Carnival Cruise Line?

[jacketwatch]

I agree with Chuck. Do a longer cruise or go to say Alaska or some other port of embarkation where you won't expect to see boozers and you will be fine. Carnival began as a budget cruise line for "Bud" men so to speak but has evolved into the largest cruise line in the world so they have to be doing mant htings well. Often past reputation outlives current reality. Cheers, Larry :-)

[TheSkipper]

Based on 49 cruises overall, 22 on Princess and 10 on Carnival, I'm sure you find Carnival very different. Last March we sailed on the Glory after 5 years or more off Carnival and were simply blown away.

We are heading out next month on Princess, but in January we will be aboard the Carnival Spirit.

[zebra]

Wow..... it sounds better and better - thanks everyone!!

[sailinglisa]

I have to agree with John G and The Skipper.

I took my first cruise ever on the Carnival Fantasy back in 1991. I hated it! Took me more than 8 years to try another cruise. This one was on Princess and I loved it. I was hooked. In 2003, after much hesitation, I decided to try Carnival again.....this time on the Carnival Legend 8 night eastern/southern caribbean cruise. I really enjoyed it. The difference between the Legend and the Fantasy were enormous. The food and service were better, the ship was much nicer and not as "glitzy and gaudy" as the Fantasy. Then, last year I went on the Carnival Liberty and I really liked that cruise too. I felt the food was really very good and the service was great. And the new Carnival beds......well, let's just say I slept very good on that cruise! So, with 16 cruises under my belt, 3 on Carnival, 6 on Princess, 3 on Celebrity, 3 on RCCL and 1 on Premier, I can say Carnival has changed and for the better. Still not my first choice for a cruise, but I would always consider Carnival! And going from never again on Carnival, to usually in the running is a great improvement in my mind.

[zebra]

Thanks Lisa - I'm amazed at how similar your cruise story is to mine, we love Princess too and have also done 16 cruises. Living in a cruise port like we do... I have heard many, many people say they would not try Carnival again, for the same reasons that you and I have stated. I have always said to these people... "I have heard that Carnival has changed - why don't you give them another try." So, with all this positive feedback we'll do the same - give them another try, and by the sounds of things we might be very pleasantly surprised.

[mercedes]

Jackie, all of our cruises from the Caribbean, Hawaii, Alaska to the Med have been with Carnival, including the one booked for next June to Turkey and Greece, and we have never been disappointed once. We have booked our travel and excursions through them and have never had a problem.

[popsec]

We've been on Celebrity, NCL and Carnival. We're sticking with Carnival now because of the great military discounts. Although the shorter cruises are known as "party" cruises, we had no problems when we went on the 3 and 4 day cruises in May (although we did go AFTER spring break). For the most part, the 8 day cruises in Sept, Jan. and Feb. have been an older crowd but there are still lots of fun things to do if you want to party. The food and service have always been great on Carnival and value for the money is high

[hazelson]

Jackie - just got in off the Spirit and it could not have been more perfect. I'm thinking the Alaska run is much "quieter" - definatley more our age. They didn't push the drinks or the photos.

We have done Princess - but only once. We found it a little too quiet.

[zebra]

Gee Jenn does that surprise me? Not!!!!! I can't imagine you on a sedately "quiet" cruise

So glad you enjoyed the Carnival Spirit - I'm still waiting to read your review.

[elfed]

Carnival for sure is a great cruise line. Probably not THE best but wonderful value for money.Holland America is I find, a wee bit above Carnival re the service and food. Princess too is a great cruise line with food and service just a tad above Carnival. However the Speciality Dining on Carnival's newer ships is quite simply divine! Well worth the extra 20 or 30 dollars. Again in comparison, the Speciality restaurant on the Celebrity Century was incomparable! Gee Wiz I could go on forever! Don't do what we did though. We took 5 cruises in a row on Carnival(different ships) but were fed up in the end of the same old, same old daily activities.Our next cruise is on the Caribbean Princess in May. We have been on this ship before to the Eastern Caribbean but were unable to book their speciality restaurants because they were already booked on embarkation! This time we will book Sabatini's on entering the ship!

Regards,

James.