Princess vs. Carnival

[bostonlass]

I was looking at prices for a cruise next February and noticed that the Carnival cruises are much less expensive than the Princess ones. We're looking to take our "brady bunch" family of 6 (including us 2 adults) so price definitely comes into play for this cruise.

 

Could someone who has travelled on both lines give me expamples of why Princess would be more expensive? We're doing the PRincess CAribbean in October and I would really like to be able to stick with one line from then on since I think the benefits are cool the more you sail with the same cruise line, but with these prices being so low with Carnival I'm not sure.

 

Thanks!

 

Princess Caribbean 10/16/04

Disney Wonder 04/18/04

Carnival Carnivale 05/88

 

Go Red Sox!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[lunyma]

How old are the kids? What kinds of activities do you all enjoy? Are you looking at President's week? If you are, I would suggest that you book *something* soon, as that week tends to fill quickly, and prices will most likely go up. Carnival is a great line for families and adults alike. Princess is good too, but for me, just not my style. If money is a factor here, then definitely consider Carnival, if it is indeed less $$ for a similar size and age ship, and itinerary. You might also want to consider Royal Caribbean. Check out all your options, and since I see that you haven't cruised in quite a while, you might also want to consult a travel agent that specializes in cruises. If you need some help of any kind, feel free to email me at lunyma@aol.com and put Cruise Critic in your subject line. I am NOT currently working as an agent, but was, fairly recently, and have been on Carnival, Royal Caribbean, and Princess. If I don't get back to you right away, hang in there. Dealing with some family problems at the moment.

Also... to give them a fair shake... you might want to ask the same question on the Carnival board.

 

Pam : )

Emerald Seas 6/20/83

Nordic Empress 6/93

Imagination 3/30/00

Ecstasy 9/4/00

Majesty of the Seas 10/27/00

Triumph 12/16/00

Radiance of the Seas

3/26/01 & 3/29/01

Crown Odyssey 6/24/01

Golden Princess 10/11/01

Spirit 11/11/01

Sensation GGC 1/13/02

Sovereign of the Seas 3/24/02

Imagination 5/18/02

Pride 11/2/02

Explorer of the Seas 3/29/03

Enchantment of the Seas 9/1/03

Serenade of the Seas 10/28/03

Grand Princess 11/16/03

 

check out my pics at http://community.webshots.com/user/lunyma

 

[This message was edited by lunyma on 04-29-04 at 03:55 PM.]

[bcs819]

I can't tell you why Princess may be more expensive, but I can tell you what we saw as differences from our 2 cruises on Carnival and our 1 cruise on Princess:

Cabin:

We were in a standard balcony cabin on both. The cabin seemed larger on Carnival and we had a couch/seating area on Carnival that we did NOT have on Princess.

Pools:

The pools on th Grand were 1000 times bigger, better and more accessible on the Grand. Now, that being said, both Carnival cruises did have a water slide and made the pools areas much more a child oriented area. We got splashed so many times, we gave up on the Victory. The pool areas were much improved on the Carnival Pride, but unfortunately, some little rugrat blew out his Pampers in the pool one day and the whole area had to be drained and scrubbed down making it un-usable. That could happen on any line, I suppose.

Entertainment:

Carnival way outscored Princess here. There was ALWAYS something to do on the Carnival ships whereas on the Grand we felt like after 11 or so, we were stumbling on our own to the casino (not our thing) or Skywalkers (which was where the whole rest of the ship looking for something to do went) In addition, Carnival had shows at midnight (usually adult oriented), so that was another option as well. Having been to Las Vegas, the 'Las Vegas' style shows held no appeal for us on either line. One of the comedians on Princess was so un-funny, my DH had to hold me down so I wouldn't walk out

Food:

The most important thign to some people on a cruise. Food was readily available on both lines at all times. It was good to great on both lines. On Princess, someone hands you a tray and silverwear when you go to the buffet. On Carnival, you pick up your own. On Princess, they mangled our dinner preference for late traditional seating for 3. They put us at separate tables! On Carnival, we got exactly what we wanted on both cruises.

Excursions:

On Princess, you can pick everything and have it all done before you even leave your house. On Carnival, it was a mad rush to your room to pick what you wanted on the TV. We missed ports on both lines due to tendering issues. Carnival took us somewhere else, Princess said they would refund our port charges (it was in the Patters) and I fought with them about it for 6 monthes after we got home.

Embarkation:

No issues on either line. No real wait time on either line. On Carnival, we liked having the guarantee and not knowing what cabin we would have until we got to the ship (and we did get upgraded both times). On Princess, we got assigned a cabin at booking and it was it.

Disembarkation:

Seems we had to wait for a lot of folks on Carnival to go to immigration/customs. The last morning was filled with announcement after announcement of people that had to report. I don't remember this on Princess, although we did stay in our cabin so maybe we didn't hear them. No issues with luggage on either line.

Other random issues:

We got alcohol on both ships and got food off in port on both ships. Security seems tighter getting on and off of Carnival, although one of them was closer to 9/11 than the other.

 

We absolutely loved Carnival and have nothing bad to say about anything we experienced on either the Victory or the Pride. We thoroughly enjoyed the Grand and only sailed on her because we had such a cheap(and I mean CHEAP) price. We are booked on the Diamond in the fall, again because we found a deal too good to pass up. We do not have kids, so i can't comment too much on the kids programs, but if I were you, that's what I would look into. It seems to me from the amount of time I spent on the Carnival boards that those folks were always thrilled with Camp Carnival, while Princess seemed ok to a little irritated with the Princess program.

