Looked at other cruise lines, back to CCL.

[islahopper]

After 5 sraight CCL cruises, I thought I'd check some of the others lines. What I found was higher prices, smaller cabins and people that think they are better than others. People that complain because they have to carry thier own coffee to the table on the lido. People who complain about men not tying thier own bow tie on formal night and on and on. Also some of these other lines make you dress formal not just for dinner but for all the public areas. Also it appears that service, food and shows are almost the same as CCL. Also these other lines have rude people and kids. So after 2 weeks of checking around, my next cruise will be Jan 09 on the Legend. The price for a balcony cabin is great and with airfare the 2 of us can cruise for under $1000.00 per person.

I can't wait!!

[NCTribeFan]

Well, other people are entitled to enjoy what they enjoy about a cruise, too.

 

There's no need to criticize other's for having different opinions. If you haven't actually sailed the other lines, then you're guilty of doing the same as those who criticize Carnival and look down their noses even though they haven't sailed the line!

 

I still cruise Carnival because I feel it's great value for my vacation dollar. I do check out other lines when I'm planning, but keep coming back and since I'm getting closer to Platinum, I imagine I'll stick with Carnival for a while longer.

 

It would be a shame if all cruiselines were alike and all cruise passengers were clones.

 

Viva la Difference!

[fllady61]

After 5 sraight CCL cruises, I thought I'd check some of the others lines. What I found was higher prices, smaller cabins and people that think they are better than others. People that complain because they have to carry thier own coffee to the table on the lido. People who complain about men not tying thier own bow tie on formal night and on and on. Also some of these other lines make you dress formal not just for dinner but for all the public areas. Also it appears that service, food and shows are almost the same as CCL. Also these other lines have rude people and kids. So after 2 weeks of checking around, my next cruise will be Jan 09 on the Legend. The price for a balcony cabin is great and with airfare the 2 of us can cruise for under $1000.00 per person.

I can't wait!!

 

I have never cruise RCCL or DCL, but agree with you 200%.

 

I do know this. RCCL charges more 90% of the time because of that stupid rock wall and a wave pool. Big deal....I mean if you use these things, go for it, but to me, they are a waste.

 

DCL charges more because you baiscally have a butler follow you around all the time regardless of where you eat, your waiter is there. NOT just any waiter, but the one you have the first night stands by you at all meal times regardless. He is the one to deliver your room service, etc. I can not handle that. Plus you are paying for all those crew members who do nothing but dress in the diseny character outfits.

 

everytime i book a cruise, i check the other lines. and always find CCL is about 150 - 300 cheaper than RCCL, and about 2000 cheaper than DCL.

[Heatherco]

I have to disagree...politely. I have sailed several lines and have had a wonderful time on all of them. I think half the fun of cruising is trying new ships, new lines, new itineraries. If every line was the same and charged the same how boring that would be.

 

For me, there are things I like different about each line. For example: Celebrity - beautiful ship and service was exceptional. Royal Caribbean - love their Voyager class ships....they just have a wow factor I love. Carnival - love the food right at the pool and larger cabins. Princess - loved anytime dining.

 

The nice thing about cruises is that there is something for everyone.

[Kurbanfan]

I have to disagree...politely. I have sailed several lines and have had a wonderful time on all of them. I think half the fun of cruising is trying new ships, new lines, new itineraries. If every line was the same and charged the same how boring that would be.

 

For me, there are things I like different about each line. For example: Celebrity - beautiful ship and service was exceptional. Royal Caribbean - love their Voyager class ships....they just have a wow factor I love. Carnival - love the food right at the pool and larger cabins. Princess - loved anytime dining.

 

The nice thing about cruises is that there is something for everyone.

 

I totally agree with you! And if you have never tried other lines don't make up your mind not to because of what you read on these boards.

They are all different and for good reasons. :)

[dan40]

After 5 sraight CCL cruises, I thought I'd check some of the others lines. What I found was higher prices, smaller cabins and people that think they are better than others. People that complain because they have to carry thier own coffee to the table on the lido. People who complain about men not tying thier own bow tie on formal night and on and on. Also some of these other lines make you dress formal not just for dinner but for all the public areas. Also it appears that service, food and shows are almost the same as CCL. Also these other lines have rude people and kids. So after 2 weeks of checking around, my next cruise will be Jan 09 on the Legend. The price for a balcony cabin is great and with airfare the 2 of us can cruise for under $1000.00 per person.

