RCI vs Carnival Questions

[Mysticks1]

First let me say I would like to have comments from cruisers who have sailed on both Carnival and Royal Caribbean and hopefully those who have sailed Voyager Class and Conquest class as those are the ones I would like to compare. Any comments appreciated.

 

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 this board. I was able to book an aft corner cabin (7688) which according to the reports on here is a very sought after aft corner cabin.:) This will be our first balcony as we have booked insides before.

 

I would like to compare the following things:

 

1. Dress Codes (RCI is different than Carnival with 3 categories)Not looking for a debate just observations. We normally follow whatever dress code is in place (no jeans). Just wondering what you have observed people normally wearing on the different nights.
   
2. Are you allowed to bring wine on RCI (Carnival is 1 bottle per person)?
   
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 due to smoke. I have read that RCI is much better. Any comments?
   
8. How do the shows compare? I have seen the ice show is a don't miss.
   
9. I have read that RCI is better at enforcing rules for smoking, kids in adult areas, etc. Any comparisons or comments 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. :)

[Teacherloves2Cruise]

I can't comment on everything but here is my opinion on some of the areas you mentioned:

 

2. You are not able to bring any alcoholic beverages on the ship.

 

3. You may bring soda and water.

 

8. I liked RCCL shows better, a little more tasteful than Carnival.

 

Good luck.

[Cruising89143]

I will give some answers below. I have cruised on the Destiny and Conquest class along with twice on the Navigator of the Seas. I just do not like the Conquest class of ships. They felt crowded and the layout is horrible. The Glory was also very smokey when I cruised on it along the promenade to the point that I could not sit there at any time during the week. Here is a good site that has a 360 of the Mariner.

 

http://www.virtualtoursusa.com/marinerseas.htm

 

First let me say I would like to have comments from cruisers who have sailed on both Carnival and Royal Caribbean and hopefully those who have sailed Voyager Class and Conquest class as those are the ones I would like to compare. Any comments appreciated.

 

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 this board. I was able to book an aft corner cabin (7688) which according to the reports on here is a very sought after aft corner cabin.:) This will be our first balcony as we have booked insides before.

 

I would like to compare the following things:

1. Dress Codes (RCI is different than Carnival with 3 categories)Not looking for a debate just observations. We normally follow whatever dress code is in place (no jeans). Just wondering what you have observed people normally wearing on the different nights.

Dress code is about the same. On a seven night cruise you have two formal nights and the rest are casual. I do think that the folks on RCI do a little better job in following the dress code. One thing to keep in mind, the Windjammer for lunch does require that bathing suits be covered, shoes and that the men wear a shirt.

Are you allowed to bring wine on RCI (Carnival is 1 bottle per person)?

No alcohol allowed to be brought on board.

Are you allowed to bring sodas/bottled water on RCI?

Yes but keep it to a reasonable amount.

How do the room service menus compare? What quality on room service food?

You can order a hot breakfast such as omlets, eggs and bacon for room service. You can also order certain items off of the dining room menus for lunch and dinner. The room service menu also includes hamburgers/cheeseburgers and pizza along with sandwiches and salads.

How do the activities for lower aged teens compare (DD will be 14).

Can't answer.

Ships decor and layout - easy to find things?

Compared to the Destiny/Conquest class, a breeze to find your way around the ship. The decor is much more subdued than that of Carnival. Very beautiful.

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 due to smoke. I have read that RCI is much better. Any comments?

Depends on the ship but I have found that the smoke is not as bad on RCI as it was on Carnival. The ships feel much more open and to me that helps but again depending on how many folks on board are smoking can make a difference. Casino has always been smokey regardless of ship or line.

How do the shows compare? I have seen the ice show is a

don't miss.

RCI has great shows in their main lounge. Four singers in place of two on Carnival. The ice show is great. The other acts can change weekly. You can email RCI about four weeks prior to your sailing and they will email you with the entertainment line up for the week.

I have read that RCI is better at enforcing rules for smoking, kids in adult areas, etc. Any comparisons or comments for those things?

Varies by ship but I have read that Captain Johnny on the Mariner is one of the best for making folks tow the line.

I assume there are refrigerators in the RCI rooms - do they cool well?

Yes they do have them in all cabins and they do a fair job of keeping things cool. About as good as I remember on Carnival.

