Can the CCL Glory Compare to the Mariner

[kml2000]

I have been debating on posting this topic, afraid of the "debates", etc., but here goes.

I booked a cruise on the Mariner for April of next year, it will be my daughter's spring break. It will be myself and my DD (will be 11 when we cruise, 2 wks short of turning 12). I prefer RCCL, in my limited cruising experience, however, it has been 10 years since I cruised Carnival.

In looking over my options, constantly checking, I noticed the rates for the Glory have gone down from when I initially booked and is a much better "deal" than the Mariner. I am concerned with the new charges on RCCL, however, I doubt the current ones would affect us too much. We wouldn't frequent JR's, might go there once (and since I am C&A member, that would be fine), but being a year out.......just concerned.

Should I wait it out and stick with the Mariner??? My daughter is excited about the rock wall, I am excited about the ice show. I am not a party person, however, I do enjoy a glass of wine, an occasional drink, etc. I have always enjoyed the service on RCCL...

Any opinions would be appreciated.

04/03/05 Mariner of the Seas
 [img]http://escati.linkopp.net/cgi-bin/countdown.cgi?trgb=000000&srgb=00ff00&prgb=9400d3&cdt=2005;04;03;17;00;00&timezone=GMT-0500[/img]

Grandeur of the Seas 04/2003
Disney Wonder 07/2002
Carnival ??? 05/1994
Nordic Empress - 1992ish

Karen

[Oneill32]

We just got off the Mariner and had a great time! My husband and two girls 9 and 12 all enjoyed it. This was our first cruise so maybe we just have no frame of reference. We were all pleased with the food, activities, shows (the ice show was great!!), and shore excursions. Our room was great and despite 4 people in one room and one bathroom it all went amazingly well. The staff were all very helpful and treated us well. We met great people and never saw any really bad behavior from all the kids on board. Hope you have as good a time on whichever cruise you go with. Ann

[cruzenbabe]

Yes, Carnival has cheaper rates. This is true, But, Mariner has so much more to offer a child, it's unbelievable.
We just came off the Carnival Spirit. Have been on the Majesty, Sovereign & Imagination. I have no allegiance to one cruise line and the Spirit was by far our best cruise experience yet.
But, I had my 13 yr old son and there really were no activities for him to do except the pool & arcade. He had a good time and he did get bored at times. But he said it beat being in school. They didn't even have a basketball court.
I know Carnival is cheaper but you have to look at everything that's going to be provided to you on the Mariner which is non stop activities. Ice Skating, Ice skating shows, In line Skating, Full basketball court, rock climbing, Royal Promenade Mall, Arcade, and on top of that, there's the children programs.
Me, personally is not interested in all that stuff. I just like to have a drink and lay in the sun, but if I was taking kids I would definately book one of the Voyager class ships.
If you can afford it, go for it.

[WeirdEyes]

On our first cruise, Carnival Destiny, we took our 13 y/o son and he was bored a good bit of the time during the day. He is not a sun person so hanging out on deck was not an option. He did enjoy the ports and the shows on-board. He made me go with him to see the comedians & magician, which we both enjoyed. My son is shy around strangers so he didn't meet any kids to hang out with so he hung out with us mostly. We should've taken him on his first cruise on Adventure of the Seas instead. Now he doesn't want to cruise. That is fine with DH and I now though since he is almost 16. I feel RCCL cruises are geared more towards families instead of Carnival. DH and I had a blast on our Carinval cruise. I would stick with the Mariner if you are taking a child.

<font color="#0000CC" face="Lydian Csv BT" size="4">~~Shelia~~</font></p>
Sailing the Mariner in.......
[img]http://escati.linkopp.net/cgi-bin/countdown.cgi?trgb=000000&srgb=00ff00&prgb=800080&cdt=2004;5;30;17;00;00&timezone=GMT-0500[/img]
<font color="#003399" face="Benguiat Bk BT">Carnival Destiny 2002</font>

[kml2000]

The activities are what sold me on the Mariner. My daughter is a very active, athletic child. She was a competitive gymnast until this summer and was ready to move to Level 7 when she decided she just wasn't that "committed" to it. She is now a competitive swimmer, doing well for her first few months.

I am usually a very "price conscious" person but am leaning to the "you get what you pay for" on this cruise. I am willing to spend the extra $$$ for the activities. We don't spend alot on the ship, in fact, our onboard account was right at $100 on the Grandeur (I tipped in cash and booked excursions seperately).

I appreciate those who have responded!

