CCL vs. RCCL

[pretzellover]

We have cruised 7 times with CCL AND 2 times with RCCL. As the cruise lines have changed over the last few years, I was hoping to start a list of comparisons between these 2 cruise lines. It had been over 10 years since our last cruise on RCCL and I expected to feel some jump in luxury from CCL to RCCL, but honestly, I didn't. Please list what you like about each in comparison.

 

Lobster

CCL small but served without an upcharge in main dining room

RCCL pay extra in main dining room

 

Burger joint

Guys Burgers free on Lido

Johnny Rockets upcharge

 

Comedy

CCL every night in small club

RCCL possible large venue show

 

Shows

CCL Playlist Productions cheesy shows

RCCL entertainers nightly

 

Cruise director

CCL seen and heard regularly at show and on speakers

RCCL no idea who the cruise directors are

 

Please continue - good and bad for both lines

 

 

 

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[Cruisegirl6]

I been on both Carnival and RC this year and the past few years....

 

Both have lobster on one of the formal evenings.

 

Burger joints do not eat fast food type foods, haven't tried either and never will.

 

The older Carnival ships lunch buffets are horrible

 

RC has more choices on their salad bar

 

Comedy is a hit or miss on either cruise line, depends on who the comedian is some are good, some are dry and some definitely not funny. RC Oasis/Allure do have better comedians. My past two Carnival cruises had the "cowboy" oh my gosh horrible terrible lame!!

 

Shows- We don't care about shows but RC has a lot better quality shows than the "cheesy shows" that Carnival has.

 

Cruise Director never knew pretty much who it was but this May on the Allure Ken was the most amazing best cruise director I ever had in all my 53 cruises. He was everywhere, upbeat, and friendly and just kept the crowd laughing and having a great time real amazing! Loved his Glow suit for the Glow party and the promenade 90's party.

 

Pools are much larger and fresh water on RC ships.

 

RC offers the ice skating show my favorite on all the RC ships.

 

RC cocktails are stronger and in larger glasses.

 

RC premium beverage package has unlimited drinks compared to Carnival's Cheers up to 15 maximum in cocktails (never got to 15 but to 13 but still....)

 

Love RC viking crown lounge on top of the ship giving 180 degrees view of the sea

 

RC balconies are larger than Carnivals

 

Lunch Buffet in RC better quality/selection/Variety overall

 

Carnival only offers one specialty restaurant where RC has a variety depending upon which ship you choose

 

Love the shower doors on RC ships hate the curtain on Carnival

 

Service a hit or miss on Carnival and RC excellent overall

 

Carnival generally has more competitive prices on their cruises

 

Carnival is excellent in its casino program, they treat my other half like royalty, free drinks right away and the casino manager also gives me free drinks, in addition they send bottle of wine to our table for dinner and other goodies to the cabin at night such as chocolate covered strawberries and other treats.

 

I generally win more in the carnival casino slot machines so does my other half

 

Bartenders in Carnival measure their liquor in drinks in RC they pour lol

 

I don't care for Carnivals heavy covers on the bed, RC are lighter still too heavy where I have to ask for just a sheet and regular blanket

 

RC buffet breakfasts offer more choices and better quality

 

I prefer the wine lists on Carnival over RC

 

RC ships offer more variety of foods past midnight where Carnival only has pizza

 

I don't like all the singing and dancing in the main dining room that Carnival has

 

Toilet paper is better and stronger on RC

 

I have to be gluten free and carnival makes me the best gluten free desserts in the main dining room

 

RC offers flavored waters and more juices in the am and also fresh squeezed orange juice in the am

 

I never had a bad carnival cruise and love all my rc cruises.

Edited June 9, 2014 by lyndamr

[Tapi]

- Royal's loyalty program is light years ahead of Carnival's loyalty program, with more tiers, a better and more extensive list of perks, equivalent status on sister cruise lines, as well as extension of similar status to immediate family members.

 

- Carnival severely neglects passengers under the age of 2, while Royal provides the Royal Babies and Tots program, starting at 6 months of age, with Crayola and Fisher Price sponsored activities, and drop off hours from 8am until midnight. In addition, a dedicated Adventure Ocean TV channel and toy-lending program keeps kids entertained, even while in their cabin.

 

- Suite perks on Royal leave Carnival in the dust, whose main perk is basically priority embarkation. Royal's suite perks are extensive and truly worthy of "the suite life", not to forget the selection of suites for various budgets, all the way up to a Royal Loft Suite.

 

- While taste is subjective, Royal offers a much wider selection of dining options (as many as 24 different dining venues on some ships), while Carnival only offers 1-3 alternative dining options in addition to the traditional MDR, buffet, and grill.

 

- Entertainment: Oh boy. Carnival: Playlist productions. Royal: Ocean Aria, Blue Planet, Chicago, Hair Spray, Cats, Saturday Night Fever, various ice skating shows, the Dreamworks Experience. Enough Said.

