Carnival or Royal Caribbean
Dec 19th, 2001, 08:22 PM
#1
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Carnival or Royal Caribbean
My boyfriend and I are both 26 years old and are planning to go on a cruise next fall. We have pretty much narrowed it down to either Southern or Western Caribbean and either Carnival or Royal Caribbean. Does anyone have any advice as to which cruise line would be better for us? Also, does anyone have experience with cruising to these areas in September- is that a good time to go as far as the weather goes? I would appreciate any input. Thanks.
Dec 19th, 2001, 11:28 PM
#2
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Hi Katy,<BR><BR>Not much of a difference between the two mass-market cruise lines.<BR><BR>I would choose Carnival since I believe the production shows are more exciting, the food is a bit better and the cabins are larger.<BR><BR>One of the above is anything to write home about.<BR><BR>Paul
Dec 20th, 2001, 05:26 AM
#4
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Katy: September is the height of the hurricane season in the Caribbean. If you do not hit a hurricane, then the weather should be fine. If you can go November through May, that will most likely provide you with the best weather. If you don't mind the heat, June and July are good also.
Dec 20th, 2001, 11:30 AM
#7
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Chances of a Hurricane are Remote. Even if it happens the Cruise Line will change course.<BR>I personally prefer Carnival over Royal Caribbean.<BR>I feel the cabins are larger, entertainment is better and food is better. Carnival still serves lobster on all sailings, others have discontinued this.
Dec 20th, 2001, 02:45 PM
#8
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Just got off RCCL Explorer of the Seas last week. Excellent ship and would recommend it - it goes east but it has sister ships that go west and south (Voyager and Explorer).<BR><BR>The ship was amazing! Especially for people in your age bracket. It has roller blading, put put golf, wall climbing, ice skating, shows are excellent and food was fine. And yes they served Lobster one night.<BR><BR>I would strongly recommend this class of ships.<BR><BR>September is normally a "cheap" time to go because it is hurricane season. If you don't mind the ship being rerouted to different islands - you will be fine.
Dec 21st, 2001, 12:48 AM
#9
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<BR>Oh, not only the lobster but real prime rib twice during the cruise. And against everyone that states the pizza is mass-market I have to differ ..... I watched them cut up the fresh ingredients not like RCCL where you can watch them take the pizzas out of the freezer. Also the "grill" by the pool has veggie burgers and steak sandwiches.<BR><BR>Me defend Carnival? Come on, would I do that? <BR><BR>FYI not everyone knows that hurricane season starts the first of June. Percentage that you will experience one is extremely low.<BR><BR>Happy cruisin'<BR><BR>Paul<BR><BR>
Dec 21st, 2001, 05:54 AM
#10
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Do yourself a favor. Paul must be a product of the sixties. And doesn't know when to put the bong down. If you want to know about hurricane season go to weather.com. Let them answer your questions. They can show tracking for over the past 50 years in just about any region in the world.
Dec 21st, 2001, 07:10 AM
#11
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Having done many cruises in both the western and southern Caribbean, my personal choice would be the southern route. Of course much depends on what you want to do in the islands. If you intend to swim, then almost any island is fine. As for the ships, I believe no one has been very specific in telling you anything about them. I have been on Carnival 4 times and RCCL 2 times. The main reason Carnival is so popular is because they usually have the cheapest price to start with. But after that, they nickel and dime you to death. Their optional tours cost more than the other lines charge and the casino is between the dining room and the theatre so they are sure you will pass it and hear all those bells ringing. (hint) While Carnival calls itself the fun line, I have found RCCL has a lot more games and better prizes. They (RCCL) also have a system where you participate in games and exercises and they reward you with a ship's dollar. At the end of the cruise you redeem these dollars for things such as hats and shirts. As for appearance the Carnival ship is probably more glamorous. RCCL ships are also elegant, but not as glitzy. If you like to participate in games RCCL has many more. I have sailed many times in the fall and have yet to be in a hurricane. Hope I have helped.
Dec 21st, 2001, 02:28 PM
#14
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Living in the Deep South, in "hurricane alley"...Hurricane season runs from June 1st to November 30th. I teach and have always cruised in the summertime. I have found that the weather in June was fabulous. I took two cruises this past summer. The weather was fantastic in the Caribbean while the US was being battered by Allison. My second cruise was in late July. <BR>September is not the best time for sailing. Although you may not run into a hurricane, this is the rainy, thunderstorm season and many "failed" hurricanes or tropical depressions are coming through. I found my late July trip a more rainy and the seas choppy.<BR>September and October are the cheapest months to sail, but if you sail then, you go for the cruise, not nec. the destinations, since the ship could be rerouted.
Dec 21st, 2001, 02:36 PM
#15
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Oh yeah...Carnival's cabins are bigger, the junk food is very good - better pizza, etc, but I found the Royal Caribbean ships prettier, more room at the pools, and the dining room food was better. You can have a good time on each. Entertainment is about the same although the Voyager class ships have excellent fitness facilities, rock climbing wall, fitness classes, and a very good ice skating show.<BR><BR>Western Caribbean is good for athletics - lots of snorkling(great snorkling at Grand Caymen and Cozumel) , party boats, party destinations such as Cozumel and Jamaica. You will encounter more "3rd world" environments.<BR><BR>I love the Caribbean, East, West, or South, but the Southern Caribbean is my favorite. Great variety, beautiful beaches, best for luxury shopping, nice snorkling. If you go to Aruba - very nice island.
Dec 22nd, 2001, 01:34 AM
#17
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I am just giving tidbits of information. Extremely difficult to describe both cruise lines.<BR><BR>I could tell you that the casinos on all Carnival ships have a promenade that skirts the casino and the person that stated you have to walk through the casino has never sailed Carnival. As a matter of fact RCCL has the ships where you must walk through the casino to get to the showroom.<BR><BR>RCCL lovers can never be convinced to try another line. This goes back many years when RCCL food was the best and Carnival's food was the worst.<BR><BR>Shore tour operators are the same for both RCCL and Carnival and the prices do not deviate so this is another fallacy.<BR><BR>And why, pray tell, am I back in the sixties ..... was the hurricane season different then?<BR><BR>When I state "nothing to write home about" I simply mean most problems experienced are minor.<BR><BR>I am not saying the food on RCCL is terrible I am just saying that the food on Carnival is better. The food is prepared fresh daily on both lines and the presentation on both is excellent, except on Carnival the desserts are mainly brought on board frozen but the dinner rolls are made fresh and hot. RCCL dinner rolls are a few days old. The appetizers are about the same on both lines but Carnival has Escargot. The entrees on RCCL are not quite a good as those on Carnival and the waiters know this, therefore they put many extra entrees in the middle of the table for passengers to choose if they do not like the entree they are served. RCCL has complimentary coke at dinner but for the buffets they just have iced tea. Carnival has juice, punch, lemonade and iced tea at the buffet.<BR><BR>So you see there is good and not-so-good on both lines. But then again, "nothing to write home about."<BR><BR>Paul
Dec 23rd, 2001, 08:23 AM
#20
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I rarely agree with Paul on anything, but RCCL's food IS poor. Especially the Windjammer Cafe. The food is dry, the salads soggy, and the desserts ugh. One thing I can't stress enough. September is during the height of the hurricane season. And although they may steer around them you are in for a bumpy ride. Go to weather.com and look up the history of the area you are to travel. That will give you an impartial reference even the most seasoned cruiser can't argue with.
