Carnival vs Disney

[SCAnthony]

I'm sure there are a bunch of topics on this but can someone give me one good reason to pay 3-4x the money to cruise on Disney over Carnival(or any other line). We went on the Dream last year and are going on the Magic in March. Had a great time on the Carnival Dream (good food, entertainment, great service, nice room)and are looking forward to the Magic. Priced a similar cruise with Disney before booking our March cruise on Magic. It was literally 3x times the cost for same room type(mid ship balcony). Just can't see how it would be worth it to pay $5-6 thousand more to see some college kid in a Mickey Mouse costume.

 

 

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[ginnstars]

I'm sure there are a bunch of topics on this but can someone give me one good reason to pay 3-4x the money to cruise on Disney over Carnival(or any other line). We went on the Dream last year and are going on the Magic in March. Had a great time on the Carnival Dream (good food, entertainment, great service, nice room)and are looking forward to the Magic. Priced a similar cruise with Disney before booking our March cruise on Magic. It was literally 3x times the cost for same room type(mid ship balcony). Just can't see how it would be worth it to pay $5-6 thousand more to see some college kid in a Mickey Mouse costume.

 

 

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It's all about preference. Have been on both Carnival AND Disney I can say there is a reason why you pay so much more for Disney, because quite frankly, you get more. Now, let me be clear. I loathe Disney and find them to be the corporate hole that swallows childhood, BUT.... I LOVED my Disney Cruise so much that I am working on going again in the next year or too.

 

As you can see, when we went it was for the "Star Wars Cruise". Which honestly sucked. It wasn't very Star Wars filled and I felt we really got shafted by the promises they made. But that is for another thread. Had it NOT been for the WONDERFUL staff on board the ship, I would never consider putting myself through that again. They knew my name from the moment I got on the ship (and not because they announced it, yes, announced it, as I boarded). The staff in the MDR went out of their way to make sure our dietary needs were met. (We are Jewish so we eat Kosher) and the food was good. The best part was I didn't have to worry about my son's table manners. Now, they aren't bad, but they aren't what I would say "perfect". But because you are traveling with a bunch of other parents, there is a silent sense of comradery when a child misbehaves or gets loud or does something embarrassing. They (Disney) treated my son like he was the King and they did this successfully with the other kids.

 

Now besides service, there were other pluses. I found the shows (even though they were Disney themed) much better then what I've seen on both Princess and Carnival. IMO they "sounded" better. Also, If you didn't want to go down and squish into a chair (or in my case get motion sickness from being so far forward), you could watch the whole show from your stateroom. Some other amenities were upscale as well. The coffee shop was just like an actual coffee shop that you would have on land. Same vibe. They had a movie theater in addition to MUTS. Slides were more modern with lights and music. Each stateroom has two bathrooms in it. Which you would be surprised how nice that really is until you have one. Beds are comfy. Linen was soft. Decor of the ship is amazing. You rotate dinning rooms and your server follows you so they will always know your preferences. The Animated Studio dinning room was a blast for my son. You draw a picture and it will be played on the walls.

 

Mostly though, the service was just so much better then I've ever had on a Carnival cruise. It was worth the extra cost we paid in my mind because of the VALUE. If you don't see the value in it, don't book it. Besides, you see sooooo many characters throughout the whole day that its just not getting a quick glimpse of a college kid in a Mickey suit. If you have kids, and you want to give them a "Disney experience" without the hassle of the park, I recommend the cruise. The best time to book is during off-peak season when the kids are in school. That is the cheapest. Otherwise your paying 3-4x more than you would for off-peak.

 

FYI. One downside is there are no casinos or smoking on any Disney Cruise Ships.

[Pyrate13]

Everyone has their own opinions on value and quality. We have done 4 Disney cruises and frankly, we don't ever plan on another. Not knocking the previous posters opinion but ours is quite the opposite.

 

First, I don't find the staff any worse or necessarily better on Carnival. We have always been treated in a friendly, caring manner on both lines. I don't need my name announced as I board and the staff on Carnival knows us by name just as quickly. The bar staff and wait staff know our preferences very soon also.

 

Second, I think the food on Carnival is actually a bit better and we do not enjoy the dining room rotation business on Disney at all.

 

Third, unless you are sailing with young children are the characters really that big a deal for you? We could not care less if we never saw a character, Disney or otherwise.

 

Fourth, we find the beds on Carnival just as comfortable as any other, the stewards do a good job and don't need two bathrooms.

 

Overall I find Carnival answers all our needs quite nicely and in our opinion, at least on par with Disney.

 

So in answer to your question, for us, and only speaking for us, no, Disney is nowhere near worth the extra cost and we are quite satisfied with Carnival's offerings.

[SCAnthony]

Different stroke for different folks I guess. Doubt I will ever spring for a Disney cruise but was wondering what would make it that much better. Thanks for the input.

