If you couldn't cruise Carnival, who would you cruise with?

[samiam0403]

I was a loyal Carnival cruiser until I tried out NCL (*with included Ultimate Beverage Package) Now, I almost always go NCL. For the price of a inside on Carnival plus Cheers, I'm paying way more than a solo cabin with included beverage package...

 

Same here. After ~15 cruises with Carnival, I booked a 10-night Southern Caribbean in a suite on NCL for my 40th birthday. I've been partial to NCL ever since. We still sail Carnival for shorter getaways when the timing is right, but NCL is our line of choice currently when DH and I sail together.

 

Having sailed everything from a studio to a suite, I like to look at all of my options - especially when I'm doing one of my rare solo trips. My first solo cruise was a 3-night CCL cruise on Inspiration, and my second was a 7-night NCL cruise on Epic - $700 vs $1000 (with included beverage package). Add in Freestyle dining, relaxing thermal suites, amazing crew, outstanding casino perks, in-cabin coffee makers, and Broadway shows, and NCL will (almost) always win for me as a solo.

[Glock19]

I cruise Royal Caribbean. When I can't than Carnival

[USNUZULOOSE]

Not that I dislike Carnival, but Princess is better as I can drive to the port or take the train. Easier for us.

[SkyMaster]

We cruise a lot, and have cruised for many years, on most of the lines. Right now, if it's not Carnival, then our first choice will most likely be Princess, and if I've got the money, Celebrity. RCCL is just too expensive, and their ships are mostly too big for me. I feel like I'm paying for lots of "stuff" that I don't enjoy aboard Royal. ie: wave runner, zip line, etc. I used to enjoy NCL, but one of my favorite things when cruising is the dining room, so I prefer the assigned dinner table, and time. BYE NCL. :*

 

"SKY"

[meatloafsfan]

I feel like I'm one of those few people who don't find the aesthetics of the cruise ships that important. People talk about how the Disney ships or Royal ships are so classy and the ships are regal or whatnot. And Carnival ships are classed as gaudy.

 

I just don't see it.

 

To, all ships are full of brass, glass and fancy decor.

 

The neon on Carnival or the themed decor adds to the enjoyment.

 

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[mikayla73]

We've cruised Carnival, Disney, and Royal, with Disney being our favorite despite DH and I having no kids (their adult only areas are great). However Disney is expensive, so those are typically "special cruise" trips - like a 40th birthday. We typically cruise Carnival for price and convenience.

 

Our Royal cruise (we've only been on the Jewel) was similar to Carnival in a lot of ways, but there were a few things that we didn't care for, so it bumped Royal down the consideration list. We also don't have a great interest in sailing on their larger Oasis class ships.

 

We were considering booking the NCL Epic for a Dec cruise, until we saw the balcony room layout. We watched several different videos on you tube for them and didn't like what we saw. We don't spend a ton of time in the room, but if we're getting a balcony, we'll be spending more time in there than if it was just OV. I would do some research on the NCL ships before booking them to find one we liked.

 

 

Overall, we'd consider any other line that had a good price and is going where we want to go.

[dcsetman]

Like you(OP) I have always enjoyed Carnival. The first cruise we took we ran into a Hurricane, and lost ports, BUT had a great time. It is what YOU make of it!!. Missed ports on another cruise as well, but always a good time. I would love to cruise all the lines to be honest, but really want to check out what Princess has to offer!!

 

 

 

Love Princess as an alternative to Carnival- biggest issue is we have to

travel quite a ways to get to their ports.

 

 

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[DreadPirateRobert]

When we aren't on Carnival we choose Celebrity. Now, after the recent decision to eliminate the adults only pools from the Carnival ships we most often book it's something we will be doing more often.

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[Medtech2]

I love NCL, or at least I love the bigger ships, for all their activities and awesome deck parties. I don't like just sitting around.

[Medtech2]

In my over 26 years of cruising on Holland American, Carnival (more of these), RCCL, Princess,and Norweigan, they all have something good to give, if you are not too picky.:)

 

I prefer Carnial at this time for the price, as to me RCCL is a tad more. I have checked out most of the "inner rooms", and it is not much, but Carnival is a "tad" larger.

 

I seen several people have liked Norwegian, and "maybe" it has changed.:confused: The reason I say this, my friend and I did Norwegian many years ago on a brand new ship. Not only us, but MANY people were complaining about this ship, as well as on our airplane fight back too. I like to have a ship that has LOTS of things to do, if we are at sea. At the time we were on this ship (I called it the lazy ship, and some people would like this), and they offered very little to do on the brand new ship. Makes a person wonder, so don't know if I will ever try this cruise line out again or not.

 

Define "many years ago", please. NCL has changed drastically over the years. The new ships are LOADED with activities....

[Absolutheada]

Our latest favorite is Disney, last summer we sailed without our kids and had a fantastic experience on Celebrity. We are doing our first Carnival in over 10 years come March.

[v3cruiser]

I've been on 6 cruises all with Carnival and have never had anything bad to say. (I refuse to be a victim) I am curious as to what other cruise line would have the same style and vibe as CCL so I can branch out. This is the place to ask all the experienced cruisers after all. I mainly cruise the Caribbean as I live in Vermont and need the warm blue ocean.

