Carnival vs royal?

[Starbright7966]

I am a carnival lover (been on 13) but we are looking at liberty of the seas for an October sailing. (We waited too long and carnival is pretty picked over from Galveston)

 

I am curious if anyone has done both lines and can compare them. I am worried about food quality of royal. The pictures don't look that appealing. And also availability too see the shows. I keep reading something about having to get tickets. Carnival is just easier to understand. It will be myself, husband and two kiddos ( 4 and 6)

 

Thank you in advance

 

 

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[aspen000]

There is a great review on YouTube. I can't remember the specific title but it's there!

 

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[LuckyStar]

I love both lines. RCCI to me is more grown up. I like their adult pool areas and the vibe is just more upscale. I thought the food was better but not by a lot. I liked our ship; it was easier to get around. For some reason, it seems to take me a lot of time to get acclimated on Carnival ships. I don't seem to learn the layout until the last day or so.

 

Hope you have a great time!

[DisneyDatknee]

We like Royal's Ships more (more wow factor) and they are very pretty ships, but the food is :o... We didn't care for it at all and the buffet really lacks. I like how Carnival has more variety in the buffet like Blue Iguana, Guy's, Mongolian, Tandoor, etc.. Royal is just like a mix of everything and really didn't care for it. Carnival's Pizza is 100x better. MDR was disappointing as well. We ate at the Lido more than the MDR on Royal, which isn't something we did on Carnival. That's just my opinion and I wouldn't pick Carnival over Royal over it, just a negative for me. The previous poster said RCL had better food, so see, we all have different opinions.

 

The things we like about Royal is that there is more areas to relax and unwind on the ship than Carnival, like the Solarium and just on experience, I felt like there were just more quiet places on Royal than on Carnival, even on shorter sailings. It's a little less party atmosphere than Carnival, but there's still plenty of it on the pool deck.

 

We cruised Royal three times in a row actually as it was always cheaper than Carnival when we searched around. I always thought it would be the opposite.

 

I would definitely try out Royal to see if you like it, but we really don't have a line preference at all and just cruise if it's a good deal.

[nhraformula00]

Been on 15 Carnival and 3 Royal. Royal ships are nicer. Food is about the same, i would not rate one better than another. The pizza on (Royal is better) than carnivals hands down.

[dctravel]

In my limited experience (compared to others), I thought the theater entertainment was better on RCCL and the food better on Carnival.

 

As for shoes and reserved seats, I think that depends on the ship. You definitely do that on the Oasis class (Oasis, Allure, Harmony), but I have not heard about reservations for shows on our upcoming Independence OTS cruise in December.

 

 

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[klfrodo]

I've done 13 Carnival and planning my 3rd Royal.

 

Shows on Royal are better these days. Yesteryear, I would have said comparable.

Food, to include MDR, Steak Houses, buffet, etc,,, I just like Carnival better.

Activities for the kids? I like Royal better.

Overall "FUN" vibe, Carnival hands down

WOW factor,,, I don't know where Royal or their loyals came up with this, but there is nothing about Royal that just blows you away that makes them WOW above and beyond any other cruise line. They're good, I'll take them any day, they meet the needs of their demographics, but, WOW? No

 

Carnival and Royal are more alike and have more in common than they are different.

[dmdiver]

I think Royal has "prettier" ships. I do love the adult solarium pool. Oasis class ships you do need to make reservations, but I don't think that's the case on the others - at least it wasn't on Enchantment.

 

If you like Guy's burgers, you won't find anything comparable on Royal, but I would not consider that a reason not to try Royal. We found it difficult to find food between 9-10pm once as far as the included offerings on one of our Royal sailings. Also, they don't keep the ice cream machines filled 24 hours - supposedly the soft serve ice cream was available 11am-8pm. However, it was usually after 12:30 before they had them going & usually shut down well before 8pm. It was almost like they just didn't refill them after a certain time of day. It was just a bit disappointing if you wanted to grab a little snack in the evening. I felt the food quality was roughly the same, maybe a slight edge to Carnival, but food is very subjective.

