Hello,

I'm curious about what people think about the size of a ship. I've heard carnival staff say that they enjoy the smaller ships because they get to know the passengers better, but I'm wondering what my fellow addicts think.

I want to go on a southern caribbean next March Break (2011) but right now, only the smaller ships are slated to be going on the week I will be able to go. I've only been on the larger ones and my next one is the Dream (which I have to say I am so excited about).

Thanks all,

wendyb

If we are strictly talking about ship's size, and not ship's age, honestly, I don't see much of a difference (with only, I think, two exceptions).  Carnival seems to have a general fleet-wide design that they keep applying to each ship they build.

I mean, yeah, the Dream is nice and new, but if I go on-board, head to an elevator, press "9", I will find buffet/cafeteria types of places to eat. 

There are two main dining rooms, one in the center of the ship and one at the stern.

I mean, the Dream is not twice a long as the Triumph (pulling out an example).  Nor does the Dream have twice as many decks or twice as many main dining rooms as the Triumph.

wendyb:

Hello,

I'm curious about what people think about the size of a ship. I've heard carnival staff say that they enjoy the smaller ships because they get to know the passengers better, but I'm wondering what my fellow addicts think.

I want to go on a southern caribbean next March Break (2011) but right now, only the smaller ships are slated to be going on the week I will be able to go. I've only been on the larger ones and my next one is the Dream (which I have to say I am so excited about).

Thanks all,

wendyb

Walt,  with all the ships you have been on... wow.....  If you hit 9 you might not end up on lido deck... on the Dream it is deck 10.

and on spirit class ships there is only 1 dining room.

 It really comes down to what a ship has to offer not the size.  I prefer the spirit class ships they are smaller then the Conquest class...  will have to wait and see if I prefer the Dream over the spirit class.

I have only been on 2 cruises but my first was on the Conquest and the second was on the Holiday so I have been on both sizes.  I liked the Conquest the best because of the size and it seemed there were more things to do.  I liked the size of the Holiday too because I was in a walking boot during that cruise so the small size made it easier for me to get around.  Of course I love all cruises and the size of the ship would never stop me from going on one.  Another thing I liked about the bigger cruise ship is the fact that my husband and I walked around alot and neither of us gained any weight on our Conquest cruise.  We didn't lose either, but with as much food as we ate, not gaining was an accomplishment.  We gained about 5 pounds each on the Holiday.  I hope to go on the Dream someday too.  Enjoy!   

my post went to the mods.... I guess they do not like my sarcasm   

and I just looked at the Fantasy deck plans.... and walt.... if you hit 9 on them... you will not get to the buffet either...... the plans say deck 10 for them also.... 

what on earth did you say that made them confiscate your email?

say it again!

Wendy it was to you, but just want to let Walt know that there is a lot of difference between the different class ships.   He has been on the Triumph,

 Are you looking to take the cruise out of PR?????

if you are looking for a good route to take I would look into the new one they are adding to the Miracle.  starting  OCT.  18, and everyother sailing  it would go to those ports.

I think I saw the one you were talking about.

I have done two westerns and will do an eastern this year, but wanted to either explore more eastern islands next year or do a southern itinerary.

The thing is though, that I'm worried that being on a smaller ship might be kind of disappointing after the larger ones.

Thanks 

I have been on the Freedom and the Valor....  I prefer the Miracle.  Now I am not a big fan of the big screen so if you like that,  you might not enjoy the spirit class ships.

Now I must admit the most fun I have had on a ship was on the Valor but that was because of the group I was with, not the ship at all

We've been on the Carnival Jubilee (very small), the Spirit (Pride, Legend, Miracle) class ships (middle size) and the Carnival Freedom (larger size). 

We like the Spirit class ships.  There seems to be more room and not as much waiting in lines for things.....less people, more activity space.  For example around the pool.  On the Freedom we couldn't have found a space if we wanted to.  Luckily we had one of those huge wrap around balconies on the back of the ship so we just laid out on that.  We always can find room around the pool on the Spirit class ships. 

But.....everyone's different.

We've been on Carnival's Jubilee (small), Carnival's Pride, Legend and Mircle (middle size) and the Carnival Freedom (larger).

We love the middle size (Spirit class) ships.  There are less lines, and we can always find chairs around the pool.  Last year we went on the Freedom and couldn't find a chair around the pool at all.  It was a good thing we had a corner wrap-around balcony on the back of the ship.  We just laid out there.

 .....but of course, everyone is different.

Wendyb ~

Even though my very favorite ship is the Victory (Triumph class) I love the smaller Fantasy class ships and have been on the Imagination my 2nd favorite ship a total of six times, Fascination once and Inspiration twice.

Personally, I have never met a cruise ship I didn't like and to me cruising is a state of mind and not the ship.

~ Lizz

VA_Cruiser:

Wendy it was to you, but just want to let Walt know that there is a lot of difference between the different class ships.   He has been on the Triumph,.

 VA, I can pull up the deck plans, just like you can.   I am not that finger tied.

Sorry, but I don't see a lot of difference in the overall basic designs.  Yea, there might be a few more cabins on a deck, but if you bother to take a step back and get the big picture, they aren't as different as you like to make them.

Like I said, most of the ships have two dinning rooms.  In looking at the Dream, I still see a center dinning room (called Crimson) and the stern dinning room (called Sharlet).  That's it.  Now, VA, just how many dinning rooms are there on the Triumph, and where in the ship are they located? 

There is still the main lounge or auditorium on the Dream (called Encore!) at the front of the ship, just like on the others.

The bottom most passenger deck on the Dream is still the Rivera.

The Triumph is 893 Feet long, the Glory is 953 feet long, and the Pride is 963 feet long (can't find the Dream's size).  Drag out your calculator, VA, and you will see that is less than a 10% difference.

You can disagree with me all you want, but there is more that is the same between Carnival ships, than are different.

wait until you get on the Glory and you will see a difference. 

and if you listen to a lot of people you will see that yes the ships all have the same basic thing on them... the ships are a lot different...

and the biggest difference is with the spirit class ships..  

and after your one cruise... I am in awe that you know everything...and know what all the ships are like..... 

I do not usually get rude with people... but you need to sit back and keep on learning..  go on more ships and learn what the difference is with them...  the size has nothing to do with it.....