Carnival Lines

Author Message   Cherry C. Senior Member Username: Cherry Post Number: 2039 Registered: 06-2003 Posted on Saturday, October 28, 2006 - 02:14 pm:    We will never take another Thanksgiving Week cruise, either--a LOT of parents took their kids out of school for that and our Celebrity ship while not exactly "overrun" with exuberant teens and pre-teens, was not quite as quiet as we prefer (even though we're the grandparents of 6, aged 4 months to 10 years, all living nearby and seen frequently)!   Edwin B McConville Senior Member Username: Perkyva1 Post Number: 670 Registered: 06-2003 Posted on Friday, October 27, 2006 - 05:04 pm:    Larry: & for those ,many reasons I'll never go on a Disney cruise & I have 13 grandkids.   Larry Campbell Senior Member Username: Czeezo Post Number: 92 Registered: 12-2005 Posted on Friday, October 27, 2006 - 03:00 pm:    If you have kids with you (the younger the better) and don't mind being around A LOT OF THEM! You will love Carnival. We took my wife's and my kids on Carnival to Mexico (total of 27 of us). The cost was not to bad for that many people. But for us older retirees - (with no kids) - we would never use Carnival again. And I have been on a lot of cruies over the years and love to stay away from the crouds with kids. And just for your info - I'm a retired Clown. Keep a smile, ZEEZO   Barry Cantor Senior Member Username: Barry_c Post Number: 797 Registered: 06-2003 Posted on Sunday, October 22, 2006 - 12:42 am:    If you are retired and not working, check out a "Repositioning" cruise. In the late spring (beginning of May) ships from FL, LA & TX transfer to Europe for the summer season. You can get a 7-10 day cruise to Europe for as little as $400-500/person. Then fly back space A.   Barry Cantor Senior Member Username: Barry_c Post Number: 796 Registered: 06-2003 Posted on Sunday, October 22, 2006 - 12:33 am:    If you are retired and not working, check out a "Repositioning" cruise. In the late spring (beginning of May) ships from FL, LA & TX transfer to Europe for the summer season. You can get a 7-10 day cruise to Europe for as little as $400-500/person. Then fly back space A.   john B Senior Member Username: John_b Post Number: 54 Registered: 08-2005 Posted on Sunday, October 15, 2006 - 01:47 pm:    We went on Carnival Glory in Dec 04'. Although it was a nice ship, the crowd was a younger crowd, very loud all the time and the people working on the ship did not seem to enjoy there jobs. That will be our first and only Carnival cruise. We have been on several Royal Carribean Cruises and will cruise with them again. We thought it is just a classier line. It's a good thing we don't drink alcohol becasue the cruise price would have probably been double. We don't do the excursions either, we research what we want to do and do it on our own its less expensive that way. Remember the cruise lines make there money on excursions and alcohol. Thats only my opinion and yes I know what opinions are like LOL   DAMASO A. CABRERA Advanced Member Username: Tonyc Post Number: 45 Registered: 08-2006 Posted on Monday, October 02, 2006 - 10:31 pm:    Garee: Why so nervous about cruises? Most cruises are like being in Heaven! Trust, you never served in the Navy, right?   Garee Michael Harrison Senior Member Username: Gareemharrison Post Number: 72 Registered: 06-2003 Posted on Monday, October 02, 2006 - 02:45 pm:    To Gay Davis, How did your son and family enjoy their cruise? We booked same ship and destinations for Nov 25th. Sure hope they bragged on the ship. I am really nervous about a cruise and so want it to be a great experience so I'll want to go on another. Carol in Ocala, FL   Jeffrey G. Carlen Senior Member Username: Jcarlen Post Number: 219 Registered: 06-2003 Posted on Tuesday, September 26, 2006 - 12:17 am:    Carnival has some really great MILITARY rates, which apply to active duty and retirees. I just saw a 5 day cruise for $259!   Bertie B Intermediate Member Username: Bertie Post Number: 13 Registered: 10-2005 Posted on Sunday, September 17, 2006 - 04:41 pm:    I agree with Gay. We had a wonderful cruise on the Carnival Miracle last January out of Tampa. It was a 7 night cruise and the Miracle was new. The average age was 50 and up. (Carnival's marketing says the average age of their passengers is 54.) We have cruised with Carnival, Royal Caribbean, Costa, Holland America, and Disney. We do what John suggested though. We always go to www.cruisecritic.com and read the reviews and the boards. We find that it our enjoyment of a cruise is based more on the ship and the itinerary, rather than the cruise line. Cruiselines have all kinds of ships (Most cruises are owned by Carnival anyway--Costa, Cunard, Holland America, Princess, Seabourn, & Windstar!) Hope you have a great time if you book!   Gay Davis Senior Member Username: Waynesgem Post Number: 90 Registered: 03-2006 Posted on Sunday, September 17, 2006 - 03:38 pm:    Carol...We took Carnival out of Tampa a few years ago and had a wonderful time.You just never want to go during spring break time.Then you will have lots of young people out of school.Just dropped off my son and his family saturday at Tampa for trip to Grand Cayman and Calica 5 day trip on the Inspiration which looked like a new ship.I'll let you know what they say when they return Thursday.I have sailed many times on Carnival and have no complaints.They are a lot less formal and my husband likes that.   