Princess cruiser tries Carnival

[geoherb]

We're are just back from our first Carnival cruise as a couple. I sailed on an old Carnival ship in the 1980s and DH had never sailed on one. We took his 85-year-old mother. It was great to be able to drive to the port (Charleston). The ship we were on (the Fantasy) is one of the older ones in Carnival's fleet.

 

There were many things not up to our experience on Princess (or HAL or Celebrity), but overall we had a good time. We'll consider doing another on Carnival if the price is right.

[isujim]

Glad you at least tried it............now you know what to expect and glad you had a good time.

 

We used to sail exclusively with RCCL........now we sail Princess and HAL......we like them all and realize each does something a little different.

[TLC535]

Would love to hear some greater detail if possible as I am thinking about taking our 25 yo DD on the Fantasy this November for her birthday...much easier for us as we are right here in Charleston ;)

Thanks in advance...:)

[sassyredhat]

I love those little Fantasy class ships for short cruises.

We book verandah deck, and love it up there. It's so quiet.

We find the service and food to be very good. It's not the elegance of HAL or Princess, but we don't expect that.

CCL has good sized cabins and bathrooms, (nice to have, especially on the older Fantasy class).

I think you will have a very good time. We are seniors, and we don't do pools or the clubs, but we really enjoy ourselves.

Pat

[paul929207]

We werre on the Fantasy for a week last summer for a family cruise. We found it very crowded, especially in teh evening when we were going to dinner (second seating). We also were disappointed with the service by the cabin steward and waiter. Not that it was horrible. we still had a good time.

[Cozzette2]

We just went on our first Carnival cruise [ out of Miami ] and there are some minor differences.

Personally, one of my favorite things to do is walk the promenade deck every morning, Carnival doesn't have wrap around deck, I missed that.

 

Cabins and bathrooms seemed larger on Carnival. But I don't like the balcony doors that swing open on Carnival too much slamming, I prefer the slidders.

 

Decor, well I guess that is subjective. But I prefer the warm wood and more elegant look to Princess.

 

There are a ton of food options on Carnival but they all close early. The food on Princess is overall better.

 

Carnival has MUTTS but they only showed really old movies like 50 First Dates.

 

Carnival theater was much bigger and you didn't need to show up 40 minutes early to find a seat.

 

That being said, we had a wonderful time and got a fabulous price.

I loved the dancing waiters, the towel animals and the friendly staff.

 

Will I do Carnival again? Probably not. They don't have any 10 day or longer cruises. Personally for what I pay for airfare from Oregon I want longer cruises.

 

I am glad Itried something new and we had absoluly no complaints but just enjoy Princess more.

Kris

[dorisis]

We're are just back from our first Carnival cruise as a couple. I sailed on an old Carnival ship in the 1980s and DH had never sailed on one. We took his 85-year-old mother. It was great to be able to drive to the port (Charleston). The ship we were on (the Fantasy) is one of the older ones in Carnival's fleet.

 

There were many things not up to our experience on Princess (or HAL or Celebrity), but overall we had a good time. We'll consider doing another on Carnival if the price is right.[/quote

 

 

The nice thing about cruising is the variety of experiences with different Lines and even different ships within lines. There is something for almost everyone and it takes a while, ususally, to get the right fit.

 

~Doris~

[geoherb]

Our cabin steward was better than most of our recent ones on Princess. He always had our room cleaned by the time we finished breakfast. It may have been that since this was a spring break cruise, not a lot of our neighbors were getting up as early as we were.

 

The shower is definitely bigger, but there's not as much shelf space in the bathroom. There's also not as much closet space and the drawers in the little desk beside the bed are very shallow--not even as deep as a kitchen drawer.

 

I liked that the televisions showed regular channels--ABC, CBS, Fox, and NBC. I did not like that they lacked a schedule for the other channels. For instance, there was a movie channel that showed fairly recent movies but no guide as to when a particular movie was going to be shown. Same thing with movies in the theater--a listing that they were showing a "movie" but not the title. Strange.

 

Food was not as good as Princess, HAL, or Celebrity--but adequate. I did have some nice dishes. My main complaint about the food was the lack of being able to have a simple request fulfilled--such as a fruit plate for dessert one day at lunch. If it wasn't on the menu, I couldn't get it.

