RCCL - hopefully better than Carnival?

[wcdive]

Hubby and I did our first cruise as a 7 nighter on the Carnival Valor (their largest ship) last August. There were quite a few things that we did not like very much, and we're hoping that RCCL is different, so I'd appreciate any answers you guys can give me - I'm trying to convince DH to give cruising another try with RCCL.

For one, (probably my biggest issue) I thought there would be a large selection of good food at almost any time. The choices for breakfast were the buffet or the dining room, and then at lunch time there was a grill with burgers and such, a pizza place, a fish-n-chips, an asian place, and the buffet. The food was mediocre at best and the buffet did not have much of a selection (and I am not very picky), and after 5pm the only thing that was left open was the buffet, the dining room, or the pizza, and the buffet was over around 8:30. Plus, the seating anywhere other than the dining room was not very nice, and crowded, we usually had to sit outside near the pool to eat.

Also, the only thing that I was really interested in doing on the pool deck (since the ONLY pool was about the size of my interior stateroom - not kidding, we thought it was the kiddie pool at first) was the slide, and it closed at 4pm! So, you got back on board after your shore excursions, or try to wait until it's not crazy crowded and no slide. Bummer. Does everything on RCCL's ships stay open late? (rock climbing, ice skating rink, etc.)

I'm trying to get a better picture of what RCCL will be like, so any info to help me decide would be much appreciated!!!

[PaddleAddict]

With only one cruise to compare so far, I thought the food was much better on Carnival. There was a lot more variety, too.

 

The rooms are larger on Carnival.

 

The pools seemed to be similar in size. (Cruise ship pools are small.)

 

RCL seemed to have more activites, even on the small ship I went on. The rock climbing wall wasn't open all the time, but seemed to be open a lot. I didn't make it to Quest on the last night, but a lot of people like that activity!

 

We're going to try Princess for our next cruise. I'm hoping the food will be better and I just want to try lots of different lines.

 

By the way, the Valor is not Carnival's largest ship. I believe that is the Splendor.

[Gonzo70]

Does everything on RCCL's ships stay open late? (rock climbing, ice skating rink, etc.)

I'm trying to get a better picture of what RCCL will be like, so any info to help me decide would be much appreciated!!!

 

There are certainly things to do late on RCCL ships, but not everything is open late. Their are limited hours on rock climbing and ice skating (the times will be posted daily in the Cruise Compass - this is a daily newsletter delivered to your stateroom that lists all the day's activities and hours bars and restaurants are open).

 

Things available late tend to be (keep in mind not all ships have all these features):

*Hottubs

*Casino

*Bars/Lounges

*Mini Golf

*Basketball

*Shows in the main theater and/or comedian

*Sometimes trivia tournaments

*sometimes kareoke

*Library

*Arcade Room

*Royal Promenade (like mini indoor mall)

*The Quest (Very funny adult "scavenger hunt" once per cruise)

*Newlywed Show (once per cruise)

*Other assorted activities listed in Cruise Compass

 

Earlier in day additional activities:

*Rock Climbing

*Ice Skating

*In-line skating

*Bingo

*Wine Tasting (often once a cruise on 7 nights or longer cruises)

*Shopping

*Classes (i.e. dance class)

*Spa

*Gym / Gym Classes (i.e. yoga, spinning)

*Poolside contests (i.e. sexiest male legs, bellyflop)

 

As for food, most Royal Caribbean ships have specialty restaurants (Chops - a steakhouse and/or Portofinos - Italian). These are very good but cost $20 to $25 per meal extra. Beside the main dining room the Windjammer is open for all meals (buffet) - I have always found the selection good but the quality only fair. Most (if not all) ships also have a place to get free pizaa/burgers/sandwhiches late into the evening. Some of their ships also have a Johnny Rockets (small additional cover charge) and coffe stands with fee based premium coffees and/or Ben & Jerrys Ice Cream stands (there is also free soft serve, not sure if it is ice cream or frozen yogurt, available in/near Windjammer). You can also do room service free 24 hours per day (most people tip $1 to $5 based on size of delivery). I have never heard of anybody going hungry, but don't expect top notch food on a mass market cruise line (except in specialty restaurants with the surcharges) or huge choices outside of normal dining times. Generally the food in main dining room on the mass market lines is good but not great in most people's opinions.

