Thread: I am sure they are vastly different,

But how does this ship differ from the Sapphire Princess?

Hello everybody! It's been awhile since I've frequented the boards, but I have the Cruising Bug now, and am looking at the Carnival Spirit for a 7 day Vancouver to Anchorage cruise.

This one would be with my husband. If I can talk him into it that is. We'd get a nice balcony cabin for $1172. I think we should jump on board literally.

Is this a nice ship? Is Carnival a Party ship? I really like that the Sapphire Princess wasn't just a party boat. It was relaxing.

Thanks for any info!

Edit: The Price is per person. I think it's more than fair, but then again, I've only cruised once before!!!


We truly do not want a party boat as we are not party people. I'd take baking, cooking and crafting to going to the bar any day!

No comparison - the Sapphire Princess is much nicer than the Carnival Spirit.

The ship is nicer, the food much better, and provides an overall much better experience.

Don't get me wrong, the Spirit is a nice ship, but if the prices are similar, I would much prefer Princess.

If you're simply thinking of doing a roundtrip, the Spirit will be fine. But if you're planning on doing a one-way, such as what both the Spirit and the Sapphire offer, and want to spend some time in the interior, you might consider other cruise lines as well.

Holland America has the biggest presence in Alaska and has their own hotels and lodges. Princess has the second biggest presence and owns many of their resorts and hotels, and leases some others. RCCL/Celebrity is third and has a couple of resorts and leases hotels. Carnival doesn't own anything and leases a couple of hotels.

Obviously, just my opinion, because it really depends on your lifestyle, budget, and what you want to get out of your trip.

Pete

I am thinking about the Spirit and came across this. First, of the three lines I have tried Princess is my least favorite. The food tasted bland and most dishes were served in sauce (Beef Wellingtom was great). For the first time in 11 cruises I decided to skip the MDR for dinner and ate in the buffet. The beds were extremly uncomfotable, something that is important to me.. Activities were lacking and many were centered around demonstration and classes@sea. For the reason you liked Princess, I didn't. I don't go on vacation to relax, that I can do at home. I am 45 years old and extremly active.

The look, elegance, and sheer beauty of the Princess ships is beyond belief. You step onborad and you can't helped by feeling blessed to be surrounded by such beauty and attention to detail. For those reasons and AFTERNOON TEA, I will return to Princess, one day.

Is Carnival a party ship? it provides opportunity to have fun, laughing out loud. If partying is about dancing with your family on deck in the middle of the ocean, then YES. If party means having fun and going down a waterslide in the ocean, then YES. If party means not paying a lot to have a great time, enjoy a tasty meal and sleep in a heavenly bed, then Oh YESSSSSSSSS! If party means people drinking and out of control, not on the cruises I have been on. I might have been too busy dancing like noone was watching. For food, bedding, and laugh out loud FUN....Carnival or RCCL all the way. However one of my most memorable vacations has been on the Sapphire Princess in the aft balcony , celebrating my 15th anniversary.

Originally Posted by mustbetripping

I am thinking about the Spirit and came across this. First, of the three lines I have tried Princess is my least favorite. The food tasted bland and most dishes were served in sauce (Beef Wellingtom was great). For the first time in 11 cruises I decided to skip the MDR for dinner and ate in the buffet. The beds were extremly uncomfotable, something that is important to me.. Activities were lacking and many were centered around demonstration and classes@sea. For the reason you liked Princess, I didn't. I don't go on vacation to relax, that I can do at home. I am 45 years old and extremly active.

The look, elegance, and sheer beauty of the Princess ships is beyond belief. You step onborad and you can't helped by feeling blessed to be surrounded by such beauty and attention to detail. For those reasons and AFTERNOON TEA, I will return to Princess, one day.

Is Carnival a party ship? it provides opportunity to have fun, laughing out loud. If partying is about dancing with your family on deck in the middle of the ocean, then YES. If party means having fun and going down a waterslide in the ocean, then YES. If party means not paying a lot to have a great time, enjoy a tasty meal and sleep in a heavenly bed, then Oh YESSSSSSSSS! If party means people drinking and out of control, not on the cruises I have been on. I might have been too busy dancing like noone was watching. For food, bedding, and laugh out loud FUN....Carnival or RCCL all the way. However one of my most memorable vacations has been on the Sapphire Princess in the aft balcony , celebrating my 15th anniversary.

You lost me on this - in the first paragraph you said Princess was your least favorite and then in the second two paragraphs you speak very highly about Princess.

Originally Posted by Cruise Planner

You lost me on this - in the first paragraph you said Princess was your least favorite and then in the second two paragraphs you speak very highly about Princess.

Each lines has PROS and CONS, so it's imporant to state both. None is ideal or perefect for me. There are things I truly loved about each line but I enjoyed more things on RCCL and Carnival. My favorite is RCCL because it combines some of the elegant look of Princess with the FUN vibe and silly activities of Carnival. In my experience there are similarities/comparison between the three lines. There are deal breakers that make one line a better match than others.

My first balcony was on Princess, the aft. Things don't get more memorable than that. Each evening enjoying a glass of wine, always having the final look at where you have been. BTW...least favorite when you are talking about three is not really that bad :-)