Carnival Stigma?

[rbird]

Catching alot of flack here for booking a cruise on Carnival. I thought some of stigma associated w/ CCL had quieted down over the years. Yet still, I keep hearing, "I won't do CCL, to much party and drinking." Definately wouldn't take the kid's on that ship. :confused:DH and I aren't big drinkers but enjoy live music and entertainment.

Please reassure me regarding CCL. We booked w/ them this time because the ship is 30 minutes from our house, worked for our school schedule, and yes...budget friendly. I'm tired of watching the ship sail by every weekend without me on it! We could have tried RCI or Celebrity too but figured why not give Carnival a try. This cruise is our first on Carnival, first time in a balcony cabin and first time trying your time dining. I keep telling myself that vacation is what you make of it. I sure hope I'm right.

[munchkin4]

This will be our 3rd Carnival Cruise in April. The other 2 have been perfectly smooth. If there was alot of partying and drinking, it was not really a big deal and I'm sure we would have noticed it. We sail with what fits our schedule also and so far we are very, very happy with Carnival. Enjoy!!

[Bermuda C]

The partying is really more on the 3 day cruises. My two boys love Carnival and their kids program is top notch. Just returned from the Valor and of the approximately 3,000 guests, 700 were kids. So that says alot. My last two with Carnival have been 7 day cruises which is typically more family friendly. I am sure there were people really enjoying themselves, but I never saw any overly drunk (if that is a word) people milling about. I think if you take a short cruise during spring break or something like that, then you would have more of a party like crowd.

[Traveler353]

Catching alot of flack here for booking a cruise on Carnival. I thought some of stigma associated w/ CCL had quieted down over the years. Yet still, I keep hearing, "I won't do CCL, to much party and drinking." Definately wouldn't take the kid's on that ship. :confused:DH and I aren't big drinkers but enjoy live music and entertainment.

Please reassure me regarding CCL. We booked w/ them this time because the ship is 30 minutes from our house, worked for our school schedule, and yes...budget friendly. I'm tired of watching the ship sail by every weekend without me on it! We could have tried RCI or Celebrity too but figured why not give Carnival a try. This cruise is our first on Carnival, first time in a balcony cabin and first time trying your time dining. I keep telling myself that vacation is what you make of it. I sure hope I'm right.

 

Who cares what out of date uninformed people. Go and have a great cruise.

[dotshub]

We have been on Carnval cruises with our daughters since they were young, and more recently with them and our grandkids. We have always had a wonderful time, and the kids just loved it.

Go, and have a great time!

[*Mach*]

Hype and jealousy... chalk it up to that.

The leader in any industry is going to become a target.

When people roll their eyes and become instantly condescending when I tell them I cruise on Carnival one question ends the issue... 'Have you ever sailed on a Carnival ship?' The answer is always no.

I can't tell you how many people have posted here, coming over from other cruise lines, to tell us what a great experience it was and, equally, what a great value.

Forget the naysayers... When you come home tanned with a huge smile on your face and dollars in your pocket you'll understand as well...

:)

[stay_or_go]

I get it too from people who have never cruised and never cruised Carnival.

 

A friend of a freind of a friend's son went on a 3 day spring break cruise and said it was wild ... blah blah blah blah.

 

We have been on 4 carnival cruises with our 2 kids and have not had an issue with drinkers, drunks or hoodlums.I have never seen anything that has made me shake my head while on board regarding this subject.

 

 

It is a bad rap that won't go away, but from what I have seen it is totally unjustified.

[CruzVinnieCruz]

Hype and jealousy... chalk it up to that.

 

The leader in any industry is going to become a target.

 

When people roll their eyes and become instantly condescending when I tell them I cruise on Carnival one question ends the issue... 'Have you ever sailed on a Carnival ship?' The answer is always no.

 

I can't tell you how many people have posted here, coming over from other cruise lines, to tell us what a great experience it was and, equally, what a great value.

 

Forget the naysayers... When you come home tanned with a huge smile on your face and dollars in your pocket you'll understand as well...

 

:)

 

Well said and it sums up our experience's also. We bought into staying away from Carnival at the beginning after hearing what others were saying about the line. Finally we found a price we could not pass up and well we took a few Carnival cruises after that because we had a great time. None of the hype was true.

[mxylpic]

Catching alot of flack here for booking a cruise on Carnival. I thought some of stigma associated w/ CCL had quieted down over the years. Yet still, I keep hearing, "I won't do CCL, to much party and drinking." Definately wouldn't take the kid's on that ship. :confused:DH and I aren't big drinkers but enjoy live music and entertainment.

