Goodbye, Carnival

[JennN]

I always have good intentions of trying other cruise lines, but as soon as I start quoting them out and comparing price and value, Carnival just can't be beat.

 

Someday I will most likely venture away, but for now the vacation value on Carnival keeps me going back to them.

 

Same here. Luckily, I haven't yet to feel bored or not feel excited about boarding!

[cruzinlisa]

Good for you for trying something else, but I would not swear off Carnival forever. It has its place. I have sailed on Celebrity and Disney and loved both. I would love to go back. I keep pricing out NCL and Royal as well, hoping it fits in. I said goodbye to Carnival a couple of years ago after being tired of the non-stop little cuts and being demoted from gold to red. We sailed on Celebrity and loved it. Then took a quick and cheap Carnival cruise. Then sailed Disney and loved it. But I still price out Carnival. When I was looking for my cruise this year to celebrate our 10 year anniversary and my birthday (its a big one), I did not even look at Carnival. That was not the kind of vacation I was looking for. But when I am looking for a low priced getaway (especially departing from NOLA or Galveston, where I can drive to), I always check carnival.

[Jimmy Geegitz]

We too are venturing away. Going on our first Princess cruise next month. Got a killer deal. Carnival even not this cheap. Carnival prices have been rising. Plus other lines are throwing in free drinks and other goodies.

[Yurita]

My husband and I finally tried a new cruise line. We sailed out of Boston on September 4th on the Norwegian Dawn to Bermuda. We loved it! I really love Freestyle dining. I have been on 13 Carnival cruises and, frankly, I have become bored with the Carnival experience. We put down deposits for two more NCL cruises while we were still on the ship. We will be back on Carnival someday, but not for awhile.

 

We LOVE trying new cruiselines. I used to love Carnival, and just like you, got tired of it.

Tried Royal Caribbean and man, I thought it was my first cruise all over again. Then came Princess, NCL, and we cannot wait to try MSC. There's something unique about each line.

 

I still have my favorite cruiseline (Royal), and my least favorite (Carnival). We keep trying and discovering new ships & itineraries.

 

I always compare cruises to hotels... when you travel, do you always stay at the Embassy suites?;)

[sanmarcosman]

We too are venturing away. Going on our first Princess cruise next month. Got a killer deal. Carnival even not this cheap. Carnival prices have been rising. Plus other lines are throwing in free drinks and other goodies.

Same results for us. We're sailing Princess to same ports in Mexico as we have on Carnival, same cat of cabin for $100 each less in basic fare plus Princess is including dinner for two in one of their specialty restaurants and a $50 OBC per person. Very pleased and looking forward to sailing with Princess.

Edited September 15, 2015 by sanmarcosman

[newNCLcruiser2010]

I have been twice on NCL and once on Disney and I have my first Carnival cruise booked for July2016. I really loved Disney, everything was superior to NCL, especially the entertainment, but it's hard to justify the price difference from other lines, so it was probably my first and last time on Disney. Disney's private island is unbelievable though.

NCL was awesome, especially the Breakaway, which is an amazing ship. The food at the specialty dining restaurants on NCL was amazing. Get that freebie if you can, if not pay for Cagney's (steakhouse) and LeBistro (French cuisine), they are worth the extra monty. I will say NCL nickel and dimes you a lot, I'd prefer it to be more all-inclusive. But I loved all my cruises.

Looking forward to the Carnival Magic in July. Something tells me I will never stick to just one line. I am now choosing mostly for the ports.

No cruise is a bad cruise.

[umograd83]

We were considering doing NCL out of Boston. We live a little over an hour away. I've been on Royal, Princess, Carnival, and Celebrity. I've never done any of them a second time. This is the first time I've repeated a cruise line. 5th cruise, 2nd time on Carnival.

 

I was thinking o NCL partially because I thought I'd gain the experience of being on most of the really popular lines and then settling on my favorite for a while. But ultimately I decided not to because I heard the food on NCL was bad. What did you think about it?

 

I didn't think the food was bad on NCL. But I'm not a particularly fussy eater, either. We are going to do the Boston to Bermuda on Dawn again because Boston is so close to Maine and it's easy to get there. We go down to Boston by bus or train. No matter what line you go on, I think you will find good food and bad food. The only food I ate on Royal that I didn't like was the gazpacho. Carnival has the best gazpacho. Out of the three lines, Carnival has had the best food. However, I did like the set up in the buffet restaurant on the Allure. Instead of standing in a long line to go through a buffet line, they had round "pods" with different kinds of food at each one - i.e., salad stuff on one, even gluten free food on one. I thought the pods made getting your food a lot easier.

[ready2cruzagain]

I always have good intentions of trying other cruise lines, but as soon as I start quoting them out and comparing price and value, Carnival just can't be beat.

