We've enjoyed our Carnival cruises - and plan another soon. We did sail with a large group of kids on-board last April, and I must say the great majority of them were just wonderful. However, we did notice a very small number being complete jerks, especially when the "pack mentality" took over. I would guess most of the ones who ran wild were in the 11 to 15 year old range, boys & girls. Nothing really serious, but enough that we will seek to avoid the spring break cruises in the future. We haven't seen any of the "party hearty" scene that so many report for Carnival, so I feel that it's likely just another "urban legend" that gets passed on and on.
I think it has a lot to do with the Cruise Director and the rest of the staff as to how much of a party atmosphere you will find.
I sailed on Paradise back in March and there was NO sailaway. There was no band by the pool during the day. There was only one night where there was music and dancing on deck. Yes there was a lot going on in the bars on the ship, but the wildest thing to hit that cruise was our group playing the Menopause game.
On the other hand I know someone who tried out Carnival on a 3day cruise out of Galveston, and there were numerous security problems on the ship that were just not handled (a guy jumping onto a balcony from a nearby staircase so he could get free drinks; people trashing cabins and threatening other folks on the floor, etc). This was back 2 years ago, so hopefully that crew has been reeducated by now.
When we said the Carnival Legend last june, we did see the "party boat" people or atmosphere. I've had people say the same thing to me, that they won't cruise on Carnival because it's a a "party ship". It's not that way at least we didn't see it for the 8 days we were on there.
On the other hand I know someone who tried out Carnival on a 3day cruise out of Galveston, and there were numerous security problems on the ship that were just not handled (a guy jumping onto a balcony from a nearby staircase so he could get free drinks; people trashing cabins and threatening other folks on the floor, etc).
I woud not want to be on a cruise with that sort of thing happening around me. I wouldn't just ignore it or tolerate it...I have to be honest...I would absolute hate it.
We've been on Carnival cruises that were the height of party and ones that have been pretty sedate. Try going on a three day Baja cruise Easter weekend, go up on deck and the pool area is filled with college kids drinking like fishes (they had those hoses, not sure what they're called...I guess they couldn't get the booze in them fast enough by just guzzling it ). But it sure was pretty quiet the day after Ensenada when most of those kids were sleeping it off or were in their bathrooms praying to the porcelain gods. That's the extreme.
Of course, there are the pool games along the line of stuffing one's bikini with ping pong balls or lip syncing contests with contestants wielding bananas for microphones. But you can always ignore those if you want.
I've also stayed away from Carnival because of that reason. I've been told to also stay away from HAL until I'm 60. I really loved our Princess cruise but I have to say that I did see my share of drunk 40 and 50 somethings. Not pretty...
I have been on 7 Carnival cruises, from the Caribbean to Europe, and it always amazes me when I heard about the "party atmosphere" aboard ship. I have yet to see any partying, boozing, loud or unruly behavior from anyone. Maybe, they come out after I go to bed.
I have been on 7 Carnival cruises, from the Caribbean to Europe, and it always amazes me when I heard about the "party atmosphere" aboard ship. I have yet to see any partying, boozing, loud or unruly behavior from anyone. Maybe, they come out after I go to bed.
I have been on two Carnival cruises and also did not see the "party boat atmosphere". I'm up until 2-2:30 in the morning. It seems to me, that if some people have cruised very recently on Carnival, and have experienced this type of atmosphere, it is the individuals on particular sailings.
I have been on 7 Carnival cruises, from the Caribbean to Europe, and it always amazes me when I heard about the "party atmosphere" aboard ship. I have yet to see any partying, boozing, loud or unruly behavior from anyone. Maybe, they come out after I go to bed.
I haven't seen anything either and I've been up late
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). But it sure was pretty quiet the day after Ensenada when most of those kids were sleeping it off or were in their bathrooms praying to the porcelain gods. That's the extreme.
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