Carnival really that fun?....

[CruisingDawg]

..I have to admit, I was a little disappointed in how fun the Celebration was last week. Now, I am sure it may have something to do with the size and scale of the ship, but my trip on the Grand Princess in 2002 had much more to do, and the partying seemed to go on later.

 

For instance, on Celebration, it seemed that there was one "Activity" around the pool each day. On GP, there were always 2 or 3. 1 trivia a day, 1 bingo a day. GP always had multiples.

 

Just some examples.

[helicopter]

I agree with you. A few years ago we sailed on the Inspiratioin, and I said the same exact thing. Having cruised on other lines where there seem to always be pool games, conga lines, horse racing, etc. going on around the pool area, I found Carnival to be very disappointing in this area. However, we are going to give the Valor a try this June and see if maybe things have changed. It wasn't that there weren't different games going on inside the lounges inside the ship, but my family has always enjoyed the pool activity on a Caribbean cruise.:)

[GoinCruisin]

Hmmmm, you should have been with the S&S'ers on the Sensation :D Always something going on... Although we weren't much into "pool games"... there were always plenty of games going on there, we just had our own games going on :eek: And the partying only went on til about 4AM when we shut down the disco... on port days there was a deck party each night, but ended around 12:30 or so, then the party moved to the disco... I guess we were lucky. 2nd time on the Sensation and each time there was an abundance of fun and late nights... but I guess we sought out the fun or maybe we created it :D

[derf5585]

6 entries found for fun

from

http://dictionary.reference.com/search?q=fun

 

What's Your Definition of Fun?

from

http://www.selfgrowth.com/articles/Dunn134.html

[MrPete]

There's a bunch of outside factors that contribute to that Fun element, but it always include ones state of mind and mood. (Just read reviews from two different people getting off the same ship where you read both ends of the spectrum).

 

Sometimes it 's the chemistry of the passengers on the ship for that pasticular week.

 

I have had "rip roaring" times, and, "oh, that was nice and relaxing" times. What I attended as far as activities went also contributed, and if those activities involved ho hum cruise directors or social hosts, that would dertract from the experience (Read "DO CRUISE DIRECTORS MAKE A DIFFERENCE?" threads).

[dbcruzin]

Maybe it had a little to do with your pre-cruise circumstances? Which, by the way, you haven't mentioned since your return.:D :confused:

[mercedes355]

I went on the Celebration in January and I agree that I was expecting a few more fun activites from a funship. I thought my cruise on the Rhapsody was a lot more fun. The bartenders on the Celebration told me that the week before there were a lot more fun people onboard. So I think a lot of the "fun" factor has to do with the people on the ship when you cruise.

[helicopter]

I don't think we said we didn't have a good time, what I said was there was not a lot of pool activity (games, etc.) whcih I have experienced on other ships. I thought RCCI and NCL had much more of a lively entertaining atmospohere poolside. Now I realize that a lot of people don't care anything about the pool activities, but, a lot of people (especially in the Caribbean) do enjoy it.;) When I'm in the Caribbean I don't want to spend my time inside the ship going to the different games (newlywed, etc), although I do think they are very entertaining. I just don't want to be inside during the day (ok, maybe the casino).:D

[SevenVII]

Yeah, did you end up cruising solo or did you take someone Dawg?

[serene56]

Hmmm, I found the same thing on the Voyager- Found myslef bored a lot of the time and the activity leval just not there. I think it has something to do with the people that are on your cruise that week. I didnt have a bad time-- jsut needed more choices.

[CruisingDawg]

..played very little role in it. I had a blast on my own. I guess like a couple of others stated, that I expected more goofy, fun activities as opposed as to a on your own type of fun.

 

Ended up going with the wife-in-limbo. We were able to talk a little bit, and agreed to put our differences aside and just have a good time with the people we knew and would meet on board.

 

Still don't have a resolution of that situation.

[kujobie]

I have made a similar post regarding the lack of live music on board and specifically in the pool area. It seems that the quality/quantity of live music and entertainment in general is decreasing. Another way of cutting costs, I guess. On our 2003 cruise on the Sensation (older, smaller ship) the amount and quality of entertainment far surpassed that of our 2004 Glory cruise, which was a bit disappointing in that respect. Don't get me wrong, we still had a blast. I mean, a cruise is a cruise and that was my biggest complaint. I'm still sold on Carnival, and cruising in general, but I hope they reverse this trend or that maybe it was just a fluke.

