As much as I love Carnival it is time to expand to other lines.....

[Illbcruzn4life]

On 7/8/2023 at 9:15 PM, gotscrapz said:

We have switched over to NCL after many many Carnival Cruises. I had forgotten that I have back the Mardi Gras for this coming September sometime in 2021, and that is when we last sailed on Carnival - the Panorama. I decided to keep the cruise and I am looking forward to it.

 

I will say what I said in another thread. NCL brings comfort and class, but Carnival brings the fun.

 

On NCL the service, beds, bathrooms, etc, and food, included drink and other packages are amazing. 

Not comparing apples to oranges but also the Haven is beyond an amazing experience. The shows are true Broadway-caliber shows. Sailing spa suites or balconies on each line - NCL wins hands down for us.

 

But - the Carnival people are fun. The fun squad and cruise directors are fun. The food inmho is awful, but hey I always lose a few pounds because I am literally hangry the whole time lol. But we always have a blast. We have met people that have kept in touch with and cruised with from well over 10 years ago.

 

I will continue to compare the itinerary and prices on both lines, but honestly, I think we are solid on NCL at this point. This CCL cruise was already on the books before we started cruising with NCL. I am excited to try this new class of ship on the Mardi Gras and I have enjoyed the Havana area on ships before.  But honestly to have the drink package, wifi, etc included for often a better price and to have amazing food vs inedible, I choose NCL. But we will see if, after this next cruise, I feel different? 

 

I will say that I am very flexible and if friends pick a cruise on either line I would go with the majority vote- but if I am choosing for myself it'd be NCL.

 

I am looking at an Alaskan cruise through between NCL, Princess, and Celebrity at this point though because some lines have longer itineraries. Not an RCL girl though.

 

I am gold on CCL and Platinum on NCL if that makes a difference? 

Isn’t NCL discontinuing their broadway shows?

[kona_wahine]

On 7/8/2023 at 2:42 PM, Illbcruzn4life said:

final price is what counts but curious how much the free drinks cost?

Free is a relative term. 😉🤣 but the NCL rooms ended up being about $1000 less than the carnival rooms when you added in the cheers package. It’s Alaska so it’s expensive. 🤷‍♀️

[Honolulu Blue]

5 hours ago, Illbcruzn4life said:

Isn’t NCL discontinuing their broadway shows?

Some of them, not all.  There are plans to replace them with... something... maybe...

[Illbcruzn4life]

2 hours ago, Honolulu Blue said:

Some of them, not all.  There are plans to replace them with... something... maybe...

That doesn’t sound encouraging but in cruising most cruise lines are making cuts and it has come to be expected.

[tonit964]

8 hours ago, Illbcruzn4life said:

Isn’t NCL discontinuing their broadway shows?

On the Encore last week, they only had four showings of Choir of Man. No other production shows at all. It was comedians in the Social,a magician in the theater and then trivia, deal or no deal type entertainment in the atrium. 

 

[talkorpi]

Just found this thread and I have to agree, unfortunately. Two things have pushed me out - high prices and the lack of itinerary diversity.

 

1) High Pricing - I don't know if it's because of the new trend in CCL stock or what (although it isn't happening to other CCL brands, so idk), but Carnival's pricing has felt like it it getting too big for its britches. Yes, I know supply and demand are driving this - I have a degree in Economics and my job is a Business Analyst - but I feel like it priced me out. Galveston used to have great deals and now the prices I see are kind of crazy. I am getting a 7-night cruise on a newer Princess ship in a balcony with the plus package (drinks, wifi, tips) plus airfare plus hotel plus $400 OBC for cheaper than a five-night Progreso and Cozumel run out of Galveston on the Breeze in an interior at the base fare. Carnival's pricing right now just doesn't match the product for me and I probably will have to look elsewhere until they cool off a bit. It stinks because I wanted to try the Jubilee, but not at the current prices.

 

2) Itineraries - Yes, I know that options out of Galveston are limited, but I still feel like Carnival is fumbling here. You can only do the same exact itinerary so many times before it becomes boring, and now there are only three ports to choose from out of Galveston. They should redo the Dream's 6/8 alternations to be a 6-day to Grand Cayman, Cozumel, and Jamaica since we are losing those ports permanently with the Jubilee only able to do Roatan/Mexico, but they won't. The "Journeys" cruises on the Miracle to these destinations are outrageously expensive. Cruises from Florida aren't much better - I have zero interest in the Bahamas or the Dominican Republic, and that seems to be the only places Carnival sails to now. I know that these destinations are probably cheaper and save on fuel or something, but Carnival doesn't really offer many options.