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

[CwuzCwazy]

We just sailed on Freedom of Seas and have sailed on Mariner of Seas, plus 14 Carnival Ships...so here are my replies:

 

1. Dress code on RCL is much more lax than on Carnival. On Formal nights pretty much everyone dressed up as suggested, but we did dinner in Chops & Portofino and the dress code was non-existent,. I wore slacks, a jacket, and nice open collar shirt and I was WAY overdressed. I saw everything from beach casual to smart casual. Maitre'D did not turn away anyone. The Compass suggests no kids under 13, but there were toddlers there as well.....so it was not an elegant experience.

5. Room Service Menus on RCL are better and include some hot foods. On Carnival cold sandwiches are the best you can get.

7. Both lines are smoker friendly, but on both lines the Piano Bars are smoking areas, so if you want to go, you have to put up with it. On RCL the Piano Bar was a much more open area, not a separate room as on Carnival.

8. The shows we saw on the FOS last week were the BEST we have seen on any cruise line over 17 cruises. Carnival's shows are third rate compared to RCL (except for the Adult oriented Comedians).

 

I'll add one more comparison which you did not ask, but may be important. Dining Room Cuisine - Carnival is the winner here, by a longshot. RCL's menus are very limited, the food was sub-standard for a Dining Room, in quality, perparation, and taste. On Carnival on Formal night you will see Filet Mignon and Lobster, not on RCL. Additionally our service was extermely slow (didn't receive starters until 35 min into dinner time for example) and the food was barely warm, beef was tough and flavorless, and other times dried out. It was really bad last week....so bad that RCL Diamond Members at our table stopped coming to the DR for dinner after 2 nights.

 

So after 2 Cruises on RCL's largest vessels, we're sticking with Carnival....don't care about Rock Climbing, Ice Skating or Flow Riding.

[Mysticks1]

Thanks to all for your replies - I am looking forward to the new experience on RCI but want to make sure I am aware of all the differences in advance. :) I am a compulsive cruise planner. :o :p

[DonnaK]

First let me say I would like to have comments from cruisers who have sailed on both Carnival and Royal Caribbean and hopefully those who have sailed Voyager Class and Conquest class as those are the ones I would like to compare. Any comments appreciated.

 

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 this board. I was able to book an aft corner cabin (7688) which according to the reports on here is a very sought after aft corner cabin.:) This will be our first balcony as we have booked insides before.

 

I would like to compare the following things:

1. Dress Codes (RCI is different than Carnival with 3 categories)Not looking for a debate just observations. We normally follow whatever dress code is in place (no jeans). Just wondering what you have observed people normally wearing on the different nights.
   
2. Are you allowed to bring wine on RCI (Carnival is 1 bottle per person)?
   
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 due to smoke. I have read that RCI is much better. Any comments?
   
8. How do the shows compare? I have seen the ice show is a don't miss.
   
9. I have read that RCI is better at enforcing rules for smoking, kids in adult areas, etc. Any comparisons or comments 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. :)

 

 

1. Regardless of what they list, there are really only two categories of dress on Mariner 7 day: Formal and casual. The smart casual has sort of fallen by the wayside, and blended into casual. So you won't find many men wearing jackets outside of their suit on formal night, for example. We found the dress codes on the two lines to be comparable, however on Carnival, more people seemed to disregard the recommendations. On Mariner, the cruisers do a good job of dressing according to the suggested code.

 

2 & 3. Unfortunately, RCI does not allow you to bring wine, or any other beverages aboard. Having said that, many people do smuggle bottles of water or soda (in double ziplock bags) in their checked luggage without problem, but the ethics of that is a debate for another conversation. :)

 

4. We don't use room service very much, just coffee in the morning, or a snack in the afternoon, so I really can't answer your question.

 

5. My children are lower teens and were bored out of their wits on Carnival because the club was more focused on younger kids and no one in their age group seemed to be attending the program. There are so many more activities and so much more to get involved with on the Voyager-class RCI ships, and Adventure Ocean is utilized by this age group. Your 14 year old will have a blast. Make sure she brings long pants if she intends to ice skate.

 

6. The ease of the layout is one of the biggest advantages RCI ships have over Carnival. Mariner is MUCH easier to navigate than the Miracle was. (We didn't like that the Lido Buffet was between the pool and the aft set of elevators, so sunbathers paraded through the restaurant while we were eating. The Windjammer is situated where there is no thru-traffic. As well, on Miracle, the Kids Club was in an out-of-the-way location in the front of a passenger deck, which might be why it was underutilized. On RCI, it is on the pool/sports deck. These are just two examples - I have many more)

 

7. Smoke was a huge problem for us on Carnival - the atrium and hallways reeked of stale smoke and the ventilation system even carried the smell into our room. RCI definitely keeps the smoking sections well-contained, and even when you walk through the casino, the ventilation system minimizes the smoke.

