Which is better? Carnival or Royal Caribbean?

[happyprecious]

I have cruised twice with Royal Caribbean and once with P&O and now looking at Carnival. Can anyone tell me who has been on Carnival and Royal Caribbean some comparisons? Is Carnival better? Drink prices? What currency is used on board Carnival?

Thanks for any other info you can share.

[ry1206an]

I have not sailed with Royal Caribbean but have with Carnival. From what I've seen, Royal Caribbean seems to be better quality with more food options, activities, and better overall ships. However, I think you will have a great time on Carnival as well. On our Carnival cruises we had great service, surprisingly good food, and upgraded extras like robes and nice pool chairs. I'm sure you will have a great time either way but those are my thoughts. Have a great trip!

[T2C]

I have cruised twice with Royal Caribbean and once with P&O and now looking at Carnival. Can anyone tell me who has been on Carnival and Royal Caribbean some comparisons? Is Carnival better? Drink prices? What currency is used on board Carnival?

Thanks for any other info you can share.

We've been on both and would take RCCL but have cruised with CCL lately because RCCL has priced themselves out of the game because to us there isn't a great difference. We think RCCL's atmosphere fits us better but we couldn't take them out of Texas in the summer because they pull out of Texas in the summer. This year, and next year, for the exact same cruise, during the same time period and for the same type cabin, they wanted $2,000 more then CCL out of Maryland.

We enjoy both, only cruise ship we didn't like, because of it's lay out, was Carnival Conquest though we still enjoyed the cruise because of the friends we were visiting with.

 

We say choose the places you want to go and if you have a choice of cruise lines and comparative ships, take the less expensive and spend your money on other things you like.

[joeyancho]

Having cruised 28 times between both lines, Royal is better, hands down. You get what you pay for. Carnival ships do not compare. Royal also has better food, especially with their new menus. The entertainment is better on Royal. The atmosphere is also better. Carnival is a lot cheaper for a reason....

[SadieN]

Will you use all the bells and whistles on a Royal ship? I do not feel the need to pay for a ship whose free amenities I wouldn't use- Rock Walls, Flow Riders, etc.

[CarnieAddict]

Will you use all the bells and whistles on a Royal ship? I do not feel the need to pay for a ship whose free amenities I wouldn't use- Rock Walls, Flow Riders, etc.

RCL charge you to go on the ships activites?

[SadieN]

RCL charge you to go on the ships activites?

 

No, but I don't need to pay for expensive 'lures' I won't use. But if you will use them then it is worth it to go on a ship that has them.

[Tutankhamen]

Royal has better ships.

Carnival has better desserts.

 

Royal has better itineraries.

Carnival has better prices.

 

Carnival has Punchliners.

Royal has better shows.

 

Carnival has the cove balconies.

 

Everyone has their likes and dislikes. For us, Carnival wins in areas that are important to us. Price, Cove, desserts and Punchliners.

 

That said, we are having more and more trouble finding an itinerary that we like on Carnival. This may have us looking at other lines after my Breeze cruise.

[Tithonus]

We had many CCL cruises under our belt before trying RCCL, cause they had an itinerary CCL abandoned. We were quite surprised and pleased.

 

The best was the lack of crowds. There were less people per capacity, as well as diversified over the ship, drawing different segments to different areas doing different activities. Great ship, great entertainment, and certainly a well laid out pool area.

 

When I did my next CCL cruise, it just seemed stale, same ole same ole, and just way too crowded. And food quality and service seemed to have the bottom pulled from under it. The production shows were gone. Entertainment seemed to focus on passenger activities.

 

And then going back to RCCL found them taking advantage of what CCL was doing, and upping the ante.

 

I have heard NCL is doing the same, so my next cruise is booked on them.

[RWolver672]

We had several CCL under our belt and wanted to go where CCL didn't but RCL did. We tried it and quite frankly would never go back to RCL again. We didn't feel that the ship was that great in design, lacked in the WOW factor that so many people rave about. It was just a ship. We like the neon and funny things that you don't normally see in daily life. You can go to an amusement park or you can go to Disney. Both have rides but Disney is something that you don't see every day.

 

The people on the RCL ship seemed to walk around with their noses in the air and acted like they were better than everybody else. We didn't think the food was any better on RCL than CCL.