 

Royal Caribbean does not likely have much bigger pools than Carnival, but most of their ship's have nicely decorated Solariums which have a second (albeit smaller) pool that is for adults only (often with a retractable roof in case of bad weather).

 

Let us know how it goes if you give Royal Caribbean a try.

[LAKaye]

Hubby and I did our first cruise as a 7 nighter on the Carnival Valor (their largest ship) last August. There were quite a few things that we did not like very much, and we're hoping that RCCL is different, so I'd appreciate any answers you guys can give me - I'm trying to convince DH to give cruising another try with RCCL.

For one, (probably my biggest issue) I thought there would be a large selection of good food at almost any time. The choices for breakfast were the buffet or the dining room, and then at lunch time there was a grill with burgers and such, a pizza place, a fish-n-chips, an asian place, and the buffet. The food was mediocre at best and the buffet did not have much of a selection (and I am not very picky), and after 5pm the only thing that was left open was the buffet, the dining room, or the pizza, and the buffet was over around 8:30. Plus, the seating anywhere other than the dining room was not very nice, and crowded, we usually had to sit outside near the pool to eat.

Also, the only thing that I was really interested in doing on the pool deck (since the ONLY pool was about the size of my interior stateroom - not kidding, we thought it was the kiddie pool at first) was the slide, and it closed at 4pm! So, you got back on board after your shore excursions, or try to wait until it's not crazy crowded and no slide. Bummer. Does everything on RCCL's ships stay open late? (rock climbing, ice skating rink, etc.)

I'm trying to get a better picture of what RCCL will be like, so any info to help me decide would be much appreciated!!!

 

Hello,

 

Sorry to hear that your first cruise did not meet your expectations. We are all very different.

 

To answer your most basic question---NO, no mass market cruise line has "a LARGE selection of GOOD food at ALMOST ANY TIME." The food on Carnival and Royal Caribbean is basically SYSCO-level food.

 

There are 3 outdoor pools on the Carnival Valor. It is a big ship; obviously you did not cover all of the real estate--common for most first-timers. :D

 

Leslie

[cruisnpat]

Sorry you were disapointed in the food on your cruise.

[lady_cruiser]

My personal opinion is that Royal Caribbean is much better than Carnival. I have sailed on Carnival (September 2005), Norwegian (January 2007) and most recently (January 2008) on RCL's Voyager. Even though I liked all three lines for different reasons I have to admit that I find RCL the best.

 

You won't be disappointed.

[babybaby]

I think I know what your husband was expecting. Cruising has changed over the years. Twenty years ago it was more lavish, food everywhere, and plenty of it. Today it is like a well oiled machine, everything is scheduled to move a large number of people through.

I have been on Carnival and RC, and personally I prefer Carnival's food, dining room and buffet. The pizza is so much better on Carnival and they have a pizza cafe that beats RC's anyday.

Now that said, RC has more activities, and the ship (Mariner) can't be beat. The shows are about equal, Lounges and Casino equal, pools a little better on RC. The ice show was great on Mariner, the sports deck is much better on RC, and they have a great teen area.

The specialty restaurants are great on both lines, but Jonny Rockets is fun on RC. Room service is better on RC, more variety.

As for staterooms the price is higher on RC, and yes some of them are smaller. Service by room attendents equal.

The great thing about cruising is you park your car, get on board and everything is done for you. You can stay busy, or find a quiet place to relax. Plus you get to experience a different port just about everyday.

Hopfully your husband will give it another try. Good luck!

[Purplehaze21]

I have only been on 1 RCI cruise. I choose the smallest ship, Sovereign of the Seas. I really enjoyed it. There was always something to do. We did love going outside after dinner and just sitting and relaxing. We found Windjammer had a great variety of food. We ate there for breakfast also every morning. The dining rood was great. I love the staff there and they always remembered what we liked, down to the coffee with dessert.

I am trying a carnival cruise next. I just want to compare for myself to.

[dirtgirl]

If you want food 24/7, there is always room service. ;) I have never found everything to be open when I want to go. If you are on the Voyager or Freedom class, the Promenade Cafe is open 24/7. Otherwise, you will need to check the times that each venue is open in your cruise compass. Smaller ships have fewer options. I think for all ships, breakfast is dining room, buffet, and room service.

