Is their a noticeable difference between RC and Carnival?

[Georgiagolfer]

Wasn't going to post on this thread, but after reading all the comments, I decided to put my $0.02 in here. DW and I are Platinum on both CCL and RCI. Only sailed RCI 4 times, but thanks to their generous policy of awarding double points for booking JS and above, we are Platinum. RCI has a much better Loyalty Program. Never went hungry on any cruise, nor have we ever gotten bored on any cruise.

 

Never understood the "Loyal" to 1 line comments by some. DW and I are loyal to cruising, but not to a cruise line. As others have stated their opinions, I concur that these were their opinions, which are not always facts.

 

In general, we have found the demographics to be similar on most cruises. On the shorter cruises, you will find more of a party attitude on both lines. CCL has a more relaxed atmosphere, and a relaxed suggested dress code for the MDR. As far as we are concerned, what difference does it make if our table mates are dressed in a tux vs. khakis? Unless something happens, I can't tell you what most are wearing anyway.

 

We cruise based on the following:

1. Date(s) we want to cruise

2. Embark port; do we want to drive or fly (which impacts total cost)

3. Cabin availability when we book. Note that I rarely book a cruise at least 90 days in advance. In fact, it is usually after final payment is due.

4. Cost

 

To us, we have enjoyed all of our cruises. My suggestion is go on your cruise, enjoy what you enjoy, and do not go around trying to compare the 2 lines, especially while on the cruise. Otherwise, you will not be able to "live in the present" and enjoy the ability to cruise.

[BILKAT2355]

Well I found this interesting...

 

Based on CDC records, the last 14 years here is the # of ships by line that had Virus outbreaks.

 

Carnival 15

Celebrity 27

Holland Am 46

Norweign 26

Princess 41

Royal Car 21

 

You can see the official list here http://www.cdc.gov/nceh/vsp/surv/gilist.htm

[Ken Greco]

We have been on both many times and I agree with the posters ratings for ship experience are very subjective. But the one thing i can say is RCCL's Allure and Oasis can not be compared to any other ship out there. These ships can not be explained to people who have not been on them. Carnival is still trying to catch up with their ships but it seems to be a losing battle.

[Jimnbigd]

I liked my first ships RCI ship -- Splendour & Rhapsody (both twice). But my first WOW was on the Voyager. These voyager class ships are amazing. Freedom class is basically an expanded voyager class ship -- same basic layout. Oasis class is the biggest, and I'm sure must have a WOW factor also. It's too soon to know about the quantum class, but I've heard it will not have the Royal Promenade. That might be a mistake.

[Rewind]

It seems to be a consensus that the food on CCL is better than RCL. Now I'm a little nervous since we weren't too impressed with CCL food.

 

On my last cruise on the Jewel, there was only one night that I had a steak that was a little too over cooked. The other 6 nights the food was superb! Just like any line, if you don't like it send it back and order something else (or just order three desserts to make up for the entree).

 

Interesting fact I learned from a previous cruise - on average, passengers will gain 6.6 pounds in the week on board.

[houstoncruisers2001]

If you want to just drink and gamble(which is totally fine) then Carnival is ok because it's cheaper.

 

If you want a better overall cruise experience go with Royal Caribbean.

 

We've tried Carnival twice and we're not doing a third. The only show we've

ever waked out on in 12 cruises was on the Carnival Magic.

 

Royal Caribbean ships look better too, inside and out.

[Beacher123]

i've sailed both. ccl 3 times and rcl 2 times with a third coming up. i like ccl better, but for reasons that are hard to explain. ok let me start by saying rcl win the "my boats bigger than yours" contest hands down. they also win the in entertainment. the reasons i like ccl better are mainly the food(vastly better mdr food) and cost of the cruise itself. i also found the crews on ccl to be a little more attentive and personable but only by a bit. i will continue to sail both lines and i'm a hard person to make unhappy on a cruise. even a bad cruise is better than being at work.

I feel exactly the same way as this poster. Second RC cruise coming up in May. Have had several CCL cruises and never had a bad cruise. First RC was 2007 and although we had a great time, I thought our CCL experience was that we liked our cabin on CCL much better as well as the food. I would not turn down either one. Of course we were on an old RC ship, Empress of the Seas, which I believe is now retired.

