New to Carnival, what to expect?

[51st FMS]

We are new to Carnival.  We have been on Holland and Princes on all of the curises we have taken, so I have no idea what to expect on Carnival.  We will be sailing out of New Orleans on December 26, 2022 on the Glory,  My wife and I have been on several trips, this time it's a delayed 50th anniversary (from 2021).   We are taking our son, his wife and 3 children two boys ages 18, 16, and a girl 15 and our daughter and husband and 3 children a boy  17, and 2 girls 16, and 12.  My wife and I  have an accessible ocean suite and the families have 2 balcony cabins  each.  I just want to try to get a heads up as to what to expect on Carnival,   On previous trips when traveling with family or friends, we were all allowed to board at the same time because of my handicap priority boarding. I doubt this would happen, but would be nice.  We have anytime dinning, and would like to all eat together one meal a day if possible.  It's just the little things I'm wondering about.   I'm rambling and I'm sure you all get the idea of what we want or need.  Thanks

 

[crystalspin]

I have not (yet) sailed on Carnival, but from my experience with family groups of 8 and 10 on HAL, I would suggest you try to change anytime dining to fixed, for your group of 12... if there even is a single table that would hold you all! 

[CruizinSusan70]

Yes, if you want 12 of you to eat dinner at the same time, you should change to fixed time dining.  You should also link all of your reservations together so that the 12 of you could board at the same time via your HC situation.  Enjoy your NYE cruise.

[notplatinum]

3 hours ago, 51st FMS said:

We are new to Carnival.  We have been on Holland and Princes on all of the curises we have taken, so I have no idea what to expect on Carnival.  We will be sailing out of New Orleans on December 26, 2022 on the Glory,  My wife and I have been on several trips, this time it's a delayed 50th anniversary (from 2021).   We are taking our son, his wife and 3 children two boys ages 18, 16, and a girl 15 and our daughter and husband and 3 children a boy  17, and 2 girls 16, and 12.  My wife and I  have an accessible ocean suite and the families have 2 balcony cabins  each.  I just want to try to get a heads up as to what to expect on Carnival,   On previous trips when traveling with family or friends, we were all allowed to board at the same time because of my handicap priority boarding. I doubt this would happen, but would be nice.  We have anytime dinning, and would like to all eat together one meal a day if possible.  It's just the little things I'm wondering about.   I'm rambling and I'm sure you all get the idea of what we want or need.  Thanks

 

Dont expect anything. Just go an enjoy for yourself 😎

[Gumbo4Life]

I would think with anytime dining they could still accommodate your group.  Link your reservations and check in using the app, when you check in list the party size and they will let you know when the table is ready.  It may be a little longer than normal but I would think Carnival sees this all of the time. 

 

Congrats on 50 ("+") years, very excited for you.  Nice to take the gang with you, we are celebrating 40 years on our upcoming cruise, very excited about it!  😊

Edited August 21, 2022 by Gumbo4Life

[cruisingguy007]

Try a newer ship out of a different port. You may be disappointed with the smaller/older ship and crowd if you're used to Hal and Princess. Not the same.  

[KmomChicago]

First, of all, Carnival is just fine, and the Glory is a decent ship, though Carnival is slightly notorious for difficulty keeping up with cosmetic maintenance so there may be more visible rust on the hull and balcony than you are used to.

 

You will find many of the things you like about other cruises, but it will be a lower end, noisier, more casual, family oriented version.  Your typical Walmart / Dollar Tree shopper goes on Carnival (along with, it is important to note, plenty of higher end folks who like a bargain more than they like fanciness).

 

The kids will all enjoy the cruise very much, as the things Carnival does better than other lines are largely for them. The kids' clubs of all ages are quite good, and there will be a ton of other kids on the holiday sailing, so no matter their personal vibe - the cute ones, the athletes, the brains, the creative, etc. - each kid will likely find kindred spirits.  With that in mind:

 

IT IS CRITICAL THAT ALL THE KIDS GO TO THEIR AGE-APPROPRIATE CLUB ON THE EMBARKATION EVENING.  Kids tend to group together at that first meetup and if you miss it, it can be harder to join a group even the next day without feeling like an outsider. 

 

The lido deck central pool area and Waterworks tend to be bustling, crowded, and loud, but there is an adults-only Serenity deck providing a respite and slightly more exclusive feel, though it has hot tubs rather than a pool.  Also the aft lido deck pools tend to be very slightly less busy. 

 

Daily trivia on Carnival is a hoot, sometimes fun and/or challenging, sometimes almost hopelessly silly (Guess What? which I will only explain if you ask me to) but there is a fair amount of good sported camaraderie and the chance to win a ship on a stick (plastic trophy ship). 

