One of my biggest pet peeves on vacation is rude loud obnoxious people in rooms and hallways at night. I just will never understand how people are so selfish they have no idea other people in the world exist or would want to sleep on vacation! I would have really been able to overlook most of the other cons you discussed but that is such a deal breaker! I also cannot stand the understaffing issue, if the line knows in advance how many people are boarding, then they darn well need to maintain adequate staff to support it. We went Royal for the first time this year and the service was above and beyond, great management there! Thanks for an honest review, love it!
@@joegraham8626 inconsiderate people like you that tell others they should just stay home or go on a seniors cruise when we have kids are the problem. With an entire ship to drink and party and 12 hours to play all day, people cant keep it out of the hallways at night its not enough? but others should just not get to enjoy their room in peace? The only alternative is to not do anything fun and new, right?
Hi Ben and David, this is what makes your channel standout is the very honest no holds barred reviews that you do and this is what I enjoy the most. Thanks for another great review!
Good for you but I did not appreciate the title of this Vlog, How come they never uses those Words before BRUTALLY Honest With any other cruise line I guess it's because all the other cruise lines PAY them but Carnival didn't. That's why so many people used to call them out for not being honest
I’m a Carnival girl. I just got off of my 12th Carnival ship (Sunshine out of Charleston) a week ago. My husband is totally a Royal boy. lol! I love the fun, party atmosphere of Carnival and he loves the peace and quiet of Royal. We’ve been on the Oasis and the Enchantment. We just got off of the Mardi Gras for my birthday (June) cruise. We weren’t at 100% capacity then so that was nice but there were some things that were ho hum for me as an established Carnival cruiser. I will say that it is a really nice ship but I definitely prefer the older fleet over the new bells and whistles. Though the shrimp and grits at Emeril’s was delicious and the seafood restaurant was wonderful.
I feel like I am repeating myself all the time but, as I said before, the issue is not that they are understaffed. It is that they are overbooked for the staff they have. I know cruise lines, hotels, and restaurants have suffered terribly. But they are not helping themselves, in the long run, by cutting the quality of the service or offering less. Many will be turned from cruising Carnival if the experience one has is not satisfactory.
Count me as one of them. Just hit platinum on my last cruise with them, but already booked on a different line. They've just cut too much over the years and the more cut rate they get..and this is going to sound incredibly snobbish but it's the truth..the more ghetto the passenger crowd gets. They're just no longer for me. I LIKE my table cloths at dinner, and turn down service in the evening. The quality (not the preparation really) of the food is the absolute cheapest they can manage, and even things like cakes are made with about half the sugar and butter needed. It's gotten terrible. I like hanging around with people who like to party and have fun but also know socially acceptable limits and are at least minimally polite. Last cruise, charges were filed over two women threatening to throw a couple of children overboard because they thought they were talking about their wigs. When Ben and David were talking about people running to the bus..yep, that's the Carnival crowd lately. Come on. And one more thing too: It makes me really angry that they're stretching the staff so thin. The visa issues from earlier in the year were one thing, but now it's just cost savings and they truly don't seem to care.
@@DenaInWyo I have to agree. I'm diamond plus on royal, and I tried carnival specifically the carnival sunrise for the first time this summer. I booked this cruise because I got a very good deal and I figured its been 15 years of cruising might as well try carnival. Well I thought that the sunrise was a good choice of ship because although it was old it had been in a dry dock where she underwent modifications to include all of the new carnival venues and upgrades. Well it was a 4 day cruise to key west and Cozumel I know i'm asking for the party crowd, but in my defense I did chose one at the beginning of summer during the week where all but the schools in the southeast US were still in school, and people who work were at work. Well I didn't know what I was expecting but my expectations weren't met. The food lines were atrocious waiting 30-45 min for any of the quick service restaurants at any time of the day, and if you want pizza late at night when nothing else is open forget it your going to bed hungry. Honestly the crew while I could tell they were severely understaffed were still very friendly, but I could tell they were working they're butts off. The ports were great, and the ship while showing it's age was fun especially with the upgrades. All things said though the worst part of the cruise by far were the passengers. They were some of the most disrespectful, loud, and obnoxious people I have ever met. Leaving plates everywhere and I mean everywhere. Deck 6 reeked of weed the entire cruise, and this is the first time I am ever gonna say this but the adults were worst than the passengers. Running up and down the halls at 2am literally, Playing loud music, and smoking weed. I wrote this entire paragraph to say that this was my first and last time trying carnival. It's Royal and Celebrity for us from now on.
