Thinking of trying Carnival....

[JLBellaCC]

Hubs and I took a short cruise on the Carnival Imagination a few years back and the weather was awful and we didn't care for the ship. But we had enough fun that we wanted to try it again- so we sailed on the Oasis the next year and of course, we were hooked! Since then, we have cruised on other Royal ships, Celebrity and Holland America. Each unique, fun and imperfect in their own ways. Now, I am tempted by the new Carnival "Journeys" cruises. The one I am eyeing is sailing out of New Orleans and heading to the S. Caribbean, which we love. It is on the Dream- which as I am sure you all know, has mixed reviews. I just don't know what to do!! We do like nicer things- clean surroundings, good tasting food, decent entertainment (After all, we had fun on the Holland America cruise and their entertainment is seriously lacking-:D) but we are in no way cruise ship snobs- we still find that much of a good time on vacation is up to you. I would love your opinions- the price is def right- but still, more importantly than the money is the fact that vacation time does not come around often enough and I want to enjoy the vacation I select. Thank you!

[bury me at sea]

I enjoy Carnival. There are numerous activities going on day and night, and numerous places to stay away from the noise and crowds when you want peace and quiet.

 

I enjoy the dining room experience. The staff is friendly and efficient. I feel spoiled right up until they tell us to get off the ship.

 

Never yet have I not felt I got a very good value for the price.

[amysb]

I think you'll have a great time - I've cruised on all the lines you name and also Princess, and DH and I both agree that we seem to just have more fun on Carnival. Service has always been top-notch for us, food has been mostly good and some even great, and I've developed a great fondness for comedy shows and the piano bar ;).

 

Some amenities may be lacking at times, but I cruise more for just being out on the open sea and traveling to new places (or revisiting old ones). Carnival provides that at an excellent price point.

 

I, too, am looking forward to my Journeys cruise in November! I hope you enjoy yours should you decide to go.

[ginger123snaps]

I agree with the above mentioned. I don't feel loyal to any one cruise line. I enjoy all the cruises. Carnival is a lot of fun for my family. We have never had a bad cruise ;)))) Enjoy!

[OCruisers]

Sounds like you would have a good time on ANY cruise line. :D

[Stateroom_Sailor]

The Journey Cruise price & Itineraries are attractive, and you should get a slightly older crowd than the 3/4 day Imagination. Journey throwback features will be a plus. I thought the food was pretty darn good in 2011, not quite as good as Celebrity, but superior to Royal Caribbean. Entertainment will be simpler, but variety is the spice of life. We're looking forward to trying Holland too!

Edited August 17, 2015 by Stateroom_Sailor

[pbsteve]

I got my wife into cruising, and we love it, one thing though, we stick only to the newer ships, I've been on the imagination, and valor, and the new ships are leaps and bounds better for us. Since you liked the oasis, it may be the same for you, stick to dream class, and you may love carnival.

 

Also I just booked the dream for next Aug, loved the breeze, and expect the same, with some diferences, but mostly it's the same ship with a different skin from what I can tell

[RaiderFaninNM]

Try it, who know until YOU try it........;)

 

 

Carnival is trying something new with the Journey cruises, we will find out in Jan 2016! :D We also tried the Oasis class on her "bigger" sister, The Allure. While yea she was a beauty and was all that, we missed the outside view one gets on a smaller ship, only outside walkable views one gets is from teh very top. The Allure was so big in fact we found like being on a floating mall......Would we try it again, sure IF the price was there and it has not been, as compared to Carnival. We did find the entertainment to be better on RCCL but the food was sub-par for the flagship of RCCL. The MDR food was ok, nothing special, luke warm and rather bla, I guess one gets that serving such a large crowd all at once. Try it yourself as those "mixed reviews" are just that, mixed.............

Edited August 17, 2015 by RaiderFaninNM

[CrimsonTideGal]

I loved the Dream, had a Cove Balcony and it was awesome. Very shaded and close to the water. Have always enjoyed Carnivals food. The tile work on this ship is gorgeous!

[Club Disney Chandler]

While I haven't been on a CCL ship yet, we're booked on the new Vista next June. Having only been on DCL we were very hesitant to try a different line. But after reading more and more about CCL I'm so excited about our CCL cruise. I agree with a previous poster that you seem like the kind of person that will have a great time on any line. I'm one that firmly believes even if things are "excellent" on a ship, you're still on a ship. Just my $.02

[JLBellaCC]

Thanks to all of your positive (and very logical) comments- we booked it!!!! I am super excited- thank you for your help!

[OCruisers]

One positive thing I'll say about CCL: The passengers actually seem HAPPY! :)

[Vitamin_Sea]

We do like nicer things- clean surroundings, good tasting food, decent entertainment (After all, we had fun on the Holland America cruise and their entertainment is seriously lacking-:D)

 

I do think most people want the same. However, no cruise line can make 100% of the people happy.

 

Jump on the Dream and have a great cruise. :)

[angelofsin]

The way I see it, most of the mass market Cruise lines are more similar than they are different, so I am sure you going to have good time as long as you bring an open mind. I am looking forward to my Carnival Cruise on the Vista in the not to near future (April 2017). with that Being said I hope you enjoy your voyage.

