Bigger is not always better

[Tommy140]

I have been on 8 Carnival cruises. For some reason my wife and I decided to try Royal Caribbean. We just returned from a cruise on Royal Caribbean's Anthem of the Seas. It was bigger than all the Carnival ships we have been on, but by far not better. The food was as good as Carnival but notthing else. The entertainment was inferior to the entertainment we were used to on Carnival. If Carnival are the "fun ships" then I would call Royal Caribbean the "sell ships". All ships sell merchandise, but the lobby is full of shops and tables full of wares for sale on Royal. Carnival provides a room for ironing, Royal doesn't but you can pay to have your clothes pressed or steamed. No poolside food. $8 delivery charge for room service. It was so many little hidden fees on Royal that you don't have on Carnival. Tea and lemonade is only available when the buffet is open, only tap water if your having pizza after 9:30 or pay for a soda. One ice cream machine on the entire boat that is often without ice cream.

Carnival I am sorry for straying. ..never again!

[bury me at sea]

Thanks for your views. Those huge ships hold no interest for me.

 

Hope you enjoyed the cruise.

[tef43]

It's not just the mega-ships, it's ALL of Royal Crapabbean. Twenty-five years ago, it was different.

 

Just like Carnival, they have lost their way.

[Keys2Heaven]

It's not just the mega-ships, it's ALL of Royal Crapabbean. Twenty-five years ago, it was different.

 

Just like Carnival, they have lost their way.

 

Oh come now, they haven't lost their way. These corporations are chasing the almighty dollar in a world where people demand more for less!

 

And their marketing folks are geniuses with their upsell offerings, like FTTF, Bottomless Bubbles, or Cheers!

[PamalaX]

I actually also prefer cruising a bit smaller ship on Carnival as well. Breeze the biggest we've been on nice we have actually stuck with conquest class after that cruise. Breeze was a lovely ship and we had a fun trip but it just felt much more crowded to me than the feel I get on a conquest size ship. The pool area was a big sell for me. The stadium seating style around the pool on the smaller ship just offers so much more room. I liked the Breeze for looks but when it comes to the right size crowd and best pool set up I go smaller Carnival every time..

[BNBR]

Well thank goodness you have options. Especially for that high quality Carnival entertainment.... :rolleyes:

[cynt]

Im not loyal to anyone, see my signature, but I loved the Anthem. Its my new favorite ship. I enjoyed hanging out in Two70. The view with the floor to ceiling windows were incredible. The shows and all the electronic robotic screens and so forth were phenomenal. Two70 has its own cafe and bar.

 

I dont mind the shops along the Royal Promenade. The Royal Promenade is actually one of the things I like about the RCCL product. They dont make you purchase anything. And the Royal Promenade is great for grabbing a drink, snack and people watching.

 

The Seaplex is a phenomenal place to spend hours. Its like a YMCA on steroids and they have a hotdog and bratwurst place down there.

 

Carnival's entertainment is lacking. This is the one thing I would pay more money to get better entertainment on Carnival.

 

That's the great thing about cruising There's a ship out there for everyone.

 

 

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[nhsails]

Loved Anthem. What many people miss is that they are marketing a different experience with the Oasis and Anthem class. the ship is basically the destination. More like a week at a resort with rides than a traditional cruise. CCL seems to keep their base marketing and just continue on with the newer ships. Big world out there nice to try as many as possible

[nhsails]

Tef43, 25 years ago so wasn't Carnival 😎....much better cruising value now.

[Kyndal93]

I agree with you. Went on the Oasis last year, and it was a very nice ship but I had nowhere near the amount of fun that I have Carnival. I like the young party crowd of the Carnival, and Royal seems to cater to older crowd and families. Definitely will be stick to Carnival from now on

 

 

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[T2C]

I have been on 8 Carnival cruises. For some reason my wife and I decided to try Royal Caribbean. We just returned from a cruise on Royal Caribbean's Anthem of the Seas. It was bigger than all the Carnival ships we have been on, but by far not better. The food was as good as Carnival but notthing else. The entertainment was inferior to the entertainment we were used to on Carnival. If Carnival are the "fun ships" then I would call Royal Caribbean the "sell ships". All ships sell merchandise, but the lobby is full of shops and tables full of wares for sale on Royal. Carnival provides a room for ironing, Royal doesn't but you can pay to have your clothes pressed or steamed. No poolside food. $8 delivery charge for room service. It was so many little hidden fees on Royal that you don't have on Carnival. Tea and lemonade is only available when the buffet is open, only tap water if your having pizza after 9:30 or pay for a soda. One ice cream machine on the entire boat that is often without ice cream.