 

RCL in their infinite wisdom, puts the ice cream machine in the smoking section on the Lido Deck. Needless to say, everybody that wants ice cream has to walk through the smoke and then complain because they have to smell smoke.

 

Like anything else, it's a matter of opinion and what you like or dislike. We have more fun on CCL and will stick with them. We only cruise every other year and look forward to them. We will stay with Carnival because we know we will have fun on them.

[Georgiagolfer]

I have cruised twice with Royal Caribbean and once with P&O and now looking at Carnival. Can anyone tell me who has been on Carnival and Royal Caribbean some comparisons? Is Carnival better? Drink prices? What currency is used on board Carnival?

Thanks for any other info you can share.

 

You need to ask this question on the Royal boards as well. DW and I like both lines. We sail CCL more because of the ability to drive to multiple Ports, whereas the only Port close enough for a RCCL cruise and still drive is Port Canaveral. In addition when comparing similar cruises from same Ports, CCL is a good bit cheaper in many cases, but not all. You can't go wrong with either line, IMO.

[LargeCornGyro]

Better is in the eye of the beholder. There are things I like on both lines.

 

And once you can accept that, you have 40+ ships and itineraries to choose from.

 

They're different, yet the same. And both are the top lines because they know how to put on a good show. Both have specific niches they excel in, and that's what makes them different. Who wants them both doing the same thing?

[Aoumd]

The way I view it, having sailed both:

 

• Carnival gives you a good basic cruise for a great price.
  
• With Royal Caribbean, you pay proportionately more for more features and better decor on your ship.
  

In other words, both give you the same "bang for the buck"...Royal usually costs more bucks and gives you proportionately more stuff. So my wife go on Carnival for a cruise and Royal when we want to splurge on something more.

[Isa65]

I wouldn't say one is better than the other. There are differences and that's fine.

 

It all depends on what YOU expect out of a cruise, no one can tell you which one you'll enjoy more. I love them both and will continue to book them both until I'm old enough to sail Holland America:D (joke).

[Mysticks1]

Having sailed both I would say that Royal Caribbean has better ships. Better décor and more entertainment options. I thought the shows were better and the Ice Shows that we saw were excellent. I haven't sailed Carnival since 2006 but using that food as an example I thought the MDR food on Carnival was better but the buffet area on RCL with their stations was better and had better crowd flow. I really liked the Promenade on the RCL ships and Café Promenade for a quick snack couldn't be beat.

RCL and Carnival both use the room key as your currency onboard. You tie a credit card to your account that everything is charged to.

[hockeyluver]

Will you use all the bells and whistles on a Royal ship? I do not feel the need to pay for a ship whose free amenities I wouldn't use- Rock Walls, Flow Riders, etc.

 

This is the same reason we stick with Carnival. We are happy with the service/food with Carnival so I see no need to go to another line and pay more.

[Brossy]

Hi there

 

Speaking from an Aussie point of view (and a fellow coastie too) I would pick Royal over Carnival. I see that you just did the 2 night sampler on Radiance. She is my favourite ship, What did you think of her?

 

Carnival Australia is very different to Carnival USA and you will find it is very similar to P&O but the ship is newer and has more facilities. The ship will be overcrowded with kids as they do not cap he kids club like P&O. You will have to pay for room service (it's free on Royal until midnight). They do have the green thunder which is a huge drawcard if you are taking the kids. They also use Aussie $ onboard.

 

Royals ships are beautiful and you get a lot more included in your fare. Downside is you have to tip and currency onboard isin US$. Upside is drinks are cheaper :)

[LargeCornGyro]

Will you use all the bells and whistles on a Royal ship? I do not feel the need to pay for a ship whose free amenities I wouldn't use- Rock Walls, Flow Riders, etc.

 

Another one looking at this the wrong way.

 

Those things draw those that like it toward those things. This leaves LESS crowds around the things YOU like to do.

[Retiringworkingstiff]

I have cruised twice with Royal Caribbean and once with P&O and now looking at Carnival. Can anyone tell me who has been on Carnival and Royal Caribbean some comparisons? Is Carnival better? Drink prices? What currency is used on board Carnival?

