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S.S.Oceanlover

By S.S.Oceanlover,
in Carnival Cruise Lines

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cruizinisthebest

cruizinisthebest

Posted
Posted (edited)
What other cruise lines have you tried?

 

You can read, can't you? Which is why you asked. I don't have a problem trying another line and might one day. I really would like to. But that doesn't stop me from having enjoyed every one of my vacations on Carnival. Those are part of history and were great experiences whether I go on another line or not. So what's your point?

 

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Edited by cruizinisthebest
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arush5268d

arush5268d

Posted
Posted
You can read, can't you? Which is why you asked. I don't have a problem trying another line and might one day. I really would like to. But that doesn't stop me from having enjoyed every one of my vacations on Carnival. Those are part of history and were great experiences whether I go on another line or not. So what's your point?

 

Sent from my SAMSUNG-SGH-I747 using Tapatalk

 

Another victim of a rhetorical question.

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Havingfun2010

Havingfun2010

Posted
Posted

For prices close to or equal to Carnival, RCCL provides a level of family fun, that Carnival is years behind. The Cat in the Hat may be fun for a 3 year old, but a 14 year old needs action. The so called "gimmicks" add value to a family and the vacation. Multiuse facilities such as "full" basketball courts that are used for basketball, soccer, dodgeball tournaments and free play. Swimming pools, the famous flow riders and rock walls not to mention ice skating on some of the ships are not "gimmicks" but value added free fun included in the family vacation. You don't need to have a poll to know certain cruise lines are a better value. That is just for the kids. Let's not forget the almost smoke free atmosphere indoors, plus entertainment performances that make other cruise lines look like a joke with the Las Vegas style outfits.

 

Carnival is best in the polls at being last. They need to wake up, and start spending money.

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arush5268d

arush5268d

Posted
Posted
For prices close to or equal to Carnival, RCCL provides a level of family fun, that Carnival is years behind. The Cat in the Hat may be fun for a 3 year old, but a 14 year old needs action. The so called "gimmicks" add value to a family and the vacation. Multiuse facilities such as "full" basketball courts that are used for basketball, soccer, dodgeball tournaments and free play. Swimming pools, the famous flow riders and rock walls not to mention ice skating on some of the ships are not "gimmicks" but value added free fun included in the family vacation. You don't need to have a poll to know certain cruise lines are a better value. That is just for the kids. Let's not forget the almost smoke free atmosphere indoors, plus entertainment performances that make other cruise lines look like a joke with the Las Vegas style outfits.

 

Carnival is best in the polls at being last. They need to wake up, and start spending money.

 

 

The flow rider, rock walls, ice skating and the such are NOT gimmicks in my mind. Those are features / amenities. Branding on-board activities with a celeb's name is a gimmick to me.

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Warm Breezes

Warm Breezes

Posted
Posted
For prices close to or equal to Carnival, RCCL provides a level of family fun, that Carnival is years behind. The Cat in the Hat may be fun for a 3 year old, but a 14 year old needs action. The so called "gimmicks" add value to a family and the vacation. Multiuse facilities such as "full" basketball courts that are used for basketball, soccer, dodgeball tournaments and free play. Swimming pools, the famous flow riders and rock walls not to mention ice skating on some of the ships are not "gimmicks" but value added free fun included in the family vacation. You don't need to have a poll to know certain cruise lines are a better value. That is just for the kids. Let's not forget the almost smoke free atmosphere indoors, plus entertainment performances that make other cruise lines look like a joke with the Las Vegas style outfits.

 

Carnival is best in the polls at being last. They need to wake up, and start spending money.

 

I have yet in any of my searches during the time I could travel found an RCCL ship close or equal to the price of a CCL ship (unless it was an older RCCL ship being compared to newer CCL ships with more bells and whistles on them). While I enjoy better entertainment and my teens may enjoy some (but I have to admit not many) of the "value added free fun" as you call it, at the prices I find in my comparisons, I just can't justify paying the price difference for RCCL. It's never even close. Maybe someday when I have more flexibility in when and how long we can travel...but to date I just can't justify it....From what I have read I am not the only one who can't find those deals when we can travel on RCCL. If I had we would have tried them.

