Carnival or Celebrity ?

[phbr]

We're undecided.

 

Up to now, we have mainly cruised with RCCL or Celebrity with the occasional Azamara, MSC or NCL thrown in.

 

Last winter we took the Celebrity Reflection TA from Rome to Miami and had a blast. Seriously thinking of doing another TA this coming October and like the look of the new Carnival Vista's itinerary, as we want a few days in New York at the end.

 

Our requirements on a cruise (we are both just in our 60's) are good food, good entertainment, and lots of Bridge (my wife is a Master player). I dont know a club from a spade.

 

Its a toss up between the Vista and the Celebrity Equinox (which means an extra flight to NYC). We would be very grateful for any views, as to be honest, we know very little about Carnival.

 

Philip & Mary

[trulytracy]

We have taken 4 cruises on Carnival and one on Celebrity. I found them very comparable (with slight differences) and wasn't sure the extra cost of Celebrity was justified. We thought that the Carnival cruises were definitely wilder when it comes to night life and had much more to do into the late night--if you are into that sort of thing. We didn't notice a big difference in the types of cruisers--lots of families of all sorts--but our one Celebrity cruise was a NYE out of San Juan. Didn't notice much difference when it came to food and drink quality, but I am not a foodie. I felt the on-board entertainment was comparable between the lines, but missed the comedy club that Carnival has. I can't speak to the availability of Bridge on either line.

 

My advice is that you try the Carnival Vista. I don't think you will be disappointed.

Edited April 10, 2016 by trulytracy

[firegal2539]

You are obviously a young 60. On a TA there will not be hardly any kids so that really isn't a consideration. Celebrity is a cut above when comparing cruise lines but more expensive. The only way to find out is if you have time do a 4 or 5 day Carnival cruise and see what you think. Carnival is ok but RCCL, Celebrity and Princess are my favorites.

 

 

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[Tapi]

The general opinion about Carnival will be substantially different than a TA on its newest ship. While Carnival normally caters to a more laid back. unpretentious, and budget minded clientele on their regular cruises, TA's will most likely cater to a clientele more similar to what you've encountered on your previous TA's aboard other cruise lines.

 

You will be aboard Carnival's newest ship, which will featured a more toned down and less glitzy decor which is more prevalent on Carnival's older ships. Expect food and service to be average and typical of a mass market cruise line (no white gloved or personal service, or attention to detail), but do expect to enjoy your cruise and get your money's worth.

 

Main thing is to go with realistic expectations, in other words, don't expect Celebrity or Azamara. Expect Carnival.

Edited April 10, 2016 by Tapi

[ImaginationCruiseBride]

I have been on several Carnival cruises and only one Celebrity....here is my take....

Celebrity's MDR food is much better than Carnival's. However, outside of the MDR, Carnival's food is leaps and bounds better.

 

Celebrity's theater shows in the evenings are much better than Carnival's horrible Playlist shows.

 

Outside of the theater, Carnival has A LOT more to do. We did an Alaskan cruise on Celebrity and thankfully it was port intensive otherwise I would have been bored to death on Celebrity.

 

FWIW...I am 53 (52 when we sailed on Celebrity) and my husband is 55. We aren't big drinkers, we don't gamble and we really aren't into dancing the night away, but we always found something entertaining to do on Carnival, whereas on Celebrity we had to really work to find fun things to do.

[riclop]

We're undecided.

 

Up to now, we have mainly cruised with RCCL or Celebrity with the occasional Azamara, MSC or NCL thrown in.

 

Last winter we took the Celebrity Reflection TA from Rome to Miami and had a blast. Seriously thinking of doing another TA this coming October and like the look of the new Carnival Vista's itinerary, as we want a few days in New York at the end.

 

Our requirements on a cruise (we are both just in our 60's) are good food, good entertainment, and lots of Bridge (my wife is a Master player). I dont know a club from a spade.

 

Its a toss up between the Vista and the Celebrity Equinox (which means an extra flight to NYC). We would be very grateful for any views, as to be honest, we know very little about Carnival.

