Carnival Ships Listed Among Amazing Budget Cruises

[eponym]

A 4 night cruise to the Bahamas for $700pp (and I'm assuming that's before taxes), for a family of 4 would cost probably more than $3000. That's far from being budget. Of course it won't feel like a budget cruise! It's not!

 

My idea of a budget cruise is what I reserved for my family on Carnival. 5 nights to Amber Cove and Grand Turk for $259pp.

 

Wow. Yeah, that is on the cheap for sure. The scope of the article was sub $1000. Lot's of excellent options I didn't know about being available. There are plenty of much higher end ships that don't have any intention of offering sub $1000 cruises en mass. They are at the extreme end of your $ only reply.

 

They don't make you wash dishes and row for $50 PPPD do they? :)

Edited April 27, 2015 by eponym

[momof3cruisers]

Some people get fixated on what is important to them and/or their family, which are not necessarily the same things to others and their families. Some don't travel with family.

 

So, there is a very wide deviation as to what people's preferences actually are. I don't bash others for what their preferences are/might be, but see more than ever that some other very unique and otherwise known high end brands do have some moderately priced options for people to try. I am excited about those other options now available.

 

Now that my kids are grown, we don't prefer slides and waterpark's or lot's of drinking with 100 decibel DJ music blasting aimlessly throughout the lido's. But, there was a time we did! We would rather sail and try a true luxury ship option or 3, and/or themed ship decor all at very competing rates rather than the bump and grind all the time of the Carnival brand.

 

I agree. Some people do get fixated on what is important to them. That is why I emphasized "my" by making it capital letters. My point is that, saying flat out that you get a better experience (you implying a general you=to everyone) on other lines is a false claim. Not everyone is going on Carnival just due to price.

 

I could do a much cheaper cruise on the Brilliance in the same time frame as I can go on the Breeze but there is no way that my family wants that. To US it would not be a better experience. Everyone is going to have their personal preferences, but the tone of the post I quoted was that Carnival is subpar overall. You see that a lot on this board. And for many of us, it's not true. And that isn't because we only know about low class vacations.

 

I am not bashing anyone for their choices. I also didn't go on every one of those cruises with my kids. But as I said, the implication is there that anyone cruising on Carnival is getting a cheap. low quality cruise and they just don't know any better. I have been on NCL, RCL, Princess and Celebrity. (Now, if it were just me and DH and the budget worked, Celebrity wins in a heartbeat ;) ) All of those other lines more than once. I know what I am talking about here as for overall experiences. They ALL have good things and qualities that rise above in one category or another, including Carnival.

[eponym]

I agree. Some people do get fixated on what is important to them. That is why I emphasized "my" by making it capital letters. My point is that, saying flat out that you get a better experience (you implying a general you=to everyone) on other lines is a false claim. Not everyone is going on Carnival just due to price.

 

I could do a much cheaper cruise on the Brilliance in the same time frame as I can go on the Breeze but there is no way that my family wants that. To US it would not be a better experience. Everyone is going to have their personal preferences, but the tone of the post I quoted was that Carnival is subpar overall. You see that a lot on this board. And for many of us, it's not true. And that isn't because we only know about low class vacations.

 

I am not bashing anyone for their choices. I also didn't go on every one of those cruises with my kids. But as I said, the implication is there that anyone cruising on Carnival is getting a cheap. low quality cruise and they just don't know any better. I have been on NCL, RCL, Princess and Celebrity. (Now, if it were just me and DH and the budget worked, Celebrity wins in a heartbeat ;) ) All of those other lines more than once. I know what I am talking about here as for overall experiences. They ALL have good things and qualities that rise above in one category or another, including Carnival.

 

I didn't write or read any of that in the post you sub quoted. As for Subpar, I suggested that people do not all have the same preferences and there are now big deviations among choices. I said there are now some exciting high end options among the alternate brands that are now moderately priced.

 

And just what I said, we cruised with our kids on Carnival, and now they are adults. What was important to us with young children at the time fit carnival offering well. It's not our preferred option any longer, as we are all adults and have the moderately priced alternative brands within our reach. And I said, "But, there was a time we did! We would rather sail and try a true luxury ship option or 3, and/or themed ship decor all at very competing rates rather than the bump and grind all the time of the Carnival brand."

 

Last exact quote was,"Now that my kids are grown, we don't prefer slides and waterpark's or lot's of drinking with 100 decibel DJ music blasting aimlessly throughout the lido's. But, there was a time we did!"

 

Your reply post somewhat feels like your offended, and that wasn't my intent to exchange with you.

[momof3cruisers]

I didn't write or read any of that in the post you sub quoted. As for Subpar, I suggested that people do not all have the same preferences and there are now big deviations among choices. I said there are now some exciting high end options among the alternate brands that are now moderately priced.

 

And just what I said, we cruised with our kids on Carnival, and now they are adults. What was important to us with young children at the time fit carnival offering well. It's not our preferred option any longer, as we are all adults and have the moderately priced alternative brands within our reach. And I said, "But, there was a time we did! We would rather sail and try a true luxury ship option or 3, and/or themed ship decor all at very competing rates rather than the bump and grind all the time of the Carnival brand."