They’re all about to go bankrupt they have to overbook. Otherwise there will be no cruise lines left to cruise. People. Need to just cruise and not complain
@@spradduck sorry, but no. The money I spend on cruising is discretionary money. I absolutely will NOT just "cruise and not complain." What I WILL do is find something better to do with my vacation time and money. That's the silliest thing I've heard this week.
@@nicholasbennett4159 Yep, you pretty much summed up my entire experience last June on the Dream. Identical complaints. I don't think I'd complain about it as much if I didn't know that it didn't used to be like that. It's not just covid either; they began cut backs and staff stretching before covid even started. I'm definitely looking forward to trying other lines!
This review is so much appreciated. I am iffy about cruising with Carnival and I would have probably booked that excursion without knowing that isn't worth the money. Love the honesty. Thank you!
I recently cruised with P&O Australia. They have "the Pantry" instead of the buffet and you ask for "a scoop of this etc" and there is less handling. They also have people at the entrance of any food area making people clean their hands. It was amazing!
I’ve been cruising with Carnival for over 10 years. Personally, I do enjoy the younger crowd, laid back vibe and the casual food options Carnival offers. Also, I refuse to “dress up” to go eat at the MDR while I am on vacation, cargo shorts, t-shirt and sandals it is! So Carnival has always served me well. That being said, Carnival’s smaller ships and shorter cruises do appeal to many people I have no desire to cruise with. I manage to avoid that crowd by booking 6+ days cruises on the larger/newer ships. When sailing on a Vista Class ship, I always book a Havana aft-view cabin. The Havana section is kids free and you won’t hear running/screaming up and down the hallways. Also, being in a Havana cabin gives you access to the Havana deck. That in itself makes the entire cruise experience 10x better. Going for my 15th Carnival cruise in November on the Sunrise! 🛳
We went to Grand Turk in February, we just got off the boat and turned left onto the beach, the sun beds and umbrellas were free. It was really good and you are just in front of the ship
I'm a Carnival cruiser and I have enjoyed seeing you adventures and opinions on your experience. I love all your content and keep up all the good work.
What I love about Carnival's food is the creativity and the abundance of options. In the dining room I like the menus that feature an item that is local for the port you were in, and an item for food you've never tried. They offer more options than other cruiselines I've gone on. The Sea Day brunch is by far the best brunch of all cruiselines I've been on, and has an extensive and creative brunch menu. The Banana Cream pie in the brunch is amazing. You just can't beat Carnival for on the go food on deck. Even on smaller ships you still have Guy's Burgers, BBQ, Mexican, deli, pizza, Mongolir Grill, and more.
I just got off the Mardi Gras yesterday. A cruise will never be perfect. There are some things that need improvement. I think the flow of things needs to be changed. Waiting in long lines etc. I did enjoy the adult serenity. I was able to find a chair and enjoy the sun. I saw a lot of people complain. I get being upset about some things but your in paradise! I always tell people to make the most of your vacation! I have two cruises booked next year. Legend in April and Horizon in July.
My wife and I were on a Carnival Sensation cruise that went to the GT&C, as well as the Dominican Republic. We stayed at the beach right behind the ship and found a local joint that served awesome Jerk Chicken for very little $ (tour guides and fisherman kept rolling in to get their lunch, meaning it was both authentic and reasonable). Bad thing was there were freakin' chicken bones all over the beach and those tings can mess with one's bare feet! BTW: "Jurassic Pork?" That was hilarious...