 

Evening entertainment is fair to good - Playlist productions song-and-dance shows are often criticized because of their simplicity and the lack of a live orchestra (the performers do sing live), but there has been recent efforts to improve with better LED backgrounds, little drones lighting up the theatre during the show, and some live music (possibly drums and guitar) over the recorded backing tracks.  Overall we like them and they are pretty close to a must-do for us every cruise.

 

Punchliner comedy is a favorite for many, with a few PG shows early and several more R rated shows which can get quite raunchy but appeal to a wide swath of the clientele. 

 

The Carnival Glory is a Joe Farcus-designed ship which means the interiors tend to be very colorful and at times just plain wacky, and never the same look twice. You will either enjoy the uniqueness, find it too over-the-top, or not much care if such things don't worry you. 

 

The kids will enjoy the casual lunch options from Guy's Burger, Blue Iguana Tacos/Burritos, the Deli, the Pizza Pirate, and 24-hour Swirls soft serve "ice cream."  We like the evening MDR food well enough but the steakhouse or Chef's Table are nice options if anyone wants to pay for an upgrade. 

 

I have been on "better" cruise lines like Disney and Celebrity and so far have not found them to be worth the upcharge over Carnival, which we like, well, just fine, really.  I am still open to someday upgrading to something like Princess (possibly if we ever do Alaska) but honestly I think we might find the more elegant and sedate atmosphere a bit boring and intimidating.  We are middle aged and enjoy being very chill and casual on vacation, we like the food and trivia and we just feel very comfortable with this brand.

 

 

[tallnthensome]

You should have picked a Vista or Excellence class ship for your first Carnival Cruise especially with a bunch of kids. The old Glory would not be my choice. You should do more homework and the ship amenities that would entertain all are more on the Vista and Mardi Gras . Teens would have way more fun on the class of ships I listed above. It will be fine for older cruisers. Don't get me wrong, a cruise is a cruise and you will all enjoy it but there were better options is all I'm saying. Just an opinion to be taken with a grain of salt. 

[starstruck05]

The Glory is a lovely ship and a great ship to get your feet wet with Carnival. I don't agree with thise saying to try a newer ship first. Plus many other factors may have played into why you chose this cruise.

 

Anyway, Carnival is the Fun ships and it lives up to that. Just go in with an open mind and an empty belly and don't try to compare it too much. Each brand is different for a reason. Please don't let anyone scare you mentioning rust and upkeep and etc. It's really not that important to the time you are spending with your family.

 

Don't miss the Playlist productions and also the movie under the stars is my favorite activity on a ship. Bring a blanket! 

Edited August 21, 2022 by starstruck05

[mz-s]

I do recommend doing fixed time dining. You can do any time dining but there aren't many tables that seat that large of a group so it may be quite a wait versus fixed time dining where your table is ready every evening at your assigned time. But it's up to you, if y'all don't plan on eating together every evening then anytime may be fine. Or if you're OK with waiting for your table to be ready (it is a lot better now that the app notifies you it's ready, no waiting for a pager to buzz).

[IslandHppy]

34 minutes ago, starstruck05 said:

The Glory is a lovely ship and a great ship to get your feet wet with Carnival. I don't agree with thise saying to try a newer ship first. 

 

I don't have much real data here.  Newer larger ships have more venues and activity choices.  But I think the idea the same leadership team can manage twice as many dining rooms is just not right.  I have talked to crew who self select smaller ships.  

In your case talk to the host at your choice of restaurant right after boarding and let them know about your group.   

 

[KmomChicago]

Our first Carnival cruise was Triumph, also from New Orleans, also during a school holiday. We chose it because the price and logistics worked better than any other option.  My kid and DH had never been on a cruise.  Triumph was nearing the end of its pre-Sunshine life, looking like it needed a massive refresh, and still well-known in the worst way as the Poop Cruise ship.  

 

We all had a great time and they were immediately hooked.  We had the Seuss activities as my kiddo was just barely 11 which I believe they are now resuming on all the ships - this is a really nice character added feature for younger kids (or young at heart).

 

While there are things we like about the newer Carnival ships nowadays, the things that grabbed us have not changed - friendly and fun crew, plenty of included food options, daytime and evening entertainment, sunshine and outdoor spaces, plus, you know, a ride to far off exotic locations, and lastly, the same family / kiddo oriented vibe we really enjoy.  As long as you and your family do not need to be on the latest, shiniest, trendiest new floating palace, you'll all have a wonderful time and make fabulous family memories. 

[CruizinSusan70]

7 hours ago, Gumbo4Life said:

I would think with anytime dining they could still accommodate your group.

