Comments from our Friends on the RCCL Board

[JETninja]

<BLOCKQUOTE class="ip-ubbcode-quote"><font size="-1">quote:</font><HR>
I do have to disagree with you about the ships being dead. The ones we were on had a ton of partying going on.<HR></BLOCKQUOTE>

I'm sure there are...it was just a impression the wife and I got that night that we'll never forget. I know they're wonderful ships, and we'll probably try one someday. Guy I work with 10 years my junior (and I'm 45) swears by them...he's only done RCCL. And I know he's a party'r! [img]http://messages.cruisecritic.com/infopop/emoticons/icon_biggrin.gif[/img]

[B]JET[/B]

Sensation 95
Victory 02

[LCSherwin]

Heh, got up early for jog one morning. Decided to take a look at the upper most sun deck. It's 6:00 a.m. and there were a bunch of people passed out in swim suits trying to use towels as blankets, shivering like crazy.

Like I posted above though, I really want to try the Legend. She looks beautiful.

One of my biggest complaints about RCL is that in 2 1/2 years, the menu is basically the same. I guess I shouldn't complain though. It's still damn nice to have somebody cooking for me. [img]http://messages.cruisecritic.com/infopop/emoticons/icon_biggrin.gif[/img]

Enchanment of the Seas 4/2002
Radiance of the Seas 1/2003
Monarch of the Seas 3/2003
Adventure of the Seas 1/2004

[*KristenInCT*]

Hubby and I are RCCL fans but after our third cruise with them we wanted to try something different. We booked the Caribbean Princess for Sept. and Carnivals Destiny for April. RCCL did nothing wrong to want to make us switch but we wanted a change. So, with that said....a vacation is what you make it. I promise myself each time I take a vacation that I am going to have a great time and relax. Whether we are on RCCL, Princess or Carnival we have going to have a blast. Beats work ANY day.

9/11/04 ...days left til the Caribbean Princess!!
[img]http://escati.linkopp.net/cgi-bin/countdown.cgi?trgb=000000&srgb=00ff00&prgb=ff00ff&cdt=2004;09;11;17;00;00&timezone=GMT-0500[/img]
Destiny, here we come 4/10/05!!
[img]http://escati.linkopp.net/cgi-bin/countdown.cgi?trgb=000000&srgb=00ff00&prgb=00ff00&cdt=2005;4;10;22;00;00&timezone=GMT-0500[/img]
[img]http://animatedgif.net/nauticalboats/islesun_e0.gif[/img]
3/04 Adventure of the Seas
9/03 Majesty of the Seas
3/03 Radiance of the Seas
3/00 Victory

[halos]

<BLOCKQUOTE class="ip-ubbcode-quote"><font size="-1">quote:</font><HR>
One thing I have noticed is that the Carnival threads overwhlemingly obsess about getting a free upgrade ("OOH OOH, the upgrade fairy came!!!!!!!" - give me a break), smuggling booze onboard so they can save $20, getting a free deck of cards, buying tuxes for their kids for $40 on ebay, etc. It doesn't help the stereotype.
<HR></BLOCKQUOTE>

Are you jealous that the upgrade fairy visits us???? [img]http://messages.cruisecritic.com/infopop/emoticons/icon_biggrin.gif[/img]
Sorry that you think that anyone trying to get a good deal is adding to the 'stereotype'
I would be looking for upgrades and ship credits no matter what line I cruised, that's just how I am. I also don't think that the people who are smart and look for deals are only people who sail Carnival....unless you are insinuating that people who sail other lines are so wealthy they don't look at price tags...or worse yet, that they are so stupid that they don't know how to look for a deal.
If you'd rather spend $100 to rent a tux for your kid...then be my guest but don't put down someone else for renting that same tux for $40.
You won't help with the stereotype that the RCCL cruisers are snobs.