Loved your honest review of the Mardi Gras. It's a real shame that you couldn't dine at Rudi's Sea Grill because of your luggage issue. You missed a real gem. Their food is superb, and there's no rushing you out. At the time of your sailing, Carnival was having a problem with their staff who couldn't return due to the immigration process. That has since been resolved. I do think that they shouldn't have filled the ship, though. There are so many choices of what & where to eat on the Mardi Gras. Bonsai Teppanyaki is a treat with their 7 course menu. I also would love to sign up for their cooking school which I've heard is really good. One more thing is the children's programs. My grandchildren had a blast and made many friends. They loved doing the scavenger hunts. I hope you get a free press cruise on the Carnival Celebration in November. It will be sailing out of Miami, and I'm sure the crowd will behave themselves. 😊
How full was the ship when you Sailed, I leave on the 10/8 and I was told it was 100% full. Also, I was sent an email about Room Service being Ala Cart.
Years ago we went to Club Med Turks & Caicos specifically for the scuba diving. I thought the island itself was a thoroughly unremarkable sand bar. But the wall diving is AMAZING 🤩
Loved your honest review! I’ve been on 2 Royal Caribbean cruises and 1 Carnival and honestly Carnival was so much more fun and memorable! Though Royal was more elegant and the main dining room food was better, I felt super bored and out of place at times. But on Carnival, I had the time of my life! I’m booked on the Carnival Celebration in a pricey Excel Suite next July and I can’t wait! Hopefully the staffing issue is better by then. I adored the staff pre-CoVid.
Was on the Mardigras in April. Our room was just below the lido deck party area. Took us a week to recover from the 24/7 noise. Guys barbecue was definitely the best restaurant. In retrospect I wonder how the crew that was so stretched would be able to handle the large number of passengers during any type of emergency. Have been on about 15 Carnival cruises in the past and this one was definitely our last. Just not for us-but for those who thrive on a noisy party atmosphere-you will love it. And, it is a beautiful ship.
The very first cruise my wife and I took was on the original Mardi Gras back in 1982. We were engaged and in college. My parents were taking their first cruise and invited us along. It was the most amazing experience. We went to Grand Cayman, Cozumel and Ocho Rios. The cabin was tiny (about 10ftx10ft) for the four of us, but it didn't matter. We cruised many times since, including a Mediterranean cruise right before the pandemic. We have a British Isles cruise coming up in September.
Hey Ben and David, love your vlogs, you give me good inspiration and advice and you guys are funny! I had 5 Carnival cruises till now, the 6th in 1 week, I love them, never a bad experience and always lovely staff, good food...I worked 25 years in the travel industry so I saw a lot, worked in different countries; I did a couple of tours with the cruise-line but prefer to organize myself, it saves me plenty of money and nowadays you find all the information on line. 😉
Always appreciate an honest review. I know Carnival isn't for us... we're old and want quiet now... but I'm sure there are many people who would love it all. 🥩🥓🍗🍖 That barbecue platter at the end looked fantastic. That's my kind of plate of food... lots of different meats and some veggies... and put it on one plate, please. Dessert looked so yummy too. 🍨🥧 Mmmm.... now I'm hungry. Thanks Ben and David. 😂
That was a great description of that cruise. You guys are honest and to the point that is why we ❤ you. We went on that ship and everything is how you described it. On the fourth night we were so disappointed with the main dining that my brother said”Let’s try the BBQ for dinner and we never looked back.
I have been on two cruises within the year and I enjoyed myself. I will be on the Mardi Gras next month. I come in with an open mind and no expectations and usually I have a good time. I like to people watch and Carnival never disappoint.
Love the honesty. You guys are the best. After your comments on the poor service, I looked up the passenger to crew ratio on Mardi Gras (3.02:1) compared to the Celebrity Apex (our next cruise), on which the ratio is 1.89:1. I guess you really do get what you pay for! Thanks guys.
