Okay BIG question.... Carnival w/Balcony or Princess Suite?

[ginnyanne]

I some of the more experienced travelers help here. We have found a great deal with a Balcony on the Carnival Triumph and a Mini-Suite on the Crown Princess for the same trip. I dont mind paying a little more for a suite but I know what I am getting with Carnival. I have no insight on Princess other than some reviews that we are reading online. It seems like there are less hidden charges with Carnival in the eating and activity areas, but I might be mistaken. We have cruised with Carnival twice before but never paid anything since my lovely wife won both trips from her job.

Please give me some insight for which is better and why. We are trying to make a decision in the next week for our fall vacation. We appreciate any info that is given.

Thanks!

[misguidedangel]

Carnival does have extra costs for the supper club restaurant's on the ships that have them. Other than that it is all you can eat whenever the food you want to eat is open!!!!

Honestly, a suite is nice, but if you plan on staying in the suite for more than half a day at a time, then get the suite. A balcony cabin on Carnival's ships are spacious enough for two and the balcony is a great place to spend a that little bit of time in the moring or evening before getting active/crashing for the night. It is also a great place to watch sailaway without be crowded!!!!

[flowers]

I was in a mini suite on Princess and it didnt seem like a huge difference to me, there was a really nice sitting area and plenty of room on the balcony for 5 of us to sit out on it and relax. There might have been two tvs, one for the sitting area and one for the bed area, and of course a bath tub. It was really nice, but I dont know I would pay extra for it over a balcony, but you would love the Crown Princess.

You get free popcorn on Princess, and Carnival charges $1.50 by their big screen movie by the pool. Im not sure what hidden charges you mean.

There was also a seafood buffet night the first night, crab legs, shrimp, I forget now what else but it was all you could eat. My travelling buddy complained about the crab legs being cold to dig into the button. lol. picky picky picky, you would love the Crown

[BrwnEyedGirl]

I have not cruised either ship mentioned but have been on both cruise lines.
Carnival doesn't charge for the ice cream/frozen yogurt cones which Princess charges for.
The pizza on Princess isn't served 24/7. We thought Carnival pizza was much better.
The pools on Princess are fresh water and open late. Carnival uses salt water and close their pools around 6pm.
No adult comedy shows on our last 2 Princess cruises and no mid night buffets either.
We like both lines but lean more towards Carnival.
Love the balcony rooms as well.

[subtropic]

A big factor IMHO is the age factor. If you are older and less active and adventurous, then Princess is the choice. If you are younger (or young at heart) and like the action and activities, then Carnival always gives you more bang for your buck. And they still have the best pizza at sea !

[skymaster]

The best FREE 24X7 ice cream/frozen yogurt,,is only on Carnival! Enough reason right there, to go with the Triumph.

Ken
"Sky"

[Jo-Ann]

I have cruised both Carnival and Princess, and I would go with the Princess mini-suite without hesitation. I think their ships are gorgeous, the pools are heated and fresh water. The bathrooms in the mini-suites are extremely nice with a full-size tub. There are 2 T.V.'s (one in the bed area and one in the sofa area. I just love Princess mini-suites and would choose that in a heartbeat. As far as people being older on Princess, that doesn't seem to be the case any more. Since you've only done Carnival, it's time you tried another cruiseline. That's the only way you'll find which one you prefer. I certainly don't think you'll be unhappy with Princess.

[Joe323]

Its intersting how 2 cruiselines both owned by the same parent (Carnival Corp) have approached the same basic product in different ways. I would give Princess a try just to compare.

[mehawk]

Carnival...

[Irish Shark]

Princess hands down.

[scoobikins]

Tough decision for the OP!

Folks seem to be fairly evenly split on the subject.
What ever you decide, have fun!