 

Last exact quote was,"Now that my kids are grown, we don't prefer slides and waterpark's or lot's of drinking with 100 decibel DJ music blasting aimlessly throughout the lido's. But, there was a time we did!"

 

Your reply post somewhat feels like your offended, and that wasn't my intent to exchange with you.

Nope. Not offended. Just trying to clarify my point.:) I think we are both saying approx the same thing, just have a different opinion on the post I originally quoted. Have a good one!

[eponym]

A 4 night cruise to the Bahamas for $700pp (and I'm assuming that's before taxes), for a family of 4 would cost probably more than $3000. That's far from being budget. Of course it won't feel like a budget cruise! It's not!

 

My idea of a budget cruise is what I reserved for my family on Carnival. 5 nights to Amber Cove and Grand Turk for $259pp.

 

In somewhat defense of the article, for which I am not the author, they did add the words amazing, that don't feel like budget.

 

But I know there are offers that cut rates for additional guest counts, so it's not always a straight line additive calculation.

[eponym]

Exactly. The key is to not be dead set on cruising a particular cruiseline. There are some great deals on higher end lines if you know where to look for them. My next cruise is on Carnival, Legend to Alaska in June courtesy of a Pack & Play offer. But then come November, it's on to Celebrity Equinox and an 11 night Panama/Central America cruise. Cost?- $1520pp. for Concierge Class balcony's with free alcoholic drink package, pre paid gratuities, $300 obc from Celebrity, and $200 obc from our travel agent per cabin.

 

So basically it's an all inclusive cruise at a fantastic price. Might not be considered "budget" by certain standards, but is by mine. ;)

 

 

Tony

 

That sounds like an amazing cruise at a budget price! We love CelebrityX

[ddlb]

I sailed in a balcony on Princess Regal for less than what I am paying for an Inside on the Sunshine.

 

Granted...it is one of the New cabins on Lobby Deck, but still

 

My point. Carnival is not the cheapie Walmart of cruises anymore. You can get the same or better rates on every cruise ship out there if you watch prices and pounce when the price is right.

 

That said. I love Carnival. We have sailed on about every Cruise Line and we always come home to Carnival. I like the clean. I like the trivia. I like the food. I like the passengers who are having a good time and good for them! I like the staff. We always get the best cabin steward on the ship... If I ever won in the casino, it would be perfect.

 

I don't sail Carnival for the price. I sail it because you get more value for the money you spend on Carnival than anywhere else.

One thing I have discovered about Carnival is the prices jump all over the place as do their offers. I "think" I may have gotten exceptional deals but it does take a lot of time and effort on my part which I fortunately have. Once I book a cruise I still continue to check on their website to see if I still got the best price not that I can do anything about it because it is paid for. For example the 8 night Sunchine cruise I am taking is for a Lido deck balcony and the cost was $1667 with a $50 OBC - then I also get the $100 OBC being a stock owner - and then my TA gave the $80 matching Discover rewards discount ($160) - thus total cost would be $1357 + gratuities. Well I hope I am right in thinking I got a "deal" but right now I'm only comparing it to the current price. The price I used was special VIFP or something. The only other cruiseline we have used is Royal Caribbean and I got some great prices too but not quite as good as Carnival! But you are right pounce when the price is right! My friends got a NCI cruise with free drink package that we should have pounced on and didn't - I'm still jealous!

[eponym]

... My friends got a NCI cruise with free drink package that we should have pounced on and didn't - I'm still jealous!

 

I saw Norweigen Epic was on the list and described in the article.

[jimbo5544]

Some of those are not what I would call budget

 

 

As in most of them.....

[Jay Sam]

Personally I would not consider Disney or HAL as "budget".:confused:

 

Amazing the prices Disney charges.

[Jay Sam]

Not amazing in a good way either. More like arrogant.

[eponym]

As in most of them.....

 

I am not defending the article, and I didn't write it. If you read the article, it is framed as $1,000 BUDGET and under.

 

One more time. That is the affordable budget ($1,000 and under) the article is written for.

 

Must have found offers at some point that were at or below that 1K budget level for all the brands/ships they included.

Edited May 17, 2015 by eponym

[eponym]

Amazing the prices Disney charges.

 

I think the article does have a Disney ship included as one of the Amazing Budget Cruises at or below $1,000.

[Son of a son of a ...]

Or... I could spend $800 for the Cheers package on Carnival (cause you've got to pay for 2...) or just go to the Cocoa Publix and get a liter of Rum for $25 and take it onboard DCL...

 

Not sayin' DCL is cheap, just that you need to take everything into consideration...

 

 

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

Liter of rum ... what do you drink on the second day? :)

[eponym]

Not amazing in a good way either. More like arrogant.

