Carnival Cruise lines

[4nana]

We're seniors and have sailed Disney, RCCL, Princess, Carnival, and honestly it's all what you make of it . I had heard a lot of negative things about Carnival before cruise and was leary . However our week cruise was great, we saw cruisers of all ages and lots of families having fun. Maybe we got lucky, but IMO there was no more drinking or partying than any other cruise line . Don't sweat the small stuff and have fun!

 

[declansdad]

This is the PERFECT description. Our first and last cruise was on Carnival, and while the ship, room, and food were just fine, the way the other passengers treated both the ship AND the staff (who were excellent) was just downright disgusting to me. I felt like every other passenger on the boat walked on with the attitude that the ship was their trash can and the staff were their personal slaves.

Shortly after that experience, we were given tickets to a free 5-day Carnival cruise from the company who built our house, and we never even bothered to use it because our experience was that bad.

It is a terrible description and quite frankly, I'm insulted.

 

[Jeafl]

I've been on 6 Carnival, 2 NCL, 2 Royal Caribbean, 2 Holland America, 1 Celebrity and 1 DCL cruise. The only one I would NEVER go back on was Celebrity. The food was beyond awful, and inedible at times, and the ship felt like it shut down at 10:00 pm. The clientele was mostly senior citizens, at least on the one we were on. It could have been a fluke.

I honestly loved every Carnival cruise we went on. They were all 7 or 8-day cruises, and there has always been the same mix of people on them. About 1/3 families, 1/3 seniors, and 1/3 younger couples/singles. I have never seen the frat party atmosphere, but I have heard that it exists on the 3-4 day spring break cruises.

They have come a long way with their food. Some of the ships have burger bars on the pool deck which are run by Guy Fieri, who is a famous chef. They are excellent! The kids clubs are run really well, and when my kids were younger you couldn't keep them out of them. One of my kids' favorite memories was getting dressed up as pirates and going on a treasure hunt on Half Moon Cay which is their private island (not to mention one of the most seriously beautiful places on earth!)

It is interesting, but most of the people that I know who bash Carnival have never been on them--they all"heard it from someone". i say go, enjoy yourself, and judge for yourself.

If you are interested, i've done a couple of really long, extensive picture reviews of the Liberty and the Freedom on Cruise Critic. Let me know if you would like the links. I've got lots of port pictures too. Which ones are you going to? We've done tons of different excursions, some good, some great and some awful. I would be happy to tell you which ones are which!

Have a great trip!

 

[Bob NC]

It is interesting, but most of the people that I know who bash Carnival have never been on them

I agree.

 

[happygirl]

I've been on 6 Carnival, 2 NCL, 2 Royal Caribbean, 2 Holland America, 1 Celebrity and 1 DCL cruise. The only one I would NEVER go back on was Celebrity. The food was beyond awful, and inedible at times, and the ship felt like it shut down at 10:00 pm. The clientele was mostly senior citizens, at least on the one we were on. It could have been a fluke.

I honestly loved every Carnival cruise we went on. They were all 7 or 8-day cruises, and there has always been the same mix of people on them. About 1/3 families, 1/3 seniors, and 1/3 younger couples/singles. I have never seen the frat party atmosphere, but I have heard that it exists on the 3-4 day spring break cruises.

They have come a long way with their food. Some of the ships have burger bars on the pool deck which are run by Guy Fieri, who is a famous chef. They are excellent! The kids clubs are run really well, and when my kids were younger you couldn't keep them out of them. One of my kids' favorite memories was getting dressed up as pirates and going on a treasure hunt on Half Moon Cay which is their private island (not to mention one of the most seriously beautiful places on earth!)

It is interesting, but most of the people that I know who bash Carnival have never been on them--they all"heard it from someone". i say go, enjoy yourself, and judge for yourself.

If you are interested, i've done a couple of really long, extensive picture reviews of the Liberty and the Freedom on Cruise Critic. Let me know if you would like the links. I've got lots of port pictures too. Which ones are you going to? We've done tons of different excursions, some good, some great and some awful. I would be happy to tell you which ones are which!

Have a great trip!

Thanks we are going on the Fantasic I think, We are really thinking about going to Alantis sp? any words of wisdom about it? I would love to see pics

 

[phorsenuf]

I've never been on Carnival but this is how my SIL describes it -- or more specifically, frat house crossed with PeopleofWalmart.com. It's definitely for younger people.

