Carnival Prices ?

[never_cruised]

Why is Carnival so much cheaper than it's competitors ?

 

Are the budget prices reflected in your on-board experience?

[tallnthensome]

Why is Carnival so much cheaper than it's competitors ?

 

Are the budget prices reflected in your on-board experience?

You need to be more specific? cheaper in what way and with which other cruise lines? You'd need an example of a CCL cruise and another going to the same place, time, length, and age of ship to get a real comparison. Cheaper? I was on the Vista last month and there was nothing cheap about it.

[nchikk]

Before it gets lost among the haters, I'll type my thoughts.

 

I may be wrong, but I feel like Carnival is a "starter" cruise line...one for those to take a first cruise who aren't sure if a cruise is for them. A lower cost may sway them in that direction. Also, Carnival does not have all the "bells and whistles" of higher-priced cruise lines.

 

Others include internet access, but it was paid for in the cost of the cruise. Others may include some form of drink package, alcoholic or not, but that is included within the cruise fare. There may me some that have butler service (I don't know). Etc., etc., etc...

 

As to my experiences:

I find the food, for the most part, to be quite good.

I find the cabins, though smaller than a hotel room, to be adequate and comfortable.

I find the entertainment/activities to be plentiful and fun.

I find the prices for drinks/shopping to be comparable to resort destinations.

And I find the service and attitude I have experienced from the staff and crew to be top-notch.

 

Again, these are my experiences. I'm sure the others will chime in with opposing views, but that's fine.

[never_cruised]

Ok we actually looked at Vista prices on a Caribbean cruise next year , we compared to Harmony of the Seas , Oasis of the Seas , Norwegian Escape and the Carnival was cheaper by some distance.

 

I understand that NCL now offer all inclusive as standard so I can appreciate the differences there.

[tallnthensome]

I never found anything lacking on the Vista to lead to the lower cost spoken of versus other lines. Well, maybe one. We found the food at the buffet and main dining room to be fair at best with only a small selection. Combined, it was the worst we've ever had. Could these offerings or lack there of lower a cruise cost overall. I'd believe it .....

[tallnthensome]

Ok we actually looked at Vista prices on a Caribbean cruise next year , we compared to Harmony of the Seas , Oasis of the Seas , Norwegian Escape and the Carnival was cheaper by some distance.

 

I understand that NCL now offer all inclusive as standard so I can appreciate the differences there.

I'll make my personal comparison. We sailed the Vista in April and the NCL Escape in April 2016, both new ships. We paid 3600 for the Vista for four in a Cloud 9 spa inside cabin for 8 days. This was including tips, taxes, etc. We paid 3200 for a family balcony for four on the Escape for seven days which included the free drink package (no service charge) for my wife and I that was worth well over $1000 for us. The Escape was a better value in this case.

[never_cruised]

I'll make my personal comparison. We sailed the Vista in April and the NCL Escape in April 2016, both new ships. We paid 3600 for the Vista for four in a Cloud 9 spa inside cabin for 8 days. This was including tips, taxes, etc. We paid 3200 for a family balcony for four on the Escape for seven days which included the free drink package (no service charge) for my wife and I that was worth well over $1000 for us. The Escape was a better value in this case.

Ok thanks for the information , I'm starting to wonder if this is down to UK cruise pricing.

 

Living in the UK when searching cruise fares with RCCL or NCL you are taken to there UK sites this is not the case however with Carnival who give you your fare in US Dollar even after asking where you reside.

[ray98]

Overall value is the main reason I have been drawn to Carnival recently although prices have been rising but that is expected because they seem to be not only sailing full but many ships are selling out weeks in advance. In the past we were just about equally split between the big 3, now we are taking CCL 75% of the time. The reason is they seem to offer a better value while providing the same primary experience. Some things they do better and some things need improvement but I feel the same way about the other 2.

 

I believe right now CCL is trading fares for market share and I think they are winning.

[never_cruised]

I'll make my personal comparison. We sailed the Vista in April and the NCL Escape in April 2016, both new ships. We paid 3600 for the Vista for four in a Cloud 9 spa inside cabin for 8 days. This was including tips, taxes, etc. We paid 3200 for a family balcony for four on the Escape for seven days which included the free drink package (no service charge) for my wife and I that was worth well over $1000 for us. The Escape was a better value in this case.

Could I also ask you to compare the two which in your opinion was the better Vista or Escape ?

[bUU]

I'm sure I've seen more recent charts but they say basically the same thing as this one from 2009:

http://boards.cruisecritic.com/showthread.php?t=1096980

 

While that's only food, it is reasonable to assume that it applies to whatever costs can vary in the same way. They are explicitly offering a lower great of service.

 

I've raised the matter of "grade" versus "quality" before, and it is an important part of this discussion. From what I've read, Carnival offers a very high level of quality for a lower grade of service.