I believe in Miracles
[img]http://escati.linkopp.net/cgi-bin/countdown.cgi?trgb=000000&srgb=00ff00&prgb=000080&cdt=2004;6;19;16;00;00&timezone=GMT-0500[/img]
MIRACLE JUNE 19, 2004
Calm Seas, Good Friends

[halos]

Ok...this is PRICELESS!
This thread just provoked me to peek into the RCCL boards, where I have never ventured before...just to lurk for a minute.
Lo and Behold, the first post I see has to do with someone being totally freaked out because on their cruise, there were a table of guys tossing bread and wine BOTTLES around! LOL! and to top it off the poster was complaining because they were all dressed in shorts and they were allowed in the dining room!
Someone else replied back that they were just on the Legend, and when a passenger tried to get into the dining room in shorts, they were told they'd have to get changed before being seated!!! ROFLMAO!
Now, I do NOT want to hear anyone saying that Carnival Ships carry the bottom feeders any longer....on top of this a woman made a statement that really had me wondering where people's heads are....she said that she was disappointed in RCCL as well because during the show performances, children were taking up the entire front row every night! She complained and no one did anything about it!


The GALL of those kids! Being short and needing to be up front in order to see!

So, now the funny thing is that it seems RCCL has it's share of trash AND snobs!!!
Go figure.

I believe in Miracles
[img]http://escati.linkopp.net/cgi-bin/countdown.cgi?trgb=000000&srgb=00ff00&prgb=000080&cdt=2004;6;19;16;00;00&timezone=GMT-0500[/img]
MIRACLE JUNE 19, 2004
Calm Seas, Good Friends

[jemingway]

Halos, remember that I am a bottom feeder, so Carnival better still take me. I have been on RCCL, Celebrity, NCL, Dolphin, Majesty, Costa and Carnival and have only seen minor differences. I will be adding Princess to the list in July. The best part of going on different lines is you get different souvenirs. [img]http://messages.cruisecritic.com/infopop/emoticons/icon_biggrin.gif[/img]

JV The 4 stages of cruising: planning, anticipation, experience and reflection.

[halos]

jem...there's something to be said for bottom feeders though, Lobsters are bottom feeders. They may not be all that pretty, but man, they taste great!

I believe in Miracles
[img]http://escati.linkopp.net/cgi-bin/countdown.cgi?trgb=000000&srgb=00ff00&prgb=000080&cdt=2004;6;19;16;00;00&timezone=GMT-0500[/img]
MIRACLE JUNE 19, 2004
Calm Seas, Good Friends

[pgmrdev]

<BLOCKQUOTE class="ip-ubbcode-quote"><font size="-1">quote:</font><HR> We like the more laid back party crowds on RCCL versus the more younger out of control party type aboard CCL. <HR></BLOCKQUOTE>
Hmmmm, I've been called a lot of things, but as an "out of control" 50 year old brige playing, crap shooting, hot tub sitting, in bed before midnight, Republican Carnival cruiser, I wonder what the hell their doing on RCCL? Watching the car rust?

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<font color="#FF0000">Grand Princess 2-2001</font>
<font color="#0000FF">Grand Princess 12-2001</font>
<font color="#FF8000">Carnival Paradise 3-2002</font>
<font color="#FF00FF">Carnival Destiny 10-2002</font>
<font color="#008000">Golden Princess 10-2003</font>
<font color="#0000A0">Carnival Legend 6-8-2004</font>
[img]http://mywebpages.comcast.net/tshoo/dice.gif[/img]
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[hilltopfamily]

<BLOCKQUOTE class="ip-ubbcode-quote"><font size="-1">quote:</font><HR>Originally posted by jemingway:
The best part of going on different lines is you get different souvenirs.<HR></BLOCKQUOTE>
Love it!!!![img]http://messages.cruisecritic.com/infopop/emoticons/icon_biggrin.gif[/img]

Penny
Disney Magic~~Eastern 7/03
Carnival Celebration~~Western 3/04
Aug 1, 2004 Carnival Elation--Yippee, Our 3rd Cruise!!!
[img]http://escati.linkopp.net/cgi-bin/countdown.cgi?trgb=000000&srgb=00ff00&prgb=0000ff&cdt=2004;8;1;16;00;00&timezone=GMT-0600[/img]