Carnival I am sorry for straying. ..never again!

We don't like the large ships at all. Give us our Spirit class or RCCL's Grandeur and it's a cruise we'll love

[BNBR]

I agree with you. Went on the Oasis last year, and it was a very nice ship but I had nowhere near the amount of fun that I have Carnival. I like the young party crowd of the Carnival, and Royal seems to cater to older crowd and families. Definitely will be stick to Carnival from now on

 

 

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Royal and Carnival market to the same crowds. It's time of year/length of cruise that will determine the crowd on that sailing. You sailed Oasis in November, of course it was an older/quieter crowd with less families.

[Kyndal93]

Royal and Carnival market to the same crowds. It's time of year/length of cruise that will determine the crowd on that sailing. You sailed Oasis in November, of course it was an older/quieter crowd with less families.

 

 

So question for you, I'm planning on going on Vista to Southern Caribbean next year. Since that will be an 8 day cruise, will it be all old people as well?

 

 

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[bUU]

Tef43, 25 years ago so wasn't Carnival 😎....much better cruising value now.

And Seabourn was in its infancy. I bet everything Carnival used to be is still there somewhere in its set of fleets.

 

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[BNBR]

So question for you, I'm planning on going on Vista to Southern Caribbean next year. Since that will be an 8 day cruise, will it be all old people as well?

 

 

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Depends time of year. When kids are out, they go cruising, when they are in school, less kids/families cruising.

 

We went on Glory in October and there weren't all that many kids on the ship. On Oasis in July and there were kids and families EVERYWHERE.

[Kyndal93]

Depends time of year. When kids are out, they go cruising, when they are in school, less kids/families cruising.

 

We went on Glory in October and there weren't all that many kids on the ship. On Oasis in July and there were kids and families EVERYWHERE.

 

 

I don't want kids and families. I want people in their 20s/30s. Maybe May would be an okay time?

 

 

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[soapbxking]

I tend to agree!! I have sailed on three Fantasy class ships, the Liberty, and the Triumph...sailing Magic next year. All the ships were wonderful. Size aside, I had wonderful vacation on them all.

[easyboy]

Thank you for your feedback.

 

 

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[quickrate]

Loved Anthem. What many people miss is that they are marketing a different experience with the Oasis and Anthem class. the ship is basically the destination. More like a week at a resort with rides than a traditional cruise. CCL seems to keep their base marketing and just continue on with the newer ships. Big world out there nice to try as many as possible

Many times when cruising the ship is the destination for us, but not with rock climbing walls, carousels in the middle, central park, etc. We cruise for the ocean, and the feel of the sea,not for an amusement park. Different strokes for different folks.

Pat

[dd likes to cruise]

The entertainment was inferior to the entertainment we were used to on Carnival. in!

 

I for one would like to hear more about the entertainment. Hard for me to believe the above quote.

[back-at-it]

I don't want kids and families. I want people in their 20s/30s. Maybe May would be an okay time?

 

 

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Our first ever cruise was on Carnival Freedom early May 2012. It was packed with Graduating College kids. (I say kids because I graduated 38 years earlier). It was the most fun I had watching them party and have fun. Reliving my youth through them.

 

So My point is, there is not a bad time to cruise with the right attitude.

[bUU]

My point is, there is not a bad time to cruise with the right attitude.

Yes. And really the only difference between "Big" and "Small" is the Big provides more opportunities to approach something with the right attitude.

 

 

 

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[bury me at sea]

Many times when cruising the ship is the destination for us, but not with rock climbing walls, carousels in the middle, central park, etc. We cruise for the ocean, and the feel of the sea,not for an amusement park. Different strokes for different folks.

Pat

 

You just described me. I've also always enjoyed the inclusive aspect of Carnival. Creating a separate class of Havana cabins on Carnival's newest, biggest ships is a total turnoff.

[bUU]

I've also always enjoyed the inclusive aspect of Carnival.

It sure didn't feel inclusive before I could afford it. :)

 

 

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[bury me at sea]

It sure didn't feel inclusive before I could afford it. :)

 

 

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Inclusive for those on the ship. Can't go to Serenity because you're not old enough. Ditto casino and bars. I'm fine with that.

 

Can't go to that pool because I didn't pay enough for our cabin - we are in steerage class.

 

No thanks.