Nervous about Carnival

[densol]

I am a District Attorney ( UK ) and have cruised with Disney several times. However we went on the Inspiration in April and yes there were some rather large groups of loud people when we were checking in and I thought "what have we done ?" We absolutely loved this cruise. The staff were fun and friendly for friendly sake not friendly polite that I find on Disney. We have just sailed on the Spirit and loved this as well ! I hate pretentious and snobby people and see them at work every day - the Carnival cruisers are so much more relaxed :)

 

Carnival offers more bang for the buck and I can get a balcony on Carnival for the same money as an inside on Disney. I also think the boats are far better than the Disney decor. Plus we found the food much better on Carnival. We are booked on the Destiny in April and are jusy looking to book another Carnival cruise very soon ( oh I wish carnival did an Hawaiin Island hop over 7 days that NCL does !!!)

 

Denise :)

[Smithkids5521]

Your fears are well founded. I have cruised 27 times. 16 on RCCL and 11 on CCL. I find CCL attracts a lower class of customer, probably due to price. However if you cruise when the kids are in school (like January) you will have less problems. If you can afford it, RCCL is the way to go. The ships of RCCL are much nice than CCL, especially the Voyager class. I find CCL to be like Vegas and RCCL to be like a country club. Just my opinion.

 

I am not sure if your comment was meant to dissuade OP from choosing Carnival...if it were me, that would make me want to choose Carnival even more.

Ever seen the movie Caddyshack? (great movie- one of my all time favorites). With whom would you prefer to be on a cruise for 7 days with- the caddys and staff members of that fictitious country club

or the country club members? My vote is for the caddys!!! :p And which would be more fun- Vegas or a Country Club? Ummm...I think you know which way my vote will go...

 

I realize that the above was your opinion Joeyancho and you are entitled to it, but you had to have expected that it would not be well received here on the Carnival boards...right?

 

To OP- I think that any cruise you will pick, you'll have a great time! Just go in with the right attitude! And if you want to have a good time with me and my low class husband and heathen children, feel free to join us on Carnival (I'll be on the Pride leaving from Baltimore on 4/1/12 for spring break). And to be honest, since this is your BF's first cruise and you have no idea if he will like it, you might as well try to save a few bucks just as long as the cruise sail dates fit your schedule.

 

Regardless of your choice- I hope you both have a great time!!!:)

[Cruisegirl6]

If you notice how many Carnival cruises I have taken and the last two were horrible that the past two cruises we have chosen RC and will not sail Carnival any longer, they really need to improve on the food mostly selection/variety/quality. I just got off RC cruise and it was amazing, perfect, the food was the best which proves to me nomore Carnival for this girl. Shame but I guess you get what you pay for???

[coastalite]

He makes me nervous because it will be our first vacation together and his first cruise vacation. I've talked them up so much as "the greatest vacation ever". Now I'm afraid I can't deliver that.

 

A cruise pretty much is the greatest vacation ever. I believe it is, by far, the best bang for the buck out there.

 

I am actually starting to believe that Carnival may be the best ship for us. I know my bf is not going to want to dress up all the time to go to dinner. He likes to be comfortable. I feel this ship seems to have a more comfortable vibe. Also someone said they would compare the ship to vegas. My bf has been to vegas many times and has liked it so idk if the comparison was supposed to be a positive or not but it is for us.

 

Carnival probably is the best option for you guys, especially if you're on a budget. They are probably the most affordable cruise line. Having said that, it does seem to attract some trailer trash of all varieties, but everyone is there to have a good time, so who cares. Yes, cruising is somewhat similar to Las Vegas in that there are casinos and shows in a large ship similar to a hotel. The bonus is being able to visit several ports while enjoying all the food you care to eat.

 

I've also heard that carnival has what they call is 'comfort food' which I've come to understand is more normal food in the dining room. If this is true this is definitly a plus for me. All the cruises we've been on, I've not been a fan of the main dining room food (I'm a chicken fingers, mac and cheese, hot dog kind of person).

 

Yes, they have plenty of comfort food. Burgers, fries, fish and chips, chicken fingers, ice cream, hot dogs, pizza, deli food, burrito bars, sushi, you name it. You won't go hungry!

 

One of the cruises I'm looking at is the Carnival Destiny...the price is extremely good! Is this an older ship? Also what is the average number of passangers on a ship? My family went on the Oasis this last summer and I hated it. It was too crowded, we had a bad wait staff, and it seemed the crew didn't know how to handle the massive amount of people on the ship.

