have to see it all and do it all its like going to Disney world.

[frito58]

Not that I agree or disagree with you, but Royal Caribbean has not caught up Disney yet.

 

Not that I will ever find out for a while , no grandkids on the way lol . But I have heard they are quite pricey . But on the other hand I have got some good deals on RCI but they were 4 and 5 day cruises.

[sunsailsand]

No comparison between the two, Royal is the hands down winner. Carnival is an entry cruise line for first time cruisers and anyone who wants the lowest cost possible. As in all things things cost what they do for a reason. I suggest you ask other cruisers who you value their opinion and are close to your lifestyle to see their preference choice. Our first cruise was carnival, and then 6 other cruise lines, Carnival would be our last choice next to not going. Watch their ads on TV always about the $70/day deal, never about the quality. Royal or anyone else is a better choice, you dont know until you compare, try the other line.

WaaWaa

[Disneycruisers]

Two main differences. The decor on RCCL is more elegant, and the food on RCCL is MUCH MUCH MUCH better than anything on Carnival.

 

Good grief ....the food on RCCL tastes like Alpo dog food!!!!!!!

[morganboys]

we have sailed the carnival fantasy & sensation and the royal monarch. the smallest classes in both fleets. Imo the monarch had a wow factor that the two carnival didn't have. overall ship we loved the monarch. looking forward to sailing on her again next summer. The service was hands down better on the monarch as well. I prefered the wind jammer over the buffets of the two carnival ships. royal has the "quest". I liked the pool on the monarch. it was small but it was bigger and less crowded then on the two carnival ships. However the carnival ships have water works or other water slide. on the two carnival ships I think the food was better. the entertainment was hands down better on carnival. the other thing I liked about the two carnival ships was we could sit out side on deck and eat at the buffet. however that is not an option on some of the larger carnival ships. If price is similiar I would prefer to sail with royal, however I wouldn't pay a huge difference to sail with them. all and all we found them pretty equal and will be sailing both lines in the future.

[Jumbiecruiser]

Since I have been on most lines I can tell you without doubt Royal is the lowest class cruise line out there. So to answer your question go Carnival.;)

 

LOL!!! Maybe you should actually try cruising on Royal Caribbean once. Don't tell me that you have either. Won't believe it. Posts like that show ones lack of intelligence.

[DZNYROX]

Not too long ago we spent one week on the Splendor and the next week on the Mariner.

 

The Mariner certainly had a "wow" factor to it which the Splendor didn't have.

 

Here are some of the other major differences from our experience.

 

Carnival is a more well oiled machine, with the crew being better trained and more attentive. We found that to be true from the room steward to the waiter in the MDR, etc...

 

The Mariner was lacking in elevators. Much longer waits than ANY Carnival ship we've been on.

 

The buffet on the Mariner was far better but the main dining room was probably below the quality on Carnival. But the dining room itself is extremely elegant. Especially when compared to Carnival's which tend to be a bit goofy in our opinion. One more comment on the buffet on the Mariner. What a view!

 

The lido deck on Carnival is better in the sense that there are tables where you can bring food to while the Mariner doesn't have any tables near the pool and we were even stopped from taking food from the buffet on a couple of occasions. That aside, the Mariner has a better pool area in our opinion.

 

The Mariner is more like being in a mall and the design separates you from the ocean more than any Carnival ship.

 

The main show lounge on the Mariner is individual seats with little leg room and very cramped while all Carnival ships we've been on have seating more llike a sofa with small tables in front. Definite Nod to Carnival.

 

The night life on the Mariner was a dissapointment to us when compared to Carnival. Nothing to do late at night.

 

The passenger mix in our experience was a touch different on these two ships also. A little bit more sophisticated and subdued on the Mariner, but any two cruises can have those differences regardless of the line.

 

In our experience, we enjoyed our time on the Splendor more than on the Mariner, but we'd still sail the Mariner again in a heartbeat and are even booked on her big sister the Allure this year.

 

Very well put never sailed on rccl but you gave a nice comparison!!:D

[halos]

Good grief ....the food on RCCL tastes like Alpo dog food!!!!!!!

 

although I have said since I sailed RCI that one time that the food was probably the least favorite of all my cruises by quite a bit, I would not go that far...

[H82seaUgo]

although I have said since I sailed RCI that one time that the food was probably the least favorite of all my cruises by quite a bit, I would not go that far...

 

what does dog food taste like?

[halos]

what does dog food taste like?

 

LMAO...I must confess I do not know. I can say with 100% certainty that the food on RCI smells a heck of a lot better than what I feed my dog :D

[H82seaUgo]

LMAO...I must confess I do not know. I can say with 100% certainty that the food on RCI smells a heck of a lot better than what I feed my dog :D

 

:Dlol:D

[abisha]

Post dinner activities goes to Carnival. RCCL is nice but has a quieter atmosphere. But maybe that's what you're looking for.

 

I sailed on the Radiance in 2005 and couldn't believe that the ship "goes to sleep" early! Somewhere around 10 - 11 PM ... hardly anyone was in any of the bars or clubs (some were in the casino). I think a very small group was in the nightclub, and the music was playing and no one was dancing. I don't know if this was unusual or not. However, believe it or not, the kids club was still "hopping" til midnight! My kids loved it there and didn't want to leave. The kids seemed to have outdone the grownups when it came to staying out late and having fun.

[cruise_girl2002]

i just sailed on the freedom of the seas (4/24) and although the ship was beautiful i will never sail RCI again. there are so many things about carnival that are better. you get MUCH more closet space on carnival, the rooms are a bit larger on carnival, sink space in the bathroom is larger too. you have the lemonade machines on carnival where as on RCI you have to get redressed (shirts and shorts and shoes) and walk to the aft to the windjammer cafe to get a glass of lemonade or water. the bartenders on carnival are better (bit more alcohol lol) if your laying in the sun by the pool you get served more often....they were very slow and rarely coming around on the freedom of the seas. dinners are much more fun on carnival, the food and menus were better. my mom and i sat with empty water glasses for 20 minutes while the assistant waiter refilled everybodys but ours and she looked right at them! the entertainment is 100 times better on carnival, royal caribbeans was too late (9pm for early show!) no comedians on RCI which was disappointing. room steward never introduced herself no tolietries in the bathroom, or ice in the room. am i glad i tried a different line...yes but i wont sail RCI again. didnt care for it

[cruise_girl2002]

oh, and 1 more thing...RCI is almost turning into disney...the characters were everywhere!! kind of annoying. i can tolerate funship freddy but not 20 different ogers and animals lol

[frito58]

RCI just released their Oct prices for the Freedom . WOW you would have to really want to sail that ship to pay the difference in price between that and the Dream , even if you don't count the Cove balcony lts like $250 pp difference for a balcony room and if the cove makes you happy $300. No way anyone can convince me it would be worth it and I love that class of RCI ship.