Great Review! Carnival has its positives and negatives (free food choices are a BIG plus), just like my experiences on other lines. One thing: the price for me means twice as many cruises, vs Princess, etc. I did the Caribbean in 2018, and on Turks and Caicos we chose the horseback riding in the ocean excursion. Very, very worth it. It's one of my favorite cruise memories.
@@cherylkoski7184 I’ve done 3Royal, 1 Norwegian, 1 Disney, and 5 Carnival, and the hands-down worst was Norwegian. Horrible. Never again. Every Carnival has been great, but none were the short Caribbean that have the problems. The Mediterranean, 2 Alaska, 1 Pacific crossing, and a 14-day Caribbean. The older ships ARE tacky, but the experiences were good.
We just got of MG two weeks ago and one of things we noticed was the lack of staff during high peak meal times. I hope management can figure out a better flow and placement of staff before the next two XL ships go online. It's such a beautiful ship but definitely need more crew. As well as you guys did, we talk to many crew. One of the things we heard alot was they love Carnival as a company but will not return to XL class. They prefer the Vista or Dream class.
As a Carnival Platinum member I appreciate your honest reviews. I sail on almost every cruise line. With Carnival (and some other cruise lines) it’s hit or miss. I do think sailing out of Port Canaveral or Carnival is more stressful and I get priority boarding too. Disney pulls it off but Carnival struggles. Carnival seems to do better out of Miami. I also think the ship, time of year and itinerary all factor in. I have been on back to back cruises on Carnival where the first few days of a 7 night cruise had me questioning life lol! The cabin next to us was “lit up” 24/7. They argued with each other, they argued with the poor cabin steward. People were having open conversations about them in the hallways because it was such an issues. Luckily they were kicked off at our first port. I was concerned about the next week which included the Fourth of July holiday but it was calm and the demographic was totally different. I appreciate you pointing out the burden on the staff. All cruise lines underpay and overwork their staff but Carnival in particular has only gotten worse.
Love you guys! Thanks for your review. I was debating carnival for our first cruise because they are budget friendly, but I watched a lot of reviews and decided it just wasn't the line for us. Ended up booking our first cruise on the celebrity edge for 2023.
Looks lovely, we have only been on Carnival and have never had what I would call a bad experience. We will be on the Celebration in April 2023, I am so excited for the new ship. I’m very patient and try to enjoy no matter what, I mean your on a ship in the ocean, how cool is that. Great review and I will check out that BBQ. Thanks guys.
Lisa, I am a Carnival only cruiser too #20 in 2 weeks, and will also be on the Celebration in April. I agree with you about being patient. The crews work so hard 24-7, but they always manage to have a smile on their faces and kind words to say. Happy cruising
We have done the MG and loved every single day of the cruise we did not like RC at all and the food was no better than carnival and unless u live trivial u are bored to death
We just got off our 7th cruise on Mardi Gras! Your review was spot on! Casual dining was fantastic! We haven't eaten in the MDR the last 3 or 4 cruises on Mardi Gras! Crew is fantastic, definitely hard working! Entertainment was excellent, however, we have seen those shows several times, so we let others enjoy! Pig and Anchor is one of my favorites, Bonsai also never disappoints!
I love that Carnival has so many included dining options of different varieties and not only that but that the food in those venues is good. The shows on the Mardi Gras looked quite impressive so I'd love to go on the ship just to see them. We tried Carnival for the first time earlier this year (Panorama) and booked another Carnival (Conquest) a few months later and we have another Carnival (Valor) coming up at the end of November. Safe to say we like them.
Appreciate your honest reviews and always done in good taste! Big cruiser here and so enjoy all your videos!! You are the best!! Thank you Ben and David!!
Thank you both for your honesty. I could see in your moods and faces this one was a bit lacking in somw areas. I love the way you really detail the food and the excursions. I think I am leaning towards Royal or Norweigan. Looks like Carnival is not my kinda cruise, and I would not have known that had I not watched a few of your videos! Happy Cruising!
