Tell me everything you think is important- from Carnival to RCI

[pjhootch]

Hi there,

 

We've cruised a lot with Carnival and wanted to do something a little different this time.

 

We've booked Adventure of the Seas on the S Caribbean route over Christmas.

 

We've done the southern route a couple of times before but wanted to be on a different ship and try a different cruise line. In fact, we have cruised over Christmas on the southern route, quite a few years ago on the Carnival Victory.

 

We will have 3 grown kids along (24-34) and drink kind of moderately.

 

Tell me EVERYTHING- good and bad. Suggestions, tips, things you wish you knew way back when or may be important.

 

We aren't very high maintenance, but like to do something on every island. We generally eat in the main dining room on Carnival. We probably won't be interested in the specialty restaurant on the Adventure though.

[Clarea]

No Early Saver or FTTF on Royal. No prices drops after final payment date.

[mulan1123]

Depending on drinking habits.....look into getting a drink package. I find RCI has various different drink packages!

 

I'll be going on my first Carnival cruise in December and I wish they had the different types of drink packages that RCI have, like the Replenish package where it includes specialty coffees, non-alcoholic cocktails and water bottles.

 

Have fun!

[dixieva]

We have sailed both cruise lines and enjoy them both.

 

We like the food and the service on both lines.

 

We don't drink enough of anything to purchase any of the drink packages. Some folks like them but to me they are really expensive. I guess if you drink a lot it is worth it.

 

RCI has a better loyalty club than Carnival.

 

Hope you enjoy your cruise!

[Dragonkeper]

I have sailed on both the Carnival Victory and Royal Caribbean Adventure of the Seas both were out of San Juan, and some of the things for me that were different were, on the Victory they had a waterslide and mini golf, on the Adventure of the Seas they had a rock climbing wall, roller blade track, ice skating rink and a golf simulator. More to do on Royal Caribbean for me.

 

What I didn’t see on Royal Caribbean that I saw on Carnival that I didn’t like was people coming to breakfast in robes and curlers in their hair, guys with pants hanging off their butts showing their under ware. Under age kids trying to sneak into the clubs. None of this ruin my cruise, just things I noticed and didn’t like.

 

Don’t get me wrong, I had a good time on Carnival, the ship was nice, the food was good, and the itinerary was great (hit a different port each day) only one day at sea. But for me, doing the same itinerary on Royal I had a much better time because there was more for me to do when I was on the ship.

 

You will find a lot of people with a lot of different opinions, but the only opinion that matters is yours. Hope you have a wonderful cruise.

[Little Buddy's Mom]

I spent 28 days on the Carnival Liberty and didn't see anyone coming to breakfast in their robes, with curlers in their hair. I don't doubt you but that type of person would do the same thing on Royal Caribbean.

 

I've seen things on Royal Caribbean that I didn't like but I certainly don't blame the cruise line because some people don't know how to dress. That's just silly.

[sailingwithfriends]

Differences I have observed:

RCCL: Drink prices are much higher.

You will receive a phone call to make sure you are awake if you order room service.

On formal nights, you will see a lot of tuxedos and fancy gowns. You will see other

people wearing church type dresses and even some jeans. More people dress up.

No bathrobe in cabin unless you have reached a certain level.

Not as many "free-already paid for in cruise price" restaurants.

Buffets are laid out nicely.

Telephone in room displays day and time.

CCL: Food is better in main dining room.

Waiters perform nightly.

Towel animals nightly.

Drink prices are cheaper.

24 hour a day pizza and ice cream. (RCCL has limited daytime hours)

 

Both cruiselines are more alike than different in my opinion. The cruises I have taken have been more expensive on RCCL.

Bath robe in every cabin.

[BettyPC]

We like both RCC and Carnival. We plan to do our next cruise on Royal. We have points to use!

[pjhootch]

Thanks everyone. Keep it coming.

 

We have had a good time on Carnival ships and don't hate Carnival. They have been cutting back and changing quite a bit- but from reading these forums it seems like long time Royal cruisers are seeing the same thing.

 

Basically I am just ready to be on a different ship, try different menus and hear different music. We have liked the food in the Carnival MDR- but a couple of years ago it started changing for the worse. We still always find something we enjoy no matter what.

 

I will say that last November I was actually disgusted by food at Carnival's buffet. That was the first time. In years past it was decent to tolerable. I think we were on Conquest last year- (odd that I cannot remember which ship- but explains why we are ready for something slightly different) and the buffet just did nothing for me.

 

Love the Southern itinerary. The Christmas cruise has one sea day. Luckily, it is Christmas, the day before we arrive back in San Juan. Every time we do this route we are BEAT by the end of the trip because we stay so busy every day.

 

The grown kids will like the different activities and slightly different shows. My husband and I will like the different bars and layout. :D I am going back and forth on the drinks packages. I have plenty of time to think about it. We can both drink a few beers and/or a few drinks in the course of a sea day or a long night out listening to music or in the casino. But with all the port stops (5 + San Juan) it seems pretty unlikely we will drink at a break even level every single night between dinner and bedtime. rofl. I guess we could TRY... but it is probably the wiser course of action to skip the drink packages and have a few in port and play the rest by ear. I expect we will bring a couple of bottles of wine with us.

 

All three kids are drinking age but they are too cheap to buy a package and I am not buying it for them. The three of them share a cabin. Are they limited to 2 bottles of wine, or is it one per person (3 in the cabin)?