Who has been on a non-Disney cruise?

[phorsenuf]

I thought I would post this here as well as the cruise board for better exposure. I'm sure there are some here who have been on cruises but don't frequent the Cruise boards.
That said.......
Looks like my DH and I will finally be taking a cruise! I am sooo excited.
I think we are going to go with Carnival since they have some good prices and destinations for our time frame.
I have lots of questions so I didn't know if anyone here could help or if you know of any good cruise boards. I am sooo spoiled with the Dis where it is always hopping and that's what I'm looking for. Something just like here only the focus is cruising.

Any Carnival cruisers here??

Thanks!

 

[jkovick]

DH and I have sailed on both Carnival and Royal Carribbean. www.cruisecritic.com has some great reviews and info--do be warned though, the chat boards over there can get really snippy-- but the rest of the sight has lots of info. Hope ya have a great cruise!!

 

[Az Pirates]

We went on a Carnival cruise and loved it. Unfortunely I don't have any very current info for you as it was years ago.

I think cruisecritic.com has lots of information and reviews.

Good luck with your planning and cruising

 

[niks81]

Yes...we have done two Carnival cruises. Both were a great time.

Carnival is always very affordable...there is always plenty to do....you can dress super casual without problems....the food is great....and they have some great destinations. We did the 4 night on the Imagination last year to Key West and Cozumel and this year we did the 7 night Victory to San Juan, St. Thomas and St. Maarten. It was a lot of fun.

I have checked out cruisecritic before and there are some really big cruise freaks on there Like once a month cruisers!!

 

[tkyes]

No Carnival for us, we went on a Royal Caribbean cruise, I would suggest that in a second. Of course I have nothing to compare it to, but it was a great time. We sailed on the Explorer of the Sea, of the RC ones with the skating ring on board! very cool.


tamie

 

[phorsenuf]

Originally posted by tkyes
No Carnival for us, we went on a Royal Caribbean cruise, I would suggest that in a second. Of course I have nothing to compare it to, but it was a great time. We sailed on the Explorer of the Sea, of the RC ones with the skating ring on board! very cool.


tamie

I'm figuring the Carnival will be a good trip (inexpensive ans hort) to see if we like cruising. If so, than I hope to plan another one with the kids and more thank likely that would be RCCL since they have all that neat stuff.
Although RCCL cabins don't sleep 5 where Carnival does.

 

[phorsenuf]

Originally posted by tkyes
No Carnival for us, we went on a Royal Caribbean cruise, I would suggest that in a second. Of course I have nothing to compare it to, but it was a great time. We sailed on the Explorer of the Sea, of the RC ones with the skating ring on board! very cool.


tamie

I'm figuring the Carnival will be a good trip (inexpensive and short) to see if we like cruising. If so, than I hope to plan another one with the kids and more than likely that would be RCCL since they have all that neat stuff.
Although RCCL cabins don't sleep 5 where Carnival does.

 

[edcrbnsoul]

I've been on Norweigan Cruise line LOVED IT!
The staff and the ship couldn't have been nicer.

 

[crz4mm2]

2 Norwegian cruises for me. They were both fabulous~!! I highly recommend them.

 

[Stepharoonie!]

Carnival

 

[GoofItUp]

Haven't been on Carnival, but will be taking my 2nd Alaska cruise on Holland America this summer....only 5 weeks from today until we leave!!!! DH and I LOVED HAL our first time around. I wouldn't mind trying Carnival. It sails out of Galveston which would be convenient for us and they have really cheap fairs sometime. Unfortunately, I can't convince DH to give it a try yet because of its 'party' reputation.

Have a great trip!

 

[Jeafl]

I've been on Big Red Boat (now defunct), NCL, Royal Caribbean and Carnival a few times. We were on the Carnival Inspiration over this past Thanksgiving and had a blast. Then again, I have a good time wherever I go.