😊

There might be two tables in the entire dining room that could accommodate a group of 12.  And of course a group of 12 takes substantially longer to enjoy their meal.  I would play it by safe and go with fixed dining unless you want to roll the dice and possibly have a long wait and maybe get someone in the group of 12 upset because they would miss a show they wanted to see because of a long wait for their table.

[CruizinSusan70]

1 hour ago, tallnthensome said:

You should have picked a Vista or Excellence class ship for your first Carnival Cruise especially with a bunch of kids. The old Glory would not be my choice. You should do more homework and the ship amenities that would entertain all are more on the Vista and Mardi Gras . Teens would have way more fun on the class of ships I listed above. It will be fine for older cruisers. Don't get me wrong, a cruise is a cruise and you will all enjoy it but there were better options is all I'm saying. Just an opinion to be taken with a grain of salt. 

Have to infer that possibly the Glory was chosen because of the New Orleans embarkation and the fact that it's 7 days long.  The Valor does 5 day sailings and maybe the family will be driving to the port.  If they were flying, then I would fully agree about picking a newer ship in the fleet, but maybe my inference is correct.

[tweak89]

My only suggestion is to maybe plan some activities for the 18 year old.  The 18-20 crowd is in a strange limbo on cruises since they are too young for adult clubs/casino and too old for the teen clubs.  The other kids will be meeting their peers in their respective clubs and he'll be sort of left out unless they meet outside the club.

[ninjacat123]

56 minutes ago, starstruck05 said:

Don't miss the Playlist productions and also the movie under the stars is my favorite activity on a ship. Bring a blanket! 

I remember soft, cuddly blankets being provided at one of the stands on Lido for movie watching.  Love watching the movies on deck!

[jetsfan58]

Welcome to the World of the Carnival Cruise Nuts. Congratulations on your 50th year together! We have been faithfully cruising with Carnival for over two decades and still enjoy every minute of the voyages. We have sailed with as many as 20 family members with zero issues. 

 

Enjoy the Adventure! 

[Skippy]

We were on the Glory 2 weeks ago. We saw a lot of extended families traveling together. There’s not a lot to do on the ship especially if you are not into bingo or the casino. I did lounge by the pool and attend the various trivia games which was fun. It really depends on your expectations. We went in with the goal of relaxing and not doing much. 
overall we definitely preferred the Royal Caribbean oasis class ships, but we could not pass up the deal on this cruise. The kids had fun and mostly did their own thing. We enjoyed the comedy shows and attended some of the evening entertainment.

[CruizinSusan70]

20 minutes ago, Skippy said:

We were on the Glory 2 weeks ago. We saw a lot of extended families traveling together. There’s not a lot to do on the ship especially if you are not into bingo or the casino. I did lounge by the pool and attend the various trivia games which was fun. It really depends on your expectations. We went in with the goal of relaxing and not doing much. 
overall we definitely preferred the Royal Caribbean oasis class ships, but we could not pass up the deal on this cruise. The kids had fun and mostly did their own thing. We enjoyed the comedy shows and attended some of the evening entertainment.

Kind of difficult to compare the Glory to ships from the Oasis class that are over twice it's size.  If you prefer that size ship and the amenities it provides, that's great, but you're comparing apples and oranges.  It would be like comparing a 90k ton Radiance Class ship from RCI to a 180 K ton Excel Class ship from Carnival.

[imacruiser99]

Comments from a NCL fan who really did not want to sail on Carnival due to all the stories your hear.

 

1) The stories are probably true on the short cruises (3 day), but I have found Carnival very enjoyable and plan to sail on them more often.

2) Expect a different crowd, even during periods of time when you think all the young ones are in school  School breaks vary from state to state and even with in a state, so the cruise could have a large number of kids on the cruise (something to expect if you are not used to it on the other lines).  

3) Carnival does have more free dining options than NCL, but the lines for those can get quite long.

4) As with any cruise, always pack your patience.  Any cruise is what you make of it.   

5) Do not be swayed by some of the recent U-Tubers who are making Carnival look like a free for all.  These videos are a result the the 3 day "booze cruise" and folks just do not know how to behave.  These kinds of events happen on all cruise lines, and fortunately I have yet to experience it.

6) I would recommend, as others have, if you want to dine together, do the set dining time and the first day, go to the dining room and talk to the matre'd and explain the situation to them.  The earlier you do this, the better off your will be,

7) Do not always expect the same level of food quality you have seen on the other lines.  Unless you eat at 4 star plus dining on land, the food quality will be comparable to the other cruise lines.

😎 ENJOY the cruise and the event,  I love cruising and ALWAYS have a good time since I expect the unexpected.

[Tobleronebar]

7 hours ago, tweak89 said:

My only suggestion is to maybe plan some activities for the 18 year old.  The 18-20 crowd is in a strange limbo on cruises since they are too young for adult clubs/casino and too old for the teen clubs.  The other kids will be meeting their peers in their respective clubs and he'll be sort of left out unless they meet outside the club.

