new ships vs old ships

[viggodreamer]

I will be going on my first cruise soon on the Conquest. I was thinking about doing a short cruise this winter and all the 3-4 day cruises are on the older ships. I'm just wondering if the Conquest will "spoil" me and I'll be a little disappointed with the older ships.

 

Do you have just as much enjoyment on the older ships as you do the new ones? Does Carnival do a good job with upkeep?

[GoinCruisin]

I cruised the Sensation twice prior to cruising the Miracle. I was actually more disappointed in the Miracle as opposed to the Sensation. I would cruise the Sensation again before the Miracle. It all depends on what you are looking for. I loved the intimacy of the Sensation and the layout of the Fantasy class ships... you can't go wrong cruising out of NOLA :D

[lrizit]

My first cruise was on the Victory, and I was a little apprehensive also, to try an "older" ship. We decided to take the 4 night from Miami on Fascination in January as a little break from school. I did not go in with high expectations...but I had a ball! I also loved the layout of the Fantasy Class ship, and booked another one for June of 2006! There are certainly differences...but if you're just looking for a nice getaway...it is a lot of fun.

[richfret]

I have the opposite opinion of the others. Old is old and for ships that is especially true. Old ships smell, are usually smaller, are dirtier, are more likely to break down, are need of repair and are out of date. Will be doing our 7th cruise in May and so far, the new ships are the best. As an example, we did the Carnivale (just before it was sold) because of the exotic ports. The ports were exotic but the ship was terrible. Ships are no different than hotels. Stay at a 20 year old hotel and like any building that old, it will have problems. New hotels (especially after the first 6 months when initial problems have been ironed out) are the best.

 

We sailed the Sensation when it was new. It was great then but it can no longer compare to the Valor or Spirit. They have too many new features that cannot be found on the Sensation: Bigger Atriums, more pools, better TVs and communication systems, less posts in the theater, bigger casinos, more decks, faster speeds, better computer facilities, extra eating stations, bigger ship stores with more inventory carried, etc.

 

Go newer and bigger.

[jima53]

Our first cruise was on the Miracle, last march and it was the 2nd. or 3rd. cruise for the new Miracle. Our last carnival cruise was this past january on the Celebration. Never again on that old tub, compared to the newer ships...cold food, worn out equipment, poor use of space, lousy room service, mechanical problems in the suite, items missing from suite,,,,just too worn out for us. Why not pay a little more and get a more modern ship.

 

 

Jim

[Sea Turtle]

I cruised Victory once, then twice on Spirit, and then a 'never to be seen again' price on Imagination came along. I was ready to get off Imagination by dinner the first night, and I did inquire about the 'Vacation Guarantee'. The Purser's Desk told me if I wanted what I had experienced with CCL in the past I should have booked the Spirit again, and that I shouldn't expect the same from the Imagination. Well, I never expected the 'same' ship but I did expect the same quality of food, and expected that the bed mattress wouldn't have springs poking me in the back, and that the cabin wouldn't smell like a sewer for the first 24hours. Not so much to ask in my book but according to the Purser ... I weighed my options and decided to remain onboard as they were going to drop me in Belize with no assurances as to when my plane to Miami would depart, nor could they tell me how far away I would have to travel to the closet airport in Belize--too much of a risk for me even with CCL footing the bill. From the time I agreed to stay onboard I had crewmembers contacting me every day trying to make amends (gifts, letters, phone calls). In the end I did find a nice deck chair for the duration of the cruise, met some nice peeps (as always when cruising), and lost some weight as I was not interested in any of the food.

 

So unless another $200.00 rock bottom price 5-day cruise for a solo cruiser comes along, I will most likely stay off of any CCL ships that are older than the Victory.

 

Long story short, viggodreamer, I think you will be spoiled!!!!! Enjoy your first cruise.

[viggodreamer]

thanks for the great responses....

 

 

I just wish they would use some of the newer ships on shorter cruises. I can't always take a 7-day!

 

any of the other cruiselines use new ships for short cruises?