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cjknox

cjknox

Posted
Posted
For prices close to or equal to Carnival, RCCL provides a level of family fun, that Carnival is years behind. The Cat in the Hat may be fun for a 3 year old, but a 14 year old needs action. The so called "gimmicks" add value to a family and the vacation. Multiuse facilities such as "full" basketball courts that are used for basketball, soccer, dodgeball tournaments and free play. Swimming pools, the famous flow riders and rock walls not to mention ice skating on some of the ships are not "gimmicks" but value added free fun included in the family vacation. You don't need to have a poll to know certain cruise lines are a better value. That is just for the kids. Let's not forget the almost smoke free atmosphere indoors, plus entertainment performances that make other cruise lines look like a joke with the Las Vegas style outfits.

 

Carnival is best in the polls at being last. They need to wake up, and start spending money.

 

Actually this is not at all accurate.

 

Even though todays announcement was definitely aimed at younger cruisers, its not accurate to say that the teenagers have absolutely nothing to do. Between the excellent programs and other "gimmicks" / "amenities" whatever you want to call them, kids always have something to do on board.

 

I still don't get your last sentence???

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cruizinisthebest

cruizinisthebest

Posted
Posted
I have yet in any of my searches during the time I could travel found an RCCL ship close or equal to the price of a CCL ship (unless it was an older RCCL ship being compared to newer CCL ships with more bells and whistles on them). While I enjoy better entertainment and my teens may enjoy some (but I have to admit not many) of the "value added free fun" as you call it, at the prices I find in my comparisons, I just can't justify paying the price difference for RCCL. It's never even close. Maybe someday when I have more flexibility in when and how long we can travel...but to date I just can't justify it....From what I have read I am not the only one who can't find those deals when we can travel on RCCL. If I had we would have tried them.

 

I agree. I haven't been able to find them either. And it is not for a lack of trying. To go to the same ports, no I'm not willing to pay hundreds more to stsy in smaller cabins to boot. And Disney is outrageous. I went down that road when planning before.

 

For the time of the year we cruise, Carnival's prices were by far most affordable for us, followed by Norwegian.

 

Sent from my SAMSUNG-SGH-I747 using Tapatalk

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Warm Breezes

Warm Breezes

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I agree. I haven't been able to find them either. And it is not for a lack of trying. To go to the same ports, no I'm not willing to pay hundreds more to stsy in smaller cabins to boot. And Disney is outrageous. I went down that road when planning before.

 

For the time of the year we cruise, Carnival's prices were by far most affordable for us, followed by Norwegian.

 

Sent from my SAMSUNG-SGH-I747 using Tapatalk

 

Our first 2 cruises were Disney. We went with friends who had cruised before so we were relying on them as we were rookies at cruising. While I am glad we sailed Disney when our kids young enough to get the most out of the Disney experience....it is not an experience I would pay for again without a young one to spoil. While it is an intangible...it is the only thing that makes a Disney cruise worth the price to me...the entertainment and the food just don't bring the value up enough for me.

 

I do my own research now and I know that for the price I pay, CCL has given us the best value. Like you said NCL comes in a close 2nd most times and we have chosen them a few times because we wanted a change from Carnival or they had the better itinerary. I know other ships may have better entertainment or better food. I don't expect great on Carnival....I expect good entertainment and good food because that is what I pay for. They always meet or exceed my expectations so for the price I pay it has been the best value for us. Others may think differently but since most of their negative opinions are based on subjective items, I base my decisions based on my experience, my research, and my subjective likes/dislikes.

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richard1s

richard1s

Posted
Posted

Carnival circling the drain – faster and faster; sooner or later, anyone remotely interested in a quality experience will look elsewhere. A cycle of failure until all the die-hards will be left with is an obnoxious DJ, passengers providing their own entertainment and exaggerated, colorful menu descriptions of bland food. No thank you.

