Royal Caribbean vs. Carnival Cruise

#76
#76
Dave1967 said:
I went on a Carnival cruise in the late 80s. The Dinners were really good but the breakfasts and lunches on the top deck sucked. Worst hamburgers ever
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Nothing against you Dave but this is another comment against Carnival that is just not true. Maybe it was in the 80's but not any more. We cruised on the Carnival Liberty last year, they have a Guy Fieri burger bar that is awesome. They have a breakfast bar with the usual or there is cereal, fruit, they have an omelet bar, they even had a breakfast burrito bar that was awesome. So many choices I don't see how anyone couldn't find something they like. Again, Ive cruised Carnival and RC recently, not that much difference between the two. I don't see paying the extra $ for RC but that's just my opinion.

http://www.carnival.com/onboard/cruise-food/guys-burger-joint.aspx
 
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#77
#77
volmanbill said:
Grand Turk is basically a private island kind of stop. It was consistently rated low on cruise surveys and ships actually stopped going there. Then Carnival built the current docks and built a shopping village that includes a Jimmy Buffet's Margaritaville and a bunch of souvenir shops. Once passengers get back on the ships, shops close and buses roll up to take the workers home. There's a pool at JBs (with a swim up bar), a nice beach area and a wave machine if you want to hang 10. Stop at JBs for the first drink then stroll down the beach past the tethered iceberg to Jack's Shack. Better drinks, good food, half the price.

Bar & Grill Grand Turk - Home

Also, I found Trip Advisor to be a great resource when looking for suggestions in each location.


Edit: You guys already beat me to the punch with Jack's. Add my vote.
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I looked up Jack's Shack after all the comments, and if you let them know when you're coming, they give you a free shot of rum. Thanks for the tip, guys.
 
#78
#78
Hopvol said:
Nothing against you Dave but this is another comment against Carnival that is just not true. Maybe it was in the 80's but not any more. We cruised on the Carnival Liberty last year, they have a Guy Fieri burger bar that is awesome. They have a breakfast bar with the usual or there is cereal, fruit, they have an omelet bar, they even had a breakfast burrito bar that was awesome. So many choices I don't see how anyone couldn't find something they like. Again, Ive cruised Carnival and RC recently, not that much difference between the two. I don't see paying the extra $ for RC but that's just my opinion.

http://www.carnival.com/onboard/cruise-food/guys-burger-joint.aspx
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It's obvious you're an advocate for Carnival, and that's fine. If you like them by all means stick with them. I've never tried a Carnival cruise, but I know I've probably talked to 20 people asking their opinions (not including VN) and maybe found 3 that actually like Carnival. I had a buddy do a Carnival last year and his report back was things like "it was a pretty good cruise" and "you get bored on the boat, after a while you want to get off the boat and go somewhere" and "the food isn't great but it's all you can eat" kind of stuff. None of that describes my experience with RC, quite the opposite actually. Great food, plenty to do on the boat, and I described my cruise with RC as "the best vacation I've ever had." Very worth the extra money IMO.
 
#79
#79
chatt-townVOL said:
It's obvious you're an advocate for Carnival, and that's fine. If you like them by all means stick with them. I've never tried a Carnival cruise, but I know I've probably talked to 20 people asking their opinions (not including VN) and maybe found 3 that actually like Carnival. I had a buddy do a Carnival last year and his report back was things like "it was a pretty good cruise" and "you get bored on the boat, after a while you want to get off the boat and go somewhere" and "the food isn't great but it's all you can eat" kind of stuff. None of that describes my experience with RC, quite the opposite actually. Great food, plenty to do on the boat, and I described my cruise with RC as "the best vacation I've ever had." Very worth the extra money IMO.
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I dont mean to be an "advocate" for Carnival I just see alot of false information about them. Like I said I have done both. I think another thing to consider is the ship taken. I have never been on any of Carnival's smaller ships. Maybe thats where the issues are. I cant imagine anyone being bored on Conquest class or later ship. The new Carnival Dream class like the Breeze is amazing. As long as you had a good time thats all that matters but I wouldnt rule Carnival out either. Actually RC was my first, cruised with them a few times and may again at some point. When you hear someone give a review find out what ship they took, makes a big difference.
 
