Can't go back to CCL

[victoryred]

You post definitely proves me point. Everyone sees everything differently, thus my question on why others have to get nasty when someone mentions a negative toward CCL (or NCL, X, whoever).

 

I happen to have CCL and Princess tied for my lowest list of lines to use. That doesn't mean your nuts (or maybe I am :)) but my point is you have different expectations and yours was met on Princess.

 

I probably go on anther Princess or CCL but if all things are equal I would choose other lines. Hopefully that doesn't make me an ogre.....

 

Actually if I had different expectations I wouldn't be platinum with Carnival and still sail with them.......I was just blown away by Princess compared to Carnival:D

[wannabet]

We had a similar experience. We went on the Carnival Triumph last year. The food was mediocre at best. We did get good service. But we found our shipmates were a less than ideal traveling companions. You were allowed to bring a bottle of wine and or a 12x12x12 cooler of beer. We brought White Star and a Cake Bread Wine. Others were bringing on cases of Keystone. If you are bringing it on at least make good beer. We had cruised on Princess and loved it, but they stopped sailing from the South. This year we are going to try RCCL Voyager of the Seas, for the same reason. I hope to be impressed. We are paying almost three times the price, and this time we are bringing the kids. I know they will have a great time. The sewer smell in the bathroom was the worst. I know this is common on ships, hopefully not on voyager.

[Pee-ah]

We had a similar experience. We went on the Carnival Triumph last year. The food was mediocre at best. We did get good service. But we found our shipmates were a less than ideal traveling companions. You were allowed to bring a bottle of wine and or a 12x12x12 cooler of beer. We brought White Star and a Cake Bread Wine. Others were bringing on cases of Keystone. If you are bringing it on at least make good beer. We had cruised on Princess and loved it, but they stopped sailing from the South. This year we are going to try RCCL Voyager of the Seas, for the same reason. I hope to be impressed. We are paying almost three times the price, and this time we are bringing the kids. I know they will have a great time. The sewer smell in the bathroom was the worst. I know this is common on ships, hopefully not on voyager.

 

 

On Carnival you are only allowed to bring one bottle of wine per adult(over the age of 21) on board no beer. Mind you, you may have smuggled it (i dont care) but as there are cruising newbies reading this board i just wanted to set the record straight

 

Thanks

[seguincruiser]

I'm glad you enjoyed your cruise and sound like you got one heck of an upgrade. We are a family of five who right now only cruise once every year and have only done Carnival (which we love). RCCL is more expensive for us but after reading a live from the Allure thread I really want to take my kids on that ship. We already have our 2012 cruise booked, 8 days on the Miracle, and it will be our longest one yet. I figure if we start planning and saving now we can go on the Allure for our 2013 cruise. I'm hoping to save enough for two suites. Later in life when its just DH and I, we will cruise differnt lines but for now we're working towards platinum with Carnival.

[rickcop44]

Not sure what you would think qualifies as research, but she has been on more cruises than I could manage to do if I were given 3 lifetimes. She's worked in the industry as a travel agent - you may not like her posts but she deserves credit for knowing something.

 

If you would read my posts regarding the smuggling of rum onboard, you would see what I'm talking about. I don't care if she's cruised 1,000 times. I don't care if she's president of the travel agent association. Personally, I think I know a bit more about the effects of alcohol on the human body than she does, but that's neither here nor there. There isn't a person on this planet who is an expert on every subject. She thinks she is. To be honest, though, the thing that bothers me the most about anyone, including G'ma, is that the person thinks she/he is right and everyone else is wrong. Oh, and I do give her credit for knowing something. Afterall, all of us know something.

[Cruzaholic41]

But we found our shipmates were a less than ideal traveling companions.

 

This has been my number one complaint about CCL cruises.

 

That said, embarkation point could also be a factor. Last year, I took a cruise out of Bayonne, NJ. The ship was full of very pushy, rude, and ill-behaved people. Coincidently, they were from within driving distance of the port.

[Tyron]

an important FACT that's being overlooked: even though RCI fares are higher in comparison to Carnival, Princess, etc. their guests pay those fares; & their ships continue to sail week after week after week at or near capacity.

 

because some of you don't think it's worth paying that much for a cruise clearly doesn't mean everyone shares your views....there are THOUSANDS and THOUSANDS of people who disagree and do so weekly by cruising RCI. :D :D :D

 

my question to some of you is....if carnival fares were the same as RCI....how many of you would continue to be loyal to carnival????

probably not many since bascially some of you have admitted you're only loyal to them because of the low fares. :rolleyes:

 

i cruise on RCI, CCL, NCL & Princess and have enjoyed all of my cruises. the bottom line....to each his own!

