Carnival Loyalist Cruises Disney Wonder - Comparisons

[cruisefamilyforever]

I have sailed on the Disney Dream and I'm currently booked on the Disney Fantasy in late May 2015 on a 7 day Eastern Caribbean cruise. With a party of 4 in a category 8c (Deluxe Family Oceanview), which I specifically picked my room the cost is $5,000. If I would have sailed a couple of weeks earlier the cost would have been a $1000 less and if I would have gone in June it would have been a $1000 more.

 

The room has a 5 foot porthole made to sit in and the room is 241 sq ft. I also have two bathrooms and a tub. A room in a similar category on Carnival would be at least 60 square feet smaller. You have to make sure you are comparing apples to apples, but indeed Disney does cost more, but for my family the difference is worth it.

 

We have been on the two Carnival, one RCI and one Disney cruise so far and had a combination of balcony and inside rooms. They all were good cruises but for us the service, cleanliness, food quality and overall feel of the ship, Disney wins our favorite vote so far.

[amyh13]

We did a 7 day Eastern on the Carnival Dream in 2013. Did the exact itinerary on the Disney Fantasy (except Castaway Cay for Nassau), same week in 2014. 3 x the cost ($2100 4 people balcony Dream/$6200, 4 people balcony Fanstasy).

 

The Disney facilities (ship, Kids clubs) were really nice. Service, absolutely no difference. Disney Cabin Steward barely spoke to us but did her job. Wait staff very friendly but slow and inaccurate. Food taste and variety equal. Disney had a better room service menu and the lobster tail was quite large. Plus I like the option of your time dining on CCL. Just not a fan of set seating.

 

I just felt like I had a vacation also on the Carnival cruise. On Disney there were so many kid oriented activities/shows that we felt guilty not attending them (i.e. waiting in line for an hour so our DD4 could get princess autographs). There was never any adult only time. NEVER.

 

I recently asked my DS9 which cruise he liked better. He said the Carnival Dream, they have much better waterslides.

 

I just do not see the price premium. And to top it off, there was a case of head lice in the kids club and I got Norovirus. Icing on the very expensive cake.

Edited December 17, 2014 by amyh13

[cruisefamilyforever]

We did a 7 day Eastern on the Carnival Dream in 2013. Did the exact itinerary on the Disney Fantasy (except Castaway Cay for Nassau), same week in 2014. 3 x the cost ($2100 4 people balcony Dream/$6200, 4 people balcony Fanstasy).

 

Wow, sorry you had a bad cruise experience. However, your Carnival price of $2,100 doesn't add up unless you are getting some special deal that most people can't get. If I could pay that price I would always sail on Carnival Dream too! I just called Carnival and had them quote me a price for a 7 day cruise on the Dream for 15 Jun 2015 with a guaranteed balcony room midship for four people. They even gave me a military discount and it was $4,325. I almost sailed on the Dream last year, but my family wanted to try the RCI Freedom of the Sea. It was OK, but my Disney cruise was better.

 

I'm not loyal to any cruise line, I just like a good cruise. My parents have been on 39 cruises on almost every line, except Disney. His favorite cruise was on the QM2.

 

I have high expectations for my next Disney cruise, but if it does not meet them, rest assured I'll seek another cruise line.

[amyh13]

Sorry I was a little off. More like $2500. We booked the cruise in February 2013. 2 adults, 2 kids in an 8D balcony. This is the confirmation from Carnival. Eastern Caribbean out of PC.

 

ITEMIZED CHARGES

All Charges are quoted in USD

CRUISE CHARGES

CRUISE RATE $2,196.00

GOVERNMENT TAXES/FEES* $328.48

SUMMARY CHARGES

 

 

GUEST BALANCE DUE PAID IN FULL

Edited December 17, 2014 by amyh13

[amyh13]

Wow, sorry you had a bad cruise experience. However, your Carnival price of $2,100 doesn't add up unless you are getting some special deal that most people can't get. If I could pay that price I would always sail on Carnival Dream too! I just called Carnival and had them quote me a price for a 7 day cruise on the Dream for 15 Jun 2015 with a guaranteed balcony room midship for four people. They even gave me a military discount and it was $4,325. I almost sailed on the Dream last year, but my family wanted to try the RCI Freedom of the Sea. It was OK, but my Disney cruise was better.

 

I'm not loyal to any cruise line, I just like a good cruise. My parents have been on 39 cruises on almost every line, except Disney. His favorite cruise was on the QM2.

 

I have high expectations for my next Disney cruise, but if it does not meet them, rest assured I'll seek another cruise line.

 

I am not loyal to any one line either, even though my next cruise is CCL, it is primarily for the itinerary. My kids had a great time on Disney. I just don't see another one in our future, unless maybe they are paying for it :D

[cruizinisthebest]

OP, nice job on the review. Very thorough. Enjoyed the read. Doubt I'll ever cruise on Disney unless I win a trip or have one gifted to me. Their prices are insane! Even with sales :eek:

[cruisefamilyforever]

Sorry I was a little off. More like $2500. We booked the cruise in February 2013. 2 adults, 2 kids in an 8D balcony. This is the confirmation from Carnival. Eastern Caribbean out of PC.