 

Someday I will most likely venture away, but for now the vacation value on Carnival keeps me going back to them.

I have to disagree. Our Epic cruises are cheaper than our Sunshine cruise this year and they include the alcoholic beverage package.

 

Sunshine:

 

Inside deck 8 $1346 total for 2 taxes included and $50 obc, no alcoholic beverage package

 

Epic:

 

Inside deck 14 $1455 total for 2 with taxes and gratuities charge for UBP included, with a $175 obc. Alcoholic beverage package included.

 

 

You really have to look around and when booking a cruise line other than Carnival you have to compare what incentives the TA's give you. With Carnival, they can only give a $25obc or something like that but with other cruise lines they allow TA's to give a lot more incentives.

Edited September 27, 2016 by ready2cruzagain

[Ery]

I have to disagree. Our Epic cruises are cheaper than our Sunshine cruise this year and they include the alcoholic beverage package.

 

Sunshine:

 

Inside deck 8 $1346 total for 2 taxes included and $50 obc, no alcoholic beverage package

 

Epic:

 

Inside deck 14 $1455 total for 2 with taxes and gratuities charge for UBP included, with a $175 obc. Alcoholic beverage package included.

 

 

You really have to look around and when booking a cruise line other than Carnival you have to compare what incentives the TA's give you. With Carnival, they can only give a $25obc or something like that but with other cruise lines they allow TA's to give a lot more incentives.

 

 

I agree our last sailing on Carnival Miracle for an inside cabin was $1382 for two people, $818 for two drink packages and $50 obc. Our current sailing on Oasis was $1675 for a balcony for two people, $758 for two unlimited drink packages, complimentary dinner in a specialty restaurant and $300 in onboard credit. With the entertainment we get on board we will gladly pay the $300 up front difference.

 

 

Sent from my iPhone using Forums

[sanmarcosman]

Carnival has had the best food. However, I did like the set up in the buffet restaurant on the Allure. Instead of standing in a long line to go through a buffet line, they had round "pods" with different kinds of food at each one - i.e., salad stuff on one, even gluten free food on one. I thought the pods made getting your food a lot easier.

 

Ease of accessibility to marginal food doesn't appeal to us.

[loveJake]

Good for you that you're venturing out and trying other cruise lines, specially after 13 consecutive cruises on the same exact line!

 

The best piece of advice that I can give you is that, instead of booking 2 more NCL cruises (making it 3 in a row), that you look at what other cruise lines are out there. That "newness" and excitement that you felt on your first NCL cruise will quickly wear off if you repeat the same pattern of sailing exclusively on one cruise line again. Keep it varied and fresh!

 

We haven't done two cruises in a row on the same cruise line in the last 5 years and the experience has been wonderful. And the best part about it is that, when you're ready to sail on Carnival again, that boredom will have dissipated and it will feel like a new experience all over again.

 

For now, enjoy what NCL has to offer, and be open to even more new cruise lines, ships, and destinations!

 

You are spot on, we like different things on different cruise lines. For example here is a list of our last 3 and up coming 2 cruises, Carnival, Princess, RCI, Carnival, and Princess.

[Viesczy]

Variety is the spice of life! 13 straight vacations of the same product would've driven me to insanity too!

 

We typically never book more than 2 or 3 in a row on the same line so we don't get bored with the product offered.

 

NCL is a great line, haven't been on them in a few years but they are on the short list of who we look to vacation with when planning our time.

[Love2Cruz2015]

I was a long time Carnival loyalist too, but have recently decided to branch out to Disney and MSC....I will still sail Carnival (I'll be platinum soon!) but I think going on different ships keeps things interesting.

 

In general, I just love to cruise so why not see what else is out there.

[ponza17]

Like Tutontow says , it's hard to beat CC Players Club by far the best club at sea.Have sailed RC,Ncl and their Players club can't match CC.Have two booked for Oct. and Nov.Have RCL booked for next May for Alaska.It's good to spread your cruise $$ around and see what other lines offer!

[boopsahoy]

Tapi, I agree with everything you said. I would love to try other cruiselines but I have established a relationship with CCL's players club and the offers they give me and most likely other gamblers is hard to beat.

 

One thing for sure after 35 years as an active gambler, once you have played blackjack in one casino they are basically all the same.

 

For us cruising is just getting away. Hanging out on our balcony. Having people wait on us and of course gambling and drinking.

 

I have priced other cruiselines and unless I am missing something the savings I get with CCL can't be beat. I have called the other cruiselines and offered to scan and send them my offers from CCL just to show I am a rated player and they replied until you establish your play with us we can't help you.

 

So in my long winded way I am pretty much tied to CCL.

