Carnival vs NCL...looking for opinions

[paminohio]

We have taken two cruises...first one RCI on the Voyager and second one Carnival on the Fantasy. Not that we didn't love the Voyager, but we liked the 'fun' atmosphere on the Fantasy better. We're looking to book our third cruise, this time with 4 other couples, and would like to hear from others who have been on both Carnival and NCL. Is there a big difference between these two lines? (Besides the dining options). Is NCL as 'fun' as Carnival?

 

Thanks in advance for all replies!

 

Pam

[tef43]

Is NCL as 'fun' as Carnival?

Perhaps twenty years ago they were. No more.

[MrPete]

Is NCL as 'fun' as Carnival?

 

They weren't 16 years ago. Never went back.

[IBEEMOM]

Dollar wise, you get the best value with Carnival.

[lhall85917]

We just went on our first Carnival trip a couple of weeks ago, have been on 2 NCL trips before this. Our experience was that both lines were very similar. Rooms on both ships were very nice, ships were beautiful and activities and shows were comparable. We thought the food on Carnival was slightly better, however we prefer Freestyle dining offered by NCL (not enough to prevent us from doing Carnival again). Service on Carnival was adequate, we found NCL to be better in that regard. Passengers seemed to be from similar backgrounds, we didn't see a big difference in how they dressed, behaved, etc. One thing that NCL does that I wish Carnival would start is that they have anti-bacterial stations in many places for your hands. They were available as you board and by the buffet, we thought this was a great idea even if it was just for you to keep in mind that it is important to wash hands frequently. We didn't find one of these stations on the Valor.

Overall, both cruiselines are excellent and we wouldn't hesitate to sail on either again.

[coachj]

I think CCL is a little better value dollar wise, but I have gotten some good deals on NCL. The food is comparable on both lines and I think the shows on CCL are a little better than NCL. The staterooms on CCL are definitely larger than NCL. Service on both is good with NCL being a little faster to address the small problems that can arise. Casinos are about the same, with Norwegian having looser slots. NCL ships have a coziness about them but CCL can give u more with their larger ships.

 

CCL LIBERTY 02/2006

CCL VALOR 02/2005

HAL ZUIDERDAM 12/2004

NCL WIND 04/2004

CCL PARADISE 02/2004

NCL MAJESTY 02/2003

CCL ECSTASY 04/1994

CCL ECSTASY 04/1992

EMERALD SEAS 04/1978

EMERALD SEAS 04/1976

[Carlakuch]

My question is kind of the opposite, I have been on 3 NCL cruises-Dawn twice and the Majesty once. I LOVED the ships and the Freestyle dining, I must admit, I am a little leary about Carvival, just because I am so unfamiliar with this cruise line, dining options, cabins, dressing for dinner. Does anyone know if Carnival's balcony are comparable to the mini-suites on the Dawn. I have always booked a mini on the Dawn and a suite on the Majesty. I agree with the previous posters who said the Carnivals prices are much more reasonable, that is why I booked this line. Couldn't pass up the bargain. By the way, I am sailing on the Triumph Sept. 5th to Halifax and St. John's. Will 4 people in a balcony room by ok, myself and DH and our twins age 14 will all be in this room. :eek:. Thanks for your help in advance.

[lasifguvui5uh]

We've been on several Carnival cruises, with the latest being the Legend last Summer. We just got off the NCL Dawn yesterday. Carnival has great late night entertainment, Dawn very little. Food in the buffet was inedible on the Dawn, great on the Legend. Freestyle Cruising is a failed experiment IMHO. Too much of the food has to be ready to go at short notice with the result being many cold soups (intentionally cold) and side dishes that seemed to be sitting in a steam table. The lobster tail on the Dawn was far better than any I've had on a Carnival ship. Guess even a blind squirrel finds a nut once in awhile ;)

NCL strikes me as a sort of pre-HAL.

Any other questions let me know. I have to get back to flushing the salt out of my system so my shoes will fit again.

[cruisinqt]

I've been on RCI, Carnival, NCL, and am going on my first Princess cruise this December. That being said, NCL is nice, the food is good, the shows are good, and the people were about the same type of mix that you see on Carnival and about the same age too.

 

The big difference I see between Carnival and the other lines is the attitude of the people, it's not necessarily their age as much as their thinking and attitude. In the piano bars on other cruise lines the people sit and listen. On Carnival they sing along and have a good time. In the clubs and bars on Carnival there's always a lot of partying going on and they stay open much later than the other cruise lines. I also love Carnival's late night adult comedy shows. If I'm cruising to have a good time and stay up late in the bars and clubs I go on Carnival. If I'm wanting to have a peaceful, relaxing cruise that's laid back, I go on NCL or RCI. ;) Carnival isn't a "pary ship full of drunks" like many people claim. I have yet to be bothered by some rude drunk while cruising on Carnival. But the people on Carnival do seem to be a little more lively and ready to have fun.

 

Carla, the cabins on Carnival are bigger than the cabins on other cruise ships. When our family of 4 cruises Carnival we always just get a basic inside cabin because it is larger than most and very accommodating. :)

[mrg0433]

Give freestyle a try and see how you like it.

[mrg0433]

We sail Norwegian, Carnival, and Royal Caribbean. We have the RCCL Jewel of the Seas booked in October, the Carnival Triump booked in February, and the Norwegian Spirit booked for Thanksgiving 2006. I have made a list of the things we enjoyed on our Norwegian Dawn cruise last December.

 

10 restaurants: Venetian Dining Room, Mexican, French, Italian, Japanese, 2 American, Steak House, Blue Lagoon/Chinese--Fast Food

PLus Poolside BBQ on 2 levels and adult & kids buffets

 

Coffee pots & fridge in balcony units, guest laundry, tiered pool decks, and

movie theater. Best of all: 2 for 1 (all) drinks after 11pm

Buy a bucket of beers or wine and get one free and keep

in your fridge for your balcony use. Great Deal!!!

 

We do enjoy our Carnival cruises as well. We love Kareoke, pizza and caesar salad with ice cream 24 hours. Carnival does have great 3 and 4 day cruise rates last minute. However, longer cruises tend to be a better value on Norwegian for a family because 3rd and 4th passenger rates are much lower. NCL also gives prior guests discounts. Our son is taking an 8 night (4) port Alcapulco cruise with a balcony on the Norwegian Star paying $700 less for a family of 4 than our 7 night (3) port cruise on Carnival Triump in February. For that kind of value, I would definetely consider NCL the better deal. We will be in Florida in February and couldn't find a Norewgian cruise to fit our time schedule, so we were happy when we found a Carnival cruise that did fit our schedule.

[ehaas]

I really like the NCL free style crusing. You make make reservations for dinner or just show up. Dress is very casual which my family likes. Any cruising is better than not crusing!!!!