 

ITEMIZED CHARGES

All Charges are quoted in USD

CRUISE CHARGES

CRUISE RATE $2,196.00

GOVERNMENT TAXES/FEES* $328.48

SUMMARY CHARGES

 

 

GUEST BALANCE DUE PAID IN FULL

 

I thought you were talking about summer pricing, so now I understand. Disney does not discount very much in the off season, because of their extreme high demand year round. According to Cruise Critic reviews, the Fantasy carries the highest rating of any ship. That is why you pay way more. I think Disney is worth a few cruises, but there are better deals out there with different experiences. I'll be staying at Disney World Christmas week, so you know the mouse's hands stay deep in my pocket.

 

Here are the latest prices for similar cabins and itineraries sailing in the first week of Feb 2016 for 4 people midship with a unobstructed balcony.

 

Carnival Dream $2,570.56

Disney Fantasy $5,180.76

 

The price disparity is less in the summer when everyone is cruising. Again, my whole point was to compare everything on as close to equal turf as possible. My next cruise after the Fantasy may very well be on the Dream.

[amyh13]

I thought you were talking about summer pricing, so now I understand. Disney does not discount very much in the off season, because of their extreme high demand year round. According to Cruise Critic reviews, the Fantasy carries the highest rating of any ship. That is why you pay way more. I think Disney is worth a few cruises, but there are better deals out there with different experiences. I'll be staying at Disney World Christmas week, so you know the mouse's hands stay deep in my pocket.

 

Here are the latest prices for similar cabins and itineraries sailing in the first week of Feb 2016 for 4 people midship with a unobstructed balcony.

 

Carnival Dream $2,570.56

Disney Fantasy $5,180.76

 

The price disparity is less in the summer when everyone is cruising. Again, my whole point was to compare everything on as close to equal turf as possible. My next cruise after the Fantasy may very well be on the Dream.

 

The cruise was actually spring break first week in April, both years. We just booked the carnival cruise in February. And we booked the Disney cruise almost a year in advance. Trust me, there were LOTS of folks cruising that week.

 

And based on everyone else in the Universe, the Disney Fantasy is the best so no one should base their opinion on mine. We were lucky to be able to afford a Disney Cruise. I just want people to know that they can get a very similar experience for less money in case they are stretching the budget.

[irishnyc]

Great, fair comparison. We'd love to sail on Disney, but not for the price.

 

As for the poster that complained of all the kids - it's Disney, I wouldn't expect there NOT to be kids, no matter when I sailed. I also don't go to DisneyWorld expecting a lack of kids.

Edited December 17, 2014 by irishnyc

[cruisefamilyforever]

Amyh13, I have no doubt you had some not so good experiences on the Fantasy. Each cruise experience is what it is to that person. The last cruise I was on was the RCI Freedom of the Seas last summer. I thought the room was subpar, the food was actually terrible for the lunch buffets and subpar for many meals in the main dining room. The ship was not kept clean to my standards and some of the staff was down right rude. I wrote a review and of course no one else had this experience and the Freedom is also one of the highest rated ships.

 

I will be doing a detailed trip report for the Fantasy when I get back so look for it in early June 2016. Don't worry I will brutally honest regardless of the experience.

 

My food on both the Carnival Miracle and Freedom was wonderful. The cabins were nice and the staff was great. My only problem was with passengers acting the fool.

 

On Disney the higher prices, lack of a casino and Disney atmosphere seem to keep passengers behavior in check better. Maybe it's because their in a financial coma because the bill will be coming due soon:).

[cruisefamilyforever]

Amyh13, I have no doubt you had some not so good experiences on the Fantasy. Each cruise experience is what it is to that person. The last cruise I was on was the RCI Freedom of the Seas last summer. I thought the room was subpar, the food was actually terrible for the lunch buffets and subpar for many meals in the main dining room. The ship was not kept clean to my standards and some of the staff was down right rude. I wrote a review and of course no one else had this experience and the Freedom is also one of the highest rated ships.

 

I will be doing a detailed trip report for the Fantasy when I get back so look for it in early June 2016. Don't worry I will brutally honest regardless of the experience.

 

My food on both the Carnival Miracle and Freedom was wonderful. The cabins were nice and the staff was great. My only problem was with passengers acting the fool.

 

On Disney the higher prices, lack of a casino and Disney atmosphere seem to keep passengers behavior in check better. Maybe it's because their in a financial coma because the bill will be coming due soon:).

 

I meant June 2015:D.

[amyh13]

Cruisrfamilyforever you will love it. My husband totally preferred the fellow passengers behavior/demeanor/attitude of Disney. He hardly even missed the Casino ;-)

 

 

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[PathfinderEss]

Nice review, thanks for the comparison.