Comparing cruise lines

[ronniemacd]

I did a few Carnival Cruises then tried a RCI cruise last year, so I can compare the experience on 2 separate Transatlantics, October 2016 on the Carnival Vista, October 2017 on the RCI Freedom of the Seas. I am not going to compare the ships in detail because both were great but I will note a few big differences between them.

 

Carnival (Vista) vs RCI(Freedom of the Seas (FOTS))

 

Price - It really all about the price…. I paid the same amount for both transatlantic cruises, but overall Carnival is the better deal most of the time, but RCI is catching them, they have some great deals if you keep checking. I got a deal through a Travel Agent that the RCI site didn’t have,like free gratuities… it was a big saving. Winner:Carnival

 

Food - Both are great, Buffets about the same. The ice cream machines, Guy’s Burger and Pizza were hands down better on Carnival. RCI’s ice cream was icy, their pizza wasn’t even close and they had nothing to compare to the “free” Guys Burger. Johnny Rockets on RCI was only $7 but its not as good as Guys. But I think the MDR on RCI was better, food and wait staff was topnotch. Winner: I’ll call it a draw.

 

Drinks - I don’t buy either drink package, I am primarily a beer drinker so its just not worth it. Buying beer was about the same price on each,overall Carnival is a bit cheaper but RCI offered a 10 drink draft beer card for $50, so it was $5 a beer for a 20 ounce draft, you can’t beat that. My wife bought a few fancy drinks on RCI, they have a different drink on special everyda yfor $8 and from 1 to 2 pm that drink was 50% off that in the casino, so for $4,It was worth it. Winner: RCI (we didn’t see any drink specials or beer cards on Carnival)

 

Room - very similar room, not much was different. On demand free movies to watch on Carnival, nothing like that on RCI. Beds on RCI are hard, very firm, beds on Carnival are fabulous and not just the new Vista, the other ships I was on had the same great beds, and definitely more closet space on Carnival.Winner: Carnival (the bed won it)

 

Entertainment - The production shows on RCI were the best, really high quality. But the Cruise Director (Matt) and overall entertainment staff (including the bands) on Carnival were much better.I kinda missed the Carnival comedians and I have to say there was much more of a late night party atmosphere on Carnival, RCI died off quick. One thing we did note is that we like to play trivia and on both ships we played a lot, on RCI you play for pens or highlighters, on Carnival it’s a ship on a stick (they call it) but it’s a much nicer prize than a pen and if you play in the Red Frog pub on Carnival you play for beer, it’s a great motivator! Don't look to watch sports on the FOTS, nothing on there anywhere, sports bar on Vista was great Winner: I’ll call it a draw (RCI has the best production shows, Carnival best nightlife, pubs and comedians).

 

Overall Ship – Both ships were about the same sizewith a lot of things to do, it depends what you are in to. Skating, rockclimbing walls and surfing on the FOTS, and IMAX, waterslides, ropes course and Sky Ride on the Vista. The RCI Freedom of the Seas promenade is beautiful andis always busy with things going on there and a real focal point of the ship. Carnival Vista’s outside areas for the Red Frog Pub and BBQ are the best we have seen for getting out on the deck. Fitness centres - both equally good. Winner: RCI - FOTS (FOTS had the WOWfactor Vista didn’t have, and they really messed up with the seating in the Liquid Lounge on Vista).

 

Passengers – Definitely older and a bit stuffier onRCI, I was 50 on the FOTS and I felt like a youngster, there was not many on there younger than me. Very few kids on either ship probably because they were both Transatlantics.

 

I won’t comment on itineraries, every port was different and I liked them all. So overall my cruise experience was about equal I would sail on either one tomorrow for the right price.

[tallnthensome]

I think the clientele on Carnival is the trashiest by far and I have no problem saying that after my Vista 2017 sailing and even with my Horizon booking last week. Stuffiness begins when you start to sail Celebrity, Holland, and Princess and up from there. Try other lines .......... There's nothing to be afraid of.

 

 

I usually don't comment on this type of statement but I guess I have seen it a thousand times and am finding it a bit offensive. I have been on all lines and I don't see that. Yes of course there are some but don't like these blanket statements. I am not a big drinker and certainly not trashy and the majority of people I have met on my cruises on Carnival are not either.

Just stating my own personal observations. On the Vista there were a lot of loud belligerent drunks, a guy passed out drunk laying against the aft hot tub. Watched a woman slug her boyfriend in the face so hard his sunglasses flew 20 feet, some clown wearing air Jordan's, basketball shorts, and a bathroom towel over his shoulders in the MDR simply as a fashion statement like he was gang banging on the streets of Compton. Do I need to go on? Pretty easy observation compared to my other cruises.

