Carnival fan going to try RCL.

[nanashirl]

We are also going to try RCCL this time. Going on Jan 23 on Voyager of the Seas. Have cruised Carnival and HA before. Carnival our favorite of those two but wanted to try a different cruise line. We cruised on Conquest and Freedom and as someone said they are pretty much alike. However we loved both of them. Wanted a ship with a different look. Looking forward to it. Any comments or comparison of the ships would be appreciated.

[Jumbiecruiser]

I've noticed alot of Carnival cruisers are now cruising RCI...I've also heard the food on Carnival outshines RCI....so why are loyal Carnival cruisers suddenly trying RCI?:confused:

 

Here is a very long review that I read last week over on Carnival and there are photos of the food. Does not look to appetizing to me but I know that looks aren't everything.;)

http://boards.cruisecritic.com/showthread.php?t=1219556&highlight=fantasy

[Oscar_the_Grouch's_Sis]

Here is a very long review that I read last week over on Carnival and there are photos of the food. Does not look to appetizing to me but I know that looks aren't everything.;)

http://boards.cruisecritic.com/showthread.php?t=1219556&highlight=fantasy

 

No, half eaten food and very poor resolution doesn't look appetizing to me either! :rolleyes:

 

That is why a lot of chefs are getting a little peeved with all these food review blogs. Unflattering pics can really harm business.

[Jumbiecruiser]

No' date=' half eaten food and very poor resolution doesn't look appetizing to me either! :rolleyes:

 

That is why a lot of chefs are getting a little peeved with all these food review blogs. Unflattering pics can really harm business.[/quote']

 

I don't know, the photo of the eggs benedict was clear and looked as though it had been sitting under a heat lamp. That is not the fault of the photographer.

[Bakincakes]

If you spend enough time reading reviews over on Carnival, sounds like many think that Carnival's food is on the decline. Cheaper cuts of meat is one area that I read about over there. Also, it seems that many like the 24 hour pizza and ice cream. I guess that's their claim to fame. Personally I don't need to eat 24 hours a day.:rolleyes:

 

 

We don't eat 24 hours on the trot either...but evidently some pax do and food is very important to them.

 

I was just curious about Carnival cruisers coming over to RCI is all...is it the same the other way around> How many RCI cruisers are cruising Carnival instead of RCI?

 

I'm suggesting that anyone have "loyalty" to one line or another..but pax generally do stay with a product they are happiest with...and Carnival die hards seem to be as rabid as RCI loyalists about their cruiselines...I don't blame people for shopping around for the best deals...but I don't care how cheap a Carnival cruise is...that is the last line I would ever sail on...unfair probably because the cruise I did take on that line was in the Kathi-Lee gifford days..and it was horrific...I've heard they've changed but still think the decor on those ships look like the guts of a pinball machine.:eek: and I'm not willing to chance another bad cruise on one of their ships.

 

I did hear a comment on our last RCI cruise in the MDR..a table not too far from ours was quite loud...and most of the pax at it were dressed in t-shirts and shorts..:rolleyes:..someone at our table commented about the noise coming from that table and another of our tablemates said something like "Oh we met them at the pool and they are regular Carnival cruisers"...as if that would explain their lack of manners in the MDR???

[Jumbiecruiser]

I've heard they've changed but still think the decor on those ships look like the guts of a pinball machine.:eek:

 

LOL and so true. I have never thought of it that way.

 

I did hear a comment on our last RCI cruise in the MDR..a table not too far from ours was quite loud...and most of the pax at it were dressed in t-shirts and shorts..:rolleyes:..someone at our table commented about the noise coming from that table and another of our tablemates said something like "Oh we met them at the pool and they are regular Carnival cruisers"...as if that would explain their lack of manners in the MDR???

 

Ouch!!!:eek:

[Mary09]

My carnival cruise was over 10 years ago, and I haven't cruised that line since, but I did like the pizza availability. On a recent cruise I would've killed for some pizza around 11pm.

[yogimax]

I think "loyalty" to one cruise line or another is kind of silly.

 

I disagree. The benefit of loyality are the perks that you receive from that line. Say you sail ten cruises... 4 with CCL, 3 with RCCL and three with NCL. The perks and benefits you will receive will be minimal.

 

But lump those ten together and now your Diamond on RCCL with some very nice benefits.

 

By the way, RCCL's program is much better than CCL's.

