Disney verses Carnival

[mom x4,grandma x4]

I do agree DCL is priced too high compared to others, that is a given.

 

we are lucky we live in Florida so often we get a discount or we wouldnt go so often.

wehave friends who love Carnival and I am very happy for them.

 

I know everyone is looking for something different in their vacations so I am happy the cruise lines offer different styles of cruising or we would all be on the same ship;)

 

I am even open to the idea we hit a crew that just wasnt up to par. I know it is impossible to keep an excellant crew all the time but there were just so many negative things that I have NO desire to go with Carnival again, but I never would think of telling others not to try it.

 

It may be the kind of cruise they would love.

If I had not been on another cruise before Carnival so I had nothing to compare it too I would of thought this was a normal attitude and probably wouldnt of been as critical of them.

 

although I think everyone at least deserves help when they ask for it and a thankyou for a purchase.

 

If you like to gamble then this is the crusie for you because during the day Bingo and the Casino were about all they had to do. Pools were too small to get in, hot tubs were filled with young kids.

 

so for what we like in a crusie we will stick with Disney even if it means not cruising a soften as we would like to , due ot the cost.

 

Carnival has much better food and their buffet is AWESOME!!! Disney could learn from them on that aspect !!

 

Thanks for all your opinions , I enjoy reading everyones ideas and opinions. I was surprized to find people reading my report all over again after all these months.

 

I will have a report on our wonder cruise by the end of the month too.

 

thanks again everyone, this has been fun for me to read ,

 

mom x4,grandma x4

[viciouslysh]

 

 

Thanks for all your opinions , I enjoy reading everyones ideas and opinions. I was surprized to find people reading my report all over again after all these months.

 

I will have a report on our wonder cruise by the end of the month too.

 

thanks again everyone, this has been fun for me to read ,

 

mom x4,grandma x4

 

wow, I apologize mom x4,grandma x4 that I brought this back. I had been looking for a good comparison and thought that you covered every aspect so detailed! It's true that every cruise is different. I love Carnival but thought there was a lot of flaws on our Conquest cruise. This was not up to par. But the Ecstasy trip I took shortly after was far above expectation. We will be on the Wonder Jan 17th for my DD birthday as a surprise for her. I was just hoping the extra money we spent on DCL plus airfare, hotel and car would be worth the expense. You made me feel like this is a trip that we should definetly look forward to taking.

[mom x4,grandma x4]

wow, I apologize mom x4,grandma x4 that I brought this back. I had been looking for a good comparison and thought that you covered every aspect so detailed! It's true that every cruise is different. I love Carnival but thought there was a lot of flaws on our Conquest cruise. This was not up to par. But the Ecstasy trip I took shortly after was far above expectation. We will be on the Wonder Jan 17th for my DD birthday as a surprise for her. I was just hoping the extra money we spent on DCL plus airfare, hotel and car would be worth the expense. You made me feel like this is a trip that we should definetly look forward to taking.

 

Please no appologies are necessary. It gave a whole new group of people a chance to read mypost and voice their opinions, that is what cruise sritic is all about.

we all have a change to praise or criticize our experience on cruise ships.

I love reading everyones comments. Just sorry I had removed my photos.

I do have a report about an 11/24/07 magic cruise on these pages somewhere you might enjoy reading since your going on disney soon.

 

WOW, what an awesome birthday surprize!! Your a great mom:)

If I see my old report I will post the link here for you.

I hope you will give us a report on your experience on Disney after you return.

 

mom x4,grandma x4

[Marla07860]

I love readin about different cruise lines then disney. I've done 4 disney cruises and have 2 more booked, but I am also looking into other cruise lines for so I can stop cruising DCL till the new ships and save a little cash. I am thinking about doing a RCCL. My dad's friends has been on CCL and RCCL sometimes and he told me I would like RCCL much better, but loved the report :)

[mom x4,grandma x4]

Viciouslysh,

here is a link to a Dsiney cruise report

 

http://messages.cruisecritic.com/showthread.php?t=672012

 

maybe you might be interested in it since your trying to get aquainted with DCL.

mom x4,grandma x4

[mi3stooges]

I have sailed Disney Magic in '04 and the Wonder in '06. I sailed RCCL Sovereign in '07 and the Explorer in '07.

I have the Wonder booked for May '08 and Island Princess to Alaska in Sep '08.

All my Cruises were WITHOUT kids. My brother has sailed Disney with many kids and we all sailed together on the Explorer in '07. His 16 and 15 yr olds PREFER Disney.

