CCL vs RCI - Comments Please

[Mysticks1]

First let me say I am looking for cruisers who have sailed on both Carnival and Royal Caribbean and preferably those who have sailed Voyager Class and Conquest class as those are the ones I would like to compare.

We have sailed on Carnival (Conquest and Fantasy) but DH wanted to try another line for our next cruise. I have booked Mariner of the Seas eastern itinerary for Spring Break as a Christmas surprise for DH and DD. I have read lots of info on the RCI boards. I was able to book an aft corner cabin (7688) which according to the RCI posters is a very good cabin with very large balcony (room for 2 loungers, 2 chairs and table) compared to others(at lowest balcony price) and views to the aft and port side. Some obstruction but not enough to bother me.:)

I would like to compare the following things:

1. Dress Codes (RCI seems confusing)Not looking for a debate just observations. We normally follow whatever dress code is in place. RCI just has 3 different dress codes listed.
   
2. Are you allowed to bring wine on RCI?
   
3. Are you allowed to bring sodas/bottled water on RCI?
   
4. How do the room service menus compare? What quality on room service food?
   
5. How do the activities for lower aged teens compare (DD will be 14).
   
6. Ships decor and layout - easy to find things?
   
7. Smoking - Due to allergies/sinus problems I have problems when breathing in smoke. I would have loved to have sat in the piano bar on Carnival but couldn't. I have read that RCI is much better. Any comments?
   
8. How do the shows compare?
   
9. I have read that RCI is better at enforcing rules for smoking, kids in adult areas, etc. Any comparisons for those things?
   
10. I assume there are refrigerators in the RCI rooms - do they cool well?

As always thank you for any and all comments and help you can provide. :)

[thepeach]

First let me say I am looking for cruisers who have sailed on both Carnival and Royal Caribbean and preferably those who have sailed Voyager Class and Conquest class as those are the ones I would like to compare.

We have sailed on Carnival (Conquest and Fantasy) but DH wanted to try another line for our next cruise. I have booked Mariner of the Seas eastern itinerary for Spring Break as a Christmas surprise for DH and DD. I have read lots of info on the RCI boards. I was able to book an aft corner cabin (7688) which according to the RCI posters is a very good cabin with very large balcony (room for 2 loungers, 2 chairs and table) compared to others(at lowest balcony price) and views to the aft and port side. Some obstruction but not enough to bother me.:)

I would like to compare the following things:

1. Dress Codes (RCI seems confusing)Not looking for a debate just observations. We normally follow whatever dress code is in place. RCI just has 3 different dress codes listed.
   
2. Are you allowed to bring wine on RCI?
   
3. Are you allowed to bring sodas/bottled water on RCI?
   
4. How do the room service menus compare? What quality on room service food?
   
5. How do the activities for lower aged teens compare (DD will be 14).
   
6. Ships decor and layout - easy to find things?
   
7. Smoking - Due to allergies/sinus problems I have problems when breathing in smoke. I would have loved to have sat in the piano bar on Carnival but couldn't. I have read that RCI is much better. Any comments?
   
8. How do the shows compare?
   
9. I have read that RCI is better at enforcing rules for smoking, kids in adult areas, etc. Any comparisons for those things?
   
10. I assume there are refrigerators in the RCI rooms - do they cool well?

As always thank you for any and all comments and help you can provide. :)

See other thread below yours started by fire Lt. Lots of answers to your questions can be found.

[MrPete]

There are WAY more similarities than differences between the two lines. That's why people compare PIZZA.

 

One line has the FUN. The other line has the SHIP.

 

Other difference is better staterooms on Carnival.

 

Read my Explorer review below in siggie.

[Mysticks1]

Mr. Pete - Thanks for pointing me to your review. Exactly the kind of information that I was looking for. I have one question though concerning something you stated : " There was also very little floor space when the third bed was "opened up". I have more bruises on my legs than I've had in years."

I have a triple that states it has a third pullman bed. Is this the same pullman type as on Carnival that pulls out of the ceiling, or is what you described what they call a pullman?

[serene56]

the third bed is above your twin beds on the floor-

if that kid rolls out of bed in the middle of the neck it will be a scarey thing--lol

 

http://www.travelingnuts.com/cruise/ship16.jpg

 

I found stuff to be comparable for Royal and Carnival. Carnival being the cheaper of the two but we found an awesome deal once for the Voyager which was 200pp cheaper then any carnival ship we were looking at.

