Tried Royal Again, it was Okay kind of lackluster.

[Podna's]

]

 

 

Awww yea. This made my day. Must kill you deep down inside. Op, thanks. Agree with everything you said

[2Shoes2Go]

Sail both and enjoy both. They are different experiences, however, to us. We just simply have more fun on Carnival. Our last Vision cruise was a good one. Perhaps a little too sedate. We do enjoy the top tier benefits on Royal, but there are some nice ones on Carnival ships for us, as well. So, doing more Carnival than Royal nowadays. But, we always have a good time!:)

[jtdlmc]

Recently off Freedom of the Seas and totally agree that the fun factor just wasn't there. The whole family felt that way. One poster mentioned more partiers make up the demographics on Carnival, but I can honestly say I saw more obviously drunk people on My FOS cruise (which was not during any spring break) then I have on all my Carnival cruises combined. Gosh there were 3 middle-aged people at our muster station drill who were so drunk at 4 p.m., that I was surprised they allowed them to remain and disrupt the entire thing. It bothers me that Carnival alone has this reputation and yet I saw more drunks on my RCI cruise. Carnival is the fun ship but from what I saw there are just as many drunks on any other cruise line.

 

I found the food on Carnival much better in the buffet and about the same in the MDR. But the layout of the buffet on RCI is much more efficient with stations rather than long lines.

 

We didn't go to many shows on either line, but I love figure skating so really enjoyed the ice show on FOS.

 

Loved the Promenade on FOS.

 

I found debarkation much faster and smoother on Carnival by a long shot.

 

Although we may some day cruise on Royal in the future, it will not be our first choice.

[Havingfun2010]

The Caribbean Band the lead singer she was flat, sounded monotone.

 

The 4 singers for the production shows were miss matched, did not sound good together.

 

Singers all have own personalities and styles. Can't argue about what you heard, but you did say you like the playlist shows better than live performers, which is different than so many other posters on Carnival.

 

Did Breakfast and Lunch in Windjammer based on the slowness of the MDR.

 

IF you have a slow service, it does not mean breakfast and lunch is the same. They are a different experience. Should have tried it.

 

Atrium Bar was always crowed, if you didn't mind waiting.

 

Atrium bar is outside the dining room, and had many shows/activities between the two MDR dining times, so it was a busy place. They had 3-4 roaming bar waitresses that really hustled when I was there, and 2 or more bar tenders. However, the service was fine on my sailing.

 

Service in the Casino was slow, I had to go ask for help when the machine malfunctioned.

 

I guess I don't understand this at slot machines. Never looked at it as a service point. But I don't sit there for hours either, just minutes.

 

 

Did not attend the past guest party as it was scheduled at a time in port before you had to be back on. Port time was more important.

 

Mine was at 10:00 in the morning on a sea day.

 

Lines were long to meet the captain/officers. Plenty of other chances to interact with them at other less formal times.

 

I was able to count at least 4 times on my trip, but is this a complaint?

 

Cigars, Cigars, and more Cigars on the one side of lido, so if you happen to walk down the wrong side, beware of the smoke.

 

I wish all ships would remove smoking, but it's not going to happen. Smaller ships always have areas that are too close to those that want to stay healthy

 

Is that want you wanted or should I go on. Oh and security had to run the children out of the adults only pool several times.

 

Sounds like a good thing that security was handling things.

 

Charge for popcorn 1.25 Carnival free for the big screen movies. Drinks at the R Bar are now priced at 12.00 each.

 

Drinks are always overpriced every where. Off the ship included.

[!!SAM!!]

Drinks are always overpriced every where. Off the ship included.

 

 

Just a honest question. If you don't like Carnival so much why are you even reading the Carnival board.:rolleyes:

[jimbo5544]

Drinks are always overpriced every where. Off the ship included.

 

Surely you are not saying that drinks on RCCL are cheaper than Carnival....right?

[TheTravelista]

Drinks are always overpriced every where. Off the ship included.

 

Why do you feel the need to try to refute every opinion this guy has? Its HIS opinion. You don't have to agree but he has every right to have them. How weird.

 

Anyway I have yet to find the perfect cruise line. There are things I wish i could pick up from RCI and NCL ships and place on Carnival ships to create the perfect cruise line for me.

 

Carnival SORELY needs a 24 hour dining option in addition to pizza and room service. Something like NCL's O'Sheehan's or RCI's Cafe Promenade. Also would love the addition of the Coke Freestyle machines. Carnival's free drink options on Lido are a joke and I'd be happy to pay for a soda card if the Freestyle machines were included. As far as shows, NCL and RCI have blown Carnival away in that area and it isn't close. Playlist Productions are a failed experiment IMO and hopefully they're starting to realize this. Your competition has partnerships with Broadway and entities like Blue Man Group. Playlist Productions simply cannot compare.

