What Makes Carinval Special To You???

[MtnSeaGirl]

We all know that prices everywhere from the grocery store to the gas pump keep rising higher.  Cruise prices have had to increase as well due to fuel costs, food costs, wage costs, etc not to mention to offset the monies lost during the PHE.   It is just what it is in every facet of our lives.  There are deals out there and different ports with other lines...sometimes Carnival beats them out; sometimes Carnival loses to others.  But...but...BUT, what is it that keeps you coming back even if you stray occasinally? Let's keep it light and positive people! 

I'll go first  DUH.  As I rarely post a lot, some of you may remember a couple of these. For that, I apologize.  Just call me old and senile 🙂  

1.  Our first Carnival Cruise was on the Legend. It was a cancer celebration cruise for myself and one of our friends. Five of us were in the taxi (van) when the driver said to us " You see that?  That is your ship."  We could only see the last quarter but that ship seemed a MONSTER. Chuckle all you want, but it sure seemed MAMMOTH to this gal!   My brain was saying that could NOT be the ship. Nothing is that big. Must be a prop.... NOPE, it was the ship!! The only other cruise I had been on was in 1993 on a tiny little ship that is probably razor blades or something now.  Oh, My, what a wonderful time we had.  So excited just to be alive, with feel the sun on your skin, and out on the water making memories realizing that no one is promised another day.    

2.  We had been able to take an 8 day cruise every 12 to 18 months after that for a few years.  Those was tough though.  While everyone else is celebrating Sail Away, I would always have tears in my eyes.  My boys were born almost 16 years apart.  Obviously not planned.  The Almighty has such a wicked sense of humor.  Our oldest was always deployed or training for a new deployment. I would feel so incredibly guilty being on that ship with one child but not the other.  I would stare up at the moon at night while everyone else was doing their thing. I would wonder where my oldest was, what he was doing, if he was OK.  My second greatest memory was that Sail Away in which BOTH boys were at my side.  The Carnival Glory was indeed glorious that day.  The boys had their own room down the hall from ours a bit ( last minute booking for the military guy as was not sure he could make it, so not connecting or even across, but did not matter - SAME SHIP ) 

3.  Last year, after pinching pennies and saving for a while, we had our first B2B on the Horizon. It was our 30th Anniversary and totally decadant to be on the ship that long. 

So, Carnival is part of the fabric of my life and where special memories were made.   I have sailed a couple other lines, but I keep returning. Yes, I get frustrated at things and feel like I'm outta there, but I keep returning.  Someone on the Board said that the first time they boarded Carnival, they were greeted with "Welcome Home".  I think for me that Carinival sometimes feels like returning home. 

What's your story?  

PS  Have an AMAZING day!

[cacruisin]

What makes Carnival special to me is more the "who" that we travel with.  I have a teenage son who doesn't like to hang out with his mom too often nor has much in common with (turns out I don't play tackle football, ride an electric bike or obsess over teenage girls)  so once a year (every Spring Break) a group of single mom's cruise with our teenage sons....so cruising gives us something to chat about, look forward to, enjoy together and make great core memories. 

 

Now why specifically Carnival over other lines is the FUN, I have sailed other lines during Spring Break and the boats were boring by 9pm.  Of course that can be situational, but myself and my  teen just seem to have more fun on Carnival.  Lastly, the on-board credit we get for being return passengers usually pays for my Cheers, my sons Bubbles and his WIFI, so that helps too.

[pe4all]

I still get butterflies upon driving up to the cruise terminal and seeing whatever ship I will be sailing on.  Nothing beats that first step onboard and being greeted like a long-time friend.  I love the way CCL treats my special needs dd, who has been on every one of the 34 Carnival cruises with us.  

[Essiesmom]

I keep coming back because I can drive two hours to the closest port.  JAX is so easy.  I know what to expect.  I would like to sail from more places but air is so complicated, no direct flights anywhere.  I do also drive to Port Canaveral but I do an over night halfway.  EM

[notscb]

Similar to others, my first cruise was on Carnival when I had graduated high school and I vividly remember that experience and keep coming back because of it. Nothing will ever beat coming into NY harbor on the Triumph at 6:00am and passing by the Statue of Liberty to end out my first trip. I also fondly remember being able to walk around the top decks at night and be completely alone on this floating city full of people. Also, my first slot pull at 18 was on that trip- I definitely didn't win anything and just wanted to pull the lever as many times as it would let me.

[Butterbean1000]

Currently, I am dancing with who brought me. We have enjoyed all our Carnival cruises. I am platinum and the hubs will be plat our next cruise.  We have thoroughly enjoyed all our Carnival cruises. Good value, virtually the same ports as other lines;  We are looking at Princess now just to change things up.

[pblack]

My hubby and I started dating on the Splendor in August of 2012. We went with a group of friends (8 of us in total) and it was also my first cruise. My first actual vacation that wasn't a family vacation. All of us had an absolute blast. We took our 'honeymoon' on Carnival Miracle November 2015 (a little more than a year after we got married). Since then we've been on Splendor once more before she moved to Austrailia, Triumph, Glory, Radiance, Mardi Gras, and Panorama (2nd time on panorama coming up in 2 months!). We'll also be celebrating our 10 year wedding anniversary aboard the Horizon in September (where hubby should also be turning platinum!).

 

I love the fact that with cruising you get to check out multiple ports of call to see where you may want to travel back to at a later date. Plus you can be as active or as lazy as you want to be. We haven't ventured outside of Carnival yet, haven't really felt the need too, but eventually I do wanna try out some other lines. Thinking about planning a Disney cruise next year.

