Royal Caribbean VS Carnival?

[deemk]

I'm sure this is a question that has been asked before, but I wanted to see some current opinions... We did Carnival for a week in Jan 2007 to the Caribbean. We're not wanting to cruise again next month for a shorter time frame and are trying to decide if we should stick with Carnival or try Royal Caribbean. Anyone have personal experience with both and could provide some insight as to differences? We have 4 children ranging from 12 down to 18 months. The kids loved Camp Carnival. Any comparisons between food or activities for kids? We're planning on Bahamas for 4 days this time.

 

Thanks.

[prttygirlmss]

You may want to look at Carnival's 2 ships The Imagination and Inspiration. They have been recently redone and have a great water park for the kids as well as adults. They also have mini golf. They do 4 day cruise. However, I think just to the western Caribbean.

[boulders]

RCCL's Adventure Ocean program starts at age 3 AND potty trained. So, if you have a 2 year old or a 3 year old whose potty training is not 100%, you'd be better off with Carnival.

[crusinmama06]

Yeah for that age, I would probably stick with a refurbed Carnival ship. I know RCCL Sovereign is leaving the fleet in Oct. So that was one of their 4 days options.

 

Unless you try 5 days on RCCL Enchantment...they recently added a pool for non-potty trained kids. And they have a bungee trampoline for the older ones. :eek:

[deemk]

Well our youngest is 18 months, so she won't make it to the kids care in either place. That won't matter. I have only cruised once so I don't know the difference between the ships, let alone the companies. I didn't realize there would be differences between the ships. Our choices for the dates we have available are RCCL Sovereign of the Seas or Majesty of the Seas to Bahamas, Carnival Sensation to Bahamas, Carnival Inspiration to Western Carib, Carnival Fascination to Western Carib.

[Ellanora]

Our choices for the dates we have available are RCCL Sovereign of the Seas or Majesty of the Seas to Bahamas, Carnival Sensation to Bahamas, Carnival Inspiration to Western Carib, Carnival Fascination to Western Carib.

 

All things being equal, if it were up to me I'd go for the Inspiration because it's the only one with the Waterworks addition so far (it looks awesome). The other Carnival ships won't have it until the end of 2009.

 

Wanted to add - I've heard nice things about the smaller RCCL ships, but nothing that would make me choose them over the smaller Carnival ships. Now RCCL Freedom class, that's a different story. :D

[Jebiford29]

My wife and I just got off the Inspiration with our 3 year old and 7 month old. Let me tell you, the waterworks area is AWESOME. There's a 42" height requirement to go down the slides (it is STRICTLY enforced from what I saw), so that may be an issue. But, after being on the ship, it wouldn't even be an issue with me. I'd go Inspiration all the way.

[CRUIZIN SUZAN]

We cruised several lines before my DS was born. When he came along, we switched to Carnival due to their allowing 2 year olds/non potty training kids into their camp program (not knowing that he would not spend much time there until his 3rd cruise when he WAS fully potty trained).

 

That being said, we just took him on his first Royal Caribbean cruise this past Nov. (oh yeah- he is now 6) and his first experience with Adventure Ocean instead of Camp Carnival. He told me after the first 2 days he missed Funship Freddie (the carnival kids mascot) and did not enjoy the camp as much as he did on CCL. Subsequently, he did not go to camp as much as he has previously done which was a shame since this cruise he was the only child in our group which consisted of us, my parents-in-law and my 80+ year old Aunt and Uncle. I would have thought camp would have been a more fun alternative than him hanging around w/us "old folks"- but he did not seem to want to stay in camp during the day for their programs (which I felf were not as well supervised or coordinated as they were for his age group on CCL either). I should mention that there were a TON of kids on this sailing as it was NJ's Teachers Convention Week and lots of NJ families take advantage of the short school week and head out on vacations.

 

On CCL- their after hour program is pajama party/movie night style where you bring your kids in their PJ's and they dim the lights and play a movie while the kids lay on nap mats with pillows and blankets. We LOVED this option that began (for a fee) after 10pm. We knew that by 10:15pm DS will have fallen asleep and we were comfortable with staying out for a coctail or casino donation or the late adult comedy. We would pick him up at midnight and carry him back to the cabin and pop him into bed.