This is what I really love about you guys is your Honesty. Carnival was my first Cruise line when I started cruising. I have been on Royal Caribbean whom I love as well. I think the difference between Carnival and Royal is Carnival is "Party", Royal is some "Party/Conservative/Laid back" but I love both. I would like to go on Norwegian and a lot of my Family and Friends have been on Norwegian and they love it. Yes, everything you said about Carnival is true! But, they still are my favorite and that's my opinion. But, if you decide to go on the newest ship, Carnival Celebration.Then please, please book the Havana cabana cabins they are Fabulous!!! Just check it out when you have a chance. As Ben and David say Happy Cruising! ;-D Can't wait for your next cruise adventures. 😀
Very honest review & I can appreciate it. I give this ship a 7/10 as well. We sailed in July 2022 and we felt that the summer landing was very small, lack of seating. Also of course the bathrooms was very small & tight. But the beds was very comfy in the room we had. I feel like embarkation was very rushed (or maybe it was just that day) but they were very rude! The food I think was really really good! & let's not get started on the drinks! Absolutely amazing! I feel there needs to be more entertainment on this class of ship because my husband was bored on some days. Now the technology was really really good! When we got the wifi, it worked perfectly! I'm super happy about that. I wish I would've packed our fan for our cabin because 2 of those nights it got a little steamy but we were ok!
So pleased you tried Carnival. I've been on over a dozen of them and they've been a real memory maker. Only been on the smaller older ships, which give you a very different experience than the bigger ships. Smaller ships are quieter, but fun is available if you go looking for it. On the smaller ships the staff definitely get to know you and it''s always so nice to enter a bar and have them greet you, by name, and know the drinks you usually order. It's kinda like Cheers, where eveyrone knows your name.
I agree. Carnival Freedom and Splendor were 2 of my favorite, even though they had less to do on them for kids. The atmosphere was better. The staff seemed happier and friendlier, and it just felt cozy and comfortable. Largest I did was the Vista, and staff seemed unhappy, and felt crowded despite its size.
We take plastic gloves with us to use at the self serve stations. We always wash our hands but you are right. We have seen many people not wash their hands and go into the buffet . Not good😞
We generally cruise on the older ships of Carnival and Royal Caribbean ships. Our experience in the MDRs is that the food is better with Carnival. On Royal Caribbean, there were so many poorly executed dishes like a lentil chili with hard lentils, bananas foster with RAW bananas and the like. I cannot speak on the buffets. We thought that Carnival had a lot more free options even though our ship did not have any of the celebrity chef places like Guys or Shaqs.
I am so GLAD you guys are Honest in your reviews, a lot of U Tubers are not. Thank you, so I can get a wise review. I love❤ your channel. I do not hardly comment. Both you guys are doing one hell of a job. Thank you for sharing this video with us. Peace.
Carnival absolutely nails the casual dining options. Nice to hear the entertainment was really good too. Haven't been on the Mardi Gras, but surprised to hear the service fell short. They put their best crew on their newest ships. Guess there just wasn't enough of them. I'll be on the Celebration November 27th and really looking forward to it. I doubt I will set foot in MDR or Buffet though. May not even pack pants. If you embrace the party atmosphere and sail on their newest ships, then Carnival can be really fun time.
The Sea Day Brunch is a must, especially for the banana cream pie. I've always loved the dining room food on Carnival. The best lobster tail I've had was on Carnival. I've sailed with HAL, RCL, Celebrity, and Princess also. I wouldn't discount the dining room.
We just got off this ship yesterday. You are spot on with the review. We had an issue with the room being clean on the first day. It really is like being on a different line when you go on some of the older ships then go on this one.
Love watching you guys. We sail Carnival quite a bit, and you are correct. Do your homework on excursions. They can be great, but they can also go crazy if you're not paying attention.
I was just on Royal. They wouldn't even let you enter the buffet without washing hands. At the MDR they greeted you with germ gel. There were the germ gel stations all around the ship. Our room attendant kept our room spotless.