 

We will be sailing FOS and it looks like the entertainment will be great. I find the entertainment on CCL just OK and needs improvement.

[TigerLady]

Hi everyone. We have been on several Carnival cruises and are going on our first RC cruise in May. I have heard that RC is so much better than Carnival. Can you please elaborate on differences? Thanks!

 

We have taken both Carnival and Royal Caribbean. So we did have a cruise to compare to. After doing Royal, Carnival then Royal again, to us the differences were very noticeable.. Friendlier, more courteous staff, better food quality, are just some of the differences. Each person has their own preferences.. We prefer Royal. Have fun, regardless of what company/ship you sail on.

[BILNAN]

I have to say I always find these post so interesting. I usually do not post on them because someones likes and dislikes can vary so much . I have cruise on both several times and there are things i like better on Carnival and things that are better on RCI. So to really judge you need to make a list of what is important to you for a vacation. For me price is important because I can do more and I do not like to fly and go on a cruise for a vacation so being I live in NJ I look for something I can drive to. Carnival wins hand downs there. I have been on several different ships because they change there ships out where with RCI does not and the price is ALWAYS better on Carnival, so I have only been on 2 RCI ships( but 4 cruises) because they do not change there ships that offten. (Thank god they will have a new ship this November which I will be on but they don"t change things up to often and how many times can you go on the same ship.) As far as entertainment RCI is by far better but they have less going on where Carnival as more. Food in my opion is the same. The Steak house on Carnival ships have been way better then RCI Portafino but rember I have not been on any new ships with RCI. As far as the people go I am leaving from NJ so you are going to get the same no matter which line you use. The best thing for you to do is make a list of what is most important to you and search those differences between the lines and you will get a better feeling for what is best for you. An search both boards. You wil never get a real answer like this by asking which is better because everyone has different likes and dislikes and one is going to say how great RCI is and one will say how great Carnival is. Use this board to your advantage. I do not post alot I read more then I post( You would be surprised how some can attack you for and opion) and opions can run all over the place, so just read alot there is a wealth of info here to make a good choice for you. Good Luck

Edited January 29, 2014 by BILNAN

[TigerLady]

I am Platinum on Carnival

I served my country, but not good enough to cruise on RCCL:confused:

 

Forgive me for stirring the pot, but what do you mean by this remark??

[jonbgd]

Forgive me for stirring the pot, but what do you mean by this remark??

 

No Problem

It was a smartbutt response, to a condescending poster, saying that Carnival cruisers are lower class.

All types of people cruise on CCL and RCCL

[SamboniMan]

I have been on 3 Carnival Cruises and 2 Royal (with a 3rd coming up in March). I have also been on 3 Princess...

 

If you take the Oasis out of the equation (which was really fantastic), I didn't see much difference between my Rhapsody experience and my Carnival experiences. In fact, the Carnival Freedom cruise we went on Memorial Day 2013, was better than the Rhapsody in every way: food (even had food poisoning on the Rhapsody), service, and entertainment.

 

I would cruise any of the lines again with the right itinerary and the right price.

 

My favorite line is actually Princess but when you compare the prices on Carnival, RCCL, and Princess, it is difficult for us to say no to Carnival. I think it's hard to beat the value of a Carnival cruise, to be honest...

 

Just my 2 cents...and just my humble opinion.

[John&LaLa]

My short list:

 

Royal Solarium beats the Carnival Serenity area if you are the type that likes have a "16 and over" area with a pool and hot tubs.

Better entertainment in general on Royal. That is not saying much:o

Pools on many Carnival boats are generally crowded to the point of being unusable, this is not the case on the Royal cruises I've been on (must be more to do). Pool not full, but no chairs to be found due to famous RCCL chair hogs

Royal is the leader in innovation on the mass market lines (Oasis class boats, flow riders, etc). Probably right on that one

Royal drink packages have less restrictions (not everyone in the cabin must buy, no limit on beverages quantities). The not everyone is a recent change I believe

Royal loyalty program is much better, mainly at the Platinum level and above (which require similar points for both lines). Really not that good until Diamond and above:D

Royal seems to handle crowds better in the buffets, due in part to food being available in several different areas (more so than Carnival). Windjammer food is inedible for the most part, avoid it like the plague

There are more reasons, but those are more personal in nature.

