More Lies about Carnival

[tikimon]

Let me first say that I have been asked about my take on cruising, which cruiselines I've cruised, which one's I liked, ports of call I've been to, how's the food, what there is to do, etc, etc from a guy that is one of my business suppliers, this has gone on for at least 2 years.

 

I've told him about Carnival as my 1st choice and also about RCI and Prnicess as these are the only 3 lines I've been on, so I could not give an opinion on any others.

 

Well the other day I was talking to him and he and his family booked a Disiney cruise out of Port Carnival for 7 days, he said his wife chose Disiney because they have 2 small girls and wanted to make sure that they had a nice and fun experienance on their 1st cruise.

 

Tom goes on to begin to tell me what a wonderful time that they all had and that they were wanting to book another cruise shortly after getting back home, ( now another cruise junkie ), but that they would like to try another cruiseline.

 

So in the process of talking amoung themselves while still on the Disiney cruise, he begins asking others what cruises they would recommend and came across a guy that told him DO NOT take your children on a Carnival cruise.

He asked what's the problem with Carnival and the guy tells him it's not a curiseline for children because they have ( Wet Tee Shirt Contest ) up on the pool deck every day.

Also they have ( Drinking Contests ) to see who can consume the most drinks in a 10 min time limit and after this is over there are so many drunk people all over the ship being rude and fighting with other passengers and puking all over the place.

They allow smoking all over the ship and you can't get away from it.

He also said that the waiters in the Dining Room dance on every table before you can finish your meal.

 

I said are you for real?

 

I told him out of all the 18 cruises I have never witnessed these contest nor have I ever heard of them being displayed on any cruiseship.

 

Tom goes on to tell me that he asked the guy how many times he had been on Carnival and the guy says never, so Tom says if you've never been on Carnival how do know that this stuff goes on.

The guy replies I was told by my sisters best friend.

 

Is this not the most rediculious thing you have ever heard of.

 

Why do people feel the need to give advise about something they know nothing about?

[treasure4two]

I told him out of all the 18 cruises I have never witnessed these contest nor have I ever heard of them being displayed on any cruiseship.

 

Tom goes on to tell me that he asked the guy how many times he had been on Carnival and the guy says never, so Tom says if you've never been on Carnival how do know that this stuff goes on.

The guy replies I was told by my sisters best friend.

 

Is this not the most rediculious thing you have ever heard of.

 

Why do people feel the need to give advise about something they know nothing about?

**

I have heard of contests, but never saw them because I had other things to do. People party and get drunk on all cruise lines. I did hear Disney is nice, but never tried.

I do not talk about things I did not personally see or did but my answer to your question-people talk because of their own need to feel important and have an audience. It makes them feel smart-but to me, it just makes them very sad. They are the same people that will put down others to make themselves feel or look better. Again, sad people.

[okgirl]

I think people want to be perceived as knowing more than they actually do.

 

I liken people spreading these stories about Carnival to those childhood games where everyone sits in a circle and the 1st person whispers a story into the ear of the person next to them and then the 2nd person repeats it to the 3rd person and so on.........by the time the last person announces what they have been told it doesn't even resemble the original story.

 

If I were ever going to sail on another cruiseline, I would seek out 1st hand information and never give any weight to the "I've heard" opinions.

[tikimon]

I gave Tom my honest opinion of all 3 cruiselines, of how they are alike and different in some areas.

 

I am not a cheerleader for any cruiseline.

 

I have yet to have a bad cruise from any of them and would recomend any of the 3 to anyone that has never cruised before.

 

But as I told Tom that my experiences would probably differ a little or even alot from what he may find upon any given cruise of any week from the 3 different lines.

 

I just find myself always looking at Carnival as my 1st choice when wanting to book a cruise.

If they don't have what I'm looking for then I will take a look at the others.

[sparks1093]

I think people want to be perceived as knowing more than they actually do.

 

 

I think this nails it.:)

[INTERLINER13]

Can I find info on the wet tee shirt contest in the funtimes? Also is the alcohol free during the contest for contestants? JK

 

Never witnessed any of that, except the occasional people who drink to much. Sure it happens on all lines. Carnival cruises can be very weird sometimes. Some cruises can be loaded with kids. Some are loaded with older people. My parents did the Freedom 8 day out of FLL. They chose this over a celebrity cruise(they've cruised both) as they wanted more of a fun atmosphere. On there return they joked around that the activities/ship were more fun, but the passengers were just like a Celebrity crowd.

Id say its just totally dependant to when you cruise. Spring breaks/school vacations will likely be a little crazy.

 

Also for me Disney cruises are way too expensive. Even with a 40 percent discount.

[higgib]

I think people want to be perceived as knowing more than they actually do.

