Carnival or Royal Caribbean

[kathystewart123456]

I have been on both lines, but its been YEARS since I have been on Royal Caribbean.... Side by Side, which one would you say is better and why?

I think Carnival is fine, but it's also a bit the Walmart of cruising ... so looking for input here because we are thinking of taking another cruise around December.

 

[ashleysev]

Agreed - Carnival is like Walmart for cruising. It depends on what you're looking for, really. Carnival is a bit more of a party boat and tends to have a younger crowd.

I personally would rather spend my money on an RC cruise.

 

[ldo]

If it matters to you, Carnival and RCCL now have different smoking policies. I previously read online of some RCCL cruisers who smoke who said they would switch to Carnival. I don't know how prevalent smokers choosing C over R really is, but I have asthma, so we decided that we would choose R over C.
Sailed on RCCL 5X (last sail Dec 2013). RCCL is a good cruise and can be a great value. Food is not as good as DCL, IMHO, but fine--just not special or memorable and a little blah. My teens would say the food was the same.

 

[bumbershoot]

"In response to the preferences of a majority of our guests, effective October 9, 2014, Carnival Cruise Lines will no longer allow smoking on stateroom balconies fleetwide," the line said in a statement to USA TODAY. "Carnival's updated smoking policy is consistent with most other major cruise lines."

So I think they will have the same policy soon.

 

[mikehn]

Im 50 and I enjoyed Carnival more than RCCL, DCL, and NCL. Carnival is the 'fun ship'. I like to have fun. There's a lot of cruise trash talk on these boards.

 

[vacation_junkie]

I have been on both lines, but its been YEARS since I have been on Royal Caribbean.... Side by Side, which one would you say is better and why?

I think Carnival is fine, but it's also a bit the Walmart of cruising ... so looking for input here because we are thinking of taking another cruise around December.

We are a professional couple in out late 30's.
We have sailed many lines , many times. We LOVE Carnival. And have never thought of it as the Walmart of Cruising. We have never had a bad experience on Carnival. We don't sail Carnival because its "cheaper" either . So my comments aren't because its all we could "afford". We cruise based on what we enjoy regardless of the cost.

The Carnival Breeze is a beautiful ship. Nothing at all like their older fleet. Since its been years you probably haven't sailed any of their newer Dream Class ships.

Royal has older ships in their fleet as well as some of the newest most innovative ships. Unless you are going to sail the Oasis , Allure. Quantum , or Anthem of the Seas then you will find your experience / ship similar to Carnival.

We were set to sail on the Breeze again with no hesitations but Royal had a Canadian Resident Sale and we booked the Allure at a crazy low price so we couldn't resist.

You can't go wrong with the Breeze , Magic , Dream and even the Sunshine with Carnival as they all have the 2.0 upgrades.

Or give RCCL Allure or Oasis of the Seas a try.

Have you thought of Norwegian? Breakaway or the Epic are nice ships as well.

Regardless don't let others dictate your potential experience. There are many Cruise line cheerleaders on here that like to bash one line over the other. Everyone enjoys different things and what one person enjoys in a cruise line another may not.

You will find more similarities between Carnival & RCCL then differences.

 

[vleeth]

I'm trying to decide if I should go RC or Carnival and spend the money I save on nice excursions.

I've been on Carnival twice and DCL once. We just can't afford DCL right now, so it's not even in the running.

 

[ashleysev]

It really comes down to where you want to spend your money. Many people go on Carnival cruises and are quite happy with it!

 

[CMDTA]

I have been on both lines, but its been YEARS since I have been on Royal Caribbean.... Side by Side, which one would you say is better and why?

I think Carnival is fine, but it's also a bit the Walmart of cruising ... so looking for input here because we are thinking of taking another cruise around December.

Without a doubt RC. I use to cruise on carnival. They've really gone downhill in the last ten years.

 

[JohnCruiser]

RCL, as long as you can afford the price difference....no match in quality.

 

[BrookeMQ]

I choose where I want to go first. Then look at the different lines with that available. Then I choose it by ship/cost.

I would book either if they have what I want.

 

[lovin'fl]

We are 41 with 3 teens and have cruised Carnival 7 times (and Disney once). We love Carnival and we're not big partiers. Having said that, though, I am interested in trying RCCL.

 

[NancyIL]

I shop at Walmart, and it's not because I can't afford to shop at Needless Markup!

I haven't sailed with Carnival or NCL, but I've sailed on 5 other mass market lines, including DCL. I usually choose a cruise by itinerary and price.

 

[timsueshd]

I don't know how much this matters to you or not...

But I am traveling with a group of 17 people in January on Enchantment of the Seas (RCCL). We chose Royal Caribbean based on their drink package.

Both drink packages on Carnival and Royal Caribbean are pretty much the same price, but Carnival has a 10 drink a day limit. This is the first time we are doing the drink package, so I don't know if 10 drinks would have been plenty, but I figure some of the people I am going with can drink a few drinks in one afternoon at the pool.

This is our first cruise in 10 years and my first one on Royal Caribbean, the other 4 were Carnival and were fine, just trying something different.

