What's a better cruise line, Carnival or Princess?

Question

We have cruised with Royal Carribean and we loved it. My wife and I are 28 and 30 years old and want a cruise line that isn't all older people. We enjoy the bars, clubs, parties, but also good food and a nice, clean ship. What would you recommend?

Answer 1

I have cruised with Carnival four times, and Disney, Princess, & Royal Caribbean once.  Personally, I prefer Carnival.  The ships are really nice and the food is great.  I actually just got off of my first Princess cruise yesterday morning.  Some of their dinner menus in the dining room were really confusing, and we had no idea what some of the dishes were.  The food was nothing to complain about, but it wasn't extraordinary either.  I guess it "met my expectations."  Their breakfast was actually pretty bad though... their pancakes need some serious help.  The bacon in the dining room was good, but the bacon in the buffet line was more like oversized bacon bits.  One night at dinner we did have crab legs, and they were the best things I have ever tasted.  They had cut them down the center lengthwise and it was SO easy to get the meat out.  That night they even brought some sort of peach sorbet before the main course to "cleanse the palette."  I also liked their Movies Under the Stars.  They cover all of the chairs on the lido deck with sheet-like lounge chair covers, embroidered with Princess Movies Under the Stars.  They also have a popcorn machine and big plaid blankets.  The movie screen is above the pool.  The comedians were good, but the ship dancers had some serious timing issues.  I thought that Carnival had more understandable menus, and the food was always good.  I also think that their beds are comfier.  The room quality is about equal, but I think Princess had a nice shower.  Carnival also has WAY bigger gyms.  WAY WAY bigger (and better.)  There are also more onboard activities during the day.  I also thought Princess had quite a bit more older people.  I think if I were in my 60s it would have been great.  This may sound like I am sort of saying Princess is better, and I guess you could say it is, but I prefer Carnival.  There is something about it that just keeps making me want to cruise with them again & again.  Carnival also seems to hire more diverse employees.  Over half of the ones on Princess are from the Philippines, and I like to meet people from more countries.  Also, if you are going for the bars, clubs, and parties, you will definitely find more people your age on Carnival.  There will be some on Princess, but one night I peeked in the night club and saw 3 people sitting down and that was it.  That was it... nothing else.  This turned out to be quite long, so sorry about that.  I think you should try Carnival.  It's generally cheaper, too.

Answer 2

Princess ...then RCCL over Carnival

Answer 3

I have been on 8 cruises with Princess and truly love Princess. Carnival would be too much of a party ship for me. Too many kids. On Princess. they have plenty of parties, from pool parties, to game shows like the newly wed game(any one can play), to deck parties at night. They also have a great disco on the top deck with a view to die for. So it's not wild and crazy and it is certainly not a bunch of only old people, but in between.

Answer 4

Carnival has way more old people.  Princess has more swingers.

Answer 5

Carnival is known as the cruise line that the young and party people cruise on, first timers looking for a budget cruise.

Princess is a  much better cruise line with fine ships, food service and staff.  Although both cruise lines are owned by the Carnival Corporation, Princess is definitely the better and upscale cruise line.

I have been on three Princess cruises, and also about 8 RC cruises, and Princess is just a little bit better in my opinion.  But I still like RC the best, mainly because I get discounts through their Crown and Anchor Society.  But I have no problem whatsoever going on Princess again if/when I find a good deal on a cruise with them.

When we did our Princess cruises we went to Alaska, the Panama Canal, and the Eastern Caribbean.  The ships were not full of old people.  The passengers ranged from about 35 to 65, mostly people in the 40 to 50 range I guess.  The only cruise line with a reputation for having mainly senior citizens is Holland America.  You WILL have fun on  a Princess cruise and it will not be a step down from RC.

Answer 6

I have been on quite a few ships and when your on these ships you will not find all old or all young.  The cruise ships do their best to make your trip enjoyable.  I have not been on a Carnival yet all tho I hear they are the party ship.  I have been on Princess but that was years ago. I have a relative who went on Princess recently and loved it. I have been on Holland Ameri. & RC.  I suggest when you find a trip your interested in check out the write up on www.cruisecritic.com it is a great resourse but again take the reviews lightly cause some people you can't please.

Answer 7

I was just on the Emerald Princess last month for our destination wedding in St. Lucia.  I booked a Princess cruise because I thought of Princess of being slightly more upscale and classy than the other cruise lines in the same category (through reputation and previous experience)...but to be honest, I would chose Carnival over Princess right now.

I was completely unimpressed and disappointed with the taste and selection of food on board, the rooms are smaller and you have less space for your personal belongings, the "free" cold beverage selection is terrible (only iced tea and water after 11am), they did not reimburse us for missing a port (like Carnival has in the past)...etc.

There were not many in our age range (we are 26), but we were on a 10-day cruise.  Had we been on a 7-day or less, it would have been a different story.  Most of the time, the younger crowd can't get away from school or work for more than a week at a time...like those who are retired can.

Both Carnival and Princess have beautiful and clean ships, and the activities onboard were the same.  However, if the choice was mine, I would send you on Carnival.

Good luck!

Answer 8

i think they are owned by the same people, i maybe wrong though, i like pricess better than carnival, i dont have kids so princess was better fro no kids for me personally

Answer 9

Carnival is your best bet. It has the reputation of being a party boat, however, it has a good mix of young and old. However, after 20+ cruises, our favorite cruise line is still the Norwegian. But, we have never had a bad cruise on any cruise line.

Answer 10

Personally I have been on 13 carnival cruises and 1 royal Caribbean.  I understand your pain!!!  i was on a 7 day cruise and the cruise was empty by 10pm every night.  It was horrible!  Carnival is much younger.  I have never had any problems with food or cleanliness. Some of the older ships can seem a bit worn (the 50,000 ton class).  One thing to check on is some of the 70,000 ton class are going through re-builds.  New everything everywhere!  Whats nice about that is they have an adults only deck.  very nice

if you have any other questions check out www.cruisecritic.com  any question you have will be answered almost instantly