 

I agree, the bigger ships are too crowded. I stick with the newer 110,000 ton ships which hold about 3,000 passengers. The Destiny is a bit older and smaller, 1996 (but refurbished in '08) and holds about 2,650. The Oasis is 220,000 tons and hold 5,400 passengers by comparison (way too many people). I would suggest going to travelocity dot com and click on cruises and then ship finder. You will be able to compare every ship out there.

 

When I book the cruise I will be going through a TA so I'm not to worried about figuring all the nuiances of the ship out but I'm hoping that I am making a good decision on this. Once we make a final decision I will be getting my bf's input so he can make some of the decisions too but I want to narrow it down for him to pick from as not to overwhelm him with the options.

 

Why get a TA? You can book directly through Carnival or go through travelocity or expedia, etc. I like to book directly through Carnival because they will work with you if you get on board and don't like your room. I booked through a TA one time, and once we got on board they told me they couldn't swap our room or do much of anything for us because we didn't book directly through Carnival. Something to consider. Also, make sure your cabin is not directly above or below a noisy place like the nightclub, casino, theater, etc. I don't think you can go wrong with Valor, Liberty, Glory, or Freedom - all around 110,000 ton ships with about 3,000 capacity.

[jhondy]

A cruise pretty much is the greatest vacation ever. I believe it is, by far, the best bang for the buck out there.

 

 

 

Carnival probably is the best option for you guys, especially if you're on a budget. They are probably the most affordable cruise line. Having said that, it does seem to attract some trailer trash of all varieties, but everyone is there to have a good time, so who cares. Yes, cruising is somewhat similar to Las Vegas in that there are casinos and shows in a large ship similar to a hotel. The bonus is being able to visit several ports while enjoying all the food you care to eat.

 

 

 

Yes, they have plenty of comfort food. Burgers, fries, fish and chips, chicken fingers, ice cream, hot dogs, pizza, deli food, burrito bars, sushi, you name it. You won't go hungry!

 

 

 

I agree, the bigger ships are too crowded. I stick with the newer 110,000 ton ships which hold about 3,000 passengers. The Destiny is a bit older and smaller, 1996 (but refurbished in '08) and holds about 2,650. The Oasis is 220,000 tons and hold 5,400 passengers by comparison (way too many people). I would suggest going to travelocity dot com and click on cruises and then ship finder. You will be able to compare every ship out there.

 

 

 

Why get a TA? You can book directly through Carnival or go through travelocity or expedia, etc. I like to book directly through Carnival because they will work with you if you get on board and don't like your room. I booked through a TA one time, and once we got on board they told me they couldn't swap our room or do much of anything for us because we didn't book directly through Carnival. Something to consider. Also, make sure your cabin is not directly above or below a noisy place like the nightclub, casino, theater, etc. I don't think you can go wrong with Valor, Liberty, Glory, or Freedom - all around 110,000 ton ships with about 3,000 capacity.

 

I want to go through a TA because the cruise we took on the Oasis we used a TA but also used RCL. The stuff RCL did for us was completely screwed up. For example, the confirmation number they gave us for the airline tickets were not the correct numbers. The TA we used wasn't much help while we were on vacation but now that we have to file some insurance claims and what not he has been a great help. Overall he has been friendly to my family and doesn't cost anything. I'm afraid if I do something myself I won't know what I'm doing or I'll forget to do something. For example, I didn't know on the Oasis you have to book all your show times well in advance. I just don't want to mess anything up!

 

As for Carnival, I think it'll be a good fit. I still have to talk to the bf and make sure he agrees. I like the fact that it seems less dressy. I felt like on RCL I always had to look nice and dinner was be in a nice dress. I don't want that this time. I don't know how casual dinner is on Carnival but I feel like the rest will be more casual. I also don't care for the customers the last time we were on RCL. It felt like everyone thought they were entitled to something and weren't very friendly. On their ship to Alaska it was quite different.

 

I really like the itinerary for the Destiny. He said he wanted to go to Jamaica and I really want to go to Nassau (surprisingly with all the cruise I've been on, I've never been there) and this ship leaves from Miami, goes to Nassau, has a day at sea, goes to Ocho Rios, Jamaica (which I hear is way better then Falmouth where I've been), and then day at sea, and back to Miami. I'm going to read some reviews but even the other ships don't look that expensive.

