Is Royal Caribbean really that much better?

[CComyns]

I have no issues with different thoughts on the different lines,it is what makes it interesting.

 

Totally agree and I typically go back and forth anyways. I have never been back to back on the same cruise line.

[nealstuber]

Just back from CCLs Legend after a 4 year hiatus to sail 4 times on RCCL and once Princess. We felt like the Gap between the two had decreased significantly. We stopped sailing Carnival because of the decline in live entertainment and the overall experience in the MDR. We found both the aspects much improved. At the same time RCCL's poor bar service at the pool and the casino now seems like more of an irritant after being reminded of how this should be this past week. CCL's food hit our pallet better as well. Still no comparison in ship appearance and entertainment but we're only willing to pay so much more for these things.

[Mikew0805]

Actually it is. You have been in their small ships and really have no room to talk. And compared to carnival which when was the last time you went in carnival?

 

Obviously your reading and/or comprehension skills need a tune up. Their small ships? You mean other than Oasis class (FARTHEST from luxury) or the Freedom class?? I have not sailed either, however I have been aboard both classes.

 

Please look up luxury. Even compared to Carnival, RCI is not luxury. RCI has a more refined feel to it than Carnival, but luxury is not even close to the description.

[tef43]

Is Royal Caribbean really that much better?

Than what? :confused:

Been on a number of mass market lines, and RCCL ranks near the bottom, marginally above NCL. Quoth the raven, "Nevermore."

[CComyns]

Obviously your reading and/or comprehension skills need a tune up. Their small ships? You mean other than Oasis class (FARTHEST from luxury) or the Freedom class?? I have not sailed either, however I have been aboard both classes.

 

 

 

Please look up luxury. Even compared to Carnival, RCI is not luxury. RCI has a more refined feel to it than Carnival, but luxury is not even close to the description.

 

 

Thank you for being rude. DR? Your bedside manner sucks. Or Nurse? Either way. One of the many definitions of Luxury is "the state of great comfort and extravagant living." It's a matter of opinion. But that is exactly what I feel aboard Royal Caribbean and not so much on Carnival. So maybe your reading skills are the ones that are lacking.

 

I don't appreciate people calling people names or saying rude things. What's goes around comes around.

 

 

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[Monthend]

Started out with RCI, celebrity,one princess and now only carnival.Thought shows were a little more entertaining on RCI and celebrity. Didn't like food at all on Princess. We were going to take another chance on RCI for 2017 but the cruise was cancelled. Usually I like the price and itinerary better on Carnival but in the end it's the thought of the melting cake at the end of the meal.

[Mikew0805]

Thank you for being rude. DR? Your bedside manner sucks. Or Nurse? Either way. One of the many definitions of Luxury is "the state of great comfort and extravagant living." It's a matter of opinion. But that is exactly what I feel aboard Royal Caribbean and not so much on Carnival. So maybe your reading skills are the ones that are lacking.

 

I don't appreciate people calling people names or saying rude things. What's goes around comes around.

 

 

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WOW Again.. reading and comprehension. I am NOT being rude at all. You stated I had only been on small ships... That is what I was referring to as the ships I have sailed on and the dates they occurred... are right there in my signature. Nothing small about Voyager class. You can call anything luxury you want, but RCI is not a luxury line, no matter your opinion.

 

As to your last sentence... READ again.. I never called you any name. Try not to be so easily offended. You cannot hear my tone through the internet. Had I been being sarcastic I would have put a little :rolleyes: so you would know.

[sammee]

It's like Coca Cola vs Pepsi. I get what's on sale.

 

I've found stuffiness on both lines.

 

Weirdos on both too.

The best was the guy running around lido with his arms spread out pretending to be an airplane, and he kept saying "mushrooms". This was on the Royal Grandeur in May.

Coming in 2nd for weird was the group on Carnival Liberty 2 years ago in the hot tub, talking about their underground shelters and weapons, etc. It was like a scene from a movie. Wonder who they though was going to invade them.

 

I think Royal has a prettier decor, but that's a matter of taste, not good or bad, same as the food and drink.

 

I'd book either one right now depending on price and intinerary.

[cocacola86]

What's your thought on Celebrity and the Summit for couples in their 30s

 

 

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[Karnyval]

I am booked for my 4th Carnival cruise next year. We travel as a large group (over 20) every time, and Carnival has always been the best value and we are comfortable with how things operate, so that is what we have chosen. We have always enjoyed our cruises (with the exception of the second one on the Elation, which was fine, but not great), but whenever I am asked what cruise line I am going on and I mention Carnival, I am then usually given the rundown about how Royal Caribbean is so much better...from the ships, to the entertainment, to the food. Basically, Carnival = Trashy, and Royal Caribbean = Classy. It makes me feel 1. lame for booking with Carnival, and 2. that I'm missing out. So am I?

 

No, Royal is not better, but they like to sell that illusion. Some people are more gullible than others.