 

[lovin'fl]

I don't know how much this matters to you or not...

But I am traveling with a group of 17 people in January on Enchantment of the Seas (RCCL). We chose Royal Caribbean based on their drink package.

Both drink packages on Carnival and Royal Caribbean are pretty much the same price, but Carnival has a 10 drink a day limit. This is the first time we are doing the drink package, so I don't know if 10 drinks would have been plenty, but I figure some of the people I am going with can drink a few drinks in one afternoon at the pool.

This is our first cruise in 10 years and my first one on Royal Caribbean, the other 4 were Carnival and were fine, just trying something different.

I just booked EoS too...for next Thanksgiving. First on Royal...can't wait.

 

[ronandannette]

We are 41 with 3 teens and have cruised Carnival 7 times (and Disney once). We love Carnival and we're not big partiers. Having said that, though, I am interested in trying RCCL.

Don't get the expectation that it's going to be completely different or unbelievably better - you'll be disappointed. Each line focuses on different things. RCCL ships (Voyager-class and above) cannot be competed with by anything in the Carnival fleet for recreation and activities. What passes for entertainment on Carnival nowadays is so poor you might as well stay in your cabin and watch pay-per-view. But these things aren't important to some cruisers and the basic product (accommodation, dining choices, service) is very similar on both lines. Carnival is almost always less expensive and has more variety for Caribbean itineraries. 6-of one, 1/2-dozen of the other. Happy cruising!

 

[lovin'fl]

Don't get the expectation that it's going to be completely different or unbelievably better - you'll be disappointed. Each line focuses on different things. RCCL ships (Voyager-class and above) cannot be competed with by anything in the Carnival fleet for recreation and activities. What passes for entertainment on Carnival nowadays is so poor you might as well stay in your cabin and watch pay-per-view. But these things aren't important to some cruisers and the basic product (accommodation, dining choices, service) is very similar on both lines. Carnival is almost always less expensive and has more variety for Caribbean itineraries. 6-of one, 1/2-dozen of the other. Happy cruising!

On Carnival we found we preferred the, easy to navigate, smaller ships...not fans of crowds/lines. The entertainment is lacking...we're no fans of Carnival's production shows and can't get into the poolside "fun" (hairy chest contest and the like). We aren't big casino folks (DH not at all and I can do a little on the slots but get bored with that easily). We do like the comedy shows and watching karaoke. We really liked the piano bars until they made them non-smoking and kids began showing up in there (we're not smokers but do find that kids ruin the piano bar fun). I like bingo and my teen DDs like to swim while watching movies under the stars. So, we find stuff. DH gets more antsy...so we like to find a ship with a bar that has TVs (for sports viewing). I need to check that out on the RCCL EoS (Enchantment) I just booked.

I am excited to try RCCL but I am expecting it to be very similar to Carnival...at least the ship I booked. Someday we want to try the Oasis or Allure or the new Anthem...just to try it.

 

[tidefan]

Don't overlook some of the other lines as well. We've cruised DCL, RCCL, and Princess and IMHO if we can't swing a DCL cruise, we prefer Princess to RCCL.

 

[ronandannette]

On Carnival we found we preferred the, easy to navigate, smaller ships...not fans of crowds/lines. The entertainment is lacking...we're no fans of Carnival's production shows and can't get into the poolside "fun" (hairy chest contest and the like). We aren't big casino folks (DH not at all and I can do a little on the slots but get bored with that easily). We do like the comedy shows and watching karaoke. We really liked the piano bars until they made them non-smoking and kids began showing up in there (we're not smokers but do find that kids ruin the piano bar fun). I like bingo and my teen DDs like to swim while watching movies under the stars. So, we find stuff. DH gets more antsy...so we like to find a ship with a bar that has TVs (for sports viewing). I need to check that out on the RCCL EoS (Enchantment) I just booked.

I am excited to try RCCL but I am expecting it to be very similar to Carnival...at least the ship I booked. Someday we want to try the Oasis or Allure or the new Anthem...just to try it.

We have found Punchliners to be extremely disappointing, especially since Carnival has made it the mainstay of their evening entertainment. The "adult" shows are filthy and the "family" shows just aren't funny because, well, they're being performed by comedians who rely on being filthy for laughs and can't do their "A" material.

 

[vacation_junkie]

Carnival is almost always less expensive and has more variety for Caribbean itineraries.

Its all about watching your prices and the promotions being offered.

We had the Carnival Breeze booked again @ $3460 U.S. $ for the 3 of us.

I popped on Royal and there was a Canadian Resident sale going on. We switched to the Allure..in a comparable room for $2980 Canadian for the 3 of us. With todays dollar..convert that to U.S.$ and your looking at a good $800 difference

I was amazed at the price difference. We loved the Breeze but figured the Allure was calling our name.

We Sailed Disney last and it was our worst cruise in 25+ cruises. Would be sail DCL again..no. Would we recommend DCL to anyone else.. In a heart beat. Just because we had a crappy experience with food and service doesn't mean someone else will.

We are looking forward the vast amount of dining options on the Allure and the fact that theres a pool & Hot tub open 24 hrs...but will will sure miss Guys Burgers !!