 

8. Definitely don't miss the ice show! As far as the quality of other shows are concerned, I would say they are pretty much equal.

 

9. RCI still needs to improve enforcing its rules about kids in adult areas, no chair saving, etc. However, it's still an improvement over Carnival's lack of enforcement.

 

10. The refrigerator in the room is really just a cooling box, and don't work as efficiently as a real fridge. Submerging the item in a bucket of ice works well.

 

You're going to LOVE the Mariner - the crew is outstanding and provides a very high level of friendly and personal service - lots of individualized attention. As a previous poster noted, Capt Johnny keeps their morale up, which really shows in their level of service. (Service was a huge issue for us on Carnival, esp in the dining room. It seems the wait team (and the cabin steward) were responsible for 2-3 times as many people as their counterparts on RCI, so it was impossible for them to be as efficient and attentive. An example would be refilling our glasses or getting a fork at dinner - on Carnival we had to ask, and our request took 5-10 minutes to fulfill, however on RCI, it is done automatically, before you drain your glass. They seemed to be going through the motions, instead of projecting that it was their pleasure to serve you)

 

 

We agree we the poster who said that Carnival has better food. However, the food on RCI is very good - we never had a bad meal or any of the issues the other poster mentioned.

 

Editted to add: I see a previous poster said that you are allowed to bring water and soda onboard. Perhaps the rule on this has changed since my last cruise on Mariner in August 2006.

[Mysticks1]

DonnaK - Thanks so much for all of the information. My daughter loved Camp Carnival on our first cruise when she was in the 9-11 group but didn't go at all last year because nothing appealed to her in the 12-14 group. It is good to know that they do a better job of entertaining that age group on RCI. I do know she will miss the big slide but even though we live in the south she has ice skated and likes that so hopefully that will be a good trade off. Thanks for the tip on the long pants for that.

[big al]

I have been on 5 Carnival cruises and 5 RCI including the Mariner and Freedom,and IMO,both were a TON nicer than Carnival..biggest difference is THE SHIPS-The Mariner is magnificent and the Freedom for a 14 yr.old would be heaven...just the pool deck,Flowrider,Royal Promenade,ice-skating show,and for teens-the "Air on Ice" video karaeoke booths,where you can record your own video song,is terrific!!! Yes,the food may be better in Carnival's main dining room-but that's why we eat at least twice in Chops,or Portifinos (don't miss-only $20 pp for 5 course meal,and romantic!!)...The Triumph was great,but the Mariner & Freedom are in a class by itself....all are entitled to their opinions,but if you walked aroung the Freedom or Mariner,then took a walk around the Glory,you would see the difference immediately!! Let's not start with the Fantasy-she's now old and way behind the times..when we sailed her in 1990,she was 4 months old and very nice...my,how things change......

 

Big Al

[piercetc4]

i just wanted to add that the piano bar on mariner has gone nonsmoking from what i have read here- so you will be able to enjoy that venue- it is next to the casino where smoking is allowed in some areas- the non smoking area of the casino is closest to the schooner bar/piano bar ( i think)

we have done conquest and mariner- enjoyed both very much - but found the mariner to be better in every area that matters to us personally-

its been our observation that people dressed according to the suggested attire on both lines - i have never seen underdressed in specialty rest. but have not been on every ship and every sailing every week........just can say what we have seen while on our cruises :)

have a great cruise- that should be a wonderful surprise for your family!

[Mysticks1]

i just wanted to add that the piano bar on mariner has gone nonsmoking from what i have read here- so you will be able to enjoy that venue- it is next to the casino where smoking is allowed in some areas- the non smoking area of the casino is closest to the schooner bar/piano bar ( i think)

quote]

 

Piercetc4 - thanks for that information. I hope that is true as that would be great for me. I tried before and the Fantasy was so bad that I couldn't walk down the Promenade area around the bars because the smoke was so thick. I will look forward to that.

 

Big Al - thanks for your comments as well. It looks like DD will have a nice time on this cruise.

[caviargal]

 

I would like to compare the following things:

1. Dress Codes (RCI is different than Carnival with 3 categories)Not looking for a debate just observations. We normally follow whatever dress code is in place (no jeans). Just wondering what you have observed people normally wearing on the different nights.
   
2. Are you allowed to bring wine on RCI (Carnival is 1 bottle per person)?
   
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 due to smoke. I have read that RCI is much better. Any comments?
   
