RCCL Interior cabin vs Carnival Interior cabin

Cruisebunny7 · #1 (**permalink**) July 19th, 2009, 08:00 AM

I have been a Carnival junkie to this point. However, when doing research for our next cruise (sept 09) I was suprised to find RCCL was cheaper than Carnival in this case. We are looking at Monarch OTS vs Carnival Sensation. I have cruised on the Sensation before but neither my husband or our friends have. The pictures of RCCL's interior looks very very small....I need to know if anyone has any idea or experience with how much smaller RCCL cabins are vs Carnival on these two classes of ships.

Russell in MD · #2 (**permalink**) July 19th, 2009, 09:26 AM

Ive had an interior on Enchantment and and ocean view on Sensation (same thing as interior just window. Id say the RCCL is smaller but it is managable.

R

Donna · #3 (**permalink**) July 19th, 2009, 10:02 AM

I don't know the exact measurements, but the older Royal Caribbean ships tend to have very small cabins. I've heard they are manageable and if just 2 cruisers, should be OK. With an interior, you basically just change/shower and sleep anyway...If the price is right, hopefully it will work for you.

shahram72 · #4 (**permalink**) July 19th, 2009, 10:13 AM

I have always picked RC over Carnival (I'm going again next month on Monarch) for mostly one reason....

Coco Cay, the private island. Carnival does not have this, I would much rather go to the private island where there are no locals trying to sell me stuff AND food being grilled just a few steps away, then to go to the public beach. I assume on Carnival you just use the public beach? The room being a little smaller doesn't concern me at all. How much are you in the room?

Mike-Suz · #5 (**permalink**) July 19th, 2009, 12:09 PM

To answer your question, it's a pretty big difference.
Carnivals inside cabin on the Sensation is 185 square feet
versus RCI Monarch 119 square feet.

Cruisebunny7 · #6 (**permalink**) July 19th, 2009, 01:54 PM

Thanks for the heads up on the cabin measurements. I knew it was smaller, but holy cow...thats small. We don't spend alot of time there, however our friends have never been on a cruise so I want them to try it out. I think Carnival would be better for them, they think All-Inclusives in MX are the best, but I want to show them how cruises can be great also.

blueliner · #7 (**permalink**) July 19th, 2009, 02:19 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by shahram72

I have always picked RC over Carnival (I'm going again next month on Monarch) for mostly one reason....

Coco Cay, the private island. Carnival does not have this, I would much rather go to the private island where there are no locals trying to sell me stuff AND food being grilled just a few steps away, then to go to the public beach. I assume on Carnival you just use the public beach? The room being a little smaller doesn't concern me at all. How much are you in the room?

Actually, Carnival Cruises does have a private island in the Bahamas, it's called Half Moon Cay, Bahamas. Carnival and Holland America (both are owned by Carnival Corp.) use the island on their cruise itineraries. I haven't been to Half Moon Cay, so far I've only been to Coco Cay on RCI and it is my favorite place ANYWHERE to spend a day! I'll be at Princess Cays this December on my Princess Cruise.

Dianeteacher407 · #8 (**permalink**) July 19th, 2009, 10:00 PM

Cruisebunny7,

I stay as far away from Carnival Sensation as I can get!

It was used as a refuge ship for New Orleans after Katrina. Carnival was good enough to come to the rescue of these "victims" and provide meals and housing and the thanks that this ship received was to have her pipes broken, the beds and bedding ripped apart, and other atrocities too numerous to mention. To date, you can still smell the sewage in the cabins. Carnival needs to scrape her and chalk it up to people who do not know when someone is being kind and gracious to them, or perhaps
no one has been before. That is very sad both for the people involved and for Carnival.

Diane

Russell in MD · #9 (**permalink**) July 20th, 2009, 12:30 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dianeteacher407

Cruisebunny7,

I stay as far away from Carnival Sensation as I can get!