Please tell us which ships you are considering and feel free to ask more specific questions. This board is a wealth of knowledge, so much so that I felt like a veteran cruiser befoer we ever walked onto our first ship.

 

"so many cruises, so little vacation time"

Diamond Princess - September 2004

Grand Princess - March 2003

Carnival Pride - June 2002

Carnival Victory - June 2001

 

 

 

[LindaKE]

bcs819 clearly favors Carnival. We don't. On Carnival there were LONG lines. Not so on Princess. They make everything move smoothly and quickly. On Carnival I asked for a different salad dressing and was told that no changes could be made. On Princess when I didn't like the salad dressing, both the waiter and his assistant were there begging me to let them get something I would like better. Different dressing not on the menu - no problem. On Carnival we had trouble understanding and making ourselves understood. On Princess everyone spoke excellent English. On Carnival there were lots of loud noisy partying. Carnival goes more for the hairy chest type of activities. Princess was quieter and more refined. Yes the cabin was slightly bigger on Carnival, but we had a balcony on Princess that more than made up for the difference. On Princess both the passengers and crew were friendlier. All that said, your children might enjoy Camp Carnival more.

 

LindaKE

 

Sun Princess(Alaska)

Carnival Inspiration

[Salty Dawg]

We agree with the previous poster's assessment.

 

Carnival shouts... have fun & enjoy!

Princess whispers... relax & enjoy!

 

 

We love both Princess & Carnival, each for what they have to offer. If the age, size & itineraries of the ships you are comparing are about equal, we'd let price dictate our decision.

 

You will find Carnival's balcony room to be larger, with a sofa in the sitting area (some of which are convertible to a bed) standard. On Princess, the standard balcony room does not offer this feature unless you upgrade to a mini-suite (and then you'll also have a bathtub).

 

Since you are a family of six, are you considering two rooms? Check into a balcony room, with an inside room across from it. Carnival offers a price break for the 3rd. & 4th. passenger in a room so you would notice a savings there. Book one adult & 1 child in the balcony room and then the other adult & three children for the inside room. (Rates are less to begin with so you'll save even more!)

 

When are you looking at sailing & on which ship?

 

Ken & Nancy

 

***********************

12/2004 - Golden Princess

10/2004 - Fantasy Fest, Key West

03/2004 - Golden Princess

01/2004 - Carnival Legend

11/2003 - Carnival Glory

03/2003 - Carnival Spirit

02/2003 - Carnival Triumph

12/2002 - Carnival Legend

04/2002 - Carnival Victory

01/2002 - Carnival Sensation

12/2000 - Carnival Tropicale

 

***********************

 

 Until Sailing The Golden Princess

 

[CruiseFever]

I think either line would work well for your "Brady Bunch".

 

I could nail it down further but I always make somebody mad when I do. There's just no way to be candid and not ruffle somone's feathers.

 

Is Princess where you belong? I will offer our first-time Princess cruiser (last month) experience as some food for thought:

 

http://www.lifeiscruising.com/golden_princess1

 

Happy Cruising

 

Chris

 

www.LifeIsCruising.com

 

Next up:

Caribbean Princess 06/26/04

Star Princess 10/24/04

Diamond Princess 12/22/04

Carnival Miracle 03/13/05

 

[dimonzr4me]

WE have also cruised Carnival and Princess and like both! DH prefers Princess pools over Carnival since they are fresh water and open 24 hours, Carnival uses salt water and closes them down around dinner time. Food is a tad bit better on Princess, there are things about one line you like better and that being said every cruise is a little different from the last even if you are on the same line. If the kids are younger then Carnival would be better!

Carnival Paradise 10/99

Grand Princess 11/00

Grand Princess 5/02

Grand Princess 12/02

Zuiderdam 07/03

Carnival Conquest 02/04

 

4/9 2005 Dawn Princess

[bostonlass]

I really wasn't looking at specific ships just yet. Thank you all for your comments. Our kids are 13, 8, 7 and 7.

 

I think that after reading the comments it seems as though for an adult only cruise (just he and I alone) we'd prefer Princess, and for a kids and adult cruise it will be Carnival.

 

I'm not a real party animal at all. Both of us go to bed at around 11:30 each night so the lack of after hours nightlife wouldn't bother us at all one iota. The additional space will come in handy with the kids but would be useless for just us two.

 

The diaper accident in the pool is something that I think happens anywhere. On the Disney Wonder it happened about twice a day where they had to drain, clean and then refill the pool.

 

I didn't know that the pools on the Carnival were seawater though. Ick!!! I live 2 minutes from the ocean and we hate swimming in anything but a pool. I guess it depends on your liking but getting that salty taste in your mouth and then just feeling sticky wouldn't appeal to me.

 

AGain...thanks for the input!

 

Princess Caribbean 10/16/04

Disney Wonder 04/18/04

Carnival Carnivale 05/88

 

Go Red Sox!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[bostonlass]

Cruising Life - I just finished reading your review of the Grand and oh my goodness what a nice review! I don't just mean that I'm glad the ship was good but I loved reading it and appreciated the detail that went into it. I hope you do one on the Caribbean so I can live vicariously through you until October!!! Thanks

 

Princess Caribbean 10/16/04

Disney Wonder 04/18/04

Carnival Carnivale 05/88

 

Go Red Sox!!!!!!!!!!!!!