 

Could someone explain to me the fun saver and early saver. I know early saver you can't cancel or change but if you take out insurance and say because of weather you miss the boat the insurance will still cover it even though you booked early saver right? I have to be ready in case of a bad snow storm to have back up plans. Also for the fun saver, if I book that while doing a balcony room that guarantees me atleast a balcony, right? The fine print confused me a bit on that point.

[Smithkids5521]

Could someone explain to me the fun saver and early saver. I know early saver you can't cancel or change but if you take out insurance and say because of weather you miss the boat the insurance will still cover it even though you booked early saver right? I have to be ready in case of a bad snow storm to have back up plans. Also for the fun saver, if I book that while doing a balcony room that guarantees me atleast a balcony, right? The fine print confused me a bit on that point.

 

I book early saver and it basically is only available 6 months or out from the cruise date. Whatever category I book (I am 7A)- if the price for that category goes down prior to my cruise, I will either get refunded or OBC (depends on how close to sailing I am). I am not sure if you are referring to insurance through the cruiseline, since I usually purchase on my own. When getting insurance on my own, the cost of insurance is based upon what I paid for my cruise...but the insurance has nothing to do with whether I book early saver or fun saver aside from cost of cruise...KWIM?

 

Also- early saver allows you to pick your actual stateroom. I prefer this since I know (for example) which obstructed balcony cabins are the least "obstructed" so I can save money and still get a great balcony cabin in the location I want- a starboard side, mid ship cabin.:)

[kmilanes]

I find CCL attracts a lower class of customer, probably due to price.

 

Thanks for confirming my class. I always thought I was a middle class individual, but since I cruise more CCL then RCL I guess I am not :(. Maybe this is why I have so much more fun on CCL then RCL because I am able to relate to individuals with the same economic class as myself.

 

I just have to break the news to my mom that 8 plus years of schooling is not improving my social economic class. She is going to be so upset.

 

But she might be happy that I saved tons of money on my car insurance. Oh and going on two cruises rather then one!

[T. Advisor King]

Hello joeyancho,

 

I take offense to your coment generalizing all people who choose to cruise on Carnival low class. That was not a very intelligent thing to say. Because you may, or may not have met some people on Carnival who you thought to have low class, gives you no right to say everyone on Carnival is the same. Or that Carnival attracts a lower class of people.

 

 

I am sure of the thousands who cruise with Carnival are college educated, and thousands are not.. Education has nothing to do with having class or not. To make a blanket statement like you did really shows no class at all. If the shoe fits!!! However, having cruised several times on Carnival, & NCL. I find 99% of all the cruisers I have met to be intelligent, friendly, and outgoing. Will be taking my first RCI cruise this December.

 

More people choose to cruise with Carnival because they are intelligent, & savy cruise shoppers.

 

I think it is funny how much reaction that one post generated. I assumed that his post referred to the average economic class of passengers on various lines. Many (including bobm, above) have interpreted the comment to refer to whether or not the passengers "have class" or "are classy" (vs. whether they are "classless". Economic "class" and "classiness" are two different things.

 

Carnival attracts a range of passengers -- from those who scrape together jars of change to save up to travel to those who fly to Europe for three weeks to spend 7 days on the Magic, to those with even greater means. I think it is probably fair to say that the cruise lines that charge higher fares for more or less the same product tend to attract more passengers for whom cost isn't an issue. Is the average wealth or income of a Holland America passenger higher than that of a Carnival passenger? I wouldn't try to argue that it isn't. Does that mean HAL attracts passengers of a higher economic class? I think so. Does that have to mean that Carnival attracts passengers from a lower economic class? I think so. Does that offend me? Nope?

 

It also doesn't mean that Carnival doesn't attract doctors and lawyers and MBAs and PhDs and business CEOs and all sorts of people who could afford to pay more, but choose not to for various reasons. I'm not sure there are a lot of HAL passengers who are single parents earning minimum wage, but you never know. And not everyone is paying his/her own way either. So I acknowledge that all lines have a range. I don't disagree with Joey's original post, which I took to mean that the average economic standing of passengers on other lines like HAL is higher than the average economic standing of Carnival passengers.

[woodofpine]

Get too focused on expectations! I've learned that modest expectations are better than real high ones with new a cruise line.

 

Carnival is not my 'line of choice'. I've done 2 cruises on Carnival - and I'm going on a third over Thanksgiving. What's that say? I'll cruise them repeatedly if circumstances are right. I've not cruised RCCL - but I've cruised Celebrity... and HAL... and Princess... MSC etc. The big ship lines are all more similar than dissimilar.