[Rogueperson]

I did exactly what you did. Back in 2001, I sailed a 4 night cruise on the Holiday. Enjoyed myself, but didn't think it was all that.

 

Didn't cruise with Carnival for several years, and then came back. Went on the Carnival Liberty for an 8 night cruise. Absolutely blown away. That cruise on the Liberty held the reign of best cruise for 6 years and beat out several Royal Caribbean cruises. Unfortunately, My last cruise on the Grandeur of the seas. unseated Liberty as best cruise, but it was a tough fight. I think it was the rock show on new years eve that landed the death blow.

[jolyn928]

DH and I have been on 8 cruises...all carnival. My parents cruised twice while I was in college and too 'cool' to tag along. The ships and ports in their photos were stunning, so in 2004 we decided to cruise for our 2nd anniversary. Not sure if CC was around then, and I'm not even sure we had internet at the time.

 

I called carnival's 1800 number and booked a June, 5 day out of Jacksonville on the Jubillee at the recommendation of the representative. Big mistake for us. There was no grand lobby, not atrium. We were on deck 4 and our room vibrated alllll day, shook and rattled when the anchor dropped. Our ports were Key West and Nassau (nothing wrong with those ports, just didn't live up to our expectations). We SWORE we would never cruise again. Ever.

 

Four years later, we couldn't afford an all-inclusive trip and I begged hubby to try cruising again after doing some actual research. We booked W Caribbean out of Port Canaveral on the Glory and fell in love. It was everything we were expecting on our first cruise but didn't have the maturity or resources to research. Our fourth or fifth cruise was on the Dream and we loved her too!

[deliver42]

I've been on carnival and RCCL. I was on the Dream I n 2011, and had a ball. The ship was very nice, and at that time, the entertainment was excellent. We also loved the Oasis, and we are booked on the new Vista for 2017. We've also booked the MSC Divina for May, 2016 thanks to an unbeatable deal. I just love cruising. I say I because while I've been on quite a few, my significant other only 2.The only cruise I wasn't happy with was my first on the Fantasy.Didn't like the ship at all.Othetr than that, a cruise is what you make it. Don't expect perfection because there is no such thing. Enjoy the Dream.

[RHilla619]

Ive only taken 2 cruises, one on Oasis and 2 weeks ago on the Splendor and I have to say I enjoyed Carnival way more than Royal Caribbean. Was the Oasis nicer, sure it was and they also have much better drink packages. However I enjoyed the food, entertainment, and casino much better on Carnival.

[GranthamMommy]

My husband and I sailed the Dream in April. We loved it. Very laid back and casual cruise. We are 61 and 55. Loved watching the dive in movies on the deck at night. We definitely unplugged. The food was good. So relaxing.

 

But we love Celebrity too. In comparison, we're taking a 2 week Panama Canal /South America cruise in December....where we want an expect a little more upscale and few kids.

 

You will have a great vacation!

[mzloolue]

One positive thing I'll say about CCL: The passengers actually seem HAPPY! :)

 

I think part of that is that Carnival has a client base that does not take the experience for granted.

 

Being with a whole lot of people who are thrilled to be there is a good thing.

 

And sailing from New Orleans naturally attracts people who have a more laid back vibe.

Edited August 19, 2015 by mzloolue

[Topo Gigio]

If you decide to try Carnival, I would suggest to try a newer ship. Breeze, Magic or Dream!

[dorinel]

I have enjoyed every cruise I have ever been on but was getting a little bored with Carnival and wanted to try a different line. I booked a couple of RCL ships, and enjoyed.

 

Because Carnival's prices can't be beat for a family cruise, I decided to book again on the Carnival Breeze for our group. I am a big fan again. I loved the Breeze, the cove balcony, Guy's Burger's, pool bucket/slides, Serenity Deck, etc. etc.

 

We had so much fun I booked another family cruise on the Carnival Dream. Can't wait to compare. I agree, book that class of ship and you will be very impressed on where Carnival is now going. :D

[Jimmy Geegitz]

Ship is great but you will find the shows in the main show room lacking. This is Carnivals largest downfall. But we still love Carnival. Everything else is great.

[ginger123snaps]

We are laid back people but do enjoy nicer amenities. We have enjoyed all of our cruises...INCLUDING CARNIVAL! Carnival gets a bad rep from folks...but truth is we have had so much fun on our carnival cruises. Do a newer ship and you won't be disappointed.

 

We had stopped cruising for a while because we had kids. Our first cruise after several years was Carnival Triumph. DH and I swore we would never do a carnival ship again. The ship was worn out. In fact we had the Magic booked (at the time it was a new ship) and we almost cancelled it. Our travel agent convinced us that we would enjoy the Magic much more...and he was right. We have been on the Magic twice.

 

I enjoy carnival...but I do stick to their newer ships or a recently refurbished ship.

 

Just an opinion!

[emmak8]

Go for it!!