I would like to take another cruise. Which is better Carnival or Royal Caribbean cruise line?

Question

I took a cruise in 04'. I was on the Carnival's Imagination. I didn't enjoy the cruise. I thought it was boring. Not a lot to do. I thought, it would be party after party on the ship. The food was horrible.

Answer 1

We prefer Carnival over RC but it depends on the experience you are looking for.

We enjoy the more lively atmosphere aboard the Carnival ships.  My Mom preferred the laid back atmosphere on the RC.

The RC ship we took had a ton of plumbing problems, the ice cream machine was constantly out of order and we had terrible service from the cabin steward.  I think she was new and overwhelmed. The bartenders would always avoid serving us sodas and always waited on us last even if other guests arrived after us.

We have found the casual dining to be better on Carnival. The bar staff serves our sodas quickly and our teens love the 24x7 pizzeria.  Nothing like pizza for breakfast!

We are taking another Carnvial in June, 2008.

Reminder...you will need your passport for 08 sailings.

Answer 2

Carnival is a good cruise line however its for a much much younger crowd. It has alot of gambling, partying, drinking, and late nights. If thats not your thing then I definitely would not recommend it. Royal Caribbean has lots of activities, great ships, itineraries, and affordable prices, with lots of shore excursions, and to top it all off the food is wonderful some of the best that people have ever had. I hear that sometimes Carnvals food is lacking, but go to cruisecritic.com and check our your ships reviews and then I would pick the cruise with the best pricing, itinerary, and best reviews. No matter what you choose, have fun.

Answer 3

this site should have your answer

http://allcruiselines.info

Answer 4

First ignore those who belittle a line because of a specific problem they experienced; unless it represents a trends it's just a single person expressing their frustration. Also try to avoid people who give you advice based on second hand experience such as I heard one cruise line was better or worse than another. Having said that I have never been on Royal Caribbean but I have been on five Carnival cruises and know a number of people who have cruised Royal Caribbean. Their experiences mirror those who have already answered this question for you, RC is a more sedate upscale line (which is one reason it costs more) and caters to an older crowd (35 and above) Carnival is a livelier Vegas style line geared toward 25 and above. It a very high energy atmosphere but does have places on the ship where you can just relax. Although I should fit better in the RC category (I'm 50) I really prefer the high energy atmosphere of the Carnival line. Lots of Dance Clubs and interactive on-board activities. Of course drinking is prevalent but that doesn't bother me. Food, drinks, entertainment and service for the most part have been top notch. (I was on the Triumph in June and it was not up to scale, however I do not judge the entire line on that one poor experience) I will be traveling on Carnival again in May and then Europe or Transatlantic in 2009.

Answer 5

I have taken three cruises on Carnival and I have one future cruise booked on Carnival.  I have taken two cruises on Royal Caribbean and I have three future cruises booked on Royal Caribbean.

It has been my experience that the two lines, while different, are very similar.  Both are family friendly.  Both offer non-stop activities.  Both attract younger active passengers.

In my opinion Carnival's food is a little better than Royal Caribbeans.  The service on both lines is about the same.  All of the Carnival ships have a water slide.  None of the Royal Caribbean ships has a water slide suitable for anyone older than a pre-schooler.  

All of the Royal Caribbean ships have a rock climbing wall.  None of the Carnival ships have a rock climbing wall.  The larger Royal Caribbean ship (the Voyager and Freedom class) also have ice skating and miniature gold.  The Voyager class also has an inline skating tract while the Freedom class has the Flowrider (a surfing simulator) rather than an inline track.

Answer 6

I have cruised with Carnival twice in the past, and will be cruising with them a 3rd time in less than 3 weeks.  I love Carnival!  They do cater to a younger crowd, but there is always tons to do, or you can just lay by the pool if you choose.  You don't mention your age or whether you're looking for a family atmosphere, but I have heard they are fairly comparable in this respect, and I know from experience that Carnival is great for a younger crowd.  But age is just a number!!  The ships are clean and well-kept, and the newer ships are especially impressive.  I have always had great service and have nothing to complain about.  

One important thing to consider is the level of service you get before the cruise - Carnival's customer service is a pleasure to work with.  They have given me a lot of attention in planning this trip and have been able to answer every question I have had, with excellent follow-up care.  Being a call center employee myself, I have been very impressed with their service.

My fiance's parents have been on 8 cruises, 5 of which have been with Carnival.  The other 3 were with Royal Caribbean, Princess, and Norwegian.  They have told me several times that they wouldn't go outside of Carnival again.

Which cruise line offers the itinerary you are looking for?  Most of the itineraries Carnival and Royal Carribbean offer are quite similar, but if you have something specific in mind, one might offer a port that the other doesn't.  Also, look at sailing dates and ship class.

I don't think you can go wrong either way.  A cruise is such a great way to travel, and both companies have outstanding reputations.  Just do your homework and make the most of your trip.  You will have a great time!  If you want to compare, also consider visiting cruisecritic.com.  That is a great resource!

Enjoy!

Answer 7

RC is terrific.  I have heard lots of complaints about Carnival, particularly the food and the overcrowding.  It is like comparing a four star hotel to a two star hotel.

Answer 8

I prefer Royal Caribbean. Have cruised royal and carnival and the service and amenities on royal are better. Royal caribbean also has a better variety of onboard activities.

Answer 9

both are good options.  The better one for you depends a lot on what you like about a vacation.  Carnival is generally considered a "younger" line that caters to families and younger age groups.  The decor can be somewhat vegas-like.  Royal Carribean is a little more "upscale" and offers some nice options.  

It's all relative.  Personally, I have cruised on Princess and Norwegian.  I would go with the RCCL if it were my choice.