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arush5268d

arush5268d

Posted
Posted
Carnival circling the drain – faster and faster; sooner or later, anyone remotely interested in a quality experience will look elsewhere. A cycle of failure until all the die-hards will be left with is an obnoxious DJ, passengers providing their own entertainment and exaggerated, colorful menu descriptions of bland food. No thank you.

 

That is a rather colorful way to put it and made me chuckle.

 

I agree that Carnival is heading down - quickly. There are some things that Carnival is exceptional at but those are overshadowed by the bad things / areas they are behind.

 

From where I am now my next cruise will not be on Carnival but that is not to say that I won't cruise them again. It is my sincere hope that Carnival will make some changes for the better over the next couple of years

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golfadj

golfadj

Posted
Posted
For prices close to or equal to Carnival, RCCL provides a level of family fun, that Carnival is years behind. The Cat in the Hat may be fun for a 3 year old, but a 14 year old needs action. The so called "gimmicks" add value to a family and the vacation. Multiuse facilities such as "full" basketball courts that are used for basketball, soccer, dodgeball tournaments and free play. Swimming pools, the famous flow riders and rock walls not to mention ice skating on some of the ships are not "gimmicks" but value added free fun included in the family vacation. You don't need to have a poll to know certain cruise lines are a better value. That is just for the kids. Let's not forget the almost smoke free atmosphere indoors, plus entertainment performances that make other cruise lines look like a joke with the Las Vegas style outfits.

 

Carnival is best in the polls at being last. They need to wake up, and start spending money.

 

Lots of truth in your post. Hopefully someone from Carnival will see it.

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arush5268d

arush5268d

Posted
Posted
If it were up to me, I might ban smugglers. They drive up the cost of cruising for honest people.

 

FY 2011 Net Income of 1.9 BILLION. I don't think the small amount of smuggling has any sort of impact on their books. If they didn't over charge for their drinks less people would smuggle. For me it is not about the money it is about the quality of the beverage. Their drink mixes are absolutely horrible and for the price they charge they should be providing something better. Drinks are a huge profit area for them. I do not always smuggle but It ticks me off that they cut as many corners as they can and have lost focus on putting out a quality product.

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TwinPrincessMermaids

TwinPrincessMermaids

Posted
Posted
Our first 2 cruises were Disney. While it is an intangible...it is the only thing that makes a Disney cruise worth the price to me...the entertainment and the food just don't bring the value up enough for me.

 

Fyi, my first DC was this year on the newer Dream and it totally blew us away, 5 weeks after getting off Carnival Dream. Its been about 10 yrs since you went, and a lot can change in that amount of time. I get what you are saying though. But Disney really keeps up with what family style vacations (even adults who don't like smokey casinos, I consider that family style) and there is a reason they get the rates they do. I mean, I don't pay them (yikes!) I shop around, but evidently other people do. I book offseason, early, or sale and use my rewards to bring down the cost. (Half the cruise so far...)

 

All cruise lines change in 10 yrs. Some for the better, some not so much...

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arush5268d

arush5268d

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Posted
Its just a survey of a limited amount of people.

 

CCL has had some difficulty in the near past.

 

Da Pig.

 

 

CCL is the largest cruise line in the world and their brands didn't fare so well on that survey. Limited amount of people surveyed or not - Carnival is THE largest cruise operator in the world. Sample size be damned.

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jimbo5544 "Live from...." Rare

jimbo5544

Posted
Posted (edited)
The flow rider, rock walls, ice skating and the such are NOT gimmicks in my mind. Those are features / amenities. Branding on-board activities with a celeb's name is a gimmick to me.

 

Not to me. If I want an amusement park I will go to one (I won't by the way). Point is what I consider features you might not and the opposite is true as well. I don't want pay for those things or for you to enjoy them either.

 

 

Sent using the Cruise Critic forums app from my IPhone

Edited by jimbo5544
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