[patrice1]

We've cruised twice on Royal, in the 90's. All we heard about was that CCL was the "Walmart of the Seas". Then we cruised Celebrity. We were told it was the "Cadillac" cruise line. It was nice, but snotty & was dead after 9 pm. Did Norwegian in early 2000-something and liked it - laid back, anytime dining, choice of restaurants, etc. and would have done another, but couldn't afford it. Tried CCL, with much trepidation.

 

First was the Triumph - we were awed at how much it met and exceeded our expectations! I remember standing on the balcony and realizing we could not have afforded a balcony on any of the other cruise lines, the food was great and we loved everything about it. We kept wondering why CCL was so low rated.

 

We switched to CCL and have not looked back. It meets all of our needs, is priced right and we know the best cabins to book for what we like.

[golfb4cruzing]

Our experience on Princess was absolutely fantastic. Easily one of the best cruises that we've ever taken and, ironically, it was cheaper than Carnival. While I don't consider Royal to be "classy", I do consider Princess to fit that description.

 

It's a shame more folks don't look at Princess. I think it has the impression of old folks and long itineraries. Both are true but they have excellent ships, very good staff and much less frenzy. We are past the age of bringing/paying for kids, so it's time to relax and enjoy. I've seen a good share of "happy" cruisers on Princess but I call them "professional cocktailers". They have week long cruises as same as everyone else.

[Rulers Mom]

We cruise mostly Carnival and RCCL. If we had we stuck with one we would be super platinum diamond something. We weren't sure which one we preferred, lately it's been Carnival. Which surprises us.

 

We have also cruised NCL, Princess, Celebrity - the only major cruise line we haven't cruised yet is HAL. We keep trying, but their ships out of Florida are 8+ days and we are not retired, so....some day.

 

My opinion of Royal dropped when I booked 3 jr suites for my 50th birthday 2 years ago. It was a nice, small, older ship. It was not inexpensive, but there was no difference from a regular balcony room - that we could find.

 

About 6 months later we enjoyed our first cruise on NCL - a suite but not the highest category. We were given a bridge tour, a galley tour, multiple free restaurant dinners, drink package. The captain knew who were were, and that has never happened. It was so nice, a great experience. My husband doesn't drink, but that's not the point. We weren't being nickel/dimed. It was the best customer service we have experinced on a modern cruise. Some day we are going to book a haven room.

 

We haven't cruised Royal since, not that I haven't looked into it.

 

My best advice is to avoid the Friday-Monday cruise, regardless of the cruise line. Those aren't frequented by vacationers, they are partiers or gamblers.

 

We've experienced unkind fellow cruisers on every line.

[terri910]

No one can answer this for you. Because what is "better" to one person, may not be "better" to you, at all. It is much too subjective.

 

Decide what, specifically, you prefer, and then ask about those quantifiable SPECIFICS of the various cruise lines/ships.

[CComyns]

WOW Again.. reading and comprehension. I am NOT being rude at all. You stated I had only been on small ships... That is what I was referring to as the ships I have sailed on and the dates they occurred... are right there in my signature. Nothing small about Voyager class. You can call anything luxury you want, but RCI is not a luxury line, no matter your opinion.

 

 

 

As to your last sentence... READ again.. I never called you any name. Try not to be so easily offended. You cannot hear my tone through the internet. Had I been being sarcastic I would have put a little :rolleyes: so you would know.

 

 

Still an insult. Just saying. And more Relaxing more that Carnival. Fine, not your definition of luxury but definitely more relaxing. Based on MY experience and no one else's.

 

 

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[BNBR]

I think the general quality of the experience and luxury aspect --- Carnival and RCCL are more similar than they are different. And pricing can be very similar as well.

[luisrp]

I don't get why there is this cruise line war here and everywhere. I have cruised only three times, first two in Carnival and the last recently in Royal Caribbean. All three times the line was not a deciding factor. I chose the first and last based on itinerary and the second one was a family group that I joined after the specific cruise had already been selected and booked by some in the group. Carnival or Royal are each better depending and what you is important to you and your expectations.

 

If you cruise for the ship, Royal Caribbean wins. No question about that. Bigger, flashier and with more onboard options. Well, in the biggest and newest ships, at least. See my experience below.

 

If you cruise for the destination, they are about the same although Royal Caribbean sails year round from more locations away from Florida than Carnival.

 

But... the cruise experience itself, the service, the food, the bars.... they are the same. I cannot say that I felt better served in one line or the other. I felt equally pampered by the staff about the same.

 

The "party boat" environment, my experience does not reflect reality described by others. My first cruise in the Caribbean out of San Juan (Carnival Destiny) had a party boat feel to some extent to the point that the deck party started the first night the minute the ship passed the entrance to the San Juan bay (being late in the night helped). Deck parties were always very crowded.

 

My second Carnival cruise was night and day in this regard, perhaps due to a different mix of cruisers, perhaps older. That was a Mediterraean cruise from Barcelona. Deck parties were not nearly as good and the entertainment staff was not as good as in the first cruise.

