Carnival vs Princess B2B

[sewut]

I'm posting this on both boards. These are my observations on these two cruiselines.

DH and I recently sailed the Crown Princess (1/5/13) and then the Carnival Triumph. This was our first Princess Cruise and we are Platinum on Carnival. I'd like to post some observations I made on the two cruises. I was excited about the Princess cruise because we had a Mini Suite. It was D231, and our steward was Wendell. My first impression of the ship, however, was marred. We had stickers put on our shirts and were shunted off the gangway to another entrance. We had a glimpse of a corner of the atrium and then were shuttled through the stinky, smokey casino. It was not a good first impression. We were taken to elevators and upon boarding them, were asked what deck number. No idea, we just knew it was Dolphin. You have to look at a chart on the wall to figure out the number. Why not put the deck names beside the buttons? When we got off, I had a cramped, closed in feeling. The elevator lobbies are very small, and the corridors are very narrow. Carnival's lobbies and corridors feel spacious compared to Princess.

Our room was excellent. I didn't miss the Carnival pink ceiling at all. The bed, however, was another matter. The bed was not comfortable, and the pillows! There were 4 pillows, 1 hard and heavy, 1 soft and shapeless, and 2 medium. Carnival's bedding is much more comfortable. The closet was spacious, with no doors to play do-si-do with. There was a message light flashing on the phone, which made my stomach turn to stone. I had found out at the hotel that morning that my DF95 was in the hospital with pneumonia. The message was for the previous guests, thank goodness. The safe was locked also.

We had requested robes on my cruise personalizer. Wendell said we wouldn't get them until the next day as they were being washed. I also asked about ice at turndown as I was doing Physical Therapy for a shoulder injury. He told me to call room service. I wasn't about to bother room service for ice every evening and have to tip them for it. The robes didn't arrive the next day either. I left a note on day 3 and finally got them. They are not fluffy, terrycloth robes, but a waffle weave cotton. Carnival's robes are terrycloth and we often use them as a blanket when napping so we don't mess up the bed. Princess beach towels are blue and white striped oversized towels. Carnival's have the name and logo woven into them and are bigger and heavier. That can be a plus or minus when on an excursion.

We had ATD on both cruises. On Princess, it is a joke because they allow reservations. We waited 45 minutes on the first formal night to be seated. There is entertainment in the Piazza to watch while waiting. We were usually asked to share a table with "nice, friendly people". The first night we had a CC M&G, since it was pouring down rain, it was moved to the atrium. We were wearing Mardi Gras beads to recognize each other. We were also wearing windbreakers. We went right in to dinner since we were right there anyway. When we got to the table, we were taking off the beads. A woman at the table looked at us like you would look at something you stepped in. She was all dressed up, with multiple rings on her fingers, looking down her nose at us. We took off our windbreakers and enjoyed our meal. Two couples did most of the talking, mostly bragging and name dropping. After they left, the single man at the table opened up and talked to my husband. I excused myself and went to unpack. My impression from this was that people cruise for different reasons, some for a sea voyage, some for adventure. I'm for adventure, sorry for you, Mrs. Snob.

Muster was different too. On the Crown, we had to take our lifejackets with us to the theater, which had movie theater type seats. Once everyone was accounted for, (they scanned cards) they gave the lecture and we were told to stand and put on our lifejackets. Then we went back to our cabin to stow the lifejackets. Considering that it was raining, I was glad it didn't take place out on an open deck. On the Triumph, we didn't have to take lifejackets, but we were packed on an open deck like sardines. They demonstrated putting on lifejackets, but only those in front could see.

There were two flat screen tvs in our Princess cabin, with one remote that worked with both of them. It was handy for DH to watch tv from the sofa while I was doing Physical Therapy on the bed. The Triumph still has older tvs. The Princess channel was updated regularly with regard to temperature and location. The Triumph was remiss in this, posting the muster drill at 3:30 all week long, and no change in air or water temperature.

Carnival's Lido deck was LOUD. I wear hearing aids, and I would have to take them off, turning them down was not enough. We are used to the layout on Carnival, and had no trouble finding the food. Princess had the grill on one end of the open deck area, the pizza and ice cream in another area, the Horizon Court in a caged in area, and the Cafe Caribe buffet in the aft. It took awhile to get used to. The HC gave me that cramped, closed in feeling that I got in the elevator lobbies and corridors.