 

I liken people spreading these stories about Carnival to those childhood games where everyone sits in a circle and the 1st person whispers a story into the ear of the person next to them and then the 2nd person repeats it to the 3rd person and so on.........by the time the last person announces what they have been told it doesn't even resemble the original story.

 

If I were ever going to sail on another cruiseline, I would seek out 1st hand information and never give any weight to the "I've heard" opinions.

 

Chinese Whispers!!! Used to love that game when I was a kid! Seriously, speak as you find. Everyone looks for different things in a holiday so will perceive things differently. You just need to look at all the info before you book, then try to have the best time.

[darth frosty]

Carnival is a Convenient strawman for some to beat up on.

 

I tried to organize a group/family cruise and my SIL refuses to go on carnival she says How its a party boat and all these bad things 2nd or 3rd hand, but when her SISTER AND I tell her the great time we have had on THREE different carnival ships and show her over a 1000 pics of the cruise, she still has the biased attitude.

 

Its like cruiseline racism!

[sparks1093]

Its like cruiseline racism!

 

Love it!

[MargieWY]

they have ( Wet Tee Shirt Contest ) up on the pool deck

 

Not quite wet t-shirt contests, but some of those pool games can get R-rated and racy.

 

Also they have ( Drinking Contests ) there are so many drunk people all over the ship being rude and fighting with other passengers

 

Carnival is NOT known for discouraging drinking. From the moment you get on, they are shoving alcohol on your face. Some of the most popular onboard activities include free alcohol samplings and bartending competitions.

 

While saying that there are SO many drunk people onboard may be an exaggeration, pretending that everyone walking around the ship is sober and pleasant is an even bigger exaggeration.

 

They allow smoking all over the ship and you can't get away from it.

 

They may have designated "non-smoking" areas, but these are constantly violated by smokers and nobody does anything to stop it. Carnival's smoking policies and designated smoking areas DO make it hard to get away from the smoke.

 

He also said that the waiters in the Dining Room dance on every table before you can finish your meal.

 

A bit exaggerated, but the dancing waiters ARE there. In fact, there's a thred going on right now about how some people hate the dancing waiters.

 

Is this not the most ridiculous thing you have ever heard of.

 

No, it's not ridiculous at all. Exaggerated and blown out of proportion, YES. But the claims do have a genuine basis...

[funinthesun1964]

Not quite wet t-shirt contests, but some of those pool games can get R-rated and racy.

 

I"ve never seen anything "racy". Nothing that I would be ashamed to take my children to when they were younger.

 

Nor have I had anyone "shoving alcohol in my face". It's there for those who want to purchase. How do the waiters know who would like a drink and who wouldn't? Just say "no thanks". I only had one drink the entire seven days of my first cruise, and I never felt awkward or terrible about this.

 

As far as the dancing waiters go, no one has to look at them, or is forced go to the dining room. there's always the steakhouse, room service or Lido buffet if you are offended by the dancing waiters (which only happens maybe 2 days of the cruise).

 

Exaggerated? To say the least.

[TriciaEMTB]

I LOVE THE DANCING WAITERS!!!!!

 

As someone who doesn't drink, I didnt find alcohol shoved down my throat. They would ask, I would say no thank you, they would smile and move on.

 

I didn't notice anyone obnoxiously fall on your butt drunk. Where they there? Of course, I'm sure, but they weren't the norm.

 

I had a coworker tell me he ONLY sails RCI and I would be miserable on Carnival. I had a blast. Everyone was so friendly and I loved the dancing waiters.

 

Sent from my PC36100 using Tapatalk

[packedandready]

DH and I are booked on our first CCL cruise next month. I'll be honest and admit we've stayed away from Carnival because of all the things we've "heard". We've done 8 RCCL and 2 Celebrity with Celebrity our favorite.

 

We'll be cruising with family and because of their school/work schedules and port options Carnival was our only option. This will be their first cruise. We've only done 7-13 day cruises previously and this will be a 5 day, so not quite a equal comparison.

 

The way I see it we have 3 possibilities....

 

1. Something majorly bad will happen that will leave such a bad impressions that Carnival will be completely crossed off our list.

 

2. We'll discover that the 3 lines are more alike than different and be just as happy on anyone of them.

 

3. We'll have a new favorite.

 

Whatever the case.......We've going with an open mind determined to have a good time with family we don't get to see often enough.

 

After all.......I'll be on a cruise:D

[dfgf]

Not quite wet t-shirt contests, but some of those pool games can get R-rated and racy.

 

Really? There's sexually-oriented nudity, drug abuse or persistent violence in some of Carnival's contests? You must have cruised a different itinerary than I've been on.

[dfgf]

DH and I are booked on our first CCL cruise next month. I'll be honest and admit we've stayed away from Carnival because of all the things we've "heard". We've done 8 RCCL and 2 Celebrity with Celebrity our favorite.