We love Grand Turks. You can get off and just use a free lounger and take a dip in the ocean and Margaritaville. It’s an inexpensive port. Our 6 year old had on shorts with a button down long sleeve shirt and bow tie and they tried to deny entry at the steakhouse on Christmas Eve. We stayed calm and pointed out that our little guy was dressed better than 98% of the adults. And he matched his adult brothers but they had on khaki pants. They finally conceded.
Dear Ben and David, long time followers and we rarely comment. You are both very very fair in the assessment overall and sincerely appreciated your honesty about the experience. We feel so bad for the staff. Hope mgmt at carnival read this
I completely agree with every single part of your review. My fam sailed on Mardi Gras summer 2021. Our first and only Carnival cruise. Our cabins, however, were clean and we were not in a suite. The beds were VERY uncomfortable for us. But Carnival wins on quick service food, wifi and their app is the best!
I went on a carnival ship a week ago. The crew of Carnival has been my favorite between Carnival and Royal Caribbean and Princess. I agree however, after the Pandemic you can see major corners being cut and there is a far lower crew/passenger ratio. Also, i've always enjoyed the main dining room to avoid the lines that you deal with at the fast food stations. It's sad to see that main dining rooms are being relegated to the quaint corners of the ship for the "old people".
15:02 my brother and i went to that bar after returning from a port and got wasted. funny thing is he is not a drinker. the bar was so busy with 1 bartender it took a while for our drinks to come out...
Was anxiously awaiting this review! Thank you for the fair, balanced, & comprehensive review. Though it’s been a few years since we’ve sailed Carnival, we 100% get your fit and vibe comments. Loved, too, your honest assessment of the hard-working crew and service lapses. The late night noise issues are a deal breaker. Thanks, guys! Keep ‘em coming!
Very fair. I have done only Carnival but agree with your points. I think the design of your cabin- bed so close to the door-is a bummer for noise. The standard balcony puts the couch first and bed close to window. Sometimes cruises are fun and "fun"! ;-)
I could just watch you guys 24/7, (just about have been) love your personalities and reviews, and the travel, LOVE IT !! I'm now looking into doing a cruise, lol. I just wish I didn't live in Australia.
I love watching your cruise vlogs! You guys are informative and entertaining. Thanks for the Mardi Gras review.. I’ll be sailing in an ocean view suite on deck 9 as well and your video gave me great insight about what to expect! Keep it up!
I think your rating of this cruise and ship sounds reasonable. I do think you would not enjoy most of the older Carnival cruise ships...you may be a little bit spoiled by the bigger newer ships you have been on....and love them or hate them the older ships are gaudy. Having said that I have never had a bad cruise with... Carnival...anytime someone cooks for me , cleans for me and entertains me every day...I'm a happy camper.
I agree 100% that they should be sure everyone should wash their hands before entering the buffet area. Thank you for the heads up on that and also the rip off of an excursion. This is a super helpful video. I have a cruise booked on the Mardi Gras. It will be the second cruise we've ever been on. I really want to try RC as well. I can't wait! Thanks for all your videos!
This was spot on. I was on that ship last winter and took the same excursion. Only difference they took us to a "town" to shop?! It was a bunch of broken down shanties with a rest stop without a flush toilet. Between each woman they stood with a five gallon bucket to flush!!! Huge rip off a tour. As for the ship I really liked it. Big beautiful and so many choices of restarurants and things to do. The dining room was a tad slow and food mediocre. But the crew is stretched thin and its not their fault. However the other free venues outstanding. As for the guests, they vary from seniors like us and young people gone wild. lol. I say try it (Carnival) at least once. I went several times on the Norweigan and didn't like it once twice or three times. Princess was fabulous as was Royal and Celebrity.