 

[crz4mm2]

Thanks we are going on the Fantasic I think, We are really thinking about going to Alantis sp? any words of wisdom about it? I would love to see pics

Fantasy?

WE went on the Fantasy out of New Orleans almost 4 years ago. It was the best cruise. Best TIME! 7 days and wonderful.

 

[badblackpug]

Ice cream and frozen yogurt are free on deck fleet wide.

I have sailed in Carnival and sell it regularly to my family clients, including my rabbi. We've all had wonderful experiences, and have never seen the frat party atmosphere. Carnival has really worked to become a very family friendly cruise line. We live near the Port of Baltimore, and the Carnival Pride is always filled with families.

I am so amused when people look down in Carnival because its the least expensive. Not every can afford Disney. I have friends, a family of six, who want to cruise this summer and need two cabins. Carnival is what they can afford. They are not trashy, low class or the frat party types. Just a family wanting a good vacation without taking out a second mortgage.

Thank you. We have been looking into a cruise, and while my little kids love Disney, we are a family of 6 that needs 2 cabins, and the cost of DCL was just ridiculous. We really want to try a cruise now that my youngest is old enough for the kids club. I did a lot of research into Carnival, and we thought it looked fun, not to mention it seemed to have activities suitable for all ages.

We are drinkers (I know how that will go over with the DIS crowd) are the drink cards worth it?

 

[mdsoccermom]

Thank you. We have been looking into a cruise, and while my little kids love Disney, we are a family of 6 that needs 2 cabins, and the cost of DCL was just ridiculous. We really want to try a cruise now that my youngest is old enough for the kids club. I did a lot of research into Carnival, and we thought it looked fun, not to mention it seemed to have activities suitable for all ages.

We are drinkers (I know how that will go over with the DIS crowd) are the drink cards worth it?

Only you can decide if it's worth it. It's $42.95 per person per day, and you can purchase up to 15 drinks per day (drinks must be under $10). It also includes soda nd nonalcoholic cocktails.

Almost all mainstream lines are testing out these packages which have existed for quite some time on luxury lines.

 

[Jaya]

Depends on the time of year. Spring break, summer.....party time, big time, lots of kids and teens...."booze cruise" atmosphere. We cruised last month (January) on the Ecstasy and the demographic was definitely older. Very few children or teens. People dressed a little more formally than I've seen on summer cruises. Boat was a bit quieter.

 

[windycitymom]

I haven't read all the responses but we love Carnival for the value and are completely happy with it! We have taken several 7 day cruises and their 12 day Med cruise. We've been on cruises with our boys - and without. If you cruise at the right time of year, a cruise can be a lot less than a week at Disney! Read more at cruise critic dot com.

 

[happygirl]

I haven't read all the responses but we love Carnival for the value and are completely happy with it! We have taken several 7 day cruises and their 12 day Med cruise. We've been on cruises with our boys - and without. If you cruise at the right time of year, a cruise can be a lot less than a week at Disney! Read more at cruise critic dot com.

They are really cheap, much less then I thought they would be

 

[Jeafl]

They are really cheap, much less then I thought they would be

In my experience with most cruise lines, you think they are cheap, which is why you book them. However, once on board, you have professional photographers taking awesome pictures of your family that you just have to buy. Then, you want to do an excursion at most of the ports, which costs a lot. Then on sea days you are laying beside the pool and the waiter walks by with a tray of beautifully colored tropical drinks with umbrellas that you just have to try. Add in a couple rounds at the slot machines and a few souvenirs at the gift shop, and before you know it, your sign and sail account is as much as the cruise cost you to begin with.

I don't know what comes over you. It must be the sea air, because these things become nearly impossible to resist. I've heard tell of people who only have tips on their account at the end of the week, but I have never experienced it.

This isn't just Carnival, it is all cruise lines. I watched a special on the Discovery channel about cruises and it said the alcohol and casinos were bigger money makers than the cruise fares.

 

[4nana]

Altho it could happen to any cruise line, with all the news about Carnival's Triumph stuck in Gulf of Mexico for 3rd day, due to engine fire, sure doesn't help their business . Thankfully everyone is safe, but what a huge disappointment and inconvenience. http://www.usatoday.com/story/travel/cruises/2013/02/11/carnival-cruise-ship-fire/1910573/

 

[zippingalong]

Depends on the time of year. Spring break, summer.....party time, big time, lots of kids and teens...."booze cruise" atmosphere. We cruised last month (January) on the Ecstasy and the demographic was definitely older. Very few children or teens. People dressed a little more formally than I've seen on summer cruises. Boat was a bit quieter.

