Carnival vs.........

[lukeduke07]

This isn't really a carnival vs (fill in other line ) thread. There are too many of those. I am about to book our annual kid-free trip this February and I'm trying to branch out and try another line. I've been on RCl and the big red boat (a hundred years ago) and a bunch of CCL cruises the past couple of years. As I am going through the various lines and looking at prices, I would have to book an inside for $200 more than I can book a balcony on CCL for the same ports. Can anyone make sense of why every other line costs more for a similar trip???

 

P.S. War Eagle!! BEAT BAMA!!!

[UATLB]

thats why we stick with carnival we did Royal Caribbean freedom of the seas and paid almost 3300 for an inside for 4. it was absolutely ridiculous but we were joining my parents on the trip. they even said it was the cheapest one.

[S.S.Oceanlover]

This isn't really a carnival vs (fill in other line ) thread. There are too many of those. I am about to book our annual kid-free trip this February and I'm trying to branch out and try another line. I've been on RCl and the big red boat (a hundred years ago) and a bunch of CCL cruises the past couple of years. As I am going through the various lines and looking at prices, I would have to book an inside for $200 more than I can book a balcony on CCL for the same ports. Can anyone make sense of why every other line costs more for a similar trip???

 

P.S. War Eagle!! BEAT BAMA!!!

 

A lot of the people who cruise perceive RCI a better product worth the extra money.

 

Many do not.

 

YMMV!

 

Bill

[arush5268d]

Different lines have different prices. Just like burker king has different prices than 5 Gusy Burgers which has different prices thatn Olive Garden.

 

 

Compare the two ships and their amenities. I would not want a world where all the cruise lines were priced the same - we wouldn't have nicer cruise lines at that point. Or budget ones.

[Colorado Kat]

For $200 difference, I would try the new line. Can't tell if you like something until you try it.

[larkz]

This isn't really a carnival vs (fill in other line ) thread. There are too many of those. I am about to book our annual kid-free trip this February and I'm trying to branch out and try another line. I've been on RCl and the big red boat (a hundred years ago) and a bunch of CCL cruises the past couple of years. As I am going through the various lines and looking at prices, I would have to book an inside for $200 more than I can book a balcony on CCL for the same ports. Can anyone make sense of why every other line costs more for a similar trip???

 

I've spent the past five years looking for a close enough price match to test out another line. The price differences can be surprisingly high for anyone who's frugal. So far, Royal and NCL and the others are just too high for me to take the leap. In fact, my upcoming 7-day cruise came to $380 plus taxes and fees with the new solo pricing that Carnival promoted on a few ships/itineraries.

 

Some people claim that all you need is to do your homework and you'll find great deals on other lines to beat Carnival's pricing -- great if you can pack-n-go and you don't have to book a premium-priced flight to the port for a special that's only available in the next two weeks...

 

With a full time job and needing to plan my vacation half a year out, and being 1000 to 1400 miles away from most of the cruise ports -- I have not found a single situation in which a 7-day cruise was cheaper on another line. If such a deal does exist, it is the exception that proves the rule.

Edited November 29, 2013 by larkz

[k2excursion]

I've always wondered that myself. Has Carnival just been smarter over the years, so that they don't have as many costs to pass on to the customer? Does Carnival have that many fewer workers on board? Do Carnival guests really gamble & drink that much more than on other lines? I would love to try one of NCLs newest ships, but the prices are so crazy. And like the previous poster, I never find any good deals that I would be able to take advantage of. Carnival always rises to the top of my list, despite any frustrating cutbacks.

[Yurita]

This isn't really a carnival vs (fill in other line ) thread. There are too many of those. I am about to book our annual kid-free trip this February and I'm trying to branch out and try another line. I've been on RCl and the big red boat (a hundred years ago) and a bunch of CCL cruises the past couple of years. As I am going through the various lines and looking at prices, I would have to book an inside for $200 more than I can book a balcony on CCL for the same ports. Can anyone make sense of why every other line costs more for a similar trip???

 

P.S. War Eagle!! BEAT BAMA!!!

 

It depends on sailing date/ship/amenities provided/supply/demand/what people are looking for, etc.

 

I always check the price offered now, the amount of cabins still available and check it daily.

 

Cheapest cruise I've ever taken was actually Liberty of the seas (RCCL), we paid $329 for interior - 7 nights (wayyyyy cheaper than any Carnival ships we've taken), and second best cruiseship after the Oasis of the seas.