Room service is a lot more to offer on Royal then on Carnival.

Carnival offered us a better choice of a nightlife. On Voyager we found ourselves bored a few nights with nothing to do except go to a club to listen to music.

 

 

we also stayed aft on deck 8. ( you are aware of the obstruction coz that could be shocking when you first see it)

[Mysticks1]

the third bed is above your twin beds on the floor-

if that kid rolls out of bed in the middle of the neck it will be a scarey thing--lol

 

http://www.travelingnuts.com/cruise/ship16.jpg

 

I found stuff to be comparable for Royal and Carnival. Carnival being the cheaper of the two but we found an awesome deal once for the Voyager which was 200pp cheaper then any carnival ship we were looking at.

Room service is a lot more to offer on Royal then on Carnival.

Carnival offered us a better choice of a nightlife. On Voyager we found ourselves bored a few nights with nothing to do except go to a club to listen to music.

 

 

we also stayed aft on deck 8. ( you are aware of the obstruction coz that could be shocking when you first see it)

 

Thanks for the photo Serene. DD is 14 so I hope she doesn't roll out of that bed on top of us!:eek: That would definately be a rude awakening for all of us! LOL :D

I found a wonderful website with actual photos of the cabin that I booked. Cabin 7688 - Mariner photos I was happy with the size of the balcony and can overlook the obstruction considering the size of the balcony and the E1 price. This website has photos inside and out of all of the cabin categories on the Voyager class ships.

We are usually up for the sunrise and fairly early to bed so I am sure we will find plenty to do.

[MrPete]

Mr. Pete - Thanks for pointing me to your review. Exactly the kind of information that I was looking for. I have one question though concerning something you stated : " There was also very little floor space when the third bed was "opened up". I have more bruises on my legs than I've had in years."

 

I have a triple that states it has a third pullman bed. Is this the same pullman type as on Carnival that pulls out of the ceiling, or is what you described what they call a pullman?

 

If you can ignore the 'tude from DD, with her hip hop moves, the third bed is the brown thing behind her.

 

 

At night, it was unfolded/opened up/out, so the space it took took up all that floor space, including where she's sitting.

 

Therefore, this year, we are going for a JS.

 

I imagine a pullman is what Serene56 posted.

[serene56]

If you can ignore the 'tude from DD, with her hip hop moves, the third bed is the brown thing behind her.

I imagine a pullman is what Serene56 posted.

 

 

gotta love those tudes though...did this cabin sleep 4 people or was the sofa bed only for one person? would seem nice then the convertable ones on carnival-- lots more room on the bed to sleep

[Mysticks1]

If you can ignore the 'tude from DD, with her hip hop moves, the third bed is the brown thing behind her.

 

 

At night, it was unfolded/opened up/out, so the space it took took up all that floor space, including where she's sitting.

 

Therefore, this year, we are going for a JS.

 

I imagine a pullman is what Serene56 posted.

 

Thanks for posting the photo MrPete. I am very good at ignoring the 'tude since my DD is 13 going on 30. LOL

I almost took a room with the couch bed. I am glad I didn't because after your comments I would be changing. DD usually sleeps hard through the night but I usually get up for the bathroom at night. I would have probably come home with bruises all over my shins. :o Glad to know our setup will be similar to what we are accustomed to with Carnival.

BTW glad to see H.R. Puffinstuff back - It used to be my favorite show!

[MrPete]

gotta love those tudes though...did this cabin sleep 4 people or was the sofa bed only for one person? would seem nice then the convertable ones on carnival-- lots more room on the bed to sleep

 

It was a triple. Sofa was for one. Although Dad was able to snuggle up for goodnight kisses.

[MrPete]

BTW glad to see H.R. Puffinstuff back - It used to be my favorite show!

 

Here's a treat for you then:

 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9jsgrEcNbHg

[Mysticks1]

Here's a treat for you then:

 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9jsgrEcNbHg

 

:D I added that one to my favorites...Thanks for sharing. It has been many years(not saying how many:o ) since I have seen that one! I'll have to check out some of the others too.

[TennisLover]

One line has the FUN. The other line has the SHIP.

 

Very well said.

