Royal vs. Carnival

[COCKYMARK]

You had stated that there are better activities on carnival.....that is fine but NO ship has more than oasis class of RCL. if you ever go on that ship you will change your opinion.

[davy jones]

Thanks for the comparison. I agree with much of it, can't comment on the things that I dont use, like the casino, and have a small disagreement or two. Some of the disagreement is because I have sailed larger Royal ships, so the experience is different (example: our ships had mini golf and I will miss it on the Grandeur). I am booked on the same Grandeur itinerary later this year though, so your thoughts are appreciated.

 

In the end, some folks on both sides, just can't believe that they are similar products with small differences and will furiously defend their choice.

[Steve8]

"Many more choices for lunch (Guy’s, Mongolian Wok, Blue Iguana Cantina, Fish & Chips, etc.)"

 

None of these choices are on the Miracle.

 

I'm looking forward to trying RCCL for the first time in the fall. Where do you put your suitcases if they don't fit under the bed?

 

 

Actually Miracle just came out of Dry Dock and now has all but the Fish & Chips now.

 

We had the carry-ons under the bed and sat the big suitcase on half of the love seat and put our dirty laundry in that one.

[hogwildcruzers]

We have our first RCCL cruise booked for this Oct and am excited to try a new line, been on 7 Carnival cruises and don't really think we will do any more on that line unless it is out of one of the Florida ports.....our last Carnival on the Dream out of N.O. and that may have been one of the worst cruises we have been on.....wish Princess would sail out of N.O., we love that line.......sounds like the OP is comparing a really nicer Carnival ship to one of the older and smaller RCCL ships, I know that the larger and newer RCCL ships have more to offer than the Grandeur.

[Grandma Dazzles]

As commented on earlier, never had a problem sliding two full-sized 29" suitcases under the bed. Sometimes if it is hard you can lift the bed a little to get them under the "lip" and then drop the bed down. Or, much easier to open and slide under fully opened. Also had two carry-ons under the bed.

 

If you still can't get them under the bed, the room steward will take them and store them (not sure where - but they will do it). On a TA we had a third bag, which was a rolling duffle type bag, the steward saw that we had it stashed on the balcony in a corner and offered to take it for storage in case of rain.

 

Try opening up and sliding under flat - I am sure it will fit!

[time4u2go]

You had stated that there are better activities on carnival.....that is fine but NO ship has more than oasis class of RCL. if you ever go on that ship you will change your opinion.

 

More isn't necessarily better.

[readytotravel44]

I'm just a cruise slut - give me a cheap balcony price and a good itinerary and I'm there....

 

I've been on NCL, Carnival, Royal, Princess...and I could find something good and bad to say about most of them.....With Royal it's mostly I can't afford them. :D

 

I'm totally with you! Price and itinerary - no loyalty for me! Generally that has spelled Carnival. Well this summer it is spelling Royal! This will be our first Royal experience. Looking forward to it! Definitely feel open-minded. Really appreciated the original poster's comments. I'm sharing them with the others in our party.

[Steve8]

More isn't necessarily better.

 

This is definitely true!

[Steve8]

I'm totally with you! Price and itinerary - no loyalty for me! Generally that has spelled Carnival. Well this summer it is spelling Royal! This will be our first Royal experience. Looking forward to it! Definitely feel open-minded. Really appreciated the original poster's comments. I'm sharing them with the others in our party.

 

I'm sure you will have a great cruise. Another area that we really loved was the Royal Promenade on Explorer of the Seas.

[CrusieToy]

Nice comparison. I love the Comedy clubs on carnival too.

[cocacola86]

Things I like about Carnival is Chocolate Melting Cake, Guys Burgers, and the Blue Iguana Cantina.

[klaner64]

I'm just a cruise slut - give me a cheap balcony price and a good itinerary and I'm there....

 

I've been on NCL, Carnival, Royal, Princess...and I could find something good and bad to say about most of them.....With Royal it's mostly I can't afford them. :D

 

I always thought I couldn't afford a Royal cruise either until I priced a cruise for 5 (next May over Memorial Day weekend). On Carnival Breeze in an ocean view room (with a trundle bed) was $1500 more than a family promenade on Liberty of the seas for the same week (same ports with exception of Ocho Rios vs. Falmouth). It will be a much larger room and more amenities.

[COCKYMARK]

Ok so you say more is not always better.....fine that's your opinion.....like I said earlier I have been on carnival before....other than a water slide oasis has everything they have but better...there is a reason why way more passengers go on oasis class ships every week!

