How would you classify the various cruise lines?

[Marguerite-a-Ville]

I've sailed with Royal Caribbean - next week it will be 3 times. I have never sailed any other line (not for any particular reason...it's just turned out that way). I've been reading several of the forums here, and it seems that there are pros and cons to every line.

 

Today I was reading a thread on the Carnival forum, and someone mentioned that Carnival is a budget line.

 

As a fairly new cruiser, there's no way I would know that Carnival would be considered budget. What other lines do you consider budget? I think I know what the higher-end lines are based on prices, but I guess I had never noticed that Carnival was a whole lot less expensive than Royal Caribbean.

 

I'd like some opinions on the different cruise lines...kind of a scale from low budget to higher end, and why...and yes, I realize this is very subjective.

[Cruzman]

Budget? No, I don't think I would classify Carnival that way. Royal and Carnival offer a very similar product, but through the economies of scale, Carnival is able to offer that product for less money. I call it "bang for the buck". If I had to identify any one mainstream cruise line as "budget", I would say it would be NCL, IMHO.

[firefly333]

Many would also consider RCL a budget priced line. I would consider NCL about the bottom in many ways, then Carnival and RCL and maybe just a teensy bit more is Princess, but at any time any one of these cruiselines can be less expensive than the others. I did RCL for $349 the spring before last, so far thats my least expensive 7 days.

[parody]

Since such a categorization of cruise lines would likely have some subjective elements to it, a more quantitative, unbiased, price-based index of cruise lines and ships can be found at http://www.7blueseas.com/about/ShipShopperIndex.asp

[Sandytoes]

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[wwinfl91]

Hi,

 

We went on HAL for our first 5 cruises because we had a good time on each cruise. Then we decided to try other lines and we have really enjoyed other lines (except for Carnival). We have went on RCCL, Celebrity, Costa and Princess in addition to our HAL cruises.

 

We continue to look for cruises based on where they are going and when rather than the cruise line which greatly opens up our options.

 

As far as what cruise lines are "budget" and which aren't I'm not sure I'm qualified to answer that question. For the most part, similar cabins on all the lines that we have sailed on have been about equal (we are talking real prices not brochure ones).

 

I shop at our internet TA and others including the cruise line before we pick a cruise.

 

Our last cruise was on Princess and our next one is on HAL but our one after that could be on any of the ones we have been on except for Carnival.

 

By the way our experience on Carnival was the food was less acceptable than other cruise lines and even though we had a suite cabin the amendities including the service were not equal to the other cruise lines we had sailed on (IOHO). MY wife will not allow me to book another Carnival cruise no matter how good the deal.

 

Have a great next cruise (hopefully on another cruise line just to give them a try).

[SidCrosbyFan]

For me, I would consider Costa, MSC and NCL as budget. Then you have the big four in the luxury business which are Seabourn, Silversea, Regent and Crystal. Some put lines like Azamara, Oceania, Celebrity, Cunard, HAL and Princess in the premium category with everyone else just a notch below. I don't consider Carnival as budget and they really do have a nice product

[Marguerite-a-Ville]

Great info, folks. Thank you all for your replies!

[cruiselover57]

I've sailed with Royal Caribbean - next week it will be 3 times. I have never sailed any other line (not for any particular reason...it's just turned out that way). I've been reading several of the forums here, and it seems that there are pros and cons to every line.

 

Today I was reading a thread on the Carnival forum, and someone mentioned that Carnival is a budget line.

 

As a fairly new cruiser, there's no way I would know that Carnival would be considered budget. What other lines do you consider budget? I think I know what the higher-end lines are based on prices, but I guess I had never noticed that Carnival was a whole lot less expensive than Royal Caribbean.

 

I'd like some opinions on the different cruise lines...kind of a scale from low budget to higher end, and why...and yes, I realize this is very subjective.

 

Sometimes it just depends who's offering the best deals. I've seen where Carnival can be slightly higher priced than other cruise lines. However, I got one of the best deals to the Med. this past August and Carnival beat out everyone else (base rate - inside).