Carnival vs Disney

[cruizergal70]

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.

 

But they have jumbo shrimp and fireworks. That makes it extra special. :D Just having a little fun.

[Club Disney Chandler]

It's two completely different experiences, it's kind of like comparing Italian food to Chinese food, they both satisfy a need but in different ways. We've done 4 Disney cruises and 1 Carnival cruise, (Vista). We have 14 nights booked on the Vista next June and 8 nights on the Disney Magic next October. Vista is only costing us $2000 more than Magic but on Vista we have 2 cabins and only 1 on Magic.

 

I'm looking forward to both cruises equally but in a completely different way. There is a different vibe to each ship, everything about Disney is themed, there is nothing on the ship that hasn't been completely thought out.

 

The dining room experience on Disney is amazing, rotational dining is great and the lunch buffet is fantastic. However, desserts on Carnival are better, I love me some Bitter n Blanc.

 

I think going into a different cruise line with an open mind is the best thing to do. Not one line is perfect and fits all needs at all stages in your life, variety is the spice of life.

 

 

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[Gspixie]

We were die hard Disney cruisers. We just got back from our first Carnival cruise, and we loved it. We cruise about the same time every year, between Thanksgiving and Christmas.

 

Disney offers everything. There's nothing extra except tips and pictures. You get to go to their private island, which is gorgeous. It is definitely a cruise you need to have children for on or be able to stand children because they are everywhere.

 

However, with Carnival you pay less initially, and then decide what you want to add. I love that! It is so customizable. We were able to make everything exactly the way we wanted. We got the spa visit we loved, and an amazing excursion. We purchased soda cards and we paid cash for a few drinks and coffee.We didn't need the premium drink card. I did like going to the bar for soda on Carnival as opposed to going to a community soda fountain with kids everywhere on Disney. Their soda area can be chaotic. But so can Carnival if you're competing with drunks for the bartenders attention. There were obnoxious drunks on both ships. For some people a tropical vacation means drink to oblivion.

 

Food in sit down dining was slightly less tasty, while the buffet was actually better. We sailed on an older Carnival ship which was fine,but it didn't have much to do other than the casino and spa on sea days. That's ok! I like to just sit back and not do much other than soak in the weather and read.

 

Next year we are bringing the kids so I can't compare kids areas. Find a Carnival ship with a waterslide and movie theater and you'll match kids activities on Disney that aren't in the camps.

 

Ultimately they are both great experiences. I am now more in the Carnival camp, though, because I like choosing exactly what I want and not paying extra for some frill I could care less about.

[Computer Nerd]

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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Nope, not one. Save your money and take several Carnival cruises instead.

[Love2Cruz2015]

Here's what DCL offers that other cruise lines don't:

 

1. Castaway Cay

2. Rotational Dining

3. Aquaduck (yes, other cruise lines have slides, but this is a unique one)

4. Access to characters/princesses (if your kids are into that)

5. Pirate Night/Fireworks

6. Broadway style productions in the theater (but too G rated for my taste)

7. High quality food at the buffet.....

8. Soft drinks are included, good quality soft serve icecream (not slushy).

9. Large staterooms with tubs and two bathrooms

10. Drinks are pretty cheap.

 

So it's up to YOU, if you believe those things are worth the extra price.

Edited December 26, 2016 by Love2Cruz2015

[Computer Nerd]

Here's what DCL offers that other cruise lines don't:

 

1. Castaway Cay

2. Rotational Dining

3. Aquaduck (yes, other cruise lines have slides, but this is a unique one)

4. Access to characters/princesses (if your kids are into that)

5. Pirate Night/Fireworks

6. Broadway style productions in the theater (but too G rated for my taste)

7. High quality food at the buffet.....

8. Soft drinks are included, good quality soft serve icecream (not slushy).

9. Large staterooms with tubs and two bathrooms

10. Drinks are pretty cheap.

 

So it's up to YOU, if you believe those things are worth the extra price.

 

Most of those things are offered on other cruises as well.

 

Every cruise line has acess to a private island.

Every cruise line has anytime dining or static dining.

Shows on every line.

Buffet food is subjective. I really enjoy Carnival's buffet, others can't stand it.

Suites with tubs available on every line if you want to pay for it.

How cheap is cheap? Princess has happy hour with $2 beers (or at least used to).

[ducklite]

Most of those things are offered on other cruises as well.

 

 

 

Every cruise line has acess to a private island.

 

Every cruise line has anytime dining or static dining.

 

Shows on every line.

 

Buffet food is subjective. I really enjoy Carnival's buffet, others can't stand it.

 

Suites with tubs available on every line if you want to pay for it.

 

How cheap is cheap? Princess has happy hour with $2 beers (or at least used to).

 

 

 

Nope. Many lines have no shows. DCL has tubs in all staterooms except some insides--no need to book a suite. In fact many of Disney's cabins are considerably larger than their counterparts in other lines. Many lines have no anytime dining or set dining. On some lines it is one or the other. Royal Caribbean's main "private island" isn't an island at all, it's a beach guarded by machine gun toting guards in Haiti. You make a lot of assumptions(?) that are simply not true on all cruise lines.

 

Have been on four lines (including two luxury lines), Disney had the best buffet of them all. (Excepting Remy, they didn't have the best food overall though.) Based on photos and descriptions of what is offered on Carnival's buffet, put me in the no way group.

 

 

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[ducklite]

Disney is expensive. We've sailed them twice. We won't likely be back, not because of the price, but because they no longer fill our needs as cruisers with no children along who are looking for enrichment filled cruises geared to our demographic as opposed to families.

 

Should we ever cruise with children again, we won't even consider another line. Disney has a premium price, but comparing them to the other big ship line we've been on, we felt we got our monies worth in spades. After our cruise on Royal, we felt thoroughly ripped off.