I can't wait!!

 

Do you mean you cruised on some of these other lines or do you mean that you read [gasp] their CC boards?

I find the cruising is better than the boards, this one too. :D

 

Dan

[LHP]

While my intent is to "cruise them all before my final debarkation"....I do have a harder time justifying paying more for basically the same product.

 

I have tried to book RCCL 3 times and (for the particular cruise I needed) they came in at over $1,000 more for our family of four. Now I love WOW factor as much as the next person, but not for an additional $1,000.

 

We obviously love Carnival, but there are some issues that may force us to look elsewhere. There are some areas where RCCL and other cruise lines are ahead of the game.

 

While I won't pay an additional $1,000 for the WOW factor, I may be willing to pay it for no smoking in the cabins.

[islahopper]

I'm suprised at how easy some people get offended. I've only crusied on 3 different lines and have read the boards and reviews from others. I understand that each cruise is different as is each cruise line. There are people that like certain lines and would not go on any other. One line has nicer decor, one line has better food, another has better service and so on. What I should have said is at this point in my life CCL seems better suited for me than other lines. I enjoy the ships, the food and most of the people and can not see any reason to pay more money for another cruise (now here is a shocker, I can afford to cruise on any other cruise line even Regent or Cunard). CCL offers the best cruise value on the seas and fits my current vacation needs now. I'm sure when I'm a little older I will cruise other lines because crusing is my favorite form of vacation. Please remember that this is IMHO. Thanks folks and have a nice day.

[Kurbanfan]

I'm suprised at how easy some people get offended. I've only crusied on 3 different lines and have read the boards and reviews from others. I understand that each cruise is different as is each cruise line. There are people that like certain lines and would not go on any other. One line has nicer decor, one line has better food, another has better service and so on. What I should have said is at this point in my life CCL seems better suited for me than other lines. I enjoy the ships, the food and most of the people and can not see any reason to pay more money for another cruise (now here is a shocker, I can afford to cruise on any other cruise line even Regent or Cunard). CCL offers the best cruise value on the seas and fits my current vacation needs now. I'm sure when I'm a little older I will cruise other lines because crusing is my favorite form of vacation. Please remember that this is IMHO. Thanks folks and have a nice day.

 

Not necessarily being offended by what you said as much as bad info:p

There are alot of people on here that sail different lines and are not at all how you described them to be.....

Nothing wrong with doing what is best for you:) Carnival is a great product!!!

[farler05]

Outside of commenting on price difference, I've never understood how someone can criticize a ship or cruise line that they've never set foot on. I've only cruised Carnival, so I can only comment on my experiences with Carnival. I wouldn't make a judgment on a ship or cruise line that I've never set foot on. I can't fathom that any intelligent person would.

[Sandi149]

Outside of commenting on price difference, I've never understood how someone can criticize a ship or cruise line that they've never set foot on. I've only cruised Carnival, so I can only comment on my experiences with Carnival. I wouldn't make a judgment on a ship or cruise line that I've never set foot on. I can't fathom that any intelligent person would.

 

You haven't been on this board long enough....just watch and see. :p:D Happens all the time unfortunately.

[dan40]

Outside of commenting on price difference, I've never understood how someone can criticize a ship or cruise line that they've never set foot on. I've only cruised Carnival, so I can only comment on my experiences with Carnival. I wouldn't make a judgment on a ship or cruise line that I've never set foot on. I can't fathom that any intelligent person would.

 

 

On some of the other cruiseline boards it is not unusual to read, "I've never sailed on a Carnival cruise and I never will because.............." And those are the honest ones. Others badmouth Carnival like they did a cruise but reading between the lines tells us they never tried Carnival either. And other cruise lines get badmouthed too. On this and other boards. Don't know why. Guess I'm lucky, there's only one line I wouldn't bother cruising again. Beautiful ship, some nice people but the reason for their low prices became way too obvious. Still had a great time.

 

Dan

[2Ports]

I've been on 5 different lines in my short cruising career, and my observation is that if you read a particular line's board for a while, the folks who post on it are fairly representative of the people you will be sailing with - almost eerily so. There's just not that much difference from one line to the next, so you'll probably be happiest sailing with the company whose board you feel most comfortable on. BTW - on 4 CCL cruises, not ONCE did I hear anyone bad-mouthing RCI; last month I heard 3 different snippy comments about CCL (all by folks who'd never sailed CCL) while I was in line to board the Empress of the Seas. It was a regular refrain all week. See what I mean about the posters on the board and the pax onboard? :p

[fllady61]

but what I am saying is this..... WHY PAY THE DIFFERENCE IN PRICE AND SAIL THE OTHER LINES JUST FOR THEIR FREE BOTTLE OF CHAMPANGE, OR ROCK WALL, OR WAVE POOL? We do not use those things because we don't drink that much....Maybe 1 glass during the cruise at the captians cocktail party.