[lrizit]

The Purser's Desk told me if I wanted what I had experienced with CCL in the past I should have booked the Spirit again, and that I shouldn't expect the same from the Imagination.

 

I just can't believe they told you that!!!! I mean, I believe YOU, but come on! What kind of message are they sending out here? That's just ludicrous! You're right, of course things are different, but you absolutely should expect the same service.

[kujobie]

I enjoyed my Jubilee and Sensation cruises as much, if not more, than the Glory.

[travellady]

Sailed the 5-day Inspiration this past Christmas, one of the newer of the older ships, and it definitely wasn't up to par with the rest of the ships we've sailed. Broken closet door in our suite, broken showerhead, broken elevator the whole cruise, sewer like smell in my son's cabin stateroom the crew worked on fixing the entire cruise, broken ice cream machine etc. Entertainment was somewhat 2nd rate, I think since it was Christmas, "brand name" entertainment was on the newer bigger ships.

 

But, we did have a good time, relaxed, enjoyed the ports, and the food was good. Better food than on our RCCL Voyager cruise. Though not as good as Princess.

 

Also, this cruise was a bit less expensive than the newer ships on 7-day cruises during the holidays. So, if you only have a few days and you want to save some money, go on a shorter cruise on an older ship, but don't compare the experience to a newer ship.

[Runner Girl]

Based on how picky my dh is and what I've read on these boards,we avoid cruises on ships older than 5 years. I think the lines load up the newest ships with the best staff and entertainment too.

[SBBScruz]

We just got off the Ecstasy from Glaveston and had an absolute BLAST! Everything was great....the food, the entertainment, the activities. I had two teen with me and they also had a great time! I think if you go in expecting the worst thats probably what you're going to get!

 

It was a wonderful trip and I would do it all over again!:)

Have a great time on your cruise, what ever you decide!

[phinfan63]

I sailed on the Holiday last year and it was my first cruise so nothing to compare it to BUT, it was very clean and well kept. New mattresses were very comfortable. Never had a bad meal, all personnel were very friendly.

 

We sail on the Sensation in September and I just hope it is as nice as the Holiday.

[GottaLuvCruising]

We've sailed with Carnival 9 times; the only bad cruise was a 3 night during spring break on a ship infested with obnoxious, spoiled-brat, college kids.

 

A couple years ago we dropped $3,200 for a suite with a huge balcony on a new ship. A few weeks later, we paid $199 each for a five-day sailing in an inside stateroom, down in the bilges, on the Imagination. We honestly had a far better time on the Imagination.

 

Now I do love the amenities and features of the newer ships. But I wouldn't hesitate to enjoy the smaller ships as well...just not during spring break.

[DHB]

We have cruised the Century, the Fascination, the Victory and the Glory and the Century was in just as good of shape as the Victory and the Glory. The Fascination was worn out as compared to the other ships and I think the past years with the all out partying on the older ships have taken their toll on the equipment. The Century had class and style, like the Victory and the Glory, as compared to the Fascination and it did not feel like the ship was 8 years old when we took the cruise. We are booked on the Valor in Oct. and looking at the Liberty for a spring cruise, just rather pay the extra and enjoy the comforts of the newer ships.

[viggodreamer]

out of curiosity, I'm wondering if the short 3-4 day trips fill-up just as much as the 7 day trips...

 

cause if they do, I can't understand why they *don't* have new ships doing short cruises. It's actually to their financial benefit I think to schedule a ship to do a 3 day and then a 4 day. (ie: say a 3 day cruise is 399 and a 4 day is 499 and a 7 day is 799.. you do the math... plus the onboard spending is probably more by having 2 seperate groups in one week)

[SoCalgirl]

I agree that the newer bigger ships are nicer with more options, features, cleaner, etc. I took my first cruise on Inspiration and had a great time. My next cruise was on the Triumph and my complaint was that I had to wait in lines everywhere I went, because there were so many more people. You couldn't find a decent deck chair, had to wait in line to get in to dinner, wait in line at one of the 4 buffet lines for lunch, wait in line for a hamburger at the grill... That is definitely an advantage of the smaller ships in my opinion -- less crowded.