A NCL/Royal Caribbean Cruiser sails Carnival

[mishcruise]

I am very surprised about the beach towel incident, I have never encountered that on a Carnival cruise and have many friends that cruise CCL and they have never mentioned it. That's just odd.

 

In regard to the buffet, it is what it is...a buffet, although I have always thought that the variety of food was good (salads, pizza, asian, deli, etc.). I find if I want a "nice" lunch or breakfast, the MDR is the place to go!! Plus it's always a fun way to meet new people :)

[jakesnana]

:eek: Wot! no proper breakfast? :eek:

 

That is a definite deal-breaker to me (not that I was looking at Carnival anyway). I know there are lots of complaints on the Carnival board about cost-cutting but that seems a real step too far.

 

 

Freshly cooked Eggs Benedict with a mimosa before a relaxing sea-day is one of life's real pleasures.

 

As has been mentioned, the only time breakfast is offered in the MDR is on the sea days (which has been the case for awhile) and it is now called the Punchliner Comedy Club Brunch. You can still get your Eggs Benedict (outcome questionable, according to current OP) and mimosa, but you will be subjected to 5-10 minutes of comedy over a loud speaker.

 

Personally, I like the idea of a brunch vs. a traditional breakfast. I AM NOT a morning person on vacation (usually close the casino at 2-3 AM), but I like the fact that I could still get a sit down breakfast at 10-10:30 AM.

[mitsugirly]

Plus it's always a fun way to meet new people :)

 

Ok, so I guess I have to ask...are you seated with other people at the table in the MDR? That's what it was like back when I first started cruising and I hated it.

 

Although I love meeting new people and I'm a very friendly person and will talk to anyone (and also strike up a convo in elevators, on deck, at the bar and so on), I don't like to be forced to sit with who they put me with. So, if you sign up for this "my time" dining...are you still seated where they want you to be and with others on the cruise? Or do you get to sit at a table for just your family? :confused:

[katcas]

I found your review interesting. I have sailed on two Carnival cruised over the last 4 years, the last one being last November on Liberty. Sounds like you got a bum of a room steward. Never have I, or anyone I cruised with, been approached to buy a towel animal or book. Seems like he was mad because he thought you complained.

I have loved both of my cruises. The food was great, loved the deli. My husband and one of my sons had the breakfast burrito almost every morning! We ate in the main dining room twice but last year it wasn't the Comedy thing. That would bug me I must say.

They do have music by the pool which is loud, not obnoxiously, but I am in my 40's, not 80's. I love the festive atmosphere.

To those thinking about Carnival, don't count them out. A cruise it what you make of it. I am sailing to Bermuda from Boston in June on my first NCL cruise and am very looking forward to it. I know it will be different than Carnival but as long as I don't have to clean or cook and can lounge around with a drink in my hand, I am good!

Keep your minds open, if the itinerary works, then try it. You can't compare, every cruise line is going to have something you love and don't love.

[SteveH2508]

As has been mentioned, the only time breakfast is offered in the MDR is on the sea days (which has been the case for awhile) and it is now called the Punchliner Comedy Club Brunch. You can still get your Eggs Benedict (outcome questionable, according to current OP) and mimosa, but you will be subjected to 5-10 minutes of comedy over a loud speaker.

 

Personally, I like the idea of a brunch vs. a traditional breakfast. I AM NOT a morning person on vacation (usually close the casino at 2-3 AM), but I like the fact that I could still get a sit down breakfast at 10-10:30 AM.

 

Agreed about brunch BUT I do like a 'proper' breakfast if I'm doing a long excursion that day. The thought of a comedian at breakfast fills me with horror - as does sitting with strangers for breakfast. DW and me; light conversation and periods of silence; plenty of good coffee and a fresh cooked breakfast works for me. Different strokes for different folks I suppose.

 

I am a night owl in the casino as well but I do like it when someone else cooks my breakfast (and cleans up after it!) (Best hangover cure BTW) ;)

 

I shall stay with NCL for the moment thanks.

[emcelh]

Ok, so I guess I have to ask...are you seated with other people at the table in the MDR? That's what it was like back when I first started cruising and I hated it.

 

Although I love meeting new people and I'm a very friendly person and will talk to anyone (and also strike up a convo in elevators, on deck, at the bar and so on), I don't like to be forced to sit with who they put me with. So, if you sign up for this "my time" dining...are you still seated where they want you to be and with others on the cruise? Or do you get to sit at a table for just your family? :confused:

 

I have the same question. I've only been on 1 Carnival cruise and much prefer NCL's dining options. It was a smaller and older ship so that might have made a difference. The food itself was good (not much difference there) but we were assigned to late seating because it was a late booking and were always hungry before 815PM so we'd go to the buffet to get something to hold us over. We ended up eating more than we should have even though some nights we didn't even go to dinner.

[jakesnana]

Agreed about brunch BUT I do like a 'proper' breakfast if I'm doing a long excursion that day. The thought of a comedian at breakfast fills me with horror - as does sitting with strangers for breakfast. DW and me; light conversation and periods of silence; plenty of good coffee and a fresh cooked breakfast works for me. Different strokes for different folks I suppose.