[GoinCruisin]

The Sensation STILL has a wonderful poolside band and wonderful nightlife!!! Went in 2003 and it was just as great last week :D :D

[kates024]

CruisingDawg,

 

Who was the cruise director when you were on the Grand Princess? I was on the GP in late June/Early July and Graham Seymour was the cruise director. He was AWESOME!!!! I had such a blast, and I am not sure if any other cruise director can top him. He played such a big role during that cruise. I loved the morning show, it was neat waking up to such a funny man. I loved my cruise on the Glory last October but I can't even remember the cruise directors name. I do remember the karokee bar being open until about 12, the club was open until 2 maybe later, and they had a few midnight comedy shows. With that being said, I am sailing again on Carnival in 42 days. I am sure I will have another fun cruise. Is any cruise not fun???

 

Katie

[hilltopfamily]

I would think that comparing the amount of activities on board may be a bit unfair as Celebration is a 47,262 gross ton ship vs. the Grand at 109,000. I think that much larger of a ship should and would have more to offer in entertainment. :rolleyes: Just a consideration, and don't know how or if this would affect how "late" the partying would go on.

[CruiseFever]

..I have to admit, I was a little disappointed in how fun the Celebration was last week. Now, I am sure it may have something to do with the size and scale of the ship, but my trip on the Grand Princess in 2002 had much more to do, and the partying seemed to go on later.

 

For instance, on Celebration, it seemed that there was one "Activity" around the pool each day. On GP, there were always 2 or 3. 1 trivia a day, 1 bingo a day. GP always had multiples.

 

Just some examples.

Not to get really specific but having cruised both Carnival and Princess I'd say it's a draw as to who's more fun. In the same breath I say that it's no silly slogan that Carnival has "the fun ships" and always found that to be the case.

 

BUT

 

I'm with the above in that there have been times when there has been times that with all there is to do nothing grabs my attention. That's time for me to find a balcony or rail to sit by and stare at the ocean.

 

I love that part

 

Good observation!

[Gingras31]

i found it to be quite boring personally

[ewtonjg]

Hi,

New on this board. Just back from our first Carnival cruise on the Elation this last week. There were 4 of us cruising, we were looking forward to the "FUN SHIP" experience and were we so dissappointed. I guess comparing to our previous cruises on Princess and Disney is what we were measuring this cruise to.

There was a lack of music and bands around the pool area, lack of games, lack of "sail away" parties, I mean they said they had one but when you got there nothing was going on. In fact when we left Galveston, it was not exciting, not the way they make it exciting on Princess and Disney. The activities were lacking, it just was not like our previous cruises having the excitment all around you. We had fun, I mean it was vacation and we were on a ship, but we did not come home saying lets book this ship or Carnival again. Just our observation. I keep it in the plural because all 4 of us feel the same way.

:(

[izzyvet]

I really do think that alot of the activities have to do with the cruise director. I just got off the Pride and it had more activities than any of my recent cruise. And Greg (our CD) was bragging at the end of the cruise that his staff had more activities per day that any other Carnival ship. We had trivia every day, scavenger hunts, many pool games, Survivor, etc. Also on the Explorer our CD, Flo was a big one on activities and getting people involved. I never saw a CD out and about as much as her. So yes, I think the mix of passengers does make a difference, but a good CD can make a HUGE difference!

[kkorman]

I have often had to make my own fun on Carnival trips. I guess that is true on any vacation, but it seemed that the entertainment on Carnival is kind of outdated and very typical. Other cruise lines, like Princess do a better job of meeting the needs of a more diverse crowd. But, in Carnival's defense, it is really marketed to the new cruiser and it works for that scenario. It is once you see it once, it is old.

[glrounds]

But, in Carnival's defense, it is really marketed to the new cruiser and it works for that scenario. It is once you see it once, it is old.

I would agree, kkorman.

 

To quote Greg Kneale (CD on the PRIDE), "on average 47% of the passengers on a Carnival cruise are FIRST-TIMERS". :)