Help comparing CCL and RCCL, please

[pinkrosesdeb]

We have only cruised RCCL and HAL so don't know about Carnival but I can certainly say I am so happy to be hearing so many positive things about Carnival. Living in Florida we always hear the horror stories about the older Carnival ships and have been afraid to try them. After reading some of these posts we might be willing to give them a try. I have to admit we had friends booking their first cruise and I tried hard to talk them out of Carnival because of all the bad stuff we were hearing several years back. It was so cheap though they took it anyway and had a great time. Thanks so much for the honest opinions. We are going to do RCCL until Diamond and then we'll see about trying the others. Thanks again for sharing your experiences, both positive and negative.

[Cruising89143]

Pink, most of the people who make the negative comments concerning Carnival have never even stepped foot aboard one of their ships. It is true that some of their ships are better than others but that can be said about any cruise line. Here is a link to someone that just took their first Carnival cruise and came away with a new view of Carnival.

[url="http://messages.cruisecritic.com/2/OpenTopic?a=tpc&s=927093444&f=969097554&m=221102602"]http://messages.cruisecritic.com/2/OpenTopic?a=tpc&s=927093444&f=969097554&m=221102602[/url]

Unless someone has cold hard facts about why they dislike any cruise line or ship then I usually take the comments with a grain of salt.

Gordon

[url="http://community.webshots.com/user/cruisingator"]http://community.webshots.com/user/cruisingator[/url]

NCL Starward-86, Starship Atlantic-91, Caribe-92, Seabreeze-93, Fantasy-93, Norway-94, Celebration-94, Sensation-95, Imagination-96, Destiny-97, Celebration-98, Triumph-99, Victory-00, Majesty of the Seas-01, Fascination-01, Carnival Pride-02, Majesty of the Seas-02, Carnival Legend-02, Fantasy 7-03, Glory 9-03, Fantasy 11-03, Triumph 3/04.

9/02/2004 Fantasy
[img]http://escati.linkopp.net/cgi-bin/countdown.cgi?trgb=000000&srgb=00ff00&prgb=808000&cdt=2004;9;2;16;00;00&timezone=GMT-0500[/img]

Navigator of the Seas 12/04/04
[img]http://escati.linkopp.net/cgi-bin/countdown.cgi?trgb=000000&srgb=00ff00&prgb=111111&cdt=2004;12;04;17;00;00&timezone=GMT-0500[/img]

[Bbethparsons]

I have cruised Carnival Fantasy once, RC SOS, once and Disney Magic 7 days cruise 3 times....Nothing compares to Disney; however, we really enjoyed the Carnival Fantasy. I thought the food was much better than Royal Caribbean. All their food was blah to me. We had a great time on boat...trip without our kids. The Carnival Fantasy had just been refurbished so it was like new! Go Carnival! We love Disney, but kids were burnt out on clubs.

[NoVa Mimi]

We have cruised on Carnival several times with the most recent being the Glory last July. We had a very nice time and enjoyed it however we decided we would like to try something different. We booked AOS for this July, and again for next July. It seems that Royal Caribbean offers more to it's returning passengers.

[img]http://escati.linkopp.net/cgi-bin/countdown.cgi?trgb=000000&srgb=00ff00&prgb=008080&cdt=2004;7;17;22;0;00&timezone=GMT-0500[/img]
ADVENTURE OF THE SEAS

[Apex Cruiser]

Both lines are fine by us. To address your specific concerns definately take a Voyager class cruise. The cabins are well laid out and get a balcony. Cabin sizes are just slightly smaller but laid out better IMO on the Voyager class ships.

There are more eating options on the Voyager class ships as well. Although I liked CCL's pizza better.

Overall we have enjoyed out RCL cruises a bit more so we tend to book them instead of CCL lately but you will find that both lines are very comparable so long as you compare like ships.

Enjoy and definately try a Voyager class cruise at some point.

