RCI or Carnival?
 

Hello Fodorites!

I just returned from AK and am now in the process of planning next year's cruise to the Southern Caribbean. I am trying to decide between Carnival Destiny or RCI Adventure of the Seas. With the exception of one port, the itinerary is similar. There is approximately a $300 difference in cost with Carnival being the least expensive. Both ships leave on the same day out of San Juan.

Do you have any feedback or thoughts you can share?

Thanks so much!

Go to cruisecritic.com and read the reviews, there are lots of them.

For my money, Adventure is a great ship and well worth the price difference.

Thanks.

Just wanted to get some additional opinions. I used cruise critic to help me plan my AK trip as well and it is awesome!

RCI would be my choice. Cruised once on Carnival Destiny. Never on Adventure but on many other RCI ships and although I firmly believe that RCI have made changes in their service levels due to the need to be competitive, I would still choose RCI. Also Adventure is newer than Destiny and therefore should be in better shape.
Whichever ship you choose, have a great time.

We have taken 2 Cruises, the First w/RCCI and the 2nd w/Carnival..you definately get treated better on RCCI

If you are a new cruiser there is a significant passenger difference sailing the Caribbean between ship lines. Determine what is your sailing preference. Very unlike Alaska where passengers are very similar on all lines.

My husband sailed the Destiny and has sailed 5 Eagle Class ships. He much prefers them over any Carnival ship.

We decided on Carnival. The cost was more appealing to some the folks I'm arranging this for. I really could care less about anybody else on the ship as long as they are not the louds ones in the room next to me or overtalkative at the dinner table.

I've cruised several times, never on Royal though. Each time, I've had a wonderful time. I'm sure this will be no different.

Thanks.

We just returned from a Southern Caribbean cruise on Adventure of the Seas. It was our first cruise and we would do it again in a heartbeat! The ship was lovely. We had a balcony cabin on the 10th deck and it was lovely. The islands were beautiful and the excursions we did were alot of fun. Our kids - 21 and 16 also had a blast. I would HIGHLY recommend Adventure of the Seas.

PS. At the airport, I met a woman who had just returned from the Carnival Southern Caribbean cruise. She liked Carnival, but LOVED her previous cruise on RCI.

Cheryl