 

That's why I'm booked on Carnival for my next cruise. I cruise for FUN. (I happen to like the Carnival ships though too.)

[cruzmax]

We have cruised on RCI and Celebrity (total of 7 cruises). We will be on our first Carnival cruise in two weeks - looking forward to trying another cruise line. Have heard lots of good things and some not so good about Carnival, so we decided the only way to know is just do it!

A little info about us, which I think is helpful when reading cruise comments - we are in our early 50's (young), live in Western Kentucky, both employed in mgmt.

We have enjoyed our cruises on Celebrity and RCI. Celebrity is a bit more sophisticated and quiet. Food was great on both lines - Celebrity's food a little fancier. One thing I love about Celebrity is their ice cream bar - in addition to ice cream, it has 3 flavors of fresh fruit sorbet that is delicious. We enjoyed RCI as much as Celebrity, and hopefully will enjoy Carnival as much also. I think each cruise line is a little different, but that can be a good thing.

Pam in KY

[ndsumfun]

Donna,

 

We were on the Mariner for our "first" 7 dayer! It is a GREAT ship! With tons of stuff to do! It definitely set the bar high for us now.

 

I believe that you will find it to your liking comparatively speaking.

[LRene]

Hi Donna - I can't answer a lot of your questions but can address a couple. We haven't been on RCCL Voyager class but we had 5 adults on the Grandeur out of NOLA last Christmas and have done several Conquest class ships.

 

Pete's right. RCL has the ships and the decor and Carnival has the fun. That's the most succinct statement comparing the two lines. Even with the age of the Grandeur it was a beautiful ship decorated very tastefully for Christmas. However, we found it really QUIET. We're not huge partiers either but my DH kept telling me that he felt like he needed to use his "inside voice" (as we tell our granddaughters). I finally realized it was a lack of music (deck bands etc) and just an overall HUSH around the ship. We didn't care for the adults only Solarium only because it was covered which made it hot and humid and everyone in there was asleep with a book in their lap so we literally whispered in there. I have to think that's not the norm for a RCCL cruise and maybe the Voyager class is a little better but we definately missed the fun and called it our snooze crooze....

 

Wine - you absolutely CAN NOT take wine on RCCL legally. They don't allow any but they'll sell you a wine package the day you board. I think ours was around $200 for 7 bottles. It was not the top package with the most choices but the one right under that. My biggest complaint (besides not being able to take my own) was that was that it took 20 min. every night to get it to our table. It was nice to be able to order a bottle on the package through room service.

 

We had 3 in a Junior Suite with an extended aft balcony. The size of the balcony was nice but the amount of soot made it hard to sit out there. I've had aft balconies on other ships (Conquest for one) and never had that much problem. Could have been the age of the ship. On Grandeur, not much had been updated so bedding was disgusting and sleeper sofa was super uncomfortable. Beds were foam mattresses with old bedding. Luckily, I think that's been changed now.

 

I didn't find any difference in the smoking policies &/or areas on RCCL versus the CCL ships. There was definately less smoke in the casino because there was never anyone in there! :eek:

 

Entertainment was very good and I would rate it (on that ship) a little better than the productions I've seen on Carnival. Drinks were super strong so you got your money's worth for sure. (Love the Mango Tango). Food, although so subjective, for us was about the same. Room service had more choices but it was confusing and hard to know exactly what was available and when. Crew was great with superior dining room service for us - below average cabin steward but that can happen on any ship. The cruise director was one of the best I've ever seen when it came to interacting with the passengers and was really good.

 

We'll probably go on RCCL again some day but it will be a while. There really are more similarities than differences. The hardest part for me to take were the constant derrogatory remarks by other passengers when we mentioned that we had sailed on Carnival a few times. It got really OLD after the first couple of times. Most, if not all of them had never been on Carnival or had sailed 20 years ago. :rolleyes:

[Mysticks1]

Thanks to all for your comments. :)

Lezlee - thanks for the information on the wine packages that are available. I had not found that information yet and will probably look into it. DH does not drink it and I don't usually but it would be nice to have a glass or two at night on the balcony.

Hopefully we can figure our the room service menu's as I would like to take advantage of that for afternoon snacks on port days and a light snack early in the morning before getting dressed for a full breakfast. I got information on the RCI boards that some of the room service menu can be ordered on the tv.