 

NOT the same experience in RCI. From our experience in his age group as well as the 3-5 year olds who were in the next section of the AO room- after 10pm it was a free-for-all. There was a TV on in one section on the EOS's AO surrounded by a bench style seat and 1 or 2 kids crashed there to watch a blasting TV set- but the vast majority of kids were running around like loonies playing dodge ball and acting nuts and getting all sweaty at 11pm at night and later. We left DS there at 10- checked back at 11, still running around having a blast w/his "friends" and did not want to leave. Checked back every half an hour to see how he was, and there was no sign of stopping. Decided that having him run around and sweaty at midnight was not a good idea (CLEARLY obvious the next morning) so we let him stay there only 1 night and we all called it an early evening the rest of the trip.

 

In our experience, we prefer Carnivals kids program for both the day and evening programs. Our son preferred Camp Carnivals day programs but liked to stay up "really really late with my friends" on RCI. I guess as he moved from one age group program to the next the programs changed, but on RCI even the 3-5 yr olds were running around and throwing blocks at midnight. I was comfortable leaving DS tucked in sleeping for an hour in the group Movie Night but could not enjoy the late nite adult comedy show knowing he was in the camp running around all wired up from a long day in the sun with an expected tour the next day.

 

We really prefered the kids program on Carnival better but the only way to know is to try both. I have always sworn by CCL Camp Carnival but have only RCI and NCL (and HAL's poor attempt at kids camp) to compare it to. I have heard that Disney -obviously- and Princess have the best kids programs but comparison of RCI vrs CCL- hands down, CCL would get our vote.

 

These are my opinions and my sons-no agenda here. Just our experiences. Enjoy the cruise and post back your opinions. It is what helps us all make our vacation choices work for us as best we can.

[deemk]

WOW, cruizin suzan, thanks SO much for the details. That is so helpful. I to think we'll stick to Carnival until our youngest is over 3. Royal Caribbean sounds attractive to the rest of my fam with all the on-ship activities such as basketball, rollerblading, rock climbing, etc. My older kids want to try out that stuff, as does my husband. But it seems every time I do searches for the next time we want to go, Carnival always comes in cheaper. I did read as much as I could about what all the ships have to offer for kids, and Princess's program did sound very attractive. They don't have as much to offer as far as itineraries in the winter months. Anyway, for now I think we're sticking with Carnival. I appreciate all the comments! They've been really beneficial!

[crusinmama06]

deemk - we did have a great experience with camp carnival (personally don't like the ships...lol) but the kid's club was awesome.

 

Stay away from Sensation though (I see that was one of your options) go for Inspiration. :)

 

The kids club pages for the cruise lines are in my signature. You can see what the activities are for the kids.

[thepeach]

My DD loved Camp Carnival, but hated the kids program on RCL. There were many days when she did not want to leave Camp Carnival. Her favorite activity was the scavenger hunt that took them all over the ship. Sometimes they would have to bring back a waiter! My DD was sad when she turned 18 and Camp Carnival ended for her.

[Cavatelli430]

Can any of you regular Carnival cruisers recommend a ship? My SIL is trying to plan 1st cruise with her boyfriend, his 12 yr old daughter and her 7yr old son. I've only been on 2 RCCL cruises and only know about RCCL Liberty's kids program from a group we traveled with in Feb. I would highly recommend RCCL for cruising, but they are thinking about going August, which seems to be the worst time to go costwise. So that's why I told her I'd check out Carnival on here. I've heard the cost of Carnival is a bit lower than RCCL. I know crusinmama06 is a great source of info from my friend Shancan911. Any advise from anyone would be great! THANKS! :)

[loveysbydesign]

Yeah for that age, I would probably stick with a refurbed Carnival ship. I know RCCL Sovereign is leaving the fleet in Oct. So that was one of their 4 days options.

 

Unless you try 5 days on RCCL Enchantment...they recently added a pool for non-potty trained kids. And they have a bungee trampoline for the older ones. :eek:

 

Thanks for the info. about Enchantment...perhaps we will cancel our cruise on the Sky and book on her instead!

 

Do you know where I could find pics. of the new areas as I can't seem to find them on the 360 degree tour of the ship on RCCL's website!