My name is Julie...and I cheated on Carnival!

[lancenjulie]

Just got off the 7 day bahamas cruise with NCL Jewel...keep in mind - it was a freebie through Harrah's Casino's. From the moment we stepped on the ship, DH and I vowed to keep an open mind. The ship was confusing, the whole "free-style" dining is highly over rated. Everything served in the MDR was random and not appealing....done to encourage us to go to the pay restaurants. Food quality pales in comparison to Carnival...hands down, Carnival has them beat on every level. No drink service in the main showroom where the "production" shows take place. The only positive was the casino...we were treated like VIP's and did get free drinks while we were in there. That was only because we booked through Harrah's casino's at seas program. We never met our room steward, never formed any relationships with any dining staff, bar staff, and never got to make any new friends at diiner because you get seated differently every night and everyone wants to sit on their own - either in pairs or in their family groups. DH and I tried - we tried real hard, we had a good time because that was what we made it...but every time we turned around - we would say to each other - "wow...Carnival does this so much better..." Oh...and here was the kicker for us...no embarkation photos (no biggie) on-board photos were done at the most strange hours with the most generic random backdrops....but we decided we wanted to go ahead and at least have a formal done. We stood there and waited while a family group of about 25 folks had their photo done on the stairs and when they were finally done, the photographer turned to us and said..."No more, it is break time for me - come back in 2 hours"...HONEST...that is what he said! By then, we were ticked off, to say the least, and scrapped it completely. I could go on and on, but I am not here to complain...I am here to confirm that I am a 100% true-blue Carnival fan. We will stick to what works for us, what makes us happy, and what we require from our cruise vacations...and that means we stick with Carnival! (even if a different line is free!)

[Randy & Carmen]

lol...welcome back home ;)

[firefly333]

Iv had two Carnival cruises where I never meet my cabin steward, never came and introduced themsleves once ... they did a good job, just no clue who was our steward ...

 

So, it happens on Carnival too.

 

Id have taken a free cruise too!!! Even on NCL.

[gtouch]

, we had a good time because that was what we made it!

 

Great attitude!

[dande123]

I must agree with you on NCL. I have been on two NCL cruises...the first one was 5 yrs ago and it was great but the last one was awful. The last one on the Pearl was the first time DH had ever been on NCL...needless to say...we won't return to NCL. We hated the Free Style Dining. Also, NCL crew was no where friendly at all and there was little to no entertainment. Anyways...just wanted to put in my 2 cents even though I am sure some would disagree.

[MrPete]

I made the same mistake almost 22 years ago, and I paid for it!

 

12 steps works.

[Essiesmom]

Don't refuse the next free cruise...if it is on a third line. You might find one that compares favorably to Carnival, although if you went again, you would probably pay more than Carnival...Field trips are good! EM

[glorialagos]

I have to disagree.

 

We were on NCL Gem last June for a mediterranean cruise and loved it! There was so much more variety of restaurants to choose from. We loved the freestyle dining and thought the food was very good. The spa was heavenly!

 

Since then we have gone on two Carnival cruises - Fantasy and Pride. While we loved those also, the NCL was still our favorite. Maybe it was the itinerary and the fact that it was a European cruise. But, the Carnival spas didn't come close to comparing with NCLs. We had more than enough photos taken (and an embarkation photo). We got to know our cabin steward and loved the "happy, happy" guy at the main dining room. I went to the roll call meet and greet and was thanked with a free bottle of wine from the captain (who was there along with all the staff).

 

I have the attitude you have - a cruise is what you make it. I have enjoyed every cruise we have taken. But, I still preferred our NCL cruise to our most recent two Carnival cruises.

[grammax3]

We were on the Jewel in May, and our cruise perception was quite different. We met a lot of very nice people, either through CC or in the dining room, had no problem being seated at a table for 4 or more, just ask, had embarktion photos taken, can't compare food with Carnival since we will be cruising with Carnival the first time in September, but the food was good, dining service and staff were fine, drinks were definitely available before the productions in the showroom, and we were sailing with a full ship. However, we did not meet our room steward, but he did a very good job, but this has happened on other lines as well.

 

As part of the CC meet & greet, the Captain, Hotel Manager and Staff were at the m & G, then invited us all to take a tour of the bridge on our last sea day.

 

We have been on 26 cruises, some better than others, but all very good, and with several lines - NCL, RCC, Dolphin, Cunard, Princess, Celebrity, Disney, so now we are trying Carnival, and I am sure we will not be disappointed.