 

We'll be cruising with family and because of their school/work schedules and port options Carnival was our only option. This will be their first cruise. We've only done 7-13 day cruises previously and this will be a 5 day, so not quite a equal comparison.

 

The way I see it we have 3 possibilities....

 

1. Something majorly bad will happen that will leave such a bad impressions that Carnival will be completely crossed off our list.

 

2. We'll discover that the 3 lines are more alike than different and be just as happy on anyone of them.

 

3. We'll have a new favorite.

 

Whatever the case.......We've going with an open mind determined to have a good time with family we don't get to see often enough.

 

After all.......I'll be on a cruise:D

 

Sounds like you have the right attitude to almost guarantee a good cruise. I didn't enjoy my first cruise on Carnival. Decided to give them a second chance and had a great cruise last month. You can read all of my impressions here, along with multiple comparisons between Carnival and Royal Caribbean: http://boards.cruisecritic.com/showthread.php?t=1626509

[H82seaUgo]

Let me first say that I have been asked about my take on cruising, which cruiselines I've cruised, which one's I liked, ports of call I've been to, how's the food, what there is to do, etc, etc from a guy that is one of my business suppliers, this has gone on for at least 2 years.

 

I've told him about Carnival as my 1st choice and also about RCI and Prnicess as these are the only 3 lines I've been on, so I could not give an opinion on any others.

 

Well the other day I was talking to him and he and his family booked a Disiney cruise out of Port Carnival for 7 days, he said his wife chose Disiney because they have 2 small girls and wanted to make sure that they had a nice and fun experienance on their 1st cruise.

 

Tom goes on to begin to tell me what a wonderful time that they all had and that they were wanting to book another cruise shortly after getting back home, ( now another cruise junkie ), but that they would like to try another cruiseline.

 

So in the process of talking amoung themselves while still on the Disiney cruise, he begins asking others what cruises they would recommend and came across a guy that told him DO NOT take your children on a Carnival cruise.

He asked what's the problem with Carnival and the guy tells him it's not a curiseline for children because they have ( Wet Tee Shirt Contest ) up on the pool deck every day.

Also they have ( Drinking Contests ) to see who can consume the most drinks in a 10 min time limit and after this is over there are so many drunk people all over the ship being rude and fighting with other passengers and puking all over the place.

They allow smoking all over the ship and you can't get away from it.

He also said that the waiters in the Dining Room dance on every table before you can finish your meal.

 

I said are you for real?

 

I told him out of all the 18 cruises I have never witnessed these contest nor have I ever heard of them being displayed on any cruiseship.

 

Tom goes on to tell me that he asked the guy how many times he had been on Carnival and the guy says never, so Tom says if you've never been on Carnival how do know that this stuff goes on.

The guy replies I was told by my sisters best friend.

 

Is this not the most rediculious thing you have ever heard of.

 

Why do people feel the need to give advise about something they know nothing about?

 

the only thing he is remotely correct about is the beer drinking contest. a string of people used to line up and drink glasses of beer as quick as possible, eliminating people as they went along.

 

eventually, there would be two remaining teams, who would appear surprised that their last feat was to down a yard of ale! :eek

 

gone also is the pie eating, the pillow fighting, the male nightgown contest, and the skeet shooting.

 

anyway, i had heard none of this nonsence prior to my first carnival cruise. in fact, it was another 10 years till i found cruise critic on aol in 1996.

 

eventually, i started reading, and hearing this stuff you mention. my first question was always inquiring as to if they ever cruised carnival? the answer was always invariably, "no, but i heard....".

 

even today, i sometimes read "back in the 90's it was like that. "hey bud, it wasn't, cause i cruised way before that and never experienced it.

 

now, to say it NEVER happened is just wrong as well, cause i've seen and heard some intresested fact backed incidents that some have experienced.

 

something as simple as "table dancing". when the newer bigger ships came out, yes, select individuals started dancing on those circular serve stantions. i always contested someone when they would say people danced on the table, until someone posted a picure of someone dancing on an actual table. i never said never again, but i can still say i've never witnessed this personally.

 

but even weeding through all these "i heard" statements, it's always refreshing those that had heard, yet sailed, pst their contrasts to fiction, to reality.

[spunkie4]

Have cruised Carnival 13 out of our 26 cruises. Three booked on Carnival for the remainder of this year.

 

Our grandchildren love Carnival. We have watched them grow from age 3 and 5 to 16 and 12 and they always have a great time.

 

Never witnessed a drinking contest.

 

Smoking is now prohibited in stateroom and only allowed in designated areas on the ships.

 

Never witnessed dining room employees dancing on the tables. they do dance around the dining room and this is often joined by cruises. children love this.

