carnival vs royal caribbean

[pawsue521]

We've been on 4 Carnival cruises over the past couple of years and were thinking about jumping ship to Royal Caribbean. Carnival's cruises have been absolutely great so we're beginning to wonder if it's worth the change. Specifically, we enjoy the daily special drinks on Carnival and wonder if RC have the same. Hmm...is alcohol that important? Hells yeah! We'd read that the Enchantment of the Seas has had some water problems. Key West, Cozumel & Belize City are stops on the RC cruise out of Miami. The Destiny would be the ship we'd be on if we go on Carnival to Ocho Rios and Grand Cayman also out of Miami. Any other general thoughts from those of you that have cruised both lines would be appreciated. We're wanting to make a decision, make our reservations and look forward to our next cruise. Thanks.

[mouse1652]

Been on both and would STRONGLY suggest you stick with Carnival, neither are as great as in the '70s and '80's, but I've found in these times you get MUCH more bang for your buck at Carnival plus the employees are SO much more pleasant. In fact they are way nicer! I was on the Miracle in '07 and the Enchantment in '08.

[pawsue521]

We've cruised carnival several times---always enjoyed. We have an 18 year old son who likes to meet peers and has always had much fun on past cruises. We keep hearing about how nice RCCL is and are wondering if we should give it a try. We're trying to decide whether to go with Destiny (Carnival) or Enchantment (RCCL). Any feedback on which is probably more fun for our son. We've often heard that RCCL tends to be an older crowd?? Please help!

[Host Kat]

We've been on 4 Carnival cruises over the past couple of years and were thinking about jumping ship to Royal Caribbean. Carnival's cruises have been absolutely great so we're beginning to wonder if it's worth the change. Specifically, we enjoy the daily special drinks on Carnival and wonder if RC have the same. Hmm...is alcohol that important? Hells yeah! We'd read that the Enchantment of the Seas has had some water problems. Key West, Cozumel & Belize City are stops on the RC cruise out of Miami. The Destiny would be the ship we'd be on if we go on Carnival to Ocho Rios and Grand Cayman also out of Miami. Any other general thoughts from those of you that have cruised both lines would be appreciated. We're wanting to make a decision, make our reservations and look forward to our next cruise. Thanks.

We've cruised carnival several times---always enjoyed. We have an 18 year old son who likes to meet peers and has always had much fun on past cruises. We keep hearing about how nice RCCL is and are wondering if we should give it a try. We're trying to decide whether to go with Destiny (Carnival) or Enchantment (RCCL). Any feedback on which is probably more fun for our son. We've often heard that RCCL tends to be an older crowd?? Please help!

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Kat

[Sea Bus]

We've been on 4 Carnival cruises over the past couple of years and were thinking about jumping ship to Royal Caribbean. Carnival's cruises have been absolutely great so we're beginning to wonder if it's worth the change. Specifically, we enjoy the daily special drinks on Carnival and wonder if RC have the same. Hmm...is alcohol that important? Hells yeah! We'd read that the Enchantment of the Seas has had some water problems. Key West, Cozumel & Belize City are stops on the RC cruise out of Miami. The Destiny would be the ship we'd be on if we go on Carnival to Ocho Rios and Grand Cayman also out of Miami. Any other general thoughts from those of you that have cruised both lines would be appreciated. We're wanting to make a decision, make our reservations and look forward to our next cruise. Thanks.

 

:cool: We also have considered jumping ship to RCCL just for comparison. Our 2 CCL experiences were very good but wanted to see if we were missing something on the other cruise lines.

 

When planning for an April 2009 cruise, we priced the CCL Pride against the RCCL Liberty for the same itinerary and cabin class. The Liberty is twice the price of the Pride for a suite.:eek:

 

Yes the Liberty has more to offer for the sports minded and is a newer vessel. However, since we are cruising for relaxation and touring we can forego the strenuous activities.:rolleyes:

 

:confused: Actually, how could one consider a ship with things like a skating rink, climbing wall, and wave runner an adults venue? This is kid's stuff!

 

Our choice was easy. Stay with Carnival.

[tanyanubin]

LOL--we have done 2 RCI cruises and are jumping ship to Carnival for our next one! funny. I was a bit disappointed in the food last time, so I may as well try something else. I'll let you know what I think of Carnival if you let me know what you think of RCI!

[kristyintx]

We've done both and prefer Royal Caribbean, mostly because of the ship. On RCL's Mariner there was definitely a "WOW" factor. On Carnival's Conquest - not so much.