 

I also missed having an open Promenade Deck. I ended up doing my walking on around the pool area and other open decks up top.

 

We had "your time" dining, so we did not really get to know our waiters very well. I would have preferred fixed seating, but with my mother-in-law along, I did not want to take the chance of getting assigned late seating. Apparently on Carnival the anytime dining can get waitlisted. I did not like the waiters' singing and dancing productions. They were never timed right with our meal.

[hubofhockey]

Our cabin steward was better than most of our recent ones on Princess. He always had our room cleaned by the time we finished breakfast. It may have been that since this was a spring break cruise, not a lot of our neighbors were getting up as early as we were.

 

The shower is definitely bigger, but there's not as much shelf space in the bathroom. There's also not as much closet space and the drawers in the little desk beside the bed are very shallow--not even as deep as a kitchen drawer.

 

I liked that the televisions showed regular channels--ABC, CBS, Fox, and NBC. I did not like that they lacked a schedule for the other channels. For instance, there was a movie channel that showed fairly recent movies but no guide as to when a particular movie was going to be shown. Same thing with movies in the theater--a listing that they were showing a "movie" but not the title. Strange.

 

Food was not as good as Princess, HAL, or Celebrity--but adequate. I did have some nice dishes. My main complaint about the food was the lack of being able to have a simple request fulfilled--such as a fruit plate for dessert one day at lunch. If it wasn't on the menu, I couldn't get it.

 

I also missed having an open Promenade Deck. I ended up doing my walking on around the pool area and other open decks up top.

 

We had "your time" dining, so we did not really get to know our waiters very well. I would have preferred fixed seating, but with my mother-in-law along, I did not want to take the chance of getting assigned late seating. Apparently on Carnival the anytime dining can get waitlisted. I did not like the waiters' singing and dancing productions. They were never timed right with our meal.

 

The singing waiters are timed for those with fixed dining times. On the newer Carnival ships, anytime has a separate dining room (broken out by floor). We have enjoyed all of our cruises on Carnival even though we think the service and entertainment is not all that great. The criticism can be a bit unfair because Carnival prices can be so much lower than you on other lines. You may not be getting that extra that other cruise lines offer. But you aren't paying for it either. I don't even bother comparing it to Princess cruises.

[Tralynn]

We're are just back from our first Carnival cruise as a couple. I sailed on an old Carnival ship in the 1980s and DH had never sailed on one. We took his 85-year-old mother. It was great to be able to drive to the port (Charleston). The ship we were on (the Fantasy) is one of the older ones in Carnival's fleet.

 

There were many things not up to our experience on Princess (or HAL or Celebrity), but overall we had a good time. We'll consider doing another on Carnival if the price is right.

It a different cruising experience on Carnival, but it is still enjoyable. Now that you know what to expect, you just have to choose according to what you are looking for at the time.

[Sqweetie]

I'm going for my third Princess cruise in 3 weeks and I can't wait, but my husband and I would like to sail out of New Orleans and Princess doesn't. RCI does but the price was $700. Carnival had a cruise out of NOLA for $469. We are tempted but I've heard a lot of negative comments from other people about how Carnival isn't is good and it's making me leary. I'm looking for some insight from cruisers who have sailed both.

[mek]

We sailed on Fantasy last March and had a great time. We had sailed on other Fantasy class ships years ago, but Carnival has refurbed this ship and it has some nice enhancements. The aft adult only area is very nice and the pool now has an upbeat tropical feel. I have always been satisfied with Carnival's food and service, so for the great price and the fact we drove to the port, this is definitely a cruise I would repeat.

[JaniceW]

Glad that you had a good time on Carnival. We have not yet sailed on Princess - our cruise is not until August - but we have sailed RCCL, HAL, Norwegian, Celebrity and Carnival. All offer a different experience but I believe if you do your research beforehand and know what to expect you will have a great time on almost any line. I have always enjoyed Carnival and feel that they give you a great bang for your buck. My least favorite cruise line is Norwegian. I would only sail with them again if the itinerary and/ or the price was right.

[karatemom2]

Thanks so much for posting this. We are cruising with Carnival in a couple of weeks and its nice to get some comments from those who generally cruise with Princess. I think we have sort of adjusted our expectations knowing that it will not be Princess but we are going to have fun regardless. I'm sure we will find things we enjoy.