Food. These cruises were #13 and 14 for us. We had always eaten dinner in the MDR previously. We like dressing for dinner, except for the first night, when things are not always unpacked. We would check the menu on Princess each day and just didn't find anything worth dressing up for. We ate in HC or Cafe Caribe most nights. I did enjoy shrimp cocktail on both cruises, but Princess gives you much bigger shrimp. Carnival's is...well shrimpy. We like Carnival's burgers and had them for lunch several times. We tried the Princess burgers once and they were salty and bleah. Another food point is bacon. On Princess, they let you serve yourself and it's crisp and done. On Carnival, they ration it out, and it's partly raw. Yuck. Princess pizza is hand tossed crust with generous toppings and large slices. This made up for the burgers for us. Carnival's pizzas are smaller with smaller slices which make for longer wait time and longer lines. There is usually only one person working there, while Princess had several bakers and several ovens. On Princess, you get your food and sit down. A waiter will come for your drink orders. Carnival has self serve machines. DH didn't like waiting for his coffee, and often I would wait for a juice refill as the glasses were small. It also made it difficult to just get a glass of lemonade or ice water during the day on Princess. It could just be what we are used to. Ice cream, same thing, Carnival had self serve, Princess you had to wait in line to get a cone.

We watched a movie on the Lido deck on both ships. Princess had cushions on the loungers and blankets, and served popcorn. On Carnival, no cushions, no blanket, (bring your beach towel) and you had to go to the bar for popcorn and wait and wait.

We had cabin 1256 on the Triumph. It was right next to some double doors where they did something with the luggage carts. On the first day, I thought they were going to come through the wall! Someone must have been mad or having a hard time making things fit. On the last evening, it was back again. This room is an oceanview, and can't compare to the minisuite. The faucet was different from the other ships I've been on. I never did figure out how to get cold water, it was hot no matter which way I turned it.

My birthday occured on the Princess cruise. We chose that day to order the UBB that was a perk from our TA. It was delicious! We enjoyed it out on our balcony, and were going to enjoy leftover pastries later, but we didn't hide them well enough and our room steward took them.

DH doesn't think Princess is worth the extra money. I liked the quiter atmosphere...no hairy chest contest, less children in the hot tubs. DH didn't like the snobbish people the first night. We dress for dinner in the MDR, we wear formal clothes on formal night, he has a tuxedo, I have formal gowns, but he didn't feel like he fit in. Thanks Mrs. Snob.

[Pam in CA]

Thanks for the review and I hope you give Princess another try. Your embarkation experience is very different from any I've had on any Princess cruise. I've never, ever embarked in or near the Casino. My guess is that they were trying to stagger embarkation so one area didn't fill up.

 

Princess is slowly but surely changing the bedding. On the Star Princess last March, for instance, I had a wonderful pillow-top mattress that was very comfortable. As for the pillows, you can always request fresh ones.

 

Stewards replenish ice in the morning. They don't normally do it in the evening during turn-down. Calling room service isn't a big deal because they'll be there in 5-10 minutes. Give it a try. :)

[johnmik1]

Thanks for the review and I hope you give Princess another try. Your embarkation experience is very different from any I've had on any Princess cruise. I've never, ever embarked in or near the Casino. My guess is that they were trying to stagger embarkation so one area didn't fill up.

 

Princess is slowly but surely changing the bedding. On the Star Princess last March, for instance, I had a wonderful pillow-top mattress that was very comfortable. As for the pillows, you can always request fresh ones.

 

Stewards replenish ice in the morning. They don't normally do it in the evening during turn-down. Calling room service isn't a big deal because they'll be there in 5-10 minutes. Give it a try. :)

 

On our Ruby cruise,earlier this month, we kept getting a huge ice bucket every afternoon from room service.I mentioned this to the room steward who said he put in a standing room service for ice delivery everyday.I had never heard of this before.

[Pam in CA]

On our Ruby cruise,earlier this month, we kept getting a huge ice bucket every afternoon from room service.I mentioned this to the room steward who said he put in a standing room service for ice delivery everyday.I had never heard of this before.

You had a good steward who actually thought about what would make your cruise better. :)

[JasmineB]

Sewut, I was on the 1/5 Crown sailing as well (and stayed for a second week). How did the late arrival back in Galveston due to fog affect your ability to get onto the Triumph? Did it also sail back out on Saturday?

 

I've been on 15 cruises with Princess, 1 on the Carnival Triumph, and 1 on the RC Voyager of the seas. There is no doubt in my mind that I'd never go back to Carnival again.

 

The only complaint about Princess that you mentioned that I agree with is that the Anytime Dining availability can be pretty balky.

