kloudamy Posted May 15, 2017 #1 Share Posted May 15, 2017 July will my first time cruising with RCL. I have been on 10 cruises all with carnival. I would love to get veteran RCL cruisers tips and what to expect with this cruise line vs carnival. Thanks in advance. Sent from my iPhone using Forums Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BNBR Posted May 15, 2017 #2 Share Posted May 15, 2017 Which ship? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Clarea Posted May 15, 2017 #3 Share Posted May 15, 2017 Some similar RC vs Carnival threads: http://boards.cruisecritic.com/showthread.php?t=2460900 http://boards.cruisecritic.com/showthread.php?t=2461102 http://boards.cruisecritic.com/showthread.php?t=2414224 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kloudamy Posted May 15, 2017 Author #4 Share Posted May 15, 2017 Empress of the seas. To key west and Cuba!!! Sent from my iPhone using Forums Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
matj2000 Posted May 15, 2017 #5 Share Posted May 15, 2017 Some similar RC vs Carnival threads: http://boards.cruisecritic.com/showthread.php?t=2460900 http://boards.cruisecritic.com/showthread.php?t=2461102 http://boards.cruisecritic.com/showthread.php?t=2414224 Those are just a few. Just go to the search function. Type in "Carnival". It will pull up the last 10,000 already ongoing threads on the subject.... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cb at sea Posted May 15, 2017 #6 Share Posted May 15, 2017 You will find both lines more similar than different. One difference...RCI doesn't require both parties in a cabin to buy the drink package....if only 1 is drinking, only 1 needs to buy. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BNBR Posted May 15, 2017 #7 Share Posted May 15, 2017 Empress of the seas. To key west and Cuba!!! Sent from my iPhone using Forums That's a very old ship, but will still be plenty nice. In which case, cb at sea is right on the money. You'll find the service/food/etc. probably about on par. What sets Royal apart is their better ships, but you aren't sailing on the newer ones. You will have a great time and won't notice much of a difference between Carnival and Royal, to be frank. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Oak Hill Cruisers Posted May 15, 2017 #8 Share Posted May 15, 2017 Yes, Carnival & RCI are pretty much on par but the real difference comes once you make diamond on RCI's Crown & Anchor Society. You get access to the Diamond Lounge (and later, with diamond plus & pinnacle -- the Concierge lounge) with nice continental breakfast, happy hour drinks and munchies, and the nifty DYI cappuccino machine. Lounges are a great way to relax among friends, read your kindle, knit/crochet, and just get away from the 'madding crowd'. RCI's Crown & Anchor is, by far, the best loyalty program on the high seas -- for this price range. Of course, if you book a suite (not junior suite), you get to use these nifty lounges (on some ships, the suites get their own lounges). Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare Captain Funtime Posted May 15, 2017 #9 Share Posted May 15, 2017 Sailed Empress a few weeks ago. They offered 10 drink cards if you don't want to buy an unlimited package. You can share the drink cards. Chops is the only specialty restaurant. They aggressively offered 20% off at Chops every night. Food in the MDR was good. They did offer lobster one night in the MDR. The $7.95 room service was a fail both times we tried it. Very slow and wrong items. Sent from my iPhone using Forums mobile app Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kloudamy Posted May 15, 2017 Author #10 Share Posted May 15, 2017 Thank you for the responses and links. Y'all have been super helpful. Sent from my iPhone using Forums Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tatka Posted May 15, 2017 #11 Share Posted May 15, 2017 Also unlike Carnival you still get cabin service twice a day. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Havingfun2010 Posted May 15, 2017 #12 Share Posted May 15, 2017 July will my first time cruising with RCL. I have been on 10 cruises all with carnival. I would love to get veteran RCL cruisers tips and what to expect with this cruise line vs carnival. Thanks in advance. Sent from my iPhone using Forums I'm going on this ship also, but would love to hear some confirmations. This ship is not the "normal" RCCL. It is smaller, and dedicated for Cuba. The entertainment areas are some "old style" like the main stage. The differences I heard: 1. MDR menu is not the same. It is unique to only this ship. 2. No formal night on this ship 3. No smoking in the casino (YAY!!!!) 4. The staterooms are the old style - very small. 5. Well, I heard everything is tiny on the ship, but quaint. I'm looking forward to it, and the above differences don't bother me, because it will be different. Just want a confirmation that it is. For the poster, you will most likely find this ship to be unique, and enjoyable, but not much difference. It was a retired ship, brought back because of the small size. It would be hard to even compare this ship to the many other RCCL ships in the fleet because of it's uniqueness! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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