 

 

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[JinxyB]

I've done far more Carnival cruises than Disney, but for my family Carnival is just fine! I always price out Disney compared to Carnival and Disney is always twice ( if not triple) the cost in an interior on Disney compared to a balcony on Carnival. Sure, the aqua duck slide is awesome and Castaway Cay is gorgeous, but I can't justify the extra expense. My child could care less about meeting characters and we are not Disney fanatics so our B2B on the Disney Dream will be it for us. He also hated the kids club on Disney as they combine ages 3-12 in the same group. He much prefers the kids clubs on Carnival, royal and NCL.

[njsonja]

i'll be going on my first DISNEY cruise this year....but I found the repositioning cruise was the same cost as a one week cruise on RCL/NCL/CELEBRITY....the difference is i'm going to take an inside cabin....but I wanted to do this once before i leave the planet....our kids are grown...no grandkids...

 

s

[Love2Cruz2015]

I cruised with DCL twice....it's a completely different product...I wanted my DD to have the Disney experience...I don't believe they are a better product, however, they have the best private island in the Bahamas...so it's "worth it" for that...the "free soda" is not a perk as I don't drink it....and the characters are accessible if you are into that.

The shows are big productions but way to "wholesome" for my taste. So in general, the reason I will cruise with DCL is for the theming, the fish extender groups and Castaway Cay. I can also snag good FL resident deals.

 

But Carnival and MSC are both in my opinion much better values and just as good in service.

[Melissalcsw]

Funny I looked at this too just today. I just can't part with my money for a Disney cruise. Wish I could, but I can do more with Carnival for less money.

 

 

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[riclop]

I'm sure there are a bunch of topics on this but can someone give me one good reason to pay 3-4x the money to cruise on Disney over Carnival(or any other line). We went on the Dream last year and are going on the Magic in March. Had a great time on the Carnival Dream (good food, entertainment, great service, nice room)and are looking forward to the Magic. Priced a similar cruise with Disney before booking our March cruise on Magic. It was literally 3x times the cost for same room type(mid ship balcony). Just can't see how it would be worth it to pay $5-6 thousand more to see some college kid in a Mickey Mouse costume.

 

 

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There is no comparison especially if you have kids.

[Je Souhaite]

There was a time I used to think a Disney cruise was kinda like a Carnival cruise, with that extra layer of everything Disney on a superior ship that had superior service. The ONLY thing sub par was the food.

 

Now, there's no comparison.

 

Everyone should try a Disney cruise once. Look for great fares in September right as the kids go back to school. Or March. And yes, it's worth EVERY PENNY.

 

If you don't want to do a week cruise, they have land / sea packages; 3 or 4 days at Disney world, and the rest of the week on the ship. You still only check in once, you have one account in both places, your key woks in both places, and they take your packed luggage from your room to the ship, while you explore one of the parks.

 

And I still haven't found something that rivals Castaway Cay.

[ginnstars]

There is no comparison especially if you have kids.

 

That has to be the best answer.

[tallnthensome]

My kids 7-9 get a longer cruise and a couple more days in a resort in Florida beforehand by NOT taking a Disney cruise. They wouldn't trade that for the equal cost of a shorter Disney cruise and no ocean resort. We'd never allow ourselves to be taken by Disney's ridiculous prices...... ever. My girls laughed when our NCL Escape was docked next to the small Disney Magic. The Escape had a huge ropes course and a large water park among other things. The Magic had just a small pool and tiny water slide. They'd feel the same with the Vista coming in April vs. any Disney ship.

[AdGuyMG]

Just can't see how it would be worth it to pay $5-6 thousand more to see some college kid in a Mickey Mouse costume.

 

I doubt the person in the MM costume on the ship is a college kid.

[Melissalcsw]

My kids 7-9 get a longer cruise and a couple more days in a resort in Florida beforehand by NOT taking a Disney cruise. They wouldn't trade that for the equal cost of a shorter Disney cruise and no ocean resort. We'd never allow ourselves to be taken by Disney's ridiculous prices...... ever. My girls laughed when our NCL Escape was docked next to the small Disney Magic. The Escape had a huge ropes course and a large water park among other things. The Magic had just a small pool and tiny water slide. They'd feel the same with the Vista coming in April vs. any Disney ship.

 

 

Very valid point.

 

 

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[SCAnthony]

I doubt the person in the MM costume on the ship is a college kid.

 

 

Ha! True.

 

 

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[evandbob]

In addition to the upscale Disney positives already mentioned, there were baby lamb chops, jumbo shrimp and King Crab legs in the (unlimited) sail away buffet lunch. No lines either.

 

The deck party I attended on the Disney Dream was the largest, most extravagantic deck party I have ever attended on any line. The pools were covered and the entire outdoor deck became a dance floor; Pirates of the Caribbean did a musical show, and there were fireworks at sea...totally awesome.