It was used as a refuge ship for New Orleans after Katrina. Carnival was good enough to come to the rescue of these "victims" and provide meals and housing and the thanks that this ship received was to have her pipes broken, the beds and bedding ripped apart, and other atrocities too numerous to mention. To date, you can still smell the sewage in the cabins. Carnival needs to scrape her and chalk it up to people who do not know when someone is being kind and gracious to them, or perhaps
no one has been before. That is very sad both for the people involved and for Carnival.

Diane

So it sounds like you have first hand knowledge. When were you on it?

IIRC it was used to house people down there working to rebuild not a "refugee" ship and Carnival caught some flak because they billed it out to the govt at more then they would have reccieved if it had booked full on crusies instead of being used in NOLA.

R

jaxon · #10 (**permalink**) July 22nd, 2009, 01:15 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Russell in MD

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dianeteacher407

Cruisebunny7,

I stay as far away from Carnival Sensation as I can get!

It was used as a refuge ship for New Orleans after Katrina. Carnival was good enough to come to the rescue of these "victims" and provide meals and housing and the thanks that this ship received was to have her pipes broken, the beds and bedding ripped apart, and other atrocities too numerous to mention. To date, you can still smell the sewage in the cabins. Carnival needs to scrape her and chalk it up to people who do not know when someone is being kind and gracious to them, or perhaps
no one has been before. That is very sad both for the people involved and for Carnival.

Diane

So it sounds like you have first hand knowledge. When were you on it?

IIRC it was used to house people down there working to rebuild not a "refugee" ship and Carnival caught some flak because they billed it out to the govt at more then they would have reccieved if it had booked full on crusies instead of being used in NOLA.

R

well, isn't that lovely -- enough for me to vow never to sail them! Maybe they knew it would be trashed?

dnunez · #11 (**permalink**) July 23rd, 2009, 09:39 PM

THE OLDER RCCL SHIPS LIKE THE MONARCH DO HAVE VERY SMALL INTERIOR CABINS, AND SOME OF CARNIVAL'S OLDER SHIPS DO SOMETIMES HAVE SEWAGE PROBLEMS, (I HAVE HEARD ALL OLDER SHIPS CAN HAVE THIS PROBLEM) BUT REALLY THEY BOTH OFFER A GOOD TRIP FOR THE MONEY. ARE THE PORTS THE SAME? IF NOT I THINK THAT WOULD BE ONE OF MY DECIDING FACTORS. THE FOOD ON CARNIVAL IS REALLY GOOD, AND RCCL HAS A LOT OF FUN THINGS TO DO.

MamaGalloway · #12 (**permalink**) July 27th, 2009, 01:00 AM

The Monarch has TEENY TINY cabins. There is NO question about it. However, CocoCay is hands down my absolute favorite place to spend a day. I've sailded RCL many times and Carnival only once, and I'm definately drawn to Royal. CocoCay alone is enough to sway my vote!

Donna · #13 (**permalink**) July 27th, 2009, 09:43 AM

Hi mama,
I'm with you, love Coco Cay. Have you been to Labadee, equally as nice too. Not sure which one I like best, just love the private beach days, lunch served to you, doesn't get any better.

triplets · #14 (**permalink**) July 27th, 2009, 11:02 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Donna

Hi mama,
I'm with you, love Coco Cay. Have you been to Labadee, equally as nice too. Not sure which one I like best, just love the private beach days, lunch served to you, doesn't get any better.

And dont forget the new ZIP line,(at Labadee) what a blast and the lunch is very good.

Donna · #15 (**permalink**) July 27th, 2009, 01:39 PM

Hi Triplet,
Can you give us some info on the Zipline at Labadee??

Trip · #16 (**permalink**) July 27th, 2009, 08:22 PM

I have been to all the private islands,and to my mind Half Moon Cay is the prettiest..between Labadee and Coco, I preferred Coco Cay better..

Dianeteacher407 · #17 (**permalink**) July 28th, 2009, 08:11 PM

During the 1980s, I was a TA when working a second job(teacher).

We all went on the fam trip to see one of Carnival's newest ships.

When we took a tour of the ship, it was pointed out to us that both interior and oceanview cabins on Carnival are exactly the same size.
I remember that this made an impression on me and I thought how convenient for cruisers that the only difference was a porthole (picture window.)

Diane