Which cruise? Disney Wonder or Carnival Liberty?

[Terab85]

My husband and I are planning a cruise for next Feb for our 25th anniversary. We did Disney Magic in 2005 with our kids but am thinking about Carnival for just us. We can do a 7 day with a balcony on Carnival Liberty for almost the same price as a 5 night on Disney Wonder with just a porthole cabin. We loved Disney and thought the service was great. I've read stories about Carnival, good & bad. Any thoughts?

[Bonnie J.]

We have been very happy Carnival and have been on the Liberty. It has to be more relaxed when you don't have your kids on board with you. (Although Carnival has babysitting until 3AM!- that you do pay for.)

Disney prices are always higher because they have no casino. Casinos bring ships a lot of $$$.

Give the Liberty a try, you won't be disappointed.

[mizLORInj]

For adults only, Disney is not my taste.

Liberty is a nice ship and has had upgrades in the past few years. So that would be my choice, AND it's longer.

 

If I took every bad review seriously on every ship and line, I would have none left to cruise! I like forming my own opinions. :)

 

Would you consider other lines as well?

Edited March 5, 2014 by mizlorinj

[LittleMissMagic]

Why Carnival? Is there a reason you're interested in the brand - ship, itinerary, price?

 

I can understand not wanting to do Disney for an adults-only trip, but I think there are other cruise lines which are more similar to Disney on a scale of price and customer service. Have you looked into Princess? They've been running good sales lately and have a quality product. Norwegian is also offering greatly discounted fares and onboard credit for their newest ships - you can find great deals on the Getaway and Epic out of Miami.

 

Depending on the time of year that you sail, you may be disappointed to find that there are just as many kids on Carnival (and other cruise lines) as there are on Disney.

[porcupyn]

My husband and I are planning a cruise for next Feb for our 25th anniversary. We did Disney Magic in 2005 with our kids but am thinking about Carnival for just us. We can do a 7 day with a balcony on Carnival Liberty for almost the same price as a 5 night on Disney Wonder with just a porthole cabin. We loved Disney and thought the service was great. I've read stories about Carnival, good & bad. Any thoughts?

We just came off Liberty earlier today. Great ship and crew - we had a wonderful time. We had gotten an inside stateroom. We paid about 125% for a seven day cruise as what we had paid for a three day cruise on the Disney Wonder four years ago. Liberty wins my vote hands down. We had asked for Indian vegetarian cuisine - food was awesome. Yes, some items are not included on Liberty such as the soda, child-care after a certain time, etc. - but for us, those were minor quirks that did not really apply.

 

- Porcupyn

[Bonnie J.]

As I said earlier, Disney's prices are higher because they do not have a casino- a big money maker for ships.

We were in small Carnival ship that had just under 1,000 kids on her but we never saw any. Summer vacation had just started. Their kid's program, Camp Carnival, is so good kids don't want to leave it. One mom told me her son cried when she came to get him because he wanted to stay.

We have been on the Liberty and really enjoyed it! Carnival ships have a Serenity Deck. It has wicker chaises, sofas-in the shade- & chairs with pads on them and small wicker tables you can move next to you. There is lots of shade and lots of sun here. There are no children and no smoking, adults only, and they mean that. You can also get towels here so you don't have to bring them from your cabin. There are hot tubs here and some new Carnival ships have a pool there too. We spend all day here on days at sea, its quiet and peaceful. It is free not like Princess who charges now $40 a day to use their Sanctuary which is like Carnival's Serenity deck.

Edited March 30, 2014 by Bonnie J.

[Essiesmom]

Why Carnival? Is there a reason you're interested in the brand - ship, itinerary, price?

 

Given that the OP is in GA, I suspect they are interested in a port they can drive to, thus Disney and Carnival from Port Canaveral. EM

[Terab85]

Thanks for the information. We actually booked the Liberty for Feb 2015. I'm super excited. Looking forward to hanging out in the Serenity area since we don't have kids with us. As far as why Carnival? I think we are getting more for our $$ and the port had a lot to do with it too. Don't have to worry about having to fly anywhere in Feb with the weather.

 

Thanks again :)

[caribsun]

Congrats on your booking ! :)

[boogs]

Disney prices are always higher because they have no casino. Casinos bring ships a lot of $$$

 

As I said earlier, Disney's prices are higher because they do not have a casino- a big money maker for ships.

 

That is a very simplistic reason. Have you ever been on a Disney cruise? Based on your profile, you have not. So you have no experience with Disney to make a such a basic judgment as to what makes them more expensive.

 

Disney is a quality product, providing just about the best service, dining, entertainment, and total cruise experience available for a non-luxury brand. Their prices are higher for many reasons - larger staterooms, classier ships, and decades of experience in making people happy. The lack of a casino is NOT the reason.

Edited March 30, 2014 by boogs

[chipmaster]

I loved Disney the one time we cruised with our kids, and hated Carnival ( or to be more accurate we were put off with the over the top "fun" focus ). IMHO money no object would take Disney even if it was just the adults, but find Princess a better value. No question Carnival is the "value" and "fun" cruise. :D

 

That is a very simplistic reason. Have you ever been on a Disney cruise? Based on your profile, you have not. So you have no experience with Disney to make a such a basic judgment as to what makes them more expensive.

 

Disney is a quality product, providing just about the best service, dining, entertainment, and total cruise experience available for a non-luxury brand. Their prices are higher for many reasons - larger staterooms, classier ships, and decades of experience in making people happy. The lack of a casino is NOT the reason.

[Capt_BJ]

I suspect they are interested in a port they can drive to, thus Disney and Carnival from Port Canaveral.

 

and Royal which runs 3,4 and 7 day cruises from Port Canaveral .... in addition to Dis and Carn

 

 

I would have suggested RCCL

 

sailed all the others mentioned

 

'cept Carn'

 

cuz you won't ever find me on a Carn' ship that isn't tied to the dock . . .

Edited March 30, 2014 by Capt_BJ

[boogs]

I loved Disney the one time we cruised with our kids, and hated Carnival ( or to be more accurate we were put off with the over the top "fun" focus ). IMHO money no object would take Disney even if it was just the adults, but find Princess a better value. No question Carnival is the "value" and "fun" cruise. :D

 

Our Disney cruise to the Caribbean was just us adults, two couples, all in our 50s and 60s. We really enjoyed ourselves. Disney does a wonderful job making sure everyone on board is having a good time, young or old.

 

Our one Carnival cruise was "adequate", and that is being kind. We won't be taking another, even it the ship docks in front of my house and is free. Sure, Carnival costs less money. But it's nowhere near in the same category as Disney. Using amusement parks as a comparison, imagine the difference between Disneyland/Walt Disney World to a traveling carnival. That is how different I thought the two brands were. You can have fun at both, but there is a world of difference between the quality of that fun.

 

As the old saying goes: "You get what you pay for".

Edited March 30, 2014 by boogs