Carnival cruises...ever done one?

[Booknut]

If you've ever done one of these can you tell me if you enjoyed it or not? Obviously they don't compare to Disney cruises but would love to hear about whether it would be worth doing a 5 day cruise to the Bahamas or just saving the cash and going on a Disney cruise next year?!

Thanks

 

[Boo Boo Too]

If you've ever done one of these can you tell me if you enjoyed it or not? Obviously they don't compare to Disney cruises but would love to hear about whether it would be worth doing a 5 day cruise to the Bahamas or just saving the cash and going on a Disney cruise next year?!

Thanks

Don't know about Carnival (in general I get the impression that they are a bit on the OTT/gaudy side of things... but I haven't saled with them, just thinking of reviews that I have seen and television programmes that I have watched about it), but other cruises can be great. Royal Caribbean are a step above (and a bit more classically classy) than Carnival and, I believe, do short cruises from Pot Canaveral...

However our first cruise was a Disney cruise (7 night, Disney Magic, Eastern) about 6 years ago. We haven't done a Disney cruise since, but have done a couple of Princess cruises, a couple of Holland America cruises and a Royal Caribbean cruise (short one from LA). We are booked on a 7 night Royal Caribbean cruise from Port Canaveral next month.

The Disney cruise was great - being our first cruise. But I have found that the later ones have suited us much more (being two adults and no children) AND are relatively a lot cheaper. You pay a premium for all things Disney. If you have kids, the kids clubs on the non-Disney lines also have EXCELLENT ratings: I think that cruise lines realise if parents know that their kids are happy and busy, then the parents are freer to enjoy themselves AND spend more money... So cruise lines make a real effort in that area...

I would cruise Disney again, when we have a child who is old enough to appreciate the experience. But probably only once - since the other cruise lines tend to have more to offer me personally.

If you are just a complete Disney nut (and can't do without Disney), then maybe you would be disappointed with another cruise line... If you like cruising/travelling/holidays then you could have a fantastic time on another cruise line.

Think about your land vacations - do you also have to go to Disney and stay on-site in Disney? Or do you enjoy other places too and enjoy other good hotels?

Boo

 

[druidia]

I went on on a 3 day cruise to the Bahamas from Miami last year for my bachelorette party. It was not very much fun. I was wishing to be on a Disney cruise the whole time!

I found the people on the ship to rude from check-in to check-out. The ship was not very clean, and I didn't care for the activities on board. The food each night was so-so, but I am a vegetarian. So admittedly, my selections were limited. I will say that the dining room staff was very nice; by far the nicest people on board.

Everyone talks about how much there is to do on a Disney cruise; how you can't possibly cram all the onboard activities in on one cruise. I found the Carnival cruise to be the exact opposite. There was so little to do on the ship during the full day at sea that I actually had to go get a book from the meager library and use it to take a nap in our room until it was closer to dinnertime.

Basically if your idea of a cruise is to be drunk and gamble in the casinos for 3 days, you will love it. Those people seemed to be having a great time! That doesn't appeal to me. To each their own.

As long as you don't expect the quality of a Disney cruise, you might be ok. I know there are a lot of people out there who regularly sail Carnival and love it. We were on the Fascination.

Personally, I will likely never take another Carnival cruise ever again after my first experience.

 

[Boo Boo Too]

Personally, I will likely never take another Carnival cruise ever again after my first experience.

I would also avoid Carnival... (but then my husband calls me a "cruise snob" ). BUT there are other cruise lines out there.

On the other cruise lines we have generally found MORE activities to our taste than Disney, not less. Our October cruise on Royal Caribbean's "Mariner of the Seas" has a minature golf course, a rock climbing wall, an inline skating track, an ice skating rink and many other things that Disney ships don't have.

On a shorter cruise (especially from Florida) on a non-Disney ship, you ARE likely to get more bachelorette/bachelor parties, more young adults, more people who want to play at the casino. Because of their value and access to gambling, these shorter cruises are often called "party boats". However we did one (4 day Mexican Riviera, from LA, Royal Caribbean) and didn't get that impression at all.... Maybe not as great as a 7 day cruise, but not bad...

