what do you love about Carnival?

[schazzy]

I have never had a bad vacation on Carnival. I have never not felt I got more for my money than paid for and I love the people who take a Carnival Cruise because they are genuinely appreciative of their vacation and most aren't their for validation from others but to enjoy everything their hard earned money has paid for. They are more laid back, fun and help keep the general vibe of the ship on a positive note. Some talk down on Carnival but, again, these wouldn't be people I'd want to share my vacation with anyway so no loss.

 

(y)(y)(y)

 

Well said! Pretty much sums up my feelings on the subject as well. :)

[MommytoAsquared]

I like the value for the money. I know some ppl call it "nickel and dining", but I like paying a lower cruise fare and upgrading where I want to upgrade.

[MissMarmalade]

I love carnival for the price. Cheapest cruise line and you still get good quality entertainment, food, and service.

[BellaSweet]

I've only cruised with Carnival so I really don't have anything to compare it to.. But I really enjoy Carnival because their ships are fun. If I'm being 100% honest, I don't cruise for the ships..I cruise for the ports so it doesn't really matter to me if the ship is older or small.

 

DH has cruised with RC and he prefers Carnival because he finds the entertainment better..its a more enthusiastic, fun atmosphere.

[Etta1213]

I have cruised Carnival and Royal. I loved the colorful wallpaper in the hallway where our Carnival cabin was located -- colorful birds. Royal was strange stuff. I do like Rival's configuration ref buffet lines, less standing in line due to shorter buffets, access from both sides. Great vibe on Carnival, happy. I love both Carnival and Royal.

[Trueblueky]

We like to see the ports. Once you leave the ship, it's all the same. Do I want to pay RCI $1400 for balcony for a week from Florida to Cozumel? Or $550 for a CCL balcony for a week from Florida to Cozumel?

 

Do I want to pay Disney $1948 for three-night Bahamas verandah from Florida (no grandchildren yet) in January? Or pay CCL $364 for three-night balcony to Bahamas leaving the same day?

 

The truth on that last one is no more short cruises for us, on any line. The 6-day or longer cruises attract more our type of folks.

 

Carnival is more laid back. More fun. Less nickel-and-dime in my opinion than some others. We can go all week without spending all our OBC. The salt air is free. The other passengers are engaging. There are things to do, even if some are cheesy.

[JayDeeJay]

I can’t really add more reasons, all of these are true - but I REALLY like the laundry service! I’ve threatened to bring suitcases full of dirty clothes; so far have been voted down.

 

Hope you do the Dream, we loved our time on that particular ship.

[ronandannette]

Great info from everyone, thanks. I think I may end up booking one this week.

We've been on 5 different cruiselines and I don't prefer anything about Carnival. To our tastes, the food and entertainment on NCL is much, much better. That said, we're sailing Carnival next month because they had an itinerary from Galveston that suited our plans. We'll have a good time because the best cruise is the one you actually take. :D

[richfret]

My first cruise was on the Sensation on June 25, 1995. Twenty three years later and 21 cruises all with Carnival, we are booked for 2019 and 2020 again with Carnival. I guess the main reason is we are always satisfied and cannot wait for the next cruise to begin. Being VIP makes it even better. Then you learn all the tricks there are to purchasing a cruise (like using AARP gift cards for the 10% discount and many other actions) making Carnival the most economical vacation you can take.

I know cuts have been made but that has been offset with many improvements like the newer ships, Guy Burgers, Serenity Decks, Carnival Hub, etc..

 

So as long as Carnival keeps up the good work, I will remain a avid Carnival cruiser.

[Joebucks]

I have never had a bad vacation on Carnival. I have never not felt I got more for my money than paid for and I love the people who take a Carnival Cruise because they are genuinely appreciative of their vacation and most aren't their for validation from others but to enjoy everything their hard earned money has paid for. They are more laid back, fun and help keep the general vibe of the ship on a positive note. Some talk down on Carnival but, again, these wouldn't be people I'd want to share my vacation with anyway so no loss.