[seguincruiser]

I would have to say that I wouldn't be loyal to Carnival if I could get same price or lower on other cruise line. I love trying new things so look forward in future years trying different lines. Some have complained about Carnival having less than ideal traveling compainions, I just don't get it. Every time I have cruised I have found my fellow passangers to be a mixture of just average people from mostly America but also other countries. People call Carnival the Walmart of the seas but I guess for lots of us in small towns where Walmart is the biggest thing we have thats ok. Also I've read where posters make fun of those who like Red Lobster, whats wrong with that? We have to drive 45mins to any restraunts that are not small pubs (although we do have an Applebees). I am blessed to have cruised a few times in my life, there are many who have never done this due to money. One great thing about CC is being able to read others experiences in order to choose which line best fits our style, budgets, and what we want to do on vacation.

[magiccruiser]

I don't have as much cruise experience as most of you (one with Royal Caribbean and two with Carnival) but I really don't get the whole loyalty to one cruise line over the other. I booked my next Mediterranean cruise based on the PORTS I want to see and how much time the ship actually gives me there. I compared the exact same itinerary with each ship with the hours in each port and then looked at the price. I'm basically using the ship as a hotel and transportation, the rest is just icing on the cake. The Carnival Magic won out for my next cruise, but that's not to say I wouldn't pick another cruise line next time if I liked the itinerary better.

 

As for my experience on Royal Caribbean...the food was better than Carnival's I'll admit, but not enough to make that a deciding factor. The crowd was definitely older, and the service was great. I took my then 80 year old mother-in-law and her sister, so this cruise was perfect for them. When I took my teenage boys, we sailed on Carnival and they loved all the pool activities and shows that Carnival does best. For my Mediterranean cruise this summer, I don't think I'll care much what's going onboard the ship because I'll probably have port weary feet!

[seguincruiser]

Magiccruiser please come back and post a review with pics! You are taking my dream vacation. Someday when kids are older I'm going to beg DH for a med cruise.

[cruiser fanatic]

islahopper you know First of all you just liked Oasis Of The Seas better then Carnival but you don't dislike Carnival which is not a problem but never say never.

[Spaniel Lover]

I have greatly enjoyed all of my cruises on CCL, but after our cruise on the Oasis we can't go back. The food was better, the shows were better, the cabins were better and the service much better also the decor. I am not bashing CCL, I just think the extra cost of RCCL is well worth it.

I think you mean the "HUGE extra cost"!!!

 

I just did a price comparison on the Oasis Of The Seas for a comparable cabin to what we have booked on the Carnival Glory. Same week, same length... so we're comparing apples to apples.

 

For my 7-day cruise on the Carnival Glory it's costing me $2162 for a balcony cabin with an ocean view. On Oasis Of The Seas, it would be $3426!

 

That's a LOT of extra money! Basically, that means I can cruise 3 times on Carnival for what it would cost me for two cruises on Oasis Of The Seas.

 

Sorry, I'm not going for that deal!

[Chris41]

LOL... you have been saying that for awhile now, yet every other week you seem to be going on another Carnival cruise. :D

 

 

Now that was funny.

[Crusing Nut]

I am just the opposite as the OP. I sailed the Oasis of the Seas and won't be doing that again. While the ship is a beautiful ship and the shows were great, I hate the crowds. The buffet left a lot to be desired. The MDR food was lukewarm at it's best.

 

Walking the promenade during any event is simply impossible. I will say that the cruise director was very good. The strong smell of smoke in the casino left a bad taste in the mouth. RCL took it upon themselves to change reservations and then allowed those not already booked to go first. It made it impossible for us to have dinner in the MDR.

 

I did not think that the cabins were better. The shower was smaller and the closet space was less.

[cruisinfanatic]

I am just the opposite as the OP. I sailed the Oasis of the Seas and won't be doing that again. While the ship is a beautiful ship and the shows were great, I hate the crowds. The buffet left a lot to be desired. The MDR food was lukewarm at it's best.

 

Walking the promenade during any event is simply impossible. I will say that the cruise director was very good. The strong smell of smoke in the casino left a bad taste in the mouth. RCL took it upon themselves to change reservations and then allowed those not already booked to go first. It made it impossible for us to have dinner in the MDR.

