Mustang4CNO Posted July 7, 2018 #1 Share Posted July 7, 2018 I remember when my wife and I first started cruising. Our first was aboard a Carnival ship. My wife and I really liked it. Our second cruise was on a Royal Caribbean and then we found out what we were missing and essentially what cruising was supposed to be. 10 years and 10 cruises later, gone are the ice sculptures and food sculptures. Gone are the savory bites. Gone is the elegance of dinner. Now they ask we order all three courses at one time? Don’t get me wrong, we still enjoy cruising and doubt we will go back to Carnival but the elegance is missing. What are your thoughts? Sent from my iPhone using Forums Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare lazydayz Posted July 7, 2018 #2 Share Posted July 7, 2018 You might want to give Carnival’s new ships a try. The abundant free food choices are amazing. And the mattresses are actually comfortable. But you won’t find any formal atmosphere on those ships, but hey they are the fun ships. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SbbquilterUT Posted July 7, 2018 #3 Share Posted July 7, 2018 We tried Celebrity earlier this year and really enjoyed it - felt a bit more refined. Perhaps a new line would be worth it for you to explore - Celebrity, Viking or Oceania. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
blueridgemama Posted July 7, 2018 #4 Share Posted July 7, 2018 Another vote for Carnival! I know a lot of people turn their nose up at the thought of a Carnival cruise. We have been on several and have enjoyed them all. I would however, not go on any cruise over Spring Break😄 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
champagne123 Posted July 7, 2018 #5 Share Posted July 7, 2018 Give Celebrity a chance. Amazing service. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lifes-a-beach Posted July 7, 2018 #6 Share Posted July 7, 2018 My last Carnival Cruise will hopefully be my last Carnival Cruise. Completely disgusting. Like being in an episode of Cops but without the cops. Tables full of loudmouth, profane drunks in the dining room dressed like they just got out of a crack house. Nope I’m done. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
nhraformula00 Posted July 7, 2018 #7 Share Posted July 7, 2018 I remember when my wife and I first started cruising. Our first was aboard a Carnival ship. My wife and I really liked it. Our second cruise was on a Royal Caribbean and then we found out what we were missing and essentially what cruising was supposed to be. 10 years and 10 cruises later, gone are the ice sculptures and food sculptures. Gone are the savory bites. Gone is the elegance of dinner. Now they ask we order all three courses at one time? Don’t get me wrong, we still enjoy cruising and doubt we will go back to Carnival but the elegance is missing. What are your thoughts? Sent from my iPhone using Forums I agree with you 100% If you think cruise's were great 10 years ago, they were simply amazing 35 years ago. You were treated like a king and queen back then. Buffet's started at 5:30 am and stopped at 1:30 am. Dress up every night for dinner. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ONECRUISER Posted July 7, 2018 #8 Share Posted July 7, 2018 Cost to cruise on Royal has dropped over the years, they did away with lot of things. But you have choice pay more for extras, better meals, a Full Suite on the newer ships. That for about what an Ocean View cabin cost 30yrs ago... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Countrygurl Posted July 7, 2018 #9 Share Posted July 7, 2018 I had an amazing 8 day Carnival cruise on the Vista last October. I know I’ll have an equally great cruise on RC next month. It’s a cruise and a vacation! Be happy and enjoy!!!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
geomancer Posted July 7, 2018 #10 Share Posted July 7, 2018 Cost to cruise on Royal has dropped over the years, they did away with lot of things. But you have choice pay more for extras, better meals, a Full Suite on the newer ships. That for about what an Ocean View cabin cost 30yrs ago... You know, people always say this... Perhaps 30 years ago, I didn't cruise then, but I could get a balcony 10 years ago for what an inside costs today. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Shannon12 Posted July 7, 2018 #11 Share Posted July 7, 2018 You know, people always say this... Perhaps 30 years ago, I didn't cruise then, but I could get a balcony 10 years ago for what an inside costs today. 10 years ago the country was in a terrible recession. When the next one hits you can probably expect to cruise cheaper again lol. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cruisemom67 Posted July 8, 2018 #12 Share Posted July 8, 2018 Imho, I don't think there is much difference between Royal and Carnival (or Norwegian). I just wouldn't go over spring break, or on a 3 day cruise. The prices are about the same, and all three offer much less than they used to. The prices have come down considerably, so I guess it is now like "a la carte" for all those extras that were once included. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