 

Personally, after 14 cruises, my # 1 line of choice is RCCL. When I shop for cruises, I would pay an extra $100-$300 to go on Royal because they offer what I truly enjoy. At the end it's MY vacation, my PTO time, which I want to use it having the best experience possible.

 

Consider Princess/ NCL / Celebrity / Royal caribbean / MSC cruises, to just name a few..... check every ship's photos, videos, amenities, and take a look at what you're looking for during your vacation.... is it relaxation? fun? port of call? not many children around???? then decide which cruise will meet & exceed those expectations. Good luck

[jonbgd]

Most of my cruises on NCL and RCCL are close to the same price or even cheaper than CCL.

 

If I can pay $585pp for RCCL Navigator Or $839pp for CCL Magic which one should I choose:rolleyes:

 

BTW I am using MIL discount but even without

the NAV is $100 -160pp cheaper than the Magic and not just for one week either

Edited November 29, 2013 by jonbgd

[Blk_Amish]

I've always wondered that myself. Has Carnival just been smarter over the years, so that they don't have as many costs to pass on to the customer? Does Carnival have that many fewer workers on board? Do Carnival guests really gamble & drink that much more than on other lines? I would love to try one of NCLs newest ships, but the prices are so crazy. And like the previous poster, I never find any good deals that I would be able to take advantage of. Carnival always rises to the top of my list, despite any frustrating cutbacks.

 

They might pass it on differently. Carnival attracts families with young children, who pay higher for quads, buy more pics, soda cards, excursions and the likes. The younger crowd spends more money at the bar. For a good percentage, they make up the difference with on board spending in known profit areas. My kids are older so I will switch to RCl without much intent to run up much of a bill, because I already paid it in the fare. For the same time of year I have cruised RCL and Princess cheaper than Carnival. However, I will pay more not to be around children if it's my anniversary. You might be paying more for something different.

 

Look before you book. I caught a sale on Princess and now sailing on the Royal Princess for my anniversary. Someone had posted how much more Princess was which prompt me to look and quickly booked. It was the same rate I paid on Carnival Magic, yes inside vs cove balcony. On Princess I get Afternoon Tea and less kids, plus my onboard spending will be less:D

Edited November 29, 2013 by Blk_Amish

[Blk_Amish]

People say drunken FUN as if it's a bad thing:p but it could be music to Carnival's ears. Do you know how much of those overpriced, watered down drinks you have to have in order to get to that point. Once you get there, you go into the casino thinking I can beat the slot machines. Going by the gallery the pics at $25 per pop start to look really good, 29 again. Now paranoia sets in and you have to book the excursion with them because you believe they can keep you safe on foreign soil. Now the cheap cruise is like that free trip to Las Vegas, costly when you are done. Yeah, it the end you can't afford to tip but Carnival knew that could happen when they sold the cheap cruise.

Edited November 29, 2013 by Blk_Amish

[S.S.Oceanlover]

I've always wondered that myself. Has Carnival just been smarter over the years, so that they don't have as many costs to pass on to the customer? Does Carnival have that many fewer workers on board? Do Carnival guests really gamble & drink that much more than on other lines? I would love to try one of NCLs newest ships, but the prices are so crazy. And like the previous poster, I never find any good deals that I would be able to take advantage of. Carnival always rises to the top of my list, despite any frustrating cutbacks.

 

It is my understanding that Carnivals fleet is paid for in full and they pay cash for their ships where as the rest of the cruise industry finances their ships.

 

They could easily undercut the competition and still make a nice profit but all the price drops and ES post indicate that the low prices aren't low enough to get people onto their ships thus the price drops continue to fill the ships.

 

Bill

[gracie65]

A lot of the people who cruise perceive RCI a better product worth the extra money.

 

Many do not.

 

YMMV!

 

Bill

 

Hey Bill, hope all is well. Still can't believe we have sailed together twice and still not met. We just got off the Royal Princess which is what we used our FCC from Noro-cruise last year. Everyone loves their own thing but this ship was by far the nicest and had the best food.

 

This isn't really a carnival vs (fill in other line ) thread. There are too many of those. I am about to book our annual kid-free trip this February and I'm trying to branch out and try another line. I've been on RCl and the big red boat (a hundred years ago) and a bunch of CCL cruises the past couple of years. As I am going through the various lines and looking at prices, I would have to book an inside for $200 more than I can book a balcony on CCL for the same ports. Can anyone make sense of why every other line costs more for a similar trip???

 

P.S. War Eagle!! BEAT BAMA!!!

