Hard core princess lover..pleasant surprise on carnival dream

[vmom]

We also love Princess but the dollars dictate we cruise with Carnival.

 

Booked the RUby for February 2013 and it is costing almost 700. more then a carnival cruise

 

 

If you are not particular about having a specific cabin, I noticed that the Caribbean cruises seem to come down in price a bit as it gets closer to final payment...which is not always true of other itineraries.

 

We usually cruise Princess and sometimes RCCL. We were interested in booking a cruise for Jan 2012 and started looking into prices about 2 months ago. I was thinking about trying Carnival just for something different.

 

WHen I priced out the Carnival Legend and then the Ruby using past passenger discount and discount from TA, there was no significant difference in price. I think sometimes its hit or miss as to what cruise will give you the best value.

 

Sometimes HAL is more expensive, but sometimes they run some extremely good sales. We are going to try them sometime. My only fear is I don't want the ship to all be asleep by 10:00.

[recyclelady]

As you can tell from my signature line, we have also cruised both Carnival and Princess. I find really very little different between the lines. And the differences are SMALL.

 

In general, I like the food better on Princess. I like the food on Carnival much better than in my own kitchen. :D

 

The OV cabins on Carnival are larger than Princess.

 

When we have taken our grown children with us on a couple of cruises, we have chosen Carnival because we pay the whole bill (they are graduate students on very limited incomes) and I can afford to pay for extra cabins that way.

 

But I can't and won't join the Carnival-bashing that I sometimes read. I think they are both outstanding.

 

Oh ....and I have no problem with straight or gay passengers! (as mentioned in an earlier post!)

[serene56]

If you are not particular about having a specific cabin, I noticed that the Caribbean cruises seem to come down in price a bit as it gets closer to final payment...which is not always true of other itineraries. .

 

 

I am particular with a certain cabin- if I cant have C753 I will go through the cruising calender until I find it available--(LOL)

 

took me all through January until February 10, 2013 to find it available.

Its a BB category and I am not willing to move--

[George C]

thanks for the review, have not sailed Carnival in over 30 years

[mek]

Glad to hear you enjoyed your Carnival cruise. We sail with them frequently and with the exception of one cruise back in the late 80's, have always been very satisfied. We like diversity in our cruises and enjoy mixing up the lines and ships.

[sunsetbeachgal]

I think as others have said that the time of year you cruised and ship you chose probably affected the type of crowd on board. Very much enjoyed your comparison!

[AmberTeka]

wow. You know that these women were "trashy" and their escorts were witless how?? A bikini makes one "trashy"? And the men who accompany them are witless simply because they were on vacation with lovely ladies with nice bodies? And guys with tatoos are jerks? Could you be any more judgmental?

 

 

 

No, i don't think it is your age. It is your attitude that is showing. You are on a cruise ship in the caribbean. If people in bathing suits make you uncomfortable, then maybe this isn't the place for you. Suppose you are sitting in a lounge chair by the pool, and you order some food, and the woman in the next lounger is wearing a bikini. Does that make you uncomfortable? Or is it only uncomfortable to eat next to a person wearing a bikini if you are seated at a table 50 feet further astern? And if so, why does the locale change your comfort level? While i can appreciate your comments about enforcing a dress code in certain parts of the ship, the comment that it is uncomfortable to dine near "nearly naked people" calls into question all the places on the ship where it is perfectly appropriate to order food while wearing swim wear or otherwise showing one's tatoos.

 

get a life. Defend the defensible. Carnival clearly...and often ...states...no swim suits in the lido dining room. They have burgers..salad bar..pizza..bars..close to the pool for those who do not wish to wear even a minimual cover up. Women..who wear tops with their ta tas hanging out...when they know it is against the rules...when they know small children will be present....who cannot bother to tie a towel around the thong on their hinnies....are trashy acting people. Some things are black and white. Exhibitionism..where children are present.........is trashy. And could be worse...if my psych classes...on deviate behavior are correct.

If you are a nudist...........head to orient beach. Not the dininy room on a ship advertised as 'family oreinted." they should have been tossed from the dining room..and if they did it again..tossed off of the ship.

 

AND THEY HAVE TOTALLY NUDE CRUISES. WHY NOT BOOK THOSE? EVERYONE COULD COMPARE THEIR 'SKYSUITS"

[NoGvmnt]

I am tired of young women going through the buffet line with their ta-tas hanging out..and their hinny showing. Only saw two young women..in barely there bikinis dining ..in the Lido Buffet..no towel..no cover up...More skin that you see in R Rated movies.Loving the stares that came from their exhibitionism. Carnival puts out too nice a prodcut to put with that trashy behavior IMHO.

 

Yeah, I hate that too. Got any pics?:eek::D

 

Jim

[Mozo9]

We've had 2 Carnival cruises and enjoyed both, especially the comfy beds, price and entertainment. We were rather shocked by the razamataz at first but could always find a quiet spot away from the main pool area. I'm almost afraid to admit enjoying Carnival cruises on these boards as Carnival likers are branded lower than low by many.