awestover89 Posted July 8, 2018 #13 Share Posted July 8, 2018 In today's cruising world I'd say if you want a little more elegance give Celebrity or Princess a try. If you want an actual luxury/elegant experience and are willing to spend the money there are the "Luxury" lines like Crystal, Silversea, Seabourne, Regent Seven Seas. The budget lines are moving more towards the really casual/laid back atmosphere, which some people prefer (I'm one of them, but I know plenty of people who want a more refined experience) These days there's pretty much a cruise line for any type of cruiser. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Merion_Mom Posted July 8, 2018 #14 Share Posted July 8, 2018 In today's cruising world I'd say if you want a little more elegance give Celebrity or Princess a try. If you want an actual luxury/elegant experience and are willing to spend the money there are the "Luxury" lines like Crystal, Silversea, Seabourne, Regent Seven Seas. The budget lines are moving more towards the really casual/laid back atmosphere, which some people prefer (I'm one of them, but I know plenty of people who want a more refined experience) These days there's pretty much a cruise line for any type of cruiser. I don't think that I'd call them "budget lines". "Mass market" lines would be more accurate. :) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jagsfan Posted July 8, 2018 #15 Share Posted July 8, 2018 I remember when my wife and I first started cruising. Our first was aboard a Carnival ship. My wife and I really liked it. Our second cruise was on a Royal Caribbean and then we found out what we were missing and essentially what cruising was supposed to be. 10 years and 10 cruises later, gone are the ice sculptures and food sculptures. Gone are the savory bites. Gone is the elegance of dinner. Now they ask we order all three courses at one time? Don’t get me wrong, we still enjoy cruising and doubt we will go back to Carnival but the elegance is missing. What are your thoughts? Sent from my iPhone using Forums Speaking of RCI’s savoury bites, on Serenade in April l, I asked our waiter why we can’t get them any more. Every night after that, there was a plate with 8 or 10 of them waiting for us every night. Sent from my iPhone using Forums Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Iamcruzin Posted July 8, 2018 #16 Share Posted July 8, 2018 My first cruise was in 1986 on Carnival. My second cruise was on Princess and I have never returned to Carnival. You may want to give them a try. They actually still have about a 90% participation on formal night it you enjoy that. Celebrity has given up on formal nights altogether and from what I have been reading here it seems that Royal still calls them formal nights but there doesn't seem to be much participation. The buffets and main dining room is better on Princess. I wasn't impressed with the food on Celebrity. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SRF Posted July 8, 2018 #17 Share Posted July 8, 2018 I agree with you 100% If you think cruise's were great 10 years ago, they were simply amazing 35 years ago. You were treated like a king and queen back then. Buffet's started at 5:30 am and stopped at 1:30 am. Dress up every night for dinner. You can still get that. But on a luxury line, at prices that are comparable to the old days, but a LOT higher than the mass market lines. Old saying, "Champagne tastes, on a beer budget." People want the luxuries and amenities, but don't want to pay the price. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare KmomChicago Posted July 8, 2018 #18 Share Posted July 8, 2018 Imho, I don't think there is much difference between Royal and Carnival (or Norwegian). I just wouldn't go over spring break, or on a 3 day cruise. The prices are about the same, and all three offer much less than they used to. The prices have come down considerably, so I guess it is now like "a la carte" for all those extras that were once included. Haven't done NCL yet (would like to try it but so little time and $$) but overall I agree RC and Carnival offer a pretty similar value, experience, and fellow clientele for the dollar. Since we like Carnival, saying the two are just alike per the OP is not an insult. RC feels very slightly more exclusive as compared to Carnival's welcome-aboard-everyone vibe but in truth the actual passengers looked exactly the same. A la carte pricing as currently offered really does not bother me as most of the extra stuff being peddled is of little interest so I feel I get a bargain by not having those costs bundled into our fare. I can see why someone prefers one of those brands over another, but for us the differences are too minor to matter. DH feels that the Carnival Hub app with cheap onboard texting is "almost" a deal breaker in favor of Carnival over RC, but then for the itinerary and dates we need we are happily going RC again next year. We have gone on spring break the last 2 years as we have a 12 year old in public school, so we just accept the max capacity ships and influx of a bajillion kids, which to me are a lot more of a visible presence than the much feared college partiers. Of course like others we would do off-season if circumstances allowed, more for the discount and less of a crowded feel than the need to be away from certain kinds of passengers. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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