 

I am a night owl in the casino as well but I do like it when someone else cooks my breakfast (and cleans up after it!) (Best hangover cure BTW) ;)

 

I shall stay with NCL for the moment thanks.

 

I don't remember if breakfast is offered in the MDR on port days on NCL, but I will find out shortly (sail on Star in 1 week). I know for a fact that the MDR is not open for breakfast on Carnival on port days. Therefore, getting a "proper, sit down breakfast" prior to doing a long excursion would NEVER happen on Carnival.

[soccersharon]

I found your review interesting. I have sailed on two Carnival cruised over the last 4 years, the last one being last November on Liberty. Sounds like you got a bum of a room steward. Never have I, or anyone I cruised with, been approached to buy a towel animal or book. Seems like he was mad because he thought you complained.

I have loved both of my cruises. The food was great, loved the deli. My husband and one of my sons had the breakfast burrito almost every morning! We ate in the main dining room twice but last year it wasn't the Comedy thing. That would bug me I must say.

They do have music by the pool which is loud, not obnoxiously, but I am in my 40's, not 80's. I love the festive atmosphere.

To those thinking about Carnival, don't count them out. A cruise it what you make of it. I am sailing to Bermuda from Boston in June on my first NCL cruise and am very looking forward to it. I know it will be different than Carnival but as long as I don't have to clean or cook and can lounge around with a drink in my hand, I am good!

Keep your minds open, if the itinerary works, then try it. You can't compare, every cruise line is going to have something you love and don't love.

 

I feel the same way - really have enjoyed the Carnival product to date, and am really looking forward to The Epic!

[soccersharon]

Forgot to mention earlier, that the Deli is usually open all day, and late as I recall, as well as the pizza place. I also took advantage of room service for lunch one day. Service is prompt and courteous (don't forget to tip). The open-face shrimp salad sandwiches are really good. Perhaps something to keep in mind should you wish to try Carnival again.

[Tatka]

Even though I am not a fan of Carnival, if you decide to give it a try, look into Spirit class of Carnival: Spirit, Legend, Miracle, Pride. We (and not only we) felt that they are more enjoyable ships of CCL.

[SteveH2508]

I don't remember if breakfast is offered in the MDR on port days on NCL, but I will find out shortly (sail on Star in 1 week). I know for a fact that the MDR is not open for breakfast on Carnival on port days. Therefore, getting a "proper, sit down breakfast" prior to doing a long excursion would NEVER happen on Carnival.

 

A year ago, (when I was last on board on an NCL ship), proper breakfast was served every day in the MDR. I think the debarkation day breakfast menu in the MDR was reduced (as was the time it was available).

 

+1 for NCL I think! :D

[mishcruise]

I have the same question. I've only been on 1 Carnival cruise and much prefer NCL's dining options. It was a smaller and older ship so that might have made a difference. The food itself was good (not much difference there) but we were assigned to late seating because it was a late booking and were always hungry before 815PM so we'd go to the buffet to get something to hold us over. We ended up eating more than we should have even though some nights we didn't even go to dinner.

 

After looking at some other comments, I am thinking that Carnival does not offer a regular breakfast in the MDR? That's too bad, our cruise last Oct they still had breakfast. But with that being said, I would think that you could have your choice to sit with others or just your family/friends, we just always enjoy sitting with others. I don't know how people are seated with the "My Time" dining on Carnival, I always prefer to have the set dining time.

[BaseballMomof4]

As many have said, you will have as many different opinions about a cruise and the line as you have people on board. I agree with some of OP's opinions but will say that, as you can see in my sig I have exclusively sailed Carnival thus far and I have never had a bad vacation.

 

So far we (family of 5) have sailed the Triumph in an ocean view, the Imagination in an ocean view, the Glory in a balcony and the Liberty in a balcony.

 

I have always found the cabins to be a nice size and we all love the beds and bedding.

 

Never have any of us gone hungry. There was always a food option available day or night and we never felt pushed to a pay restaurant due to lack of quality. If we didn't like something we simply told the server and they brought us something different with a smile.

 

Not a fan of the big production shows so I cannot comment on those but the comedy club and the piano bar truly entertained us on each of our cruises! Not to mention the movies on the big screen on our last cruise - great fun to sit in the hot tub with my popcorn and watch a movie under the stars!

 

I am looking forward to sailing the Epic next May - trying something totally different - and plan to do an extensive review.

[terrymtex01]

OP.. I want to thank you for posting your review here, giving it the point of view from someone who has sailed NCL. Our first cruise together was on Carnival and although there are many things that I could say that were positive about it, it just wasn't a good fit for me. My partner enjoyed it more than I did. I do believe that not every cruise line is for every one. Just because I would rather not cruise on carnival does not mean Carnival isn't a good cruise line, it just means it doesn't fit me. NCL is really the best overall fit for us, although we do enjoy RCCL quite a bit. If RCCL had the same casino perks as NCL, we would be very torn on which to cruise.

 

Thank you again for posting your review. I very much enjoyed reading it.

[halos]

it just wasn't a good fit for me.

