Thinking of trying a new cruise line

[Bobster]

As someone who has sailed Celebrity 12 times and loved every single trip I'm finally trying Royal Caribbean this December for the first time. I'm very excited to see how they compare.

 

As an Elite menber on Celebrity you will be Diamond on RCL and you will love the perks which are better than Celebrity, especially the open bar from 5-8:45 for Diamond members.

[CRUIZINMOMMANJ]

I have to say - and it may not be the popular response....but being on 3 cruise lines, RCL, Princess and Carnival...I liked the 3 - for different reasons. I however dont think....for my own interests, the RCL is worth the premium if you dont do the rock climbing wall, etc.

 

Princess is my favorite. We did Caribbean Princess...renewed our vows, spent tons of time with the captain- and had a bridge tour and so forth...it was a great vacation.

 

Carnival - I did about 13 cruises with them, and LOVE them. The decor is a bit over the edge, but service and fun is the SAME as the others. IT IS NOT the Walmart of cruising. We find the food is the best, service never lacking...

 

Try it for yourself, try another line. You cant go by what others feel. We did a group cruise - and people within our family felt different to extremes on a cruise. Some loved it - other HATED it.

 

Go, have fun ... and dont think about a thing.

[4merlurker]

She most likely had to wait 30 minutes because she was going to dinner at the same time everyone else was going, which is around 7:00. We dined at 6:00 and never once had to wait. Our sailing was full also. It usually takes a couple of cruises to get used to freestyle.

 

Nope. We tried going earlier and later.......ALWAYS had to wait Besides that if you didn't book the specialy restaurants on the first day you DIDN"T get in. We heard many people complain that "freestyle" wasn't all that. :cool:

 

~Connie

[hopebh]

We've gone on both Carnival and RCCL and found both lines acceptable. We take cruises for the relaxation element that we find on them.

 

We don't cruise for the food or the dining room experience; if we want to eat well or be pampered we go to Vegas or to one of the many upscale restaurants that we have near our house. So we really aren't picky when it comes to food.

 

We have not found that service was that much better on RCCL than on Carnival.

 

As far as the comment on entertainment after 8 on Carnival, I do believe that was an exaggeration because we have seen the same corney shows/games playing in the evenings on both Carnival and RCCL.

 

On Carnival I prefer: karoke, cashless casino, pizza, burgers, they allow you to open balcony dividers

 

On RCCL I prefer: production shows, embarkation, pasta, ships, buffet, loyalty program

[Host Kewlguy]

Nope. We tried going earlier and later.......ALWAYS had to wait Besides that if you didn't book the specialy restaurants on the first day you DIDN"T get in. We heard many people complain that "freestyle" wasn't all that. :cool:

 

~Connie

 

Well, I've heard many people state they wouldn't ever cruise on a ship with traditional dining again after trying "freestyle." Some love it, some hate it. We will sail on both cruise lines in the future.

[Phamer55]

I didn't think I'd ever consider going on an NCL cruise, but then I saw the photos of the Norwegian Pearl. That lounge that contains the bowling alley looks amazing! It looks like a great ship to take kids on, with the bowling alley, huge Nintendo Wii screen, and the pool area with the water slide. It even has a rock wall! The ship seems a lot like what RCI would make. Their 9-day itinerary from Miami looks really good too. You get to go many of the Southern Caribbean islands that you normally can't get to when cruising from Florida (no expensive ticket/longer flight to San Juan!). Any other RCI cruisers considering the Pearl?

[Bobster]

I didn't think I'd ever consider going on an NCL cruise, but then I saw the photos of the Norwegian Pearl. That lounge that contains the bowling alley looks amazing!

 

Does the bowling alley have levelers like the pool tables on RCL. Seems like quite an undertaking.

[Phamer55]

There are no levelers on the Pearl Bowling Alley. Makes bowling at sea a real challlenge!!

[alexkrn46]

As someone who has sailed Celebrity 12 times and loved every single trip I'm finally trying Royal Caribbean this December for the first time. I'm very excited to see how they compare.

 

I would be interested in your comparison, I have never been on Celebrity and a review would be welcomed. Alex

[amybear912]

I didn't think I'd ever consider going on an NCL cruise, but then I saw the photos of the Norwegian Pearl. That lounge that contains the bowling alley looks amazing! It looks like a great ship to take kids on, with the bowling alley, huge Nintendo Wii screen, and the pool area with the water slide. It even has a rock wall! The ship seems a lot like what RCI would make. Their 9-day itinerary from Miami looks really good too. You get to go many of the Southern Caribbean islands that you normally can't get to when cruising from Florida (no expensive ticket/longer flight to San Juan!). Any other RCI cruisers considering the Pearl?

 

 

I am now!!! :)

[Sugar*Magnolia]

We have been on Celebrity and Royal....I saw a documentary on Disney...cant beleive Im saying this but I loved the decor...not so thrilled with the dining arrangement.

 

I seriously want to go on Solstice!!

[Bobster]

I would be interested in your comparison, I have never been on Celebrity and a review would be welcomed. Alex

 

We have taken 18 or more Celebrity cruises and find that it is a bit upscale compared with RCL and more formal. Crews have always been excellent in terms of friendliness and service. Ships have always been excellent, especially the Infinity class. I think you would enjoy Celebrity.

 

Only negative is that the perks for Diamond members on RCL are much better than Celebrity's Elite.

[rgreenpc]

My DW has been reading this thread as well and we are seriously thinking about the European cruise... she just wants to read the RCL book guide we sent off for so she can get a better gist of the ships.

[cruzincurt]

We've been on 5 Carnival, just isn't the same as RCI. Nothing to show for it as to loyalty recognition. Sure we might get an upgrade if we pick the right cruise and TA. RCI, we're home to stay.