Why Do YOU Choose Carnival over RCL??

[PINEVIEW01]

Shipty2 answered for me. I would sail RC again but the price would need to be lower to make up for the smaller room (especially the bathroom)

Yep, I've learned to compaire the same size rooms to see which is the best deal. I usually don't get that far as the smallest are usually more.

[dragonflymy2000]

I have cruised with both and love Carnival. on our trip with RCL we encountered many issues with our rooms ( we had 4 rooms) and basically it took the 4 days to get them straightened out ( imagine a room with no A/C or another with a backed up bathroom) and although we did not expect a free cruise, the general attitude we got was basically its was a 4 day cruise what do you expect.

 

I expect my trip, whether its 4 or 14 days to be enjoyable and if issues arise they are dealt with and not brushed off as if we had been on a 7 day trip we would have gotten A/c. Whenever we've had issues or concerns on Carnival they seem to atleast listen.

 

Maybe if we were on a newer ship, or a longer trip it would have been different but why bother.....Ill stick with Carnival..again....and again....and again

[cloudydrms]

Oh, and another thing that I preferred on RCCL was the bathroom. I found there to be much more counter space in the bathroom. Everytime I cruised before I could never find anyplace to put stuff in the Carnival bathroom.

 

Just to keep it fair, I'll mention something else that I didn't like about RCCL. The room numbering system on each floor was very confusing. One side of the ship would be like 6800 and the other side like 6600. Then on the next floor it would be like 7400 and 7600. I don't know. I never did figure it out. LOL.

 

Cindy

[madge57]

Well I have only been on Carnival!! So I look at it this way - Why mess a good thing up when you don't have to. I'm not saying one is better then the other but I like Carnival and I haven't had any problems so why change? I'm sure some feel the same way about RCL!!:)

[RMcoolX]

Price and availability. They always seem to have the best deals and more ships going to where I want to go.

[Gypsywych]

I like them both.

One cruise on Carnival, one upcoming.

One cruise on RCCL, one in the planning stages.

 

All were picked for the dates and itinerary. Something we were looking for at that time.

 

I found Carnival busier with more things to do on the ship. RCCL more relaxed.

The food was comparable. RCCL has better coffee. Carnival has the ice cream bar open 24/7.

 

See what my priorities are? :D

[BlondeBlueyes]

Our first three cruises were RCCL and we loved them. However, our goal is to take two cruises a year and RCCL prices made that somewhat difficult. WE took a cruise on NCL and then two on Carnival on the Ecstacy and Conquest. The cabin on the Conquest was upgraded to an 8th deck balcony which was fabulous!!!! Entertainment on Carnival was far below the things we saw on RCCL, our High School drill team has more talented singers and dancers. The comedy and magician acts were average at best. The service on the Carnival boats was equal to RCCL service, but the food......

The food (in the buffet) on the Carnival boats was crappy on the best days. I didn’t care for the themed meals every day., I mean, why serve Jerk Chicken (cooked by some guy from Singapore) on the day you are in Jamaica or Mexican food the day you are in Mexico and LAMB, damn we got tired of the meat choce of the day being lamb. I am not a big casserole fan and almost everything was cassarole style. IF the buffet food was better, we would consider Carnival again, but since we don’t normally eat a big breakfast and we got tired of pizza and burgers for lunch everyday, I doubt we go back to Carnival.

[cloudydrms]

Blondeblueyes,

 

I would agree with you that the buffet on RCCL seemed to be somewhat better. In my opinion, both lines could improve the buffet food. But, for me, hands down Carnival's dining room dinners were better each and every night than anything that I had on the RCCL cruise. I hope that remains true on my upcoming Carnival cruise.

 

I also agree with you about the entertainment on RCCL. They had better music in the lounges and the shows were way better than what you find on CCL.

 

Cindy

[krystalkruzer]

My first cruise was on Carnival and this year there will be two.Carnival suits me well.A casual,laid back fun atmosphere.The shows I seen have way better talented singers and dancers than a high school drill team.No complaints about the buffet food.It is intended to be a quick and tasty bite to eat,nothing more.

[RoxyD0823]

i have cruised on both lines, and definitely prefer carnival. rcl has really nice ships and so many activites you can do, like rock climbing, ice skating, and the wave thing they have now on the freedom of the seas. the ships are absolutely beautiful, but when it comes down to it carnival has much better service, food, room size, and amenities. plus, carnival also has activites after 10pm.. lol. i went on the freedom of the seas and after 10pm.. you hardly saw anyone outside.. lol.