 

- Itineraries: While Carnival and Royal do overlap on some markets, Royal is truly a global cruise line, with exotic itineraries spanning (literally) the entire world, including The Middle East, Asia, Europe (Mediterranean, Northern Europe), South America, Australia, Alaska, and yes, the Caribbean and the Bahamas.

Carnival, in contrast, and with the exception of a handful of ships, has the majority of its fleet deployed along US ports (with a huge percentage in Florida), traveling the same, repetitive, Caribbean and Bahamian itineraries over and over.

 

- Room Service: Carnival has a limited, more budget minded Room Service menu, with mostly continental breakfast, sandwiches, and cold items. Royal has a lengthier menu, with hot breakfast including made to order omelets, and full menu entrees for lunch and dinner.

 

And I know that undoubtedly someone will say that Royal costs more than Carnival, but remember, that most passengers that sail on Royal are not being enticed to sail on them because of price. They are willing to dig a bit deeper in their pockets to get the cruise experience that they truly prefer. Yes, Carnival is cheaper, but that doesn't always translate into better. Otherwise, everybody would sail only on Carnival.

 

 

 

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Edited June 9, 2014 by Tapi

[mawmawmaw123]

Carnival only offers one specialty restaurant where RC has a variety depending upon which ship you choose

Is that a good thing or a bad thing?

[Hawaiifrank]

CCL- soft serve ice cream 24 hrs.

 

RCCL- ice cream only 11 am to 6 pm.

[cruise_girl2002]

closet space

CCL-has 3 spaces to hang (much better storage)

RCCL-only 1 closet

 

filet mignon

CCL-FREE in mdr

RCCL-charge in mdr

 

staterooms

CCL-much larger

RCCL-smaller but the balcony is better (at least on the freedom of the seas)

 

buffets

I felt carnival had more to offer. The fries were better on RCL lol. Did not like the hamburgers on RCL, they had them under heat lamps

 

Drinks

CCL-I felt carnival has stronger drinks. nothing beats a fun ship special on sailaway.

 

I like that I can eat outside on lido deck on carnival ships, there were never any tables outside by the pool on royal Caribbean, they are all inside.

 

Adult area

CCL-love the serenity area on the dream, way up front and very private, never have seen kids.

RCL-although nice, kids were in there often, but at least they behaved

 

Never had comedians on Royal, so carnival beats them there. I did enjoy the ice shows on royal.

 

I liked (and this sounds funny) in the bathroom on rcl (freedom of the seas) how the mirror on one side opened to store your stuff in, I liked that over the shelves in carnivals bathroom.

 

Pizza on both lines are good, I just didn't like having to go down to the promenade from sitting outside to get a slice on royal.

 

my brother and I like a late night snack and order room service a lot.

CCL-free 24/7

RCCL-charges after a certain time. (however, better menu)

Edited June 9, 2014 by cruise_girl2002

[TPFKAH]

CCL- soft serve ice cream 24 hrs.

 

RCCL- ice cream only 11 am to 6 pm.

 

Unless something changed, RCCL only does soft self serve frozen yogurt.

[OCruisers]

CCL still allows smoking cigarettes on balconies.

RCCL no longer allows smoking cigarettes on balconies.

Good or Bad depends on each person.

LuLu

[sgttami]

As a devoted Diamond RCCL fan I reluctantly tried Carnival this February and have just completed my third on Splendor last week. It exceeded my expectations or I would not have done 3 cruises in 3 months!!

 

It's hard to compare, I enjoy both.

 

The big draw for me on Carnival was NO SINGLE SUPPLEMENT on the 3 cruises I did. You don't find that on RCCL..EVER!

 

Lesson learned: Don't listen to horror stories about cruise lines unless you try it yourself!

[Hawaiifrank]

Unless something changed, RCCL only does soft self serve frozen yogurt.

 

It's cold, sweet and chocolate (or whatever your favorite), ice cream, ice milk, frozen yogurt, custard--it's all good.

You're probably right, I just didn't pay attention. I may have unsophisticated taste buds because I like both and really can not distinguish between them... Maybe if I had each type side by side for a taste test. It's funny too. I won't eat regular yogurt. Never have. Freeze it though, and I'm in. Weird.

[champagne123]

Variety is the spice of life...I love them ALL;)

[TEXASMUNK]

1. Serenity Deck Carnival

2. Suite Amenities Royal

3. Check-in for Suites Carnival

4. Food: even

5. Steakhouse Carnival

6. Giovanni's Royal

7. Consierge Lounge Royal

8. Casino Carnival

9. Late night Carnival

[Midwestgal]

Variety is the spice of life...I love them ALL;)

 

Couldn't agree more!