 

All in all Carnival is a great experience. This past Christmas the ship in Jacksonville was loaded with families and children, all seeming to have a wonderful time.

 

Shirley

[crusinfamof4]

We have sailed Disney and Carnival. We sailed Disney first as I had heard all the rumors about Carnival as well. I was bored as could be on Disney. Bored. I couldn't find enough things to do. When we sailed the Dream, I had so much fun. There was ALWAYS something to do. I never saw a wet tee contest or how much can you drink in 10 min, nor did I see anyone fight. I saw plenty of you tube videos showing fights on Carnival ships, but none broke out on my ship.

 

My best friend will only sail RCCL. I am trying to get her and her family to cruise with us in Nov but she won't. Trying to get them to cruise with us on the Dream in 2013, but she won't. I told her Carnival is def not as bad as the rumors are, she still won't listen.

 

Such as shame certain people won't try them. Had I known and gotten over my own worries, we could have been sailing long before now on Carnival. I would absolutely bring my sons onboard with us, and I would have done it before they were teens, had I known.

[sparks1093]

the only thing he is remotely correct about is the beer drinking contest. a string of people used to line up and drink glasses of beer as quick as possible, eliminating people as they went along.

 

eventually, there would be two remaining teams, who would appear surprised that their last feat was to down a yard of ale! :eek

 

gone also is the pie eating, the pillow fighting, the male nightgown contest, and the skeet shooting.

 

anyway, i had heard none of this nonsence prior to my first carnival cruise. in fact, it was another 10 years till i found cruise critic on aol in 1996.

 

eventually, i started reading, and hearing this stuff you mention. my first question was always inquiring as to if they ever cruised carnival? the answer was always invariably, "no, but i heard....".

 

even today, i sometimes read "back in the 90's it was like that. "hey bud, it wasn't, cause i cruised way before that and never experienced it.

 

now, to say it NEVER happened is just wrong as well, cause i've seen and heard some intresested fact backed incidents that some have experienced.

 

something as simple as "table dancing". when the newer bigger ships came out, yes, select individuals started dancing on those circular serve stantions. i always contested someone when they would say people danced on the table, until someone posted a picure of someone dancing on an actual table. i never said never again, but i can still say i've never witnessed this personally.

 

but even weeding through all these "i heard" statements, it's always refreshing those that had heard, yet sailed, pst their contrasts to fiction, to reality.

 

I think this is the longest post I've ever seen you make;).

 

As for the beer drinking contest, was it sponsored by CCL or was it just a bunch of passengers having a contest?

[packedandready]

Sounds like you have the right attitude to almost guarantee a good cruise. I didn't enjoy my first cruise on Carnival. Decided to give them a second chance and had a great cruise last month. You can read all of my impressions here, along with multiple comparisons between Carnival and Royal Caribbean: http://boards.cruisecritic.com/showthread.php?t=1626509

 

 

Thanks for the link, I enjoyed reading it. I'm looking forward to this cruise....I don't care what anyone else thinks..:p

[GottaLuvCruising]

More often than not, negative comments about Carnival come from folks who have never sailed with them, but instead "heard things". I completely discount their input as it has no value. I have sailed Carnival 13 times and a variety of lines 31 times - my opinions are based on actual experiences (still just opinions...)

[H82seaUgo]

Not quite wet t-shirt contests, but some of those pool games can get R-rated and racy.

.

 

i can only think of two pool games.

 

one was on a cruise where participants were prodded to buy mechanical swimming frogs, and the later, once back on board, there was a race to see which frog would make it across the pool first.

 

all the frogs were unclothed.

 

the other was a contest to collect ping pong balls from the pool by putting them in the participants own bathing suit.

then we would all count as they removed their balls and placed them in the bucket.

[H82seaUgo]

I think this is the longest post I've ever seen you make;).

 

As for the beer drinking contest, was it sponsored by CCL or was it just a bunch of passengers having a contest?

 

no school run today, but i still hate typing on a berry.

 

this was carnival sponsored, usually hosted by the cd or other staff member.

[sparks1093]

no school run today, but i still hate typing on a berry.

 

this was carnival sponsored, usually hosted by the cd or other staff member.

 

Thanks! A yard of ale after winning? Even back in the day I'da failed.

[keishashadow]

don't get me wrong, I love sailing on DCL for overall experience but CCL is far easier on pocketbook and has better selection of itineraries. DCL cruisers can be so clueless and snobby, many are overly invested in the mouse;) and freely dis' CCL, with total sum of their experience being a 3 day party cruise 10 years ago reinforced by their uncles' friends' trip report.:rolleyes: While i'm being judgemental let me add that the biggest, sloppiest drunks i've seen while cruising have been upon the DCL ships = amatuer night.