Comparison of Carnival to Princess, how similar???

[Luna'sMom]

Would anyone be able to tell me if the 2 lines are similar, because if Princess is anything like Carnival I am canceling my reservation today! I just returned from a 4 night on the Carnival Victory and it was horrible. The Victory has the worst deck plan of any cruise ship I have ever been on and this was cruise # 12 for us. Never again, the food was mostly inedible, Dining room was a step above but nothing I would consider great. One thing I have no complaints about is the staff. They were wonderful. I know Carnival owns Princess and I am really concerned about our Crown cruise. Please help!

[tONYpAL85]

I have never been on Carnival, however I can tell you that everyone on here will tell you that Princess is not similar to Carnival. They are both a very different cruising experience. My first cruise was on the Caribbean Princess and it exceeding my already high expectations. It was so great that I am booked again for August 19th 06 !! I have looked into taking a Carnival Cruise, however Im just never impressed with the decor of the ships, and Im scared that it really isn't the cruise experience I am looking for. Don't cancel your Princess cruise, you will absolutely love it.

 

 

~Tony

 

 

by the way, which ship are you going on???

[SingerEsq]

I did a 3-day Carnival cruise .... never again. IMO, Princess is a much different experience.

 

Some people think that Princess is too staid compared to Carnival, which may be true but what I prefer.

 

Don't forget, Carnival Corporation also owns Cunard, Holland-America, and Seaborn ... none of which would be considered comparable to a Carnival Cruise. Remember, Carnival Corp. is the holding company that owns many "brands" of different quality, price and experience, including Carnival Cruise Line, Princess, etc.

[BonnieSte]

Would anyone be able to tell me if the 2 lines are similar' date=' because if Princess is anything like Carnival I am canceling my reservation today! I just returned from a 4 night on the Carnival Victory and it was horrible. The Victory has the worst deck plan of any cruise ship I have ever been on and this was cruise # 12 for us. Never again, the food was mostly inedible, Dining room was a step above but nothing I would consider great. One thing I have no complaints about is the staff. They were wonderful. I know Carnival owns Princess and I am really concerned about our Crown cruise. Please help![/quote']

 

I have been on 2 Carnival cruises and 2 Princess cruises. Carnival and Princess basically cater to different kinds people. I have also cruised RCI and have found that the 3-5 day cruises aren't as upscale as the longer cruises. (meaning they put more into the longer cruises IMHO) What is it that you are looking for? Carnival caters more to families with younger children and or college kids. Both Carnival cruises that I have been on have kids of all ages running wild everywhere and drove me nuts but I enjoyed the staff and the food. Princess is more subdued which is more to my liking, but the entertainment and food is also more subdued. I would sail Princess anyday before Carnival.

Also, I felt that Princess has a whole lot more to do to keep my busy on seadays

[ForEternity]

Definitely different!!! I've been on 4 Carnival and 2 Princess. Two of the carnival were pretty good...nothing spectacular but not bad. The other two were absolutely horrible (although the main reasons for the were staff issues). Princess were both great. The last one being the Crown a few weeks ago. LOVED it! Best cruise I've been on out of 10.

[CrusinAgain]

I have been on both twice and they are both very different.

 

However I have never been on a cruise less than 7 days. My understanding is they use the older ships for the shorter cruises and I don't think Princess does shorter cruises so that would be difficult to compare apples to apples. I have seen service differ from ship to ship being on same cruiseline also.

 

Carnival is more casual and glitzy while Princess is more dress up and smooth tones with no entertainment in the dining room like Carnival has.

 

I did like Carnivals beds and bathroom alot better than Princess though. They both have their pros and cons. Food about the same quality on both. With Princess you can have anytime dining while Carnival is traditional. Carnival has menus and billing on the room TV while Princess doesn't. Princess has fresh water pools while Carnival doesn't. Carnival has free icecreme all day while Princess doesn't. Princess has a movie theater while Carnival doesn't.

 

I wouldn't base my opinion on Carnival's 4-day cruise though since those are quick getaways.

[Luna'sMom]

Now you are really scaring me. FOOD QUALITY ABOUT THE SAME???? This is the first cruise that I lost weight, but that's a good thing. My husband still wants to go on the 9 day Crown but I will need some convincing. Thanks for all of your comments.

