Cruise Passenger readers always have plenty to say about what’s going on in Australian cruise, and today it’s Carnvial cruise ships producing most comment. In Your Say, Cruise Passenger looks at the issues our readers are writing to us about on our blogs, posts and newsletters.
As the 2025/26 cruise season approaches, cruisers continue to talk about the current state of affairs in cruising.
A big topic has been the divisiveness of Carnival Cruises. Carnival now operates four ships in Australian waters and offers by far the most economical prices that an Aussie cruiser will find. However, other cruisers feel that the line is slipping in quality or doesn’t offer the level of service that other lines operating in Australia do.
Julie Duran says: “I had only ever been on Princess or Royal Caribbean but I went on Adventure in July on the barrier reef cruise and had a great time.
“Yes the meals weren’t probably to the same standards but the cruise was half the price. I could have eaten in Luke’s bar and grill every night and still come out ahead.
“For an average of $100 per night per person for accommodation, food and entertainment l would love to know what you expect or where else you would get it.”
Other cruisers also reported positive experiences with Carnival Cruise Ships, but did feel that Carnival didn’t get all the details right.
“Just got off the Splendour yesterday and have planned our next cruise for South Pacific in 2027. The Gold Pearl food wasn’t as good as expected and the burgers were greasy burgers. But service was good and they were very helpful and rooms were cleaned daily.”
Kate Adams wrote: “On board now. First time with Carnival but have a few times in the past on Pacific Adventure. It has a different feel to it now, but not better or worse than P&O. Food was good.
“I haven’t seen our room attendant yet, but the room was set up was good. So far I’m happy”
Some cruisers reported an overall negative experience, despite friendly crew members.
Karen Owen wrote: “Got off two weeks ago after 10 day New Caledonia cruise. The staff were, in the main, lovely and accommodating.
“The Carnival App through which everything has to be done was complete rubbish. Spent hours in line with a quarter of the rest of the boat at customer services to get it sorted only to have to go back a second time.
“Meals were sub average ended up spending a lot extra going to speciality dining as if I was going to pay, I may as well have decent meals.
“I have sailed a few other lines, this was my first Carnival and will be my only – if you are booked – good luck.”
“I have sailed a few other lines, this was my first Carnival and will be my only – if you are booked – good luck.”
What do you think of Carnival’s ships? Are they your go to option in Australia or do you avoid them?
Elsewhere Aussies are happy to hear that Celebrity Cruises will be stepping up its presence in Australia with more Celebrity Solstice sailings.”
Nigel Beavis wrote: “Celebrity Solstice is my favorite cruise ship. Still remember the 17 day cruise from Fremantle over the top end to Sydney. Best cruise ever did not want to get off.”
Gloria Delume wrote: “Sailed on the Solstice last year to Hawaii, now booked for October sailing to Singapore.
“Great ship, great food, friendly staff.”
Another cruiser Mark Smith wrote: “This is great news. I prefer Solstice Class over Edge Class.”
Aussie cruisers were upset to hear that tea and coffee won’t be part of the new non-alcohol Carnival drinks package in Australia.
Ben Davi wrote: “If P&O could do it for under $33 per day surely Carnival would be still making a profit at $39 per day with specialty coffee and tea.
“I had my last P&O alcohol free drinks package on Carnival Adventure as I had purchased it prior to the closure of P&O, I was going to purchase the Zero package but now seeing that specialty coffee and tea is excluded I won’t purchase it.”
Please keep those comments coming!
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I’ve had some great cruises but Carnival isn’t one of them. We have just cruised Brisbane to Cairns, good entertainment was non existent. Some shows were extra $$, and amateur singers throughout..save your money and stay way . Best thing were the cheerful staff.
When it was p&o, Encounter was much better. Now it’s carnival, pretty much all services are geared towards kids and teens. It’s not a ship for adults any more. Even the “Adults Only” karaoke had kids in attendance. Also any decent song, alol the mainstays, any karaoke would have was gone.
Service staff are excellent, that and the pricing are the only redeeming features.