Mariner 9/12/04
Adventure 9/03
Explorer 9/02
Majesty 9/00
Fantasy 3/00
Seaward 8/95
Mardi Gras 3/80

[handbellplayer]

These are such GREAT responses - just what I was looking for! Thank you ALL so much.

Apex Cruiser - thanks from a neighbor - my sig line says Raleigh, but I live in Cary and have an Apex mailing address.

Anne

Glory 5/1/04
[img]http://escati.linkopp.net/cgi-bin/countdown.cgi?trgb=000000&srgb=00ff00&prgb=0000ff&cdt=2004;5;1;17;00;00&timezone=GMT-0500[/img]

[imatarb]

Handbellplayer, I lived in Cary when I lived down in NC...small world!

Lisa [img]http://messages.cruisecritic.com/infopop/emoticons/icon_smile.gif[/img]

[b]Monarch of the Seas - 1994
Royal Majesty - 1996
Carnival Victory - 2004[/b]

<MARQUEE>A day at sea is better than a day at work</MARQUEE>

[pinkrosesdeb]

gordon, it wasn't so much what other people were saying. We went thru quite a long spell here in Fla. where it seemed the Carnival ships were plagued by trouble. One caught on fire and several got stranded for days. People came off telling stories of no flushing toilets or showers because of water and power failures. We just got scared to try them. However, haven't heard any of this happening the last couple years so happy to hear people are enjoying them again. Great to have options. Like I said, we tried HAL and found it not for us! Would try others but sticking with RCCL right now until Diamond level for the perks.

[Host Kewlguy]

We cruised Carnival 4/23 out of NY on the Legend. By far the worst Carnival cruise we have ever taken. They have really gone down hill in the past few years. Six day cruise had only one midnight buffet. Rest of the nights were pizza and sandwich meat. Service in dining room was horrible. They only provided one fork and one knife at dinner which you had to use for the appetizer, main course and desert. Dirty tables in the Unicorn cafe left unclean for long periods while the workers stood around and chatted. Nightly shows a bore. Daytime activities nonexistent. Carnival Legend also has a history of Norwalk virus cases. Anything would be a step up from Carnival at this point.

[Hlitner]

Wow Kewlguy. You sure got it all out. But, for basis of comparison let me react to your post. You mention Carnival now has only 1 midnight buffet. This is pretty much the same on RCL (they have 2 on some cruises)and some of the really upscale expensive cruise lines like Crystal have totally eliminated midnight buffets in favor of lunch buffets (darn good idea). As to the Norwalk virus, this has been a problem on many cruise ships,,, much which is no longer deemed worthy of reports in the press. The reality of Norwalk is that it probably has nothing to do with any of the cruise ships, but it is pretty common on shore, probably carried aboard by one or more passengers, and it is easily spread. The reality is that in its latest US Coast Guard Inspection (4/13/2004) the Carnival Legend received a "99" score! Check it out at [url="http://www2.cdc.gov/nceh/vsp/VSP_RptGreenSheet.asp"]http://www2.cdc.gov/nceh/vsp/VSP_RptGreenSheet.asp[/url]

Hank

[caviargal]

Actually, I like dentalchic's comparison of Carnival as cubic zirconia and RCI as diamond. Although IMHO these days RCI is closer to a sapphire unless one chooses a Radiance class ship.

I have sailed both lines but prefer the overall atmosphere, decor, food and service on RCI. I have not enjoyed my CCL sailings and, even though there are some amazing deals on CCL for us Floridians, would not spend my money or time sailing with them again.

This is always a hotly debated topic with lots of strong opinions. CCL reminds me more of a Vegas type experience, and I do not care for Vegas. RCI's ships very open and light and bright with lots of glass, wood and brass and pretty artwork.

It is all a matter of taste and for me my money is better spent on RCI.

CG

RCI(37),NCL(12),Princess(1),HAL(2),Celebrity(3), Carnival(2), Eastern (13),Radisson(2), Star Clippers(1),Home Lines(2), Costa(5),Big Red Boat (6), Dolphin (1), Commodore (2), Others (11)

[MrNobody]

We, like most of you, have sailed on both cruise lines. I have enjoyed them both very much. I agree with *caviargal* that the Carnival ships are more Vegas like. Alot of neon and such. But that is why I like them. Next to cruising, Las Vegas is my favorite escape. A bunch of us go there several times each year. I can see why she doesnt care for the glitz of Carnival since she doesnt like Vegas. Makes perfect sense.