John A Civick Intermediate Member Username: John6012 Post Number: 15 Registered: 01-2006 Posted on Saturday, September 16, 2006 - 08:48 pm:    The wife and I cruised on the Carnival Spirit from Vancouver to Hawaii and it was GREAT! The we cruised on the Carnival Elation -TERRIBLE! Food was terrible leftovers for several meals. Didn't meet our cabin steward until the last cruise day. Plus other negatives. We won't sail on one of their small ships again. For a review of Carival ships and other cruise lines, you can go to www.cruisecritic.com and ask questions about dress, food, activities, and so on. I found it very interesting and informative.   Tom Jackson Senior Member Username: Tombo Post Number: 112 Registered: 05-2004 Posted on Saturday, September 16, 2006 - 08:37 pm:    Sorry about the double post. I have to say this to Johm, boy do great minds think alot. You read my mind right down to the curise ships nickel and dimeing you to death. I always book my summer cruise around the middle of September. You usually get the best rates from 1 Sep-15 Oct. at the height of hurricane season. Never had a cruise postponed. Re-routed yes, around the storm, but never canceled. Good time to book a cruise. Kind of like space-a, you have to take a chance. For Garee and others-check cruisereviews.com for trip reports about all the cruise lines and their ships as well as port reviews. Some really good stuff from folks who have been there and done that.   John Braddy Senior Member Username: Wingrider Post Number: 52 Registered: 12-2003 Posted on Saturday, September 16, 2006 - 02:41 pm:    Much like Tom, we just want to get away and have cruised at least once a year since 86. And years ago Carnival did tend to cater to and draw a younger party type crowd. But they are really trying to change that trend and shed the "party boat" reputation. We used to shy away from Carnival for that reason but our last couple of cruises with them have been different. Time of year you cruise also makes a difference on the makeup of passengers. We cruise on whatever ship has the best prices for the dates we want and usually get the cheapest rooms since we are seldom in them. (You can get a room dirt cheap if you sail during hurricane season and we often do this. We've had our route changed a few times but NEVER felt in danger.) We've found cruises to be the best value vacation we can get for our money, OK, except maybe Space A'ing and we've only been at that a short time. My biggest disappointment with the last 4-5 cruises we've been on (all different lines) has been that they all seem to be "nickle and dimeing" you to death. Little things that have traditionally been free now have a "modest" charge to them. Also the cost of outside shore excursions has gone up drastically, we tend to do our own thing rather than book them from the cruise line. (However if you're out on your own and are late getting back, you can just wave goodbye at the ship.) And the cost of drinks can easily DOUBLE the cost of your cruise if you happen to get a bit carried away with your drinking!   Tom Jackson Senior Member Username: Tombo Post Number: 111 Registered: 05-2004 Posted on Saturday, September 16, 2006 - 12:53 pm:    Carnival has been known for seeking young folks and its reputation as having party ships. But over the last several years, Carnival is trying to get away from that image and attract more families and older folks. I would said, try Carnival. If you don't like it, cruise another line next time. No cruise line is perfect and you will find one line has something you like, while others will not. We have been on about 17 or 18 cruises (more on Carinval then any other line) and have visited most of the ports. As a result, we stay on board and have the ship to ourselves, which is very nice. I usally go for the best deals on 7-10 day cruses. My idea of cruising is to "get away" from tv's, cell phones and yes, sometimes kids. Well maybe the food too and I usally gain about 5-7 pounds.   Tom Jackson Senior Member Username: Tombo Post Number: 110 Registered: 05-2004 Posted on Saturday, September 16, 2006 - 12:53 pm:    Carnival has been known for seeking young folks and its reputation as having party ships. But over the last several years, Carnival is trying to get away from that image and attract more families and older folks. I would said, try Carnival. If you don't like it, cruise another line next time. No cruise line is perfect and you will find one line has something you like, while others will not. We have been on about 17 or 18 cruises (more on Carinval then any other line) and have visited most of the ports. As a result, we stay on board and have the ship to ourselves, which is very nice. I usally go for the best deals on 7-10 day cruses. My idea of cruising is to "get away" from tv's, cell phones and yes, sometimes kids. Well maybe the food too and I usally gain about 5-7 pounds.   Phyllis DeLancey Senior Member Username: Phyllis Post Number: 1224 Registered: 06-2003 Posted on Saturday, September 16, 2006 - 11:42 am:    Carol, do not have first had info, but my cousin did that cruise two years ago around Thanksgiving. She too went out of Tampa. She said she will NEVER get back on Carnival. I don't remember what all went wrong, but there were many things. As stated in the thread below you question, it is a party line that pushes the drinks & spends more time at sea. The folks that I have talked to that have use Carnival were not happy with them.   Garee Michael Harrison Senior Member Username: Gareemharrison Post Number: 65 Registered: 06-2003 Posted on Saturday, September 16, 2006 - 03:41 am:    We would like to know if anyone has gone on Carnival Cruise Lines, on the ship Imagination. We are looking into booking a cruise from 11-15 to 11-30 to Grand Cayman and Mexico. What is your opinion of the Lines and possibly the ship, Any advice. The cruise is out of Tampa. Let us know any thoughts before we book. Carol in Ocala