Have been on quite a few different cruise lines. Only done a few on Carnival and after the last one swore never again, great crew and service but food leaves a lot to be desired (a lot of crap). Now means that in the off season we have to fly overseas to do a cruise.
I sailed on carnival, my 1st cruise in 2005, enjoyed it and the food. Since then I have been on Royal Caribbean, Norwegian, Disney and I enjoyed my time on Carnival the best and have booked another cruise for Carnival in a few months. Looking forward to it, guess I’ll see if it has changed much or if I will think it is still the best one to go on.
We did a 4 week cruise with Carnival. 1st time with that cruise line. Only for the fact that we booked a cruise whilst still P&O we would not be cruising with them again. Disgusted with the fact that the new drinks package had the tea and coffee removed. But seems that’s only on Australian cruises . Slight bit of discrimination going on there I think. We had changed the way we travelled to cruising as it was a lot easier but now are considering going back to land travelling as the cost is getting higher each season
Ive found Carnival cruises good value for the money. Only problem is the food. The pantry is disgusting & no variety, same food dished up every day.
It was my first time on carnival adventure and we went as a group and my dad is in a mobility scooter. It wasn’t an easy ship to get around for people with mobility issues. If they wanted to go around the ship on their own and go outside there was no sliding doors and the exits were impossible for him to go outside on his own unless someone opened the door for him. We ended up hiring a wheelchair for him and even then you needed one to push and one to help get over the bumps. Luckily it was only a three day cruise. We all just wanted to have a great family holiday but ended up making my dad feel like an inconvenience and thinking that he ruined it for everyone.
I’ve sailed 26 times with carnival and have 2 booked for next year and no refund if I cancel.. carnival has been going down hill slowly with no complaints with the little things like a chocolate mint on your pillow and nightly turn down service it was these little things that made it great .. now taking away our loyalty points from diamond to how much you spend to earn points and I pay double being a solo cruisers this is disgusting food has gone down hill rules allowed to be broken for vapers kids running wild no quiet space except library and if your not there early its not a quiet space. Torn and blood filled curtains in my cabin that i had them replaced finally on the 3rd day. Flooding bathroom and nobody turn up till 5 day later after constant call to guest services My birthday cake lost and replaced with one from the fridge so many things to complain about so I’m changing cruise lines and even booked to fly to some countries for a nice time. Carnival doesn’t care about loyalty any more
I tried Carnival once. Never again. It was like an unorganised circus from go to whoa. Many people like and enjoy that but not me or people that like prefer an easier quieter pace without blaring “music” and constant PA’s
We did one cruise on Carnival Splendor (admittedly some time back) and having done most of our cruises on Princess and Royal Caribbean, we swore that we would NEVER set foot on another Carnival ship. It was the worst cruise experience we have ever had in every way. Yes, they are cheap, but so is the junk you buy from those on-line Chinese sellers. You obviously get what you pay for.
We sailed with carnival for the first and last time 3 months ago still waiting for our $300.00 credit to be refunded. The encounter was old dirty and the food and service was well below standard I would never sail with them again
I will never cruise with carnival again.did the Xmas cruise last year, staff were great
Food below par
No FRESH MILK on Luminosa, I hated that
No COLD beer,they put 6 beers in a bucket, dropped ice on top and expected Australians to drink it
Never again, RCCL is my perfered cruise line
Did the Carnival Encounter cruise to the islands great food excellent service very friendly staff would highly recommend to anyone wanting a 10 day cruise
Have done 3 cruises on Carnival Splendor this year and loved them all.
Great staff, food and entertainment.
Always been P&O and Princess previously.
Also, 1 Royal Caribbean out of Shanghai that we did not like – too many people
Ugh, I’m so pissed that they’re not honoring my zero drinks package! I bought it in good faith, and they should deliver. Seriously, these companies should know how to do this by now.
only been on one carnival cruise its will be my last poor entertanment whole ship full of drunk bogans and there screeming kids
Please let’s get some cruises out of Melbourne Australia sick of having to go to Sydney let’s make this happen