04/03/05 Mariner of the Seas
 [img]http://escati.linkopp.net/cgi-bin/countdown.cgi?trgb=000000&srgb=00ff00&prgb=9400d3&cdt=2005;04;03;17;00;00&timezone=GMT-0500[/img]

Grandeur of the Seas 04/2003
Disney Wonder 07/2002
Carnival ??? 05/1994
Nordic Empress - 1992ish

Karen

[momofmeg]

cruzenbabe-I am surprised the spirit did not have a basketball court. We were on the new Miracle her sister ship this past weekend and it had a basketball court on deck 10 that I saw. There was also an arcade I learned about because I heard a mom fussing at her 12 year old about his spending too much money there. She had pulled up her account on the TV in their room and apparently it showed he had spent plenty there.

This is what I say. I have never done a voyager class ship. I have also never done a conquest class ship. Until my last cruise on Miracle My favorite cruise had been Princess. Then RCCL came next then Carnival my least favorite was HAL(hated that line) We went on Miracle this past weekend. The food and entertainment was topnotch every bit as good as Princess if not better. It was as though Carnival had pulled out all their stops for this new ship.

As far as fees go-what is the big deal about Johnny Rockets? We have one in our mall and it is nothing but a glorified Mac Donalds with a fifties twist with burgers the price you pay at places like Chilli's or Appleby's. The food in the main dinningroom on the cruiseship is much better. I say save JR for when you are back home and visit the mall if the charge bothers you.

all the cruiselines are charging extra for little things. On our first cruise back in 98 (Carnival Tropicale) colas were free at dinner and on the lido-just a charge in the lounges. Same went for cappacino-free in the dinngroom just a charge in the lounges. Now there is a charge in the dinningroom.On the lido you could get lemonade free on my Inspiration cruise but when ordered in the dinningroom it was a "bar item" and there was a charge. On Miracle they now have a coffee and dessert bar where there was a charge. I had a few cappacinos and did not mind the cost-it was no more the Starbucks but I was not enticed by the desserts. I felt the dinningroom served much better ones.

Anyway I think all the lines are charging extra here and there. I don't mind because over all your cruise is less then what we were paying 3 or 4 years ago. Even with adding in these extra costs we still come out cheaper and at least this way you get to decide whether you want something or that and if you want to pay extra-instead of being charged extra for all these "free" things that you never used.

There is no two ways about it-cruising is STILL the best value for your money I feel.

[kml2000]

I went back and read my initial post. It is not just the fees I am concerned with, but also the decline in service (from what I have been reading) that concerns me about RCCL. I guess I am concerned about what appears to be a "change" in philosophy for RCCL. I picked the Mariner because it leaves from a port close to home and I wanted to experience the "mega ship".

I am more curious how the Glory compares to the Mariner in service and amenities because the Glory also goes out of Pt Canaveral and the pricing appears to be better.

Sorry I focused mostly on the extra fees, I didn't really want to re-hash it, but it sures sounds like that it what I was looking for. OOOPPSSS...

I am leaning to sticking with the Mariner..maybe pricing will change closer to the date and maybe there will be a coupon... [img]http://messages.cruisecritic.com/infopop/emoticons/icon_biggrin.gif[/img]

04/03/05 Mariner of the Seas
 [img]http://escati.linkopp.net/cgi-bin/countdown.cgi?trgb=000000&srgb=00ff00&prgb=9400d3&cdt=2005;04;03;17;00;00&timezone=GMT-0500[/img]

Grandeur of the Seas 04/2003
Disney Wonder 07/2002
Carnival ??? 05/1994
Nordic Empress - 1992ish

Karen

[cruzenbabe]

MOMOFMEG - YEP, THE SPIRIT HAD NO BASKETBALL COURT. NOT EVEN HALF A COURT. BUT, I KNEW THIS BEFOREHAND FROM THESE BOARDS.
I COULDN'T RESIST THAT CRUISE, CAUSE THE PRICE WAS SO CHEAP.
1,700.00 FOR 3 PEOPLE, IN A BALCONY CABIN, FOR 8 DAYS. RCCL COULD NEVER BEAT THAT.

[Knights on the Beach]

The Glory does have a basketball court. We considered both the Glory and the Mariner before booking our cruise for next month. What sold me on the Glory was the itinerary -- much more appealing to me than the Mariner's.