Thanks for any other info you can share.

My 2 cents (not 3 since we don't have too many cruises under our belt), here we go:

 

Me and Mrs. and DS were on the Allure summer of 2012. Allure, we had connecting balconies (DS by himself), Central Park deck where 3 of the specialty restaurants are located.

 

Me and Mrs. were on the Valor in May of this year (we had an OV on deck 2).

 

Cabin

 

Our cabins on the Allure are slightly smaller than the ones that are comparable in "class" on the CCL. I like a bigger room myself.

 

You get a love seat on the Allure, a regular sofa on the Valor.

 

Allure has curved shower doors, CCL a shower curtain. Me and Mrs. being Asians, either way is OK because of our (smaller physical size). DS not so much since he is 6' 2", he would have minor difficulties with either configuration.

 

Mini fridge. Allure has no booze inside (maybe it was because DS was only 19 and he is registered to be sharing the cabin with me, so no booze inside the mini fridge by law). Then again, no booze in the other connecting cabins either. Not that we ever buy any booze off the mini fridge but to people like us, it a bit of a novelty.

 

Room steward: Allure, room steward didn't showed up for the whole day day before returning to FLL. Other stewards on the same deck had to make up for her assigned duties (all looked frustrated). CCL Valor, room steward was very good and attentive to our needs (we didn't have many to start off with). I supposed on any mass market cruise, room steward quality of service is a hit and miss thing though! Anyone can have a real bad hair day I suppose!

 

Food

 

Allure: I booked the specialty restaurants for dinners before hand.

 

150 Central Park, not too bad and don't expect high end Nouvelle cuisine there.

 

Chops Grill, again not too bad, CCL Steakhouse on the Valor much better, same can be said for attention to service. I actually pre-booked that place twice on the cruise, cancelled the second one.

 

Izumi, the Japanese restaurant, the hot stone grill combo was a joke. You get what you paid for so I am not being 100% fair here. In Shanghai where I had the stone grill, they give you a nice thick juicy slap of rib eye, not like 3 (maybe 4 pieces) of thinly sliced beef at Izumi. Had 2 special martinis, sake based, very good, I think it is called "get a cab" or something like that.

 

Giovanni, great great place both in terms of quality and service. Seafood and meat dishes were both good. If that wasn't the last evening before returning to FLL, I would have booked another dinner there.

 

Allure had this Mexican restaurant located at the Broadway section, we had lunch there, food was good. Service non existence (at least for us), maybe the table of ship officers sitting next to us had something to do with it.

 

Buffet: RCI seems to be better than CCL, more variety I think. But let's face it, a buffet is a buffet is a buffet.

 

MDR: We had 2 formal dinners on the Allure's. It was packed really tight. They had some big tables almost right next to the entrance. CCL, Steakhouse I think it's called Scarlett, as indicated earlier, was quite good (Ruth Chris it wasn't but relative to $35 per head they charges, it was more than OK). CCL MDR food just OK, we had late dinning. I don't like the wait staff dancing but that's just me, some people liked it. On the upcoming December Breeze cruise, we will have ATD, I will time it so we avoid that "show".

 

MDR Attire: DS and myself both have dark suits/tie on the Allure on the 2 formal nights. Mrs. what can I say, she is always well dressed. Some tux sighted on the Allure but those are in the minority. CCL, not so much although I still wear my dark suit and tie on the 2, I think CCL calls them Elegant Nights. If you are old school like myself, MDR attire is important, RCI wins hands down.

 

Other food joints: Deli, I personally liked the deli on our May Valor cruise. On the Allure, DS and Mrs. go to this place call Park Cafe (I think that's what its called and they liked the roast beef sandwich very much). Allure, again DS and Mrs. like the place that specializes in hot dogs, me, not sure what the big deal was. We didn't try the Johnny Rockets on the Allure, didn't look too appealing to me but the place was rather crowded a lot of time. On the Breeze coming up, I like to try the taco place, Guy's Burger, heard some good words about that, not sure if I want to divulge. Need to watch my health at 58!