[misguidedangel]

These are the reasons I choose Carnival

 

Price--Carnival is much cheaper and you can get a sweet balcony cabin high up on Carnival vs a small balcony cabin lower down on the ship for the same price

 

Ship layout--I really don't like the layout of the RCI ships, especially the new ones. I don't like the royal promenade idea. RCI is unimaginative when naming their pulbic rooms--all casinos are the same and all buffet areas are the same. Carnival has a idea/theme for each ship and the rooms are named based on that theme, and all are different!!!! The only difference is the two ships on board are all the same!

 

Ship size--Most of RCI's ships are too big. I like the 102 and 110 tonne ship size. I'll go on the Splendor (which is 113 tonnes), and the Dream/Magic (at 133 tonnes), but when it comes to most RCI ships, sorry, they are just too damn big!

 

Activity--I am not into boxing, rock climbing, skating, surfing, or waterparks, which means RCI ships are out for me. I am into fun fun fun. I like the hair chest contest, I like the survivor at sea, newlywed or not so newly wed game is a hoot.

 

I will stick with Carnival through 10 cruises, and after 10, I might give Princess or Norwegian a try!!! I like how Carnival keeps me busy and always sees that everyone tries to have a good time.

[flem1064]

My question is: Why are YOU Loyal to Carnival? I really would like to know. Thanks.

 

The two cruise lines are very much alike in many ways. There are details about an RCCL cruise that are better than CCL and vice versa. For me, for just about the same vacation, I'm going with price every time.

[NowVoyager908]

Although I'll be sailing on my seventh CCL cruise next year, I don't feel loyalty to any particular line. My only loyalty right now is to any cruiseline sailing from the NYC area. Outside of Cunard (which strikes me as being much too rigid and formal), I'll consider sailing on CCL, RCI, NCL or Princess. Itinerary, price and dates are the deciding factors.

 

Honestly, I've found very little to differentiate between the lines, although the cheerleaders (and I don't use this term as a negative) would probably disagree with me.

 

My reasons for choosing Carnival next July are a mixture of all of the above: the dates work for me, the intinerary includes two islands I've never been to before and the price is great. And of course, it leaves from Manhattan. It was a no-brainer.

[cruisenwithchris1]

I would say I agree with most that PRICE is one of the biggest factors. My PVP is constantly calling with great military discounts....and my husband hasn't been in the service in 40 years!

I think on the local 3-4 night cruises, they are very similar in food, entertainment.....BUT......

We have always had a blast in the Piano Bar on Carnival, so if everything is pretty even between the two in price and ports, we will try and go with Carnival.

I also like the other lines, but no one has Piano Bar fun like Carnival!

Happy Cruisen

Chris

[nothomeonacruise]

I would say I agree with most that PRICE is one of the biggest factors. My PVP is constantly calling with great military discounts....and my husband hasn't been in the service in 40 years!

I think on the local 3-4 night cruises, they are very similar in food, entertainment.....BUT......

We have always had a blast in the Piano Bar on Carnival, so if everything is pretty even between the two in price and ports, we will try and go with Carnival.

I also like the other lines, but no one has Piano Bar fun like Carnival!

Happy Cruisen

Chris

Oh I forgot about the Piano Bar!! (Especially if Mark is there!!!)

[nothomeonacruise]

double post

[patrice1]

• Military discount - even tho DH has been out since Viet Nam
  
• Room size
  
• Ability to pre-buy liquor for room (no need to "smuggle")
  
• Staff
  
• Staff
  
• Staff
  
• Food

Enjoyed our RCCL cruise and our NCL cruise, but CCL matched all the good stuff, plus. Might as well go for Platinum!:D

[dclark]

\

The food (in the buffet) on the Carnival boats was crappy on the best days. I didn’t care for the themed meals every day., I mean, why serve Jerk Chicken (cooked by some guy from Singapore) on the day you are in Jamaica or Mexican food the day you are in Mexico and LAMB, damn we got tired of the meat choce of the day being lamb. I am not a big casserole fan and almost everything was cassarole style. IF the buffet food was better, we would consider Carnival again, but since we don’t normally eat a big breakfast and we got tired of pizza and burgers for lunch everyday, I doubt we go back to Carnival.

