Elitism by other cruise lines about Carnival?

[Angelica1104]

Prior to the past few years I cruised Carnival almost exclusivelly, but I have found better rates on RCI than Carnival over the past 2 years. I get no real deals on Carnival as I do not get casino rates. on RCI I get balcony discounts and $250 off rates. I have been booking more RCI although I do have 3 more Carnival cruises this mo I have branched out more and have cruises now booked on HAL and RCI

[ldubs]

1 hour ago, Eli_6 said:

So which cruise line is first class?  Asking for a friend.  

 

I have a feeling the response is going to be Viking, Silversea, Seabourn or one of the other lines that doesn't allow kids.  (Which may be part of what gives it the first class feel.)

 

I would guess the same as you, but have not personally been on those lines.  I guess if the relatively lower fares defines them as economy, then I'm OK with that!  😀 

[kirtihk]

2 hours ago, Eli_6 said:

So which cruise line is first class?  Asking for a friend.  

 

I have a feeling the response is going to be Viking, Silversea, Seabourn or one of the other lines that doesn't allow kids.  (Which may be part of what gives it the first class feel.)

The "first class" or luxury or whatever else term might be is not based on not allowing children.

 

Viking along with Oceania, Azamara, Windstar, Paul Gauguin (that became part of Ponant) is upscale or premium, not luxury.  We've been on Azamara and Paul Gauguin.

 

Besides Silversea and Seabourn, luxury are also Regent, Seadream, Ritz-Carlton Yacht Collection, Scenic, Ponant, Crystal.  We've been on Regent, Ponant, and Seabourn.

 

A Cut Above: The Difference Between Premium and Luxury Cruises - Luxury Travel Magazine

Edited July 25, 2023 by kirtihk

[staceyglow]

2 hours ago, Eli_6 said:

I second that!  Jubilee (at least for a suite) is pricey. The aft corner balcony is 10k or more per sailing when I have priced it.

They are going to charge as much as they think they can get.  Jubilee is a brand new ship, so don't expect any price decreases for quite awhile.

 

I am booked out for the next two years with reasonably priced Carnival cruises.  If they can get a lot more for the rest of the cabins, I think that's great.  We need Carnival to return to profitability if we want to continue to sail with them.

[firefly333]

2 hours ago, Eli_6 said:

I second that!  Jubilee (at least for a suite) is pricey. The aft corner balcony is 10k or more per sailing when I have priced it.

I love the aft corner. No way I'm paying 10k solo rate for any cabin. Jubilee and harmony were both coming in about the same time, though yes I know jubilee pushed back but even a inside on jubilee was around $1250, and a balcony on harmony around $850. Naturally I went with the balcony for $400 less. Though both have gone up since then. Still watching and hoping for a deal on jubilee. Hope springs eternal. It's not i love one better than the other, i just cant see paying 50% more for carnival. 

[Eli_6]

1 hour ago, kirtihk said:

The "first class" or luxury or whatever else term might be is not based on not allowing children.

 

Viking along with Oceania, Azamara, Windstar, Paul Gauguin (that became part of Ponant) is upscale or premium, not luxury.  We've been on Azamara and Paul Gauguin.

 

Besides Silversea and Seabourn, luxury are also Regent, Seadream, Ritz-Carlton Yacht Collection, Scenic, Ponant, Crystal.  We've been on Regent, Ponant, and Seabourn.

 

A Cut Above: The Difference Between Premium and Luxury Cruises - Luxury Travel Magazine

I wasn't trying to say that it was, but more that many of the premium or luxury brands don't allow children below a certain age or, even if they do, they don't have much available for them. 

[kirtihk]

31 minutes ago, Eli_6 said:

I wasn't trying to say that it was, but more that many of the premium or luxury brands don't allow children below a certain age or, even if they do, they don't have much available for them. 

That's true: it would be boring for children.  That's why those cruise lines are not recommended for children (as opposed to not allowed).  I'm aware of only Virgin Voyages and Vikings cruise lines that actually don't allow children.

[angelsfort]

On 7/24/2023 at 12:02 PM, Swampbabe said:

If she had any responsibilities with regards to your children or shared a cabin with them she was working. Regardless, she exhibited poor manners.

I don't see anywhere in her posts where she said that the nanny had ANY responsibilities for the children OR where she was staying or who she was staying WITH...  you're just assuming

 

she also didn't post that the children were even on the cruise with them...   she's already stated that the nanny was NOT working, I feel like that should be enough of an explanation for you.

[Eli_6]

3 hours ago, kirtihk said:

That's true: it would be boring for children.  That's why those cruise lines are not recommended for children (as opposed to not allowed).  I'm aware of only Virgin Voyages and Vikings cruise lines that actually don't allow children.

There are some that don't allow kids under 12 or 13. For example, Emerald, Scenic, etc. It is more than just Viking and Virgin.  I think even Silversea has an age cut off of like 6...or maybe it was just for some sailings it is 6.  