 

We mainly use NCL but we have been getting free Carnival cruises from our land based casino-balcony room once and suite once. Thats why we have been going on Carnival in the summer.However I think NCL players club gives you a lot more than Carnival. I hate that Carnival gives you such a short window to book your free cruise that they give you on the last day. I also felt an oceanview room after losing A LOT was a slap in the face. I always can get a balcony at least based on my play from NCL with no time limit of when I need to book. Just call them and say heres the cruise I want what can you give me.

[VASOXFANN]

Variety is the spice of life, including with cruise lines. I shop based on price and itinerary. Our next cruise is on RC, then Carnival. After that, who knows....we might even check out MSC again. We loved them too!

 

I've enjoyed all of my cruises, except my only one on NCL years ago. The food, ship, and service were pretty horrific, but I was in Hawaii, so I can only complain so much. :cool: I may give them another try someday if the price and itinerary are right. Maybe :eek:

Edited September 27, 2016 by VASOXFANN

[VASOXFANN]

Love your wording!!! We've cruised Carnival 21 times. We're trying Regal Princess in December. Have heard a lot of pros and cons. I really think a cruise is what you make of it. I agree crap happens, but Guest Services w/Carnival has always went above and beyond to correct any problems we may have had. We'll be cruising in January back w/Carnival, my annual GIRLS ONLY cruise in May and a family cruise in June. Happy Cruising!!

 

Princess was a nice cruise. The ship was gorgeous. I wasn't crazy about their Anytime Dining (the MDR was super-crowded and we were SQUEEZED in) so we only ate in the MDR once. I'd love to cruise with them again and do the traditional dining.

[ponza17]

Our CC Casino cruises are not Bounce Back offers.7-night Majic for Oct. was Just Port Tax only for $238.00 for interior.7-night Splendor for Nov. was port tax of $258.00,but this is a Preimer Players Club Cruise so we get $500 cash,free Drinks on Us cards and special events for prizes.NCL's Ocean Players Club could not even come close to an offer like that.It' not how munch you win or loose,but your rate of play on hrs.played and amount bet.We are not "High Roller by no means,but after 76 cruises,not all on CC they have the best deals

[BenjiRodney]

We ventured out 3 times and are still waiting to be wowed by Royal. We will be sticking to CCL and I will more than likely cancel the RCL booking in 2018.

 

 

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[riclop]

My husband and I finally tried a new cruise line. We sailed out of Boston on September 4th on the Norwegian Dawn to Bermuda. We loved it! I really love Freestyle dining. I have been on 13 Carnival cruises and, frankly, I have become bored with the Carnival experience. We put down deposits for two more NCL cruises while we were still on the ship. We will be back on Carnival someday, but not for awhile.

 

Yes we did the same thing but not with NCL.

[AZbeachboy]

We have about the same amount of cruises with Carnival as we do Princess. We are getting ready for our 7th on CC and we have 9 on Princess. We judge by when we can cruise when we can cruise. We have also cruised some on RCCL and Holland America.

 

We became disappointed with Carnival when they changed their loyalty program. A t that time we had the same amount of cruises with Princess. Our trip on Carnival next week we will finally become Gold after 8 cruises. We have been Platinum on Princess for three cruises now. The importance there is priority boarding. Plus, Carnival became very controlling in pool towels and other activities that you have to check towels or equipment out.

 

However we learned something while doing this. We realized that the food was better on Carnival and although the ships are nice, Princess ships seemed to better taken care of. The service has become better on Carnival. Princess has had so many cut backs it is barely adequate service in the DR. Entertainment on Princess is better and more varied. More live bands and fewer DJ's. Activities on Carnival are more varied and a lot more of them. Princess advertises a mini golf, but it is hardly that. Princess ships and pools are much better and miniature golf is terrific unless you in rough seas.

 

So our next cruise is Carnival. It is another short one but we do not plan on leaving the ship. Shorter cruises are what Carnival excels in.

 

It has been a long time since we were on HAL but we were on an old ship, but it was a quality experience. We cruised twice with RCCL an thought was very over rated in food and service. The activity staff was better that any line we have been on, but other wise very lackluster.

[PlanoDebbie]

While I've been on Carnival cruises several times, I think it's good to try others as well. When booking cruises, we look at the dates we're interested in, along with prices for the ports we're interested in. It's always nice to see a new port or ship once in a while.

 

If you can't live without watching a Hairy Chest competition, then you need to stick with Carnival. If you're favorite thing about a cruise is watching the crew build a tower of champagne glasses and pour champagne on the top glass to create a fountain, then you should stick with Princess. If you have certain activities or features of one cruise line over another, then stick with what you like.

 

We like to relax, not have to cook or make the bed and see some beautiful scenery.