Glad to be back on Carnival, except for one thing..

[kristy29]

We went on an NCL cruise in April, it was my boyfriends first cruise but as you can see from my signature not mine. I am pretty loyal to Carnival and my one previous experience on NCL made me hesitant to go but it was a can't pass up opportunity. We had a lot of fun, but there was one distinct plus to the NCL cruise. We shared a room amongst the 4 adults and only 2 (him and his brother) had the drink package because it was included in our promotion, they drink and his sister in law and I barely do. When we first got on board we had planned for him to get me a drink maybe once or twice a day since that's all I really wanted. Well, as soon as we walked up to the first bar together they asked if we wanted 2 drinks even though he only had the package. So not only do they allow sharing, they actually expect and encourage it. Now that we are going back on Carnival, he is very sad that he can't even get the drink package at all, because we are not spending over $800 for him to drink and me to have an occasional one. I hate that Carnival is still so stickler about their drinks package. Obviously NCL isn't going bankrupt.

 

But despite this, we still chose Carnival this tims because we found the entertainment on NCL lacking, we went to bed pretty early most nights because there wasn't anything to do. The best night was when they played star wars on the big screen in the lobby, that's how exciting it was lol. I really really missed not having any comedy shows. We'll just have to be able to enjoy it all sober. 😂

 

Also this was my second NCL cruise and my second experience with bad customer service. Plus one for Carnival on that for sure.

[sparks1093]

I just priced a cruise on CCL and NCL and NCL was $1400 more so yeah, they aren't going broke with their "free" promotions:). You can still budget up to $800 for drinks and if you don't reach that point then it shows you how far ahead you are.

[S.S.Oceanlover]

We went on an NCL cruise in April, it was my boyfriends first cruise but as you can see from my signature not mine. I am pretty loyal to Carnival and my one previous experience on NCL made me hesitant to go but it was a can't pass up opportunity. We had a lot of fun, but there was one distinct plus to the NCL cruise. We shared a room amongst the 4 adults and only 2 (him and his brother) had the drink package because it was included in our promotion, they drink and his sister in law and I barely do. When we first got on board we had planned for him to get me a drink maybe once or twice a day since that's all I really wanted. Well, as soon as we walked up to the first bar together they asked if we wanted 2 drinks even though he only had the package. So not only do they allow sharing, they actually expect and encourage it. Now that we are going back on Carnival, he is very sad that he can't even get the drink package at all, because we are not spending over $800 for him to drink and me to have an occasional one. I hate that Carnival is still so stickler about their drinks package. Obviously NCL isn't going bankrupt.

 

But despite this, we still chose Carnival this tims because we found the entertainment on NCL lacking, we went to bed pretty early most nights because there wasn't anything to do. The best night was when they played star wars on the big screen in the lobby, that's how exciting it was lol. I really really missed not having any comedy shows. We'll just have to be able to enjoy it all sober. 😂

 

Also this was my second NCL cruise and my second experience with bad customer service. Plus one for Carnival on that for sure.

 

NCL does not allow sharing although the bartenders took care of both of you.

 

What happened that there was bad customer service on your cruise?

 

Bill

[kristy29]

We paid $3100 for 4 of us in a balcony, out of nyc on the NCL Gem. This Horizon cruise is costing $1750 for 2 of us in a porthole room, plus we have to fly to Miami. And we had free alcohol for all of us with them allowing 2 drinks at a time and we had some internet minutes and on board credit. So price wise I think the NCL cruise actually wins out surprisingly.

[kristy29]

Bill, it wasn't one bartender, it was every single one the whole week. Waiters in restaurants, bartenders, drink servers in lounges, all of them. I think 1 server in 1 lounge refused us the whole week. Like I said I wasn't expecting to be able to share but they really did allow it. Whether corporate knows this is how it is or not, it is. When we tried to get 3 or 4 drinks a couple times, they made us show the second card with the drink package and told us outright 2 drinks per card at a time.

 

The customer service stuff is a long story.

[Joebucks]

As already said, NCL makes more of their profit front rather than in the upsell. I'm no fan of Cheers, but I like Carnival's model better overall. Even if you had to buy drinks out of your pocket, only drinking 1 or 2 per day still puts you ahead with Carnival.

[kristy29]

As already said, NCL makes more of their profit front rather than in the upsell. I'm no fan of Cheers, but I like Carnival's model better overall. Even if you had to buy drinks out of your pocket, only drinking 1 or 2 per day still puts you ahead with Carnival.