 

Regardless, when I have looked into some of the smaller boats (which are usually more luxury or high end), there isn't much available for kids.  I know there is a reason that I end up looking at basically the same 3-5 cruise lines over and over again even beyond price.

 

Edit: I found this and there are actually quite a few of the smaller lines/boats that have age cut offs or prohibit kids from going on certain vogages: https://www.cruisecritic.com/articles/luxury-cruise-line-age-policies

Edited July 25, 2023 by Eli_6

[VentureMan_2000]

I'll be the first to tell everyone that it's hell being perfect.  There's not a cruise that can meet my expectations...  😂

[Stick93]

27 minutes ago, VentureMan_2000 said:

I'll be the first to tell everyone that it's hell being perfect.  There's not a cruise that can meet my expectations...  😂

A perfect score is impossible. 

[Joebucks]

The worst offenders I've seen are often Royal Caribbean cruisers. Some of them think they are the most elite of travelers. 

 

There's far too many people that snub their noses at Carnival (and have never tried it) or think spending more is immediately a better experience or makes them feel better about themselves. That's true with any vacation or experience really. There's millionaires sailing on Carnival and people financing their Oceania cruise. Some people think their AI vacation puts them on top of the world. Then when I ask about what their favorite experiences are, they really don't know. "Just the thought of everything included is comforting" is often a general theme.

 

I could spend more on anything I want, my clothes, my phone, my air carrier, my hotel, my cruise, etc. For what? I guess I was raised frugally and learned we don't always need all of these things. Don't get me wrong, I will still enjoy myself. I have my 4th vacation of the year coming up in a few weeks. However, to me a higher ticket price doesn't do anything but waste money. If I spend $1000 more on my hotel, is that really an extra $1000 of enjoyment? 

[Mycykfamilytime]

46 minutes ago, Joebucks said:

The worst offenders I've seen are often Royal Caribbean cruisers. Some of them think they are the most elite of travelers. 

 

There's far too many people that snub their noses at Carnival (and have never tried it) or think spending more is immediately a better experience or makes them feel better about themselves. That's true with any vacation or experience really. There's millionaires sailing on Carnival and people financing their Oceania cruise. Some people think their AI vacation puts them on top of the world. Then when I ask about what their favorite experiences are, they really don't know. "Just the thought of everything included is comforting" is often a general theme.

 

I could spend more on anything I want, my clothes, my phone, my air carrier, my hotel, my cruise, etc. For what? I guess I was raised frugally and learned we don't always need all of these things. Don't get me wrong, I will still enjoy myself. I have my 4th vacation of the year coming up in a few weeks. However, to me a higher ticket price doesn't do anything but waste money. If I spend $1000 more on my hotel, is that really an extra $1000 of enjoyment? 

I came here to say this!  Is celebrity more upscale… yes… does it cost more… yes.   But I went on a Royal ship, kids sale free… it cost very little and with the exception of the diving show which I though was worth the cost of the whole cruise I mostly thought Carnival was better.  (Balcony rooms easier to find for families of 5, more Ocean facing, better lunch food and I like an outside adults only area and not a greenhouse) However, my biggest take away was how often Royal cruisers put down carnival.  I’m like umm this is not Silversea and I suspect a Silversea cruiser is not spending any emotional energy discussing Carnival.  Both lines are budget family friendly lines folks, let’s get off our high horse!  

[Theosprey247]

People need to stop caring what others think, and just enjoy their cruise.

[BlerkOne]

[Etta1213]

We have been staying with RC mostly for one reason. We're buffet users, and the RC buffet configuration on Liberty of the Seas was a bit simpler for me with my disabled husband; also, he could get to the 24 hour  Promenade Cafe without difficulty when I'd get off the ship without him. Our cruise travel agent is very  careful about cabin/elevator locations for him. We switched to a larger RC ship (the Allure) when  the Liberty was moved, but the huge Allure's buffet area seems compressed, tight, and much more difficult to navigate. I think maybe differences between ships affect us more than differences between lines. We have loved every cruise!

Edited July 26, 2023 by Etta1213

[sparks1093]

1 hour ago, Theosprey247 said:

People need to stop caring what others think, and just enjoy their cruise.

 

1 hour ago, BlerkOne said:

I don't care what other people think and I certainly don't let anyone make me feel inferior. But if I go on Celebrity and find a bunch of people with their noses in the air looking down on others because  they are "better", well, I'm not likely to go back. I have no use for that type of behavior and do not enjoy being around people like that. I take heart that many with firsthand experience say that's not the environment onboard at all. 

[Kanyon71]

On 7/21/2023 at 9:21 AM, Eli_6 said:

Then they should all be known as floating Walmarts.

 

My impression when people refer to the "Walmart of the seas", they are referring to the crowd who cruises on Carnival and not the employees.  In other words, the argument is that the "people of Carnival" are like the people you see in the "people of Walmart" pics.  I guess not wanting to be considered a person of Walmart is a form of elitism as well. However, my point was just that presumptively one has to have at least a little bit of disposable income to be able to book a cruise so most people on a cruise are middle class.