 

Just off The Royal Princess and loved it, best food and most elegant ship to date. We also had some friends with us that are pretty die hard Oasis/Allure and thought the food was way better as well. We are in our 40's and always heard about the older age demographic on Princess. I think this ship may very well entice a younger demographic. Biggest complaint seems to be the aft balconies and soot issues. We had a mini-suite Lido forward and loved it. I still haven't been able to justify the price for Oasis class. There are just so many things onboard I would never use. Thank-goodness the industry knows we all like different things it's just finding what suits us the best. I would sail this ship again in a heartbeat if the itinerary was what I wanted. We are trying to hit a few islands we haven't been to at all or as much and right now The Carnival Valor for Feb 2015 is the front runner.

Good luck at whatever you decide!! We usually cruise in February so you will have a wonderful time wherever you end up.

[cjknox]

It is my understanding that Carnivals fleet is paid for in full and they pay cash for their ships where as the rest of the cruise industry finances their ships.

 

Bill

 

That's actually not entirely true; I believe that they pay some of the cost of a ship in current cash assets, but the finance the majority of it.

[smeck]

Paying cash for a ship not borrowing is not a good business model. I cannot believe a company as smart as Carnival wouldn't use other peoples money to finance their ships.

[Aplmac]

That's why we stick with Carnival

We did Royal Caribbean freedom of the seas and paid almost 3,300 for an inside for 4.

It was absolutely ridiculous but we were joining my parents on the trip.

They even said it was the cheapest one.

That's why I stick with Carnival, too.

 

Not only that...I stick with Carnival 4C Insides, at 185 sq. ft.

finding them perfectly adequate -not to mention inexpensive and affordable! :)

 

.

[gpnfish]

This isn't really a carnival vs (fill in other line ) thread. There are too many of those. I am about to book our annual kid-free trip this February and I'm trying to branch out and try another line. I've been on RCl and the big red boat (a hundred years ago) and a bunch of CCL cruises the past couple of years. As I am going through the various lines and looking at prices, I would have to book an inside for $200 more than I can book a balcony on CCL for the same ports. Can anyone make sense of why every other line costs more for a similar trip???

 

P.S. War Eagle!! BEAT BAMA!!!

 

Cruise ships and lines are not like 5 lbs. of sugar or a gallon of gas - you can't use price or cabin types to compare what line is better. When you have cruised enough, you will see what makes one line different from the other and why the price structures are different. To be honest, if you don't see or experience the differences, you just aren't looking: Some things I see:

1. More bar servers per person. Some ships you end up going to bar because bar service is slow; on other ships they are everywhere
   
2. Can never find a cleaned-off table to eat lunch at? Some lines have made cuts here
   
3. Notice that some lines are playing more music on the pool deck during the day or have severly limited the amount of play time for the deck bands. Cruiselines can cut costs bu doing this.
   
4. Noticed that your dining room menus have less items, or some of the signature items have been redcued or eliminated

 

I could go on and on. There are differences, and each cruise line manipulates all these items and more to reduce their operating cost, which in the end reduces your costs. Don't forget that the ship itself influences costs. Newer ships, more popular ships, will drive the price up, while less popular ships or older ships, or ships/lines that get bad publicity (Carnival or Costa is notable here) will offer deep discounts.

[S.S.Oceanlover]

That's actually not entirely true; I believe that they pay some of the cost of a ship in current cash assets, but the finance the majority of it.

 

I am just going by what I have read here.

 

You know what they say about reading something on the internet.

 

Anyways thanks for the correction .:)

 

Bill

[DirtyDawg]

It is my understanding that Carnivals fleet is paid for in full and they pay cash for their ships where as the rest of the cruise industry finances their ships.

 

They could easily undercut the competition and still make a nice profit but all the price drops and ES post indicate that the low prices aren't low enough to get people onto their ships thus the price drops continue to fill the ships.

 

Bill

 

Carnival Corp. is certainly less leveraged than Royal or Norwegian i.e. it has less debt on its balance sheet vs its total capital vs. the others. For every dollar they take in as revenue, interest costs them about 2 cents. For the others it's 4 - 5 cents. So for a $1000 cruise interest costs Carnival Corp. $20 whereas for Royal and Norwegian it's a cost of $40 - $50.

 

A small difference but it certainly can explain part of the lower cost structure at Carnival at least.

Edited November 29, 2013 by DirtyDawg

[Mysticks1]

I have sailed on Celebrity, RCI and NCL and none of those cruises was much more than Carnival and a couple were cheaper. We book sometimes a year in advance and I really watch prices for price drops, etc. I would spend the money and try another line. If you never sail anything but Carnival you never know what you are missing.

 

Roll Tide Roll!!! :D