 

For younger cruisers Carnival is lively. As others have said, the frat party ship is a thing of the way distant past. But Carnival does have probably the most age varied fleet in the industry (as is RCCL's) so the ships can be less impressive (older smaller) or cutting edge architecture depending on age. Carnival hasn't gotten into the WWI Dreadnaught style size and architecture war that seems to drive RCCL. Go on a newer ship... I'm going on my second Spirit class cruise in Nov. My first was on Fantasy and I wasn't highly impressed. The Spirit class is very nice, impressive atrium etc. Carnival's other new and big ship classes, I imagine are impressive too - but the Spirit ships gets good point for size to passenger load (the bigger 100+KGT ships having substantially more pax). Carnival's cabin appointment and bedding is better than many competitors. Carnival is fairly casual (but attentive) in service style. Its compared to Las Vegas in decor and ambiance and that's probably a fair analogy. Decor can be a bit over the top but with the right sense of humor you'll grin.

 

Enjoy!

 

PS. As far as 'class' of passengers goes... That is a total head game! There is some socio-economic truth to it based on length of cruise - but 7 days is the industry bread and butter. Unless one is talking Seabourn, Silversea, Crystal, Raddisson etc., the price bracket on large ship large fleet lines is not that spread out. In other words, on a ship with 2,000+ pax there are jerks and gems on every line ship.

 

My last cruise was HAL Ryndam... 'Stodgy' 'superior' ole HAL! A rich 40-something alcoholic waste case, released the anchor while the ship was in route just before dawn after the last formal night! Potentially catastrophic! As a law student, you can look up the Federal criminal admiralty charges that he is set for sentencing under in a couple months... That's 'supposed' to be a Carnival episode... All ships, all comers...

[livestocruisetoo]

Hello joeyancho,

 

I take offense to your coment generalizing all

 

people who choose to cruise on Carnival low class.

 

That was not a very intelligent thing to say.

 

 

Because you may, or may not have met some

 

people on Carnival who you thought to have low class,

 

gives you no right to say everyone on Carnival is the same.

 

Or that Carnival attracts a lower class of people.

 

 

I am sure of the thousands who cruise with Carnival

are college educated, and thousands are not.. Education

 

has nothing to do with having class or not.

To make a blanket statement like you did really shows no class at all.

If the shoe fits!!!

However, having cruised several times on Carnival, & NCL.

 

I find 99% of all the cruisers I have met to be intelligent,

 

friendly, and outgoing. Will be taking my first RCI

 

cruise this December.

 

More people choose to cruise with Carnival because

they are intelligent, & savy cruise shoppers.

 

 

 

 

 

Or may or may not be one. Just another opinion.

[Skywench]

Your fears are well founded. I have cruised 27 times. 16 on RCCL and 11 on CCL. I find CCL attracts a lower class of customer, probably due to price. However if you cruise when the kids are in school (like January) you will have less problems. If you can afford it, RCCL is the way to go. The ships of RCCL are much nice than CCL, especially the Voyager class. I find CCL to be like Vegas and RCCL to be like a country club. Just my opinion.

 

Wow. Lower Class? Comments like that say more about you than the people that actually sail Carnival and enjoy or prefer Carnival.

[GlendaleCruiser]

Carnival is full of drunks is a myth perpetuated by RCL and other cruise lines that envy their business.

 

The only people I've seen drunk were a couple who couldn't stop giggling on the elevator. Just funny.

 

I am actually worried that my next cruise on Princess might be too boring. If they roll up the sidewalk at 10:00 pm I'm not sure what I'll do.

[Terre]

Here are some pictures of my Destiny cruise from a few years ago (click on the photo):

Not a lot of shots of the ships but enough for you to get an idea of it.

 

Also, my husband and I book our cruises for the value and choose Carnival for the prices and itineraries, as well as ships from other lines for the same reason...we are definitely NOT low class people.

[RRLLAL]

If you notice how many Carnival cruises I have taken and the last two were horrible that the past two cruises we have chosen RC and will not sail Carnival any longer, they really need to improve on the food mostly selection/variety/quality. I just got off RC cruise and it was amazing, perfect, the food was the best which proves to me nomore Carnival for this girl. Shame but I guess you get what you pay for???

 

The funny thing is that there are others like you, even in this thread, that come to the opposite conclusion. I guess it's personal opinion.

[ccruisequeen]

If you notice how many Carnival cruises I have taken and the last two were horrible that the past two cruises we have chosen RC and will not sail Carnival any longer, they really need to improve on the food mostly selection/variety/quality. I just got off RC cruise and it was amazing, perfect, the food was the best which proves to me nomore Carnival for this girl. Shame but I guess you get what you pay for???