Please reassure me regarding CCL. We booked w/ them this time because the ship is 30 minutes from our house, worked for our school schedule, and yes...budget friendly. I'm tired of watching the ship sail by every weekend without me on it! We could have tried RCI or Celebrity too but figured why not give Carnival a try. This cruise is our first on Carnival, first time in a balcony cabin and first time trying your time dining. I keep telling myself that vacation is what you make of it. I sure hope I'm right.

 

I've cruised both RCI and CCL on similar class ships. They are much more the same than different. I found the atmosphere virtually identical on both lines (comparable class of ships) in terms of the passengers, drinking, partying etc.

 

Just go and have a great time.

[rbird]

Many thanks for all the quick replies.

I am looking forward to learning alot of tips from these boards.

[MizzCard]

My first three cruises were on other cruise lines. Definitely no difference between Pax.

[jetskier]

Who wants to go on a ship that is dead after 10pm? I am fixing to go on my 21st Carnival cruise since Sept 2005. My kids enjoy the program for them onboard.

 

The key is when you travel. If the colleges are closed and it is a shorter cruise, then the chance of it getting wild increases. Traveling in the winter time and going on a 7-day or longer cruise will guarentee a different clientale aboard the ship.

 

Each week is different as to the atmosphere onboard. A lot has to do with whom you are traveling.

Dave

[H82seaUgo]

Catching alot of flack here for booking a cruise on Carnival. I thought some of stigma associated w/ CCL had quieted down over the years. Yet still, I keep hearing, "I won't do CCL, to much party and drinking." Definately wouldn't take the kid's on that ship. :confused:DH and I aren't big drinkers but enjoy live music and entertainment.

 

Go no further than asking those stating such if they've sailed CCL. I do, usually in person. The look is priceless, but have come to expect "Um, never, but that's what I've heard."

 

More than 20 years cruising on Carnival, or any ship for that matter, I've never experienced this anywhere.

[CharlesKru]

I too think this is over sold by people who have never been on a Carnival ship. I feel I should suggest that you not let one person on your cruise taint the entire ship. There will be someone at some bar/casino that has had to much to drink. There is after all an open bar for most of the time you are on the ship, and everyone who drinks will drink a little to much every once in awhile.

 

That being said, on my 6 previous cruises with Carnival I can count on 1 hand how many drunk people I have seen. All of which did not cause any problems, or affect my cruise experience in a negative way.

 

Happy Cruising!

[MamaParrotHead]

Well *I* am hooked. I prefer the stigma, that keeps my ships from being overcrowded or overpriced. SHhhhhhhhhhh, it's a secret. ;)

 

We've been on three cruises, and I have yet to see someone tanked or obnoxious (due to alcohol, anyway). Took the kids on the last one and we all had a blast. You have nothing to worry about. :)

[klmorg]

It's a huge part of our society...uninformed/uneducated (and I don't mean schooling) who form opinions based on what others say, who have no actual knowledge or personal experience to support it. And not just regarding cruiselines... LOL.

 

It works both ways... I've heard Carnival people cut down the other cruiselines based simply on what they "have heard". I will form my own opinion once I have actually cruised on them. And I agree... much of the time you hear comments like that from people who actually have no experience to base their opinion on.

 

Based on my personal experiences on Carnival... it's a great bang for my vacation buck and we've never really experienced the hard core drinking/party/don't take your kids type atmosphere. I say... give it a try & form your own opinion... you'll likely find it to be quite enjoyable!

[Casino Player]

Catching alot of flack here for booking a cruise on Carnival. I thought some of stigma associated w/ CCL had quieted down over the years. Yet still, I keep hearing, "I won't do CCL, to much party and drinking." Definately wouldn't take the kid's on that ship. :confused:DH and I aren't big drinkers but enjoy live music and entertainment.

Please reassure me regarding CCL. We booked w/ them this time because the ship is 30 minutes from our house, worked for our school schedule, and yes...budget friendly. I'm tired of watching the ship sail by every weekend without me on it! We could have tried RCI or Celebrity too but figured why not give Carnival a try. This cruise is our first on Carnival, first time in a balcony cabin and first time trying your time dining. I keep telling myself that vacation is what you make of it. I sure hope I'm right.

 

HHHHHEEEEELLLLLLLLLLOOOOO rbird: A vacation is more than what you make of it. If the food isn't good then it can't be what you make of it. Who cares what other people think? They don't pay your bills so do what you want. My wife and I have sailed ten cruises with Carnival. Four with Celebrity. One each on RCCL and NCL. They didn't provide the kind of service we are accustomed to and don't wish to lower our standards.