 

As far as your other issues, I think it's just a matter of personal preference as to how things are on each ship. I thought the bedding was fabulous, for example.

 

And whatever you experienced during boarding (stickers on your shirt? being herded thru the casino? never heard of such a thing).

[DShock]

We have never had the experience you described. Boarding has always been a "no brainer"...easy and efficient. And our room stewards...the best. We, like an earlier post, will never, as in ever, go back to Carnival. We have sailed RCL, Celebrity, Seaborne, HAL, and Crystal...but we like Princess the best. Seems to the "just right" for our preferences.

 

I'd definitely give Princess another go.

[linderbelle]

I agree with the others. Have sailed with Holland America, Royal Caribbean and Princess and friends asked us to go with them this past June on Carnival which I have never wanted to try. My first impression of the ship was cheap---cheaply made--right when I boarded I could tell the difference. This didn't bother me as I'm not picky. Our room stewart was great--service was great. The reason why I will never ever go on Carnival again is the food was awful. The friends we were with had just started going on cruises and never cruised with anything but Carnival--their first 2 cruises were short ones. They agreed with me. Again, I'm not picky but nothing like cold limp toast. Fried chicken where the breading I swear was 3 inches thick with no flavor--fruit--where was it besides the oranges and apples and cheap varieties. Just my two cents. I love Princess---not the moaners in regards to people and if you want to dress up go for it but for us after dressing up for many years on these cruises it's starting to get old. lol.

[MpwdMom]

Carnival's lobbies and corridors feel spacious compared to Princess.

Our room was excellent. I didn't miss the Carnival pink ceiling at all. The bed, however, was another matter. The bed was not comfortable, and the pillows! There were 4 pillows, 1 hard and heavy, 1 soft and shapeless, and 2 medium. Carnival's bedding is much more comfortable.

 

This was the biggest shock. We just got off the Crown last Sat. Having only cruised on Carnival - (Conquest and Magic) we thought all lines must have a wonderful bed and bedding. We even have Carnival Comfort pillows at home, that's how much we loved them.

 

Our bed on Princess was poor. If we cruise them again, we'll ask for an egg crate.

[caribill]

 

Thanks for a great comparison. I do have several comments.

 

My first impression of the ship, however, was marred. We had stickers put on our shirts and were shunted off the gangway to another entrance.

 

I have never had a sticker put on me when boarding. This must be something new or just for this ship or just for Galveston. Usually there are signs in the terminal directing people fore or aft based on cabin number, but the only thing that happens if you use the "wrong" gangway is that you end up walking further to get to your cabin once on the ship.

 

 

We were taken to elevators and upon boarding them, were asked what deck number. No idea, we just knew it was Dolphin.

 

Since you were asked, I assume that there was a staff person operating the elevator. The staff person should have been knowledgable enough that if told you wanted the Dolphin deck, he/she should have know what deck number to take you to. If not, poor training on Princess' part. You certainly would not have been alone in not knowing what deck name corresponded to which deck number.

 

 

I also asked about ice at turndown as I was doing Physical Therapy for a shoulder injury. He told me to call room service.

 

I agree this was poor service. We have always had the Princess cabin steward put ice in the cabin fridge. Although usually just once a day, it still had plenty unmelted in the evening.

 

 

When we got to the table, we were taking off the beads. A woman at the table looked at us like you would look at something you stepped in. She was all dressed up, with multiple rings on her fingers, looking down her nose at us. We took off our windbreakers and enjoyed our meal. Two couples did most of the talking, mostly bragging and name dropping.

 

Sorry about that. Snobs can be present on any cruise line.

 

 

Muster was different too. On the Crown, we had to take our lifejackets with us.

 

To me, this is the proper way to do it. Just seeing (or being unable to see) a demo does not mean you can put on a life jacket properly and in an emergency, many people will not do it correctly since they never tried it. Princess in an emergency will muster inside in the area you had the drill. This is for several reasons. One is that very, very few emergencies actually result in having to abondon ship. And the emergency can last for hours. Best to muster inside in relative comfort than to be out on deck for hours in whatever weather condition exists. Also, depending on the type of emergency, if leaving the ship was necessary, it is possible that the lifeboat you were assigned to is not usable. On Princess, staff would lead you to a usuable life boat.

 

 

On Princess, you get your food and sit down. A waiter will come for your drink orders. Carnival has self serve machines. DH didn't like waiting for his coffee, and often I would wait for a juice refill as the glasses were small. It also made it difficult to just get a glass of lemonade or ice water during the day on Princess.