 

Activities and Shows

 

Allure, we booked only 1 month prior, the shows had to be pre-booked. I supposed for a mega size ship, that was logistically required. I think for the Breeze coming up, no pre-booking is required. I like that better. Now I absolutely agreed the quality of the shows on Allure were (much) better than CCL. Then again, if I want to see a good show, I go to Broadway in NYC.

 

The Solarium on the Allure was a super nice place to relax, adults only I recall. No such thing on CCL other than the Serenity, no comparison. Breeze coming up, me and Mrs. will purchase the Weekly Spa Pass for sure.

 

You can't do everything they have to offer on the Allure in 7 days. Never had a chance to hit the Jazz Club for example.

 

Casino: Not my kind of thing. Throwing money away is TMA, regardless of which ship it is.

 

Budgeting

 

Say for the 3 of us, if we are talking the cruise itself only, not including spending on board or excursions, if it is over/under say $1,700, it's OK, we are talking mass market still but if value for money comes into play, CCL should generally , not always ... CCL should win!

 

Passenger on board

 

Now DS is in university, he is on what is called a co-op program, in accounting. During the summer/autumn months, those are his solid work terms. In other words, we won't be cruising with DS for a number of years. Me and Mrs. can now cruise in early May, early September or early December or early January. Demographics are different compared to the months during each year when schools are out.

 

Drink prices

 

We don't drink that much, maybe 5 cocktails a day each, less if the ship docks somewhere, so either way, regardless of the line, not going to make much difference to us in terms of spending. Can't remember I needed to check the prices on any cruise before I ordered a Pina Colada (sp).

 

Currency

 

We are from Toronto, Mrs. always get roughly $500 USD just in case. Probably $200 of that in small bills so we can tip the deserving servers here and there (we do leave the auto tips in place).

 

Hope some of the info presented herewith help. If not, just have a super cruise, regardless of which line you decide on.

[miataman19]

Another one looking at this the wrong way.

 

Those things draw those that like it toward those things. This leaves LESS crowds around the things YOU like to do.

 

Couldn't agree more. IMHO, you should look at it as cruise lines being different not better or worse. Is Seaborne or Crystal better than Carnival? For some cruisers, yes for others, no. It all depends on what "you" want out of a line or ship. OK, could you see a conga line on a Seaborne ship :eek:, just sayin...lol...Enjoy yourself ;)

[TurtleCrossing1]

I would try carnival. It's my favorite cruise line. If you don't like it, you can always go back to royal Caribbean.

[cvcruzer]

I just finished my 2nd RCL cruise on the Oasis last month. Ship beautiful, food very good, and shows fantastic. That being said, my husband and I had a lot more fun on our Carnival cruise on the Valor. The activities on the two RCL ships were few and far between. I am looking at a cruise on the Breeze and on Sea Days can see at 5-8 activities that I would like to do. On the Oasis I had hours of time with nothing interesting to do. Also the piano bar was the worst. I compared with another colleague who just took a Princess cruise out of LA and we both agree, Carnival is more fun.

 

 

Sent using the Cruise Critic forums app

[silvercrikhix]

We have sailed Carnival 2X and RCCL 1X.

3rd Carnival in 7 weeks :D

I agree with the thought that they are the same, yet different.

You must decide what is important for you on a cruise.

What is important to others may mean nothing to you.

 

We found them more alike than different.

I am of the belief that the newer Carnival ships are more comparative with RCI.

More food options, activities and nicer decor.

 

Again, decide what you find important, that should give you your answer! :D

[Gail & Marty sailing away]

What currency is used on board Carnival ? US dollar ..

[vlynn]

Royal has better ships.

Carnival has better desserts.

 

Royal has better itineraries.

Carnival has better prices.

 

Carnival has Punchliners.

Royal has better shows.

 

Carnival has the cove balconies.

 

Everyone has their likes and dislikes. For us, Carnival wins in areas that are important to us. Price, Cove, desserts and Punchliners.

 

That said, we are having more and more trouble finding an itinerary that we like on Carnival. This may have us looking at other lines after my Breeze cruise.

 

Having cruised on both, my DH and I totally agree with you! We cruise RCI for the itinerary and length of cruise. For the most part we find them to be more alike than different. Unfortunately with Carnival leaving Baltimore :mad: and not offering a variety of itineraries or longer cruises out of NY we will probably be cruising RCI more than Carnival.