[k2]

Well *I* am hooked. I prefer the stigma, that keeps my ships from being overcrowded or overpriced. SHhhhhhhhhhh, it's a secret. ;)

 

We've been on three cruises, and I have yet to see someone tanked or obnoxious (due to alcohol, anyway). Took the kids on the last one and we all had a blast. You have nothing to worry about. :)

 

 

Ha Ha Your secret is safe from me! I have always been told by various travel agents that Carnival was a step down from RCI. The more I read and educate myself, it seems the only true step down is the price :eek:. I would love to take that step. I was nervous to try Carnival because of the stigma, but decided that it was due time I found out for myself, so we cruise in April. I am excited to try different ports. As far as drunks and inappropriate behavior... My last couple RCI cruises had that. I think you run the risk of running into bad behavior anywhere you go. Just remember... any day on the open sea is better than a day at work/school. :D

[sandyj55]

I am departing tomorrow on the Dream and this will be our 3rd cruise on Carnival in less then a year!!! I just got into cruise 18 months ago and now you can't keep me off of ships!!! Last Feb I had 40 seniors, this year i have 32 with me and there isn't a one of us that don't have a good time. In Oct just my DBF(we are both in our 60's) and I went on the Spendor and we saw all ages from babies to great great grandparents......what a great way to travel. The great part of cruising, you don't have to change hotels...you can eat anything you want and there is something to do at all times.

 

We have been on cruises with as many as 600 kids plus and never had a minutes worth of problems with any age group. I read a post the other day that was complaining about the seniors and how rude they were, another one that thought kids should stay home.............I disagree...there is something for every age group on Carnival and the variety is what makes every experience in life fun.

 

Go on Carnival...have a great time...pick your type of entertainment and go for the gusto!!!!

[Skywench]

I have never been disappointed with any of my Carnival cruises. I take my 72 year old mother with me and she loves it too! I certainly would never have gone back to Carnival if I had the kind of experiences other people have "heard" about. Mom and I are going again in May.

[mom2isabella05cole08]

We are getting ready to book our first cruise and it'll be on Carnival. As a family with 2 small kids (currently 1 and 4) we can't really afford the more expensive cruise lines since I'm a full time stay at home mom and Carnival happens to have a port about an hour or so away. From the way that Carnival has advertised and what I've heard/seen on here, Carnival is a good cruise line. If they weren't, they wouldn't be as popular as they are.

 

Now, my dad is not a drinker (honestly, the ONLY time I've seen him drink was at my wedding) and he want on a Carnival cruise years ago and really enjoyed it. We're talking more than 10 years ago, back when it was more widely known as a party cruise line, and someone who doesn't party or drink had a ton of fun.

[H82seaUgo]

We are getting ready to book our first cruise and it'll be on Carnival. As a family with 2 small kids (currently 1 and 4) we can't really afford the more expensive cruise lines since I'm a full time stay at home mom and Carnival happens to have a port about an hour or so away. From the way that Carnival has advertised and what I've heard/seen on here, Carnival is a good cruise line. If they weren't, they wouldn't be as popular as they are.

 

The good news is on Carnival, you don't need to pay more to get more.

 

With their clout and buying power, they're able to pull this off.

 

We find when we do sail Carnival, we get either the same or better than the lines that charge more. You fare does NOT include paying off extravagant debt, like RCCL.

[cajunchick]

I love Carnival, always something going on. I did NCL a few years back and it was so boring. They had boring entertainment except for one couple that was awesome. So go and enjoy yourself:)

[mlzangel78]

ive sailed carnival, RCI and PRincess.. LOve carnival never had a bad cruise.. RCI was great too, and Princess is just a subdued cruise atmosphere, and very relaxing time.. i would def not say that Princess is classier.. its just that it isnt a 'party ship" and while the age of the cruisers was late 30's to early 60's,, some of those in that age group can def drink the 21 year olds under the table,, its just a diff kind of drinking LOL.. i love all 3 lines, just depends on what i am looking for.

 

Princess limits the number of kids per sailing and the decks are virtually a ghost town after 9pm..

Royal carib has started charging to much for things and my past 2 cruises with them the food was only mediocre but still had great cruises...

carnival really is the do as much or as little as you want..decks are still full of life past 9 pm, an if you want quiet theres quiet places to be found.. i guess ive never had a bad cruise bc i am sooo thankful to NOT be at work.. LOL..

 

oh and by the way without fail EVERY Cruise ive managed to injure myself the day before or the day oF leaving.. first cruise, broke my nose, second cruise broke my finger, 3rd cruise fell down my steps leaving for the airport boarded the ship with a badly sprained ankle.. nothing will stop me from going on vaca and having a good time... LOL

[kelz66]

I love Carnival, always something going on. I did NCL a few years back and it was so boring. They had boring entertainment except for one couple that was awesome. So go and enjoy yourself:)

 

I do not go to the shows...But I found NCL to have better live music performers.

 

I like both lines...they each offer great options. :D