Need advice.....

[dvrdude]

From HAL to Carnival crossovers. We're contemplating a Caribbean cruise on the Miracle in Nov. We've sailed HAL many times and love them, but have never tried Carnival. Are we setting ourselves up for disapointment?? What are some of the biggest differences and plusses and minuses of both lines as you see it? Thanks. We're sneaking up on the deadline for a discount.

[YXU AC*SE]

Knowing your age(s) / interests might be helpful to answering? Scott.

[dvrdude]

We're low 40s and I like to gamble and relax. DW likes to read a lot, but is not a big gamer. Neither one of us is much into hanging out pool-side. We do tend to like comedian type acts and some night-life. We like the qiet laid back atmosphere on HAL, and I guess that's why we're a little nervous about the "party" atmosphere that Carnvival has a reputation for. We'd rather not be on a party barge full of young 20-somethings. Got all that out of our systems years ago.

[cruisinbulldog]

Here is a recent comparison between the Freedom & Noordam, it might help..

 

http://boards.cruisecritic.com/showthread.php?t=971729&highlight=

 

Bulldog

[Roz]

By any chance are you taking the 8-day Southern Caribbean on the Miracle? If so, I don't think you'll have problems with rowdiness. I've been on a 4, 5, and 12 day cruise with Carnival and didn't encounter any issues.

 

Roz

[TrolleyGirl]

Having never sailed on HAL (our first trip will be next March), but having sailed on the Miracle twice,I can't compare the two. But I can say it is hardly a party ship. We have done the Western route to Belize (7 day) and the 8 day Southern Carribean to St Kitts. The ship was very clean when we were one it, the staff friendly. The ages on the ship ran from early 30's to early 70's. They did have the belly flop contest and the hairy chest contest poolside. They also did ice carving and fruit carving presentations. The Supper club is very nice with dancing and live music. I thought the casino was smoky, but then I'm a non-smoker. That's the only place I even noticed any smoke. My DH enjoyed the evening shows, me not so much, but I prefer Disney's shows.

[atxlady]

Having sailed on the Masdam and Noordam before going on a Carnival cruise, I can attest that it's a huge difference. I'm in my early 40's and I love HAL. We did a 5 day out of Galveston, as it was a easy drive for everyone involved. It was okay, but many differences. The food on HAL is about 100x's better (IMO), just a different atmosphere.

This is just my opinion.

[DFD1]

On Carnival, the shorter the cruise, the louder the crowd.

 

We've sailed both several times. Completely different type of passenger on HAL as opposed to those on the shorter Carnival cruises.

 

Carnival pays much less attention to how things are presented than does HAL. I'd call it a sort of "let's all hang out and have fun" atmosphere on Carnival. Lots of outdoor noise, announcements, and loud music and vastly more kids.

 

IMO, only.

[cmac cruiser]

Carnival will have more kids, I suspect. And they tend to be more lax about enforcing "adult only" areas than others.

I haven't found Carnival to be any more or less a party atmosphere, but I do think service in general has been only OK. I haven't cruised HAL yet, but I'm looking forward it!

[Susie51]

I have been on HAL 3x and Carnival Victory once. My favorite place on Victory was the aft pool area. We were on a 7 day Canada/New England trip in Sept./Oct. and coffee, hot/iced tea, and hot chocolate were available 24/7 at no extra charge. That is a huge plus for me! Overall, though I prefer HAL.

[Roz]

I prefer HAL, but you can't beat Carnival's prices for what you get. I'm a "senior" now so I qualify for Carnival's discounts, which means I'm giving their cruises a closer look.

 

Roz

[rkacruiser]

We're low 40s and I like to gamble and relax. DW likes to read a lot, but is not a big gamer. Neither one of us is much into hanging out pool-side. We do tend to like comedian type acts and some night-life. We like the qiet laid back atmosphere on HAL, and I guess that's why we're a little nervous about the "party" atmosphere that Carnvival has a reputation for. We'd rather not be on a party barge full of young 20-somethings. Got all that out of our systems years ago.

 

If you read my review comparing Noordam and Carnival Freedom, you found that I was very favorably impressed with my first Carnival experience. Yes, there are those "fun ship-type of acitivities", i.e. the hairy chest contests, but the vessel is large enough and the other activities and venues plentiful enough that one can "escape" such pleasures, if one so wishes. The demographics were much wider than I expected; I was most certainly not the "grandpa" of the ship. Even with that, there were many Spring-breakers on the cruise: college age young adults. The dining room table next to mine had 4 charming young women and we shared conversations and laughs during our dinners.

 

My best advice is to go with an open mind and know that there will be differences from what you are used to. But, differences--as I found out--can be interesting and good!

[MsSteinrunner]

I enjoyed my cruise on each of these. We had balcony cabins on both, and the Miracle cabin actually had the better floor plan. Both ships are quite attractive, but in different ways. There was definitely more planned activity on the Miracle and more "live" music. The food was better on HAL, and I like the expanded room service menu on HAL. Both staffs were good; HAL housekeepers and wait staff were phenomenal, but I prefered Carnival's Pursers office (now has a new title, but I can't remember it)!

Our Miracle cruise was over Spring Break for a number of colleges, but the teens were, for the most part, traveling with family groups, and we saw no one out of control.

At the Carnival past guests' reception, the average age was probably somewhere between 55-65! With Carnival, the shorter the cruise and the older the ship, the more likely you are to have a "wild" time.

[DFD1]

Carnival Fantasy just came out of dry dock in the past few months. There is a newly created area on the back called "Serenity" for adults only. It is furnished with two hot tubs and about 25 padded lounges as well as a quiet shaded area with about 20 comfortable chairs for reading.

 

It is hosted by a female crew member who, from what I hear, strictly enforces the adults only policy...including refusing one couple with their 13 year old son entry.

 

I believe this is a new development for Carnival, and a positive one.

[cmac cruiser]

Carnival Fantasy just came out of dry dock in the past few months. There is a newly created area on the back called "Serenity" for adults only. It is furnished with two hot tubs and about 25 padded lounges as well as a quiet shaded area with about 20 comfortable chairs for reading.

 

It is hosted by a female crew member who, from what I hear, strictly enforces the adults only policy...including refusing one couple with their 13 year old son entry.

 

I believe this is a new development for Carnival, and a positive one.

Wow! I love to hear that.

[dvrdude]

for putting my mind at ease. Yes, we're loking at the 8 day southern out of Fort Lauderdale. I'm sure we'll have agreat time and now have soething to look forward to.

[mommyto2girls]

I see you have made up your mind. I have sailed the Miracle and the Eurodam, I love the Miracle. The Eurodam is very sedate and very quiet. The Miracle was the perfect mix of everything. You will love the Miracle.

[Susie51]

Have a great cruise and look for the positive things. This helps me enjoy a cruise more.

[DavidPatrick]

On our HAL cruises there seems to be nothing to do after 10pm and we go to bed early. We can't dance at the Crow's Nest which does have dancing after 10pm. I noticed on a blog that Carnival ships have an Adult only show with a comedian at 10:30pm every night. :)