It's horses for courses. If you have to eat (character meals in heavily Disney restaurants), sleep (Disney hotels only) and do (Disney theme parks/attractions/shops) Disney all the way... then stick with Disney cruises. If not, then it can't hurt to look at alternatives - bet you could have a 7 night cruise on Royal Caribbean's "Mariner of the Seas" for the same price as a 3/4 night Disney cruise... doesn't mean it isn't as good quality, just a little different.

As previous poster has said, though, Carnival may not be the best alternative cruise line...

Boo

 

[tigercat]

I have been on Disney, Royal Carribean, Princess and Carnival. Except for Disney which was a 4 night cruise the rest were 7 or longer. The only line I was disappointed in was Disney. The service was bad, the food horrible and the people rude. I wasn't sure if it was because it was a short cruise or not. We had our 6 yr. old dgrdd with us and she was bullied in the childrens place and was treated horrible at supper. The other 3 cruises were great. We were worried about the Carnival cruise (we went to Panama, Costa Rica and Belize) but were really happy with it. The service was great and the food really good. As well I can't eat wheat and they went out of their way to make sure I got really great suppers. I know others have had great time on the Disney cruises but I wouldn't go again but that is just opinion. And, every cruise is different, as well as the timing of the cruise. If you go on a short, March break, or other vacation time I would think twice about Carnival. We went in Jan. and there were no parties or drunk people anywhere.
tigercat

 

[gilld]

Our first cruise was with Carnival in 1997 and it was actually extremely good for the money. Since then all our cruises (10) have been with P&O and I have to say the food on Carnival was better than the main restaurants on P&O - not better than the select dining venues though.

The ships are quite brash, but no more so than Disney appear on their video, and some of the ships are a little tired looking. The facilities are excellent and the crew, who really make a cruise, were wonderful.

If money was a consideration and we had to book a standard cabin, we wouldn't hesitate to cruise with them again, but a week is far too short for us, and they don't have the suites we like to have. We also like cruising ex UK.

 

[yo-ho-yo-ho]

Another vote for Royal Caribbean, i've had no problems with them.

 

[UKDEB]

I've only cruised with two lines - Disney and NCL - but I'm convinced that the age of the ship is as big a factor as the line itself. Most of Carnival's ships are in the same category as Disney's (Premier). Carnival does have the 'party ships' reputation, but as long as you avoid the major US school holidays, I think you'd find it on a par with most other lines in the Premier category.

I'd be inclined to do some research on the actual ship, not just the itinerary. It's fair to say that most cruise lines have a diverse fleet in terms of age and that the newest ships are a world apart in terms of facilities and standards. We sailed on the brand new NCL Jewel in April. NCL is also in the Premier category, but the new ships are stunning. The range of restaurants (11 on the Jewel), coupled with their Freestyle cruising (you eat whenever you want, wherever you want) makes the newer NCL ships incredible value for money.

Take a look at the excellent Cruise Critic site and its Discussion Forums.

Our stateroom aboard NCL Jewel:

 

[Boo Boo Too]

Our stateroom aboard NCL Jewel

Hi UKDeb, presumably that is a Suite or Junior Suite though?

Boo

 

[yo-ho-yo-ho]

I think age plays a part, but it doesn't count for everything.

One of the best websites to check sometimes is Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and use the Vessel Sanitation Program to check any cruise ship that call on U.S. ports and that carry 13 or more passengers.

 

[UKDEB]

Hi UKDeb, presumably that is a Suite or Junior Suite though?

Boo

Yes, Boo - it's a Romance Suite.

 

[gilld]

One other thing to be aware of is Carnival are 3* cruises and not 4*.

 

[Boo Boo Too]

Yes, Boo - it's a Romance Suite.

A bit exceptional though, rather than standard. Very nice looking cabin

http://www.ncl.com/fleet/jewel/staterooms.htm shows some more standard rooms (with the addition of the villas... wow is all I can say to them!!! )

The standard staterooms for Disney (http://disneycruise.disney.go.com/d...oms/landing?name=OnboardStateroomsLandingPage) and Royal Caribbean (http://www.royalcaribbean.com/finda...f3wtDi255C2dvGe8Li:10ktmf25f?br=R&shipCode=MA) tend to be bigger and better appointed.

Boo