More expensive, but higher quality cruise line?

[Steppy08]

On RCCL you have to "sign out" for pool towels. They are not automatically placed in your cabin. If you do not return the pool towels, you get charged for them.

 

MARAPRINCE

 

And they are not kidding about having those dang towels back BEFORE midnight on the last night.

 

We got sidetracked on the Allure last month and didn't turn them in (DH thought, incorrectly, that you could just leave them in the room. Not so.)

 

I wouldn't mind being charged for the Carnival towels and keeping them. Not the nasty RCI towels.

[mrpayroll]

After five straight Carnival cruises , we went on RCl Liberty of the Seas. Had fantastic time . Nice break from Carnival. Next up is the Dream ( second time ) and then back to RCL Freedom of the Seas.

[Name Of The Game]

Does Celebrity and HAL still cater to the senior citizen crowd?

[RazorbackBelle08]

I may be wrong, but I keep seeing in my mind nothing but a whole bunch of screaming little kids on a Disney cruise (maybe I'm wrong, but that's what I keep feeling)

 

I like kids, but I don't go on a nice cruise just to see little kids running all over the place (Again, the words Disney and little screaming kids just seem synonymous in my mind)

[/color]

SAME HERE! I'm so glad I'm not the only one. I'm sure it can't be as bad as we think it is...

 

well... I don't know, maybe it can... :eek:

[paulgraff]

Disney best ever and best port ever is their island cast away key.

 

PG

[cruisefied]

For you folks that have sailed alot on the various different cruise lines other than Carnival, do you recommend any that are more expensive, but have not cut corners on food, entertainment, etc like Carnival has reciently?

 

Really looking for a cruise line that departs Florida and does 4-8 day cruises.

 

I am booked on the Victory (balcony cabin) as of now, but I may start looking elsewhere for any future cruises.

 

Thank's,

 

I recently took my first cruise on Royal Caribbean to Cozumel. A 4 day cruise out of Tampa. It was about $30 more expensive per day than the Carnival package. We had a really good time and nobody had to poop in a sack, sleep outside or fight for food.

[RazorbackBelle08]

I wouldn't mind being charged for the Carnival towels and keeping them. Not the nasty RCI towels.

 

I heard my awesome cabin steward got a kickback from people who ordered the towel folding books, robes, towels, etc-- and I liked the robe and towel so much (SO cushy and soft) that I bought a set before I got off the Conquest. I used the towel poolside all summer and I LOVE wrapping up in my Carnival robe after I get out of the shower :o

[ducklite]

Disney is not even in the same catagory. They are probably the Cruise line the OP is looking for.

 

I also agree that RCCL is the same level of quality as Carnival in service and food. They have the prettiest ships however.

 

Burt

 

Disney is a great middle ground between the mass market lines and the luxury lines. It offers all the activities typically found on a mass market ship (except a casino) while offering the level of service and amenities found on luxury ships.

 

If you are willing to sail off-season they have some great deals.

 

PS--You can bring unlimited amounts of alcohol in your carry on, soda is free on board.

[grnyel05]

The statement about wine is actually no longer correct. Passengers have been allowed to bring two bottles of wine per stateroom on since November 1. From Royal Caribbean's website:

 

Guests may bring personal wine and champagne onboard only on boarding day, limited to two (2) 750 ml bottles per stateroom.

 

Royal. Nicer ships

Carnival. Ships are ok, not bad.

 

Royal. A little more expensive.

Carnival. Better price

 

Royal. Can't bring wine or soda

Carnival. Bottle of wine and soda.

 

Royal. Food was good

Carnival. Food was good

 

Royal. Deserts made with a gelatin base.

Carnival. Very good deserts.

 

Royal. For the most part better port times and ports.

Carnival. Always feel like I am giving in on the short port time somewhere.

 

Royal. Pretty good back in the day

Carnival. Fits what I am looking for best.

