Carnival VS Royal Caribbean (is Royal worth the difference)?

Question

I have two quotes for a week caribbean cruise on a balcony cabin, one from Carnival Valor of 2330 us Dolars and another to Royal Caribbean Freedoom of the seas of 3700 Dolars. Does anyone thinks Royal Caribbean is worth the diference ( about 1400 US Dollars in one week)????
We are a family of four (two adults and two children) and this is our first cruise.
Thank you all !!!

Both cruises are in September and depart from Miami. The mentioned price is for the all group.

Answer 1

ABSOLUTELY NOT!!! We are talking about $1400 here. If the difference was a couple hundred I might say go for the newer and nicer ship but not for this kind of money. Lets get real people, Royal Caribbean is not worth over 50% more. For that money you can have all of your shore excursions, bar tab, transfers, souvineers or probably most of your airfare paid. Its absolute insnaity to spend that much extra money for the same thing.

I've been on both Royal Caribbean and Carnival and had a great time on both. We probably thought Royal Caribbean is a little nicer but I honetly question that opinion. Carnival has bigger rooms and more lounges. I thought the food was better on Carnival. Both cruises are going to be very similar in layout, they are going to attract the same clientele and you will have the same experience. Both sips attract the younger crowd and the kids (it really depends on the time of year you go, not the cruiseline). Sure the newer Royal Caribbean is going to have more activites but they are all NOT free. The rock climbing wall isn't free, the putt putt isn't free, the skating rink isn't free and the additional restaurants are not free. I absolutely would not pay $1400 more to have the privelige to pay for Royal Caribbean's extras.

I promise the expreience will be the same either way. I've had great service on both cruiselines and enjoyed the ships just fine. It just depends if taking a brand new ship is worth that much extra money to you. But the Valor is in Carnival's highest rated and newest class of ships, its not something from 1992 that you will be taking.

If you want my honest opinion Royal Caribbean is trying to position themselves as a higher end cruiseline, more comparable with Princess and the other top of the line cruiselines with their newer ships and extras. But if you truely want to take a high end cruise, take a high end cruise. Don't pay Royal Caribbean's high end price to pretend you are on a high end cruise. I had a great time on my Royal Caribbean cruise, but I'd be more happy taking Carnival and having $1400 in my pocket.

Answer 2

Freedom of the Seas is an amazing ship. Both the Valor and Freedom are newer ships, so that is a good thing, but Freedom has so much to offer onboard. Sometimes, dependning on the ship, Royal Caribbean and Carnival may be pretty close. But, I would take Freedom over any Carnival ship. Since you are going with two kids, I would definitely go with Freedom, there is so much for them to do.

Carnival is more for the party crowd, you will see a lot of smoking and partying, personally I would not want my kids on Carnival, I think it is better for kids in their 20s or so. Not to mention, you will see a lot of kids this age as well as large families and tons of kids.

Overall, Royal Caribbean is a better line, in my opinion. You get better food, better service, it is a little more fancy onboard and I think it is more appropriate for kids. Some people love Carnival and sail them all the time, personally I like the other lines better.

I would look over the links below, they provide a lot of reviews for both ships. You can then decide if the price difference is worth it for you.

Hope this helps!

Answer 3

I'm a travel agent and if you came to me with this question I would tell you that Royal Caribbean is definitely worth the difference, especially on the Freedom of the Seas.

Carnival attracts a lot of people with its low prices, but you get what you pay for, and the quality of food, accommodation, and service is reflected in this. If you are about to go on a cruise any time in March (when most of the colleges are on Spring Break) the Carnival ships will be filled with college students trying to see how much alcohol they can down during the trip - definitely not a family environment. Carnival has gained the reputation of a "party ship" and attracts those who like to drink and be loud and lewd. I certainly wouldn't bring children on board.

Highly recommend Royal Caribbean. Nice ships, great children's program on board, good crew. You made a wise decision about getting a balcony cabin. I know you'll enjoy it.

Answer 4

Royal Caribbean is way better! Carnival Valor is very mediocre. I was on it in June 2006. I cruised royal caribbean Navigator of the Seas in May 2003.

The freedom of the seas is one of RCCL's most expensive cruises because it's one of the newest and most luxorious. Try one of the Voyager class ships. They won't be as much money. You will still have the Rock climbing wall, mini golf, ice rink, promenade, and johnny rockets.

The service on Carnival could not compare to RCCL. RCCL had a fun sail away party, Carnival had nothing. RCCL had a Caribbean band with steel drums play at the pool and served frozen cocktails as their daily drink specials. Carnival had a band, but they barely played and when they did it was so loud that you could barely talk to the others in your group. They had the cheaper "on-the-rocks" drinks as their daily drink specials.
Twice during the the week, RCCL had fun mardi gras style parades and parties in the promenade, Carnival had nothing (didn't even have a promenade) Royal Caribbean had fantastic cookies, pizza, ice cream and sandwiches available 24-hours per day in the promenade convenient to the theaters. Carnival had 1 24-hour pizza place that was way up on the pool deck.

The cruise director, Bret Alans, on the Carnival Valor was more concerned with his magic act than creating interesting activites for the guests.

The two cruises really couldn't compare. The only thing I liked better on Carnival was that they had a water slide.

We always get an interior cabin to save money and splurge on excursions. You are barely in your room and if you want to see the ocean, you are only a few steps away.

If you have any other questions, please feel free to email me. I answer honestly.

Answer 5

I have only cruised on Carnival, but from reading several things about Royal Carribean and specifically the Carnival Valor (I am scheduled to cruise on Valor this winter), I have heard that if you can foot the bill, that RC has a bit more to do as far as onboard activities. However, I have also heard that Carnival is good for first time cruisers, especially with kids, and that RC tends to a bit of an older (30 plus) crowd. I think your food will be about the same, and on the Valor I have heard some people prefer it more than on RC, your entertainment (as far as shows and casinoes) about the same. Another thing to remember is that Carnival has the biggest rooms, so if space is an issue I would definately book with them. I would really encourage you to check out cruisecritic.com. When I was trying to decide on which cruise to take this winter (I was looking into going on RC instead of Carnival) that website was really helpful in reading the reviews and posting on their message boards from people that might have cruised on both ships and can give greater insight as far as comparing the two.

Answer 6

cant speak about carnival bur royal caribbean has my vote its so awesome the food the service yes its worth a few extra dollars but keep an eye on your cruise because it might go down in price.and two you said you had a family carnival is geared for young party people a lot of drinking is what i hear so do some research and do whats best for your budget and family have a great vacation .

Answer 7

Been on both cruise lines at least a dozen times each. It's like comparing a chain restaurant or hotel; one might be good and the other not, depending on the chef or the people at the front desk. I change dining room waiters a couple of times on both cruise lines because our waiter was a sourpuss and no personality and no fun. Same cruise line can have good food on one ship and bad on their other ship.
Depends on your preference of the type of food you like, what you like for entertainment. I've seen rowdy people on both cruise lines, too many kids running around, etc. Unless you are real fussy, both lines have their good & bad and varies on each ship in their fleet.

Answer 8

Absolutely. The food and service are ALOT better on RCCL. Carnival is also a "party" cruise line with lots of drunk 20 somethings. RCCL is more family oriented. Many of Carnivals boats have a topless deck, so you need to make sure your kids dont stumble upon it.

Answer 9

Royal Caribbean is an excellent cruise line. If you can afford it, spend the extra money.

Answer 10

I think the kids might enjoy Carnival. Go to their websites and check out the children's programs on both lines.

You will have a blast on either ship!

Oh...I assume those quotes are for the entire family, and not per person.