| Carnival and Royal Caribbean are two popular cruise | | | | - Spa We tried the spa on the Liberty and loved it. We |
| lines that have strong followings. Some cruise | | | | did not try the spa on the Mariner of the Seas. Usually |
| aficionados refuse to sail on one or the other. Are | | | | you can't go wrong when getting a spa treatment. |
| there any major differences between them? Explore | | | | - Excursions We enjoyed our excursions on both |
| which cruise may fit your needs the best. For our | | | | ships. We're not sure why, but there are very few |
| comparison we sailed on two similar ships - the | | | | excursions on Puerto Rico. Both seemed to employ |
| Carnival Liberty and the Royal Caribbean Mariner of | | | | clients who ran the excursions with professional, |
| the Seas. | | | | friendly attitudes. We really haven't run into any tour |
| - Itinerary Both ships go to Caribbean Islands like | | | | guides with bad attitudes. Both cruise lines get high |
| Jamaica, Grand Cayman, Cozumel, St. Thomas, the | | | | marks. |
| Bahamas and St. Martin / St. Maarten. The Liberty also | | | | - Kids Programs We met travelers on Carnival that |
| visited its private island Half Moon Cay, Puerto Rico, | | | | would absolutely would not sail on Royal Caribbean |
| and Grand Turk. The Mariner of the Seas traveled to | | | | because of the kids programs. We did not feel the |
| its private island Coco Cay and Labadee (the north | | | | same way at all. In fact, we thought that Carnival and |
| coast of Haiti). We loved most of the locations that | | | | Royal Caribbean did an excellent job with their kids |
| both of the ships visited and don't believe that this | | | | programs. There were lots of kids on both cruises. |
| should be a distinguishing factor on deciding between | | | | - Age of Clientele There was a wide range of the age |
| the cruise lines. | | | | of cruisers on both Carnival and Royal Caribbean. The |
| - Shows Each night there are a variety of shows. | | | | age seemed to be slightly younger on our Carnival |
| Usually you have the main show and some type of | | | | cruise. Many times Caribbean destinations during the |
| entertainment before and perhaps afterward. We felt | | | | summer have a lot of children, so that the age of the |
| that the main shows on the Mariner of the Seas were | | | | clientele is younger. If you travel during the school year, |
| better. On the Liberty we liked the comedian and | | | | the average age is older with many less children. In |
| juggling act. If you love seeing the shows, Royal | | | | general, especially during the school year, Carnival has |
| Caribbean was better for the main shows and | | | | a younger crowd. This can help you plan if you prefer |
| Carnival was slightly better for the comedians. | | | | a younger or slightly older crowd. |
| - Dining Room We enjoyed the atmosphere of both | | | | - Game Room Both the Mariner of the Seas and |
| dining rooms on the Liberty and Mariner of the Seas. | | | | Liberty had a similar size game room. We do not feel |
| We felt that the menu had a little more variety on the | | | | that this was a distinguishing factor, even though it can |
| Mariner of the Seas. | | | | be an important part of the trip for the kids! |
| - Friendliness of staff The Liberty and Mariner of the | | | | - Cafeteria We felt that the food was more varied on |
| Seas both get high grades. We did have one waiter | | | | the Mariner of the Seas. The quality was generally |
| that complained some on one of our trips on the | | | | good to very good on both ships. |
| Mariner. We had a slightly better experience on the | | | | - Odds and Ends We liked the outdoor movies that |
| Liberty, but feel that both crews did an excellent job | | | | Liberty had each evening. We thought that the |
| and that this should not be a distinguishing factor on | | | | putt-putt golf course was a little better on the Mariner |
| choosing a cruise. | | | | of the Seas. We did not prefer the access to the |
| - Pools The Mariner of the Seas and Liberty both had | | | | internet cape on the Liberty. You had to walk through |
| salt water pools - which most cruise ships have. They | | | | a lounge with cigar smoke for access. We also talked |
| both had pools for kids and adults. We liked the | | | | to cruisers on the Royal Caribbean who would not sail |
| Liberty's pools better because one had a slide. If you | | | | Carnival due to too many smokers. We did not find |
| have kids, this would be something that they would | | | | this to be the case on our trips, and thought that there |
| definitely enjoy. | | | | was little difference in the number of people smoking. |