Was on the Mardi Gras this past end of June first of July, my first ever cruise by the way, and I loved it. I had an inside cabin on the 5th deck and I never heard a peep from the halls at all, but of course I would be out until 3 or 4 in the morning just walking the deck. I loved Guy's Burgers, probably the best burgers I've ever eaten. I did have the Pig & Anchor once, but it was around 11:30 p.m. and it was buffet style at that time. I had the adult grilled cheese, and a couple of sides, can't remember those lol. But, I can still taste that grilled cheese to this day. I wish I would've known that it was a complimentary restaurant though, I would've eaten there more, especially during the "dining hours." But, I am going on another Carnival cruise, the Magic, at the end of November through the first week of December for my birthday, and that ship has a Guy's Pig & Anchor on it as well, so I definitely will be eating there mostly for that week. I gave my first cruising experience on the Mardi Gras a 9/10. The staff were amazing and the service was actually really fast when I was on there, and we were at full capacity. The reason for the score I gave, was due to the fact that I was shocked at the price of drinks, I spent $312 my very first night lol. But, I have a drinks package for my next cruise. P.S. sorry for the long comment, I just had to give my first ever experience.
I’ve primarily cruised in Carnival and recently tried Royal. Honestly, they are about the same. There were some aspects of Royal I liked better and some aspects of Carnival I like better. I do feel that Carnival is still struggling brining quality and service back to pre-shutdown levels…. But again, Royal was about the same (cruised both within 3 months of each other) Currently looking for another line to try.
We like carnival and LOVED the Mardi Gras. I remember lots of hand sanitizer, especially in the food areas. With that said, my one complaint is the food. There’s plenty to eat and you definitely won’t go hungry, but I found the MDR to be very mediocre. We also went to Chibang, and I didn’t like the food very much at all there. The BBQ place was really good - and we are from Texas so we are BBQ snobs lol. Totally agree with your food assessment. I’m not a foodie, but I do like good food. I would be interested in a cruise line food comparison video! And, Lee is the greatest cruise director! We are hoping he’ll go on the new Jubilee when it sails. I’ve never cruised on Royal, but I definitely want to sometime! Tip for disembarking - go have a leisurely breakfast and be LAST off the ship. It’ll be much less stressful and no dealing with the crowds.
I like both Royal and Carnival. But I agree with Ben and David about which one I would prefer. To me the difference between the 2 lines are that on Royal the customer service will bend over backward if possible to make sure you are having a great time. With Carnival if you ask for something out of the box the staff will friendly say no they can`t. One other thing is I love the desserts on Carnival and at first the food is exceptional. But as the cruise goes on so does the quality. The food seem less fresh and there have been times where we sent the food back in the main Dinning room.
Went on the Mardis Gras last November and loved it. The quick service food is really great. Not a fan of sit down dining anyway so it was perfect for me.
I’ve been on five carnival and two Royal Caribbean. I find the staff and the cruisers to be more friendly on carnival. Have not gone since the pandemic so it does sound like some of the things have changed. If you decide to try carnival again, I would recommend carnival breeze. Also if you go back to grand Turk you can walk right to where the pool is, near Margaritaville, which has a bar you can swim up to. We usually rent a cabana. We don’t usually go to pay restaurants outside of the captains which we doing at lunch and it’s free. The dining room is where it’s at because you have entertainment while you’re eating. As you can tell, I’m all for carnival but no matter what cruise line you go on, happy cruising.
When on our last carnival cruise, my daughter and I were talking about the RC Liberty of the Seas we saw and someone asked which we liked better. At that time, had only been on one Royal cruise and 2 carnival. I ultimately said Royal - for lots of different reasons which you discuss here. The food, the activities, etc. However, for what I can usually (depending on ship) get a regular balcony on Royal for, I can get a suite on Carnival. We go into our Carnival cruises knowing the food isn't the best but we wont starve. Buffet is horrible, but fast food/quick options better than most other ships. For us we spend a bit more time in our cabin so we do like a bigger space. I do find the sail-away's and party atmosphere on Carnival to be so fun! Each ship to me, has it's positive/negatives... gotta find what works best for you! This was a great review... thx!
Very informative series of videos on the Carnival Mardi Gras cruise ship. Anyone looking into booking this ship would be well served by watching these videos. Great job!
