CCL Dream or RCCL Freedom

[Scootch]

He All - We are ready to book for Feb 2012 but can't make the decision on which cruise line. (or is it which ship???)

 

There are things w/ both cruise lines that we both like and dislike. I've heard (read) that the food quality is declining on CCL but there are several other qualities about the line that keeps us coming back. I felt that the ambiance and entertainment on RCCL was better, but was disappointed in other qualities...especially when I paid significant more than CCL.

 

Two more things....

1. How efficient is Port Canaveral? Haven't been there for several years.

2. Planning on staying at one of the Marriott Hotels the night before. Recommendations?

 

I would appreciate helpful responses.

Happy sailing~

[cruisecruisecruise2011]

He All - We are ready to book for Feb 2012 but can't make the decision on which cruise line. (or is it which ship???)

 

There are things w/ both cruise lines that we both like and dislike. I've heard (read) that the food quality is declining on CCL but there are several other qualities about the line that keeps us coming back. I felt that the ambiance and entertainment on RCCL was better, but was disappointed in other qualities...especially when I paid significant more than CCL.

 

Two more things....

1. How efficient is Port Canaveral? Haven't been there for several years.

2. Planning on staying at one of the Marriott Hotels the night before. Recommendations?

 

I would appreciate helpful responses.

Happy sailing~

 

I can see the port from my condo.:)

 

Port Canaveral is very efficient,easiest in and out IMHO.

 

There is no straight Marriott nearby almost the closest to the port is the Residence inn by Mariott and 6 miles away in Cocoa beach is the nearest courtyard by Marriott.

 

I have sailed CCL more than RCI,but I would take an RCI over a CCL if the factors are similar.RCI is my favorite ship but I prefer certian ports so I look at ports.But the Freedom is awsome.That class of ship is great.

[Tapi]

We just sailed on the Dream and had a great time, BUT our previous cruise on RCI was absolutely, hands down, AWESOME! Although many say that these cruise lines are very similar, I feel that RCI takes the cruising experience several notches above Carnival (thus the price difference).

 

Port Canaveral is VERY efficient, and you have great oceanfront hotels within minutes (we stayed at the Doubletree Oceanfront - Cocoa Beach). The closest Marriott brand hotel will be a Courtyard right by the port (but not on the beach).

 

Is there a significant difference in price for your upcoming cruise in feb?

[Scootch]

We just sailed on the Dream and had a great time, BUT our previous cruise on RCI was absolutely, hands down, AWESOME! Although many say that these cruise lines are very similar, I feel that RCI takes the cruising experience several notches above Carnival (thus the price difference).

 

Port Canaveral is VERY efficient, and you have great oceanfront hotels within minutes (we stayed at the Doubletree Oceanfront - Cocoa Beach). The closest Marriott brand hotel will be a Courtyard right by the port (but not on the beach).

 

Is there a significant difference in price for your upcoming cruise in feb?

 

Both posts are very helpful, thank you!!

 

Re: Marriott - we just need something in the "Marriott family." I should have specified. (sorry) I would prefer to stay on the beach since we are coming down the day before.

 

CCL has always lured us back w/ it's Military discount rates and to be honest w/ you, we were a bit loyal due to their respect for my DH's continued service. But I am leaning more towards RCCL due to the finer aesthetics, entertainment, etc.....

 

I am so tempted to get prices on Oasis or Allure. What the heck, right?

 

Thank you again and happy sailing!

[kcparrothead]

I would choose Freedom of the Seas, also. Wasn't that impressed with the Dream. We stayed at the Radisson Pt. Canaveral the night before, but I don't think that's in the Marriott family. They had a great tiki bar by the pool where we had a pre-cruise meet & greet and a free shuttle over to the port the next morning. The check-in process took a lot longer than other cruises we've been on with the long lines, but maybe they were just having an "off" day.

 

Were you aware that RCI also has a military discount??

[Tapi]

I am so tempted to get prices on Oasis or Allure. What the heck, right?

 

We priced the Freedom vs. Allure of the Seas, and surprisingly, the Allure priced out cheaper. This was for an early May sailing.

 

We almost stayed at the Courtyard by Marriott near Port Canaveral, but ended at the Doubletree because of the oceanfront location.

