Disney Magic vs Carnival Sunshine

[jrm116]

Thinking about a cruise for April 2015 to the Caribbean. Down to either (if it works out) carnival sunshine or disney magic. Carnival goes to E. Carib., Disney to W. Carib.

 

I have been on disney once, but it's oh so expensive. Carnival looks good but have heard some negative things about it too. What can I expect from these cruises? I have not been on one since 2006!

 

Oh, they both leave Port Carnaveral (sp?) and are 7 nighters

[hartsnvt]

There really is no comparison as people rave about Disney but you pay a very steep price. If you price it out for the exact same cabin what do you come up with? Disney is usually double or more . Also, do you gamble? If you do there is no casino on Disney. If you have a lower budget or would rather have all of that extra money for other things like excusrions etc, then I would pick Carnival hands down. If you want a ton of kids and have a ton of money then go with Disney. Carnival does make a lot of sense, it is family friendly and you get a good bang for your buck! I like them because they fit my budget and I always have a great time!:)

[mizLORInj]

Disney Magic was vey nice but I'd cruise other ships before doing Magic or Wonder (its sister) again. Nice and elegant, but definitely geared toward kids. Not for me.

[heatherbelle]

I have been on both ships in the Med.

 

For the money Carnival offers an excellent product. I was so impressed with Carnival, that I cancelled my DCL Fantasy sailing and booked the Breeze for this summer. Saved over $1500. Disney is very nice, but with the dollars we saved it meant I could afford to stay at the Yacht Club for my land vacation.

 

If money was no object then of course I would cruise with DCL, lots of lovely touches everywhere, especially in the dessert department:D.

 

My DS whose now 15 prefers the Carnival product, but he is rather old for characters.

 

Have a look at Gambee's trip reports, one is the Breeze the other the Fantasy. I appreciate they are not your chosen ship, but they give an overview of both of the cruise lines and Carnival although they don't beat Disney they come pretty close when he hands out the points.

Edited June 5, 2014 by heatherbelle

[Pine Bluff]

Does the Magic stop at Castaway Cay on that itinerary? That itself is worth it's weight in gold. Having been on both (one as the Destiny), I would still choose A Disney ship. It's like a Carnival cruise with an extra layer of Disney on top. You may have to adjust your fare based on accommodations and sail date. Before Carnivals prices plunged, we found we could sail in a balcony at the same price just by going on an off date. Everyone should do a Disney cruise once!

[aaron3219]

My wife's grandparents went on a Disney cruise last year. They spent a TON of money. They didn't like it very much.

 

They went later in the year 2013 on a Carnival Cruise and LOVED it.

 

I never got concrete answers out of them, but I imagine that the Disney cruise is full of screaming kids, and 60+ year old people aren't all that interested in seeing Disney characters.

 

I priced a Disney cruise and I could do more than one Carnival Cruise for the cost.

[hftmrock]

This is like comparing a Lexus and an Altima.

 

they both will get you to where you want to go but you get more luxury and features from a Lexus and you will pay significantly more for the Lexus.

 

If you could afford the Disney Magic, I would think that is the way to go. If not, the Sunshine would still be an affordable cruise that you will still enjoy.

[edinboro cruiser]

I love Carnival but if I had the money I would do Disney. As another poster said Castaway Cay is great. There is not another private cruise island that comes close to Disneys

 

 

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[serene56]

Easter Sunday falls on April 5, 2015. I would avoid cruising the week before and the week after. Spring break etc.

 

 

Breakers will not be on the disney cruise as these as VERY expensive. I can take three carnival cruises for the price of one disney cruise.

[Dazzies]

We are just back from a 5-night on the Carnival Sunshine and LOVED it. Our last cruise was on the Disney Dream (and we loved it). If they were the same cost, we would pick Disney again, but my husband and I both agreed that we couldn't see spending that much more on Disney when we loved Carnival. I even asked our four kids which they preferred, and they all said they liked them equally, for different reasons.

 

 

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[jrm116]

I don't know why this crossed my mind at 1 am but is wifi as slow as people say it is on cruise ships? I know it's not a huge deal but I will probably need to check my email a few times for work when/if we go

[Pine Bluff]

If price is your driving factor; go Carnival. If experience is your driving factor, go Disney. The kids and the characters are not as in your face as those that have never sailed Disney try to make it sound. There are kid free zones all over the place, and the rotating restaurants are a treat.

[Jana60]

Thinking about a cruise for April 2015 to the Caribbean. Down to either (if it works out) carnival sunshine or disney magic. Carnival goes to E. Carib., Disney to W. Carib.

 

I have been on disney once, but it's oh so expensive. Carnival looks good but have heard some negative things about it too. What can I expect from these cruises? I have not been on one since 2006!

 

Oh, they both leave Port Carnaveral (sp?) and are 7 nighters

 

If the choice was between Disney and any of the other carnival ships I would choose carnival but the sunshine is not my favorite ship. The public areas are very small. The showroom is almost non-existent. So I would choose Disney if the choice is between those two ships.

 

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[graphicguy]

Neighbors just did the same comparison. They first cruised Disney when their two daughter were 5 and 7. Said they loved it. They just came back from an Easter cruise, only now, their daughters are 12 and 14. They said it wasn't meant for their "older" daughters.

 

They just booked the Carnival Breeze for mid-summer.