[time4u2go]

Ok so you say more is not always better.....fine that's your opinion.....like I said earlier I have been on carnival before....other than a water slide oasis has everything they have but better...there is a reason why way more passengers go on oasis class ships every week!

Many feel Carnival has better food, better itineraries, better comedy clubs, bigger rooms, etc. (see the first post in this thread).

 

Your statement that "oasis has everything they have but better" is obviously a matter of opinion.

Edited April 8, 2015 by time4u2go

[COCKYMARK]

Sorry I was just comparing on board activities.

[American Bear]

Also on same list: waterslides and miniature golf on most RCCL ships. Also 24 hour pizza on most ships (at least Voyager class and above). (Ice cream 24 hours sounds nice but not good for my waistline)

 

Perhaps a better comparison would be for same size ships? Not sure.

 

Our opinion, pizza on RCL is best not mentioned, worst of all cruise lines.:)

[3dog]

All of that being said we just finished a cruise on Royal Caribbean’s Grandeur of the Seas. In full disclosure 15 of our previous 16 cruises were on Carnival ships ranging from the Miracle to the Breeze and the other was Royal Caribbean’s Explorer of the Seas. Obviously my family likes Carnival. Obviously I liked Royal Caribbean enough to book another Royal cruise.

 

I won't disagree with or comment on your results (they are a posting of your experiences, others may well vary), but considering that you have only done Grandeur, this is more of a comparison to what Grandeur offered vs. your other 15 ship history on Carnival (from a smaller to their largest and newest). I'd be interesting to hear how the list might update after your next RCI cruise (same ship, different ship?).

[3dog]

Have found piano bar can vary from cruise to cruise - even sometimes hour to hour!

 

I will definitely agree with this. I have been on RCI ships where the piano player and piano bar are the hopping place, and on CCL where they are not. And just as important: vice versa. So a single experience with a single bar and single player could well be a singularity.

[3dog]

More isn't necessarily better.

 

Well, that depends. If you like the things that are in the "more" category, of course it is better. If you don't like or don't use them, then they are not. So this is similar to most personal scenarios (such as food): it is subjective.

[American Bear]

Well, that depends. If you like the things that are in the "more" category, of course it is better. If you don't like or don't use them, then they are not. So this is similar to most personal scenarios (such as food): it is subjective.

 

Agreed.

The different cruise lines offer enough variety to satisfy most everyone.:)

[2chiefs]

RCI has only small water slides in the kids areas for kids only.

 

Pizza on RCI is terrible .. Carnival good .. and Princess excellent.

 

Water slides small for kids only is a plus for us. One man's ceiling is another man's floor.

 

Pizza is terrible? Again, one man's ceiling is another man's floor.

[2chiefs]

"Many more choices for lunch (Guy’s, Mongolian Wok, Blue Iguana Cantina, Fish & Chips, etc.)"

 

None of these choices are on the Miracle.

 

I'm looking forward to trying RCCL for the first time in the fall. Where do you put your suitcases if they don't fit under the bed?

 

Ours have fit under the bed on every cruise (including the Grandeur). Not sure why some people are reporting that they don't fit. Perhaps some rooms are different than others?

[2chiefs]

Our opinion, pizza on RCL is best not mentioned, worst of all cruise lines.:)

 

I don't eat pizza on a cruise. I eat pizza at home almost every Friday night so when its time to cruise I try to eat those things I don't normally get to eat at home.

 

By the way, on our very first cruise, they had "biscuits and gravy" for breakfast. Evidently they didn't know what biscuits & gravy was supposed to be like (it was brown gravy).

[PSCruiser]

Having just been on Grandeur, OP is correct - that ship has lower bed frame than most and I can see some suitcases not fitting. However, this does not hold for other RC ships.

 

A category not discussed, which is a big deal for me - Live Music.

 

I'll compare, as best I remember, Grandeur vs. Pride, out of Baltimore

 

Piano Guy: Grandeur, yes

Pride, yes, but more fun

 

Pool Band: Grandeur: a trio

Pride: a duo

 

Theater Band: Grandeur: 9 guys

Pride: 3 guys

 

Guitar Guy: Grandeur: yes

Pride: yes

 

Dance Bands: Grandeur: 2 - Evergreen trio

Casablanca

Pride: 0

 

So, I give RC a BIG advantage in this area. Please correct me if the Pride is not typical, but, then again, Grandeur is a smaller ship.

[Stateroom_Sailor]

Pizza is terrible? Again, one man's ceiling is another man's floor.

 

I would like to know where this other man's floor is. :eek: Royal's pizza is the worst I've ever had. Jr. High cafeteria, Chinese Buffet, and the cheapest of frozen are all gourmet in comparison.