 

so for me to pay RCCL the extra 200 pp just for a wave pool that i will never step foot in, or a rock wall that I would not climb in 100000 years, is stupid when CCL has everything else that RCCL has for a lower price.

 

That is my arguement. If you were in a wheelchair, and were going to cruise on a ship, would you go with one that is charging you more than another just for the things that you can not use?

 

I don't think so. It is my money, and, i prefer to take the 500 i save for booking my family on carnival as opposed to rccl to have for in the ports, tips, or the casino.

[Sandi149]

From what I read on here, they say that the service is so much better. I thought the service on Carnival was great. For anyone who has sailed both, can you tell me if it is actually that much better on RCCL? Ohhh and please give me examples...don't just say "yeah it was much better on RC". I want to know how it was better? Thanks.

[dan40]

From what I read on here, they say that the service is so much better. I thought the service on Carnival was great. For anyone who has sailed both, can you tell me if it is actually that much better on RCCL? Ohhh and please give me examples...don't just say "yeah it was much better on RC". I want to know how it was better? Thanks.

 

 

I have sailed Seabourn, Crystal, Radisson [Regent now], and Cunard. And RCl ,X, PCL, HAL and many others. And have had the pleasure of dining in 3, 4 and 5 Star land restaurants. I don't see the service as better overall, I would call the service on the upscale lines as more polished and more professional. Meaning you notice them less and they notice you more. Little things like not having to move or duck out of a servers way when he's serving you. Or having a servers hand, arm shoot in front of your face to pick up or deliver something. That just doesn't happen and they know what you want with a look and they remember it. Doesn't mean Carnival or RCL service is bad, just more there when they should be invisible.

No cruiseline has food to compare with a top land restaurant. But the land restaurants take a year to serve the number of meals a mega ship serves in a week. And they charge as much as the cruise!!!!!

 

Dan

[S.S.Oceanlover]

I have never cruise RCCL or DCL, but agree with you 200%.

 

I do know this. RCCL charges more 90% of the time because of that stupid rock wall and a wave pool. Big deal....I mean if you use these things, go for it, but to me, they are a waste.

 

DCL charges more because you baiscally have a butler follow you around all the time regardless of where you eat, your waiter is there. NOT just any waiter, but the one you have the first night stands by you at all meal times regardless. He is the one to deliver your room service, etc. I can not handle that. Plus you are paying for all those crew members who do nothing but dress in the diseny character outfits.

 

everytime i book a cruise, i check the other lines. and always find CCL is about 150 - 300 cheaper than RCCL, and about 2000 cheaper than DCL.

 

I have cruised Disney twice? Where are these butlers that follow you around at? I never saw one?:confused:

 

Bill

[dclark]

If you never try other lines, you are losing out. Different lines have different strenghts and weaknesses. I have sailed princess twice because it was the just about the cheapest cruise from any cruiseline around the holidays I went on xmas, last month on NYE).

On my Golden Princess cruise, I had food better than any of the 8 CCL cruises that have been on. This isn't subjective as they offer things that CCL won't, like King Crab legs. Service was perfect, the ship was not just classier looking, they had lots of little things things like padded loungers, less people than a similarly sized Conquest class ship, better pool entertainment. Even the xmas decorations were way better than what I have seen on CCL xmas cruises. As for people, they were more polite than I have seen on CCL cruises and classier. For example, even after dinner on formal night, people still wore their formal attire, unlike CCL people who rush back to the cabin to get their shorts and thongs. Even my kids preferred it to CCL saying that the kids were not as obnoxious- on CCL they really were running amuck.

I am not bashing CCL; I am just saying that it is easy to think that a salisbury steak is the best cut a meat in the world if you never try a well marbled piece of ribeye!

I do practice what I preach- even though I will probably be on a Princess ship this xmas, I will be on the CCL Liberty and RCL Majesty this June. Lines like Princess offer better ships, food, and service, lines like CCL offer more variety and more entertainment. RCL offers gorgeous ships, good entertainement.