 

I did not think that the cabins were better. The shower was smaller and the closet space was less.

I agree with everything!

But smoke on a My last Carnival cruise all over is what drove me away last time. We'll see how it is in September on the Valor

[WeBeCruisin']

I have sailed on Carnival (platinum), RCCL (platinum), Celebrity (select) NCL and SeaDream. I would go on any of those lines again in a heartbeat and I can't wait to try new lines and new ships.:D

 

If I'm on a boat and there is food and liquid refreshment, I am automatically delirious with happiness and can't possibly imagine whining about whether it was or was not perfect and worthy of my presence. :rolleyes:

 

I think that a person's mindset is the prime determiner of whether or not they'll have a good time on a cruise. Unfortunately, a lot of people on these boards seem to post primarily to make themselves feel superior to everyone else.

 

If I did ever find a cruise line I hated (which I really don't think is possible) I would just stop having anything to do with that line and their board. The last thing I would do would be to go to that line's board and tell everyone how I had found something "worthy" of me and imply that they were low-class trash for continuing to like the cruise line I now hated.

 

Kids today! :rolleyes:

[pe4all]

I have been dabbling with going on Oasis. Wanted to go on for our Christmas week break, as we always cruise/vacation then. For an apple to apple comparison, balcony on Oasis was priced at $4600 for 2 of us. We ended up booking Liberty for $2200 - and also got a second separate balcony cabin for our young adult kids - total cost still less than the Oasis. I don't need bells and whistles. A clean cabin, a bed I don't have to make myself, someone to cook my food for the week, entertain me, take me to warm places, and I'm yours for the week!

[Crusing Nut]

I have sailed on Carnival (platinum)' date=' RCCL (platinum), Celebrity (select) NCL and SeaDream. I would go on any of those lines again in a heartbeat and I can't wait to try new lines and new ships.:D

 

If I'm on a boat and there is food and liquid refreshment, I am automatically delirious with happiness and can't possibly imagine whining about whether it was or was not perfect and worthy of my presence. :rolleyes:

 

[b']I think that a person's mindset is the prime determiner of whether or not they'll have a good time on a cruise.[/b] Unfortunately, a lot of people on these boards seem to post primarily to make themselves feel superior to everyone else.

 

If I did ever find a cruise line I hated (which I really don't think is possible) I would just stop having anything to do with that line and their board. The last thing I would do would be to go to that line's board and tell everyone how I had found something "worthy" of me and imply that they were low-class trash for continuing to like the cruise line I now hated.

 

Kids today! :rolleyes:

 

BBM you very well could be right as far as the bolded part but I know I went on the Oasis cruise with an open mind. I also believe that the people on the ship also can make or break the cruise. This was the first time I sailed on a different cruise line and I had heard all wonderful things about RC.

 

Let's just say neither I or my husband were impressed.

[Gypsywych]

I would have to say that I wouldn't be loyal to Carnival if I could get same price or lower on other cruise line. I love trying new things so look forward in future years trying different lines. Some have complained about Carnival having less than ideal traveling compainions, I just don't get it. Every time I have cruised I have found my fellow passangers to be a mixture of just average people from mostly America but also other countries. People call Carnival the Walmart of the seas but I guess for lots of us in small towns where Walmart is the biggest thing we have thats ok. Also I've read where posters make fun of those who like Red Lobster, whats wrong with that? We have to drive 45mins to any restraunts that are not small pubs (although we do have an Applebees). I am blessed to have cruised a few times in my life, there are many who have never done this due to money. One great thing about CC is being able to read others experiences in order to choose which line best fits our style, budgets, and what we want to do on vacation.

 

 

CC seriously needs a LIKE button! Well said!

[DC1107]

We have been on both CCL and RCI, and honestly we havent found anything on either line that makes us say "wow, this is so great we are never going on any other line.'" For us both lines are great and we will continue to sail both of them.

[xeonpro]

I think it's great that there are various options out there~! Can you give some specific examples of what made the food better, the shows an service? I know I'm getting bored with CCL's food but that just means I've been lucky enough to cruise often enough to not be wowed by the food these days. I'd be interested to see where the differences between the two companies are :)

 

^ well said!

[bluesman0711]

I have greatly enjoyed all of my cruises on CCL, but after our cruise on the Oasis we can't go back. The food was better, the shows were better, the cabins were better and the service much better also the decor. I am not bashing CCL, I just think the extra cost of RCCL is well worth it.

 

And why did you start this thread on the CCL board?