 

Cruised a lot of Carnival and most were pretty good. Currently stuck in C&A point acquisition mode. Only lines we avoid are NCL and Disney (no casino:mad:)

[beshears]

I have not read everyone's opinions, but quite a few of them.

 

This is my opinion at "this point." We are cruising on the FOTS in April. This will be my first RCCL ship for many a year. The last time I cruised on RCCL, they LOST our luggage for almost 4 days.:mad: Hopefully this time, it will be a BETTER experience.

 

I have been on NCL, never again. I like HAL, Princess and Carnival. The biggest reason I like Carnival is their room/beds. I know most people don't believe it, but their rooms are a tad larger than other ships, and their beds, you want to DREAM in them. Awesome.

[petesweet]

Checking out several cruise sales sites you seem to be quoting an ocean view on the Carnival vs an inside on the RCL !

Comparing an OV on both ships would make the RCL ship over $200. more!

I've been looking at 2 cruises out of Puerto Rico, both 7 day cruises, and the RCL cruise is over 33% higher on 3 of the 4 weeks, and since we want to do a back to back, there is no chance we'll buy the RCL.

We shop for the best deal for a similar cabin on whatever cruise line!

In May for example we came across a 7 day MSC deal out of Miami for a Balcony that was less then all the other 7 day sailings Ocean Views!

Just our opinion, we go with the best cabin for the money when the ships/itinerary are similar!

I went to the cruise line websites, not to a third party. My comparison was for insides in both cases. Of course, these prices change all the time. (We always sail in inside cabins - get a whole lot more cruises that way!):)

Happy sails. Kathy

[cocacola86]

This will be my 3 rd cruise and my DW .2nd. We were just on the Breeze in April and had a fantastic time and going on the Valor in November out of San Juan, I

We would like to go on Royal, I think the only thing holding us back is the cost, when we booked the Valor it was 489 for an O/V and just over 600 for the Jewel.

 

 

 

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[beshears]

Yes, I feel the RCCL is higher too. Normally I book an oceanview or balcony (have been "upgraded" by "both" Carnival and Princess) with Carnival or Princess, but when I seen the price of RCCL, I went for an inner room. I did go through a TA, and I know they get a cut, but this time, the price seemed very steep for an inner room.

[deltahog]

This will be my first RCCL ship for many a year. The last time I cruised on RCCL, they LOST our luggage for almost 4 days.:mad:

 

It's a ship....where could it have gone? It's not like an airport where they can stick it on another plane or lose it in a back room or something.

 

As to the original question, I have done 3 CCLs and one Royal Caribbean. I really didn't see a difference, the people were the same socio-economic level and the amenities and food seemed about the same.

[WetToes]

Hi everyone. We have been on several Carnival cruises and are going on our first RC cruise in May. I have heard that RC is so much better than Carnival. Can you please elaborate on differences? Thanks!

 

Noticeable differences? My DH and I don't think so

We've also sailed Celebrity, and again we didn't notice any huge differences.

We aren't partial to any line.

I agree that 'you' will have to judge for yourself. If you don't take the plunge, you'll never know.

[Cruising89143]

Best way to know is to try it for yourself.

 

I was at one time a Carnival only cruiser. In 2004 we noticed a slide south in the overall Carnival cruise experience. We tried a Voyager class ship and haven't been back to Carnival. To date they have shown nothing that would get me to book again. I look at them as bottom of the barrel of the mass market lines. Pure budget. For many that suits them fine and nothing wrong with that if that's what you're looking for.

 

Biggest difference for me are the ships themselves. RCI excels in design and innovation. Carnival is now trying to catch up.

 

RCI also takes care of past guests with a better loyalty program.

 

I won't comment on food and entertainment as that's personal and subjective but free burgers, pizza and ice cream are not what I call great food and not what I cruise for.

 

Again the only way to know if you like something is to try it for yourself.