Try'em all! Oh, and if you think CCL is great, you should have seen them ten years ago, when they still had rum swizzle parties,baked alaska parades, cherry jubilee parades, President butter and extra headliners in the showroom.On my second sailing on the Elation in '99, they even had lobster on two different nights! People talk about how RCL has slid down, but I think CCL hit its peak about ten years ago as well.

[fllady61]

I have cruised Disney twice? Where are these butlers that follow you around at? I never saw one?:confused:

 

Bill

 

 

ON DCI, you are paying for 1 waiter for you and your family regardless of which restaurant you are in. OR so I was told by someone who was on DCL about 5 yr ago. It may have changed now with the popularity of cruising increasing. Also, you pay for Mickey, Minney and all the other characters to play with your children.

 

For those who have been on DCL, WHAT IS THERE FOR ADULTS TO DO IF YOU DO NOT DRINK, WANT TO WATCH MOVIES 24/7, OR BE IN THE POOL? Answer me that. There is NO casino, NO adult type activities at all from what others have said, and the cost is outrageous. Even with a discount, it is still nearly 1000 more per cruise than the other lines. And they go to all the same ports except the private island.

[bigred4770]

I cant say anything about CCL - cruising these posts since I am going on the Glory in July of this year.

 

I have sailed Princess twice - never had a bad experience on them - everything was great. I am going back on them in August to Alaska.

 

I have sailed on RCCL five times and will never sail with them again. They used to be my favorite line but I had an experience of harrassment with one employee that continued throughout the cruise. I wouldnt let one employee stop me but head office handled the situation poorly. I mailed them back my members card. I did find over the five cruises that their service and food quality had slipped. The Voyager class are great ships and I especially liked the promanade cafe where you could get sandwiches and desserts and coffee for free 24 hours a day - still miss that

 

I also sailed on celebrity twice. Found their food and service to be slightly better than princess but their entertainment was lacking - nothing really going on after the nightly show.

 

Hope this helps. I am going with carnival with my brother since I am hoping for a great entertainment experience

[flvol77]

While my intent is to "cruise them all before my final debarkation"....I do have a harder time justifying paying more for basically the same product.

 

I have tried to book RCCL 3 times and (for the particular cruise I needed) they came in at over $1,000 more for our family of four. Now I love WOW factor as much as the next person, but not for an additional $1,000.

 

We obviously love Carnival, but there are some issues that may force us to look elsewhere. There are some areas where RCCL and other cruise lines are ahead of the game.

 

While I won't pay an additional $1,000 for the WOW factor, I may be willing to pay it for no smoking in the cabins.

 

Well said, we also have TRIED to book RCCL 3 or 4 times and when it came down to spending 500 to 1000 more than Princess we couldn't do it and canceled the cruise.

 

We also want to try other lines, especially Carnival because we are so close to all the ports in FL and we need a back up cruise line to Princess that offers good quality for a good price. The only thing that worries us is if we should even attempt to try carnival during the summer because of the number of kids on board?

[dclark]

I' BTW - on 4 CCL cruises, not ONCE did I hear anyone bad-mouthing RCI; last month I heard 3 different snippy comments about CCL (all by folks who'd never sailed CCL) while I was in line to board the Empress of the Seas. It was a regular refrain all week. See what I mean about the posters on the board and the pax onboard? :p

 

 

I have a primadonna little brother who I saw for the first time in five years last October. He said he sailed on Hal and it "ok", sailed on the Saphire Princess with a mini suite and thought is was an "awful cruise". I asked him what was so bad and he said "everything". I asked him to give me an example of something that was bad and he couldn't.

I then asked him if he has cruised CCL and he looked at me like I was a loon. He said "CCL is horrible, why would I go on a cruise on CCL? ". I asked "How do you know what a CCL ship is like if you have never been on one?" He said he heard and that's enough! I guess you can see why I avoid that one.I told him that I have cruised CCL 8 times, sometimes with a balcony, sometimes with a 1a closet room, but every one was special, we cruised with our two daughters, got formal pics with Santa on the xmas ones and we have memories that will never fade along with lots of video.

I still prefer Princess, but I still say that CCL isn't just a good value cruise; it is a good cruise! And, even though CCL has the rep for being the cheap cruise, don't let that scare you away from looking into other cruiselines. For example, I searched high and low on a biweekly basis and found that the cheapest New Years cruise in N. America was the Dawn Princess- the CCL pride up in LA would have set me back an extra 1000; even NCL was $800 more!