 

Embarkation: About the same

Service: About the same

Food: Better on Carnival

Kids' Activities: My boys (14 &11) MUCH prefered Royal Caribbean

Ship: Royal Caribbean (HANDS DOWN)

Cleanliness: About the same

Beds: Carnival

Cabin: Royal Caribbean

Decor: Royal Caribbean

Ease of Navigation onboard: Royal Caribbean (HANDS DOWN)

Onboard Atmosphere: Royal Caribbean

Casino: Carnival

Disembarkation: Carnival

 

 

We had a great time on both cruises, and I'm sure you'll have a wonderful time no matter which you choose!

 

Happy Cruising!

[AnyTime Cruiser]

Been on both and would STRONGLY suggest you stick with Carnival, neither are as great as in the '70s and '80's, but I've found in these times you get MUCH more bang for your buck at Carnival plus the employees are SO much more pleasant. In fact they are way nicer! I was on the Miracle in '07 and the Enchantment in '08.

 

So true!!! I too have cruised both lines and will never cruise RCCL again. And I did cruise RCCL more than twice just to make sure it wasn't someone's "bad day", etc.:eek:

 

You just have to remember than any cruise is better than no cruise!;)

[broberts]

Carnival food is better in the dining room and bedding is superior. RCI ship decor is more sedate and the adult only pool area is much nicer.

 

Similar but different experiences so if you think you are missing something, give RCI a try. But don't be surprised if you end up back with Carnival.

 

Actually, I'd suggest careful reading of the member ship reviews. I've found that the differences between ships/crews as significant as those between cruise lines. The constant presence of laundry carts and housekeeping debris in the Radiance OTS cabin hallways throughout my cruise on her, for example.

[Jumbiecruiser]

Been on both cruise lines and will take a Royal Caribbean ship any day over Carnival. You will find people on this board that take sides with one cruise line over another. The only way to know for sure is to try it for yourself.

[serene56]

We've done both and prefer Royal Caribbean, mostly because of the ship. On RCL's Mariner there was definitely a "WOW" factor. On Carnival's Conquest - not so much.

 

Embarkation: About the same

Service: About the same

Food: Better on Carnival

Kids' Activities: My boys (14 &11) MUCH prefered Royal Caribbean

Ship: Royal Caribbean (HANDS DOWN)

Cleanliness: About the same

Beds: Carnival

Cabin: Royal Caribbean

Decor: Royal Caribbean

Ease of Navigation onboard: Royal Caribbean (HANDS DOWN)

Onboard Atmosphere: Royal Caribbean

Casino: Carnival

Disembarkation: Carnival

 

 

We had a great time on both cruises, and I'm sure you'll have a wonderful time no matter which you choose!

 

Happy Cruising!

 

Now see, we are carnival junkies too but wanted to try a bigger ship- so we sailed the VOyager. Had an aft baclony--awesome but after we sailed we decided we liked Carnival- Voyager was just too big for us. We found service/food to be on par with carnival--missing was the 24 hour pizza and ice cream- the machine was down everytime we went on the Voyager.

 

For an 18 year old that could be a make it or break it kind of deal.

[cuyahoga11]

LOL--we have done 2 RCI cruises and are jumping ship to Carnival for our next one! funny. I was a bit disappointed in the food last time, so I may as well try something else. I'll let you know what I think of Carnival if you let me know what you think of RCI!

 

Well if you must jump ship, you picked a great one to jump to. I have sailed the Legend twice and am ready to go again.

[piemom9397]

Our first cruise was on RCL and our 2nd on Carnival. They both have their good points, but I'd have to go with RCL again. With Carnival, the service in the main dining room was not good--nothing like the superb service and food we'd experienced on RCL. With RCL, you got more with the soda card package. You got to experience an adults-only pool that wasn't in the middle of an eating area surrounded by kids because of the hamburger grill & pizza area, like on Carnival. You could order room service via your television & they had a greater variety of food. The ship was prettier; the Carnival Valor was garish.

 

To be fair, though: Carnival was cheaper, the food in the buffet was much better at dinner time than on RCL, there was self service laundrette (which came in handy when we got soaked to the bone from Tropical Storm Faye in St. Martin), the muster drill on Carnival was faster and smoother. The casino offered a non-smoking side on the craps table & was muuucch bigger than the one on RCL.

 

I don't know--it's difficult to say. I'm glad we tried out Carnival; I'm gladder that RCL was our first choice for a cruise so that we had something to compare to. I say try it & see for yourself--what is great to me may not be important to you and vice versa. I won't say that we'll never do a Carnival cruise again; I can just see us being loyal RCL folks.