 

I think the general rule of thumb, if you have young kids, Disney is fun. As they get older, not so much.

 

Pricing? Someone has to pay for the marketing of Disney characters.....;)

[DaKa2002]

I would recommend the Disney Fantasy or B2B on the Disney Dream. Area for kids is much larger on the 2 newer ships (we have sailed on all four). Both ships usually have fantastic counselors for being with the kids. However, we always sail when most kids are in school; wouldn't go during Winter/Spring breaks or the summer months if one could avoid it.

The Disney ships are great, adult areas kept kid-free. Food acceptable. Remy, at extra cost, for adults only is out of this world! Great family shows.

Like most of the world, you get what you pay. We believe DCL is worth the extra, a premium for family of all ages cruising together. That's our 2 cents!

[freagan]

The only advantages the Crowdshine has are price and Casino.

[trapezelover]

I'm 34 no kids and would absolutely choose Disney. There are plenty of adult areas and it's not all screaming kids the whole time. I've been on 3 disney cruises and loved each one. Castaway Cay is amazing especially the adult side. I like Carnival too don't get me wrong; I'm booked on the Valor next may.

[Laurin612]

If money is no object, I would say to try Disney. I would love to try a Disney cruise, but even though I can technically afford it, my frugality will not allow it!

[jrm116]

It will be my wife (we share this account) and I with our 18 year old son who will be graduating a month after the cruise. He doesn't know yet but it's part of his graduation gift! I just hope Disney won't be too "kiddish" for a high school senior

[jrm116]

That reminds me... What is the rule on 18 year olds? I know that's technically an adult but he will still be in high school. Will he be able to go to the teen club or will he have to do the 18+ stuff only?

 

I think he will be fine in the adult areas but I'm afraid other people will think he's too young and will get upset when they learn a 18 year old in high school is in the adult areas.

[hftmrock]

That reminds me... What is the rule on 18 year olds? I know that's technically an adult but he will still be in high school. Will he be able to go to the teen club or will he have to do the 18+ stuff only?

 

I think he will be fine in the adult areas but I'm afraid other people will think he's too young and will get upset when they learn a 18 year old in high school is in the adult areas.

 

cant go to the serenity area, cant drink. that might be it

[Cruise life]

It will be my wife (we share this account) and I with our 18 year old son who will be graduating a month after the cruise. He doesn't know yet but it's part of his graduation gift! I just hope Disney won't be too "kiddish" for a high school senior

 

 

We took our HS senior to Cozumel, Panama and Costa Rica on CCL before his graduation and the best part was the excursions for him because he was too young for the adult activities and too old for camp. He was permitted to go to camp since he was a student (although he had turned 18 in November and the cruise was after). He chose not to participate and ended up meeting one guy in a similar situation; we enjoyed the parents and it all worked to everyone's advantage. I don't know how an 18 yr old will feel around Mickey, etc. I would love to take our boys for their 10th birthday next September ('15) and am worried they will think it's too "kiddish". I personally love the Disney spa areas and also CC. The money is also a factor (we generally take the kids so book for at least 4 and sometimes 5 or 6) and since we have many successful CCL cruises it is likely we will stick with the good thing we have found, esp being platinum at this point, free laundry, etc. GL with your decision...maybe let your son decide.

 

 

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[GrandmaHofmann]

They are apples and oranges. If you have children and you don't choose Disney-- big mistake. The children's clubs on Disney are amazing; on Carnival-- BORING. The quality of the workmanship on the Dream is incredible. Carnival-- cheap, tawdry, in poor taste. Disney's food is wonderful; Carnival's is ok. The way the waiters treat kids on Disney is also incredible; on Carnival-- not so much. There's a good reason Disney costs more. I have been on thirty cruises on RCCL, Celebrity, Disney, Carnival, Princess, NCL. Nobody beats Disney.

[Fla Senior]

It will be my wife (we share this account) and I with our 18 year old son who will be graduating a month after the cruise. He doesn't know yet but it's part of his graduation gift! I just hope Disney won't be too "kiddish" for a high school senior

 

I have not been on Disney ships, but have been on Sunshine. IMHO, an 18 year old would love the water & sports activities on the Sunshine, as well as all the food options. Would think he might be too old for Disney characters.

[pe4all]

We began cruising with kids on Disney. Did 3 cruises in a row with them. They were great, and VERY cheap back then, as the ships were brand new, and the DCL was just starting out. (I am talking $1,800 for a balcony cabin for 4 for a 7 day sailing during the summer!) But after 3 cruises, we had had enough Disney. We then tried Carnival. After asking my kids which they preferred, we were shocked when they wanted to continue on Carnival, rather than go back to Disney. Yes, Disney is a line everyone probably should experience at least once - but they have really out-priced themselves during peak vacation periods, imho. We found that the wait staff in the dining room on CCL was just as good as the Disney wait staff - making hats for kids, patient, bringing crayons and coloring/puzzle sheets, cutting up meat for them, etc. And my kids loved the entertainment in the dining room. I would love to go back on Disney to try them again - but will wait until we hit a bargain sailing during a time we can go. (which may be never!) I would suggest the Sunshine for an 18 year old. He will enjoy the activities on the ship, and my kids never were bored - always made friends on every cruise on the first night! (if he is not allowed in the "kid's club" - which he will be, as he is still in h.s., they do usually have a meet n mingle for 18-20 year olds.)