#80
#80
Hopvol said:
Nothing against you Dave but this is another comment against Carnival that is just not true. Maybe it was in the 80's but not any more. We cruised on the Carnival Liberty last year, they have a Guy Fieri burger bar that is awesome. They have a breakfast bar with the usual or there is cereal, fruit, they have an omelet bar, they even had a breakfast burrito bar that was awesome. So many choices I don't see how anyone couldn't find something they like. Again, Ive cruised Carnival and RC recently, not that much difference between the two. I don't see paying the extra $ for RC but that's just my opinion.

Guy's Burger Joint, Carnival Cruise Food | Carnival Cruise Lines
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You're obviously a lower class person than bama *sarcasm* .
 
#82
#82
To comment on the Carnival food topic, Guy's burgers were probably second only to the night we had dinner in the steakhouse. Dining room meals are prepared in advance (an understandable necessity with 2-3000 people to feed) and taste like it. I had an appetizer in the steakhouse that was amazing. A few nights later the dining room had the same item on the menu and it did not come close in quality and freshness. It's the difference between eating in a high end restaurant and a cafeteria. We tried to book dinner there for each remaining evening (we ate on the 3rd night of an 8 night trip) but it was fully booked. Carnival is not the line to choose if food quality is a big factor for your trip. You'll have plenty of food, you just may not want it. Or, you may just not want to wait in line for it. Yes, there are breakfast bars, bbq at sea days, etc, but there is a looong line for everything. I guess it's the nature of today's mega ships.
 
#83
#83
We have been on 5 Carnival Cruises and loved every one of them, didn't care for the Breeze but still a good cruise. Food was good to great on each cruise, no complaints at all. We are not big partiers and never had an issue with the "party boat" reputation.

We like having a balcony on the Lido Deck, and for the money CCL has always been the most affordable, we've checked.
 
#84
#84
govols/cc said:
You're obviously a lower class person than bama *sarcasm* .
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Perfect! Carnival is the community college of cruise lines. If that's all that you can afford, its better than nothing. But even if you have to borrow a little, everything else is a much better experience.
 
#85
#85
bamacheats said:
Perfect! Carnival is the community college of cruise lines. If that's all that you can afford, its better than nothing. But even if you have to borrow a little, everything else is a much better experience.
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& you're the Carl Spackler of messageboards.....To be such an "expert" & critic of something you must've been on a lot of "low class" cruises. But you drive a golf ball 400 yards on the fly with your smooth, "keep it in play" swing so everyone should take what you say as it's written in stone. LOL
 
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#86
#86
hog88 said:
We have been on 5 Carnival Cruises and loved every one of them, didn't care for the Breeze but still a good cruise. Food was good to great on each cruise, no complaints at all. We are not big partiers and never had an issue with the "party boat" reputation.

We like having a balcony on the Lido Deck, and for the money CCL has always been the most affordable, we've checked.
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What didn't you like about the Breeze? We got to see her docked in Cozumel last year and she is massive. We wanted to cruise the Breeze on our trip to Grand Turk, Dominican Republic, Curacao, and Aruba later this year but the dates didn't work. Wound up booking the Freedom.
 
#87
#87
Hopvol said:
What didn't you like about the Breeze? We got to see her docked in Cozumel last year and she is massive. We wanted to cruise the Breeze on our trip to Grand Turk, Dominican Republic, Curacao, and Aruba later this year but the dates didn't work. Wound up booking the Freedom.
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Not that we didn't like the Breeze, it's a beautiful ship with lots to do and see. We just like the layout and flow of the (don't know class name) ships like the Liberty. We've been on the Dream, sister ship to the Breeze and felt the same way.
 
#88
#88
hog88 said:
Not that we didn't like the Breeze, it's a beautiful ship with lots to do and see. We just like the layout and flow of the (don't know class name) ships like the Liberty. We've been on the Dream, sister ship to the Breeze and felt the same way.
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Gotcha, the Liberty is a Conquest class ship. The Dream and Breeze are the Dream class but apparently will be the only two in that class. The Vista is under construction now in Italy and is supposed to be done in 2016.
 
