Carnival vs Princess B2B

[sewut]

I am posting these observations on both boards.

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.

[bjd2]

Thank you for the comparison! We might be trying another line after our next one on the Breeze. We have enjoyed them all but just want to see what else is out there. If it is snobs then we will just stay put. ;)

[balconyfriends]

I loved my 3 Princess cruises. And the room steward on the those 3 cruises were the best.They kept our beer on ice the whole week.