 

NCL..--

Carnival prices keep going up and NCL has more perks(free drinks and excursion disounts) for as much or less of cost as carnivals 9+ day cruises. NCL more dependable food options as carnvial ships are all over the place with food offerings and room service offerings. Also enjoyed NCL's buffets much more than carnivals. For example;, Glory has guys burgers and blue iguana fajitas and hot food room service for small fee while the miracle has none of those and limited food offerings in afternoons and no hot room service. Service in mdr was spectacular on both ships though with carnvial having the edge with the added fun in mdr.

 

 

Tempted to try MSC or P&O and Costa. They all have unique itineraries and go to places carnival doesn't in the Caribbean and beyond. Unique carnival itineraries to Caribbean are pricey, hence the price alone make us consider other brands that stop more frequently in places like Costa Rica, Martinique, Guadeloupe, Nevis, etc.

[K.T.B.]

For me, it's Celebrity if not Carnival. I love the ships and the perks.

[Thrilled2012]

In my over 26 years of cruising on Holland American, Carnival (more of these), RCCL, Princess,and Norweigan, they all have something good to give, if you are not too picky.:)

 

I prefer Carnial at this time for the price, as to me RCCL is a tad more. I have checked out most of the "inner rooms", and it is not much, but Carnival is a "tad" larger.

 

I seen several people have liked Norwegian, and "maybe" it has changed.:confused: The reason I say this, my friend and I did Norwegian many years ago on a brand new ship. Not only us, but MANY people were complaining about this ship, as well as on our airplane fight back too. I like to have a ship that has LOTS of things to do, if we are at sea. At the time we were on this ship (I called it the lazy ship, and some people would like this), and they offered very little to do on the brand new ship. Makes a person wonder, so don't know if I will ever try this cruise line out again or not.

 

I am a bit surprised by this post. I know it is like comparing apples and oranges because I have sailed the newer NCL ships (Epic, Getaway) and older Carnival (Conquest). But there was far more to do in terms of planned activities throughout the day (activities hosted by ship staff and the hopping deck parties), as well as the amenities offered (ropes courses, rock climbing, spider jump, nicer mini golf, awesome water slides and waterpark, etc) on NCL than on Carnival....not to mention better nighttime entertainment with the Broadway style shows on NCL. We had a great time on Carnival and will go on future Carnival cruises but we definitely prefer the NCL entertainment.

Edited May 8, 2017 by Thrilled2012

[JerseyshoreBruce]

NCL or anything but RCCL

 

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[Ariel0185]

We recently flew to Miami for an 8 day cruise on the Vista. While we had a great trip, it's our last time to fly to a port for a long time. I wish we'd used the opportunity to take a Celebrity cruise. We are within driving distance of 2-3 ports, but Celebrity doesn't cruise from them.

[JimAOk1945]

We pick our cruises based on the itinerary. We have enjoyed Carnival, Royal Caribbean, Princess, and Holland America. No cruise line is going to please everyone all the time. However, they all have something good to offer.

[SNJCruisers]

Great question...have enjoyed my recent cruises on the NCL Escape and am looking forward to a slice of the good life with the ship within a ship concept sailing in the Yacht Club in an inside cabin on the MSC Seaside in January. 2020 or 2021 has the Celebrity Edge in my long term view as well.

 

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[SNJCruisers]

We are within driving distance of 2-3 ports, but Celebrity doesn't cruise from them.

Have to assume you're near Texas since X cruises from MIA as well as NYC.

 

 

 

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[SNJCruisers]

Define "many years ago", please. NCL has changed drastically over the years. The new ships are LOADED with activities....

Could not agree more. Been lucky enough to be coming up on cruise # 30 in September and the only ship I have sailed three times is the Escape. It checks everything on my list that I enjoy and with the exceptions of lunchtime eating options and the Alchemy Bar, it beats Carnival in all other aspects and I have sailed Carnival 18 times.

 

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[Ariel0185]

Arkansas, so we're close to Galveston, NOLA, and Mobile (very limited options from there).

 

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[SNJCruisers]

Arkansas, so we're close to Galveston, NOLA, and Mobile (very limited options from there).

 

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Airfare can really add to the overall cost. Can't get a cheap fare to any of the ports you mentioned, so we always go out of NYC via car or usually southeast FLA because of cheap airfare.

 

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[winddawn]

I've been on 6 cruises all with Carnival and have never had anything bad to say. (I refuse to be a victim) I am curious as to what other cruise line would have the same style and vibe as CCL so I can branch out. This is the place to ask all the experienced cruisers after all. I mainly cruise the Caribbean as I live in Vermont and need the warm blue ocean.

 

While I usually enjoy Carnival, for me, I would otherwise choose Celebrity because their casinos are smoke-free.

[Rivermyst]

Carnival is our favorite but we like NCL also.

[Topo Gigio]

Of all the 7 cruise lines I have sailed, I will put Carnival at no 7! I haven't been since Jan 2014 on a Carnival ship, because I could see a difference in almost everything. They were cheapening the overall experience. That being said, I will check the Vista later this year or early next year before she moves to Galveston. The prices aren't so much cheaper either in comparison with other cruise lines. Btw I'm Platinum on Carnival, so I have been on quite some cruises before I made my conclusion.