 

Oh, he would have more than 1 or 2 if he had cheers, I'mnot a big drinker but he can when he wants to. Unfortunately paying out of pocket he won't drink as much and I feel guilty that he can't partake because of me. But this cruise is already a budget stretch considering it's $2000 with gratuities, plus airfare so that extra $800 is a definite can't do. I did try to tell him if he was gonna spend the $400 on cheers, he cam still budget that $400 for alcohol, it may not be unlimited but it's still something right?

 

But definitely agree I have liked my Carnival cruises better. Pluses and minuses to both but Carnival does win out.

[memoak]

I think we need to point out to the OP that Cheers is not unlimited - it max's out at 15 drinks a day

[TX_Wyldcat]

Since Cheers limits you to 15 a day, it could be hard to make it worthwhile unless you are drinking the max constantly or the top end drinks. I was addi g it up for my cruise later this year and I don't think I could do seven days at a rate that would make Cheers worthwhile. Maybe one or two days of the trip would be drinking days, but I can't see a whole cruise worth.

[SadieN]

I think we need to point out to the OP that Cheers is not unlimited - it max's out at 15 drinks a day

 

 

 

15 alcoholic drinks. The non-alcoholic drinks are unlimited.

[winddawn]

We went on an NCL cruise in April, it was my boyfriends first cruise but as you can see from my signature not mine. I am pretty loyal to Carnival and my one previous experience on NCL made me hesitant to go but it was a can't pass up opportunity. We had a lot of fun, but there was one distinct plus to the NCL cruise. We shared a room amongst the 4 adults and only 2 (him and his brother) had the drink package because it was included in our promotion, they drink and his sister in law and I barely do. When we first got on board we had planned for him to get me a drink maybe once or twice a day since that's all I really wanted. Well, as soon as we walked up to the first bar together they asked if we wanted 2 drinks even though he only had the package. So not only do they allow sharing, they actually expect and encourage it. Now that we are going back on Carnival, he is very sad that he can't even get the drink package at all, because we are not spending over $800 for him to drink and me to have an occasional one. I hate that Carnival is still so stickler about their drinks package. Obviously NCL isn't going bankrupt.

 

But despite this, we still chose Carnival this tims because we found the entertainment on NCL lacking, we went to bed pretty early most nights because there wasn't anything to do. The best night was when they played star wars on the big screen in the lobby, that's how exciting it was lol. I really really missed not having any comedy shows. We'll just have to be able to enjoy it all sober.

 

Also this was my second NCL cruise and my second experience with bad customer service. Plus one for Carnival on that for sure.

 

Thanks for sharing your experience and comparisons. I agree Carnival has exceptional customer service most of the time. What surprises me is that you're seeking out Carnival this time, in part, for their entertainment. From reading this board, many these days say entertainment has gone downhill on Carnival.

 

I think its safe to say each cruise line has their strengths and weaknesses. But overall, for Carnival's price point, I've found Carnival's staff to be exceptional and most of them truly care about passengers.

[jimbo5544]

I just priced a cruise on CCL and NCL and NCL was $1400 more so yeah, they aren't going broke with their "free" promotions:). You can still budget up to $800 for drinks and if you don't reach that point then it shows you how far ahead you are.

 

 

 

Not sure why this is a big secret, but you are correct. There is no such thing as a free lunch.

 

 

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[jimbo5544]

We paid $3100 for 4 of us in a balcony, out of nyc on the NCL Gem. This Horizon cruise is costing $1750 for 2 of us in a porthole room, plus we have to fly to Miami. And we had free alcohol for all of us with them allowing 2 drinks at a time and we had some internet minutes and on board credit. So price wise I think the NCL cruise actually wins out surprisingly.

 

 

 

You are comparing apples to peanuts. The gem is much smaller, many less features, tiny rooms etc (I can go on). Sail the Horizon out of New York and compare.

 

 

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[kristy29]

Thanks for sharing your experience and comparisons. I agree Carnival has exceptional customer service most of the time. What surprises me is that you're seeking out Carnival this time, in part, for their entertainment. From reading this board, many these days say entertainment has gone downhill on Carnival.

 

I think its safe to say each cruise line has their strengths and weaknesses. But overall, for Carnival's price point, I've found Carnival's staff to be exceptional and most of them truly care about passengers.

 

Not so much shows, just stuff to do at night. We went to 1 show on the Gem, it actually reminded me of the old ensemble shows on Carnival, absolutely nothing like Burn the Floor and Rock of Ages on Breakaway, those were way above anything I've seen on any other ship. Breakaway also had a lot of nighttime entertainment (deck parties, dueling piano bar, comedy if you had gotten tickets before you boarded). My boyfriend kept calling the Gem the old man boat. Nothing to do after 10 besides a couple late night movies in the lobby, and the casino which we avoided for financial reasons. I think the late night comedy shows and piano bar and that kind of thing are what we will enjoy on Horizon. We won't be forced to go to bed at 10 pm out of lack of things to do.