 

Before sailing Carnival, I expected the worst kind of scum on the ships, because that is what I've heard. Now 3 cruises down, I can count on one hand the amount of people I wish weren't there. I couldn't believe how friendly, and down to earth many of the people are. I cannot stand elitists. They cannot go a day without trying to suck the fun out of others interests because they know of "something better".

[edwardsm]

Some of the reasons we usually pick Carnival

• Value for the money is better than the other lines. Included food is on a par with what we experienced on NCL, RCCI, Disney and the price is better. OUR opinion of course.
  
• The crew members are always friendly and interesting
  
• The other passengers are great. They are down-to-earth and aren't so full of themselves that they think they are better than everyone else. Most of them anyway. Of course, there are a few passengers that think the other passengers are "less than desirable". We avoid that type: the I-am-better-than-everyone-else-even-if-I-am-on-the-same-ship-and-paid-the-same-price type. There are very few of those on Carnival (lots on Celebrity).
  

 

 

I agree with everything you said plus I think Carnival's food is better and cabins larger.

[BlerkOne]

One thing I love is Carnival isn't NCL or Royal. ;)

[Djptcp]

We love the casino bounce back offers for free or $50pp cruises. Being retired, we can pretty much cruise whenever we want to. Since we cruise often and usually aboard the same ship because we live only 45 minutes from the Port of Tampa, we also like crew members who remember us and sometimes send us chocolate covered strawberries to our cabin or just take the time to chat with us. We have cruised with Carnival 33 times (46 cruises overall) and 2 cruises booked for Nov. and Dec. We are pretty sure we would not like the mega ships on Royal Caribbean or NCL, so we stick with Carnival and Holland America.

[TNcruising02]

I've cruised on four different lines, RCL, NCL, Disney, and Carnival, and liked different things about every one of them.

On Carnival, they hands down have the best comedy shows. I've seen good ones on the other lines, but not the same number of different shows. Carnival often books several comedians who have a couple of different family shows and adult shows. My husband and I love comedy shows, so being able to watch different shows, even on the same night, for nearly the entire duration of the cruise is a big perk.

 

We also like Guy's Burgers and the Mexican food that is served right off of the pool deck. It's nice for a quick lunch. I like that Carnival has self service laundry facilities for the times that I travel with carryon luggage only and do a quick load of laundry mid cruise. Other than the Vista, I like the main theaters on their ships.

 

As far as the buffet, the breakfast and lunch are on par with the other lines but the dinner is not. In my experience, their sit down restaurants are very good though.

 

Carnival has a very high energy vibe and they have outdoor entertainment surrounding the middle of the ship at the main pool deck. I've never had a bad experience on a Carnival cruise. I was a bit nervous when I booked my first one because of some of the things I read about Carnival, but I found out that I was nervous for nothing. Maybe those things happen on spring break or summer cruises. I don't know, but every cruise that I have been on was fun.

[kellbellscruise]

Deck 5 on Dream class.

 

Lots of open deck space on most ships.

 

Beds.

 

Pizza.

 

Dive in movies.

 

Splash park .

 

Lots of space on sun or shade.

 

Love Carnival.

[Palmetto Pilot]

value, itineraries

[livinthedream99]

I have cruised on multiple lines and love different things about each one. Carnival is my go to when we cruise with our children. It always has a great vibe and the "included food" options are some of our favorites. The kids love the pizza, clubs, and constant things to do. They have such a good time, we have to schedule time to see them! We love the comedy clubs, dine in movies, trivia, and wonderful staff. Carnival really does bring the FUN!!

[Tapi]

- Cheap

- Closest drive to port

- Laid back and unpretentious

 

It’s been a few years since we’ve taken a Carnival cruise, but we are booked on one in 2019. Why are we sailing on Carnival? Because of the reasons mentioned above. It will be a cheap cruise from our closest drive to port, and we are looking forward to a very casual and unpretentious cruise with friends who like that type of atmosphere.

 

The secret to a Carnival cruise (actually ANY cruise) is to go with realistic expectations and in the correct state of mind for the specific cruise line that you’ll be sailing on.

