Carnival Cruiser Experiences Disney for the First Time!

[Lerin]

A boat full of kids and cartoon characters?

No thank you.

Glad you had fun though.

[TheCalicoCat]

Are you a "Disney" person?

1. you go to the movies?

2. You buy "Disney" licensed products?

3. You've been to one or more of the theme parks?

 

If you answered no to the above, why did you choose Disney? I wholeheartedly say no to the above (Other brands too, not just Disney. Sorry my son's underwear do not need a mouse on them.) do you think that a non-Disney lover would enjoy a Disney cruise?

 

I saw that you child is 2? Do you have any experience with the children's activities for older children?

 

How was the food for a vegetarian (if you noticed)?

[renza]

We went on our first cruise as a family on Disney. It was my husbands first cruise and he thought it was amazing. Well soon after we went on royal and carnival and he said what the heck did we go on Disney for. No casino, which he doesn't even gamble much and all the entertainment was geared for kids. After 9 the ship seem to become dead. The kids go to sleep as well as the ship. I can

 

 

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[renza]

I can say we will never be on a Disney ship again. Way overpriced. Now we live in florida so we can get specials to the Disney parks but the Disney cruise is not going to happen again.

 

 

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[Pine Bluff]

A boat full of kids and cartoon characters?

No thank you.

Glad you had fun though.

 

Its not like that. Its sad that some do think that.

[jackparts]

Family of 10 who for 5 years sailed DCL over Thanksgiving 3-7 nights. Absolutely loved it! Found nightlife if you know where to look and saved big bucks having no casino. Service not found elsewhere on any of my 30+ cruises and the kids loved the clubs. We adults loved the security, not having to worry about the kids. Food was the best. Tried NCL Darn Dawn last year and it was a bust. This year, we will do the Glory over Turkey day and hope it is close to DCL. Changed from DCL to give the kids a broader view of cruising. Overall, any cruise that's not the Darn Dawn is fantastic if you let it be.

[sweetsixteencruisers]

Thanks for the review, and I agree with basically every point. However, even after my Disney cruise, I went back to Carnival --- you are paying for all those great extras on the Disney ship. For a current comparison for thread readers:

 

Carnival: 7 Days out of Port Canaveral on the Sunshine in June 2014 (St. Thomas, St. Maarten, San Juan)

 

Inside room: $844 per person

 

Disney: 7 Days out of Port Canaveral in June 2014 (St. Thomas, St. Maarten, Castaway Cay)

 

Inside room: 2,569 per person

 

You could go on the Carnival cruise three times ($2,532) for slightly less than one time on Disney. Or, you could eat at the steakhouse every night, buy pictures and alcohol galore, and expensive shore excursions, and still not be as expensive as Disney.

 

Don't get me wrong, I loved my Disney cruise. But, don't think it doesn't come with a price.

 

I can't justify the price difference. Call me cheap, but that is a ridiculous difference. Just my opinion!

[skiwee]

Sounds like a great review. We have our first DCL cruised booked for September and cannot wait to go. The same people that won't justify the price comparing it to CCL are most likely the same folks that won't pay the prices to stay onsite at one of Disneys deluxe resorts. They just don't see any value in it and that's fine. We all spend our $$$ differently.

 

After our first and last cruise on CCL last November we found we got what we paid for. We paid very little and got a very barebones cruise. It's just not to my liking. We are NCL people but really looking to be immersed in what I believe only Disney can do. Thankfully there are cruises for everyone and we all have choices.

 

 

 

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[Pine Bluff]

I can't justify the price difference. Call me cheap, but that is a ridiculous difference. Just my opinion!

 

The same could be true for going to the Magic kingdom for $99 a ticket for admission, or to your local amusement park. I guess some will never experience Disney with that thinking.

[ryanpatricksmom]

We took our first and last Disney cruise many years ago. We stayed in the Roy Disney Suite, so any comparison to Carnival's staterooms would be ridiculous. I wholeheartedly agree with your comments regarding the entertainment and atmosphere. We may sail Disney again someday when we return to Alaska, but until then, we'd miss the casino too much, lol!

 

It's so funny how things change, because the only reason that we didn't return to Disney when we still traveled with children was the food. It was absolutely terrible back then...even Palo was sub-par compared to Carnival. Even up until now, the only food that we have had that was worse were a few offerings on NCL....and Carnival's food has definitely come down a notch. Anyway, it's nice to hear that they've stepped up their game. I look forward to having that elegant cruise liner experience again someday.

[sweetsixteencruisers]

The same could be true for going to the Magic kingdom for $99 a ticket for admission, or to your local amusement park. I guess some will never experience Disney with that thinking.