[Jerseygirl1416]

I’ve sailed Carnival, Ncl, and RC. I think all those mainstream lines are way more similiar than different. The differences are found in the specific ships of each line. You can’t compare say a smaller older RC ship with a new all bells and whistles ship of Carnival and say RC is the higher end line. I’ve also found the clientele to be the same across all three lines and also differs depending on the ship. My advise to anyone looking at booking a mainstream cruise line is to look at the different ships and book the one that appeals to them.

[Sbjefm]

Thanks for all the input everyone [emoji51]. Enjoying hearing all the reviews

 

 

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[AmBear]

Just stating my own personal observations. On the Vista there were a lot of loud belligerent drunks, a guy passed out drunk laying against the aft hot tub. Watched a woman slug her boyfriend in the face so hard his sunglasses flew 20 feet, some clown wearing air Jordan's, basketball shorts, and a bathroom towel over his shoulders in the MDR simply as a fashion statement like he was gang banging on the streets of Compton. Do I need to go on? Pretty easy observation compared to my other cruises.

While I do think Carnival is easier going on the rules, I've seen swim trunks and tank tops on young boys and girls in RCL mdr's! :o

[jimbo5544]

...... I did not know people from Compton were banned from cruising....maybe they can only cruise on Carnival where all are welcome. Is this what we have come to? :confused: Op, compare cruise lines based upon objective statements about the cruise liens their features (plus and minuses) and the difference of service and amenities. My two cents is they are much more similar than different which each having edges of their approach. Happy cruising.

[tallnthensome]

...... I did not know people from Compton were banned from cruising....maybe they can only cruise on Carnival where all are welcome. Is this what we have come to?

They"re not but if you want to continue to come to the MDR on a cruise looking like you just got done completing a gang initiation then they should be. Ever seen this on Princess or Holland America? No ? Well, there ya go then. Carnival attracts some of the trashiest people. Does it deter me? No .....

[jimbo5544]

They"re not but if you want to continue to come to the MDR on a cruise looking like you just got done completing a gang initiation then they should be. Ever seen this on Princess or Holland America? No ? Well, there ya go then. Carnival attracts some of the trashiest people. Does it deter me? No .....

 

 

 

I can agree that I think the dress standard should be higher in the dining room

[kingoftheicedragons]

We cruise mostly Carnival, but we have gone on Norwegian twice. We found the experience very similar. As others have mentioned, there are some give and takes between Carnival and Norwegian. I think Carnival does the food better than Norwegian, especially when it comes to the MDR. Norwegian does a much better job with the entertainment. Of course, it's all subjective. The first time I took Norwegian, I almost wouldn't have known I wasn't on Carnival if it weren't for the fact that every thing said Norwegian instead of Carnival.

[summersigh]

The reason why I haven’t been back doesn’t necessarily have to do with Carnival, but with my personal preferences which have evolved over the years. When I used to sail exclusively on Carnival, I did so because they provided the fun, casual, relaxed, unpretentious, and budget minded experience that I was looking for at that time in my life.

..................I’ve learned that each one provides something different which makes them unique from the others. There’s not a single cruise line out there which excels at everything. Each cruise line has its own strengths and weaknesses.

 

So to answer your question, how do I compare Carnival to other cruise lines, I think that Carnival is a great option for those looking a casual, unpretentious and budget minded cruise experience. It’s convenient, at least for people like me who live close to several of Carnival’s homeports.

I was reading this thread wondering how I was going to word my reply ... thanks ... you've done it for me. :D:D

[Sbjefm]

Sbjefm, as you say you are a newbie, let me give you some advice.

Don't compare cruise lines, compare cruise ships.

The difference between Carnival ships is huge.

Carnival Elation and Carnival Breeze are both Carnival but Elation is more like NCL Sky than Breeze. Carnival Miracle is closer to Coral Princess or MSC Magnifica than to Carnival Vista.

Does Celebrity ships sound "stuffy and upscale"?

 

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Don't fall a victim of ads and preconceptions. The beautiful Carnival Splendor has more to offer (overall) than any of Celebrity ships.

Don't be a "die hard fan" of any cruise line. Try different cruise lines and enjoy your cruises.

 

 

 

Carnival Splendor was the ship we were just on and I loved it despite some of the negative reviews people give it. Yes it didn't have all the bells and whistles of the newer ships but being my first cruise I had nothing to compare it to. We are booked on the Sunshine next year. That will be our last trip most likely with half of my children as they are late teens now and it's no longer cool to vacation with your parents. I'm thinking of booking one of the newer ships for 2020 because we will be down to 5 family members and can all fit in one cabin then. I appreciate all the feed back that I am getting from everyone. It makes me feel more confident in my decision that CCL is a good fit for us.

 

 

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