 

Celebrity likers seem to think they're a cut above the rest and my experience with X was less than perfect. Terrible MDR meals, often served cold. The worst room service breakfast I've encountered at sea (HAL being the best), and people actually fighting, with fists, over sun loungers. Quite off putting.

 

Looking forward to my first Princess cruise in December.

[regnig]

get a life. Defend the defensible. Carnival clearly...and often ...states...no swim suits in the lido dining room. They have burgers..salad bar..pizza..bars..close to the pool for those who do not wish to wear even a minimual cover up. Women..who wear tops with their ta tas hanging out...when they know it is against the rules...when they know small children will be present....who cannot bother to tie a towel around the thong on their hinnies....are trashy acting people. Some things are black and white. Exhibitionism..where children are present.........is trashy. And could be worse...if my psych classes...on deviate behavior are correct.

If you are a nudist...........head to orient beach. Not the dininy room on a ship advertised as 'family oreinted." they should have been tossed from the dining room..and if they did it again..tossed off of the ship.

 

AND THEY HAVE TOTALLY NUDE CRUISES. WHY NOT BOOK THOSE? EVERYONE COULD COMPARE THEIR 'SKYSUITS"

 

Well said!

[JimmyVWine]

If you are a nudist...........head to orient beach. Not the dininy room on a ship advertised as 'family oreinted." they should have been tossed from the dining room..and if they did it again..tossed off of the ship.

 

AND THEY HAVE TOTALLY NUDE CRUISES. WHY NOT BOOK THOSE? EVERYONE COULD COMPARE THEIR 'SKYSUITS"

 

But you fail to address the core points. How do you know that the escorts of these women are witless? And how can you be "uncomfortable" eating next to a person in a bathing suit at a table, but not uncomfortable eating next to the very same person wearing the exact same outfit out by the pool. I am not defending the indefensible. I have no quarrel with dress codes and no quarrel with you wanting them enforced. What I am questioning is why it is necessary to jump to the conclusion that certain people whom you have never met are "witless" and why your comfort level should change based on venue. Perhaps your level of ire should change when you see people breaking the rules. But comfort?

[Mozo9]

Also loved the deli sandwich bar on Carnival, best at sea, especially late afternoon when returning from a port day.

[vmom]

But you fail to address the core points. How do you know that the escorts of these women are witless? And how can you be "uncomfortable" eating next to a person in a bathing suit at a table, but not uncomfortable eating next to the very same person wearing the exact same outfit out by the pool. I am not defending the indefensible. I have no quarrel with dress codes and no quarrel with you wanting them enforced. What I am questioning is why it is necessary to jump to the conclusion that certain people whom you have never met are "witless" and why your comfort level should change based on venue. Perhaps your level of ire should change when you see people breaking the rules. But comfort?

 

Most people would understand the concept of adequate dress in a dining room. Bathing suits are fine as long as there is a cover up. Sitting in a dining room without a shirt is also unacceptable dress for a dining room with or without tattoos . Have you never read the common signage up on many business and restaurants..."No shoes, no shirt, no service".

 

Its one thing to eat with a bathing suit out next to a pool or beach. That is acceptable and no one has said otherwise...but inside a dining room area...come on...what is your beef?

 

Most people understand the concept of appropriate dress depending on the venue or place you are at. Hence the "witless" comment. Common sense and basic manners is at play here, and some people have more of it than others.

[msk1]

Most people would understand the concept of adequate dress in a dining room. Bathing suits are fine as long as there is a cover up. Sitting in a dining room without a shirt is also unacceptable dress for a dining room with or without tattoos . Have you never read the common signage up on many business and restaurants..."No shoes, no shirt, no service".

 

Its one thing to eat with a bathing suit out next to a pool or beach. That is acceptable and no one has said otherwise...but inside a dining room area...come on...what is your beef?

 

Most people understand the concept of appropriate dress depending on the venue or place you are at. Hence the "witless" comment. Common sense and basic manners is at play here, and some people have more of it than others.

 

Here, here! Well said.

 

msk1

[beckntom]

Yeah, I hate that too. Got any pics?:eek::D

 

Jim

 

 

Now *that* is funny!

[caribill]

Yeah, I hate that too. Got any pics?:eek::D

 

Jim

 

Here is one from sailaway -- on Princess

 

 

[DJ Dollar]

I'am a Guest Entertainer on Princess, and i NEVER HAVE WON ANYTHING in the Casino's on any princess ships ??? Never worked on a Carnival ship but do you know Carnival Corp owns Princess ????

[hubofhockey]

We have taken both Carnival and Princess cruises and I will share some history.