[cruise_girl2002]

I have done both the freedom of the seas and the carnival dream and the dream wins hands down for me. I went with a friend and her husband on rcl. I was excited to try a new line and have heard many good things about RCL as well as the freedom of the seas....i was disappointed. the food was terrible, the room steward never introduced herself (at least on carnival they do AND call you by name) on the freedom she would say "hey ladies". we had to ask mulitiple times for a refil on our water in the main dining room and the last night, sat there for 20 minutes with empty water glasses. we were put in the back of the dining room, so when they introduced the chefs and waiters we couldn't see a thing. the shows on the freedom were so-so (if i wanted to see a disney musical , as this was shown as one of the shows on the freedom, i would have done a disney cruise) the shows on the dream were outstanding. the ice skating show was pretty good and was impressive that they could keep their balance..only 2 falls...but great job to the skaters. and the music by the lido pool on the freedom sucked. embarkation for port canaveral is easy. i had a problem with royal...they took my picture wrong for my sail card and some how ended up as a big man lol...after 30minutes of them trying to figure it out i was finally on the ship. RCL as i boarded didnt have the "wow" factor to me as carnival does. the rooms on the freedom were smaller however the balcony on the freedom was really nice. considering i paid $1200 for a 7 day on the dream and a whopping $2500 on the freedom, i wont sail with rcl again

[Scootch]

I would choose Freedom of the Seas, also. Wasn't that impressed with the Dream. We stayed at the Radisson Pt. Canaveral the night before, but I don't think that's in the Marriott family. They had a great tiki bar by the pool where we had a pre-cruise meet & greet and a free shuttle over to the port the next morning. The check-in process took a lot longer than other cruises we've been on with the long lines, but maybe they were just having an "off" day.

 

Were you aware that RCI also has a military discount??

 

Thank you for your post. I am aware of Royal's military discount though it is my understanding that it is for specific sailings. I will absolutely see if the date we need to sail would qualify.

 

Thanks again!

[Scootch]

We priced the Freedom vs. Allure of the Seas, and surprisingly, the Allure priced out cheaper. This was for an early May sailing.

 

We almost stayed at the Courtyard by Marriott near Port Canaveral, but ended at the Doubletree because of the oceanfront location.

 

I have heard that prices for Allure and Oasis sometimes come in better....amazing!

 

I have put in call to TA and waiting for her to call back. Have my list of questions all read for her. :D

[jenninlaca]

I can confirm from a check yesterday that Allure of the Seas for July 4th week 2013 priced out cheaper than taking Freedom OTS in mid-July 2012, both for balcony rooms.

 

Posters have stated that RCI takes the cruising experience beyond where CCL is. Can anyone be more specific? From everything I have heard, CCL has superior food (even most RCI enthusiasts admit that), so what else about the cruising experience is superior? I am a newbie, genuinely curious

[BeachChik]

I have done both the freedom of the seas and the carnival dream and the dream wins hands down for me. I went with a friend and her husband on rcl. I was excited to try a new line and have heard many good things about RCL as well as the freedom of the seas....i was disappointed. the food was terrible, the room steward never introduced herself (at least on carnival they do AND call you by name) on the freedom she would say "hey ladies". we had to ask mulitiple times for a refil on our water in the main dining room and the last night, sat there for 20 minutes with empty water glasses. we were put in the back of the dining room, so when they introduced the chefs and waiters we couldn't see a thing. the shows on the freedom were so-so (if i wanted to see a disney musical , as this was shown as one of the shows on the freedom, i would have done a disney cruise) the shows on the dream were outstanding. the ice skating show was pretty good and was impressive that they could keep their balance..only 2 falls...but great job to the skaters. and the music by the lido pool on the freedom sucked. embarkation for port canaveral is easy. i had a problem with royal...they took my picture wrong for my sail card and some how ended up as a big man lol...after 30minutes of them trying to figure it out i was finally on the ship. RCL as i boarded didnt have the "wow" factor to me as carnival does. the rooms on the freedom were smaller however the balcony on the freedom was really nice. considering i paid $1200 for a 7 day on the dream and a whopping $2500 on the freedom, i wont sail with rcl again

Just my opinion but I disagree with most of this. The freedom is awesome. The shows were way better IMO than anything we saw on carnival. I like that everyone sings. On the legend they had the same two girls and two guys that sang everynight. The rest were just dancers. The ship itself is beautiful. And not Vegas style like carnival. The promenade is great to walk down and explore. More shops than on the legend. We enjoyed the food and ate every meal except two in the MDR. We had a balcony on both carnival and royal. They seemed comparable in size but I did like the closets on carnival better.

 

I just did a review of the freedom with lots of pics. Just click on my name to find it.

[CozumelCastaway]

The Freedom is a beautiful ship, with, IMHO, more activities to do, as in rock-climbing, flowrider, boxing. Also, as mentioned, the interior Promanade is amazing. The Dream has the cove balconies, which I was in and LOVED it! As far as ship design goes, RCCL is nicer, but Carnival has better service and much better food.

[bwg03]

Just got off the dream. Go Royal Caribbean. Not even a question.