#89
#89
Hopvol said:
What didn't you like about the Breeze? We got to see her docked in Cozumel last year and she is massive. We wanted to cruise the Breeze on our trip to Grand Turk, Dominican Republic, Curacao, and Aruba later this year but the dates didn't work. Wound up booking the Freedom.
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Make sure to bump this thread before you leave. I'll give you the full rundown.
 
#90
#90
Hopvol said:
Gotcha, the Liberty is a Conquest class ship. The Dream and Breeze are the Dream class but apparently will be the only two in that class. The Vista is under construction now in Italy and is supposed to be done in 2016.
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Last March we did the 8 day St. Thomas, Antigua, Tortola and Bahamas on the Breeze. Loved the 8 day cruise.
 
#91
#91
hog88 said:
Last March we did the 8 day St. Thomas, Antigua, Tortola and Bahamas on the Breeze. Loved the 8 day cruise.
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We did a 7 night on the Costa Fortuna several years ago and missed the Baths at Tortola. A storm had moved through the night before and the water was too rough so it was closed. We ended up doing a tour through the city (my boys loved the crazy driver up and around the "mountain", lol). The rest of the cruise was phenomenal.
 
#92
#92
Hopvol said:
What didn't you like about the Breeze? We got to see her docked in Cozumel last year and she is massive. We wanted to cruise the Breeze on our trip to Grand Turk, Dominican Republic, Curacao, and Aruba later this year but the dates didn't work. Wound up booking the Freedom.
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I was on the Breeze last year for the 8 night to St Thomas, San Juan, Grand Turk and Tortola. It was my first CCL trip after having previously sailed on RCCL and NCL.

Your observation on the massive size may be why this trip didn't quite live up to the others. With 3500+ passengers on board, it was more like Disney than a relaxing cruise.

There were lines for everything. Breakfast bar, Guy's burgers, you name it, there was a line. And if there wasn't a line (dinner in the dining rooms), the massive task of feeding that many people made food quality suffer. Excursions and reservations in the "upgrade" restaurants sell out very quickly. I saw more than one loud altercation over chairs on the decks because people park a towel and a book and reserve chairs while others wait. Lines and crowds are just not relaxing to me.

After dinner, the casinos were packed with people lined up waiting for an empty seat. (and while allowing one person to play multiple positions at peak times) The evening shows are cut down shortened versions so they can herd multiple crowds through quickly. The lounges and clubs were always overcrowded after dinner.

Don't get me wrong, it's what you make of it. Even with all of that I had a reasonably good time. But, I think I'll look for a different line, smaller ship or both next time.
 
#97
#97
VolAllen said:
After our last cruise to the Bahamas back in January, we decided cruises just aren't for us. Carnival really is a sh!+ cruise line.
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I've never had a bad one CC or otherwise. Cruising is not for everyone, I prefer cruising because it gets me away from a cell phone and email. I'm also easy to please, keep a cold drink in my hand, feed me and I'm happy.
 
#98
#98
hog88 said:
I've never had a bad one CC or otherwise. Cruising is not for everyone, I prefer cruising because it gets me away from a cell phone and email. I'm also easy to please, keep a cold drink in my hand, feed me and I'm happy.
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We prefer taking trips to cities rather than beach spots. I mean...we do LIVE at the beach haha. We visit Boston, New York, Nashville, and New Orleans on a pretty much yearly basis. As well as Charleston, seeing how it's only an hour or so away from us. And of course Knoxville 3-4 times a year in the Fall : ) But yea, I think we're done with cruises.
 
#99
#99
VolAllen said:
We prefer taking trips to cities rather than beach spots. I mean...we do LIVE at the beach haha. We visit Boston, New York, Nashville, and New Orleans on a pretty much yearly basis. As well as Charleston, seeing how it's only an hour or so away from us. And of course Knoxville 3-4 times a year in the Fall : ) But yea, I think we're done with cruises.
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We alternate between the mountains and beach/cruise. Every other year we go to Lake Norris and rent a floating house, love that.
 
#100
#100
Not a fan of cruises. I prefer the All Inclusive resorts. No schedule, do whatever whenever with no upcharges or worrying what # drink im on.
 
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