 

I have switched to Princess where I find much more value for my money. I am very happy with their product and shocked that it is cheaper than Carnival. While I do miss the variety of free dining found on CCL, Princess is my new go-to line. I haven't ruled out Carnival completely, but the prices aren't getting any lower, so I don't see a return anytime soon.

Edited July 10, 2023 by talkorpi

[Tom-n-Cheryl]

16 minutes ago, talkorpi said:

Just found this thread and I have to agree, unfortunately. Two things have pushed me out - high prices and the lack of itinerary diversity.

 

1) High Pricing - I don't know if it's because of the new trend in CCL stock or what (although it isn't happening to other CCL brands, so idk), but Carnival's pricing has felt like it it getting too big for its britches. Yes, I know supply and demand are driving this - I have a degree in Economics and my job is a Business Analyst - but I feel like it priced me out. ...

 

That's the way I feel - with regard to suites on Celebrity ! As much as I like their product, I'll sit on the sidelines for now.

 

Tom

[Haljo1935]

24 minutes ago, talkorpi said:

...I have switched to Princess where I find much more value for my money. I am very happy with their product and shocked that it is cheaper than Carnival. While I do miss the variety of free dining found on CCL, Princess is my new go-to line. I haven't ruled out Carnival completely, but the prices aren't getting any lower, so I don't see a return anytime soon.

Interesting you're finding better deals on Princess out of Galveston. We sailed almost exclusively on Princess until a few years ago when they left Galveston to wait for the new Corpus terminal. Because we'd gotten some great deals on Princess, now that they're back in Galveston, we were excited as we prefer them over Carnival & started looking to book them again.

The prices have been through the roof! We keep looking every couple weeks for any itinerary, but so far haven't booked anything because of prices.

[talkorpi]

5 minutes ago, Haljo1935 said:

Interesting you're finding better deals on Princess out of Galveston. We sailed almost exclusively on Princess until a few years ago when they left Galveston to wait for the new Corpus terminal. Because we'd gotten some great deals on Princess, now that they're back in Galveston, we were excited as we prefer them over Carnival & started looking to book them again.

The prices have been through the roof! We keep looking every couple weeks for any itinerary, but so far haven't booked anything because of prices.

Interesting. Everything I am seeing has been extremely cheap compared to the competition. Seems like they are undercutting CCL/RCCL to get some market share. 

 

As a side note, I doubt Corpus Christi will ever become a passenger port. While it would be more convenient for me, the only people it would benefit would be people who live within 2 hrs of CC (so basically San Antonio or south) or northern Mexico. Galveston has built up so much that it makes competing difficult if not impossible. Oh well!

[john91498]

As much as I enjoy Carnival, I feel Royal and Celebrity is a much better experience. The main reason we sail Carnival more than the other lines is because my kids don't like the "adult" cruise lines. I believe Carnival has a much better childrens programs with the water works, Camp Ocean, childrens menus, etc...

[staceyglow]

Looks like everyone here has discovered that cruise lines use dynamic pricing. 😊

 

The goal of every cruise line is to sail completely full at the highest possible fare for each passenger. If a ship is filling up more quickly than anticipated, they raise fares. If bookings are lagging, they lower them, and this happens continually. Sometimes a cruise that is traditionally more expensive than a similar one on another line will lower its fare so its fare is below the "cheap" cruise line . 

 

One can't assume that Carnival (or any other line, for that matter) is always going to be the best value in every case. If you are looking for the best deal, you have to compare all of the mass market cruise lines every time. And keep checking until you actually book. 

[Tom-n-Cheryl]

4 minutes ago, staceyglow said:

Looks like everyone here has discovered that cruise lines use dynamic pricing. 😊

 

The goal of every cruise line is to sail completely full at the highest possible fare for each passenger. If a ship is filling up more quickly than anticipated, they raise fares. If bookings are lagging, they lower them, and this happens continually. Sometimes a cruise that is traditionally more expensive than a similar one on another line will lower its fare so its fare is below the "cheap" cruise line . 

 

One can't assume that Carnival (or any other line, for that matter) is always going to be the best value in every case. If you are looking for the best deal, you have to compare all of the mass market cruise lines every time. And keep checking until you actually book. 

 

Yep - buyer BE aware !

 

Tom

[sgttami]

For Winter/ without flying:

 

I keep saying I'm going to try other lines but when I can sail in a balcony for 21 days on Venezia in February (from NY) for less $$ than a week on RCL(NJ) or MSC and NCL(NY), it's hard to look beyond the Whale Tail and the casino offers😀

 

Actually, once on NCL was enough for me so I probably wouldn't go again even if it were FREE.