[ralmyers]

pgmrdev- well I have had it up to "here" with the snotty people today, I can be just as snotty when the time is appropriate. So lemme at em'!
Do you really want to know what the "more laid back party crowds on RCCL" are doing? Well they probably have to hang out in their rooms in case the metamucil kicks in [img]http://messages.cruisecritic.com/infopop/emoticons/icon_wink.gif[/img]

Triumph
<IMG SRC="http://escati.linkopp.net/cgi-bin/countdown.cgi?trgb=000000&srgb=00ff00&prgb=800080&cdt=2004;5;22;16;00;00
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Fantasy - 94
Imagination - 95
Ecstasy - 99 (honeymoon)
Triumph - 04 (5 year anniv.)

[scottp]

Me and you just alike pgmrdev!!!!!

[img]http://escati.linkopp.net/cgi-bin/countdown.cgi?trgb=000000&srgb=00ff00&prgb=00ffff&cdt=2004;6;19;17;0;00&timezone=GMT-0400[/img] Until the FUN begins!!!!

[Mlkkc]

I've been on AOS and I love the fun ships it just not the same the atmosphere.No matter what RCCL add to thier ships it can't touch a fun ship. What part of [B]fun[/B] don't they understand.It is not about the money it is about the [B]FUN.[/B]

MBABYDOLL1628
DESTINY11/99 TRUIMP11/01 ADVENTURE OF THE SEAS 11/02 VICTORY 5/04
[img]http://escati.linkopp.net/cgi-bin/countdown.cgi?trgb=000000&srgb=00ff00&prgb=FF0000&cdt=2004;5;23;7;00;00&timezone=GMT-0500[/img]

[CanTex]

I periodically get interested in RCCL's offerings. The ships are intriguing and innovative, setting the standard for other cruise lines.

However, every time I venture over to the the RCCL board here, I continue to read too many negative comments, particularly on reports of deteriorating and changing service and quality (the "bait and switch" comment has been made more than a few times). Even more disconcerting is the Carnival bashing that is regularly posted there, like RCCL's passenger mix is somehow superior to Carnival's. Then I read of the reports of RCCL's own staff making jokes or deriding Carnival and my decision is made: I continue to stay away and look at other options.

To me, the appeal of Carnival is that it offers great value to its vacationers and embraces a broad clientele who aren't falsely pretentious or "classist." They get most of my business, but I will continue to take the occasional cruise on other lines (including those in the "more premium" class) when I come across something appealing. Unfortunately, RCCL hasn't appealed to me yet.

[momofmeg]

can'twaittocruise, Our expereince on sovereign was our second cruise on her after she moved to Pt. C-we had an obnoxious loud nasty hateful drunk in the Kisnet dinningroom second seating like 2 tables away. That same cruise a bunch of college students drunk were throwing one another fully clothed into the lido pool. This went on for like 45 minutes and I never saw any staff or crew members say one word to them. On the Tropicale we had a drunk best man go down the slide in his tux but he didn't continue with his silliness like the college students so he did not really bother me-sure he regretted that when he had to buy that tux.

Anyway all these things happened on minicruises. I have never had any time of bad experiences on the 7 day cruises.

I to are like the one post who says they are pretty sedate and are in bed by midnight. I like to see the shows in the evening-spent 30 minutes to an hour in either the paino bar or the lounge with the big band dancing-then I hit the hot tub for 30 minutes or so and go to bed. I rarely attend the late buffets although I do like to go to the gala ones just to see the food. As sedate as I am- that has never been a problem on Carnival and to be honest my last 2 cruises I did not see any big partiers anywhere.

As far as RCCL being more attractive in their decor-that is true-but the nicest decorated ship I have been on was HAL Statendam which was very expensively decorated-much more then RCCL but HAL is a VERY sedate line and I did not enjoy it very much as far as activities although the ship was beautiful to look at.

When it comes to food both Princess and HAL much better then RCCL or Carnival with the exception of Miracle-Miracle's food was every bit as good as my HAL and Princess cruises. I have not been on the RCCL Voyager class ships but I asume they would have better food and entertainment as you pay more for them just like you do for the conquest and spirit class ships.