 

Variety of food? Have you checked out the new menus? (about 15 threads!)

[DrLookGood]

Wow...... I'm speechless....

 

You should visit RCCL board. One of the threads is called kids in concierge lounge, where elitist attitude prevails and where people who sail Carnival are called a "Wallmart crowd".

 

Apparently kids on RCCL behave like pigs and adults really need several hours a day of adult only time with free drinks (but only if they have D+ status or suite guests) ... And they call Carnival cruisers "Wallmart crowd"... Hmm:rolleyes:

[dasmonkey]

You should visit RCCL board. One of the threads is called kids in concierge lounge, where elitist attitude prevails and where people who sail Carnival are called a "Wallmart crowd".

 

Apparently kids on RCCL behave like pigs and adults really need several hours a day of adult only time with free drinks (but only if they have D+ status or suite guests) ... And they call Carnival cruisers "Wallmart crowd"... Hmm:rolleyes:

 

I just read that complete thread and neither "Carnival" nor "Walmart" was ever mentioned.

 

What exactly did you find to be "elitist"?

 

The issue is they want to allow children into what is essentially a bar.

The vast majority are against this change.

 

I have no idea what point you were attempting to make in that last sentence?

[DrLookGood]

I just read that complete thread and neither "Carnival" nor "Walmart" was ever mentioned.

 

What exactly did you find to be "elitist"?

 

The issue is they want to allow children into what is essentially a bar.

The vast majority are against this change.

 

I have no idea what point you were attempting to make in that last sentence?

 

There are multiple threads with similar name on that board. Here is just as sample, go ahead and read the rest of it yourself.

 

I can assure you that the Royal crowd is NOT the Carnival crowd. I don't feel like I'm the good ship Bubba when I am cruising with RCI or at a hip hop concert with boys running around with their pants hanging down past their rear ends. That is the Carnival that I have experienced over the last two to four years. Have yet to experience that on NCL, Royal, Princess or HAL.

 

The last sentence is sarcasm. If you actually read everything that was written on all of the threads regarding the topic you would think that misbehaved kids rule the ships on RCCL and poor D+ absolutely have to have adult only time in concierge lounge (but only of course when free drinks are served). Yet with all these problematic kids, not controlled by their parents, some RCCL's loyals think that Carnival's crowd is below them. You've seen a fine example of that kind of attitude in this thread too.

[jbanana1]

Before booking with your TA, call Carnival and get a price from a PVP. Last year when researching our cruise for this summer, every TA that both me and my mother in law talked to gave us a higher price than from Carnival directly. The TA's base price was lower, but they add a $99 charge into the taxes and fees that's already in Carnival's base price so the actual total cost was higher with each TA.

 

Also, know what cabin location you want as far as deck level and forward, aft or midship and note the cabin category. That way you can compare the price of the exact cabin category and not just an "inside" or "ocean view" because the price will be different depending on the location.

[CRUISE4JANE]

Your fears are well founded. I have cruised 27 times. 16 on RCCL and 11 on CCL. I find CCL attracts a lower class of customer, probably due to price. However if you cruise when the kids are in school (like January) you will have less problems. If you can afford it, RCCL is the way to go. The ships of RCCL are much nice than CCL, especially the Voyager class. I find CCL to be like Vegas and RCCL to be like a country club. Just my opinion.

 

EXCUSE ME, I am certainly far from low-class as well as a lot of other Carnival cruisers :rolleyes: I am sure. Why would DH and I want to change when we have always had a blast on the Fun Ships. If we save a little more money, fine. That just allows us to do land vacations also :).

[CRUISE4JANE]

And yet he continues to sail on Carnival and post here... My low class opinion of course..

 

Funny :D.

[metalmynx]

Economic "class" and "classiness" are two different things.

 

It also doesn't mean that Carnival doesn't attract doctors and lawyers and MBAs and PhDs and business CEOs and all sorts of people who could afford to pay more, but choose not to for various reasons.

 

MBA/CPA here, so I'm always looking for the most bang for my buck. In all fairness, I have only cruised once, and it was on Carnival, but I had a good enough time that I booked the same cruise again.. largely because the price was right and because it was fun. I took four other land vacations this year (one to Europe), decided in August to take a last minute vacation and didn't want to spend a ton of money to have a good time. I don't care if my fellow cruisers shop at Neiman Marcus or Walmart, hopefully we'll all be there to have fun. :D