[rdler]

I've been disappointed in Carnival's cutbacks for the last couple of years. Last year's Thanksgiving cruise on the Valor was just grim. I actually have two more Carnival trips booked and paid for, but I'm honestly thinking of cancelling. (I have cancel for any reason insurance on both.) Quite honestly, the food was just horrible. I don't eat powered eggs for breakfast every morning, and I don't eat at Golden Corral every night.

 

For next Thanksgiving, I've booked Celebrity. Their food sounds much better, although most of it is pay-as-you-go. That's okay because the fare is slightly lower and I qualify for some OCB's which will pay for the food.

[DEBnGAB]

For next Thanksgiving, I've booked Celebrity. Their food sounds much better, although most of it is pay-as-you-go. That's okay because the fare is slightly lower and I qualify for some OCB's which will pay for the food.

 

Did you book with the free drink package offer? Thats a heck of a deal.

 

I hear their MDR food is really good though (free)...not to mention hot breakfast and food from room service. I've got my first Celebrity cruise on the Reflection, March 22, 2014.

[SUN TURNIP]

I would recommend Princess. I like Carnival and Norwegian, but Princess is much nicer. I try to book cruises based on price...because I know I'll have a great time on any of them.

[rdler]

Yes. I did get the free drink package. Given that I tend to like my Coors Light (I'm low class with alcohol), that's a big deal and will compensate for some of the upcharges for food.

 

Other than the 2 cruises I have booked, I have simply given up on Carnival. And now, for obvious reasons, I'm concerned about their maintenence cut backs.

 

I feel bad, because I've loved Carnival for many years and am Platinum, which I like for the priority boarding.

 

But honestly, their food, service and clientele have just gone beyone the pale for me.

[Ellanora]

Disney is a great middle ground between the mass market lines and the luxury lines. It offers all the activities typically found on a mass market ship (except a casino) while offering the level of service and amenities found on luxury ships.

 

If you are willing to sail off-season they have some great deals.

 

PS--You can bring unlimited amounts of alcohol in your carry on, soda is free on board.

 

I wholeheartedly agree with this statement. I have loved every Carnival cruise I've taken and plan to take many more, but there is something extra special about the Disney service. Earlier posts were mentioning the pool towel policies on Carnival and RC; on Disney they have cabinets full of clean towels on the pool deck, just help yourself! They have staff set up on the fantastic private island Castaway Cay with baskets full of towels for you to grab what you need when you get off the ship, no signing out, no extra charges. Disney has some great adult only areas too.

 

If you can cruise offseason, Disney can be a great value, and downright fantastic if you are a Florida resident and can catch the resident rates.

 

I will say that Carnival desserts are overall still the best! :D

[evandbob]

My most elegant cruise was the Crown Princess 2 week Mediterranean, Rome to Venice. The best food, cabin, deck party with fireworks & music and overall ship design was the Disney Dream. Someday I'll try Celebrity.

[LocoLoco1]

Turbo,

Within the Carnival Corp. 'tent' there's Holland-America Lines and Seabourn. They are less likely to 'scrimp'. We're OK with HAL...so far. Uber-luxury lines don't do 4-day Florida cruises, but they don't scrimp. Am I saying, "You get what you pay for"? Sorta. Locomotiveman Tom

[Seago2]

They've all had cutbacks, but you can go to an upsell restaurant and get better food. You can order flowers for the room. You can pay for a less chaotic debarkation. I have no argument with the "pay for play" tiered pricing- it is what it is. But what we're seeing now is skimping on maintenance and we should have all seen it coming. Triumph has had propulsion problems and people have been missing ports, but god forbid they skip a cruise and repair it. Now they have 60 days worth of missed cruises and all of the costs associated with this Cruise from Hell.

 

I loved Princess and wish they had more east coast departures. HAL has gone downhill. NCL has gone downhill on roller skates. Carnival - OMG. My first Carnival cruise was the most fun I've ever had. The last two- sticky decks, sticky tables, harried crew, pax with no shirts on- I'm done, I'm just done. I should have known that what I see above decks is going on below decks. Unfortunately, good PR cannot stem the tide and when people start to think of "cruise of squalor", as I just saw on the news, when they think of cruising maybe The mass market lines will understand they have been penny wise and pound foolish.