 

 

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[RRLLAL]

Price

Workers

Casino

Fun

Comedy shows

Fun

Pizza

Ports of call

Fun

Food

Activities

Fun

 

Did I say fun?

 

 

Sent from my iPhone using Forums

[Hamnut]

The party 'till you puke atmosphere.

Overpriced and weak drinks.

Unattended kids running wild about the ship.

Long lines at checkin.

Crowds and long lines in the buffet.

Boom boxes by the pool.

Obnoxious and rude guests.

Saving a row of seats in the showrooms.

Seeing 100 unoccupied but saved lounge chairs by the pool.

Two ounce burned hamburger at Guy's.

Flop flops and shorts at dinner. Goes well with no tablecloth.

Poor quality food in the MDR. Even worse in buffet.

Constantly being asked to buy something.

Hot cabins.

Elevators out of service.

Slot machines that have zero payout.

Smoking on balcony just forward of yours.

Overpriced shore excursions.

Guests that only take Saturday night baths.

And my favorite: Yellow pool water.

There's more but alas, no time

[Melissalcsw]

:p Always going to be haters.

 

Don't like the line, don't cruise on it.

 

I enjoy it and that's where I will spend my money.

To each their own :)

[dsotm73]

The party 'till you puke atmosphere.

Overpriced and weak drinks.

Unattended kids running wild about the ship.

Long lines at checkin.

Crowds and long lines in the buffet.

Boom boxes by the pool.

Obnoxious and rude guests.

Saving a row of seats in the showrooms.

Seeing 100 unoccupied but saved lounge chairs by the pool.

Two ounce burned hamburger at Guy's.

Flop flops and shorts at dinner. Goes well with no tablecloth.

Poor quality food in the MDR. Even worse in buffet.

Constantly being asked to buy something.

Hot cabins.

Elevators out of service.

Slot machines that have zero payout.

Smoking on balcony just forward of yours.

Overpriced shore excursions.

Guests that only take Saturday night baths.

And my favorite: Yellow pool water.

There's more but alas, no time

You forgot to say "Get off my Lawn!":cool:

 

Enjoy your geezer cruises on HAL. They seem to be more appropriate for you.

[CoasterGuy]

Reading all these (except the obvious troll lol) is making me excited again for my cruise in October.

 

One cruise so far: I love Serenity Deck, Dance Club, Guys Burgers, Blue Iguana breakfast, comedy shows, chocolate melting cake, and more.

[RRLLAL]

The party 'till you puke atmosphere.

Overpriced and weak drinks.

Unattended kids running wild about the ship.

Long lines at checkin.

Crowds and long lines in the buffet.

Boom boxes by the pool.

Obnoxious and rude guests.

Saving a row of seats in the showrooms.

Seeing 100 unoccupied but saved lounge chairs by the pool.

Two ounce burned hamburger at Guy's.

Flop flops and shorts at dinner. Goes well with no tablecloth.

Poor quality food in the MDR. Even worse in buffet.

Constantly being asked to buy something.

Hot cabins.

Elevators out of service.

Slot machines that have zero payout.

Smoking on balcony just forward of yours.

Overpriced shore excursions.

Guests that only take Saturday night baths.

And my favorite: Yellow pool water.

There's more but alas, no time

 

never seen 1/2 those and the other 1/2 I saw on my rcl cruise (and wasn't bothered).

[Nevada Jen]

I just booked my first cruise on NCL and it made me realize what I like about Carnival. I like that they serve coke products. I am an addict. If you happen to be addicted to a different soda than is served on board, you can bring on your own 12 pack. Not so with NCL. I will be forced to drink pepsi.

 

Carnival's alcohol package includes everything not just alcohol (water, sports drinks, fancy coffee). I now realize other lines don't do that.

 

So those are my two expected things. A word about price. I don't think Carnival is necessarily cheaper. In fact, I would say for the same cruise and perks NCL is normally cheaper when you price it out. But you can go cheap on Carnival if you want. And you can also spend a bit more and get way better perks. Faster to the Fun gets you better than suite perks, for instance!