[SingerEsq]

Personally, I don't think the food compares. I found Carnival dreadful in this department, whereas on Princess have had many, many nice dinners.

 

Good luck.

[BonnieSte]

Personally, I don't think the food compares. I found Carnival dreadful in this department, whereas on Princess have had many, many nice dinners.

 

Good luck.

 

I like fine dining and good wine, to me the two go together. Maybe it is the ships I have been on but Carnival and Princess are pretty comparible. I enjoyed both very much. Carnival just has a more livelier atmoshphere. It would be hard pressed not to find something you like. Being from Maine I just stay away from Lobster for obvious reasons. LOL.

[CrusinAgain]

The food on the Carnival Miracle ship was definitely very good. In fact alot of the food was better than the Caribbean Princess ship on the Lido deck and the dining room. I really think it varies from ship to ship as to what chefs are on there. Just like I keep reading about RCI ships being so different with food quality from ship to ship.

[SingerEsq]

I like fine dining and good wine, to me the two go together. Maybe it is the ships I have been on but Carnival and Princess are pretty comparible. I enjoyed both very much. Carnival just has a more livelier atmoshphere. It would be hard pressed not to find something you like. Being from Maine I just stay away from Lobster for obvious reasons. LOL.

 

And I've only been on the Coral and the Island, which are smaller ships, and might make a difference. We'll see what the CB has to offer next month!

 

Worked one summer on Nantucket .... nothing like fresh lobsters!

[Toto2Kansas]

We started cruising on Carnival, but then realized there had to be something better. Tried Princess and never went back to Carnival again, unless you can count the free cruise Carnival's rep gave us so that we could try it again a few years ago, hoping to get us back. The free cruise was short, thank goodness, as we also couldn't wait to get off that gawdy ship.

We have sailed on most of the main stream cruise lines and always come back to Princess.

Princess and Carnival are both owned by the same company, but they are totally different cruise experiences.

Hope you enjoy it.

[Chat Noir]

Carnival Spirit to Alaska last year.

Sapphire Princess to Alaska this year.

 

My husband, myself, our 17 year old son and our 18 year old son prefer Princess. At least for Alaska.

 

I prefer the layout of the Sapphire oceanview cabin we had this year to the Spirit balcony cabin we had last year but I prefer the overall layout of the Spirit. The Sapphire layout was a bit more difficult for us to learn, especially since all elevators don't go to all floors. The Spirit seemed more open with larger windows, a good thing for scenic cruising.

 

Princess had some very good meals, and one steak I had was fabulous. I did have a meal last year on Carnival which was yucky, but it was no problem to order something else. Otherwise, I felt their food was similar on both lines.

 

Lido deck decor on the Spirit was just a little over-the-top for my tastes. Sapphire was much more subdued. However, I did enjoy the decor from the glass elevators on Carnival Spirit...Sapphire Princess has just blank walls part of the way.

 

I prefer the naturalist on our Carnival sailing to the one on our Princess sailing.

 

Of the shows we attended, I enjoyed both about the same... but we're not much for shows in Alaska... the scenery IS the show!

 

Princess had way more activites to keep my teens entertained than Carnival. They're not the 'disco' type, but enjoyed the trivia, dance lessons, etc offered on Princess.

 

I really can't say why, but I just 'feel' happier sailing with Princess. Our itinerary didn't hold together well at all last year, so perhaps I have some bias there. I have tried to be very objective. Princess still wins!:)

 

I'd sail Carnival again only at a bargain price...

[criuisingurl079]

I've cruised one Carnival:( Five RCCL, and now this is my second Princess~ Love Princess!!:D We had to choose between a nine day RCCL and a 7 day on the CB and I talked my DH into the CB!!

Carnival doesn't even compare- I was not impressed, it was not the "fun ship!"

[katier825]

Give Princess a try!

 

We're impatiently awaiting Princess cruise #6 (Nov 5)! We've been on Golden 2x, Grand, Star, Coral. NCL Sky (now Aloha) Also been on Carnival Glory 2x (2nd time was last resort to replace Star Princess after the fire. I must admit, I had very low expectations the 2nd time on Glory, so I wasn't as disappointed the 2nd time).

