Why is Disney so much more than Carnival?

[Drrandall]

It's outrageous. It's like $3500 compared to $8000 to $10000 for an upcoming cruise the 4 of us are looking at. Is the food quality , entertainment, atmosphere really worth the 3 times the price?

[YourCruiseGurl]

This may be a question best asked in the Disney forum. They would be able to explain what they value about the line and why they think it’s worth the money.

[jimbo5544]

Disney is a five star cruise line. As a reference point, RCCL, Celebrity, Carnival are 4 star. Certainly the entertainment is different and you are with the Disney characters. Disney cruises have fireworks every night (just like when you stay on property). Disney does rotational dining where you (and your wait staff) rotate to different dining rooms every night. They have a wonderful kids program. Each cabin has a tub. All that said, I think it is overrated.

 

 

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[HillBilly Bob]

Mommie....Mommie....MOMMIE take me on a Disney Cruise....that is how they demand and get those prices. In that price range, I would rather be on Crystal.

[Thorncroft]

Disney is a five star cruise line. As a reference point, RCCL, Celebrity, Carnival are 4 star. Certainly the entertainment is different and you are with the Disney characters. Disney cruises have fireworks every night (just like when you stay on property). Disney does rotational dining where you (and your wait staff) rotate to different dining rooms every night. They have a wonderful kids program. Each cabin has a tub. All that said, I think it is overrated.

 

 

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Where do you get your ratings from?

[calvegas04]

Disney is a five star cruise line. As a reference point, RCCL, Celebrity, Carnival are 4 star. Certainly the entertainment is different and you are with the Disney characters. Disney cruises have fireworks every night (just like when you stay on property). Disney does rotational dining where you (and your wait staff) rotate to different dining rooms every night. They have a wonderful kids program. Each cabin has a tub. All that said, I think it is overrated.

 

 

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I would think Carnival would be a 3 or 3 1/2 star

[linbobky]

they do not have casinos, so they have to get more for their cruises!

[Thorncroft]

I would think Carnival would be a 3 or 3 1/2 star

 

http://www.chuckhawks.com/cruise_line_ratings_list.htm

[bUU]

I haven't been on a Carnival cruise yet, but I can attest to some improvement as compared to Royal Caribbean, and that's before you factor in the children's activities (we're empty nesters). Cabins and food, simply nicer.

 

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[jas1178]

Think this one comes down to economics. Supply vs. Demand. For YEARS they were a two small ship operation that could charge a HUGE premium. Still today, there is way more demand than supply which allows prices to stay high. They have added ships in recent years, but far slower than most other cruiselines.

[Cafedumonde]

Not. Worth. It. We have done quite a few cruises with DCL and were blinded by their marketing, scared to try another cruise line. We did move on when their prices really started skyrocketing over the last couple of years. We feel like huge idiots at this point for not venturing out earlier. Food not better, I don't care what anyone says, it simply is not. Not a lot of options for food either, boring buffett, same menus in all the restaurants. We have heard both cruise directors and cruisers poke fun at other ships in ports (nasty). Kids clubs are very cool looking, but I do not think that they are substantively better. Our kids did like their clubs, and on their first non dcl cruise, they asked for them, but they are now over it and quite happy in other clubs. The overall service is definitely not better-- although you hear people go on and on about their service. Not sure what they are talking about. We were surprised at how happy employees are on other lines. The people on board tend to be snotty (sorry) and the children completely catered to/spoiled (sorry, but true, waiters have complained to us about this, saying we were the first parents they'd come across on dcl who didn't treat their kids like little lord faultory (however you spell that). Their photo service is awful. The ships are pretty but very Disney, which is good and bad, and Castaway Cay is beautiful, but not beautiful or unique enough for the premium. And it is not on every itinerary. The big difference is... Mickey Mouse. I can see him at the Magic Kingdom! Sorry, we are just over DCL and laugh at their prices now. Trying to warn others that the emperor has no clothes.

[rs45thompson]

Also first run movies are included and you have the Disney characters. The entertainment is great but not worth all that up charge.

[speedster]

Having done Carnival x 4 (and soon #5 next month), as well as Disney x2, the difference is night/day. The level of service, the new ships, the really cool technology on the new ships, large staterooms, really good food, and to be honest, no casinos - which is great when travelling with kids. Also really cool water slides!