 

That there means everything. Finding a line (or several) that fit you is key. For us, at this point in time, NCL is the best fit. Carnival still works, but NCL is more comfortable for us right now and after having just cruised both lines within a 5 month period of each other, we are 100% sure that it will be a while before we book CCL again unless something there changes.

[ripjerry95]

Thanks for your review. We have sailed Carnival 2x. The most recent in June. The only reason was that the summer prices on Carnival was significantly cheaper so we went with Carnival over NCL. Had NCL's prices been better when we booked our summer cruise we would have gone with them in a second. The 2 Carnival cruises have been on older ships. We had no issues. But we have also sailed NCL 2x and are partial to NCL and the "freestyle" cruising. We are planning our next cruise in 2014 on the NCL Epic. We really would chose NCL 99% of the time.

 

Sorry to hear about your issues. The "towel selling" is very strange! Never heard of that happening nor have we ever had that happen to us. WOW!

[Venusleo1]

Thanks for all of your comments folks! :)

Like someone said "it just doesnt fit us".

NCL wins hands down on buffets over CCL and Royal. I miss eggs benedict at the buffet and yummy creps, and ohh those pretzle rolls, so good~!

[SuiteCruiser]

I too prefer NCL, though I've done more CCL cruises, NCL is now my choice. My last CCL cruise was in January 2011 and we had anytime dining. The three of us sat at our own table, though the other tables were quite close.

 

Because they still do the dancing waiter thing on CCL, if you didn't time it right, your dinner could be interrupted by it, delaying your food service.

 

For lunch, they would put you at an 8 top and fill it up with whoever came behind you. I'm sure if you complained, they would seat you on your own, but if you don't know better ahead of time, it would be very awkward to state that in front of your new table mates.

 

Of course, we still had a good time, but once back on board an NCL ship, I realized I was home.

[terrymtex01]

Thanks for all of your comments folks! :)

Like someone said "it just doesnt fit us".

NCL wins hands down on buffets over CCL and Royal. I miss eggs benedict at the buffet and yummy creps, and ohh those pretzle rolls, so good~!

 

You totally just reminded me I wanted to comment on buffets. I have never been on a cruise ship where I liked the buffet, with the exception of the Pearl. They have got buffet dining DOWN. If you are into buffets, you have got to try the Pearl some time. I AM A HUGE fan of NCL. Doesn't mean I do not appreciate other cruise lines, but I say that to show that for me to give them a negative really means something to me. Their buffet along with everyone else's buffets suck IMHO.. lol. Except like I say, the Pearl. The seating was superior, the food was superior and the staff was superior. Honestly when we cruised on the Pearl there were actually nights where we debated if we wanted to eat in a restaurant or the buffet. AND FOR ME to say that, is HUGE. I hate buffets..8-)

[Medtech2]

You totally just reminded me I wanted to comment on buffets. I have never been on a cruise ship where I liked the buffet, with the exception of the Pearl. They have got buffet dining DOWN. If you are into buffets, you have got to try the Pearl some time. I AM A HUGE fan of NCL. Doesn't mean I do not appreciate other cruise lines, but I say that to show that for me to give them a negative really means something to me. Their buffet along with everyone else's buffets suck IMHO.. lol. Except like I say, the Pearl. The seating was superior, the food was superior and the staff was superior. Honestly when we cruised on the Pearl there were actually nights where we debated if we wanted to eat in a restaurant or the buffet. AND FOR ME to say that, is HUGE. I hate buffets..8-)

The buffet on the Epic was wonderful...

[bluesea777]

You totally just reminded me I wanted to comment on buffets. I have never been on a cruise ship where I liked the buffet, with the exception of the Pearl. They have got buffet dining DOWN. If you are into buffets, you have got to try the Pearl some time. I AM A HUGE fan of NCL. Doesn't mean I do not appreciate other cruise lines, but I say that to show that for me to give them a negative really means something to me. Their buffet along with everyone else's buffets suck IMHO.. lol. Except like I say, the Pearl. The seating was superior, the food was superior and the staff was superior. Honestly when we cruised on the Pearl there were actually nights where we debated if we wanted to eat in a restaurant or the buffet. AND FOR ME to say that, is HUGE. I hate buffets..8-)

 

I checked your signature and see the Pearl is the only Jewel class you have been on and you haven't been on Epic.

 

The buffet on the Epic was wonderful...

 

Righto! We find Epic the best, followed by Pearl (Gem is exact same) and Jade (Jewel is same), and then others.

[jordans mom]

I have sailed on Carnival in the past - and would concur - it was my first and last - never again on Carnival - they had no interest in addressing problems when they arose- and they were SERIOUS problems (I wont bore you - but they were safety issues and it freake dme out - and I am considered the cool & collected one in my circles)

 

I did Disney as well as NCL. But with NCL I have a higher number of cruises on.

 

Will never do Carnival again - would do Disney in a heartbeat if I had young ones/teens with me ever again -

 

For Now - its NCL - although I have been eyeing the smaller cruise lines - I hate to give up the perks we have accumulated being NCL repeaters

 

Thanks for your thoughts!