[buddylover]

Not only that but the Carnival towels are thick/nice/cushy.... The RCI towels are paper thin and rough! :o

 

And so is the bedding on RCI......doesn't compare to CCL or Princess. As for food, they are all fairly equivalent w/ Carnival having the edge and RCCL at the bottom.

[chill6x6]

Not so sure about Norwegian. Just came off a 12 nighter and many items for free on RCL or Holland America could only be had at pay for restaurants. Some examples, escargo, shrimp coctail, osso boco, decent strip steak and much more

 

For sure NCL.. Only negative is in some cases a smaller cabin. Trying Celebrity in November and RCCL in April 2014! Certainly ANY of those three will be as good as if not better!

[awaywego0000]

They've all had cutbacks, but you can go to an upsell restaurant and get better food. You can order flowers for the room. You can pay for a less chaotic debarkation. I have no argument with the "pay for play" tiered pricing- it is what it is. But what we're seeing now is skimping on maintenance and we should have all seen it coming. Triumph has had propulsion problems and people have been missing ports, but god forbid they skip a cruise and repair it. Now they have 60 days worth of missed cruises and all of the costs associated with this Cruise from Hell.

 

I loved Princess and wish they had more east coast departures. HAL has gone downhill. NCL has gone downhill on roller skates. Carnival - OMG. My first Carnival cruise was the most fun I've ever had. The last two- sticky decks, sticky tables, harried crew, pax with no shirts on- I'm done, I'm just done. I should have known that what I see above decks is going on below decks. Unfortunately, good PR cannot stem the tide and when people start to think of "cruise of squalor", as I just saw on the news, when they think of cruising maybe The mass market lines will understand they have been penny wise and pound foolish.

 

I am curious. Regarding your NCL cruises, did you notice a big difference between your 2009 and your 2011 cruises (downhill on roller skates)? We did Spirit in 2010 and we were happy with our cruise. But we will be on Dawn in 2014. I have read good reviews about Dawn. Just curious on your thoughts.

[Mrs. Squirrel]

NCL has gone downhill on roller skates.

 

Care to elaborate? That has not been our experience at all. :confused:

[awaywego0000]

SAME HERE! I'm so glad I'm not the only one. I'm sure it can't be as bad as we think it is...

 

well... I don't know, maybe it can... :eek:

 

On the one Disney cruise I went on the kids weren't that bad. Some of the adults could take lessons from the kids lol.

 

Price out a Disney cruise. I personally think they are too expensive. You can get a suite on other lines for the price you pay for an inside cabin on Disney.

[S.S.Oceanlover]

Care to elaborate? That has not been our experience at all. :confused:

 

I think they have gone uphill myself. As a matter of fact while NCL was going uphill i am sure I saw Carnival pass us by going in the opposite direction.

 

Bill

 

 

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[LRene]

Just off a 10-day Celebrity cruise and I don't really care if I ever set foot on a Carnival ship again. We will, just due to geography, but there were very few similarities in the two lines as far as we were concerned. We have also enjoyed HAL and will likely try Princess in the future.

[ducklite]

I may be wrong, but I keep seeing in my mind nothing but a whole bunch of screaming little kids on a Disney cruise (maybe I'm wrong, but that's what I keep feeling)

 

I like kids, but I don't go on a nice cruise just to see little kids running all over the place (Again, the words Disney and little screaming kids just seem synonymous in my mind)

 

 

Maybe HAL ... that's a thought

 

.

 

Disney does a really great job of keeping kids and adults separated unless you want to be together. They don't allow children into the alternate restaurants, they don't allow them into the adult pool area, and they don't allow them into the clubs.

 

You could pick up Regent out of Miami to the Caribbean. As long as it isn't a school break it's not likely that there will be children on board.