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Author

Topic: Carnival

ravster
First Class Passenger
Member # 3268

posted 08-14-2002 10:50 AM

I've only been at these forums for a very short while. I found them while reading reviews about a week or two ago. So excuse me if this thread seems a little premature.

I was wondering if there is a general feeling here towards Carnival (more negative than positive). I don't see much talk about them. Considering that they are the largest cruise line in the world, I thought I would be seeing more! Can anyone explain this? Or is it just my imagination?

Thanks

Posts: 24 | From: Bermuda | Registered: Aug 2002 | IP: Logged

geno-r
First Class Passenger
Member # 931

posted 08-14-2002 01:58 PM

I think there is a pretty equal number of Carnival lovers vers haters here, Personally I like Carnival very much

Posts: 549 | From: Mt. Pocono,Pa. Usa | Registered: Nov 1999 | IP: Logged

OCEANSDEVINE
First Class Passenger
Member # 2141

posted 08-14-2002 02:11 PM

I agree that Carnival is fine. I've been very pleased cruising with them and would do it again.

Posts: 146 | From: NEW YORK | Registered: Jun 2001 | IP: Logged

ravster
First Class Passenger
Member # 3268

posted 08-14-2002 03:07 PM

I just finished my first cruise with them and it was alot of fun! Previously went on the Maasdam which was such a great ship but because I was much younger (19 now, about 11 then) I wasn't able to enjoy as much I could now, making comparisons tough.

I think with Carnival you get what you pay for more often than not.

Posts: 24 | From: Bermuda | Registered: Aug 2002 | IP: Logged

cruiseny
First Class Passenger
Member # 2928

posted 08-14-2002 03:12 PM

quote:
Originally posted by ravster:
I think with Carnival you get what you pay for more often than not.

Since Carnival is generally quite inexpensive, if you got what you paid for, it would be a mediocre to marginally acceptable experience...

I think your opinion of them is better than that?

We do have some real Carnival-haters here. I am not one of them. I haven't cruised Carnival and I don't feel that I can complain about their product if I haven't tried it.

I am going on Holland America (Zuiderdam) in April, and they are of course a Carnival subsidiary, albiet a more upscale one, so we will see. I expect to like Holland America, and I don't expect that I'd dislike Carnival, though I would project that if I went it wouldn't rocket up to the top of my list of favorite cruise lines, either.

Happy Cruising,
Cruiseny

Posts: 4730 | From: New York, USA | Registered: Mar 2002 | IP: Logged

Thad
First Class Passenger
Member # 1224

posted 08-14-2002 03:47 PM

Ravster,
What parrish do you live in? I love Bermuda, such an awesome island. I think that it was there where I began my fascination with passenger ships. My family used to stay in a hotel right on Hamilton harbor, and I used to love to watch the big cruise ships come and go. It started this "obsession" which has lasted twenty or so years so far...
Thad

Posts: 1967 | From: Boston, MA | Registered: Apr 2000 | IP: Logged

Barryboat
First Class Passenger
Member # 33

posted 08-14-2002 03:54 PM

Carnival is a fine cruise line...they have improved dramatically over the years. I'd recommend Carnival anytime, but there are still people out there that would fit better on a HAL ship or Royal Caribbean. That's why it's important to find a real good travel agent that knows the ships real well...they can help you find the cruise ship and cruise line that would best suite your likes and dislikes.

Carnival is talked about on this forum a lot.

Posts: 1851 | From: Bloomington, Minnesota (Home to the Mall of America) | Registered: Mar 99 | IP: Logged

ravster
First Class Passenger
Member # 3268

posted 08-14-2002 03:56 PM

quote:
Originally posted by Cruiseny:
Since Carnival is generally quite inexpensive, if you got what you paid for, it would be a mediocre to marginally acceptable experience...
I think your opinion of them is better than that?

Can't argue with this. They are inexpensive and I do believe you get what you pay for with Carnival. I had a wonderful time but they certainly do try to earn their nickels and dimes. There are certain things that you are never told, like buying the fountain card for soft drinks. It cost $29 or you can buy soft drinks for $2 a shot or something like that. A little reading beforehand can make the world of difference. They market to middle class america and that's who their customers are. They offer cheap cruises but not after you add in all the extra costs (which for the most part can be avoided).

I liked HAL when I went on it several years ago, it was a blast. But the kids on it my age you could count with two hands. I personally remember 4 or 5 but there were probably more. Carnival seems to be more suited to my age group (19) and slightly above and below. That's not to say that the adults on the boat don't have a blast!

[ 08-14-2002: Message edited by: ravster ]

Posts: 24 | From: Bermuda | Registered: Aug 2002 | IP: Logged

ravster
First Class Passenger
Member # 3268

posted 08-14-2002 04:00 PM

quote:
Originally posted by Thad:
Ravster,
What parrish do you live in? I love Bermuda, such an awesome island. I think that it was there where I began my fascination with passenger ships. My family used to stay in a hotel right on Hamilton harbor, and I used to love to watch the big cruise ships come and go. It started this "obsession" which has lasted twenty or so years so far...
Thad

was it the Hamilton Princess? I live in Hamilton Parish! Right next to St. George. Have you ever been here on any cruises ?