 

Regardless, have fun whatever ship you choose!

 

 

 

[KAWS]

I like both lines and have booked both more than once. I found them both to be really fun cruises and the food was great on both that we've taken.

 

If the pricing is right for you, then give it a try. Only you can decide and believe me it will NOT be a bad cruise. I have the Enchantment booked for next October and the Victory booked for March so you can see that I like both lines.

 

The decor is a little "louder" on Carnival than on Royal but that doesn't bother me at all. I like both lines more than Princess and always look to the ports and the pricing first. With that said, we have also booked Princess again just to give it another try and hopefully the reason we didn't like it as much was because the ship we were on was so huge. You won't have that concern with Enchantment.

[cruise.freak]

We have cruised both lines and prefer Royal Carribean over Carnival. To use everything was better and to us the ships were so much prettier. We will continue to cruise both lines depending on the price and which is better at the time. Everyone's opinion is different but I like to try different lines and different ships.

[Cruzaholic41]

Been on both cruise lines and will take a Royal Caribbean ship any day over Carnival. You will find people on this board that take sides with one cruise line over another. The only way to know for sure is to try it for yourself.

 

I agree 100%

 

Listen, the two cruise lines are very similar. As for the ships themselves, I think Royal Caribbean offers a better product. But everything else is pretty comparable.

 

Pawsue520, since you said you have been on 4 Carnival cruises, I suggest trying the Enchantment. As for the 18 year old, there is plenty to do on Enchantment. The night club is in the Viking Crown (the round part at the top), which offers a unique dance experience.

 

Don't listen to the people that knock rock walls, etc. Those things are called options.

[ce2000]

I have been on 3 Carnival cruises and Carnival offers a very good and very fun cruise experience, it is hard to beat. However, I believe that you should give Royal Caribbean a try, the cruise experience will be very similar. It is fun for me to experience the subtle differences that each line offers. The 18 year old will have a great time on Royal Caribbean. In the interest of full disclosure, Celebrity is my favorite cruise line and NCL is my least favorite.

[Sea Bus]

I have been on 3 Carnival cruises and Carnival offers a very good and very fun cruise experience, it is hard to beat. However, I believe that you should give Royal Caribbean a try, the cruise experience will be very similar. It is fun for me to experience the subtle differences that each line offers. The 18 year old will have a great time on Royal Caribbean. In the interest of full disclosure, Celebrity is my favorite cruise line and NCL is my least favorite.

 

Yes, my DW and I are already sold on Carnival. We were actually considering the NCL 'free style' cruising this year. Can I ask what makes them your least favorite?

[bjgraham]

My 1st cruise was on the Sovereign of the seas and i loved it. My wife tried Carnival 1st with her sister then for my 2nd tried Carnival the Great. I never looked back, just thought the staff & room stewards were alot friendlier on Carnival + food & overall atmosphere was better. I will not rule out either line as price plays a big roll but judging from my signature i'll let you be the judge. Just remember, any cruise is a good cruise ! I sometimes wonder what those other lines are like ? I'm 45 (without kids)& love to party so that too plays a big roll. Cruise on gang ,cruise on.J & B :cool:

[ce2000]

Yes, my DW and I are already sold on Carnival. We were actually considering the NCL 'free style' cruising this year. Can I ask what makes them your least favorite?

 

Sea Bus, My complaint with NCL Freestyle is the dining. The food was not very good in the free dining roooms. The food is much better in the pay extra dining rooms, I think they want to encourage you to eat in one of the many pay extra dining rooms. The cost ranges from $10 to $25 per person depending on the dining room. Also, if you want to eat in the main dining room between 6:30 and 8:00 PM there may be a wait to get seated and you won't have the same wait staff each evening. There is not as much evening entertainment compared to Carnival, I don't even think NCL has a Piano Bar.

In light of this I think that you should give NCL a try, it is different, many people really like Freestyle dining, it just isn't for me. I just like to get to know the waitstaff, often they are very fun and interesting people.

[adee74]

I'm having a time deciding between RCCI and Carnival also. I've cruised Carnival twice. The first time on the Fascination which was great. The second on the Sensation which was horrible. I'm willing to try the Freedom but I also would like to try the Enchantment or the Liberty of the Seas.

[Sea Bus]

I have observed similar opinions in other threads about the NCL food quality and dining room lines. Your added opinion is appreciated.