 

Also, what is wrong with shopping at Walmart?  Do yall have something against low, low prices? 🤣

 

What I find funny about them being called the Walmart of cruise lines is that in some nicer areas I've seen Bentley's, Porsche's, Lambo's and many other very nice and high end ends in their parking lots. To me it goes to show people of all walks of life shop at many different places INCLUDING Walmart and I would bet every single person making that comment has shopped Walmart many times in their life.

 

As for People of Walmart pics, all I can say is that type of stuff is becoming more common EVERYWHERE nowadays.

 

We can afford to cruise on any line we choose but have stuck with Carnival because they go where we want, we have NEVER had a bad cruise on them, we enjoy the night life, the food is always good and plentiful and everyone in our family always is able to find something they want. Our daughter has grown up sailing on Carnival and has progressed through the kids clubs and LOVES the water slides and pool areas.

 

We have looked at taking a Disney cruise for a while now but the cheap side of me can't get past the cost of a 7 day cruise in a balcony or suite. We looked at one for her birthday this year and for the 3 of us it was over double the cost of our 8 day Carnival cruise next year.

 

End of the day people should enjoy whatever cruise line's they like and just leave it at that, no need to look down at others. These things always remind me of a story a friend once told me. He was the GM at a Porsche dealer, one day a person came in dressed down in old sneakers, jean shorts and the like (term he said one of the sales people used looking homeless), well this sales person refused to help the person and tried to rush them out of the building since the didn't "BELONG". My friend took him to the side and laid into him about judging a book by it's color and assuming someone doesn't belong. A short time later after my friend the GM helped this person, the person left in a new Porsche 911 Turbo S. Sales person didn't get fired (friend believes in learning from your mistakes) but he felt pretty stupid from losing out on that commission.

[aborgman]

On 7/25/2023 at 8:56 AM, firefly333 said:

Even comedians on carnival bash other lines. Carnival bashs and it's ok, but cant take it?

 

It's illogical - but there is a pretty strong cultural/historical context between the idea that reverse-elitism is just fine, and elitism is not.

 

In the USA it ties right in with anti intellectualism and a revolt against expertise (see: Isaac Asimov "cult of ignorance" quote, The Death of Expertise by Tom Nichols).

 

 

[aborgman]

17 hours ago, sparks1093 said:

 

I don't care what other people think and I certainly don't let anyone make me feel inferior. But if I go on Celebrity and find a bunch of people with their noses in the air looking down on others because  they are "better", well, I'm not likely to go back. I have no use for that type of behavior and do not enjoy being around people like that. I take heart that many with firsthand experience say that's not the environment onboard at all. 

 

 

This is so weird to me...

 

If you change your behavior (not go on a particular cruise line) because of how the people on that cruise line behave - you do care.

 

It's perfectly reasonable to care about the environment you are in... but why do people feel the need to say they don't care, when they obviously do?

[skywalkr2]

The only time I have experienced this "offline" was when we docked next to a Disney cruiseship.  Walking the peer between ships... groups of kids on their Disney balconies shouting things like "Hey poor people" and things like that.  It was shocking.

[sparks1093]

36 minutes ago, aborgman said:

 

 

This is so weird to me...

 

If you change your behavior (not go on a particular cruise line) because of how the people on that cruise line behave - you do care.

 

It's perfectly reasonable to care about the environment you are in... but why do people feel the need to say they don't care, when they obviously do?

I don't care about individual behavior as much I do care about group behavior. The feel of the passengers definitely can impact the feel of the cruise. I can tolerate being around a racist if I need to be (although my preference would be not to be around them at all), but I certainly wouldn't choose to spend a week amongst a group of them. I feel the same way about snobs or anyone else that thinks they are better than another person or group of persons for any reason. And by choosing a different cruise line I am certainly not changing my behavior, I am still cruising. Changing my behavior would be not cruising at all. 

[aborgman]

11 minutes ago, sparks1093 said:

I don't care about individual behavior as much I do care about group behavior.

 

I totally get that... and I personally agree with it...

 

What I don't understand is people insisting on saying "I don't care" when they do care. It's OK to care... but folks constantly say they don't care when it's obvious they do. I just don't get the need to toss out that phrase.

[sparks1093]

15 minutes ago, aborgman said:

 

I totally get that... and I personally agree with it...

 

What I don't understand is people insisting on saying "I don't care" when they do care. It's OK to care... but folks constantly say they don't care when it's obvious they do. I just don't get the need to toss out that phrase.

How about this- I don't take it personally. That's what I mean when I say "I don't care". I suspect others use the same type of shorthand.

Edited July 27, 2023 by sparks1093

[FastShip24]

21 hours ago, Theosprey247 said:

People need to stop caring what others think, and just enjoy their cruise.

This is the best comment.  Thank you