[ 08-14-2002: Message edited by: ravster ]

Posts: 24 | From: Bermuda | Registered: Aug 2002 | IP: Logged

Thad
First Class Passenger
Member # 1224

posted 08-14-2002 04:09 PM

Actually no to both questions. We always come t bermuda by air, and stayed a few weeks. My family always stayed at a small hotel in Paget Parrish called the Newstead. It was directly accross from the harbor. So we could see the ships sailing in from the Great Sound into the harbor, and the turn around in front of the pier, and dock. I used to love to take the ferry from Hodsons, which was right below the Newstead, into Hamilton, especially the last ferry at night on a round-trip to see the old Satendam, Doric, Veendam, Volendam, Atlantic, and Homeric all lit up. I will have to dig up some of those old shots, and scan them in for an album here...

Posts: 1967 | From: Boston, MA | Registered: Apr 2000 | IP: Logged

ravster
First Class Passenger
Member # 3268

posted 08-14-2002 08:57 PM

I know Newstead, had a very very very popular happy hour until recently. For some reason I was thinking you stayed on the other side of the harbor. I didnt know all those ships came to the island! 20 years ago I wasnt even born!

Posts: 24 | From: Bermuda | Registered: Aug 2002 | IP: Logged

Nanatravel
Just Boarded
Member # 3287

posted 08-21-2002 03:27 PM

Carnival's new ships are changing the reputation that has followed them for so long. Although I found that all age groups and people from various demographics in society can have fun, there is plenty of room for just plain quiet relaxation. Service was fine, cabins were bigger than on the other 3 majors mentioned below, and the variety of entertainment as well as ports of call was great. As far as Carnival as a rule being cheaper, maybe they have a lot of sales, but I have compared CCL, RCI, Princess and Celebrity newly built ships for the same week, same type cabin and similar itineraries and believe me they were equal. The category on the new Legend I am watching has been going up by $50 per week and the date is not in a "prime cruise/school break" period either. Cruise lines have their differences but Carnival is trying to change their image. We really liked our experience on the Pride.
Bon Voyage

Posts: 4 | From: work | Registered: Aug 2002 | IP: Logged

empressport
First Class Passenger
Member # 2511

posted 08-25-2002 11:41 AM

I think a lot of dislike for Carnival is because of their domination of the industry, and the homogenization of ships that goes along with that.

Posts: 464 | From: Vancouver, BC | Registered: Oct 2001 | IP: Logged

borntocruise
First Class Passenger
Member # 2531

posted 08-25-2002 12:23 PM

I know this will not be popular, but the reason you don't see much posted about Carnival here is that the more vocal posters think they're too good for Carnival. As you read the topics on this board you'll find that this site is different from most other cruise discussion sites.

This site emphasizes ships rather than the total cruise vacation experience.

Posts: 29 | From: Tacoma, WA | Registered: Oct 2001 | IP: Logged

jmfleser
First Class Passenger
Member # 1141

posted 08-26-2002 11:09 AM

I've sailed Carnival once and it was very nice. The food was good, the cabin very nice, the ship clean, the staff friendly and helpful and the price very reasonable. So this time when we were looking for our next cruise I looked at Carnival. Their new ship Legend had the itinerary we wanted and at the time we wanted to go. It was a toss up between that and the new Star Princess. Princess was about $100 p/p more expensive BUT Carnival was charging exactly the same for the 3rd/4th person in the cabin as they were for the first two. That was a new one for me. Since our daughter is traveling with us that made Princess cheaper. On top of that, our travel agent got us another $100p/p off for the Star Princess so it's off to the Mexican Riviera on Princess for us.

Posts: 183 | From: Esperance, NY USA | Registered: Mar 2000 | IP: Logged

Potadoughs
First Class Passenger
Member # 3168

posted 08-26-2002 07:23 PM

ravster I've been to Bermuda 2 times by cruise and plane very nice Island stayed in Grotto Bay Beach Resort excellent vacation would do it many many more times

Posts: 127 | From: Delaware | Registered: Jun 2002 | IP: Logged

vg5157
First Class Passenger
Member # 3182

posted 08-26-2002 09:50 PM

I'm from Miami,Florida,the headquarters of Carnival,the general opinion here about it:the cheapjack of cruise lines;I sail once with CCL on Ectasy,no complaint,that's all I can said,FG.

Posts: 152 | From: Miami,Florida | Registered: Jul 2002 | IP: Logged

Rex
First Class Passenger
Member # 1113

posted 08-27-2002 12:37 PM

Carnival's ships are more upscale; unfortunately, they did not upgrade the passenger base along with the decor.

Some of the passengers you wouldn't want to ride the subway with, let along cruise with.

Posts: 1413 | From: Philadelphia PA, USA | Registered: Feb 2000 | IP: Logged

Grant
First Class Passenger
Member # 1000

posted 08-27-2002 05:07 PM

I've cruised Carnival several times, along with many other American based lines, and a few of the British lines. It is my opinion that Carnival has changed a great deal from the early days so much so that they are now better than NCL and RCI. My first voyage with them was when Festival was new to the fleet, and my last was aboard the new Carnival Spirit. I felt that I received significanlty better service, food quality and selection, as well as entertainment than I paid for. The physical ship was not only good, but excellent in every way. It is true that the passenger mix is varied, but there was never a problem nor a need to seek shelter from all their "fun". Sure, they and every other cruise line could do a few things better, but I and all my travelling companions (all veterans of many cruise line including those at the top end) left the sailing very satisfied-in fact amazed at a few things. Give the new Carnival a try, especially on the new class of ships like Spirit and Legend. It is not for some, but you would have to be determined to not enjoy yourself!

[ 08-27-2002: Message edited by: Grant ]

Posts: 834 | From: Victoria, BC, Canada | Registered: Jan 2000 | IP: Logged

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