Beth
~~~~~~~~~~~

Countdown to Glory
[img]http://escati.linkopp.net/cgi-bin/countdown.cgi?trgb=000000&srgb=00ff00&prgb=0000ff&cdt=2004;05;22;16;00;00&timezone=GMT-0500[/img]

Emerald Seas 6/86
Emerald Seas 11/87
S.S. Royale 10/88
Celebration 6/97
Grandeur of the Seas 6/98
Sensation 6/99
Carnival Triumph 6/00
Carnival Triumph 11/17/01
Enchantment of the Seas 10/27/02
Carnival Victory 5/25/03
Carnival Glory 5/22/04

[callahanjulie10]

The extra fees are a big concern for me. We are paying more to go on the Mariner during hurricane season than we have ever paid for DCL even over 4th of July last year. We are Florida residents though and have always gotten these rates. I just can't believe that I have to pay for juice (except at breakfast), colas(all the time, not free in the sit down restaurants), Johnny Rockets (because we don't have one anywhere around where I live and my child will want to eat there)with a service fee AND for shakes, Ben & Jerry's (which is wonderful ice cream and can't even be compared to soft serve), Chops and Portofino at $40 each for a couple. Now I usually spend at least $800 on each cruise not including tips or the actual cost of the cruise. When you add all these little things together along with our normal expenditures, you get quite a hefty sum. To me the wonderful thing about cruising was it used to be all-inclusive- not so any more.

[kml2000]

I am sending this back to the top to see if I get any more comments since the fee issue MAY have CALMED down.

I keep watching pricing and the Glory's pricing seems much more attractive. I, however, do not want to get in a "you get what you pay for" situation. A basketball court isn't important, but I think my daughter will like the rock wall and miniature golf. We aren't really port people, but for St Thomas and St Marten will get off the ship and find a beach (will look into that closer to time - NEXT APRIL).

Any more comments on the Glory comparing to Mariner??? I have read about people being bothered by smoking on the Glory...wouldn't that be just chance?? I mean, there could be a ton of people smoking one week and not the next - right???

THANKS to everyone who comments.

04/03/05 Mariner of the Seas
Can NOT wait!


Grandeur of the Seas 04/2003
Disney Wonder 07/2002
Carnival ??? 05/1994
Nordic Empress - 1992ish

Karen

[eddeb]

[img]http://messages.cruisecritic.com/infopop/emoticons/icon_cool.gif[/img]
Dear KML,

Lets just start out by saying...

YOU GET WHAT YOU PAY FOR.

WE are not ever going on a Conquest (Glory)

class ship again.

Check in took over two hours, although I heard

if you got there very early this was not a

problem. Not Fun.

Ships "Capacity" (which usually means total)

is really 3,710 passengers. Not Fun.

Loved our cabin: 6e- 1105 Spa Deck. Great.

Walked outside twenty feet to the sauna,

showers, etc.

Food, Very Good.

Service Very Good.

Room service: very Good.

Kids Playroom/ very good.

20 to 30 ft. seas/ Hundreds puking,

pools drained because of people puking in

pools, not good.

Nor'easter, and rare hurricane to south

in late fall... ship very unstable.

6 to 8% port to starboard motion, and 6 to 8%

Bow to stern.... (four way motion... not

stable.) Cancelled all shows and many crew were
sick in cabins, (THATS when you know its ruff.)

Ship sits 17 stories above ocean and has a draft

of 26.5 feet to save gas... (not fun...)

We really felt that if the ship lost power

we would really really be in trouble...

Ny dad was in WWII and they lost destroyers

due to capsizing and getting stuck in the wrong

wave and wind motions... Our Sons 10th cruise,

1st time tossing cookies, and 3 ,4 and so

forth... Daughter also.

No comment from Captain or Crew... *(Not fun)

Going at full speed (20 knots) thru rough seas

and then 10 knots the next day when seas calm...

Heard it was Captains Last Cruise/ Changing

ships... (gotta keep that perfect record.)

Ship very unsafe at rear, saw people falling

all day at rear of ship at the enclosed pool, I

fell, my wife fell, my kid twisted an ankle,

and had a bone sticking out, but we called the

infirmary and the said its a little crazy down

here right now.. (we put ice on him)

Johnny Cockran would have a good time watching

people slip and fall all day... can you say

Lawsuit?

If you want to go on Carnival, go on the

Miracle out of Tampa, different ship

yard, more public space (Carnival cut most

public space to fit in more cabins for 3,710