 

It's a brand. Do they sail empty? There is a Disney ship listed among the list, along with a Carnival ship from the authors. The article title is 10 Amazing Budget Cruises That Don’t Feel Like Budget Cruises and this thread is entitled Carnival Ships Listed Among Amazing Budget Cruises.

Edited May 17, 2015 by eponym

[Jay Sam]

I was quoting the poster who said that HA or Disney would not be considered a bargain. Disney is the highest price of all the main lines.

[eponym]

Oh, I understand.

 

There is a Disney ship listed among the list, along with a Carnival ship from the authors. The article title is 10 Amazing Budget Cruises That Don’t Feel Like Budget Cruises and this thread is entitled Carnival Ships Listed Among Amazing Budget Cruises.

 

Disney Dream

Norwegian Epic

Celebrity Solstice

Nile Legacy

Regal Princess

Quantum Of The Seas

MSC Divina

Queen Elizabeth

Holland America’s Oosterdam

Carnival Miracle

 

 

https://www.yahoo.com/travel/10-amaz...s&soc_trk=copy

Edited May 17, 2015 by eponym

[funcruiser1234]

Carnival offers cruises on a budget, but they are on a very tight budget themselves as a company.

[eponym]

Carnival offers cruises on a budget, but they are on a very tight budget themselves as a company.

 

Somehow that implies that other businesses beyond Carnival are not on tight budgets?

 

I didn't read that in the article, or indicated in the thread subject.

 

The article title is 10 Amazing Budget Cruises That Don’t Feel Like Budget Cruises and this thread is entitled Carnival Ships Listed Among Amazing Budget Cruises.

 

Disney Dream

Norwegian Epic

Celebrity Solstice

Nile Legacy

Regal Princess

Quantum Of The Seas

MSC Divina

Queen Elizabeth

Holland America’s Oosterdam

Carnival Miracle

 

 

https://www.yahoo.com/travel/10-amaz...s&soc_trk=copy

[TerReuv]

I think that where the article goes wrong is by comparing different lengths of cruises and different staterooms. How can you compare a 4 day inside with a 7 or 8 day balcony or suite? Yes, you could sail on some of the lines mentioned at the pricing they list but a 4 day for about $1K per person in an inside cabin compared to a 7 day for $700 (or less) per person in a balcony are two totally different things.

 

That would be like me saying that Wal-mart and Macy's and Kohl's all have bargains. Yes, they do but they are very different. I can get a pair of Wranglers at Wal-mart for under $20, I can get a pair of Levi's at Kohl's for less than $40 and I can get a pair of Michael Kors jeans at Macy's for under $80. Totally different and people would look at you like you are crazy if you tried to compare the three.

 

Apples to Oranges people.

[eponym]

I think that where the article goes wrong is by comparing different lengths of cruises and different staterooms. How can you compare a 4 day inside with a 7 or 8 day balcony or suite? Yes, you could sail on some of the lines mentioned at the pricing they list but a 4 day for about $1K per person in an inside cabin compared to a 7 day for $700 (or less) per person in a balcony are two totally different things.

 

That would be like me saying that Wal-mart and Macy's and Kohl's all have bargains. Yes, they do but they are very different. I can get a pair of Wranglers at Wal-mart for under $20, I can get a pair of Levi's at Kohl's for less than $40 and I can get a pair of Michael Kors jeans at Macy's for under $80. Totally different and people would look at you like you are crazy if you tried to compare the three.

 

Apples to Oranges people.

 

The article cleary states as $1,000 or under as budget. $1,000 or below is a budget.

 

You aren't going to get a balcony on Disney or Celebrity for less than Carnival. That's not what the article is about, and there is nothing crazy about the article.

 

The article title is 10 Amazing Budget Cruises That Don’t Feel Like Budget Cruises and this thread is entitled Carnival Ships Listed Among Amazing Budget Cruises.

 

Disney Dream

Norwegian Epic

Celebrity Solstice

Nile Legacy

Regal Princess

Quantum Of The Seas

MSC Divina

Queen Elizabeth

Holland America’s Oosterdam

Carnival Miracle

 

 

https://www.yahoo.com/travel/10-amaz...s&soc_trk=copy

Edited May 18, 2015 by eponym

[eponym]

The article cleary states as $1,000 or under as budget. $1,000 or below is a budget.

 

You aren't going to get a balcony on Disney or Celebrity for less than Carnival. That's not what the article is about, and there is nothing crazy about the article.

 

The article title is 10 Amazing Budget Cruises That Don’t Feel Like Budget Cruises and this thread is entitled Carnival Ships Listed Among Amazing Budget Cruises.

 

Disney Dream

Norwegian Epic

Celebrity Solstice

Nile Legacy

Regal Princess

Quantum Of The Seas

MSC Divina

Queen Elizabeth

Holland America’s Oosterdam

Carnival Miracle

 

 

https://www.yahoo.com/travel/10-amaz...s&soc_trk=copy

 

My own mistake. I see that Celebrity has 7 day Western Caribbean BALCONIES for less than $800 with free shore excursion, on board credit and dining credits now. Things are changing.