 

We saw no shows on Oasis, as we failed to get reservations ahead of time. The shows on Enchantment were good, though.

[mdsgu]

Have cruised both lines, plus NCL. Royal seems a bit more upscale (not a lot) and isn't quite as boisterous as Carnival. I feel the food is a bit better, as is the service, on Royal. However, I've never had a bad experience on Carnival. The kids' clubs are comparable.

 

If you've never sailed Royal, it's worth a try. It's a vacation; I would be very surprised if you had a lousy time!

[nhsails]

For us:

Carnival: better lunch options, better pizza, more poolside games, trivia, etc.

Royal: better ship and interior designs, better MDR menu, better specialty restaurants, better beverage programs, better entertainment, better cabin design, better loyalty program, better customer service.

Toss-up: ship staff, children's programs, pricing(we value price, not raw cost).

Carnival staff trained to be more "outgoing, interactive" while Royal staff more traditionally trained, polite but not intrusive.

We find Carnival more "dated" in cruise style. We also find Carnival to be closer to NCL, COSTA than Royal.

All in all if Carnival was 1 Royal would be a tick up to 2 for us.

Whatever you decide enjoy and safe journeys:D

[Glock19]

I'm diamond on Carnival and Platinum on Royal. If its just my wife and myself we sail Royal. If I'm taking my kids its Carnival. Carnival's price is better. Royal has the Anthem of the seas less than an hour away from our home. IMO you can't compare Carnival's lido food to Royal's Windjammer. Especially at night. Carnival gives you a slice of meat or a sandwich and a fluff up coffee desert if your lucky. Royal is a whole different league Carnival ships can't compare to Royals mega ships. There both good company's. I own stock in both. Give it a try. see hat you think. Your millage my vary.

[sgttami]

I never thought I'd sail on any line but RCL.(Diamond) Loved everything about it: food, shows, service etc. I had to have my arm twisted to try Carnival 3 years ago and now I'm hooked! Leaving next week for the 8th time.

 

It's hard to compare differences since everyone cruises for different reasons and we all have our own tastes as far as food and entertainment, drinking, gambling etc. I'm pretty easy to please. I did like The Steakhouse on CCL better than the alternative choices on RCL and I love The Deli on CCL. RCL has the Viking Crown lounges and free drinks for Diamond guests which is nice. I mostly drink Coor's Light so that was the same on both but CCL has a better alcohol package. Casinos on both lines were comparable and I did OK on both...$$$$$:D

 

Simply, I had more fun on Carnival. I would however, sail RCL again.

[kctwinmommy]

In my signature I have a post I did with the Pros & Cons for both lines. We'd done several Carnival and did our first RCI this summer. But it's hard to compare some things since we did a European cruise, vs. the Caribbean ones we've done (so food is different, IMO). We enjoyed our time, not sure I would definitely pick RCI over Carnival in the future, we didn't feel there was anything super WOW and great to make me pick it, as they are more expensive. But if they had a cruise going to a place we wanted to go, we'd pick them again.

[pascalburns]

go and enjoy your cruise.you will not be disappointed.

[CruisinDawn]

Very experience with Royal, new to Carnival.

 

Entertainment: If you are looking at Galveston on the Liberty it not require reservations for shows. Shows on Royal will have a band or orchestra but what little experience I have had on Carnival they are canned music. Great variety of things to do especially in the evening. Because they have other types of shows you will only find a few comedians, not every night like I have seen on Carnival.

 

Food: agree in the evening Royal lacks food let alone variety. Buffet hours on carnival are more accommodating. Pizza on Royal in "My" opinion is terrible, lakes time in the oven and is thinker crust. Carnival is a crisp crunch. Royal charges for room service $7.95 except continental breakfast, carnival only charges for some items. Food in MDR I feel is pretty much the same.