 

While I was apprehensive at first in fear of too much Disney 24x7, it actually wan't bad at all. In fact, we found many people do Disney without kids purely because the level of service is that much higher. While I can't recall any specifics, I would agree that if Disney is 5 star, then Carnival would be around 3.5. The pricing is high during the busy season because hey, it's Disney and they can, but you can often find some pretty good deals too if you can travel in non-peak times.

 

You would do Disney not just for the cruise aspect, but for the Disney experience.

[lizzyplague]

You're paying for the "Disney experience", with the characters and atmosphere, fancy Marvel Academy and kids activities. (Which also explains why the park prices are so high). The entertainment is good and so is the food, but it's not really any better than any other cruise line, IMO. There is no casino on any of their ships, and soda is included rather than paying extra.

 

IMO it's not worth the extra money. It's basically an extension of the parks in that it caters more towards children, but does offer some 'adult' things.

[allener58]

I would think Carnival would be a 3 or 3 1/2 star

 

According to chuckhawks.com Carnival is a 3 star line

[crzndeb]

I guess I got lucky on my Disney cruise in Jan/2016. It was the first Star Wars at Sea cruise and I paid $3400 for an 8A for 3 of us. Google that cabin, it's huge. Considered a Deluxe Family Oceanview. Granted, we booked it before the Star Wars at Sea cruises were announced.

 

Disney only has 4 ships (more coming) and no casino, so the money has to come from somewhere. I will say it was a superior product compared to Carnival. I usually travel solo and this trip was with my daughter's and grandkids, so I doubt I would book it on my own. But there were just little touches that made it a very special cruise.

[schittenden]

We enjoy Carnival cruises, but have been on two Disney cruises. If you have kids, it is worth every penny. It is magical.

 

 

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[jimbo5544]

Where do you get your ratings from?

 

 

 

I guess not from Chuck Hawke....how is ole Chuck doing.....um I meant who is Chuck?

 

 

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[jimbo5544]

We enjoy Carnival cruises, but have been on two Disney cruises. If you have kids, it is worth every penny. It is magical.

 

 

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Life is full of perceptions. I have well over 150 days on property on Disney, staying in FT Wilderness up to the Grand Floridian. After touring the Magic the DW and I looked at each other and said at the same time, how disappointing, def not worth the price. Just goes to show you beauty is in the eye of the beholder.

 

 

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[Drrandall]

My regulars at work said Disney is night and day better than Carnival and worth the money. But 3k vs 8k to 10k is just not justifiable to me. If it was 1k or 2k maybe. But not an extra 5k just to say I went on Disney

[jimbo5544]

My regulars at work said Disney is night and day better than Carnival and worth the money. But 3k vs 8k to 10k is just not justifiable to me. If it was 1k or 2k maybe. But not an extra 5k just to say I went on Disney

 

 

 

......but you do get announced when you board the ship....that alone must be work 5K.....and wait, I've got it soda is free on Disney. Are we up to even yet?

 

 

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[bUU]

My regulars at work said Disney is night and day better than Carnival and worth the money. But 3k vs 8k to 10k is just not justifiable to me. If it was 1k or 2k maybe. But not an extra 5k just to say I went on Disney

Practically no one would pay the extra amount Disney charges, "just to say," that they cruised on Disney. It seems obvious that People are paying the incremental amount for other reasons.

 

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[jimbo5544]

Where do you get your ratings from?

 

 

 

Google.....he's my friend, Chuck, not so much.

 

 

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[bury me at sea]

My regulars at work said Disney is night and day better than Carnival and worth the money. But 3k vs 8k to 10k is just not justifiable to me. If it was 1k or 2k maybe. But not an extra 5k just to say I went on Disney

 

With the disclaimer that I have never sailed on Disney, I would be willing to bet you and your girls will want to book another cruise on the Breeze within a day or two of embarkation.

 

As the three of you go over each days' schedule of activities at the kids club you may find yourself with a lot of alone time!

[April42749]

Practically no one would pay the extra amount Disney charges, "just to say," that they cruised on Disney. It seems obvious that People are paying the incremental amount for other reasons.

 

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Oh, yes they would. It's called "prestige", and these people wouldn't be caught dead on Carnival, because it's Carnival.

 

I'm remembering when "my little one" went to a fancy private nursery school in an affluent neighborhood of NYC. Not only did they take the kids on Disney, they also brought the nannies. Some could easily afford it; some did it so others would think that they could easily afford it.