 

My latest two months ago was on Royal Caribbean in one of their older and smallish (Rhapsody of the Seas is by no means small except when compared to the newer Quantum and Oasis class ships of course). The party atmosphere was way better on that older ship than it was in my second Carnival cruise aboard Magic (bigger, better and flashier). The entertainment staff on Rhapsody was very good at it.

 

Other entertainment, is highly dependent on the ship you are on. What I saw on Rhapsody was on par with what I saw on Carnival Destiny which is a similar ship (prior to refit).

 

In simple words, the best is the one you like best. Don't feel lame or left out because you sail Carnival. They are more similar than they are different.

Edited September 7, 2016 by luisrp

[sweetlove13]

My first cruise was on Carnival and I hated it. Hated pretty much everything about it. Horrible food, overcrowded ship, bad entertainment, I had a terrible cold. It was awful. I thought that I hated cruising. That was in 2002. Fast forward to 2009 and I needed a vacation. My boss convinced me to give cruising another try so I booked a cheap Royal Caribbean cruise from our home port and I LOVED it. Loved everything about it. Loved the food, loved the atmosphere, loved the shows, loved the ship. I even got a terrible cold again. Royal is so laid back but not with the neon party atmosphere that Carnival has. I always feel so relaxed and comfortable on a Royal cruise. All the food on Carnival was so bad except for sandwiches and fries that I could hardly find anything I wanted to eat but on Royal there's always things I want to eat and new things I want to try.

 

Now, I should note that my first cruise with Carnival was in 2002 and my second with Royal was in 2009, so it's possible a lot changed during that time. Also, my first cruise was with my now ex-husband and since then I've been cruising solo, so part of my cruising enjoyment may be about the company ;)

[maldenmusic]

I've only cruised on Carnival because we are close enough to drive to 2 of the ports. I have enjoyed all of my CCL cruises but at some point want to try another cruise line.

[Jemery]

The people are the same demographic on both lines. The food is comparable; the service is comparable. We even found the prices are comparable. Carnival is great at group fun. Royal is great at DIY fun. DW gives a slight edge to Carnival; I give a slight edge to Royal. Neither of us is wildly for one over the other. Both give good value for the money and an excellent cruise experience.

 

-John

[JimAOk1945]

I agree with a previous poster who said the best is the one you like the best. It's nice to have so many choices. You will never know whether you like a different cruise line unless you give it a try.

[Lurkyloo]

I enjoyed my Royal Caribbean cruise - had a great time. BUT... I found the people a bit stuffy and uptight. Carnival cruises are just more easy, breazy, and fun. It is a bit more casual and the people just seem happier and more relaxed. Don't get me wrong - if someone books another cruise line when there are a group of us going I'll go and always have a great time. But when I am the one making arrangements, I always book Carnival. :)

[cocacola86]

We've cruised on Conquest, Breeze, Valor out of SJ, and we've got Magic and Vista booked.

 

 

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[ryano]

My first cruise was on Carnival and I hated it. Hated pretty much everything about it. Horrible food, overcrowded ship, bad entertainment, I had a terrible cold. It was awful. I thought that I hated cruising. That was in 2002. Fast forward to 2009 and I needed a vacation. My boss convinced me to give cruising another try so I booked a cheap Royal Caribbean cruise from our home port and I LOVED it. Loved everything about it. Loved the food, loved the atmosphere, loved the shows, loved the ship. I even got a terrible cold again. Royal is so laid back but not with the neon party atmosphere that Carnival has. I always feel so relaxed and comfortable on a Royal cruise. All the food on Carnival was so bad except for sandwiches and fries that I could hardly find anything I wanted to eat but on Royal there's always things I want to eat and new things I want to try.

 

Now, I should note that my first cruise with Carnival was in 2002 and my second with Royal was in 2009, so it's possible a lot changed during that time. Also, my first cruise was with my now ex-husband and since then I've been cruising solo, so part of my cruising enjoyment may be about the company ;)

 

I would give a newer ship on Carnival a try. The included food options have anything Royal has beat by a mile and the food is just better overall than Royal IMHO. I realize food is subjective but this is the general consensus of most that sail both lines without blinders for one or the other.

 

I happen to think both the MDR and Lido buffet is better than Royals MDR and Windjammer. Guys burgers do not cost Johnny Rockets does. Carnivals pizza blows Royals Sorrentos out of the water, no denying that and there are so many other options like Blue Iguana and there is no comparing Chops to Canivals steakhouses to me. Carnival wins there big time. I really really enjoyed the food on Carnival Magic much more than any Royal cruise Ive been on. Drinks were cheaper and the service was outstanding. Best yet in many aspects which is why I cancelled a Royal cruise while on Magic booked her again :)

Edited September 7, 2016 by ryano

[mairinmaureen]

I enjoyed my Royal Caribbean cruise - had a great time. BUT... I found the people a bit stuffy and uptight. Carnival cruises are just more easy, breazy, and fun. It is a bit more casual and the people just seem happier and more relaxed. Don't get me wrong - if someone books another cruise line when there are a group of us going I'll go and always have a great time. But when I am the one making arrangements, I always book Carnival. :)

 

I couldn't agree more!