[RetireeWannabee]

As it sounds like food and ship amenities are your priorities, I would suggest either going to RC's website or getting a brochure and comparing the ships yourselves. The offerings do vary by ship and by class.

 

This will sound however it will sound, but I have often had good luck in getting my husband to want to do something by letting him think it's his idea. I know that if my husband decides "this is the ship I want to sail!" that the rest is easy.

 

If you plan on going thru a TA, you might consider finding someone local so you can go and sit with them and talk thru the differences in lines, ships and itineraries, etc. It would be helpful for your husband to hear from a travel professional that there are differences between lines and ships. And, all that cruise talk ought to be contagious...

 

good luck!

[Magicat]

I think I know what your husband was expecting. Cruising has changed over the years. Twenty years ago it was more lavish, food everywhere, and plenty of it. Today it is like a well oiled machine, everything is scheduled to move a large number of people through.

I have been on Carnival and RC, and personally I prefer Carnival's food, dining room and buffet. The pizza is so much better on Carnival and they have a pizza cafe that beats RC's anyday.

Now that said, RC has more activities, and the ship (Mariner) can't be beat. The shows are about equal, Lounges and Casino equal, pools a little better on RC. The ice show was great on Mariner, the sports deck is much better on RC, and they have a great teen area.

The specialty restaurants are great on both lines, but Jonny Rockets is fun on RC. Room service is better on RC, more variety.

As for staterooms the price is higher on RC, and yes some of them are smaller. Service by room attendents equal.

The great thing about cruising is you park your car, get on board and everything is done for you. You can stay busy, or find a quiet place to relax. Plus you get to experience a different port just about everyday.

Hopfully your husband will give it another try. Good luck!

 

 

Babybaby: I thought Carnival's pizza was the best until we went on the Brilliance. Now they have great pizza!

 

As for which is better...Carnival have bigger rooms and we think the food was a tad better with them too, but we love Royal Caribbean for everything else.

[ljkool]

I am also one that found the food on both comparable. A nice touch with Carnival was the two buffets lines running, one with a different theme each day. The Carnival ships set the stage for a busy night life atmosphere with the “boulevards” running the length of the ships. Where as access to open decks and promenades along with toned down décor’s almost make the food look better and taste better on the RCL boats.

[silentbob007]

In my opinion, Carnival has a better selection and variety of food available for longer hours than does Royal Caribbean. You will not find a sushi bar, made-to-order deli, or fish and chips on any RCCL ship like there were on the Valor.

[bakechef]

I actually find food much more abundant than my first cruise 20 years ago, although the quality isn't as good now.

 

For example, on my first cruise, there was breakfast in the dining room, and buffet. Lunch dining room and buffet. Dinner dining room ONLY. Pizza was served one night as a pizza party in the windjammer, and there was no grill, only burgers were on the buffet and lunch was the latest you could get one. We were always well fed and enjoyed it very much.

 

My last cruise on Carnival, you had breakfast buffet and dining room. Lunch dining room and buffet, fish and chips, deli, oriental, pizza, and grill. Dinner offered dining room, buffet, supper club, pizza, grill, and sushi. Carnival also offered 24 hr, soft serve ice cream and yogurt (always empty on RCI voyager). There was a sea day chocolate buffet, and an evening deck party featuring a mexican buffet.

 

As you can see options have INCREASED over the years, and to be honest, as much as I love food, I have never though "man I need more food".

 

If food is your major concern, it is a common opinion that carnival's food is a bit better, but if you want activities and incredible ships with no rivals than RCI is the line to choose.

 

MAC

 

MAC

[ljkool]

I am also one that found the food on both comparable. A nice touch with Carnival was the two buffets lines running, one with a different theme each day. The Carnival ships set the stage for a busy night life atmosphere with the “boulevards” running the length of the ships. Where as access to open decks and promenades along with toned down décor’s almost make the food look better and taste better on the RCL boats.

[bobcan]

I think from reading your opening post, that in all honesty you would not find RCI any more pleasing than Carnival. The food venues and hours of operation are basically the same just rehashed under different titles and with some different choices(some better, some worse). All pools on cruise ships are postage stamp size. They are designed more for the pool games etc rather than swimming.

 

Reading your post tells me that what you are looking for is more in line with a land based all inclusive and I would suggest that you look into that for you vacation options.

