Carnival Spirit or Disney Wonder in Jan 2011?????

[mapman_2004]

Hi all,

 

I posted this on the Disney forum yesterday, and have had over 60 hits but no responses. Not as many Disney posters as there are Carnival!

 

 

Looking at Disney prices compared to Carnival. Both are Mexican Riveira, but different ports. I like the Spirit's 3 ports more, having been to all 6.

 

Carnival 8 night out of San Diego (where I live) = $1,700 for balcony

 

Disney 7 night out of LA = $3,500 for a balcony.

 

That is more than double. Can Disney be that much better? Give me 2,000 reasons (about the difference in price) on why I shouldn't choose Carnival. We love Disney (annual passholders), girls really love the whole princess thing. They are 2 and 3 1/2 now, but in January 2011, they will be 3 and 4 1/2.

 

Thanks!

[kat228]

I have yet to cruise, but I understand the dilemma...I'm a huge Disney fan. Up until August of this year I was an AP holder to WDW and I live in NY State... I've read reviews of Disney and I've read reviews of Carnival. And my impression is that Disney does seem to have more "Disney" (haha...sorry, I lack a better term) on their ships. I mean that it's more imaginative, there are the 3 restaurants to choose from, etc. But I have a real hard time justifying spending over twice the price for almost the same thing. If it were just another $50-100 per person, I'd consider it. But for an extra $500 (for the cruise I was looking at) well...hmmm, don't think so.

 

You have the added benefit of sailing already on Carnival and I assume you'd like it (since you're looking at it again!) I'd save the money and take another trip to Disney later in the year! I haven't cruised since the Big Red Boat, I think I was 6 or 7! So for me, I had a hard time paying that much more for something I wasn't sure I'd like.

 

For the record: I still really really want to take a Disney cruise. It's the lure of Disney :)

[ricko19]

We cruised on the Wonder with our 2 kids (DS 5 & DD 11 at the time) last January and we have also cruised on Carnival.

 

The price difference is pretty crazy like you mentioned. We did a package deal where we stayed at the Polynesian and spent 5 days at WDW before going on the cruise. We had a balcony as well.

 

The service, food and entertainment was great.

Very comparable with Carnival, although I personally think the entertainment was better for a family than Carnival.

 

That being said, I don't think it's worth the difference in price.

 

We are going with the kids on the Ecstasy next month and I know my kids. They will be JUST as happy with Camp Carnival as they were with the kids program on Disney.

[Cruzman]

For me, a no brainer! Go on the Spirit and use the difference to book another cruise.

[mapman_2004]

For me, a no brainer! Go on the Spirit and use the difference to book another cruise.

 

I know, huh!

 

Can Disney really charge that much? Will they have to compete with Carnival and the other west coast lines, or do people drink the Disney cool-aide?

[firefly333]

I know, huh!

 

Can Disney really charge that much? Will they have to compete with Carnival and the other west coast lines, or do people drink the Disney cool-aide?

 

They dont have to. On Disney soda is included :eek:

[Minybear]

Are there any children cruising with you? If not your paying extra for the children programs on the Wonder. If you are traveing with children both cruiselines have great children programs.

 

I would first question myself which itinerary I like better to Mexico Wonder or Spirit?

 

Which is port is more convient for you and your family to get to? San Diego or LA?

 

Both cruiselines have great service and childrens programs.

 

Both have great food.

 

I just got off the Wonder on 12/6 and before we cruised we had booked a resv to go from LA to Vancouver on the Wonder for 4/27/2011. Since we got off the Wonder I have canceled our resv on the Wonder and booked Carnival Fantasy out of Charleston for 4/02/2011 and Carnival was more expensive (if you can believe that!)! One thing that surprised me on the Wonder that the price included soda.

 

We also love Disney. We are DVC members for DL/WDW.

 

I personally would pick Carnival and pocket the $1800 savings, but it's a personal choose Disney or Carnival.

 

Cindy

[mapman_2004]

They dont have to. On Disney soda is included :eek:

 

What about iced tea? I heard Carnival charges for that.

[Cruzman]

What about iced tea? I heard Carnival charges for that.

 

Nope, no extra charge for iced tea unless you order the canned ice tea.

[texankhj]

I just sailed the Disney Wonder the past Nov. and have sailed Carnival several times. The differences:

Disney has a bath and 1/2 in their rooms. One room has a sink and toilet and the other room has the tub and shower with a sink. They also have a black out curtain that divides the bed from the couch sitting area. Very nice for people who get up early and ones that want to sleep in. As others have said the soda is included, Disney will also allow you to carry on alcohol, whatever you like not just wine. For small childern they have the Disney characters but they are not seen much except for designated picture times in various location of the ships. You rotate dining rooms and will be told which dining room to go to each night, your table mates will rotate with you so they are always the same.

Carnival has a much better activity program for all ages. Something going on around the ship pretty much all the time. They have a casino. Food at dinner to me is hands down better. Rooms are spacious with lots of storage space. Pools are much larger and pool area has 3 times the lounge chairs as Disney.

I would not spend the extra money for Disney again, the rooms are better but everything else Carnival beats them.

[quickrate]

the spirit is a wonderful ship as is the crew! Can't go wrong. In my opinion, one of Carnival's best ships. We also enjoyed the itinerary-could take or leave Acapulco but the other two ports are great. Also, 8 days is a real plus.

Pat

[frazzledrazzle16]

Huge Disney fan here- My advice... go on the Carnival Spirit and then take the girls for a few days to Disneyland.

 

Disney cruises seem nice and we will try it one day, but I can never justify the price difference with Carnival (who we know and trust). We usually just tack on 4 days at Disney for a small post-cruise vacation with the money we save.