[MEUB1112]

First cruise in 2008 was on the Conquest, was so impressed. Never had a reason to look elsewhere. We know what to expect and truly enjoy each cruise. We're Platinum and heading out in 6 days again. 

[LatinaInTexas]

Carnival made me feel pretty special today. My last cruise with them was almost 7 months ago yet they just dumped a bunch of good offers today for me to pick from. Just finished booking one for next year and considering booking another😁

 

[hurricane0226]

To my wife and I, the crew no matter what the day brings, they are always friendly and helpful, can remember our names, even when we have sailed months later, they still remember us. most of them go out of their way to please us, and make sure we had a great cruise, 30 cruises later. and we will continue with them.

[lasvegascruising]

For husband and me, Carnival is the FUN ship.  We have also sailed Royal & Norwegian, great cruises but Carnival keeps us entertained from morning to midnight.  The lunch offerings on Carnival are all yum and numerous.  We find ourselves running in the evening from one form of entertainment to the next.  No reservations required and that is the best part for us.

[anastasia3939]

I’ll keep it short and sweet…..melting cake 😋

[Honolulu Blue]

To be brief:

 

* As others have mentioned, Carnival is all about FUN. They have lots of fun activities onboard (IMHO) and attract passengers who like to have fun.

 

* The Journeys cruises Carnival offers really are different from what other cruise lines offer and are especially attractive to me. 

[kdr69]

14 hours ago, pe4all said:

I still get butterflies upon driving up to the cruise terminal and seeing whatever ship I will be sailing on.  Nothing beats that first step onboard and being greeted like a long-time friend.  I love the way CCL treats my special needs dd, who has been on every one of the 34 Carnival cruises with us.  

Agreed,  They have always treated my son well every since our first cruise.  Never had to worry about him or whether he was having a great time. and yes i too get excited to see our ship each and every time.

[MtnSeaGirl]

3 hours ago, Honolulu Blue said:

To be brief:

 

* As others have mentioned, Carnival is all about FUN. They have lots of fun activities onboard (IMHO) and attract passengers who like to have fun.

 

* The Journeys cruises Carnival offers really are different from what other cruise lines offer and are especially attractive to me. 

Have you sailed on a Journey Cruise?  We keep looking at one and wonder what it is like.  Sounds totally FUN.

[MtnSeaGirl]

14 hours ago, pe4all said:

I still get butterflies upon driving up to the cruise terminal and seeing whatever ship I will be sailing on.  Nothing beats that first step onboard and being greeted like a long-time friend.  I love the way CCL treats my special needs dd, who has been on every one of the 34 Carnival cruises with us.  

Me too, me too, meeeee toooo at least the butterfly part upon seeing the ship. And, walking ONTO the ship is such a WONDERFUL feeling.  We only have 8 cruises on Carnival with one booked next March.  Upon retirement, we hope to cruise more. DH ( pastor ) only gets so many weekends off, and we do enjoy the 7-8 day cruises.  I am blessed to have more time off with my job.   Too long a drive or have to fly to get to Florida where it seems most of where we want to go goes.  ( live in southern central VA ).  Been looking at Baltimore though.  Easy to get to.  

Edited March 26 by MtnSeaGirl

[Honolulu Blue]

3 minutes ago, MtnSeaGirl said:

Have you sailed on a Journey Cruise?  We keep looking at one and wonder what it is like.  Sounds totally FUN.

I've done seven of them.  They're a lot of fun and offer plenty of everything else I want in a cruise.

[mz-s]

Still love that "bong" sound that the scanners make when you walk onboard and still love walking in to the atrium on embarkation day. Love meeting the steward on that busy embarkation day. Love making friends with bartenders and dealers in the casino. Love riding the water shuttle from the ship to HMC. Love watching all the new cruisers feel the fun that I felt back when I was carrying a blue or red card. It's all old hat to me now but I am a cruiser. I am critical where I think Carnival can improve but they still do a lot right.

[pe4all]

19 minutes ago, mz-s said:

Still love that "bong" sound that the scanners make when you walk onboard and still love walking in to the atrium on embarkation day. Love meeting the steward on that busy embarkation day. Love making friends with bartenders and dealers in the casino. Love riding the water shuttle from the ship to HMC. Love watching all the new cruisers feel the fun that I felt back when I was carrying a blue or red card. It's all old hat to me now but I am a cruiser. I am critical where I think Carnival can improve but they still do a lot right.

I agree with all you wrote - except the HMC water shuttle.  Can do without that. Can't wait till Carnival builds the pier there.  https://www.thenassauguardian.com/business/carnival-starts-development-process-for-half-moon-cay-berth/article_545acde0-a495-11ee-841d-03cd7d2b4ae7.html

 

[Joebucks]

The price, the amenities, the people, the vibe. It's a value and experience that is tough to beat.

[mz-s]

17 minutes ago, pe4all said:

I agree with all you wrote - except the HMC water shuttle.  Can do without that. Can't wait till Carnival builds the pier there.  https://www.thenassauguardian.com/business/carnival-starts-development-process-for-half-moon-cay-berth/article_545acde0-a495-11ee-841d-03cd7d2b4ae7.html

 

 

I just love watching the island slowly get closer and closer and I love seeing the ship docked offshore while on the beach. I do look forward to the pier so there will be fewer missed stops there, and it will be easier to come and go during the day.

[Guest]

What makes Carnival special to me? Honestly, I can't think of anything in 2024 to answer that.

 

HMC is nice - but the craziness of 3,000 guests not following basic procedures to get to/from the island and pushing their way through hallways and cutting lines just turns me off now.

[Number12]

The Punchliner comedy club is what keeps us coming back.