[ontheweb]

On 7/8/2023 at 5:42 PM, Illbcruzn4life said:

final price is what counts but curious how much the free drinks cost?

The "free" drinks on NCL cost the amount of tips you would have to pay if you drank the maximum amount of "free" drinks allowed. Similarly the "free" dining costs you tips even if you do not use all of them. And the "free" excursions are $50 off the first guest only.

[Haljo1935]

2 hours ago, talkorpi said:

Interesting. Everything I am seeing has been extremely cheap compared to the competition. Seems like they are undercutting CCL/RCCL to get some market share. 

 

As a side note, I doubt Corpus Christi will ever become a passenger port. While it would be more convenient for me, the only people it would benefit would be people who live within 2 hrs of CC (so basically San Antonio or south) or northern Mexico. Galveston has built up so much that it makes competing difficult if not impossible. Oh well!

We gave up on Corpus getting a cruise port before Covid and now Princess has too, lol!

[Haljo1935]

14 minutes ago, ontheweb said:

The "free" drinks on NCL cost the amount of tips you would have to pay if you drank the maximum amount of "free" drinks allowed. Similarly the "free" dining costs you tips even if you do not use all of them. And the "free" excursions are $50 off the first guest only.

Yeah, free sure is expensive sometimes.

[FastShip24]

On 7/8/2023 at 3:07 PM, tootsiescurly said:

We have cruised Princess several times out of San Pedro. Cruises were great, as was the service and cuisine.

Princess has good service

[Illbcruzn4life]

3 hours ago, talkorpi said:

Interesting. Everything I am seeing has been extremely cheap compared to the competition. Seems like they are undercutting CCL/RCCL to get some market share. 

 

As a side note, I doubt Corpus Christi will ever become a passenger port. While it would be more convenient for me, the only people it would benefit would be people who live within 2 hrs of CC (so basically San Antonio or south) or northern Mexico. Galveston has built up so much that it makes competing difficult if not impossible. Oh well!

What time of the year are you looking at for the cheaper pricing? I like Princess and you have peaked my interest.

[Illbcruzn4life]

1 hour ago, Haljo1935 said:

Yeah, free sure is expensive sometimes.

Seems MSC is using the same game plan. For a 14 day cruise in April for 2 people for about $900 I can have free drinks and free slow internet for the 14 days

[Tom-n-Cheryl]

1 hour ago, Haljo1935 said:

Yeah, free sure is expensive sometimes.

 

Just like when the casino comps you something.. free AIN'T free !

 

Tom

[ontheweb]

1 hour ago, Haljo1935 said:

Yeah, free sure is expensive sometimes.

Yup, why we took neither. I don't drink enough to make the "free" package worthwhile and DW is not supposed to drink at all because it is contraindicated for a med she takes.

 

As for the specialty restaurants, we can do without them. In fact, DW prefers the buffet because she likes to make her own salads, plus she gets tired of people waiting on her and fancy food. In fact, near the end of our very first cruise, she said she just wanted peanut butter and jelly.

[dolphfan]

We loved the Sky Princess!!

[Haljo1935]

1 hour ago, ontheweb said:

Yup, why we took neither. I don't drink enough to make the "free" package worthwhile and DW is not supposed to drink at all because it is contraindicated for a med she takes.

 

As for the specialty restaurants, we can do without them. In fact, DW prefers the buffet because she likes to make her own salads, plus she gets tired of people waiting on her and fancy food. In fact, near the end of our very first cruise, she said she just wanted peanut butter and jelly.

Sounds like DH except he MUST have candied back from the Pinnacle Grill.

[Tapi]

Carnival will always have a very special place in my heart. Lots of great memories. But I reached a point in my life where I just want to try new cruise lines and visit as many new destinations as possible. 

 

Looking at my cruise history, you can pinpoint the moment I had that realization and stopped sailing on Carnival. It's been a wonderful decision. 

[WhaleTailFlCruiser]

6 minutes ago, Tapi said:

Carnival will always have a very special place in my heart. Lots of great memories. But I reached a point in my life where I just want to try new cruise lines and visit as many new destinations as possible. 

 

Looking at my cruise history, you can pinpoint the moment I had that realization and stopped sailing on Carnival. It's been a wonderful decision. 

 

I sailed Symphony back in 2018 but I didn't like that experience was just too big. And went back to what I was comfortable with, Now I am at the point where I want to try new lines and new ports and new ships. Plus the Perks do not really reward loyalty but Carnival will always be home but its time to try new things.