 

Yes, Princess will serve you the drinks in the buffet, but unless the ship is under a norovirus alert, you can also go to a drink station and get them yourself. And if the juice glass is too small, ask the waiter for it in a large glass for for multiple glasses.

 

 

We had ATD on both cruises. On Princess, it is a joke because they allow reservations. We waited 45 minutes on the first formal night to be seated.

 

One problem with anytime (even if reservations are not allowed) is it depends on over 1500 passengers' definition of what time they would like to eat. Ideally, these desires are spread out evenly throughout the evening. But if more people decide "now" is the time to eat than can be accommodated, then there will be a wait, just like a restaurant on land.

 

 

Thanks again for a great report.

[sewut]

Sewut, I was on the 1/5 Crown sailing as well (and stayed for a second week). How did the late arrival back in Galveston due to fog affect your ability to get onto the Triumph? Did it also sail back out on Saturday?

 

I've been on 15 cruises with Princess, 1 on the Carnival Triumph, and 1 on the RC Voyager of the seas. There is no doubt in my mind that I'd never go back to Carnival again.

 

The only complaint about Princess that you mentioned that I agree with is that the Anytime Dining availability can be pretty balky.

 

As far as your other issues, I think it's just a matter of personal preference as to how things are on each ship. I thought the bedding was fabulous, for example.

 

And whatever you experienced during boarding (stickers on your shirt? being herded thru the casino? never heard of such a thing).

 

The Triumph didn't sail until the 14th. We stayed in Galveston two nights and were joined by DD and DGS for that cruise.

[B40 Tha Cruisa]

I recently sailed 8 days on Carnival and was underwhelmed as well. Having done quite a few Princess and then 4 NCL Cruises, I felt Carnival was a step down, even from NCL. We still had a blast and received good service, but I would agree that the Ship just did not feel as nice as a Princess or NCL ship - just my 2 cents.

[Texas Realtor]

Been on 3 carnival cruises. Loved the food. Have heard a lot of bad things lately.

 

After reading the princess board for a while now, I am looking forward to the decor and quieter atmosphere, but seriously concerned about the beds and the snobs.

[UpcountryTravelers]

Been on 3 carnival cruises. Loved the food. Have heard a lot of bad things lately.

 

After reading the princess board for a while now, I am looking forward to the decor and quieter atmosphere, but seriously concerned about the beds and the snobs.

 

Don't be concerned. The beds are fine, and in 8 Princess cruises, we've never met a snob.

 

And the coffee and juice station is right beside the exit to the food part of the buffet. Grab it on your way to your table. (Never had it brought to us - that is obviously something new and certain ships.)

[time2travl]

As far as bedding simply request an egg crate pad as we did...it was like sleeping on our expensive thempur-pedic at home. The robes just ask for the heavier ones and you will get that as well. The key to some of your issues was you simply need to ask, and if your cabin steward seems lazy or uncaring simply call the hotel manager. I think you should give Princess another try. It is geared to a more mature group except when their is spring break or such. I suggest you check to see if there is a roll call set before you book as this will give you a better idea. What ever you decide happy cruising to you.

[DrivesLikeMario]

We sailed the week you got off the Crown. We didn't encounter what you did and it amazes me how different two couples' experience can be!

Upon embarkation, we were not made to go through the casino, but the Atrium.

 

A sticker was never put on us.

 

We met many very, very nice people and only 1 GOM (Grouchy Old Man) the entire week. I figure that's pretty good odds. If there were any snobs, we never paid attention to them long enough to notice.

 

Many newbies didn't know which deck they needed at first and the Princess crew member translated the deck name (i.e. Dolphin) to push the Deck 9 button. No problem.

 

We did Anytime Dining at 6pm and 6:30pm on the formal nights and never had a wait. I expected one at that busy time, but didn't have it. We shared a table with others so perhaps that was the difference.

 

We told our cabin steward on the first day that we wanted:

a.) a sheet under the duvet

b.) extra towels all week

c.) ice every day

Each request was filled, as it almost always is with our Princess cruises.

 

I agree with you about the pillows and the new mattresses. They are terrible.

 

I'm sorry you had such a bad time. I do hope you try Princess again with an open mind. I've been on about 5 Carnival cruises and will never step foot on one again. I really do think you need to try a line more than once before you are sure they aren't for you. That's why I gave Carnival so many chances. Princess isn't perfect, but the clientele they attract on a regular basis are much more compatible with our wants/needs/desires. There's a place for everyone. Thanks for the review.