I too felt there was something missing when I sailed someone else. Even though RCCL was "cheaper" the money I enjoyed gambling with (and lost) could have gotten me a better room on Disney!!!!

Just my experiences.

 

Thanks Momx4...for the review, it was well thought out!!

[cruisedawgg]

I could go either way (Carnival or Disney). I won't beat a dead horse on the pros / cons of each. I'll just say that I would lean towards the Disney side of said fence and could better justify paying the extra cost of DCL if they had more 'adult' adult activities (please don't read into that, we're talking about Disney!).

[coachbraz]

A cruise is what you make of it, Disney is for the little ones and the other lines are for the big ones. Iv'e been on all but Disney and would never take a cruise with so many screaming little brats. There is disneyworld or land for the kids. As far as comparisons My sister and her family got bored by day three with no real adult activites and have never went back, on the contrary they went on the Carnival Pride out of LA and loved it great Kids program and had trouble getting the kids to go with them. My Son and his family just got back from the Wonder and thougt it was Ok except they didn't see all the smiling faces you saw ,they saw a crew very tired and who treated you like cattle going to slaughter, get in line, go this way tell the kids to hold it down ect. So with that said and it apears you will live and die disney go for it. But maybe try some other lines there is a whole lot of other wonderful cruises out there, there will be stairs and casinos and smoke but there will be lots of other great places to see and wonderful things to do.

 

 

Coachbraz

RCL 94

CARNIVAL 96

NCL 98

NCL 2000

RCL 2001

CARNIVAL 2002

NCL 04

CARNIVAL 05

NCL 06

CARNIVAL 08

[viciouslysh]

Viciouslysh,

here is a link to a Dsiney cruise report

 

http://messages.cruisecritic.com/showthread.php?t=672012

 

maybe you might be interested in it since your trying to get aquainted with DCL.

mom x4,grandma x4

 

Thank you! That helps! I'm going to Atlantis as well. Sounds like you would recommend it.

[mom x4,grandma x4]

Thank you! That helps! I'm going to Atlantis as well. Sounds like you would recommend it.

 

 

We did enjoy Atlantis.

[INdisneyfamily]

My family and I have only cruised with Disney. We are going on the Carnival Triumph for our daughter's Spring Break. It was planned by some of her friends' parents. I am really trying to keep an open mind and know that as long as I am with my family we will enjoy quality time together. We are not drinkers or gamblers so that does concern me a little. After reading your trip report, I am worried about debarkation. My daughter is in a cabin with her friends on a different level. I do not want to be separated from her when going thru customs, etc. Please give me advice!

[mom x4,grandma x4]

My family and I have only cruised with Disney. We are going on the Carnival Triumph for our daughter's Spring Break. It was planned by some of her friends' parents. I am really trying to keep an open mind and know that as long as I am with my family we will enjoy quality time together. We are not drinkers or gamblers so that does concern me a little. After reading your trip report, I am worried about debarkation. My daughter is in a cabin with her friends on a different level. I do not want to be separated from her when going thru customs, etc. Please give me advice!

 

 

I dont know about the Triumph but on the Glory they will call you by deck numbers. what you need to do is to pick a spot where you and your daughter can wait together, then when one of your decks are called, just wait together until the second number is called and them get off together.

 

It is ok to go after your deck is called, just not before it is called, so you can exit together.

 

You also have the option of getting off together earlier by carrying off all your luggage which usually isnt practical because most people have too many pieces of luggage.

 

mom x4,grandma x4

[MC-AZ-07]

Princess might be different but I disembarked with my sister's deck, which was earlier than mine. They never checked our color tags. I had to find my luggage in the terminal but it was easy as it was all sorted by color tags and numbers.

[mom x4,grandma x4]

At Port Canaveral for the Glory that wouldnt of worked, wish it would have.

The luggage there wasnt set out in large room to find. It came through on a conveyor belt like the airports and they wont put the luggage from your deck on it until your deck is called. Then it will just keep going around and around until you get it.

glad to hear on Princess you can go early and find it.

 

mom x4,grandma x4

[MC-AZ-07]

If having to wait for your bag in the terminal is the only concern, you could bring it to your daughter's room the night before and tag it with one of her luggage tags and set it out with theirs. Then just disembark with them. Or vice versa - put all your luggage together on your deck and depart at that appointed time.

[INdisneyfamily]

Thanks for the suggestions. I feel much better knowing we can exit together. :)