[petesweet]

The big draw for me on Carnival was NO SINGLE SUPPLEMENT on the 3 cruises I did. You don't find that on RCCL..EVER!

 

Ahhh, Royal Caribbean is catching up JUST A BIT here. There are three single cabins on the Brilliance that my friends and I are planning to enjoy in 2016. I think perhaps on all of that class ship, and maybe other ships will be refitted for this. Interior only, but that's what we always get anyway.

 

There is no single supplement; however, at the present time it does come a little more expensive because the BOGOHO sale brings down the per-person charge when a cabin is shared. Once that sale is over, it should even out.

 

Kathy

[champagne123]

Couldn't agree more!

 

:):):)

[sjcruiser]

Thanks guys, this list will help those who may want to try one line over the other. I like both lines, but I agree the RC with ice shows, entertainment in the theater, and now Broadway type shows, may have a leg up on Carnival in this area. Food is about equal to me, although I like RC ships with the Royal Promenade. We've been trying to get on the allure or Oasis, but large family vacations have delayed this, so maybe later this year or next. We are looking at the Quantum out of Bayonne, but the prices are high, and we'd prefer to pay the extra to fly to Florida and leave on a ship from there.

[TEXASMUNK]

1. Cigar lounge on Royal...Truly a great way to end an evening. Private, bar, superb setting, endless interesting conversation.....no one holding their noise as if to show their disgust at the low lifes smoking a fine cigar and sipping a really great martini..

 

2. Guys's versus Chops.....sadly the "upscale" service in Chops (4 attempts there) does not exist. Quality of the meats....nowhere near a quality land based steak house (no, not some chain, but a real steak house).....all the while, Guy's delivers EXACTLY what they promise: A truly outstanding hamburger...as good if not better than 99.9% of the burgers you can get anywhere on land.

[Irie]

I have cruised 45 times.

 

I have been on RC! carnival and celebrity. They are all about equal to me.

 

Carnival is usually the most affordable.

 

Holy cow I am on the ocean and having fun.

 

What,s not to like?

[Out to sea!]

I have cruised 45 times.

 

I have been on RC! carnival and celebrity. They are all about equal to me.

 

Carnival is usually the most affordable.

 

Holy cow I am on the ocean and having fun.

 

What,s not to like?

 

Bingo! I have never been on a bad cruise (even the USS Abraham Lincoln was fun) and I most likely never will go on a bad cruise (unless the ship sinks). :)

[jonbgd]

Bingo! I have never been on a bad cruise (even the USS Abraham Lincoln was fun) and I most likely never will go on a bad cruise (unless the ship sinks). :)

 

Oh Please

You were on the ABE as the hired help:rolleyes:

Like you country clubs know the difference of a bad cruise ship:p

Edited June 15, 2014 by jonbgd

[tlw440]

CCL still allows smoking cigarettes on balconies.

RCCL no longer allows smoking cigarettes on balconies.

Good or Bad depends on each person.

LuLu

 

RCCL may not allow it but a lot still do.

[Rogueperson]

Personally, I've had more consistent good service on Carnival. Royal Caribbean can excel in some areas but fail in others.

 

I prefer the food on Royal Caribbean. I felt the quality edges out over Carnival. I have not had the pleasure of Guys burgers yet, but I tried Johnny Rockets on the Independence and I was not impressed. However, I've actually been to the JR restaurant on land and they are about the same. Their burgers are mediocre to begin with.

 

Production shows are better on Royal Caribbean , but I felt Carnival comedians were better.

 

I find Carnival's passengers to be more diverse and more "fun". Maybe I have more in common with them.

 

Royal Caribbean has better amenities than carnival.

 

All in all, both are good products and I can't truly say which one is "better". carnival's price will usually be better, but not that much better.

 

carnival for me is more laid back. I choose carnival for a more casual cruise. I choose Royal Caribbean for a more mature offering. It depends on what I want at the time.

 

 

 

 

 

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[Stateroom_Sailor]

Variety is the spice of life...I love them ALL;)

 

Hear Hear! I don't even want to limit myself to fun ships, let alone deciding between Carnival and Royal. ;)

[Out to sea!]

Oh Please

You were on the ABE as the hired help:rolleyes:

Like you country clubs know the difference of a bad cruise ship:p

 

No, I was not on the ABE as the hired help, my daughter was. My wife and I got to join her on a Tiger cruise so we were the paying passengers (we had to pay for our meals on board). Too bad the cruise wasn't longer than 2 nights. Had a blast, especially due to being an E-7 so I actually got to go to parts of the ship that were off limits to my daughter (such as the Chief's Mess).

[Out to sea!]

RCCL may not allow it but a lot still do.

 

Yes, many people do the wrong thing and violate the rules/law. So feel free when you see this to become proactive and call Guest Services or Security and have the rule/lawbreaker dealt with.