Royal Caribbean compared to Carnival questions

[Aquahound]

I've been on sister ships of the Serenade and Glory. I recommend Serenade. It's just a nicer experience. On Serenade, you're not forced to walk through the smoky casino to go fore and aft, and the ship's decor is much more pleasant on the eye. Staterooms are designed using nautical blue, rather than the odd pink and naugahyde on the older Carnival ships. Plus, on Serenade, the promenade wraps all the way around the ship and you can walk out to the bow helipad. I'm not saying Glory would be bad, but it just looks and feels like a cheaper experience.

[ejpoduska]

On 4/9/2018 at 1:33 PM, JCruiseGuy said:

Just got off 9 days on Navigator of the Seas, which is larger and has more amenities than Serenade. Have cruised Carnival Conquest, which is similar to Glory. After the last 9 days, I would absolutely stay with the Glory. Even on the larger Navigator, food was awful and limited, and entertainment was limited compared to recent cruises on Dream, Triumph, and my prior cruise on Conquest. Although I am Diamond on RCI, I would not recommend a cruise on anything less than a Quantum or Oasis class, as it seems all resources are going there.

This is concerning to me!!! I just booked on Navigator for June... it's our first RC cruise in 15 years....

I love Carnival,  but was drawn to the price and new amenities of the Navigator.  What things would you say were great on the Navigator?  Any suggestions on great food?

[lcpagejr]

6 hours ago, ejpoduska said:

This is concerning to me!!! I just booked on Navigator for June... it's our first RC cruise in 15 years....

I love Carnival,  but was drawn to the price and new amenities of the Navigator.  What things would you say were great on the Navigator?  Any suggestions on great food?

This post you referenced was from over a year ago and from a likely Carnival Cheerleader... I am Platinum on Carnival and just got off the Adventure of the Seas. My first RCL cruise in 18 years.... I loved the RCL experience... The Promenade walkway blew me away and puts Carnival to shame. Food was equal if not better.... I thought the Windjammer buffet was better and it had a bar!!  Many varieties of entertainment but we are not "show" people. Staff was extremely happy and helpful.... RCL has earned future bookings from me... To be honest I am "Carnival'd out" ... and I cruised last year on one of their newer ships (Vista)....which didn't do anything for me. Fortunately I went on Southern itinerary and stayed in Havana which saved my cruise experience. 

Edited April 23, 2019 by lcpagejr

[Grandma Dazzles]

6 hours ago, ejpoduska said:

This is concerning to me!!! I just booked on Navigator for June... it's our first RC cruise in 15 years....

I love Carnival,  but was drawn to the price and new amenities of the Navigator.  What things would you say were great on the Navigator?  Any suggestions on great food?

 

Lots of posts on the Navigator - just returned to service after a major update, numerous additions, $115 million redo - post was from over a year ago.  Just returned from a fantastic 9-day cruise on the Navigator.  Would highly recommend.

 

Serenade is a smaller, older, RC ship. Doesn’t have a lot of whistles and bells, but is a favorite of many people. Lots of glass and sea views - a true cruise ship. 

 

 

[JCruiseGuy]

This is my post and no, lcpagejr, I am NOT a Carnival Cheerleader. I’m almost Diamond Plus on Royal. I have had good and bad experiences on Carnival, Royal and just about every other cruise line. I’ve sailed Navigator 3 times, the post referenced my last cruise on her which is the only time I’ve ever not enjoyed it. And this was roughly 9 months before she was refurbed and she was being treated by Royal like a backwater ship. I’m sure that’s all changed with the refresh and I’m sure she’s a great ship again. I sail several

times a year and sometimes it has to do with the easiest options from where I live which is New Orleans. Carnival is present year round which is why I have a good bit of experience on them. Royal will not meaningfully commit to this market and pulls in and out every few years. Most recently it was Vision on a truncated season and while I have loved Enchantment and Grandeur, they don’t compare to the options by Carnival and NCL during the season she’s there. I write this as I sail on Norwegian Bliss, which is also wonderful. The three lines are very different and each ship is very different.  The Navigator of a year ago is likely very different from the revitalized Navigator of today. But I caution you against assuming anyone who isn’t a line specific cheerleader is a cheerleader of another line. That kind of thinking is not helpful and unwelcome. I’m a 100+ cruises person on many lines. Don’t assume if someone doesn’t like one cruise or points out problems so the lines will see it and make changes that it’s because they are another lines cheerleader. 

[subaru94]

On 4/10/2018 at 3:25 AM, asalligo said:

 

Thanks for your review, that is concerning though, all the things I hoped would be better on another line, you seem to prefer on Carnival. The food on my last Carnival cruise was really bad. Just nothing great available. Sure, they had plenty of mediocre food, but years ago it had so much more of a wow factor. Late night eating is something I complained about to Carnival. I would like to see the buffets open late. The shows are ok on Carnival, I am just tired of watching the same ones.

In regards to food on ships it comes down to the Head Chef, know this is not carnival/rc related however, we went on Sapphire Princess last year with friends and the food was beautiful they went on the ship in December and said the food was terrible.  So very hard to judge food unless you get a lot of comments we all have different tastes.