[Tom-n-Cheryl]

Just got off the Sky (one of their older/smaller ships) 6 days ago. I had read enough before we went to know that the MDR food/experience would be a let down. Thus, we booked a specialty restaurant each evening (3 night cruise). Let's just say that the Carnival steakhouse experience was superior to the places we tried on the first and second evenings (Le Bistro and Cagney's). We ended up canceling our reservation for the last night and enjoyed Longboards Bar (Blue Lagoon on most of their other ships). There we enjoyed our best (and FREE) meal of the cruise with some TERRIFIC buffalo wings, fish&chips, and Corona's to wash it all down. Now THAT was fun! There were definitely embarkation photos offered on our sailing, and we got to know our cabin steward (hugged Cheryl the last morning) and butler fairly well - given that it was only a short sailing. The casino was also a place we were treated well, likely because the tagged me as a "player" - offering up spa treatments, specialty dining (we passed), and then $1,000 off our shipboard charges on the last night! (unfortunately, that was actually more like a rebate of LOSSES... but that's another story:eek:).

 

We are REALLY looking forward to our Epic cruise next year. Carolyn Spencer Brown is on the Epic now, and posted a ONE HOUR video tour of this brand new ship. Might I suggest that at least a few of you have a look - I think you will be surprised (pleasantly hopefully)! OPEN YOUR MIND! LINK -- note that you might do well to open that page, then pause it for a few minutes to buffer enough of the feed so that you don't have irritating stops/starts. Will the Epic be perfect? No. Is any cruise? No. But there is something to be said for variety from time to time - and something too to be said for the comfort of familiarity (Carnival) as well!

 

 

Tom

[Cruiser1547228475]

I've cheated on a lot of things ,but never Carnival :eek:

 

Just kidding :D

[WinnipegCruiser]

Welcome back.... a quick tip... if you like Carnival, and go to Vegas... consider the Venetian /Palazzo. It is just down the strip from Harahs..

 

They share the points system with Carnival.

 

We get an offer from the hotel every month for 4 nights with a fantastic suite. See here: http://picasaweb.google.com/macklinh/PalazzoHotelAndCasino#

 

I remember when I got the first offer, we thought it was too good to be true.

 

http://boards.cruisecritic.com/showthread.php?t=884671

 

In fact you get double credit for your carnival points at the hotel, and that translates to free food, and $$$.

 

No free cruise, but we are in Vegas more than we are on board.

[Tom-n-Cheryl]

I've cheated on a lot of things ,but never Carnival :eek:

 

Just kidding :D

 

...about which part?

 

Tom

[Cruiser1547228475]

...about which part?

 

Tom

 

Carnival ,diet ,CruiseCritic etc.

 

But never on my wife , I love her !:)

[Tom-n-Cheryl]

Carnival ,diet ,CruiseCritic etc.

 

But never on my wife , I love her !:)

 

Smart, and decent, man!

 

Tom

[cruisin07family]

I'm sorry you didn't have a good time on NCL. Our first cruise experience was on the FL/Bahamas NCL Dawn and we were blown away and hooked on cruising from the word go. We absolutely loved Freestyle and the laid-back dress code as well as the outstanding shows. I realize it may not be for everyone but it was great for us. We have loved Carnival too but it is a different experience. Our kids love Carnival and I think they do children's programs much better than NCL. I love the Carnival cabins because they are larger and have plenty of drawer space/closets but I think the NCL ships are way more attractive. They have a classic beauty whereas I find most Carnival ships to be gaudy and almost hideous. To each their own. At least now you know.

[dan40]

When we cruise,just to cruise, its on Carnival. When we cruise for a certain itinerary, it might be on any line. And we enjoy it for the itinerary. And don't make comparisons. What they have, good or not, is what they have.

 

Room steward? If the room is cleaned, why would I care who's doing it? Could be magic, I don't care as long as its clean. If I need the steward, there's a phone in the room.

[cuzzx]

i have only cruised on carnival , 12 times , many ships.

 

I have had many good times and a few bad.

 

If you take ten people on a cruise you will get many different problems.

 

You just can't please all the people all the time.

 

I read these boards and get alot of laughs because of what people complain about.

And some time if I think I can add salt to there problem I'll do that.

 

Have a carnival cruise comin in Jan 2011.

[scchasgal]

Wow you had an unusual experience with NCL one that I have never had on my many sailings with them.

 

You know some had had some of those complaints you had about NCL about Carnival so goes to show you some cruises just "have a bad day/week" and some are subjective.

