Is there really much difference between Celebrity, Norwegian, Royal Carribean, Princess, and Carnival lines as far as food and service?<BR>Has anyone sailed on the SS Norway? - I find mixed reviews.

Oh, yes, big difference among the lines. Norwegian has really gone downhill recently, especially on the Dream, in particular. I think Royal Caribbean and Princess are just about equal in the quality (and the consistency of quality) of the food. Never been on Carnival. <BR><BR>But Celebrity...Now THAT line has excellent food. Should say that every dish I've had has been very, very, good or excellent (usually excellent!). <BR><BR>Yes, I took the Norway on the Norwegian Fjords cruise. Dirty ship, some cracked sinks and toilets, especially in the lower floors, so-so entertainment, except the lounges had excellent singers, and the food was mediocre. Some people raved about the food, but I found them to be either first-time cruisers who had nothing to compare the food to, or else they had only been on NCL cruises. The personnel is indifferent at best. I would never, ever (even if it was free) go on the Norway again. <BR><BR>I thoroughly enjoyed all my cruises on RCCL (3) and on Celebrity. Am looking forward to going on Holland America to see why people rave about them so much.

Sorry, I wasn't clear. RCCL and Princess have very good food and some times it is excellent. Celebrity usually has excellent food. <BR><BR>Norwegian personnel are rude and rarely have an answer for you, of no help whatsoever, no matter the problem. <BR><BR>Celebrity personnel are a bit stuffy, don't know how to explain it. <BR><BR>Princess personnel are friendly. <BR><BR> RCCL personnel tend to remind one of young, exuberant college students.

I enjoyed my 6 cruises on RCCL. I took my first and last cruise on Celebrity in February. Read the thread "Is Celebrity Slipping."

I prefer Princess with RCCL being a close 2nd.<BR><BR>I find the Princess and RCCL service to be equal with Princess food rating a tad higher.<BR><BR>Our Celebrity sailing was our worst ever. Bad food, bad service, bad cruise.

<BR>Hi Rebecca,<BR><BR>I have cruised 73 times and I have to agree with Joseph.<BR><BR>The Carnival difference is the cruise line has the most fun and the best value. Also great food. I would choose it over Princess and Royal Caribbean with the exception of their Voyager Class ships which are one heck of an experience.<BR><BR>Paul

Paul - you make it sound that Joseph would recommend Carnival too, since you "agree with Joseph" - except that Joseph has never sailed Carnival!<BR><BR>You keep saying that Carnival is the best value. Their best value cruises go with their older ships; so you're saying you'd rather sail on the Jubilee or Elation than say the Sea Princess or the Rhapsody because their cost per person per day is less?? What about the QUALITY of the ship? - tasteless neon, Las Vegas color contrasts. I've always said that you get what you pay for.

Go Peter. Will Paul ever learn?

I didn't find the Celebrity personnel stuffy at all. I thought the service was outstanding and superior to Holland America's. (Entertainment wasn't so hot though.)

I've been on a few cruises and researched much. My studies say that Carnival is a good value for honeymooners, and the 20's and 30's crowd. Now that I'm a bit older, and even though some people say I still act like a kid (not sure that is positive or negative), we've traveled RCCL and find the age group generally to our liking and also the general atmosphere. I've heard that Holland American is also very nice but that line, in general, caters to the geriatric crowd. This time we're doing Princess in Alaska, which my research tells me may suit my needs and expectations best. As far as the staff's attitude, I like to think people are people, and they will react to you as you treat them. My profession has me working in establishments which cater to the "open the keg" bunch, and to others which might serve the "upper crust". I deal with them all equally and all are as friendly as the atmosphere you set.

<BR>Great post Gary.<BR><BR>Paul

Hey Peter, check out the pricing on the Carnival Spirit to Alaska. Paul is right, great value, great entertainment, good food, big rooms, tons of balconies, and a great ship. That's also true for the Destiny class ships.<BR><BR>Give it a break, there is a huge market for the Carnival product, that's why they own the waves! (Holland America, Cunard, Costa, Seaborne, and soon maybe Princess.)

Hey Frank - checked it out and the Spirit is a good value for May sailings - however, the Sun Princess is exactly the same price. No advantage there! In June, when the prices go up, all the major lines are within $100 of each other - RCCL's Legend, Celebrity's Summit and even Holland America's new ship the Volendam. Don't see your point.<BR><BR>My point is that Paul repeatedly (mercilessly) reminds us that Carnival is the "best value" around - and this just isn't true unless you count their "over the hill" ships like the Jubilee or Elation. Show me a good price on any of the modern era Carnival ships and I'll find a deal just as good on RCCL, Princess, Celebrity or Holland America. And if I didn't dislike NCL so much, I'd remind you that the "best value" pricewise is the current 5/5 or 5/12 sailing of the new NCL Star roundtrip from Honolulu for $299 per person including port charges for an Outside cabin!!!!

Peter: We all know the come on promo prices aren't on the cabins anyone wants to stay in. Most people want outside cabins on higher decks, and with balconies if possible. Carnival Spirit can be had for a base price of $1529 for a Cat 11 Suite with balcony and $983 for a Cat 8A Outside with balcony, on the July 3 Alaska sailing, hard to beat. <BR><BR>I'm not saying Carnival will always be the absolute cheapest, but it has been my experience that for the newer ships Carnival always has the largest selection of outside cabins with balconies for the most reasonable prices. If Carnival offers anything, it's value. They set the standard for others to meet, and when they can't meet it on a consistent basis, Carnival ultimately buys them out.<BR><BR>I'm not saying Carnival is for everyone, even Carnival knows that, otherwise they would fold all their brands under the one banner. Each line has it's market, and bang for the buck generally belongs to Carnival.

Frank - I hope you're a travel agent and you'd be willing to post either your email address or your company's web site because I will start using you instead of my normal sources for my family's two cruises per year. The prices on Microsoft Expedia (which isn't the lowest you can get but is within a couple hundred of the lowest) has the 7/3 Spirit listed at $1,299 for an 8A and $2,149 for a Cat 11! If you can get the prices you posted for the Spirit, I assume you can get the same discounts for all Carnival sailing. Hell, I'm not mad at money - I'm becoming Carnival's second biggest fan (can't compete with Paul, you know).<BR><BR>

I will gladly pay extra to not sail Carnival again.<BR><BR>Not to Carnival bash but I prefer RCCL and Princess instead. They seem to have a higher quality product.

Peter: No I'm not a travel agent, I just checked prices on my favorite cruise site, cruise411.com. Check it out. Unlike Paul, I don't believe in using travel agents. You see Peter, you don't necessarily have to agree with someone on all issues. Happy cruising.

Frank - went to your favorite web site Cruise411 and checked those prices you mentioned for the 7/3 Spirit sailing - THEY DON'T INCLUDE PORT FEES OR TAXES. Mine do. You and Paul have more in common than you thought.

Frank - just another note to let you know your beloved Spirit broke down halfway thru its April 27 cruise and stranded its passengers in Hawaii. They also cancelled the next weeks cruise. Very reliable line!

<BR>Whoa .... did I hear Peter state he is Carnival's second biggest fan? Are you the same Peter I have got to know and love.<BR><BR>I know our beloved Spirit broke down. Air conditioning problem. No one stranded. Passengers took advantage of great restitutions. I also know of a beloved Crystal ship breaking down and a few of my beloved Celebrity and Holland America ships and on and on and on.<BR><BR><BR><BR>