I again say go by ittnenary-pick it that way-or do like me-one year do one ship and the next year the other.

I do believe that people who become hard core fans of one line miss alot. I just love cruising and are happy with that whether is is a great new ship or an older smaller ship-no matter the line.

Carnival Tropicale 10/15/98 Western Caribbean
RCCL Sovereign of the Seas 11/22/99 Bahamas
Carnival Fascination 09/23/00 Southern caribbean
HAL Statendam 05/20/01 Alaska
RCCL Sovereign of the Seas 11/08/01 Bahamas
Pacific Princess 09/29/02 Bermuda
Carnival Inspiration 12/14/03 Western caribbean
Carnival Miracle 04/09/04 Bahamas

[Sweetcharlotte30]

I believe it's the whole "Put others down to make yourself feel better" attitude. This is the main reason why I will [B]NOT[/B] sail with RCI. I want to have a great time on a cruise, not sit around being judged according to what past cruiselines I have sailed with. I'll stick with Carnival, thank you very much. If they want to belittle others to build themselves up... go for it.

[img]http://users.telenet.be/eforum/emoticons4u/love/lieb24.gif[/img]
Official member of O.A.T.C.

[img]http://escati.linkopp.net/cgi-bin/countdown.cgi?trgb=000000&srgb=00ff00&prgb=9400d3&cdt=2005;2;13;16;0;00&timezone=GMT-0500[/img]
Until we fool around on the Miracle!

Ecstacy, Western Carib. Sept '99
Pride, Mexican Riv. Feb '04 <A HREF="http://community.webshots.com/user/sweetcharlotte30
" TARGET=_blank>[url]http://community.webshots.com/user/sweetcharlotte30[/url]
</A>
Yesterday is history
Tomorrow is a mystery
And today is a gift.

[LCSherwin]

It is definately a "belittle others to make yourself feel better" syndrome. It's silly when it happens over in the RCL forum and it's just as silly here.

The people who are talking down Carnival are doing so because they feel the need to justify their choice of RCL. The people who are talking down RCL are doing so because they feel the need to justify their choice of Carnival.

I never felt an oppressive, stuffy, or stuck up air on a RCL cruise. I'm sure when I take my first Carnival cruise, I'll be just as pleased and have a fantastic time.

I think the people doing all of the trash talking on both of the boards are being silly.

BTW, doesn't Carnival own the QM2? Talk about the classiest ship on the seas...

Enchanment of the Seas 4/2002
Radiance of the Seas 1/2003
Monarch of the Seas 3/2003
Adventure of the Seas 1/2004

[halos]

This cruise I am taking is only my 3rd. When I was looking into cruising this time, I decided that I was going to do a lot of homework. I searched on google for a place where I could compare cruiselines/ships. That lead me here to CC.
After researching nearly every ship and every line, the things that struck me were that out of all the reasonably priced cruise lines, Carnival ranked higher in the dining category than most. I was pleasantly surprised. I had previuosly cruised twice, both times with Carnival. The firts time was many, many years ago and we had a GREAT time (because, let's face it, you make or break your own vacation) but the food was nothing to write home about. Then last year, we sailed Carnival again. I wasn't expecting the food to be great and WOW...was I surprised! We sailed the Holiday and the food was really excellent. Of course the staff were awesome and I just had such a great time.
This time though, before wew booked, I was open to other lines because I figured I'd want to try another. I wound up with Carnival again after all the investigating I did. The service is basically consistent, bad reviews were few and far between and the price was always right.
I'm not saying I'd never try another line. I'd like to do a Panama Canal cruise in the future and it seems Princess has the itinerary that suits me best because it's round trip from one port and only 10 days...but with all the great experiencess I've had, Carnival will be tough to beat, and they have a loyal customer in me.