 

Others include internet access, but it was paid for in the cost of the cruise. Others may include some form of drink package, alcoholic or not, but that is included within the cruise fare. There may me some that have butler service (I don't know). Etc., etc., etc...

Well comparing Carnival (and NCL and Royal Caribbean) to "the next level up" (Holland America, Celebrity, Princess), the difference there actually goes to Carnival. They all charge extra for the kinds of things you've mentioned and Carnival charges less than the rest for certain things... Most notably bottled water.

 

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[tallnthensome]

Could I also ask you to compare the two which in your opinion was the better Vista or Escape ?

Both excellent new ships! The Vista would get a slight nod .....slight. The pool layout was better, the movies on deck had better seating options with three levels, and it had an Imax theater on board. We enjoyed the MDR food, buffet, and freestyle dining on the Escape better ...... I had two kids with me so that plays into my personal preference. I've never sailed the same ship twice but would do these two again. They were similar in overall offerings. Price them both .....

[Crusingdiva62]

I have cruised Carnival&NCL. I don't consider Carnival a starter cruise as many people continue to return even after sailing on other lines. I prefer Carnival for the relaxed atmosphere and fun environment. It doesn't mean I dislike other lines. I just really am not into those uber large ships that look like floating barges with a Condo complex dropped on top of them.

 

I understand RCCL charges insane amounts for water & now charging $7.95 for room service. I will be cruising them next year as a guest of a friend. I guess then I will really find out if those Mega sized ships are really my cup of tea.

[tallnthensome]

I have cruised Carnival&NCL. I don't consider Carnival a starter cruise as many people continue to return even after sailing on other lines. I prefer Carnival for the relaxed atmosphere and fun environment. It doesn't mean I dislike other lines.

I would bet that most people who have cruised Carnival as well as multiple other lines would say that Carnival is the starter cruise line for most first timers and are the budget line. There really isn't any major line that is lesser. Ideas of "relaxing" are open to debate but I would consider CCL (the party & fun ships) the least quiet and least relaxing of any line. I'm not loyal to any line in this matter and opinions and experiences vary ..........

[sonicbuffalo]

Before it gets lost among the haters, I'll type my thoughts.

 

I may be wrong, but I feel like Carnival is a "starter" cruise line...one for those to take a first cruise who aren't sure if a cruise is for them. A lower cost may sway them in that direction. Also, Carnival does not have all the "bells and whistles" of higher-priced cruise lines.

 

Others include internet access, but it was paid for in the cost of the cruise. Others may include some form of drink package, alcoholic or not, but that is included within the cruise fare. There may me some that have butler service (I don't know). Etc., etc., etc...

 

As to my experiences:

I find the food, for the most part, to be quite good.

I find the cabins, though smaller than a hotel room, to be adequate and comfortable.

I find the entertainment/activities to be plentiful and fun.

I find the prices for drinks/shopping to be comparable to resort destinations.

And I find the service and attitude I have experienced from the staff and crew to be top-notch.

 

Again, these are my experiences. I'm sure the others will chime in with opposing views, but that's fine.

 

I agree with those sentiments! Always have had a great Carnival cruise!

[tandemcruzr]

As to my experiences:

I find the food, for the most part, to be quite good.

I find the cabins, though smaller than a hotel room, to be adequate and comfortable.

I find the entertainment/activities to be plentiful and fun.

I find the prices for drinks/shopping to be comparable to resort destinations.

And I find the service and attitude I have experienced from the staff and crew to be top-notch.

 

Again, these are my experiences. I'm sure the others will chime in with opposing views, but that's fine.

 

These are our experiences as well and is why we have 6 future cruises booked with Carnival. :)

[Remus2010]

We did start with carnival for the cheaper prices. Several cruises later we are still here, because of the prices. That being said. Every cruise we book, I look at RCCL, NCL and others and compare. The price is not the only thing that keeps bringing me back. We have had great cruises and I can't fathom what RCCL does that much better for an extra $800-$1000 for a week? Food has always been good, entertainment has always been good, staff has been excellent, ships been clean. Would hope for the same from other lines. But don't want to pay more. I also don't expect everything to be perfect. I roll with the waters and enjoy my vacations, while I sometimes feel others look for things to complain about?

 

 

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[Crusingdiva62]

We did start with carnival for the cheaper prices. Several cruises later we are still here, because of the prices. That being said. Every cruise we book, I look at RCCL, NCL and others and compare. The price is not the only thing that keeps bringing me back. We have had great cruises and I can't fathom what RCCL does that much better for an extra $800-$1000 for a week? Food has always been good, entertainment has always been good, staff has been excellent, ships been clean. Would hope for the same from other lines. But don't want to pay more. I also don't expect everything to be perfect. I roll with the waters and enjoy my vacations, while I sometimes feel others look for things to complain about?