 

Philip & Mary

 

Carnival is more for the younger crowd so you make like X more but as far as entertainment goes X is very boring so a big vote for Carnival.

[S.S.Oceanlover]

Carnival is more for the younger crowd so you make like X more but as far as entertainment goes X is very boring so a big vote for Carnival.

 

Do you think they will have the Hasbro game and love and marriage as the main shows a few nights during the TA?

 

bill

[bobsfamily]

Done both, like both... Celebrity wins by a wide margin yet I find the last cruise and my upcoming cruise on Carnival.

 

Why? Carnival is 15 minutes from home and this upcoming was Cheap! and a Balcony. Next cruise will be a 10 hour drive (Ft. Lauderdale) and with Celebrity with family. Love the ambiance, laid back feeling. We had no problem finding things to do at night, well til about 10pm... nightlife did wind down fairly quickly after that, except for the casino which is where we would head.

 

For us the food was great on Celebrity, a 10 compared to a 7 in the MDR of Carnival and a 6-7 on the Lido. We were on the Ecstasy this past Feb. and although the service was good, the food was just OK. We order from the "steakhouse" menu 2 nights out of 7 (actually 6 as the first night we left so late dinner was not served) and ate one night on the Lido. Celebrity we have done the Aqua Class and loved it.

 

I would agree with Tapi and go with an open mind on the TA, know what you are getting!

[phbr]

Some very informative replies... Thank You All So Much.

 

Going to make a decision this week, but leaning towards Carnival.

 

Philip & Mary

[Hog Rider]

We're undecided.

 

Up to now, we have mainly cruised with RCCL or Celebrity with the occasional Azamara, MSC or NCL thrown in.

 

Last winter we took the Celebrity Reflection TA from Rome to Miami and had a blast. Seriously thinking of doing another TA this coming October and like the look of the new Carnival Vista's itinerary, as we want a few days in New York at the end.

 

Our requirements on a cruise (we are both just in our 60's) are good food, good entertainment, and lots of Bridge (my wife is a Master player). I dont know a club from a spade.

 

Its a toss up between the Vista and the Celebrity Equinox (which means an extra flight to NYC). We would be very grateful for any views, as to be honest, we know very little about Carnival.

 

Philip & Mary

 

Sick with Celebrity. A better product in all areas.

[phbr]

The various Ports of Call might be a tiebreaker. We've been to all the stops on the Equinox TA, but havent been to Gibraltar, The Azores or Bermuda. Sailing in past the Statue of Liberty is also something thats been on the Bucket List for a while.

 

Because its a new ship, I'm hoping the Vista internet coverage is good as I still have to work while away. It was pretty fast on the Reflection and I see Celebrity are rolling out faster internet on most of their ships at the moment.

[Essiesmom]

I have done TAs on both Celebrity and Carnival. The passenger demographic on the TA will be about the same: older than in the Caribbean, and well traveled. The one thing we found lacking on Carnival was enrichment speakers/lectures. We thoroughly enjoy them as entertainment and Carnival had none, despite about 7 sea days. Otherwise, choose by itinerary and price. EM

[phbr]

I have done TAs on both Celebrity and Carnival. The passenger demographic on the TA will be about the same: older than in the Caribbean, and well traveled. The one thing we found lacking on Carnival was enrichment speakers/lectures. We thoroughly enjoy them as entertainment and Carnival had none, despite about 7 sea days. Otherwise, choose by itinerary and price. EM

 

Very good point.

 

 

The Lecturers on Reflection were excellent and the talks very well attended.

[GOLDENBONNY]

We're undecided.

 

Up to now, we have mainly cruised with RCCL or Celebrity with the occasional Azamara, MSC or NCL thrown in.

 

Last winter we took the Celebrity Reflection TA from Rome to Miami and had a blast. Seriously thinking of doing another TA this coming October and like the look of the new Carnival Vista's itinerary, as we want a few days in New York at the end.

 

Our requirements on a cruise (we are both just in our 60's) are good food, good entertainment, and lots of Bridge (my wife is a Master player). I dont know a club from a spade.

 

Its a toss up between the Vista and the Celebrity Equinox (which means an extra flight to NYC). We would be very grateful for any views, as to be honest, we know very little about Carnival.