[OhioDogLover]

We have done both Princess (6) and Carnival (2). Carnival is OK and we will go again if the price is right, too. We do like Princess better. The entertainment on Carnival is, IMHO, the best part of a Carnival cruise. They have a lot of fun stuff aboard. (Princess does, too, but Carnival's has just a slightly different flavor to it.) We have been lucky, too, in that we had two great cruise directors on CCL - Kurt and John Heald. Anyone who hasn't cruised with John should do it at least once. It is like standup comedy every night.

The food on Carnival was good once (Freedom) and awful once (Pride). I think Princess is more elegant and Carnival more relaxed. The service on Carnival was good. The cabins on Carnival were very nice. The Carnival ships we were on had sports bars. We enjoyed those.

You will have a good time. At least that is what I think.

Ohiodoglover

[Cozzette2]

We were on the newly renovated Liberty thye call it the 2-0 improvements with the Guy Ferrai burger bar, it was really popular. I never tried it because there were so many food choices like the fish and chips, the Mongolian grill the burrito bar, it goes on and on.

 

Personally, if I am cruising I am happy that I am there and take the experience as it comes and go with it. Each ship gives you something different and that keeps things interesting.

 

As long as I am on the ocean, I have a bed and some food and stay healthy, then I am pretty darn content, the rest i can work around.

 

Kris

[DENNAS]

All comments posted so far are pretty much "spot on".

 

We have cruised both Carnival and Princess.... (with a bit of RCCL and CELBRITY thrown in...) I still prefer Princess over all the rest. Price is a big factor for our family and we just feel we always get a great bang for our buck. That said, the Carnival LUNCHES with the NY DELI , the MONGOLIAN GRILL, Fish and CHIPS, ASIAN WOK, etc... honestly place CARNIVAL at a great LUNCH advantage over Princess. However, for dinner? HIT or MISS on Carnival. Almost every dinner on Princess is very good to excellent. Didn't like that I left dinners some night a bit disappointed on Carnival. Dining room breakfasts are NOT that great. Again, that said, the buffet breakfasts were PERFECTLY fine, especially the omelette stations, etc. VERY good.

 

Decor is no big deal to me either way, but that said, Carnival seems to be glitzier then Princess. Again, doesn't bother me.

 

Cabins to me are a bit bigger on Carnival, but again, not a deal breaker.

 

Sure, go try it once, with your expectations "in check". Would I sail them again? YES, if the price is right and if it's a newer ship. That said, my next cruise is on PRINCESS (after sailing the Carnival Glory to NYC just last summer... it was a nice trip, just not sunny enough or warm enough for me. )

 

Happy Planning and Sailing !

[karatemom2]

We just returned from our cruise on the Carnival Spirit so I thought I would share my thoughts in comparing it to Princess. We were actually very pleasantly surprised and had a really nice time on our Carnival cruise. After years of cruising primarily with Princess, it was nice to try something new.

 

Here are some of the things we really like about Carnival:

 

Connecting cabins - We are a family of four and it was great to be able to book a connecting cabin. The rate we got for two connecting balcony cabins was really good and we enjoyed all the extra space and the extra bathroom. The rooms were large and comfortable and each had a sofa for extra seating which we appreciated.

 

Beds! - The beds were definitely superior to Princess. So much more comfortable and the bedding and pillows were wonderful as well.

 

Theme Trivia - We really enjoy trivia and the Spirit offered lots of trivia options with different themes like 60s, 70s, 80s, movie, music, Broadway, sports, etc. It was lots of fun! There was still general knowledge trivia everday as well so a very good variety. The prizes were a little cheesy with the gold plastic Carnival ship on a stick, but still fun. I would have welcomed a luggage tag or pen though after we got our fifth ship!

 

Karaoke - The Karaoke host on the Spirit was high energy and fun and all ages were able to participate. There was plenty of time for family Karaoke and then adults only after 10 p.m. My daughter is a singer and she was thrilled that they were able to use her own CDs in addition to the playlist.

 

Entertainment - The entertainment was great. Several very funny comedians and a very good hypnotist plus three very good production shows with some good singers and really fantastic dancers.

 

Water Slides - There were two water slides that were really popular with young and old alike, especially the new one - Green Thunder. Too much thrill for me, but my daughter enjoyed them!