 

And I know cheers is 15 drinks, but for me in a day, that's unlimited for sure! And I don't drink coffee, soda, or milkshakes. Even at home I drink unsweet tea and water almost exclusively so I'd get nothing from cheers really.

[kristy29]

You are comparing apples to peanuts. The gem is much smaller, many less features, tiny rooms etc (I can go on). Sail the Horizon out of New York and compare.

 

 

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I never said Gem was better, if you read you will see I said we found a lack of things to do and that's why we are going back to Carnival. I meant it wins simply based on dollar per person, especially if you added in cheers for each person to the price of Horizon. We paid less to sail on Gem and we drove to the port. Maybe money isn't an issue for you and if not I'm happy for you, but the biggest, newest, and flashiest and most expensive cruises aren't something that usually fall within my budget so we make do and go with what we can afford vs not going at all.

[Towel Critter]

Not so much shows, just stuff to do at night. We went to 1 show on the Gem, it actually reminded me of the old ensemble shows on Carnival, absolutely nothing like Burn the Floor and Rock of Ages on Breakaway, those were way above anything I've seen on any other ship. Breakaway also had a lot of nighttime entertainment (deck parties, dueling piano bar, comedy if you had gotten tickets before you boarded). My boyfriend kept calling the Gem the old man boat. Nothing to do after 10 besides a couple late night movies in the lobby, and the casino which we avoided for financial reasons. I think the late night comedy shows and piano bar and that kind of thing are what we will enjoy on Horizon. We won't be forced to go to bed at 10 pm out of lack of things to do.

 

And I know cheers is 15 drinks, but for me in a day, that's unlimited for sure! And I don't drink coffee, soda, or milkshakes. Even at home I drink unsweet tea and water almost exclusively so I'd get nothing from cheers really.

So what you are saying is, entertainment isn't necessarily better on Carnival than NCL, there is just more of it, especially after ten???

[kristy29]

You are comparing apples to peanuts. The gem is much smaller, many less features, tiny rooms etc (I can go on). Sail the Horizon out of New York and compare.

 

 

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I would love to take Horizon out of NY but unfortunately we don't have the funds or time to cruise again until after she's gone. ☹

[jimbo5544]

I would love to take Horizon out of NY but unfortunately we don't have the funds or time to cruise again until after she's gone. [emoji852]

 

 

 

I get it, my point was that in order to compare, it is much more relevant to do similar ships from the same port.

 

 

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[jimbo5544]

I never said Gem was better, if you read you will see I said we found a lack of things to do and that's why we are going back to Carnival. I meant it wins simply based on dollar per person, especially if you added in cheers for each person to the price of Horizon. We paid less to sail on Gem and we drove to the port. Maybe money isn't an issue for you and if not I'm happy for you, but the biggest, newest, and flashiest and most expensive cruises aren't something that usually fall within my budget so we make do and go with what we can afford vs not going at all.

 

 

 

understand

 

 

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[kristy29]

So what you are saying is, entertainment isn't necessarily better on Carnival than NCL, there is just more of it, especially after ten???

 

Well actually I think the shows alone are equal on gem versus a typical Carnival cruise. The other entertainment on Carnival is better, the comedy shows being a big reason for that.

 

Obviously this is just my personal opinion. Daytime was comparable with bingo, trivia and deck chairs in the sun being my choice of daytime activities. Night time Carnival wins over Gem and Breakaway blew everyone out of the water (pun intended).

[kristy29]

understand

 

 

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😁 😁

[coevan]

Since Cheers limits you to 15 a day, it could be hard to make it worthwhile unless you are drinking the max constantly or the top end drinks. I was addi g it up for my cruise later this year and I don't think I could do seven days at a rate that would make Cheers worthwhile. Maybe one or two days of the trip would be drinking days, but I can't see a whole cruise worth.

 

 

Your math is a little fuzzy, 7 drinks at $8 a drink gets you even. You do not have to max out at 15 nor order top shelf. 5 Glasses of $10.95 Cabernet also pays for the entire day.

[Towel Critter]

Well actually I think the shows alone are equal on gem versus a typical Carnival cruise. The other entertainment on Carnival is better, the comedy shows being a big reason for that.

 

Obviously this is just my personal opinion. Daytime was comparable with bingo, trivia and deck chairs in the sun being my choice of daytime activities. Night time Carnival wins over Gem and Breakaway blew everyone out of the water (pun intended).

Thanks.