[Topo Gigio]

I can confirm from a check yesterday that Allure of the Seas for July 4th week 2013 priced out cheaper than taking Freedom OTS in mid-July 2012, both for balcony rooms.

 

Posters have stated that RCI takes the cruising experience beyond where CCL is. Can anyone be more specific? From everything I have heard, CCL has superior food (even most RCI enthusiasts admit that), so what else about the cruising experience is superior? I am a newbie, genuinely curious

 

They mean inferior food!!

[Tapi]

Posters have stated that RCI takes the cruising experience beyond where CCL is. Can anyone be more specific? From everything I have heard, CCL has superior food (even most RCI enthusiasts admit that), so what else about the cruising experience is superior? I am a newbie, genuinely curious

 

I see that you're booked on the Carnival Dream as well as on the Allure of the Seas. I sailed on both this year. Here are my thoughts:

 

[*]Ship: Carnival ships decoration is glitzy, neon, and a bit crazy, which adds to the fun atmosphere, but it can be a bit tacky. Royal Caribbean, ships are elegant, tasteful, and beautiful. There's a sense of wow as soon as you set foot aboard.

 

[*]Entertainment: Carnival entertainment focuses on shows, trivia games, pool games, casino, and bars. Royal Caribbean takes entertainment a notch higher. In addition to the standard lineup, you also have full Broadway productions, ice skating shows (the ice skating rink is open to the public as well), zip lining, surfing simulators (fee), rock climbing walls, parades, and on some ships, Cirque Du Soleil style aquatic shows which shouldn't be missed. Absolutely wonderful.

 

[*]Food: This is a VERY subjective topic. I won't dwell on whether the food is tastier or not, but where Royal Caribbean excels is on the variety of options. On the Allure, you'll have a total of 24 eateries. 24! That means that you can try something different every day. Several eateries charge an additional fee, but most are free of charge. You can eat at an Italian restaurant one night, Brazilian Churrascaria the next, a Steakhouse the next, New York Pizzeria the next, etc, etc. On Carnival, options are more limited, with most ships only offering the main dining room, the buffet, and an alternative option.

 

%

[Tapi]

**THIS IS A RE-POST OF MY PREVIOUS ENTRY WHICH DIDN'T POST CORRECTLY**

Posters have stated that RCI takes the cruising experience beyond where CCL is. Can anyone be more specific? From everything I have heard, CCL has superior food (even most RCI enthusiasts admit that), so what else about the cruising experience is superior? I am a newbie, genuinely curious

 

I see that you're booked on the Carnival Dream as well as on the Allure of the Seas. I sailed on both this year. Here are my thoughts:

 

• Ship: Carnival ships decoration is glitzy, neon, and a bit crazy, which adds to the fun atmosphere, but it can be a bit tacky. Royal Caribbean, ships are elegant, tasteful, and beautiful. There's a sense of wow as soon as you set foot aboard.
   
  
• Entertainment: Carnival entertainment focuses on shows, trivia games, pool games, casino, and bars. Royal Caribbean takes entertainment a notch higher. In addition to the standard lineup, you also have full Broadway productions, ice skating shows (the ice skating rink is open to the public as well), zip lining, surfing simulators (fee), rock climbing walls, parades, and on some ships, Cirque Du Soleil style aquatic shows which shouldn't be missed. Absolutely wonderful.
   
  
• Food: This is a VERY subjective topic. I won't dwell on whether the food is tastier or not, but where Royal Caribbean excels is on the variety of options. On the Allure, you'll have a total of 24 eateries. 24! That means that you can try something different every day. Several eateries charge an additional fee, but most are free of charge. You can eat at an Italian restaurant one night, Brazilian Churrascaria the next, a Steakhouse the next, New York Pizzeria the next, etc, etc. On Carnival, options are more limited, with most ships only offering the main dining room, the buffet, and an alternative option.
   
  
• Staterooms: Carnival claims to have the largest cabins in the industry. That's true to a certain extent. If you look at the lower categories, Carnival does offer more generous accomodations. However, as you look at higher categories (balcony and above), Royal Caribbean beats Carnival by a landslide. Just compare Carnival's Grand Suites and Royal Caribbean's Royal Suites. There's simply no comparison.
   
  
• Itineraries: Carnival's ships sail mostly in the Caribbean (with a few exceptions) which tend to be very repetitive. Royal Caribbean's ships are deployed worldwide, offering a much wider selection of itineraries and destinations. Caribbean, South America, Middle East, Mediterranean, Asia, Australia, Northern Europe, etc.
   
