Carnival Cruises

sofreakingexcited Posted: Jul 14, 2010 08:57 PM

Carnival Cruises

Has anyone been on a carnival cruise? If so, which one? DH and I were looking at either the Imagination, Destiny, Inspiration or Freedom. Any recommendations? Did the food ****? We've only been on royal caribbean and loved it, but looking to try something new. Thanks!

aquag12283 Posted: Jul 14, 2010 09:15 PM

Re: Carnival Cruises

I went on a carnival cruise when I was younger. It was great. Not sure of the name of the ship but the food was great! We had a lot of fun

soonT0beMrsD Posted: Jul 14, 2010 09:20 PM

Re: Carnival Cruises

we just went on the Destiny last month for the first part of our honeymoon.Wet went to grand Turk and two spots in the Bahamas. That was my second time on the Destiny. I have also been on the Imagination. Honestly Carnival may save you a few bucks but to me it was a down grade from Royal Caribbean. The buffet food wasnt very good. Dinner in the dining room is pretty good.

BellaRegina Posted: Jul 14, 2010 09:39 PM

Re: Carnival Cruises

I've been on 5 carnival cruises, and LOVED every one (even the one that went through the hurricane!). I think the food is amazing and there is always something to do! I completely plan to cruise with them for my honeymood in 2013. FM me with any questions if you need.

Thats-What-She-Said Posted: Jul 14, 2010 10:03 PM

Re: Carnival Cruises

I went last summer and we had a blast. The food was delish but there were a few downs.

1. A TON of kids.
2. one very very tiny pool. Filled with a TON of kids on the at sea days.

But we had a lot of fun in the disco at night. I have never been on any other cruise though so I can't compare.

ElovesJ117 Posted: Jul 14, 2010 10:03 PM

Re: Carnival Cruises

I have been on I think 6 carnival cruises with my family and last summer I went on one just FH and I. We went on the ship Carnival Freedom and the ship is huge! I think the food is good and the entertainment is ok. I feel if you go on multiple Carnival cruises the shows can get a little boring because they are very similar to the other shows you have seen before or are exactly the same. However, last summer we had the best piano bar singer on the ship. He was actually from Commack and was seriously so awesome he really got the crowd into it! I recommend Carnival.

CantWaitMrsH Posted: Jul 14, 2010 10:11 PM

Re: Carnival Cruises

We went at the end of April ... Other cruise lines are much better than Carnival! I would consider something a little better for your honeymoon if you can. We had an amazing time regardless but the food could have been better!

meghan13 Posted: Jul 14, 2010 10:22 PM

Re: Carnival Cruises

I've been on Royal Carr, Carnival and Norweigen. I'd rate them in that order also. Carnival is a lot of fun but its not as 'upscale' as royal. The ship I went on was Victory. I loved Carnival, just not as much as I loved Royal. I'd never recommend Norweigen ever though.

BellaRegina Posted: Jul 14, 2010 10:50 PM

Re: Carnival Cruises

Posted by Stardutchess

I went last summer and we had a blast. The food was delish but there were a few downs.

1. A TON of kids.
2. one very very tiny pool. Filled with a TON of kids on the at sea days.

But we had a lot of fun in the disco at night. I have never been on any other cruise though so I can't compare.

I agree that during the summer there are a lot of kids, but i've been on cruises (nov and may) where i didn't see one kid! Also, Club Carnival keeps those little brats separate most of the time lol.

The Miracle (leaves out of NYC, i've been on it 3 times), has 2 pools, with the one in the back of the ship being adults only. I think it all depends on the ship. I was on the Dream in Nov and unfortunatly i wasn't able to use the adult's only DECK! A whole deck!!! I went up there in the rain and hung out anyway lol

nanpink Posted: Jul 15, 2010 08:08 AM

Re: Carnival Cruises

Just came off of the 'legend' for one of our week's honeymoon's. We loved the ship - food was pretty decent just did not like 2 of the ports that we stopped at - Roatan & Belize.

Lots of fun & it just felt like a week long party for us!

Gerbera Posted: Jul 15, 2010 08:17 AM

Re: Carnival Cruises

FI, I and his family are all Carnival lovers. They are fantastic!!!

The food is beyond five star quality and the service is AHmazing! Every night for the sit down dinner we would all have more than one entree so we can try a little bit of everything. And oh of course one of every dessert. FI's dad is a picky eater so even when there was no filet mignon on the menu that's what he ate every night.

The room service. Oh mah gawd. Fantastic. 24/7. Free. There are items on there that you don't get anywhere else on the ship.

i highly recommend splurging for a balcony. That was one of our favorite things to do. In the morning ordering room service breakfast and having it out on our balcony.

If possible, if the route and timetable allows, I would try to book on their newer ships. The first time we went it was on their newly launched ship. The second time it was on a older ship and you noticed the wear and tear. Still great condition considering how many people are on the ship on a daily basis. But the new ship was better.

ETA: Some notes on other cruise liner comparisons.
We've never personally been on other cruise lines. But friends of ours and his parents have. And their opinion has been that they liked Carnival better. Royal definitely spends more on their ship decorations, amenities, etc. The one thing we noticed that was a big difference was the price of alcohol on the ships. Most people we talked to the price of booze on Carnival was much cheaper than the other cruise liners. Again that's based on conversations with friends and family.

JohnnyandGia Posted: Jul 15, 2010 08:58 AM

Re: Carnival Cruises

I have never been on Canival Cruise but FH LOVES Carnival. He is always raving about how much fun he has had in the past and can't wait take me on a Cranival Cruise. All his friend use Carnival too. I believe his favorite ship is Freedom, but Ill have to ask him.

FutureJOC Posted: Jul 15, 2010 09:27 AM

Re: Carnival Cruises

I've personally never been on one, but my cousin's GF goes on a Carnival cruise every year with her family and she loves it. The boats look like they have a lot of things to do.

I personally can vouche for NCL - we go on a cruise every year with FH's family and it's always an awesome time! You're pretty much free to do what you want, whenever you want (like there isn't any set times when you have to eat lunch/dinner/etc) and there are plenty of things to do on the ship and they have cruises that go everywhere (even some that leave right out of NYC).