[SuiteLady]

I have sailed both Carnival and RCI....we prefer RCI and even my kids (young adults) chose RCI, when given a choice of what cruise line to sail.  We feel there is a lot more to do on Royal, the food is better in general, the rooms (esp. showers) are better, and it just feels a notch above Carnival.  Will I sail Carnival again...perhaps, if price and itinerary is right.  My feeling is that any day on a cruise ship is a great day!  Ur cruise is what you make it.....I have seen people love, and not love, every cruise line.....it is just so subjective!  I say give RCI a try, enjoy ur cruise, then you will have a personal experience to compare, and decide going forward, which cruise line is more for you!  Enjoy ur cruise, whichever one you choose!!

[ejpoduska]

19 hours ago, Grandma Dazzles said:

 

Lots of posts on the Navigator - just returned to service after a major update, numerous additions, $115 million redo - post was from over a year ago.  Just returned from a fantastic 9-day cruise on the Navigator.  Would highly recommend.

 

Serenade is a smaller, older, RC ship. Doesn’t have a lot of whistles and bells, but is a favorite of many people. Lots of glass and sea views - a true cruise ship. 

 

 

Thank you. I noticed too late that the post was from April of 2018.  I know of the updates, which is why I picked Navagator over our regular Carnival cruises (RC seems to redo ships better than Carnival).  

Tell me, since you just got off of the renovated ship, what you liked about it.  Do you have any comparisons to Carnival ships? 

[Grandma Dazzles]

3 hours ago, ejpoduska said:

Thank you. I noticed too late that the post was from April of 2018.  I know of the updates, which is why I picked Navagator over our regular Carnival cruises (RC seems to redo ships better than Carnival).  

Tell me, since you just got off of the renovated ship, what you liked about it.  Do you have any comparisons to Carnival ships? 

 

I particularly enjoyed the new furniture in the solarium; much more comfortable.  A lot of people liked the new shaded cabana-type seating on the sun deck, hammocks, etc.  Also liked the Mexican poolside eating - great place to make a snack and enjoy.  

 

Too old for water slides - but watched lots of people having a great time!  Most of the people I talked to seemed very happy with the cruise.

 

I don’t cruise Carnival so can’t compare - primarily wanted to point out that the Navigator had received a lot of changes since the post of 2018.

[seventhwardhustler]

On ‎4‎/‎10‎/‎2018 at 9:59 AM, pittsburghcruise23 said:

I have been on MANY CARNIVAL CRUISES and ONE RCC obviously for me Carnival Wins in most categories for me. Keep in mind I was not on one of the newer oasis class Royal ships. I was on the second newest class. ( Sorry can't remember their name)

 

STATEROOMS- Carnival Wins. Carnival has larger staterooms than any other line I have been on. (except DISNEY) . They also to me just seem to have cleaner lines, and appear newer even on older ships.

 

MDR- Subjective but to me Carnival Wins. Royal food seems to me bland and tasteless. The staples seemed to be Chicken Cordenbleu and apple pie. I can get that at a Cracker Barrel at home. And desserts are far better on Carnival. That melting cake can never be repeated. I will say I loved the Creme Brule on RCL.

 

BUFFET/POOL FOOD- Carnival again wins. The windjammer was not that great and offered the same food every day. Carnival buffet seems to rotate. Also RCL has no poolside grill etc. I really missed other free options on the lido such as Guys and Blue Iguana and Pizza Pirate on Carnival.

NOTE: I will say even though it was a fee I loved Johnny Rockets on RCL. (Better than Guys shhh)

 

SHOWS: This is where RCL wins. I never really LOVE the shows on Carnival.. kinda like a high school show choir; it was good but nothing spectacular. Royal shows are really top quality.

 

Lounges/Bars- Carnival wins here as well. Comedy shows are much better on carnival. As are just about every activity in any of Carnivals aft lounges.

 

LATE NIGHT FOOD- Carnival wins with Pizza Pirate. Coudln't find any late night food on Royal.

 

Ships- Royal wins. They are just a but more classy than most Carnival Ships. But that doesn't draw me back. I'll take everything I love about Carnival, and put up with the GAUDY decor.

 

just a few reasons why for me CARNIVAL WINS over Royal

 

well thank goodness for johnny rockets. we mostly eat pizza and burgers lol so at least we'll get good burgers. i needed a change in scenery so i went with RC for 2020. i hate how folk act like there is something "wrong" with carnival but it really boils down to preferences. carnival also has more website booking functionality and cabin flexibility. looking forward to the better shows.

[johnjen]

On 4/9/2018 at 1:24 PM, Host Clarea said:

 

RC does not have a poolside grill.

Surprisingly, we had two instances of poolside grills but I am thinking this was RC doing test runs to see how they went. We had poolside grills on Brilliance and believe it or not, Anthem. Those were first time experiences we saw and actually very nice idea.

[Clarea]

2 minutes ago, johnjen said:

Surprisingly, we had two instances of poolside grills but I am thinking this was RC doing test runs to see how they went. We had poolside grills on Brilliance and believe it or not, Anthem. Those were first time experiences we saw and actually very nice idea.

 

I have also occasionally seen temporary poolside grills set up on Royal, however I don't know of any Royal ship (excluding Quantum class on which I've not sailed)  that has permanent poolside grills.