 

I guess so! I like going on rides, not taken for a ride!

[jwalk03]

Are you a "Disney" person?

1. you go to the movies?

2. You buy "Disney" licensed products?

3. You've been to one or more of the theme parks?

 

If you answered no to the above, why did you choose Disney? I wholeheartedly say no to the above (Other brands too, not just Disney. Sorry my son's underwear do not need a mouse on them.) do you think that a non-Disney lover would enjoy a Disney cruise?

 

I saw that you child is 2? Do you have any experience with the children's activities for older children?

 

How was the food for a vegetarian (if you noticed)?

 

I would not consider myself a "Disney" person, at least not a hard core one. I have been to Disney World only once, when I was like 12 on a family vacation.

 

I do own most of the animated Disney movies on Blu Ray (I started buying them all when I found out I was going to be a dad a couple of years ago.). But I haven't even watched most of them.

 

I own nothing Disney licensed, except a shot glass I just bought on the cruise I guess. My daughter does have some Disney clothes, toys, etc. but I think every kid owns something Disney!

 

Sorry I have no idea about the vegetarian food, we are definetly meat eaters. I will say that one of our table mates had a gluten allergy and the waitstaff were very very accommodating to him. They brought him his own bread that was gluten free each night, verified with the chef that any dishes he was ordering were gluten free, provided gluten free breakfast items as well, and even gave him the next night's menu after dinner each night to ensure that there was a dish he wanted that was also gluten free. So i am sure they are happy to accommodate any special dietary requests.

 

Honestly before I joined cruise critic 4 years ago I didn't even know Disney Cruise Line existed. I chose a Disney cruise because of all of the glowing reviews and posts I have read on here. I don't think I have come across a legitimate negative review yet.

[Pine Bluff]

I would not consider myself a "Disney" person, at least not a hard core one. I have been to Disney World only once, when I was like 12 on a family vacation.

 

I do own most of the animated Disney movies on Blu Ray (I started buying them all when I found out I was going to be a dad a couple of years ago.). But I haven't even watched most of them.

 

I own nothing Disney licensed, except a shot glass I just bought on the cruise I guess. My daughter does have some Disney clothes, toys, etc. but I think every kid owns something Disney!

 

Sorry I have no idea about the vegetarian food, we are definetly meat eaters. I will say that one of our table mates had a gluten allergy and the waitstaff were very very accommodating to him. They brought him his own bread that was gluten free each night, verified with the chef that any dishes he was ordering were gluten free, provided gluten free breakfast items as well, and even gave him the next night's menu after dinner each night to ensure that there was a dish he wanted that was also gluten free. So i am sure they are happy to accommodate any special dietary requests.

 

Honestly before I joined cruise critic 4 years ago I didn't even know Disney Cruise Line existed. I chose a Disney cruise because of all of the glowing reviews and posts I have read on here. I don't think I have come across a legitimate negative review yet.

 

We found everything on Disney so over the top, with service so far in the uper stratosphere, we overlooked the only downside. The food, primarirly the offereings in the jungle restaurant (someone help me with the name).

 

Even embarkation and debarkation blew us away. They certainly excel in the art of crowd control.

[TheCalicoCat]

Thanks for the response. (For the record, my 5 year old does not have anything Disney & never has. I know we are odd, but I think that childhood has been commercialized too much & chose not to buy into it.)

 

I have been on Carnival, HAL, & RCCL. Still not sure about Disney, but I have my doubts based on the price since we enjoyed ourselves on the other lines.

[jayjay94]

Are you a "Disney" person?

1. you go to the movies?

2. You buy "Disney" licensed products?

3. You've been to one or more of the theme parks?

 

If you answered no to the above, why did you choose Disney? I wholeheartedly say no to the above (Other brands too, not just Disney. Sorry my son's underwear do not need a mouse on them.) do you think that a non-Disney lover would enjoy a Disney cruise?

 

I saw that you child is 2? Do you have any experience with the children's activities for older children?

 

How was the food for a vegetarian (if you noticed)?

 

There was a part on the Menu only dedicated for vegetarians.. I just got of the Disney Magic this weekend and every night it had it's own vegetarian section. Sorry as I am a meat eater really didn't pay attention to the menu but we actually did try something from it which was really good.

[jayjay94]

Family of 10 who for 5 years sailed DCL over Thanksgiving 3-7 nights. Absolutely loved it! Found nightlife if you know where to look and saved big bucks having no casino. Service not found elsewhere on any of my 30+ cruises and the kids loved the clubs. We adults loved the security, not having to worry about the kids. Food was the best. Tried NCL Darn Dawn last year and it was a bust. This year, we will do the Glory over Turkey day and hope it is close to DCL. Changed from DCL to give the kids a broader view of cruising. Overall, any cruise that's not the Darn Dawn is fantastic if you let it be.

