We’re a family of two adults in our 30s and a toddler. Last year, we cruised on Anthem of the Seas, and now we’re on Carnival Celebration. Honestly, I don’t understand how people compare Carnival to Royal Caribbean (RC).
The service on RC was like being in a 5-star hotel; I was blown away by how attentive it was. On Carnival, it’s understaffed, the service is slow, and nowhere near RC’s level.
Everything, and I mean everything, was better on RC. Let’s start with food—Carnival’s Lido buffet is like a low-tier 3-star hotel: all carbs, cheap meats, no healthy options, no fresh salads, no veggies, and definitely no salmon or avocado. RC had so many options at their buffet that we didn’t even consider eating elsewhere for breakfast. Here on Carnival, I can’t stomach their buffet after just two days.
There’s no proper coffee shop near the Lido on Carnival! If you don’t want the burnt-tasting coffee from the buffet, you’re out of luck. RC had actual coffee stands serving quality brews.
The pools on Carnival are laughably small and scattered around the ship. The kids’ pool is inconveniently placed, only accessible by two elevators, while RC’s is way better and more centrally located. There’s no food near the kids’ pool on Carnival either, which is a joke. On RC, the kids’ pool was next to the adults’ area and close to hot tubs.
RC’s water slides and play areas were much better in every way.
RC’s shows? Amazing. Carnival’s? Just okay.
The rooms are pretty similar in quality, and surprisingly, the crowd on Carnival is good—I was worried about that. Elevators, though, are terrible on both lines.
Long story short: if Carnival’s food stays this bad, I’m never booking with them again.