 

Unfortunately those 3 things aren't enough to sustain an entire cruising experience which is why I always end up back with Carnival. They give me most of what I need. Things like paying every single time you want to eat a decent burger by the pool will never sit right with me. Its a BURGER.

Edited April 13, 2016 by TheTravelista

[Havingfun2010]

Surely you are not saying that drinks on RCCL are cheaper than Carnival....right?

 

No, I said drinks everyplace is overly priced....including RCCL.

[sparks1093]

Thanks for sharing your thoughts.

[Havingfun2010]

Just a honest question. If you don't like Carnival so much why are you even reading the Carnival board.:rolleyes:

 

For a few reasons. First it's humorous. The other boards are boring. I like a good comedy. I read the newspaper online, and after some depressing stories, I change over to the humor board.

 

Next, people forget the title of this web-page. Cruise Critic. There are all kinds of critics. Everyone on the board either likes something or dislikes something. Now, if everyone who posted loved Carnival, and those that dislike Carnival never say a word, than how biased is that? Two restaurant critics may come up with completely two different views of an opening.

 

If you read all the reviews, and remove all the fluff, you will begin to see the big picture on how Carnival has cheapened the cruise experience for it's customers. Yes, you can have negative comments on other boards, but really, the Carnival ones are the best.

 

I remember the first time on a Carnival Ship, and I was impressed. By the last trip, I was running as fast as I can, and discovered other cruise lines. After reading reviews for years on multiple cruise lines, I'm still in disbelieve about the amount of cut-backs, both in product offering and service Carnival manages to get away with, while still telling you that you wanted the cut-back.

 

So you can continue to issue a positive review, while I can continue to offer the opposing view.

 

My question is why to you support the bottom of the pile so much? Why not experience what so many others have? You can cruise on other lines for similar prices and receive services that Carnival removed. :D

[sparks1093]

For a few reasons. First it's humorous. The other boards are boring. I like a good comedy. I read the newspaper online, and after some depressing stories, I change over to the humor board.

 

Next, people forget the title of this web-page. Cruise Critic. There are all kinds of critics. Everyone on the board either likes something or dislikes something. Now, if everyone who posted loved Carnival, and those that dislike Carnival never say a word, than how biased is that? Two restaurant critics may come up with completely two different views of an opening.

 

If you read all the reviews, and remove all the fluff, you will begin to see the big picture on how Carnival has cheapened the cruise experience for it's customers. Yes, you can have negative comments on other boards, but really, the Carnival ones are the best.

 

I remember the first time on a Carnival Ship, and I was impressed. By the last trip, I was running as fast as I can, and discovered other cruise lines. After reading reviews for years on multiple cruise lines, I'm still in disbelieve about the amount of cut-backs, both in product offering and service Carnival manages to get away with, while still telling you that you wanted the cut-back.

 

So you can continue to issue a positive review, while I can continue to offer the opposing view.

 

My question is why to you support the bottom of the pile so much? Why not experience what so many others have? You can cruise on other lines for similar prices and receive services that Carnival removed. :D

 

I book the cruise that has the lowest fare. For the next two cruises that was CCL. We'll see how it goes in the future.

[ryano]

I'm sorry but that reeks of BS

 

Consider the source

[ryano]

Just a honest question. If you don't like Carnival so much why are you even reading the Carnival board.:rolleyes:

 

Trolling, I believe its called. Dont feed it and it might go away.

[!!SAM!!]

Trolling, I believe its called. Dont feed it and it might go away.

 

 

LOL. So true.

[KPfromCT]

We're trying our first Royal cruise in June, on the Oasis.:D:D

Sounds like there should be PLENTY to keep us busy, I hope.

I honestly can say, we WILL miss the 24 hour ice cream.

Not a big deal to some, but to others, it's nice to have that option. lol

 

Hoping the food is not as bad as I've been hearing. One thing that I do read consistently is that Carnival does have better food.

 

I guess we'll find out in 58 days.....but who's counting?:rolleyes::D

[jonbgd]

We're trying our first Royal cruise in June, on the Oasis.:D:D

Sounds like there should be PLENTY to keep us busy, I hope.

I honestly can say, we WILL miss the 24 hour ice cream.

Not a big deal to some, but to others, it's nice to have that option. lol

 

Hoping the food is not as bad as I've been hearing. One thing that I do read consistently is that Carnival does have better food.