 

PS Love the freestyle dining and was happy when Carnival started their anytime dining.

[lancenjulie]

Thanks guys and gals for all of your comments....I do want to clarify a couple things...we did have a good time - as I said - we choose to make it a great time regardless of the situation! Embarkation photos were taken - I should have clarified that we got on the ship in one of the first embarkation groups and the photographers were not even there yet, taking pics - so the first 2-3 groups didn't get their pics taken. We didn't enjoy the free-styling because we felt it was just a way for them to push the pay restaurants and serve sub-par food in the MDR. We did buckle and try Tango's - Mexican - which was excellent. Somehow - 2 covers for 10.00 each managed to turn into 48.00 - we each had a margarita and then there was the gratuity. We enjoyed the itinerary immensely....it was the scheduling on the dailies that was wierd. I guess it does come down to personal preferences. Our is the Fun Ship.

[NYcruzzer]

Thanks guys and gals for all of your comments....I do want to clarify a couple things...we did have a good time - as I said - we choose to make it a great time regardless of the situation! Embarkation photos were taken - I should have clarified that we got on the ship in one of the first embarkation groups and the photographers were not even there yet, taking pics - so the first 2-3 groups didn't get their pics taken. We didn't enjoy the free-styling because we felt it was just a way for them to push the pay restaurants and serve sub-par food in the MDR. We did buckle and try Tango's - Mexican - which was excellent. Somehow - 2 covers for 10.00 each managed to turn into 48.00 - we each had a margarita and then there was the gratuity. We enjoyed the itinerary immensely....it was the scheduling on the dailies that was wierd. I guess it does come down to personal preferences. Our is the Fun Ship.

 

Your $20.00 cover charge for two of you included a gratuity. You were not required or expected to tip anymore. Drinks are optional in any MDR or specialty restaurant. Since your cruise and drinks in the casino were "comped" I'm surprised they didn't pick up your additional charges in the specialty restaurants. I am Platinum on Carnival and Gold (almost Platinum) on NCL and love both lines. In fact there are more similarities in food, service, and entertainment then there are differances between the two lines.

[littlesnit]

I don't know, maybe I'm just lucky, but I've never been on a cruise I didn't like. My boyfriend and I have been on both NCL and Carnival and found them more comparable than not. We really enjoyed the freestyle dining on NCL and were disappointed that it wasn't available yet on Triumph last year. This year we get to try Carnival's Your Time dining on the Pride and hope it is equal to that of NCL's freestyle.

 

We actually starting cruising with Carnival again because of the so-far more lenient smoking policy. We were totally pleased with NCL when we could smoke in the lounges. We found the photographers plentiful on both lines, and the food just as pleasing. We did note the portions on Carnival are larger, however. And of course NCL doesn't have WCMC, but in their French restaurant, they did have a chocolate lava cake that was excellent. We also liked that on NCL we had our choice of 3 free restaurants to choose from plus the Lido buffet.

 

Like NYCruzzer, we find both lines very similar in most respects and don't have any major complaints about either (except for the time Carnival "upgraded" us from our aft balcony to a starboard balcony against our wishes, but that's another story. I've almost forgiven them for that.) We take into consideration we're not cruising on luxury ships, but find the ships we have cruised on rather luxurious for the price we pay. Certainly does beat a week at work! By the way, we have booked ES for this fall, and I'm pretty sure this is the least we've ever paid and it's for the longest cruise we've booked yet. Watching for price drops but have only seen the rates go up for our category. But totally pleased with the rate we paid, so I guess that's a plus for Carnival's side.

[Coasty]

Thank God everyone doesn't love NCL as much as we do. :)

The prices would be so high we couldn't afford to enjoy them.:(

We have never had a bad cruise and are willing to bet we never will.:D

 

Freestyle cruising is our style and when we have dinner at the MDR we always ask to sit at a table for ten.;)

How could anyone get a free cruise and not enjoy it?????:confused::confused:

[EmmasNana]

Everyone has their own opinion. From the 12 or so cruises I have been on, hands down I prefer NCL but I cruise more often on Carnival because I can drive to 2 ports and they are much cheaper...(maybe there is a reason...but it doesn't matter to me) If NCL is so bad, don't bother cruising with them on your next free offer. I don't really understand the mentality of people who feel they must blast another cruise line...especially free. I don't gamble so will never get a free ride.

[lillian marie]

I'm glad that you had the opportunity to cruise RCL- I agree that the MD food is better on CCL.