Carnival Newbie, but not cruise newbie

[CruiseDreaming]

Hi, I will be on my first Carnival cruise in 24 days and I have never cruised with Carnival before. I have been on RCI for all my other cruises. I was just wondering for those of you who have traveled both, is there any significant differences between the two lines that I should be aware of? I've been scanning the threads but I thought I'd just ask. Thanks.

 

Kerrie:)

[Georgiagolfer]

Hi, I will be on my first Carnival cruise in 24 days and I have never cruised with Carnival before. I have been on RCI for all my other cruises. I was just wondering for those of you who have traveled both, is there any significant differences between the two lines that I should be aware of? I've been scanning the threads but I thought I'd just ask. Thanks.

 

Kerrie:)

According to your signature you will be on the Paradise, an older ship. When comparing, you need to compare class ships from the lines. We have sailed on both lines and like both equal.

Atmosphere, friendly passengers on CCL, little stuffy on RCI

Food, (subjective) equal in dining room, better on RCI in buffets

Specialty Restaurants, Like both

RCI, new ships have ice rink and rock climbing wall, n/a on CCL

Pools/Lido area, Carnival wins hands down

Adults only Serenity area on RCI Voyager and Freedom class is the best

Entertainment, dislike both equally as nothing ever changes.

Decor, RCI lots of glass and more luxurious looking, CCL can be tacky especially on the older ships.

 

Now that I've given my opinion, you have to form your own. Only way that happens is to sail on CCL and see for yourself. I believe you will not be dissapointed. As stated earlier, we like both lines equally and would not hesitate to sail either line.

[Susie51]

I'm also a Carnival newbie. I have cruised 16 times on 6 different cruise lines. I was doing a little research today and found out Carnival Victory will be the largest cruise ship I will have been on. Diamond Princess is the biggest so far. I really like the layout of the Diamond Princess and the decor.

 

I have been on RCI 5 times, but never on a Voyager or Freedom class ship. I feel very "at home" on Vision class ships.

 

Let us know what you think of Paradise.

[floridacruiser63]

Hi, I will be on my first Carnival cruise in 24 days and I have never cruised with Carnival before. I have been on RCI for all my other cruises. I was just wondering for those of you who have traveled both, is there any significant differences between the two lines that I should be aware of? I've been scanning the threads but I thought I'd just ask. Thanks.

 

Kerrie:)

 

Service wise, as well as food very much alike.

Entertainment, we enjoy RCCL better, however Carnival is pretty good too.

Remember, the Paradise is an older ship, closer to the Majesty of the Seas and the Sovereign of the Seas than to any other RCCL ship. It has been several years since we were on the Paradise (before Carnival moved it to California, we went to the Southern Caribbean, out of Miami on a 9 day trip). It used to be a non- smoking ship then.

[CruiseDreaming]

Thanks for the info. I have been on the Monarch which is a Sovereign class ship so it's the smallest i've been on and I enjoyed it very much. I just didn't know if somethings were different like boarding procedures, debarkation procedures, I assume the muster is the same. Is the loyalty program good?

 

Kerrie:)

[mom2girls]

Looking at your signature I would think that the Paradise will be similar to your Monarch sailings. I believe they are both the smaller ships of each fleet. I have sailed both RCI and Carnival. I did find them to be pretty similar. But, I do like the food on Carnival more. I have also noticed that Carnival doesn't seem as "stuffy" as RCI. I guess that's why they're called the "Fun Ships".

[grest]

I've been on both, on similarly older ships. They were quite alike. I preferred the food on Carnival, but the crowds and lines on Carnival were longer. Shows were comparable, casino on CCL a bit larger, the flow of the ship better on RCL. Service good on both. I didn't notice any stuffiness as others have mentioned on RCI. I'd do both again in a flash.