 

Nightlife know where to look??? Man I looked everywhere walked that ship up and down front to back and there was no type of Nightlife. This one part of the ship they had a nice seating area and someone singing with a guy playing the guitar and there was nobody there. She was singing to an empty room. The DJ in the club was up on stage DJing to herself because there was nobody in there. Piano bar empty every night , The place you found more people was at a Pub and that was a total of maybe 8 people. Trust me I looked everywhere and there was no nightlife. Like I stated before that was my only complaint with DCL... Again could have just been that Ship I was on.. I am not saying that all DCL cruises will be the same but that was my experience and Carnival is just the opposite.. I am also a young guy and maybe not everyone that goes on a DCL cruise is looking to party until 5am. But I Love Carnival and will I cruise on Disney again, Absolutely! But it will only be with kids for there entertainment. and Living in Florida helps because we get a great Florida Resident rate.

[Disneycruisers]

Nightlife know where to look??? Man I looked everywhere walked that ship up and down front to back and there was no type of Nightlife. This one part of the ship they had a nice seating area and someone singing with a guy playing the guitar and there was nobody there. She was singing to an empty room. The DJ in the club was up on stage DJing to herself because there was nobody in there. Piano bar empty every night , The place you found more people was at a Pub and that was a total of maybe 8 people. Trust me I looked everywhere and there was no nightlife. Like I stated before that was my only complaint with DCL... Again could have just been that Ship I was on.. I am not saying that all DCL cruises will be the same but that was my experience and Carnival is just the opposite.. I am also a young guy and maybe not everyone that goes on a DCL cruise is looking to party until 5am. But I Love Carnival and will I cruise on Disney again, Absolutely! But it will only be with kids for there entertainment. and Living in Florida helps because we get a great Florida Resident rate.

 

As a die-hard Disney cruiser, I have agree with this.

 

My DH works an evening shift (arrives home every night at 11:30ish.) He's used to going to bed about 130a. I'm able to fall asleep very soon when we're back in our room at midnight. However, there's not much for him to do before he's tired enough to sleep. We've asked on the comment card to have at least one bar/club open until 2a.

[jayjay94]

As a die-hard Disney cruiser, I have agree with this.

 

My DH works an evening shift (arrives home every night at 11:30ish.) He's used to going to bed about 130a. I'm able to fall asleep very soon when we're back in our room at midnight. However, there's not much for him to do before he's tired enough to sleep. We've asked on the comment card to have at least one bar/club open until 2a.

 

Well the club was open until 2am but nobody was in there..lol from midnight to 2am there was just the servers and DJ.

[Rinderoo]

just remember to account for the extra charge for the kids club on disney and charge to setup an account on your sign/sail card for adults as well.

 

coworker just got back from a disney cruise and was not expecting the fees of

 

$48 per kid regardless of how much/little is used at kids club and $48 to setup each charge card/key for the adults.

 

i never knew there were such fees associated on disney..but then i don't care since I"m a DINK kind of person :D

 

Sounds like this was your service charges/gratuities. $12/person/day x 4 days = $48 per person.

There are no kid service charges on DCL.

[April29]

Disney raises the price as the sailing date approaches.

 

Best price is more than 6 months prior to departure.

[mmrudnick]

Disney is worth any price difference!

 

 

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[boaterette]

Kind of like posting a review on the Motel 6 website comparing it to the Ritz carlton.

[mguimond1990]

I would love to do a Disney cruise but the price is scary. We are booked on the 5 night liberty in sept and the price for the 2 of us was just over $1000 including tips(ocean view room)..we looked at Disney for the same week and a 4 night would be $1450 not including tips. I know about $500 might not seem like too big of a deal but I've got a budget haha. Maybe some day :)

 

 

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[JustCruiseMe]

Thanks for your review and I am glad you had a great time. We like WDW but I'll never go on a Disney Cruise (unless it's free) because we don't have kids and we do get tired of the family/kid "thing". So if it's free I"m going and gonna have a good time, if I have to pay forget it...rather be in the casino on other lines.

 

I have no doubt that Disney is top notch in decor, food and cast members and for a family or with kids would be awesome.

[near the beach]

After cruising quite a while we decided to book a Disney 4 day cruise. The cost for this one cruise is more than the total cost for the other three 4 day cruises we have sailed.

 

We are waiting to see if the Disney cruise will be three times better than any of the other cruises.

 

It is a cruise so we are expecting to have a good time.