8. How do the shows compare? I have seen the ice show is a don't miss.
   
9. I have read that RCI is better at enforcing rules for smoking, kids in adult areas, etc. Any comparisons or comments 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. :)

 

I have cruised Conquest Class (Glory) and Voyager class (Adventure and Voyager). Here are my observations:

 

1) Dress codes are observed more on RCI, though that is changing with less and less compliance. Jeans and shorts are worn on both, IME.

 

2) No.

 

3) Yes

 

4) About the same

 

5) Can's say but there are rock climbing walls, etc.

 

6) Voyager class is much better laid out. Most decks on Conquest do not go all the way through.

 

7) I had a hard time with the smoke on Carnival as it was very smoky in most places.

 

8) I prefer the live music and on RCI and the last ice show was spectaular!

 

9) Not much.

 

10) Did not use.

 

In addition, I did not care for the food as much on GLory as on RCI, nor was the service as friendly and efficient.

 

Glory felt overcrowded to me, and the pool are is a nightmare. At least RCI has an adult pool for when they choose to enforce it.

[Mysticks1]

Caviargal - thanks for taking the time to answer my questions. :)

[PrettyLA]

Dress Codes: I think people dressed up a bit more on RCI than Carnival.

The decor on RCI is MUCH nicer in my opinion than Carnival. I went on the Pride, which I still think looked gaudy in some areas even though it was newer.

Smoking: I have basically no tolerance to smoke either. RCI was much less smokey all around than Carnival. I noticed a lot more smoke on Carnival than RCI.

The shows were comparable. And yes, the ice shows you CANNOT miss.

I would think that RCI is better at enforcing smoking since I smelled much less smoke on RCI than Carnival.

I will also say I thought the service on RCI was much better than Carnival. Much friendlier crew.

[Mysticks1]

PrettyLA - Thanks for the info! :)

[caviargal]

Interesting that the opinions are quite similar among those of us who have cruised both. I wonder what the input was on the Carnival board?

[Mysticks1]

Interesting that the opinions are quite similar among those of us who have cruised both. I wonder what the input was on the Carnival board?

 

Actually I did post the same basic post on the Carnival boards so I could get both sides of the story so to speak. The answers I have gotten were pretty much the same. Some varied as to which one had the better food quality but basically the same on all other points. That actually makes me feel better that most feel both lines are good - better decor and overall appeal of the ship to RCI. Better nightlife to Carnival and mostly a tie on the aspects of service. Nightlife doesn't matter as I love getting up early to watch the sun rise so we are usually in bed early compared to most. :)

[bigsky]

First let me say I would like to have comments from cruisers who have sailed on both Carnival and Royal Caribbean and hopefully those who have sailed Voyager Class and Conquest class as those are the ones I would like to compare. Any comments appreciated.

 

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 this board. I was able to book an aft corner cabin (7688) which according to the reports on here is a very sought after aft corner cabin.:) This will be our first balcony as we have booked insides before.

 

I would like to compare the following things:

1. Dress Codes (RCI is different than Carnival with 3 categories)Not looking for a debate just observations. We normally follow whatever dress code is in place (no jeans). Just wondering what you have observed people normally wearing on the different nights.
   
2. Are you allowed to bring wine on RCI (Carnival is 1 bottle per person)?
   
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 due to smoke. I have read that RCI is much better. Any comments?
   
8. How do the shows compare? I have seen the ice show is a don't miss.
   
9. I have read that RCI is better at enforcing rules for smoking, kids in adult areas, etc. Any comparisons or comments 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. :)

This is our comparison from the Liberty (carnival) and the Mariner.

 

1. Carnival was much more laxed with the dress code. On the Mariner, most were in suits and tuxes. (formal night) DH wore dockers and a nice shirt each night. We didn't do formal the first night as the first formal night always seems to be dressier.

 

3. Never had a problem bringing soda/water.

 

5. The Mariner has a great teen program! I think this ship is a favorite with kids.

 

6. The layout to me is horrible on the Conquest!!! We'll never sail again on it. Too congested in areas because of it. Loved the Mariner!

 

7. For some reason, it seems to have more smokers on CArnival that Royal...don't know why. Just what we've encountered.

 

8. Personally, I like the shows better on Carnival. More Vegas type shows. But really enjoyed the ice show...yes, don't miss it! Make sure you get your tickets when they hand them out. You may miss out like us being able to go according to our dinner time.