 

 

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I find alot of the things they have to offer on those lines the rock climbing walls,etc I live in Southern CA I can do those things year round. so they are not an enticement for me. In saying that I don't want to be on a cruise ship with almost 6k+ people, Vegas does that for me if I want large crowds. I just want to enjoy myself and Carnival has done that for me.

[sandij]

We have sailed on several of the major lines and find not a lot of difference in anything but the prices. The food is the same, we don't spend money on alcohol so no difference there, the cabins are generally the same and we don't book for specific cabins anyways. The itineraries run pretty close to the same as witness the amount of ships in certain ports of call. We like Carnival, you can do as much or as little as you want and still have a good time, we also like the other lines we use for the same reasons. In the end the price may be the only thing that separates the lines, and less is best.

[Djptcp]

DH and I are taking our 41st cruise tomorrow and our 28th on Carnival. We cruise on Carnival a lot because we live in Florida and I receive many cheap casino rates. However, we have been cruising on Holland America a lot lately and you cannot compare the two at all. We are suite people and on Carnival all you get is priority embarkation/dembarkation which we already get because we are Platinum. In our HAL Neptune Suites, we get the priority boarding, etc., access to the wonderful Neptune Lounge with concierges to grant our every wishes, food all day, and the concierges order our dinners every night so we can eat in our suite. We get invited to private parties with the crew and other perks. The food is superior and the ships are elegant. We will continue to cruise on Carnival because the prices are cheap and the food is pretty good and the crews are friendly. For 4-5 day cruises, we enjoy Carnival. For longer cruises, we prefer HAL.

[tallnthensome]

We have sailed on several of the major lines and find not a lot of difference in anything but the prices. The food is the same, we don't spend money on alcohol so no difference there, the cabins are generally the same and we don't book for specific cabins anyways. The itineraries run pretty close to the same as witness the amount of ships in certain ports of call. We like Carnival, you can do as much or as little as you want and still have a good time, we also like the other lines we use for the same reasons. In the end the price may be the only thing that separates the lines, and less is best.

I agree with almost everything you said except the food. The food I had on the Vista including the buffet was nowhere near as good and with the selection NCL had on the Escape last year. I'd pay a bit more in price for better food and that may be where that higher price may be. I've also sailed Holland and Princess a couple times and to say Carnival's food was the same would be way way off If I were to say based on our experiences.

[cruisemom67]

REALLY? CARNIVAL IS CHEAPER? I have to say that I have seen MANY times that RCI is cheaper. Same with NCL. I have booked many cruises, and it comes down to price and itinerary. Most of the main cruise lines are very similar. Some have better MDR, some better entertainment, some better buffet food, etc. No one cruise line has the best of all of these. I consistently see NCL cheaper than Carnival, and that doesn't even take into account the "FREE" stuff NCL offers.

 

I am taking a cruise on RCI in January: Cheaper than the Carnival price.

 

We are looking at July 2018 and there are 3 ships I am looking at. 2 are Carnival, one RCI. RCI is in the middle price-wise of the two Carnival ships.

[riffatsea]

It is interesting that these comparisons are only between Carnival, NCL and Royal? Why not add on any of the other Carnival Corporation choices like Princess or even Holland America.

"Carnival" is a large corporation that offers many styles of cruising at different price points.

We also love Royal Caribbean but it left California some years ago so don't have the opportunity as much as we'd like. It is sometimes less expensive on Carnival Cruise line(as opposed to the corp) but not always. It depends on what itinerary and what cabin class you choose.

[bUU]

It is interesting that these comparisons are only between Carnival, NCL and Royal? Why not add on any of the other Carnival Corporation choices like Princess or even Holland America.

Much less Seaborn and Cunard. If you can look at that roster of brands and not see a progression then I'm puzzled.

 

 

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[jdemps]

We tried NCL but we found it to have a much older crowd and the activities were geared toward that. We prefer carnival for the comedy club over a cheesy production show. The size of the cabins are much nicer vs the smaller versions on NCL.

 

I think we'll stick with carnival no matter what the price goes to just because we have more fun.

[SNJCruisers]

There are tiered groupings of Cruise lines. The entry level would be Carnival, Royal, NCL and soon MSC. A level up would be Celebrity, Princess and Holland America. You need to also compare an apple to an apple to make a fair comparison. Vista vs Escape is fair because they're the newest and biggest that the lines currently have. My next cruise will be number 30, 18 of which have been on Carnival. But I will say that the Escape gives you great value for your dollar. It will be the only ship I have sailed 3 times. Besides the Alchemy Bar and lunchtime eating options, the Escape does everything else better than Carnival, IMO. Adult comedy shows take reservations instead of 30 minute waits and they have pseudo Broadway entertainment instead of playlist productions or Hasbro the game show in the main show room. And a sit down restaurant open 24 hours a day. And an included drinks package which Carnival and Royal have never had. And their one pool is adults only till 500 pm.

 

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