 

Not everyone will like a cruise vacation nor should they because if everyone loved to do exactly the same things, what a boring world this would be.

 

bob

[cruisefeen2304]

I don't think i've ever walked away from a cruise meal thinking OMG that was delish! My favorite food always ends up being the room service chicken ceasar salad.

[2Ports]

You must have been on a different Carnival Valor than I was! :confused:

 

No comparison on the food front - sorry, CCL wins hands down.

 

Outside of the food, there isn't enough difference between CCL and RCI to notice - just tiny things here and there. Not better either way, just different.

[Dr_DNA]

We loved cruising on RCCL, especially since there are so many activities for active families. I admit that we were slightly disappointed with the food. I didn't have a bad meal, but I didn't have an exceptional meal either. However, there is more to life than food and we enjoyed everything else that was offered on the Explorer to the fullest!

[98Charlie]

I'm really of the opinion that the cruise lines are more similar than they are different. We've sailed Carnival, Celebrity, NCL, Princess and RCCL.

 

Food has been very good throughout. There were some bad meals and some fantastic. Service in both the cabin and dining room have been excellent except for one room steward. We've never really had a problem with finding something to eat at any time.

 

As mentioned before, there is always room service. If you are in a balcony or higher category, breakfast in the cabin can be a nice alternative to the buffet or dining room. For special occasions (anniversary, birthday, etc.) there are specialty restaurants available for a fee, usually $25 or less.

 

Activities like the rock climbing walls, slides, etc. seem to close by 5 PM on most ships.

 

While I hope you get a chance to cruise again, cruising is not for everybody. It does look like you didn't get a chance to explore the entire ship if you only saw the one pool on the Valor. Hopefully, if you cruise again, you will have a better experience.

 

JMHO,

 

Charlie

[babybaby]

Babybaby: I thought Carnival's pizza was the best until we went on the Brilliance. Now they have great pizza!

 

As for which is better...Carnival have bigger rooms and we think the food was a tad better with them too, but we love Royal Caribbean for everything else.

 

I agree, sometimes I get board on Carnival.

[dirtgirl]

I did get bored on Carnival, and I am not a foodie, so food is really of minimal importance to me. I like to have a lot of activities available.;)

[lawiggin]

Here is an agreement with babybaby.I have been on the Valor and 3 RC cruises...going on the Freedom in May. With that said, I believe the food is slightly better on Carnival (love the sushi and fish and chips) but nothing else is better. We found the Valor a little boring AND we do not cruise for the food so we are back to RC, which we love. Many small things also make RC better.

 

In my opinion, from what the original post mentioned that her husband did not like...I personally don't think cruising is for you.......just not THAT much difference from one line to the other. As someone else said...cruising isn't for everyone.

[lvtotrvl1]

I think from reading your opening post, that in all honesty you would not find RCI any more pleasing than Carnival. The food venues and hours of operation are basically the same just rehashed under different titles and with some different choices(some better, some worse). All pools on cruise ships are postage stamp size. They are designed more for the pool games etc rather than swimming.

 

Reading your post tells me that what you are looking for is more in line with a land based all inclusive and I would suggest that you look into that for you vacation options.

 

Not everyone will like a cruise vacation nor should they because if everyone loved to do exactly the same things, what a boring world this would be.

 

bob

 

I agree with Bob. What you were dissapointed in will be pretty much the same on every ship. As other posters have said..cruising is not for everyone and you would probably be much happier with a land based vacation.

[pepelapew]

Our first cruise was on RCCL's Empress of the Sea. We booked an inside cabin but when we arrived at the pier to check in we were surprised that they gave us an upgrade to an oceanview. We had such a beautiful & amazing cruise experience that we decided to give cruising another try. Our second cruise was on the Celebrity Zenith which was totally different. We were so disappointed with the Zenith on many levels. Our cabin was a little bigger than the Empress but not well kept up as far as cleanliness. We had water issues in our bathroom. Our AC was not working properly, we complained twice about it but it was never addressed in our 7 day journey. Needless to say, we sweat most the time we were in the cabin. The only thing we found excellent was the dining room food each night & our service. We are now going on our third cruise and have chosen RCCL again. This time the Explorer of the seas. I have a friend who cruises Norweigan and would not try any other cruise line because she loves the perks she gets with each additional cruise she books.