[Oscar_the_Grouch's_Sis]

I don't know, the photo of the eggs benedict was clear and looked as though it had been sitting under a heat lamp. That is not the fault of the photographer.

 

I apologize. I didn't mean to imply I was blaming every pic on the photographer. Of course, there will be things that just aren't appetizing to look at. (I was grossed out by my baked tomato stuffed with some sort of nasty creamed spinach! :p ... and I agree about the eggs benedict. It is dry and they are stingy with the sauce - I had to ask for more!)

 

I was just trying to make a point - if you care enough to take pics of your food so you can post it (and call it "food porn"!) then you should be conscience enough to take the pic before you start altering its appearance. (and if lighting ever mattered to a pic it is 10 fold with a food picture!) - If the food picture looks bad, people will think the food tastes bad.

 

I love taking food pics ... I am very fortunate to have a camera with a "food setting" it makes it easier. (even I took a pic of my pumpkin soup that came out yucky brownish-green looking. No matter how hard I tried I couldn't get the actual color - so I never posted it.)

 

Yogimax, not everyone will have the opportunity to take as many cruises to get to the high levels you need for the "special perks" ... I am barely scraping by because I want to take another cruise next year so badly! I won't be able to afford another for a long time (there has to be others in my situation.) So I guess I was just thinking of myself when I said it was "silly". I can see your point. ... But for those of us not caring about "perks," I say go for the itinerary. (You will have such a great time no matter the ship ... go somewhere you really want to go!)

[printingchick]

I'm not going to bash Carnival. However, if you take a peek at my signature you'll note that I tried RCL after six Carnival cruises. I've never looked back.

[gsb]

I'm not going to bash Carnival. However, if you take a peek at my signature you'll note that I tried RCL after six Carnival cruises. I've never looked back.

 

I'd recommend you try one of the newer CCL ships--very nice.

[kooljamming]

I've noticed alot of Carnival cruisers are now cruising RCI...I've also heard the food on Carnival outshines RCI....so why are loyal Carnival cruisers suddenly trying RCI?:confused:

 

Variety is the spice of life. Doing the same thing over and over can create a rut for some people. Pricing might be leveling out, so adventurous people or those who aren't afraid of change have a new incentive. If it's bringing business to RCCL does it really matter:confused:

 

RCCL 8x, Carnival 2x, Princess 2x, planning Celebrity next,

[Cruising89143]

Hi there! I just wanted to chime in to say my DH and I will also be cruising for the first time on the Freedom Of The Seas in November. We enjoyed all our Carnival cruises in the past but thought it was time to try another cruise line. We also booked the Allure Of The Seas for Sept. 2011. We are very excited!

 

Kelly

 

The Freedom is a great ship. I will be back on board in three weeks but wait until you see Allure. The Oasis really brought it up a couple of notches.:)

[sjcruiser]

I've sailed on Carnival twice and Royal once. When I look for cruises now, I tend to start with Royal. The Explorer at Thanksgiving was really low key. There was a lot of "older" folks onboard, but we prefer Royal for the following reasons.

 

We prefer Cafe Promenade over the Lido for 24 hour food/snacks.

 

Windjammers! The Lido Buffet can't compare to the food or service.

 

The Library overlooking the Promenade. A quiet place to read, take a cat nap or people watch.

 

The Promenade. The meeting place, the shopping place, the entertainment place, the place to get a quick bite or drink.

 

The Ice Show

 

Ofcourse alot of factors are taken into consideration when booking, but if I had to take an IS on Royal over a Carnival Balcony, I think I would go for the IS. Then again, I would cut back on some things to get another balcony on Royal.

[sjcruiser]

Ive sailed twice on Carnival and once on Royal. When looking for a cruise now, we start looking at Royal first. During our Thanksgiving cruise on Royal, the passengers where really laid back, probably due to it being a really "older crowd." When choosing cruises we've looked at the follwing:

 

Ports , not that big a deal, as long as it's not someplace we've been before.

 

Cafe Promenade: Preferred over the Lido

 

Windjammers: Preferred over the Lido, and the DR on either cruiseline.

 

Library: Quiet place to read, relax or watch whats going on at the Promenade.

 

The Promenade: The place for shopping, the place to grab a bite, the place for entertainment, the place to meet and greet.

 

The Ice Show

 

Other factors are taken into consideration, including the price, but if we really couldnt afford the balcony on Royal, we'd probably take an IS on Royal over a Balcony on Carnival.