passengers, as well as cut crew members

open spaces... (not fun..). Cattle cars??

Smoke on the limited Prom. Deck late at night

was horrible.. I choked for hours after coming

back from Casino. (They could improve air

handler flow tp fix this if enough people

complain...)
This Was Daily...

My Dad was a chain smoker, so when I say it was

Bad, it was BAD.

Piano bar looked like a Bogart movie...smoky.

Carnival? A billion a year? YAY!

Stick with Spirit class ships if you want to

do a Carnival Cruise.

They make announcements for bingo about every

30 minutes... Lets see, 1,000 people paying

$10 for a chance to win $500 all week long...

Is this a good thing? Ask someone from Vegas...

(If two people "win" they get $250 each! Wow!

Lets see Our Take: $10,000- YOU LUCKY WINNER!!!

$500!!!! YAY!!! (Not even Funny...)

My advice, stick with Mariner, more public

space, no huge lines in Port... no 3 foot wide

aisles to get thru on formal nites...crowds...

Most new cruisers to Glory would never know the

ship has much less public space, and 3,710

people on board.

Hope this helps!

The "Moore" Gang,

Tampa

Ed, Deb, Sean and Amy Moore
[img]http://messages.cruisecritic.com/infopop/emoticons/icon_cool.gif[/img] [img]http://messages.cruisecritic.com/infopop/emoticons/icon_smile.gif[/img] [img]http://messages.cruisecritic.com/infopop/emoticons/icon_wink.gif[/img] [img]http://messages.cruisecritic.com/infopop/emoticons/icon_rolleyes.gif[/img]

Carnival 6x
Rccl-4x
Disney-3x
Golden-1x
Others-6x

KML- you can reach us at:

[email]eddeb2001@yahoo.com[/email]

Ps- Did you know the new FUN FUN FUN

Carnival Ad on TV showing the glory has a

total # of 55 passengers in the spot???

They forgot the other 3,655.... Go figure.

The do say: Lots More Fun... Maybe they mean

Lots more folks.... [img]http://messages.cruisecritic.com/infopop/emoticons/icon_cool.gif[/img] and lots more $$$.

n/a

[yarlenna]

No matter what ship you are on, really rough seas will make a rough ride and result in some people being sea sick. Most ships currently serving the northAmerican market also sit rather high in the water. As for the captain electing to make 20 knots, perhaps he was trying to get to calm water as quickly as possible. Having been on Ryndam in an October hurricane, I totally understand your discomfort. Honestly, I think any ship in the water with you had a rough ride.

Work like a dog. Live like a pauper. Save all your money. Then Cruise!

[birdie16]

I would have gotten off my Glory cruise had I not brought friends all the way from Arizona! I posted a review. My vote would be for the Mariner...just because of the wonderful public spaces!
[url="http://www.cruise-addicts.com/reviews/readreview.php?id=0000002528"]http://www.cruise-addicts.com/reviews/readreview.php?id=0000002528[/url]

<center>
<img src=http://animatedgif.net/animals/birds/green_bird_e0.gif>
Voyager of the Seas 2/1/04
Glory 9/20/03
Monarch of the Seas 7/21/03
Splendour of the Seas 2/3/03
Rhapsody of the Seas 9/22/02
Elation 2/3/02

[kml2000]

Thank you all!!

birdie - I had not read your review but I have now. I found it to be well written and gave me alot of insight.

I think RCCL fits my daughter and I better and will probably stick with the Mariner, even at a little higher price. The amenities on the Mariner are worth a little extra money.

04/03/05 Mariner of the Seas
Can NOT wait!


Grandeur of the Seas 04/2003
Disney Wonder 07/2002
Carnival ??? 05/1994
Nordic Empress - 1992ish

Karen

[afcgirl]

I was on the Conquest (a sister ship to Glory) with dh (kids stayed home) and it had a basketball court, an arcade, teen hangout, and wonderful amenities. The only thing missing for kids (that is on the Mariner) is the rock wall, ice rink and miniature golf. I don't think not having these things would make your child's cruise any less enjoyable. The service on Carnival was top notch, the shows excellent, and the food pretty good. Carnival is truly an excellent value.

Having said that, I will be cruising on RCL's Mariner next spring with my dh and kids. Not because I disliked the Conquest, but only because I wanted to try a Voyager class ship. I think my kids would have a great time on either ship.

Good luck with your decision!

[pcur]

"The only thing missing for kids (that is on the Mariner) is the rock wall, ice rink and miniature golf."

I would think missing these three things makes a very big difference in the cruise experience for a kid. JMHO

Peggy - RCI since 1973