 

We had our adult twins with their families (our 4 G-Kids) cruising together, and everyone had a blast and we still talk about it today as our most memorable "priceless" cruise.

Edited December 25, 2016 by evandbob

[jimbo5544]

In addition to the upscale Disney positives already mentioned, there were baby lamb chops, jumbo shrimp and King Crab legs in the (unlimited) sale away buffet lunch. No lines either.

 

The deck party I attended on the Disney Dream was the largest, most extravagantic deck party I have ever attended on any line. The pools were covered and the entire outdoor deck became a dance floor; Pirates of the Caribbean did a musical show, and there were fireworks at sea...totally awesome.

 

We had our adult twins with their families (our 4 G-Kids) cruising together, and everyone had a blast and we still talk about it today as our most memorable "priceless" cruise.

 

 

The only thing to argue is the word priceless

 

 

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[jimbo5544]

There was a time I used to think a Disney cruise was kinda like a Carnival cruise, with that extra layer of everything Disney on a superior ship that had superior service. The ONLY thing sub par was the food.

 

 

 

Now, there's no comparison.

 

 

 

Everyone should try a Disney cruise once. Look for great fares in September right as the kids go back to school. Or March. And yes, it's worth EVERY PENNY.

 

 

 

If you don't want to do a week cruise, they have land / sea packages; 3 or 4 days at Disney world, and the rest of the week on the ship. You still only check in once, you have one account in both places, your key woks in both places, and they take your packed luggage from your room to the ship, while you explore one of the parks.

 

 

 

And I still haven't found something that rivals Castaway Cay.

 

 

Lol "great fares"????

 

 

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[evandbob]

The only thing to argue is the word priceless

 

 

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and I had to change the word "sale" to "sail" -

[AdGuyMG]

There was a time I used to think a Disney cruise was kinda like a Carnival cruise, with that extra layer of everything Disney on a superior ship that had superior service.

 

Everyone should try a Disney cruise once. Look for great fares in September right as the kids go back to school. Or March. And yes, it's worth EVERY PENNY.

 

You're kidding. Right?

[tallnthensome]

I just priced a 7 day western cruise on Disney for April 2018. It was 45% more for the 7 day inside cabin then it was for an 8 Day on the Vista Cloud 9 Spa inside. Almost the same itinerary ....... Shrimp cocktail and Mickey Mouse isn't close to being worth that. Never in a million years ......

[jimbo5544]

You're kidding. Right?

 

 

Any other cruise line at any other price meets the criteria for this poster.

 

 

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[KarimaJ]

Here's my take. It is me, husband and now 11 year old daughter. We did a 4 day Disney cruise when she was 9 and just came off a 7 day NCL cruise, she is now 11. I could not justify the price for Disney so we chose NCL. We are not nuts about characters or princesses. With that said Disney does have some great extras like pirate night, fireworks and those themed pool side shows. They were good. And their nightly theater shows (Disney themed) were great. My DD doesn't like kids clubs and Disneys was chaotic. I would say the food on Disney was a slight notch above NCL but not by much. Though NCL had more variety like an Asian/Indian station. Service was good on both lines but I would say Disney really caters to the kids to make them happy. There was definitely more to do on the NCL ship, water slides, ropes course, etc... in general I think Disney is better for little ones but once they get to the tween/teen age then other lines are better. Unless you are Gaga over the characters. One thing, on Disney you will not find the raunchiness that sometimes happens at those poolside contests. Disney is more wholesome and family oriented. But we managed to avoid those things, we are more conservative then others. To sum it up Disney has some neat extras for the little ones, but for us not worth the extra cost.

 

 

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[ginnstars]

In terms of rates. Yes. the rates are "better" once kids go back to school. For example, our cruise last Jan was $3k for two of us (with grats. included)in a Large Porthole Oceanview room (the one you can sit on). A non-specialty cruise with Disney would of been a 1k lesson the same room, BUT if you compared it to Carnival, then yes, it was about 45% or more in price. The same room this summer is going to cost us close to $6000. (to rich for my blood)

 

However, your comparing a low-budget cruise line with a premium cruise line. If you want to compare prices. Compare it to something like Cunard. I mean, hell, Carnival and Cunard are both Carnival Co. brand cruise lines, but are they the same. No. Why, because Cunard offers their trademark"white glove service" and Carnival doesn't. They are the FUN ships.

 

Not ever cruise line is going to work for everyone. Like another poster posted. Everyone should try Disney at least once if they are really curious. You will either like it or you won't. Just like some will like Carnival or they won't. My preferences are Princess without kids and Carnival with them. Why? Because we have different needs when we are on Princess vs when we are on Carnival.

 

I'm curious to know what even made the OP consider Disney?

[Pyrate13]

Sorry, but I would hardly consider Disney a Premium cruise line or along the level of Cunard. They may price themselves as such but that doesn't make it so.

 

But as in my other post, that's just me. To each their own.