I was going to say the same thing. Be really to entertain a  ‘bored’ 18 year old if siblings and cousin spend all their time in the kids clubs. 

[wany]

I just had my first Carnival cruise on the Miracle to Alaska. Before this I have only sailed RCCL, Norwegian, and Celebrity.

Food was one of the biggest let down, the buffet lacks variety and hours are limited. Both the food quality and service were not as good as RCCL or Norwegian. Many dishes does not really match the name. e.g. Korean Fried Chicken during the lunch time is more like a chicken stir fry dish with a little bit of gochujang sauce in it. The next day you will find pepper steak without appreciable amount of pepper. Another issue with the cooking is the extreme uneven cut of the vegetables. You can find both diced, strips, and sticks of pepper in the same dish. Guys burger was not bad but it closes at 6 PM and Bluelguana Cantina close before 4PM despite posted 6PM. No, there is no burger or taco option in the buffer during dinner as a backup option for you. We also did the steakhouse on the first night. The cowboy steak we got looks like only half of the size of photos I saw online. If you care about food quality, keep your expectation low.

I agree with others the evening performance is fair to ok. Basically, you can tell the performer splits into dancer and singer. The dancers are not good at singing and the singers are not good at dancing.

The internet was decent and not insanely priced.

Overall, I am not eager to return to Carnival any time soon unless I can get a very good deal. I will also adjust my expectation for the food.

[Drew B 58]

10 hours ago, tweak89 said:

My only suggestion is to maybe plan some activities for the 18 year old.  The 18-20 crowd is in a strange limbo on cruises since they are too young for adult clubs/casino and too old for the teen clubs.  The other kids will be meeting their peers in their respective clubs and he'll be sort of left out unless they meet outside the club.

For what it’s worth, an 18 year old CAN play in the casino.

 

https://help.carnival.com/app/answers/detail/a_id/1061/~/age-restrictions-on-board

[CruizinSusan70]

1 hour ago, wany said:

I just had my first Carnival cruise on the Miracle to Alaska. Before this I have only sailed RCCL, Norwegian, and Celebrity.

Food was one of the biggest let down, the buffet lacks variety and hours are limited. Both the food quality and service were not as good as RCCL or Norwegian. Many dishes does not really match the name. e.g. Korean Fried Chicken during the lunch time is more like a chicken stir fry dish with a little bit of gochujang sauce in it. The next day you will find pepper steak without appreciable amount of pepper. Another issue with the cooking is the extreme uneven cut of the vegetables. You can find both diced, strips, and sticks of pepper in the same dish. Guys burger was not bad but it closes at 6 PM and Bluelguana Cantina close before 4PM despite posted 6PM. No, there is no burger or taco option in the buffer during dinner as a backup option for you. We also did the steakhouse on the first night. The cowboy steak we got looks like only half of the size of photos I saw online. If you care about food quality, keep your expectation low.

I agree with others the evening performance is fair to ok. Basically, you can tell the performer splits into dancer and singer. The dancers are not good at singing and the singers are not good at dancing.

The internet was decent and not insanely priced.

Overall, I am not eager to return to Carnival any time soon unless I can get a very good deal. I will also adjust my expectation for the food.

Cruise on the Mardi Gras, not the Miracle and your expectations will substantially increase. When comparing the ships of RCI, NCL and Carnival you need to compare an apple to an apple.

[notplatinum]

1 hour ago, wany said:

I just had my first Carnival cruise on the Miracle to Alaska. Before this I have only sailed RCCL, Norwegian, and Celebrity.

Food was one of the biggest let down, the buffet lacks variety and hours are limited. Both the food quality and service were not as good as RCCL or Norwegian. Many dishes does not really match the name. e.g. Korean Fried Chicken during the lunch time is more like a chicken stir fry dish with a little bit of gochujang sauce in it. The next day you will find pepper steak without appreciable amount of pepper. Another issue with the cooking is the extreme uneven cut of the vegetables. You can find both diced, strips, and sticks of pepper in the same dish. Guys burger was not bad but it closes at 6 PM and Bluelguana Cantina close before 4PM despite posted 6PM. No, there is no burger or taco option in the buffer during dinner as a backup option for you. We also did the steakhouse on the first night. The cowboy steak we got looks like only half of the size of photos I saw online. If you care about food quality, keep your expectation low.

I agree with others the evening performance is fair to ok. Basically, you can tell the performer splits into dancer and singer. The dancers are not good at singing and the singers are not good at dancing.

The internet was decent and not insanely priced.

Overall, I am not eager to return to Carnival any time soon unless I can get a very good deal. I will also adjust my expectation for the food.

Rccl is classier