I believe in Miracles
[img]http://escati.linkopp.net/cgi-bin/countdown.cgi?trgb=000000&srgb=00ff00&prgb=000080&cdt=2004;6;19;16;00;00&timezone=GMT-0500[/img]
MIRACLE JUNE 19, 2004
Calm Seas, Good Friends

[Rustynail]

Here is a person that can tell you that our Legend cruise was as classy as any cruise you'd ever go on. I didn't see any drunken yahoo's throwing up on the deck rather what I saw was wonderful fun loving folks enjoying their vacation. Whether dressed up to the nines on formal nights or lounging by the pool during the day [B]everyone was having a great time.[/B].

You know what they say about people who throw stones.......

Dan

CARRIBEAN PRINCESS JAN 2005
<IMG
[url="http://messages.cruisecritic.com/2/OpenTopic?a=tpc&s=927093444&f=4763056957&m=475109651"] Roll Call.... click here to join the fun![/url]
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CARNIVAL'S LEGEND JAN 2003
CELEBRITY'S CENTURY DEC 2003

[YaYaCruiser]

LCSherwin... The Execs. at Carnival had the QM2 built. Carnival does own the Cunard line.

Fascination 7/01
Inspiration 7/02
Triumph 5/03
[img]http://escati.linkopp.net/cgi-bin/countdown.cgi?trgb=000000&srgb=00ff00&prgb=111111&cdt=2004;5;30;22;00;00&timezone=GMT-0500[/img]
Until we sail on the Destiny

[celtic selke]

Hey, I am not a weenie! Yes, Liv, I am speaking to you. And either is nosnobunny.
She totally enjoyed her Carnival cruise.
So take it back or I will never speak to you again.
And that will make you sorry. Hee Hee

celtic

PS: Last time I looked, nothing was protruding from my derriere either.

cs

[nosnobunny]

I wasn't going to touch this thread but since my name was brought up - here I am. [img]http://messages.cruisecritic.com/infopop/emoticons/icon_smile.gif[/img]

I've sailed several "other" lines, RCCL being one. Carnival is the only line I've sailed more than once. And to be honest, I booked our March/03 cruise on the Legend with some trepidation only after our reservation on the Golden Princess fell through. It had been quite a few years since we sailed on the Destiny, where I had memories of a nicely laid-out ship with great entertainment under Cory Schmidt. IMO there is no better cruise director in the industry. I'm sorry to see him leave. But there were also the memories of table mates from hell, a drunk teen vomiting against the glass in the atruim's enclosed elevator - charming [img]http://messages.cruisecritic.com/infopop/emoticons/icon_eek.gif[/img], and mediocore food. To say I was surprized with the Legend is a huge understatement. Sure I didn't care for the decor, but that's a personal thing. The passengers were no more and no less sophisticated than those I encountered on RCCL (or Celebrity for that matter). Would I cruise with Carnival again? You bet I would. But I'd also sail RCCL again in a heartbeat.

Cruise lines and cars bring out the same tendencies in people. Some always have to believe that their choices are the best. Sometimes that's accurate, sometimes ill-informed.

Beth

[momofmeg]

sweetcharlotte30-people really don't put you down for cruising on Carnival when on RCCL. Anyway how would they know unless you tell them ?

Now I do have a friend (aquaintance) who will sail nothing but RCCL but she has only been on 3 cruises all RCCL and I have been on 8 cruises total myself. I asked her how can she say Carnival is not a good cruise line if she has not sailed them. Her response was "I have Heard." and I told her well I have sailed not heard. and she has only cruised Sovereign (2times) and Nordic Empress(once) not any of the nicer RCCL ships.

I think that is what irritates us that people will listen to others instead of judging for themselves.

By the way after reading this tread several times I went over to the RCCL board and read a post from someone asking why RCCL was so much better. You would be surprised by the answers-most who replied said they liked going on different lines and I saw no posts Carnival bashing.