 

When our kids were young, we would only take Carnival or Royal Caribbean cruises. In 2009, when our kids were 11 & 9, we took our first Princess Caribbean cruise on the Crown Princess. While the adults enjoyed the Crown Princess, the kids missed the more kid friendly ships of both Carnival and RCI. We upgraded to a mini-suite and paid more once discovering that Princess standard balcony cabins were inadequate for four. My wife and I followed up our Crown Princess cruise with the Grand Med on the Ruby Princess and both of us felt more comfortable and treated better on Princess. Our Carnival criuses, while great for the kids, had been a bit chaotic. It was hard to relax by the pool area. Carnival pools are extremely small and substandard. We also found that there was actually more to do at nights on our Princess cruises.

 

We enjoyed our Med cruise so much that we wanted to follow it up with a special Med cruise with the kids who are now 13 & 11. The Carnival Magic had great prices for their 9-day Med itineraries and our itinerary had great ports and only one day at sea. The ship was brand new. We booked a spa baclony cabin which had complimentary use of the spa (T-pool and sauna bed room, included) and no-smoking cabins and balcony area. The price for the four of us was less than $5K. Princess just can't do that. But we felt like Carnival was cutting corners all over the place. We had major service problems in the anytime MDR on two of the seven nights we used it. One night our waiter blamed the galley for being preoccupied with the chef's table dinner and the other night there was no excuse. The entertainment was substandard. On the first night, there was no welcome show. Instead the cruise director did port talks, which was primarily geared to selling Carnival excursions. There was only one standard production show. The others were either combined with passenger participation or straight passenger talent show (final night show :mad:) called a Legends Show. We had a great time on our port intensive cruise. Carnival standard balcony cabins are more spacious and nicer than standard Princess balcony cabins. It was a good value for our family and we never could have afforded a family Med cruise on Princess. So, while Carnival may be a step down from Princess, there are times when it makes so much sense. But I doubt I will be booking another Carnival cruise. My complaints, which I can look past on a Med cruise, would be problematic on a Caribbean or Alaska cruise. We have our next two booked on Princess (British Isles) and RCI (Allure).

 

Edit - as to the guest entertainer on Princess above, there aren't too many guest entertainers on Carnival. Princess brings them in to entertain passengers. Carnival believes more entertainment should be sourced from your fellow passengers and cruise director team. They call that part of the "fun" experience. I find it more cost cutting and part of the "value" cruise. I wouldn't use a ship casino's slots, knowing that they are not under US laws governing payout ratios. They sound more like parking meters than slot machines.

[PescadoAmarillo]

AmberTeka, thank you for sharing your thoughts. I always appreciate a comparative review that doesn't totally slam the "non-Princess" cruise line, because, surely, there's at least one thing that every cruise line does well, just as there are cruisers to whom that one thing is very important. Otherwise, how would they stay in business?

 

DH and I really want to try Carnival one time, most likely on a newer ship not during a school vacation period. We just want to see for ourselves what all the animus is about.

[AmberTeka]

AmberTeka, thank you for sharing your thoughts. I always appreciate a comparative review that doesn't totally slam the "non-Princess" cruise line, because, surely, there's at least one thing that every cruise line does well, just as there are cruisers to whom that one thing is very important. Otherwise, how would they stay in business?

 

DH and I really want to try Carnival one time, most likely on a newer ship not during a school vacation period. We just want to see for ourselves what all the animus is about.

 

Well...I have read a lot of your posts. I think you would have a good time on a raft. Your personality tends towards the sunny..half full glass type, I would guess.

 

You will like Carnival..if you book when school is in session,and most of the little darlings are being contained by weary school teachers, NOT on holidays..NEVER during Spring Break..and for seven days or longer..unless it is the 5 Day Fascination out of Jacksonivlle..It draws a lot of adults from Ga.,S.C., AL, TN...who don't like the hours longer drive futher down to South or Central Florida.

 

When I sit here..and think on the Dream..what is the thought that most comes to mind...That ship was as clean as a whistle. It sparkled. It glowed. It was cheery. The Waitors...some of them did get on the tables and dance. The Maitre "D..sang (very well)..People did wave their napkins..and some even got up into a Congo line. Meanwhile we were served Baked Alaska. I enjoyed it. We had just been through a depressing family time..and it was like a tonic of the old medicine sorts.

 

It was not Princess. There is something about Princess ..the passengers...the staff..the food..the crew..the activites...the shops..that is PRINCESS. And I LOVE IT. Given my choice...it would be Princess every time.

But distance..ports on the cruise...time..make a difference.

AND Trivia on Princess...is one of the things we love about the line.

I think you would have a great time...on The Dream..The Magic..The Breeze..The Liberty..The Freedom...SEE the production shows. They would be NEW to you..and good! The Deli on the Dream...very good. I had a toasted ham and cheese.Excellent.

BUT NOTHING..compares to the International Court...the warm cookies...the little sandwiches.....the Shrimp Salad...yum.

I suspect...Princess gets a lot of their regulars from folks who had cruised Princess..sailing o Carnival. We kept being told..You have to try Princess. We did...now have our 3rd cruise waiting for next month. 3 Princess cruises in 14 months. We love Princess. We like some Carnvial Ships very, very much.