 

Princess ships are prettier, I thought the food varied more than Carnival. Food, Service and Entertainment were consistently better on Princess. One note, on Carnival Glory, several entertainment venues are very close together. When the door is open to one, you can hear the others - I found it quite annoying.

 

In all fairness, there were things we liked about Carnival. Soft Serve ice cream 24/7, the plastic rocking chairs on the pool deck, access to account balance via the TV, 24 hr pizza and the Deli.

 

Would we go on Carnival again? If it was free or too good to pass up, maybe. My first choice will probably always be Princess, though I would go on NCL again. Never tried RCCL...usually more expensive, but if I found the right deal, I'd try them too.

[momofmeg]

The food on the Carnival Miracle ship was definitely very good. In fact alot of the food was better than the Caribbean Princess ship on the Lido deck and the dining room. I really think it varies from ship to ship as to what chefs are on there. Just like I keep reading about RCI ships being so different with food quality from ship to ship.

 

I found the food on that ship very good also-but not on Carnival Inspiration. Those two ships were very differant. I agree with you that it has more to do with ship then line. I am not a fan of Carnival overall but I would cruise the Miracle again.

 

To the OP Nlidel- was recently on the Crown-she had glowing report sof it and she was on THAT cruise last month. she was one fo the very few that were not complaining aoubt it.

 

If you scroll through a few pages I am sure you can find her thread.

[Tatka]

I won't go into the food debate (I prefered Princess with all buffet options, but Carnival wasn't that bad)

 

We were on Carnival Liberty and Caribbean Princess. Same size, same number of people. They even have same idea of Movies Under The Stars

 

But.. and here where difference starts:

 

Princess ships are made with respect to customer!

 

Princess has 7 pools located throughout the ship. It's not 1-2 huge places where everybody gather.

 

If you don't want to hear loud entertainment or you don't want to see kids, or you don't want to see movie you'll always find pool/place that suites you best. We loved back Terrace adult-only pool (were security was present at all times making sure kids aren't there.

 

Entertainment is better quality, especially live music throughout the ship.

 

 

It was more formal in DR on Princess , even on smart-casual nights.

 

You basically feel on the huge ship like on the yacht!

 

Princess is definetily more ellegant line.

 

P.S. On the other hand Carnival also exceeded our expectations, it was clean, had good service and food. But we thought ship was designed not with the people in mind, with the same number of people it was so crawded everywhere on Carnival.

[Love Boat Dream]

i agree that it depends on the chef, but overall I have been happy with the food on Princess. You just have to keep in mind that except in the specialty restaurants, ALL cruise food is mass produced. I am picky about my food but I have been mostly happy with the food on Princess. Especially the pasta and Italian dishes. And, the souffles and Love Boat Dream dessert!

 

The one time I was on Carnival, I did not like the food at all (or the ship that much)

 

I prefer Princess' food over RCI also. I see you were on Celebrity, I think they do a very nice job on the quality, taste and presentation of food as well though. Never been on NCL so I can't compare personally.

 

I was at a luncheon on the Crown in June and the food they served us was really delicious. I'm sailing on her Aug 16 and I can't wait.

 

Give it a try! I'm sure you won't be disappointed!

[PTC]

IMHO, there is no difference in Carnival, Princesss or Celebrity cruiselines that sail to the caribbean. You will find likes and dislikes among all of them.

Highlights of the common themes:

Food is adequate.

Cruisers are typically loud and spend their days in bars both on and off the ship.

More children on board.

Cruisers love to "save" chairs (not just deck chairs but at the shows as well) as if they are still in school.

Staff is excellent considering who they have for customers.

Embarkation and debarkation is adequate.

Cheap cruises.

 

I've sailed enough on each of the lines to know that the caribbean is where you do land vacations.

 

 

PTC

[Tatka]

More children on board.

 

We just sailed on sold out Caribbean Princess, but really really didn't see that many children. I've seen them during embarkation, but then they spread out in their zones. Also we always could go to the adult only pool.

 

On Carnival they were EVERYWHERE. Each hot tub had 10-15 of them!

 

I have nothing against the kids. We cruise with our now almost 15 yo. (I can't make him swim, only wants to play basketball :( ), and I am patient person, but I really really like hot tabs, and it's not enjoyable experiense to share it with the bunch of 7-9 screaming kids all the time.