 

9. The only ship that I've seen enforcement of kids is on Princess. We went on the Caribbean Princess and they had kid security all over. Loved it.

The kids on Royal were pretty well behaved. Just depends on your sailing of any ship.

 

10. Don't remember any really good fridges on any of ours.

 

I think you will love the Mariner as well as your dd! We've been on her once and getting ready to go again in a few weeks.

 

Any questions, feel free to ask.

 

 

[QTMichele]

I wish I could answer from experience from Carnival, but I've only sailed on the Mariner. However, I'm so excited that you're going on the Mariner that I just couldn't help but respond! :D (By the way, my hubby's uncle sailed on the Glory and raved about it - it was his first cruise.)

 

The Mariner was our first :D (and only :() cruise and we absolutely loved her. She is a beautiful ship and layed out very nicely. The staff is wonderful, the ship is clean, the food is decent to wonderful (desserts are lacking - a good thing for me!), the entertainment is entertaining and so on. I cannot imagine anyone having a major problem with this ship - you'll love her!

 

I think everyone has been great at answering your questions so I won't repeat them except to add:

 

*there is a room service menu on the TV that you can order from; however, it is a "limited" menu (many things to order from, but it does NOT list everything). You'll have to call if there is something you'd like that's not listed (just about anything from the dining room menu is available for your to order - keep that in mind!).

 

*the decor is wonderful - walk some of the hallways and look at the art - it's amazing!

 

By the way, here's a great link with MANY photos, deck plans, etc. to help you kill time... http://www.romain-moisescot.com/voyagerclass/. And a link of aft cabin photos from Bonnie Voyager (a Cruise Critic poster)... http://travel.webshots.com/album/48328219CtbGLi?start=0.

 

Have a wonderful cruise and give us YOUR opinion (and a review!) upon your return. :)

[Mysticks1]

I wish I could answer from experience from Carnival, but I've only sailed on the Mariner. However, I'm so excited that you're going on the Mariner that I just couldn't help but respond! :D (By the way, my hubby's uncle sailed on the Glory and raved about it - it was his first cruise.)

 

The Mariner was our first :D (and only :() cruise and we absolutely loved her. She is a beautiful ship and layed out very nicely. The staff is wonderful, the ship is clean, the food is decent to wonderful (desserts are lacking - a good thing for me!), the entertainment is entertaining and so on. I cannot imagine anyone having a major problem with this ship - you'll love her!

 

I think everyone has been great at answering your questions so I won't repeat them except to add:

 

*there is a room service menu on the TV that you can order from; however, it is a "limited" menu (many things to order from, but it does NOT list everything). You'll have to call if there is something you'd like that's not listed (just about anything from the dining room menu is available for your to order - keep that in mind!).

 

*the decor is wonderful - walk some of the hallways and look at the art - it's amazing!

 

By the way, here's a great link with MANY photos, deck plans, etc. to help you kill time... http://www.romain-moisescot.com/voyagerclass/. And a link of aft cabin photos from Bonnie Voyager (a Cruise Critic poster)... http://travel.webshots.com/album/48328219CtbGLi?start=0.

 

Have a wonderful cruise and give us YOUR opinion (and a review!) upon your return. :)

 

Thanks so much for the tip about ordering room service from the tv. I had not heard that before. Do you spell your name "Michele"? My DD's middle name is spelled just that way.

Thanks for the links too. I will be sure to come back with a complete review and tons of photos. Photography is a hobby of mine. It is good to know you can order from the dining room menu. I loved the dining room food but sometimes was so tired after a full day. It would be nice to have a meal on our nice large balcony. :D

[Twaincruisers]

We've been on 8 RCI and 6 Carnival cruises...we've only had one problem on Carnival--at the end of our Holiday cruise in San Juan we had to sit out on deck in the sun for hours waiting to disembark. On the other hand, we have had two bad cruises on RCI, including the AOS a couple weeks ago. Never had bad (poorly cooked, etc) food on Carnival, but happens one or more times on every RCI cruise (it got so I avoided steaks on RCI because they were either shoe leather or raw). This time on AOS it was the lamb shank.

 

1. I believe Carnival is a little more lax on dress code in diningroom.

 

2. Never tried to bring wine aboard any ship.

 

3. I don't bring water, soda, or booze on cruises...they sell them onboard.

 

4. I rarely use room service because I'm very seldom in my room. After all, RCI says get out there.

 

5. Can't answer...only have meow-kids and they are not allowed on ships.

 

6. Carnival ships do seem to be poorly designed for traffic movement; Voyager and Freedom class are probably the ultimate in freedom of movement.