 

Casino - My husband really enjoys the casinos onboard and especially playing Craps. Even though he has been part of the Player's Club on Princess from the beginning, we have never received one perk for his gambling time. On just this one cruise with the Carnival Player's benefit we were receiving free cocktails and were sent a nice bottle of wine with our second formal dinner. Also, my 18 year old son was allowed to play in the Casino and had a great time.

 

Sodas - Carnival serves sodas from cans which was nice as they were always fresh and never flat. Cost of the soda cards was comparable to Princess.

 

Warm Chocolate Melting Cake - Carnival's signature dessert and truly as yummy as people have raved it is.

 

Dancing waiters - I know this bugs some people, but it really didn't interfere with our dining experience and I honestly found it fun!

 

Towel Animals - Love those little critters. Got cute ones every night and learned to make several at the towel folding seminar.

 

Mini Golf - Really loved the Mini-Golf course and spent several fun afternoons putting away!

 

Now, here are some things I prefer about Princess:

 

International Cafe - I never really realized how much I loved the International Cafe until it wasn't there. Carnival really has nothing similar and I missed the easy access to quick sandwiches, snacks and desserts.

 

Food - This is not really a criticism of the food on Carnival. It was all good and we never had a bad meal, but if I had to rate them on a scale I would have to give the edge to Princess when it comes to food. Overall I think that the quality and consistency of Princess meals is just a bit better. Carnival really has some great appetizers and cold soups.

 

Buffet - I never thought I would praise the Princess buffet set up because I find it challenging generally, but the buffet set up on the Spirit was crazy. It had different stations that were chaotic and difficult to navigate.

 

Pizza - Princess wins on Pizza, hands down!

 

Afternoon Tea - Carnival afternoon tea was pleasant and I appreciated that we each received our own pot of hot water with a choice of tea. But the selection of sandwiches was poor, the scones not as good as Princess and although there was strawberries and cream, no jams were offered. Plus it was only on the sea days, not everyday. Still it was nice and the piano player was wonderful. Just giving the edge to Princess here as they really do offer a superior afternoon tea.

 

Pools - The pools on the Spirit were nice and the surrounding areas pleasant for sitting, but the fresh water pools and beautiful pool areas on Princess are definitely more inviting.

 

Shops - I found the selection in the shops onboard the Spirit really weak compared to the shops on Princess. The Princess shopping areas are much nicer and better stocked with a wider variety of merchandise.

 

Lounges - I missed the lounges on Princess like Explorers, Wheelhouse and Vista which are much more nicely laid out and utilized. Really the only live music for dancing on the Spirit was in the Dance Club which is not really family friendly. We enjoy the bands, games, dancing and other activities that Princess offers in the lounges. Most of the evening entertainment on the Spirit was either in the theater or comedy club. The Fountain cafe where trivia was usually held was more of an open area adjacent to where people are walking through. It just didn't have the same feel.

 

Teen/Young Adult program - I really thought that perhaps we would find this better on Carnival, but honestly my daughter spent little time in the club and didn't care for the activities they offered. And there were no organized meets or activities for the 18-20 year olds which was disappointing for my son.

 

Final thoughts:

 

Overall the service was comparable on Carnival and the staff and crew were exceptionally friendly and accomodating. Anytime Dining worked really well and we found a great wait team the first evening that we returned to every night. The other passengers were friendly and fun. We did not run into one problem person. Overall the age definitely skewed a bit younger - there were lots of younger families, couples and very young at heart seniors. The mood was always festive and light and I honestly heard a lot less complaining and crabbiness then I sometimes do on Princess. People dressed very well on Elegant Nights and yet on casual nights dressy shorts were allowed in the dining rooms and nobody seemed to mind. They are actually permitted per Carnival dress guidelines. All in all it was a very relaxed and relaxing cruise which seems to be what we all desire in a vacation. There was something fun for everyone!

 

All in all there was a lot to like about Carnival and we would definitely do a Carnival cruise again given the right price and itinerary. Princess is still our favorite choice in cruise lines, but I am glad to know that we have other nice options out there as well. Next stop - HAL for our Alaska cruise!!

[califgary]

Im glad we tried Carnival for our first cruise - after that one we've done Celebrity, Princess and HAL. Knowing the big differences on the latter cruises - we would probably not ever think about doing Carnival again - definitly sub-par compared to Celebrity - Princess - HAL.