Have you been on a spring break Carnival cruise? I took my parents last year, my 15 yo DD and her friend and my eldest daughter with her 2 YO (her husband had to work)... I booked 3 rooms on the Carnival Dream.

We had a great time. My DD loved it because there was a lot of kids her age. But it was not a "party atmosphere" and there was no more going on than any other cruises I've been on. We had 4 generations sailing with us. Lots of families, teens, kids. Certainly not a "College gone wild" week.

 

[abdmom]

We have been on cruises for almost 100 days. Five different cruise lines including Carnival. Carnival is the only cruise line that I will not get on again. Entertainment consisted of bars and the casino. No activities that I was interested in. My kids like to hang out in the arcade - half the machines were broken - the machines took their money anyway. Food was good. Cigarette smoke everywhere. Garish decor.

 

[Lionqueen2]

I've been on 6 Carnival, 2 NCL, 2 Royal Caribbean, 2 Holland America, 1 Celebrity and 1 DCL cruise. The only one I would NEVER go back on was Celebrity. The food was beyond awful, and inedible at times, and the ship felt like it shut down at 10:00 pm. The clientele was mostly senior citizens, at least on the one we were on. It could have been a fluke.

I honestly loved every Carnival cruise we went on. They were all 7 or 8-day cruises, and there has always been the same mix of people on them. About 1/3 families, 1/3 seniors, and 1/3 younger couples/singles. I have never seen the frat party atmosphere, but I have heard that it exists on the 3-4 day spring break cruises.

They have come a long way with their food. Some of the ships have burger bars on the pool deck which are run by Guy Fieri, who is a famous chef. They are excellent! The kids clubs are run really well, and when my kids were younger you couldn't keep them out of them. One of my kids' favorite memories was getting dressed up as pirates and going on a treasure hunt on Half Moon Cay which is their private island (not to mention one of the most seriously beautiful places on earth!)

It is interesting, but most of the people that I know who bash Carnival have never been on them--they all"heard it from someone". i say go, enjoy yourself, and judge for yourself.

If you are interested, i've done a couple of really long, extensive picture reviews of the Liberty and the Freedom on Cruise Critic. Let me know if you would like the links. I've got lots of port pictures too. Which ones are you going to? We've done tons of different excursions, some good, some great and some awful. I would be happy to tell you which ones are which!

Have a great trip!

We, too, have been on a number of cruises with various lines and I agree that Celebrity is the only one we have concerns about. Of our 4 Celebrity cruises, two broke down and had to limp back to port spoiling both cruises. We also had poor experiences with food which has been hit or miss. We've not had bad experiences with any other cruise lines and enjoyed all out other cruises, but we're not eage to get back on Celebrity.

 

[declansdad]

We have been on cruises for almost 100 days. Five different cruise lines including Carnival. Carnival is the only cruise line that I will not get on again. Entertainment consisted of bars and the casino. No activities that I was interested in. My kids like to hang out in the arcade - half the machines were broken - the machines took their money anyway. Food was good. Cigarette smoke everywhere. Garish decor.

We haven't had your cruise experience but we have cruised with Carnival twice in the last two years. We found lots more entertainment than in the bars and casinos, there were plenty of activities to take part in if you wanted to, arcades were fine, food was great and we didn't notice the cigarette smoke unless you went through the one smoking area or parts of the casino.

 

[ckay87]

Altho it could happen to any cruise line, with all the news about Carnival's Triumph stuck in Gulf of Mexico for 3rd day, due to engine fire, sure doesn't help their business . Thankfully everyone is safe, but what a huge disappointment and inconvenience. http://www.usatoday.com/story/travel/cruises/2013/02/11/carnival-cruise-ship-fire/1910573/

I'm a sicko, I realize, but my second thought (after wondering how those poor folks are doing) was, "wow, there will probably be some great sales on Carnival cruises coming up!"

 

[mdsoccermom]

We have been on cruises for almost 100 days. Five different cruise lines including Carnival. Carnival is the only cruise line that I will not get on again. Entertainment consisted of bars and the casino. No activities that I was interested in. My kids like to hang out in the arcade - half the machines were broken - the machines took their money anyway. Food was good. Cigarette smoke everywhere. Garish decor.

Entertainment was only the bars and casino? Did they cancel all of the shows on your cruise?