 

I guess we'll find out in 58 days.....but who's counting?:rolleyes::D

Im one that does miss the 24hr ice cream

The ice cream isn't easy to find on Oasis its hidden behind some doors midship lido deck and hrs a really limited

 

couple suggestions

For bkfast Johnny Rockets is free

For Bkfast and lunch Park Café is always good

 

If you get a DOD between the flowriders mine came in a Tervis tumbler included in the price

Edited April 13, 2016 by jonbgd

[Sotermarler]

Actually the availability of ice cream on RCCL to some of us is important

 

A late night ice cream fix is sometimes really nice instead of just a cookie. Something I do miss from CCL

 

 

This! I don't normally eat ice cream, but when I'm cruising I want it all the time! It's part of the summertime ambience.

It would be an easy fix for the lime to offer it 24/7 and apparently make a lot of people happy.

 

 

Sent from my iPhone using Forums mobile app

[smarks]

I tried Royal and personally, I didn't care for it. The cabin was nice but seemed a bit smaller. The deck was a bit larger with a larger table which was nice. I was on the Radiance of the Seas if that matters. I mostly hated Customer Service. Was over charged for drinks. I booked a year in advance and when the price started dropping, they would cancel my cruise and rebook it. What a waste of time. The clientele was a bit snobbish. Carnival has a great clientele. Fun and friendly. Most ships will take me to the same ports for a little less money and I have met some of my best friends on a Carnival ship. We are mostly seniors now, not drunks as has been suggested. I will take Carnival over Royal any day of the week. If I ever take a Royal ship again it will be because it is going somewhere I really want to go that Carnival doesn't go. I would look at other cruise lines before even considering Royal. Just my opinion.

[Mikew0805]

For a few reasons. First it's humorous. The other boards are boring. I like a good comedy. I read the newspaper online, and after some depressing stories, I change over to the humor board.

 

Next, people forget the title of this web-page. Cruise Critic. There are all kinds of critics. Everyone on the board either likes something or dislikes something. Now, if everyone who posted loved Carnival, and those that dislike Carnival never say a word, than how biased is that? Two restaurant critics may come up with completely two different views of an opening.

 

If you read all the reviews, and remove all the fluff, you will begin to see the big picture on how Carnival has cheapened the cruise experience for it's customers. Yes, you can have negative comments on other boards, but really, the Carnival ones are the best.

 

I remember the first time on a Carnival Ship, and I was impressed. By the last trip, I was running as fast as I can, and discovered other cruise lines. After reading reviews for years on multiple cruise lines, I'm still in disbelieve about the amount of cut-backs, both in product offering and service Carnival manages to get away with, while still telling you that you wanted the cut-back.

 

So you can continue to issue a positive review, while I can continue to offer the opposing view.

 

My question is why to you support the bottom of the pile so much? Why not experience what so many others have? You can cruise on other lines for similar prices and receive services that Carnival removed. :D

 

Wow... completely incorrect. I like both lines, but if I was to choose a bottom of the barrel.. it would be either RCI Splendour, or NCL Jewel.

 

Cut-Backs?? In the time that I have sailed on either line, RCI has cut back a LOT. As far as service is concerned, it has always been better on Carnival. The crew is just BETTER!

 

Also, RCI is turning ships into amusement parks. All the lines are heading this way, but RCI is leading it!

 

 

To the OP: Thanks for your comparisons. While I like both lines, for very different reasons, I can agree with almost everything you said.

[Hog Rider]

How many times did you scale the rock wall?

[doneinne]

Don't feed the trolls. Remember this is the op's opinion. This isn't rule of law. They just like carnival better, that's their preference.

[Surfwench]

Thanks for your review, OP. I love comparison reviews. The one Royal cruise I took I was disappointed with the food, but impressed by the entertainment. And there was maybe 1% or 2% fewer "woohoo" passengers. I'll stick with Carnival for right now, (almost platinum), but looking around for different itineraries and ship experiences. :)

[knight2096]

Vision is an older, smaller ship. You can't really compare 2 cruise lines when you are on different ships!

 

yeah..RCI doesn't have 24/7 ice-cream...GOOD LORD...NO ICE CREAM!!! But..you had great fresh air in your cabin! BREATHING....oh, so nice!

 

C'mon...it's some of this...some of that. Both are good cruise lines, or they wouldn't be in business.

 

I'm no cheerleader for any line but I have to say 24 ice cream is important to many people and Royal use to have it. Cutting out 24 hour ice cream was a cutback and it was a dumb move, for many people It is the little things that make cruising special.