 

Philip & Mary

 

 

I don't know about the Bridge we don't play but other questions I can try to answer.

 

We found entertainment on Equinox very boring . We spend most of time in Martini bar and we don't even like martini :o but it was the only happy place in ship with music and nice bar attenders. Only good show in 10 days was Circus show ,rest of them we could not survive more than 10 minutes. Almost no activities by pool and boring SPA music in pool :eek::eek:

 

Decor would be much better on X. You need to wear sun glasses on Carnival ship not to go blind from blink :p

 

Food .... I don't know . I had no problem on both lines .

[TC Cruiser]

I've sailed on the Solstice and two other Celebrity ships. If you are hoping for the refinement of a Solstice class ship then you might be disappointed in a Carnival ship. If having that sleek contemporary look isn't that important to you then fundamentally the Carnival ships are going to have the same stuff.

 

I like to be an adventurous eater on a cruise and not glom onto comfort foods. I found that the MDR meals were comparable between the two cruise lines (I'm very pleased with Carnival's MDR food) but the buffet on Celebrity offered more seafood and ethnic food options. Celebrity's MBR service is better. For example, on Celebrity they replace your fork and knife between courses while on our last Carnival cruise they threw the used ones on our bread plates.

 

Carnival has a lot of fun activities and we especially enjoy the comedians in the evenings. Lounge entertainers on Carnival are good but their main theater entertainment is simply the worse. Celebrity wins there.

 

The three Carnival cruises that we've been on had obviously a much younger demographic than our Celebrity cruises, sailing the same time of year on each cruise line.

 

Carnival is a good value for the money. Whether or not the extra money for Celebrity is worth it is subjective.

[S.S.Oceanlover]

I don't know about the Bridge we don't play but other questions I can try to answer.

 

We found entertainment on Equinox very boring . We spend most of time in Martini bar and we don't even like martini :o but it was the only happy place in ship with music and nice bar attenders. Only good show in 10 days was Circus show ,rest of them we could not survive more than 10 minutes. Almost no activities by pool and boring SPA music in pool :eek::eek:

 

Decor would be much better on X. You need to wear sun glasses on Carnival ship not to go blind from blink :p

 

Food .... I don't know . I had no problem on both lines .

 

That would be true on the Joe Farcus designed ships but he hasn't been the designer for Carnival for the last few ships so that won't be a factor on the Vista.:)

 

Bill

[GOLDENBONNY]

That would be true on the Joe Farcus designed ships but he hasn't been the designer for Carnival for the last few ships so that won't be a factor on the Vista.:)

 

Bill

 

Good to know :p

[phbr]

We have actually decided to stick with Celebrity and travel on the October Equinox Transatlantic. Mainly because we can get a Balcony category 2B including gratuities for very slightly more than an Inside on the Carnival Vista.

 

OK, we are repeat visitors to the Equinox Ports of Call, but we are big fans of the Sea Days, and thoroughly enjoyed the Lectures`on our last Celebrity TA. I understand that Carnival dont have them.

 

Can we thank sincerely all those who assisted us in our choice by their knowledgeable replies.

 

Philip & Mary

[Cr2zCr8zy]

We have actually decided to stick with Celebrity and travel on the October Equinox Transatlantic. Mainly because we can get a Balcony category 2B including gratuities for very slightly more than an Inside on the Carnival Vista.

 

OK, we are repeat visitors to the Equinox Ports of Call, but we are big fans of the Sea Days, and thoroughly enjoyed the Lectures`on our last Celebrity TA. I understand that Carnival dont have them.

 

Can we thank sincerely all those who assisted us in our choice by their knowledgeable replies.

 

Philip & Mary

 

Good Choice, you won't be disappointed..

[jonbgd]

I was looking at that TA on the Vista. The Ship looks interesting

BUT

The prices were so much more than X or RCCL:confused:

[S.S.Oceanlover]

I was looking at that TA on the Vista. The Ship looks interesting

BUT

The prices were so much more than X or RCCL:confused:

 

New ship syndrome:p

 

Bill