  
• Room Service: Room Service on Carnival is somewhat limited, consisting mostly of cold items, sandwiches and salads. on Royal Caribbean, the room service menu is much more comprehensive, including full hot breakfast, as well as several main entree's for lunch and dinner.
   
  
• Past Guest perks: Carnival has a more limited Past Guest program (currently being revised). Royal Caribbean's past guest program has several more tiers, and many more benefits as well.
  

[jenninlaca]

Tapi, thanks so much for your reply to my question. That was a great response. I chose the Carnival Dream for our first-ever cruise this December because we will already be in Orlando, the dates were perfect for us and it offered the best price for what we were looking for. Also important was that my youngest son will not yet be 3 when the ship sails but at that age he could still participate in Carnival's camp. But my sister is a big Royal Caribbean fan and we though the Oasis class ships looked so amazing that we could not pass up the chance to sail Allure! (not until 2013 sadly).

[Tapi]

Tapi, thanks so much for your reply to my question. That was a great response....Also important was that my youngest son will not yet be 3 when the ship sails but at that age he could still participate in Carnival's camp.

 

You welcome. :) And I agree about the kids program. Our son turns 2 in a few days, so when we sailed on the Dream, he couldn't participate yet. We made the most of it, but there were times when we wished we could've had the choice to drop him off for a few hours. BTW, the Camp Carnival facilities looked phenomenal.

 

Allure does have the Royal Babies and Tots program (it starts at 6 months of age), which was great. We could drop our son off at any time between 8am and midnight (he was 17 months olds at the time). They also had Crayola and Fisher Price sponsored activities. The downside is that it's not a free program (you pay $8/hr, which over the course of a week, adds up!), but we were happy to pay the extra fee since it gave us the freedom to explore the Allure.

 

We had a very enjoyable time on both ships. If you care to read more, I have a link to my reviews for both cruises on my signature below.

[abitaturbodog]

Thank you for your post. I am aware of Royal's military discount though it is my understanding that it is for specific sailings. I will absolutely see if the date we need to sail would qualify.

 

Thanks again!

 

Scootch--Can you confirm that Royal's military rate is just for specific sailings? I'm curious about this as well. Thanks!

[moesyk4]

I've never sailed a "nicer" Carnival ship so I cannot compare as far as the amenities and such. I will say that if we could afford it we'd probably sail RCCL over Carnival every time. We took the Freedom its inaugeral year almost 5 years ago. We really just like the ambience of the ship, very classy and very streamlined in its decor and its general atmosphere. I liked that it had specific areas for such things as karaoke where they had a specific little lounge for it and recording booths. That's just an example of course since most people didn't do karaoke, but for us it had a completely different atmosphere than just being in a lounge. Loved the ship layout, I didn't feel it was too large, I loved the adults only pool area where we spent most of our time and the gym too was gorgeous and top of the line. We splurged and went to the steakhouse and was hands down the best meal we ever had. And personally, I just liked the more "uppity" feel of the ship, the staff made sure you were wearing shoes and clothes into the buffet (which was very well laid out with stations), people REALLY dressed up on formal night, the shows really felt like an event, etc. We also had a promenade room (an interior room with a window overlooking the promenade) and I LOVED this type of room, much cheaper but the rooms were spacious and we loved overlooking the promenade. I also liked that there was at least one pool and hot tub open 24/7.

We had done a B2B with this ship and the Carnival Triumph and the things we liked for Carnival better were the shows (higher quality with better costumes and sets), the midnight buffets (RCCL only had one and there was very little "wow" factor and the food sucked), and our cruise director on the Freedom really sucked (I THink it was her last week there!). But I think those are subjective and change from ship to ship.

[genegri]

OP, not sure if the itinerary is a factor for you. I know for me when it comes to a 7-night cruise, it becomes an important consideration . :p

 

I think CCL Dream has one of the best 7-night West Carib itineraries out there. That alone would put Dream about FOTS if I was considering a Western. Of course you might like the ports FOTS calls.

 

Eastern routes are basically the same with FOTS goes to Cococay and Dream goes to Nassau and I would say FOTS trumps Dream in every way. Itin. ship, kids program ... etc.

 

Good luck deciding! :)

[scgamecock]

1. How efficient is Port Canaveral? Haven't been there for several years.

 

Hopefully, they have improved, but I have had one bad experience at PC and one not so bad. Not sure if it was our arrival timing or what, but one time we waited in line for a good two hours with no apparent reason for the delay. The other time I sailed from PC, it took about 45 minutes to get through the long lines.

 

This port is not nearly as efficient as Miami. Where I recently got off the shuttle and was on the boat in about 15 minutes.

[windjammerB&C]

Our last cruise was on rccl.

Not bad not great.

So back to carnival we go.