There are lot of people who bad mouth CCL without ever setting foot on one of their ships- they are joyless people.

[S.S.Oceanlover]

ON DCI, you are paying for 1 waiter for you and your family regardless of which restaurant you are in. OR so I was told by someone who was on DCL about 5 yr ago. It may have changed now with the popularity of cruising increasing. Also, you pay for Mickey, Minney and all the other characters to play with your children.

 

For those who have been on DCL, WHAT IS THERE FOR ADULTS TO DO IF YOU DO NOT DRINK, WANT TO WATCH MOVIES 24/7, OR BE IN THE POOL? Answer me that. There is NO casino, NO adult type activities at all from what others have said, and the cost is outrageous. Even with a discount, it is still nearly 1000 more per cruise than the other lines. And they go to all the same ports except the private island.

 

When you are on a cruise with RCI,CCL, etc you have the same waiter every night too. What's the big deal with having the same waiter in a different restaurant?

 

My wife and I went on DCL in September. without kids. We are 51, and 50. We had a great time. Of course if you need a casino, and don't get in a pool there isn't much left except for the shows.

 

We paid $1700 total for a 7 day cruise. Their private island is better than any other island I have gone too plus you don't have to tender in.

 

Not sure i could have gotten a 7 day cruise on another line for $700 total.

 

I understand Disney is not your cup of tea but it worked for us just for the change of pace from a regular cruise on CCL, RCI, etc.

 

 

Bill

[Luv4dacruise]

I have never cruise RCCL or DCL, but agree with you 200%.

 

I do know this. RCCL charges more 90% of the time because of that stupid rock wall and a wave pool. Big deal....I mean if you use these things, go for it, but to me, they are a waste.

 

DCL charges more because you baiscally have a butler follow you around all the time regardless of where you eat, your waiter is there. NOT just any waiter, but the one you have the first night stands by you at all meal times regardless. He is the one to deliver your room service, etc. I can not handle that. Plus you are paying for all those crew members who do nothing but dress in the diseny character outfits.

 

everytime i book a cruise, i check the other lines. and always find CCL is about 150 - 300 cheaper than RCCL, and about 2000 cheaper than DCL.

I dont mean to nit-pick, but i have to this time. i for one prefer RCI, different strokes for different folks i guess. However, i HAVE cruised on Carinival, so that is how i am basing my decision. I am just curious, where you get your statistics from?....You say 90% of the time RCI charges more for there rock climbing wall and wave pool?.....Um, yeah, wave pool?.....Where did you get this from. Might want to be able to back up your facts and statistics if you are in fact going to use facts and statistics.

[doodlefan]

I honestly just don't understand anybody who says that one line is better than the other. I think there is too much variance from ship to ship to make such a blanket statement.

 

To me, the lines I have been on are really really similar. I honestly don't think there is that much of a difference to completely rule out cruising a certain line. I'm not including Oceana and Seabourn and the more elite lines, of course they are more upscale as the price reflects,

 

I am basing this on the fact that I HAVE cruised CCL (more than any other) RCL, Princess and in May I'm adding NCL. I can truly say that there isn't much difference between the lines. They each have something I like better than another line and there are some things on each line I'm not crazy about, but on the whole, they all rate similar.

 

Now if I get into price. Carnival usually beats out the other lines, BUT, not all the time. I was looking for another Carnival cruise and only had a certain week we could go, well the Crown Princess came in a fair bit lower than Carnival did so we decided to give it a go. It was great, very similar to our past Carnival and RCL cruises. We were looking for Nov. 09 and Holland's new Eurodam was the cheapest for our week. Who woulda thought. We were going to quite happily try that line too, but changed our travel plans for that time frame.

 

But for price, Carnival is a very very good value in the Med, and trust me you are not getting a cheaper experience on board. It was fantastic, our best service and ship to date. (we did the Freedom last year and the Splendor to Baltic this summer). No other line came close in price to what we paid for these 2 cruises.

 

What I'm trying to say I guess, is that I'm lucky that we have had a great time and enjoyed all the lines we have tried, and for that reason when we're looking for a cruise we have TONS of options, we look at itinerary and price knowing that we've sailed 4 different lines and would sail with any of them again in the future.

 

Now all that being said, if the itinerary and price were not coming into play and we could just pick the line we want for each cruise, it would be Carnival.

 

Tara