7. It does seem that we smell smoke more often on Carnival.

 

8. I think I more often like the shows better on Carnival. Of course, the ice show on RCI is in a class by itself.

 

9. Kids were pretty wild on the AOS.

 

10. Most of the time, I don't use the fridge. Used it on AOS this time for the Champagne and chocolate covered strawberries we were given for having such a terrible time in the dining room.

[Mysticks1]

BigSky - Thanks so much for your comments - Have you taken soda/water onboard? We took a 12 pack of soda and 6 bottles of water on our last cruise to have in the cabin. We didn't have a refridgerator on that one so I took a small cooler to keep ice and the sodas in. I just put a luggage strap on it and checked it with the luggage with no problem.

Twaincruisers - thanks for your comments. I hope to find the cigarette smoke better on this one as it really bothers me.

[Cruising89143]

Actually I did post the same basic post on the Carnival boards so I could get both sides of the story so to speak. The answers I have gotten were pretty much the same. Some varied as to which one had the better food quality but basically the same on all other points. That actually makes me feel better that most feel both lines are good - better decor and overall appeal of the ship to RCI. Better nightlife to Carnival and mostly a tie on the aspects of service. Nightlife doesn't matter as I love getting up early to watch the sun rise so we are usually in bed early compared to most. :)

 

Donna, here is my two cents on food. You and I could sit down at the exact same table, same time and order the exact same dishes and when the meal was complete, we could come to two totally different conclusions on the quality and taste of the food. So with that I take comments about the food on cruise lines as just one persons opinion and not the gospel.:)

 

I have found that on mass market lines that the food is good but not great. It is mass produced for 3000 or more guests and I equate it to what I would find at a Hilton or Marriott catered banquet. I have yet to go hungry on a ship and can usually find something to eat.

[QTMichele]

Thanks so much for the tip about ordering room service from the tv. I had not heard that before. Do you spell your name "Michele"? My DD's middle name is spelled just that way.

 

Thanks for the links too. I will be sure to come back with a complete review and tons of photos. Photography is a hobby of mine. It is good to know you can order from the dining room menu. I loved the dining room food but sometimes was so tired after a full day. It would be nice to have a meal on our nice large balcony. :D

 

You're welcome! I can't wait to see all your pictures... I'll be waiting! :D

 

BTW, I do spell my name with one L. It used to be so confusing for people, but I see it more often now that I'm older.

[floridalady]

which do you like better-ncl or royal?I heard the service and food on ncl is terrible.I was going to try that one put got put off by so many negative opinions.

[KillaFee]

1)Dress Codes (RCI is different than Carnival with 3 categories)Not looking for a debate just observations. We normally follow whatever dress code is in place (no jeans). Just wondering what you have observed people normally wearing on the different nights.

Although there are 3 categories, I generally either think of it as being formal night or not formal night. On the non formal nights I dress in a nice skirt and tank or cocktail dress

2)Are you allowed to bring wine on RCI (Carnival is 1 bottle per person)?

Are you allowed to bring sodas/bottled water on RCI?

No alcohol. Not sure about bottled water and soda

3)How do the room service menus compare? What quality on room service food?

I think I like Royal Caribbeans room service menu better but I definitely didn't mind Carnivals either. :D Room Service on RCI is much faster and more efficient than Carnival, in my opinion.

4)How do the activities for lower aged teens compare (DD will be 14).

5)Ships decor and layout - easy to find things?

I think you'll find that the layout of Voyager class ships are make alot more sense than the Conquest class Carnival ships. The way that you have to go down or up a few flights and then back around on the Carnival Liberty drove me nuts. There would just be hallways that ended in nothing. The promenade on the Voyager class ships make it sooo easy to navigate.

6)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 due to smoke. I have read that RCI is much better. Any comments?

Well the casino on RCI ships is still pretty smokey, but I think the air circulation is better in some RCI lounges because of the bigger spaces - on the promenade on Carnival conquest class ships where all the lounges are...it seemed like smoke just lingered for awhile. The piano lounge on the Voyager ships is a much more open space.

7)How do the shows compare? I have seen the ice show is a don't miss.

I have read that RCI is better at enforcing rules for smoking, kids in adult areas, etc. Any comparisons or comments for those things?

I think that the entertainment is great on both RCI and Carnival, but I prefer RCI.

8)I assume there are refrigerators in the RCI rooms - do they cool well?

They're okay. Not super cold, but better than room temperature.

 

Laura