If you have any specific questions about any of the above lines, I'd be happy to help. Carnival in particular is a great value. The kids programs were good, as were most of the adult shows. The food ranged from very good to excellent at times. I've been to just about every port at least once so if I can help there, let me know.

 

[Jeafl]

GoofItUp, tell your husband to give Carnival a try. We have found that on the last couple Carnival cruises we were on they were comprised of about 1/2 families, 1/4 older couples and 1/4 singles. I have yet to see any heavy duty partying on any of our Carnival cruises. I do know of people that said they ran into a lot of drunk college kids on their spring break cruise, but that most likely was the timing. I'd avoid spring break and you should be ok. Also, there tends to be more partiers on the shorter (3-day) cruises.

On the other hand, on our cruise on Royal Caribbean we ran into a very large group of some kind with matching t-shirts that were truly obnoxious. We never did figure out exactly who they were. I'd take drunk college kids over them anyday.

 

[cindysteve]

We have sailed on two DCL cruises and one Royal Caribbean. We enjoyed them both. Carnival is supposed to be nice (or so I have heard), but each line is focused on a basic type of cruiser. Just make sure you pick a line that will cater to what YOU want in a cruise. Certain lines have better kids programs than others, and some lines are more adult only. Some are families and younger couples, some mostly retirees. Some are party boats, some are family boats, some are adventures. Some offer more formal dining arrangements, and some are more casual. It is not so much that any of the major lines is BAD, just that they offer different experiences. It's all in making a good match to meet your needs. Do your homework and you will have an awesome time!

 

[AspiringCindy]

For us, Carnival falls as our least favorite cruise lines. We have been on Royal Carribean(3), Disney(1), Celebrity(1) and Carnival(2). I didn't care for the food or the decor of the ships!
But, if you have nothing to compare it to, you may just love it! We love to cruise in general...so me, any cruise is a good cruise!

 

[judi]

We really enjoy Princess. The grand class ships are really nice. Have another cruise planned for Aug. on the Caribbean Princess. You will find a ton of info on cruisecritic.com. You could also try cruisemates.com or cruiseaddicts.com. Also talk to a travel agent about what cruise line might be right for you.

 

[newholiday]

My 1st cruise was a 4night on NCL
2nd cruise was Disney Magic 7night Western
Next cruise?

 

[SRUAlmn]

We went on Royal Caribbean last August and friends of ours just went on a Canival cruise in April. Both were a blast, but let me share a story....(not to scare you)

My friends who went in April left out of Galveston, TX (they live in Kileen.) Therefore, most of their ports were Mexican. They were warned repeatedly about the water and that they should not drink it, which they followed. However, at one of the ports they visited a bar and had a few margaritas (which had ice in them.) They weren't even thinking about the ice being made of Mexican water- seems like a DUH now, but I don't know that I would have thought about it either. Anyway, my friend actually ended up getting dysentery! ICK! She had to be hospitalized when they got back to port (it happened on the last day.) She was so dehydrated they had to give her 3 bags of IV fluid. So be warned, if you're stopping at any Mexican ports, Mexican margaritas have Mexican water/ice in them !!
(uh oh, that sounds like a tag fairy line!)

Feel free to ask if you have any questions about RCI or Carnival- I'll be happy to share- we had a GREAT time!!

 

[Nutsy]

I've been on a P&O South Pacific Cruise & loved it.

 

[calypso*a*go-go]

We have been on:
Royal Caribbean
Princess
Costa
American Hawaii
Big Red Boat
Carnival
Disney

I always tell my friends that are cruising for the first time to go on Carnival. Because they tend to be more affordable, there are some things that would be done differently on more expensive cruises (but since you have never been before, you wouldn't notice) . Don't get the wrong impression -- it's still like comparing a 4-star hotel to a 5-star. Both are fabulous, but one is a little better. Carnival has great service, lots of activities, and an abundance of food, food, food! You will come back from your cruise with the desire to go on several more. Have fun.