I noticed that most of the Royal Caribbean cruises cost more than most of the comparable Carnival cruises. Why is this?<BR><BR>Is it that the ice skating rink and rock climbing wall cost that much?<BR><BR>Please don't give me any crap about trying to keep all of the Wal-Mart shoppers on Carnival.<BR><BR>Both Carnival and RCCL go to pretty much the same ports, so why pay more to go on RCCL?<BR><BR>This is not a troll, I just want to know if there is something that I am missing between the two companies.

I don't think all of the RCCL ships have the ice skating rink or rock-climbing walls.<BR><BR>Keep in mind the cheaper the cruise, the more lower class of people will be on the ship because it will be all that they can afford.<BR><BR>Hint, if you see pick-up trucks and Trans-Ams in the long term parkinglot for your cruise, you will be in for a redneck vacation. Yeehaw!

No, you're not a troll, you're Paul's sister.

Regardless of what anyone (including Paul) says - you get what you pay for - this is indisputable and applies to everything in life - not just cruises.

It's probably because Carnival is extremely good at making a profit, better than any other cruise line. They are good at keeping their costs low, and at getting people to spend a lot on board.

Peter, you never gave a reason. Your broad statement that you get what you pay for is not helpful to anyone. Please give specifics or don't bother posting.<BR>

Vicky,<BR><BR>"More lower class?" Are you sure you should be criticizing people when your grammar is that of a 10-year-old?<BR><BR>Get over yourself.

Anon, please do us all a favor and read before you type. you took the quote totally out of context. Vicky said "the cheaper the cruise, the more lower class of people will be on the ship". Simply replace "lower class of people" with "cheapskates" and you will see that what she said makes sense.

teacher: At which school do you teach? I want to call the principal and have you fired.<BR><BR>Peter: You are the weakest link, Goodbye!

Peter is the most negative person in the country.<BR>I don't think anyone could wish him a good morning without some snap, snide or negative comment.<BR>Peter, can you start offering positive info.---naw, hell forget it.<BR>Pity your poor family(maybe they have already deserted you)

If the Carnival cruise is cheaper than the Royal Caribbean cruies - that means the service, food, cabins, activities, entertainment, etc. etc. isn't as good.<BR><BR>I know, JP, you're going to give us the "their costs are lower so they can charge less" speach, right? Gee, I wonder how they get their costs to be less than RCCL's? Maybe they pay their crew, entertainment better; maybe they spend a little more for their food (quality), maybe they spent more for the furnishings on the ship??<BR><BR>I know, I know - I'm just always a negative person! Wrong - I like RCCL; I think they are one of the best three cruise lines going. They are better than Carnival. The people who cruise with them are a better class of people. Those that disagree, as I've said many times before, please keep sailing on Carnival. This way our paths will never cross.

Peter, I'm going to stoop to one of your tricks you have used on Paul:<BR>Last post, second paragraph;<BR>you spelled speech wrong!!!<BR>You naughty boy!!You must go to your room and write the words "Paul, I'm sorry" 100 times.

Peter, I have been on several different cruise lines, including Carnival and RCCL. Overall, I can't see the difference you keep talking about between Carn. and RCCL. Between Princess and Carn., yes. Between Celebrity, Holland America and Carnival, yes. But there is a huge difference between these three lines and RCCL. too!!<BR>Carnival hauls more passengers than any other cruise line in the world.So therefore, they may carry more people that you consider lower class.<BR>I just can't honestly see where you can claim that RCCL is so much higher class.<BR>Perhaps you could explain.

Why I am joining in on this is beyond me but it is an interesting thread.<BR><BR>Royal Caribbean is an old standard. In the industry one finds that RCCL passengers are very loyal. One can not change a RCCL lover into a Carnival lover but one can change a Carnival lover into anything. Possibly they are more outgoing than a RCCL lover. Same as a Princess lover. One can not change a Princess lover into anything other. But Princess has a smaller number of ships. RCCL just has a better and long term following.<BR><BR>It has taken many years for Carnival to build up the reputation that it has for a value cruise. Years ago it was just a piece of garbage. <BR><BR>Also some people will say that RCCL is more elegant than Carnival but with the introduction of the Voyager, Explorer and Navigator this opinion has changed somewhat.<BR><BR>In the meantime we all will just keep guessing.<BR><BR>Enjoy,<BR><BR>Paul<BR><BR>

Paul - thats the first response of yours that I can recall agreeing with.<BR><BR>Ron - my opinion about the class of people of Carnival vs RCCL comes from several personal experiences where I've been on an RCCL ship in the same port as a Carnival ship. Most passengers congregate in the same shopping places and most (believe it or not) have a tee shirt or a hat or something that identifies what cruise line they're on. Some I just recognize from seeing them around my ship. Anyway, its the behavior that separates them. I know I'm generalizing, but Carnival people tend to be younger (20's and 30's), of more modest means, looking for the party in every social situation - and, as a result, come accross to me as rude, ignorant and simply low class, selfish people. I don't want to cruise with them, run the risk of being stuck at a dinner table with them, run the risk of being in a cabin next door to them with a party going on at 3:00 in the morning.<BR><BR>RCCL has set themselves apart from all of the major lines with their Voyager class ships. They are truly remarkable.

AH HA!<BR><BR>Finally! The 7th sign! <BR><BR>Nowthat Pete has finally agreed with Paul it is time to begin my reign on Earth.<BR><BR>Now EVERYONE will be in cabin class A1 below decks with bunk beds...

To both Peter and Paul--I do thank both of you for your good replies.<BR>Peter, I want to say that you do make a good point.<BR><BR>Now if I may ask another question of both of you--What is the deal with Holland America and the Maasdam?<BR>Are they trying to become the party line now or is this a one time thing?<BR> Thanks

Strange, Peter says that the people on Carnival are lower class yet RCI competes for the same passengers as Carnival. Wall Street knows this, Royal Caribbean management has voiced this, and the monster class Voyager ships are designed with all the trappings to pulls the pax from Carnival. Sorry buddy, RCI wants any and all of the pax.

Yes Mindy, RCCL is a mass-market cruise-line. Same as Carnival. When a person books RCCL no one asks there they shop or live.<BR><BR>RCCL are filling their ships. Why should they reduce their prices.<BR><BR>Paul<BR><BR><BR>

Yes, they are both mass-market lines (I agree with Paul) going after the exact same clientele. I used to agree that RCCL had better food, but that has changed over the last year. Actually Carnival has been working on their food - and it has become better than RCCL's.<BR><BR>The only ships that tend to be more expensive than Carnival's right now are the Voyager class ships - but frankly I think they are too big (my opinion).<BR><BR>Actually when we have been comparing 3 and 4 day cruises the last few weeks (I am in the business) - RCCL has been less expensive than Carnival.<BR><BR>So it really just depends upon the ship, the itinerary, the time of the year, etc. <BR><BR>They are pretty much appealing to the same crowd. Princess, Holland and Celebrity are steps up.<BR>