 

Kids: No experience with kids on Carnival but our daughter started sailing in 1st grade and loved the kids programs. Royal has a bunch of kid friendly areas like the water park. The Liberty will have parades in the promenade which the kids love too as it's filled with Madagascar characters.

 

Liberty is a fun ship! Happy Planning :)

 

BonVoyage

Dawna

[chuckie13]

I have been on both lines and both RCCI and Carnival are great. RCCI is just a little bit on the adult side but it is good to go on to compare.

 

 

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[meatloafsfan]

Carnival is more fun, better beds and better food. Royal has better adult pools.

 

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[joepeka]

I am a carnival lover (been on 13) but we are looking at liberty of the seas for an October sailing. (We waited too long and carnival is pretty picked over from Galveston)

 

I am curious if anyone has done both lines and can compare them. I am worried about food quality of royal. The pictures don't look that appealing. And also availability too see the shows. I keep reading something about having to get tickets. Carnival is just easier to understand. It will be myself, husband and two kiddos ( 4 and 6)

 

Thank you in advance

 

 

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Unless RCI has changed it, you do not need reservations/tickets for any entertainment venues on the Freedom class ships (including LOS) except the ice show - those tickets are distributed on a first-come, first-served basis the morning of those performances.

[ashley@cruisecritic]

I am a carnival lover (been on 13) but we are looking at liberty of the seas for an October sailing. (We waited too long and carnival is pretty picked over from Galveston)

 

I am curious if anyone has done both lines and can compare them. I am worried about food quality of royal. The pictures don't look that appealing. And also availability too see the shows. I keep reading something about having to get tickets. Carnival is just easier to understand. It will be myself, husband and two kiddos ( 4 and 6)

 

Thank you in advance

 

 

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Cruising is so subjective, but maybe this article will help: https://www.cruisecritic.com/articles.cfm?ID=1780.

[riclop]

Oasis class ships on rcl are much better then anything Carnival has.

[Stateroom_Sailor]

Tickets are only a concern on Oasis or Quantum class ships. We prefer Voyager or Freedom class ourselves, as well as prior ships, wouldn't have a problem getting into the shows. The food is not great on RCL, but with the American Table and Carnival's lido selections, I don't believe Carnival is ahead as much as they used to be.

[sailor05]

Having been on both I will pick based on ship and itinerary versus by cruise line. In our opinion the food is much better on Carnival, especially outside the MDR. Yes, Royal is only slightly more upscale but their shows and ship decor is top notch compared to Carnival. I haven't enjoyed a single show on the 3 cruises I've taken on Carnival. Next year we're taking 2 cruises due to a graduation and in-laws 50th anniversary and I'm having a real tough time trying to pick which ones would best. As far as the Oasis-class ships I'd say do it once in the future but they're too big and you seem to be "disconnected" from the sea. Loved it the first time, hated it the second. I think we'll either go back to a Freedom-class or try one of the newer class (Anthem-class??).

[Lady_831]

I have sailed both. My last three cruises have been on Royal (Oasis, Anthem, and Allure). Food is better on Carnival. Service is definitely better on Carnival and that's with us only staying in suites on Royal. On every ship we've been on (except the last two Royal ships), we've met and communicated daily with our room attendant. On our last two Royal, we never met one attendant, and the other we saw twice. I actually never saw him, but my husband did. The rooms and ships are better on Royal.

 

We took a break from Carnival because of a less than stellar experience on the Breeze, two years ago and we've taken four cruises since then on Royal and Disney. We are supposed to sail on the Vista this upcoming weekend. Looking forward to a new class of ship and hoping that we have a great time like we normally do on Carnival. We tend to sail for the ships, so Royal tends to have the upperhand, especially since we love the Oasis class of ships.

 

 

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[Lady_831]

Oasis class ships on rcl are much better then anything Carnival has.

 

 

 

We love the Oasis class. Hands down our favorite ships. Have you been on the Vista? Wondering how it compares. Supposed to board this upcoming weekend, but may not due to Irma.

 

 

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[asylum575]

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Edited September 11, 2017 by asylum575
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