Carnival Tropicale 10/15/98 Western Caribbean
RCCL Sovereign of the Seas 11/22/99 Bahamas
Carnival Fascination 09/23/00 Southern caribbean
HAL Statendam 05/20/01 Alaska
RCCL Sovereign of the Seas 11/08/01 Bahamas
Pacific Princess 09/29/02 Bermuda
Carnival Inspiration 12/14/03 Western caribbean
Carnival Miracle 04/09/04 Bahamas

[jemingway]

LC, you seem like a really nice guy. [img]http://messages.cruisecritic.com/infopop/emoticons/icon_cool.gif[/img]

JV The 4 stages of cruising: planning, anticipation, experience and reflection.

[glrounds]

<BLOCKQUOTE class="ip-ubbcode-quote"><font size="-1">quote:</font><HR>Originally posted by halos:
Ok...this is PRICELESS!
This thread just provoked me to peek into the RCCL boards, where I have never ventured before...just to lurk for a minute.
Lo and Behold, the first post I see has to do with someone being totally freaked out because on their cruise, there were a table of guys tossing bread and wine BOTTLES around! LOL! and to top it off the poster was complaining because they were all dressed in shorts and they were allowed in the dining room!
Someone else replied back that they were just on the Legend, and when a passenger tried to get into the dining room in shorts, they were told they'd have to get changed before being seated!!! ROFLMAO!

So, now the funny thing is that it seems RCCL has it's share of trash AND snobs!!!
Go figure.<HR></BLOCKQUOTE>

I saw this thread also. ROFLMAO. Not only throwing bread in the food fight but some were throwing wine bottles. At this point many posters drew the line as this was in fact [B]DANGEROUS[/B] and somebody may have been injured (as if throwing bread was acceptable). [img]http://messages.cruisecritic.com/infopop/emoticons/icon_eek.gif[/img]

Chris is the closest on this problem. [B]BRAND LOYALTY[/B]! I've over the years probably purchased a couple dozen CHEVROLET trucks. I wouldn't buy a Ford at half price (I don't have a close relative that's a mechanic [img]http://messages.cruisecritic.com/infopop/emoticons/icon_rolleyes.gif[/img]) Having said that, I have contractor friends who wouldn't buy anything but a FORD truck (ironically, for the same reason). We've both been very happy with our trucks over the years and have intense and heated discussions about them constantly.

With 10 Carnival cruises, have never had a bad apple. Will most likely stay with them forever, but would like to taste the wine from a different bottle too. [img]http://messages.cruisecritic.com/infopop/emoticons/icon_smile.gif[/img]

Live well, love much, laugh often.

Gary [img]http://messages.cruisecritic.com/infopop/emoticons/icon_cool.gif[/img]

However, I will never buy a piece-of-crap, Detroit-puker FORD truck. [img]http://messages.cruisecritic.com/infopop/emoticons/icon_biggrin.gif[/img] [img]http://messages.cruisecritic.com/infopop/emoticons/icon_biggrin.gif[/img] [img]http://messages.cruisecritic.com/infopop/emoticons/icon_biggrin.gif[/img] [img]http://messages.cruisecritic.com/infopop/emoticons/icon_biggrin.gif[/img]

[img]http://www.cruisemates.com/animated/Dolphins.gif[/img]

[tef43]

[url="http://messages.cruisecritic.com/2/OpenTopic?q=Y&s=927093444&a=tpc&f=408097554&m=806103781&r=676102981#676102981"]Yet another Carnival-bashing topic on the RCCL board[/url]

[B]Tom <--- Curmudgeon of the Seas[/B]
[img]http://img64.photobucket.com/albums/v196/tef43/almamater.jpg[/img]
Eleven cruises so far. Up next:
Shhhh, it's a surprise!
[img]http://escati.linkopp.net/cgi-bin/countdown.cgi?trgb=000000&srgb=00ff00&prgb=e9967a&cdt=2004;10;9;7;10;00&timezone=GMT-0500[/img]
And then:
Carnival Spirit 12/10/05 Mexican Riviera
[img]http://escati.linkopp.net/cgi-bin/countdown.cgi?trgb=000000&srgb=00ff00&prgb=00bfff&cdt=2005;12;10;16;00;00&timezone=GMT-0800[/img]
Perhaps something else as well. Watch this space.

[I]Dance like it hurts, love like you need money, and work when somebody's watching.[/I]