 

Many people critisize Princess for design of their buffets, but it can't be even compared to the horror we experienced on Carnival Liberty. Tons of people in lines, carrying HUGE trays wih huge portions and filling every square inch of the buffets. On the sea days even second floor of the buffet was completely filled.

 

I am not even speaking about how devastating is to stand on hot sun in the longest line in my life (and I am from former USSR ;) , so I am accustomed to huge lines) waiting for embarkation. It took us between 2 and 2.5 hours to get on the ship!!!!

[Umbarger]

I have been on 4 Carnival & 2 Princess . All 7 days. I have heard horrible things about 3 & 4 day cruises but have never been on one.

 

The thing I dislike about Princess is being nickled and dimed to death. So much costs extra. Good coffee extra, Lemonade extra, Cappuchino extra, Expresso extra, ice cream extra. I'm sure there is more I have forgotten. All these things are included on Carnival.

 

I will agree there are too many kids on Carnival. Also, some of the cruisers on Carnival have questionable behavior. That being said Carnival is much more fun. One thing I do not find fun on Carnival is the red, white and blue teams. The most total stupid waste of time.

 

Princess ships are decorated softer than Vegas decorated Carnival. Princess has a 3 deck atrium where Carnival has a fantastic 9 deck atrium.

 

I didnt like the food on Princess. Much preferred Carnival. Also entertainment on Carnival is much better than Princess.

 

Getting on the off the ship on Princess was alot better. Carnival needs to take lessons from Princess on that one.

 

I found customer service to be much better on Princess. If there is a glitch on your cruise they really take care of you. On Carnival you are on your own, pretty much.

 

This is just my take.

 

Linda

[Host Caroline]

:D I have cruised Carnival x 6-8 and Princess more than 15 times, also other lines.. no more Carnival for me.... they are simply too gaudy, and on every single crusie there is a smoke problem either in the piano bar, casino and they do NOT enforce this... or at least coincidentally they don't when I am onboard :rolleyes: :confused: And their lounges etc. are so loud...Their 4-time dining is a pain in the tush since there are two "early" and two "late" seatings and the dining rooms on our last two were practically empty. There are just too many good things about Princess and HAL that I love (and yes, they are owned by Carnival Corp.) and enough about RCI and Celebrity that I like to spend any more money on Carnival. Heck. I like NCL more than Carnival but Princess remains "where I belong"

[madepaz]

There is a big difference between Carnival and Princess. Carnival is definitely for a younger crowd. I am 29 years old and I would recommend Princess to anyone and every one. The food is wonderful, the services remarkable, and the ships are much more elegant. During the day Carnival has more loud active enterntainments then Princess.

I would not recommend you to cancel the cruise.

[born2travel]

I may be out of place here, never having sailed on Princess, but have to throw in my $.02 in defense of Carnival. DH and I took our very first cruise on Carnival Triumph. It was a totally wonderful experience, we loved the shows, the food, the ship, the whole 9 yards, until the disembarkment in Miami, <shudder> which was such a source of shock & amazement to me that I couldn't even react until later. I truly couldn't believe the total disregard for passengers' belongings that was displayed at that point. I still marvel...

 

Anyway, we've since sailed on RCCL Mariner of the Seas and booked a second cruise on the same ship. In all fairness, there were certain things that I really thought Carnival did better, in the food, cabin, service, and layout of the ship. But, we definitely loved sailing from Port Canaveral and the embark/disembark processes were far better.

 

We are planning to cruise with Carnival in 2007, a decision based on our positive first experience and because they take 2 yr olds in the Camp Carnival program as we hope to be travelling with our 2 DDs, their spouses, and our 3 wonderful grandchildren (2 will be just over 2 yrs at sailing!) We will sail from Canaveral, though, due to both the proximity to Orlando and that we have no desire to return to the Miami terminal.

[Tatka]

We found alot more entertaintment on Princess...it was spread out through the ship though, so if you don't want to see belly flop contest, you can move to another pool/place. I didn't like hairy chest contest on Carnival Liberty, but didn't have choice, as I wanted to sunbathe and swim.

 

There are many more live music lounges.

 

Also choice of anytime dining is great!!!