[Bootman4U]

I'm hesitant to post on this thread simply because I am not convinced my opinion, or anyone else's, will change the original poster's mind as opposed to their actually going on a ship and seing for themselves.

I have sailed on both lines but must admit I've only done one Carnival cruise and that was several years ago. My concerns with CCL included the very, VERY IMO inadequate "safety briefing/lifeboat drill" (people with lifevests not on, wandering away from the muster station, no role being taken, etc., which is what I was used to with RCCL), a poorly organized "method" to sign up for shore excursions, and the absolutely CONSTANT hawking of "shopping" opportunities, bingo games, etc., being piped right into the cabin over the PA. I know they need to make money but they could be a little more subtle about it. And then there were the wonderful "activities" to include "parade around in your wife's lingerie" and female-only "pillow fights over the pool" which were really classy.

Hopefully they've changed since then but I don't plan on going back to find out first-hand; I'll simply take your word for it and wish you a "bon voyage."

[atonal1]

I agree with NoVa Mimi--RCI does treat returning passengers better. After sailing on the Sovereign, I received a $50 off coupon as a "thank you" for sailing with us this year. WHile on Serenade, received an on-board credit of $100 for booking Adventure. Because I am now a Crown & Anchor Platinum member, received an additional $100 off AOS. The icing on the cake is a C & A coupon worth and additional $150 off the AOS. YEAH!! [img]http://messages.cruisecritic.com/infopop/emoticons/icon_cool.gif[/img]

Inspiration 6/96, 12/01
Carnival Destiny 7/97, 11/00
Rhapsody of the Seas 11/98
Norwegian Sea 7/00
Norwegian Star 6/02
Paradise 11/02
Sovereign of the Seas 8/03
Serenade of the Seas 12/03

[img]http://escati.linkopp.net/cgi-bin/countdown.cgi?trgb=000000&srgb=00ff00&prgb=0000ff&cdt=2004;8;7;17;0;00&timezone=GMT-0500[/img] until Carnival Triumph 8/04

[img]http://escati.linkopp.net/cgi-bin/countdown.cgi?trgb=000000&srgb=00ff00&prgb=0000ff&cdt=2004;11;21;22;0;00&timezone=GMT-0500[/img] until Adventure of the Seas 11/04

[judyf]

I've been on 2 Carnival cruises and just got off the Voyager and I would cruise either line again and plan to.

It's like comparing a Ford to a Chevy some people are Ford fans and other like Chevy's and both are good with little things that make each special. I plan to cruise on as many lines as I can and to experience first hand the little differences.

Both lines had some things I like better then the other but no big deals.

Judy
RCCL Voyager 5/21-5/30/04
CCL Inspiration 4/4-4/11/04
NCL Sea 4/14-4/27/03
DCL Wonder 5/16-5/19/02
DCL Wonder 5/3-5/8/01
CCL Fantasy 2/15-2/18/01

[cherith]

I've sailed Carnival 3x and RCCL 2x (another in 2 weeks!! :-)
I have found the food consistantly superior on Carnival, however I do not care for the layout of the ships.
We sailed a 15 day cruise on one of RCCL's older ships, the Splendour and it was substandard in every way. . .Food and service were horrible and it wasn't just our opinion. Because it was a lengthy cruise and a bit smaller ship, people got to know each other and the concensus was. . . it stunk.
However, Sailing on the Radiance, newer, more glamourous ship, the food was excellent, and service even better. This cruise coming up will be on the Radiance's twin, the Brilliance and we figure it is a safe bet.
Entertainment on both was not entertaining.
Best entertainment I've experience was with Norwegian.
I'll be trying Princess in the Spring to round it out. . .looking forward to it.