 

Sure, the food is lousy in the buffet, but why eat in the buffet??? There is good to excellent food in the dining room, why not go there? I think the problem is with you, not the cruiseline. I live in NV, a state known for buffets and CCL and RCL would rank among the worst if compared with NV buffets. Even though Princess has a much better buffet than RCL or CCL, pales in comparison to moderate price NV buffets. But again, the question is- why not eat in the dining room? The pizza, sandwiches and burgers that CCL serves are great as snack or occasional lunch, but the dining room is where the good stuff is.

I can't imagine why people would pass up filet mignon and lobster so that they could go graze on the buffet.

[Caribbreeze]

Sure, the food is lousy in the buffet, but why eat in the buffet??? ....the dining room is where the good stuff is.

I can't imagine why people would pass up filet mignon and lobster so that they could go graze on the buffet.

Uhm--I thought we were going to keep that little secret to ourselves. More food, better service for us. Remember?

[wonderfullife]

I am not loyal to any line. The reason why I choose Carnival over RCI, when I do, is price.

 

Aleece

[txmd2b]

DH and I have sailed Conquest a couple years back - our first cruise and it was everything and more than we imagined. Carnival was GREAT!

 

We have booked another cruise with RCL because we wanted to try them out....just to see....but more and more "things" are concerning me with RCL and I am beginning to think we should rebook with Carnival, who is tried and true.

 

My question is: Why are YOU Loyal to Carnival? I really would like to know. Thanks.

 

I would recommend to go on that RCCL cruise and make a decision for yourself since you have it booked. Despite what some have said there is a difference that is best experienced. I have cruised, worked, and like both. I had a bad experience on a Carnival cruise in a Cat 12 room and that lead me to go on the Rhapsody twice. If you make your decision based on cost then there is nothing that can be said to persuade either way. Just also remember where you posted the question if it were somewhere else the responses would be opposite.

[txmd2b]

Bigger rooms, better shows & food.

 

Great value for the money.

 

Why pay more?

 

If you stay in a dungeon room then there is a size difference. Balcony rooms are comparable in size. The main thing is if you are a family of 5 traveling together RCCL has the Royal Family Suite which is 2 bedrooms 2 baths that sleeps 6.

Comparing same size ship – Carnival Conquest – RCCL Voyager of the Seas

Interior

C – 185

R – 160-167

Ocean View

C – 220

R – 180-211

Balcony

C (8A) – 185 / 35 Balcony

R (E2) – 173 / 47 Balcony

R (D1-3) – 188 / 50 Balcony

Suite

C (11) – 275 / 65 Balcony

R (JS) – 277 / 69 Balcony

C (12) – 345 / 85 Balcony

R (GS) – 381 / 95 Balcony

R –OS to RS Up to 618 – 1,188

[torybruno]

Price!

 

On our upcoming southern caribbean cruise, after pricing out options between a Carnival 7 day southern caribbean cruise and two RCL 7 day southern caribbean cruises, we can stay in a balcony on carnival for the price of the cheapest inside on RCI. Also liked the itinerary better on Carnival than one of the RCI ships.

[RWolver672]

Our first four cruises were on Carnival. The fifth we wanted to see Aruba and Carnival dropped it from their itinerary. We jumped ship and went to RCI.

 

Prior to the cruise, I visited the CC RCI site quite often. I noticed that the crowd had a completely different attitude than what I have experienced on the Carnival CC site. They seemed to be snobbish to put it bluntly.

 

During the cruise, we found that it was the same. Strangers didn't talk with strangers like they do on Carnival ships. We aren't in to rock climbing and basketball or ice skating so the things that were "attractions" meant nothing to us. The smoking section on the pool deck was limited to one small area on the side of the ship. Non smokers frequented it and would complain of the smoke. You could smoke on your balcony but you had to close your sliding doors. If you did, you couldn't hear announcements or somebody knocking on your door or the phone ringing.

 

I posted a short review and said that we would never sail with RCI again. Someone wrote in that it was crazy for me to make that statement because of one cruise. I'm sorry but after spending over $3000 for a weeks vacation and not enjoying it, I'm not crazy enough to do it again. We've always had fun on Carnival cruises and we didn't on RCI. We will stick with Carnival, The Fun Ships!

[Marie51]

I am not loyal to any line. I have cruised almost all of them. I am booked on a RC cruise (Adventure of the Seas) for October because of price. With my military discount and Diamond discount, I got a balcony for $650/pp which is less than the Carnival cruises that sail at the same time.

 

Royal Carribean offers a military discount for veterans as well as active duty. As with Carnival, it is only certain cruises.