 

 

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[jimbo5544]

Nope. Many lines have no shows. DCL has tubs in all staterooms except some insides--no need to book a suite. In fact many of Disney's cabins are considerably larger than their counterparts in other lines. Many lines have no anytime dining or set dining. On some lines it is one or the other. Royal Caribbean's main "private island" isn't an island at all, it's a beach guarded by machine gun toting guards in Haiti. You make a lot of assumptions(?) that are simply not true on all cruise lines.

 

Have been on four lines (including two luxury lines), Disney had the best buffet of them all. (Excepting Remy, they didn't have the best food overall though.) Based on photos and descriptions of what is offered on Carnival's buffet, put me in the no way group.

 

 

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Funny, I already had you in the no way club...... Go figure

 

 

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[ducklite]

Lol "great fares"????

 

 

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That's subjective. I think you get what you pay for with DCL.

 

 

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[jimbo5544]

That's subjective. I think you get what you pay for with DCL.

 

 

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That's fine, and your right it's subjective.

 

 

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[Love2Cruz2015]

Most of those things are offered on other cruises as well.

 

Every cruise line has acess to a private island.- Yes, but Castaway Cay beats them all

Every cruise line has anytime dining or static dining.-that's not the same as rotational dining. There is no extra fee, your wait staff goes with you and theming is very elaborate.

Shows on every line.-CCL shows aren't on the same caliber as DCL or MSC- though the Vista shows were good.

Buffet food is subjective. I really enjoy Carnival's buffet, others can't stand it.--DCL has baby lamb chops, prime rib, huge jumbo fried shrimp and shrimp cocktail, stone claw crabs, cracked for you. And I do like CCL's buffet, but DCL beats them in that category, for Dinner, I think DCL and CCL are on par, but it's the theming that might give DCL the edge.

Suites with tubs available on every line if you want to pay for it.- You don't pay extra for it on DCL.

How cheap is cheap? Princess has happy hour with $2 beers (or at least used to).

Frozen drinks are $6-$8 a pop, which is sort of in line with CCL's special drink of the day, but way cheaper than RCCL's drink prices.

 

I'm not arguing for one or the other btw, as I enjoy both lines along with MSC. They both have their strong points. Haven't tried any other line, yet.

[jimbo5544]

There is nothing cheap about Disney

 

 

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[Love2Cruz2015]

So I priced out two cruises for NEXT Spring Break-2018.

 

3 night Wonder-which just got a make over- $1600+ for OV cabin

8 night CCL Conquest in a 4J cabin (OV-at the most FWD part of the deck) $1500+

 

Hmmmmm????:eek: Yeah, I think I'll be sailing Conquest again. (or Glory, 7 night for the same 4J cabin, same price)

[Yellowlily]

Just did a DCL on the Disney Dream. Being avid cruisers, we were excited to try it, and having gone to WDW for vacation the past so many years, we were ready to see how their cruise ships compared to the parks and other cruise lines we've sailed in the past.

 

Overall, no thank you. Biggest disappointments for us were

1. The Food (especially Dining Room) was subpar -with 1 exception - Remy (this was absolutely amazing, quite an experience that I won't trade for the world, this was worth the whole cruise to me). Carnival, RCCI and Celebrity are far better. HAL, ugh, don't get me started. Disney was a big no thank you in the food. The shrimp on the embarkment lunch buffet were quite good though. But overall, no good.

2. Lack of music - if you like live music, good luck. There was a voilinist, which was nice, but kept repeating over and over again, a duo which was okay and a guy that played the piano (which never did see, very few opportunities to hear him). No music on pool deck, no music when you step onto Castaway Cay, nada.

3. Castaway Cay was "OK". Been to far better private islands. What it the most important to me in a private island is the beach quality/water/ratio of people to sand - nice to relax and not have people on top of you. CocoCay, Half Moon Cay, Labadee, Catalina Island in DR - all way better in my eperience.

4. Drinks were a joke. Overpriced, too sweet (mixers) and low alcohol.

5. Shows were okay, some were way better than others. Best entertainment I've seen has been on Carnival and RCCI with Celebrity in third place. Disney shows were ok, too many cheesy lines took away the broadway feel for me. I wasn't elated with any of them except Villians Tonight, which was quite good.

 

Definitely the cabins were nice, the Pirate Party and fireworks were really nice and kids programs were great. The pools were a joke. Standing room only for kids and saw a boy nearly drown. Quick lifeguards I will give kudos to for saving him. Overall, not for us, but maybe for some Really depends on what you're looking for, what your criteria is. That's my 2 cents.

[Computer Nerd]

Nope. Many lines have no shows. DCL has tubs in all staterooms except some insides--no need to book a suite. In fact many of Disney's cabins are considerably larger than their counterparts in other lines. Many lines have no anytime dining or set dining. On some lines it is one or the other. Royal Caribbean's main "private island" isn't an island at all, it's a beach guarded by machine gun toting guards in Haiti. You make a lot of assumptions(?) that are simply not true on all cruise lines.

 

Have been on four lines (including two luxury lines), Disney had the best buffet of them all. (Excepting Remy, they didn't have the best food overall though.) Based on photos and descriptions of what is offered on Carnival's buffet, put me in the no way group.

 

 

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Don't know what line you are sailing but HAL, RCCL, CCL, Princess, and NCL all have theater shows. Can't think of one major line, much less many, that don't have shows.

 

Again, for dining, NCL is nothing but anytime. CCL & RCCL both have anytime dining.

 

Coco Cay is an island. HMC is an island. Great Stirrup Cay and Harvest key are islands. Princess Cay is an island (the cruise line just doesn't own all of the island).

 

As for whether you think Carnival's buffet is good or not, how about actually trying it before making a decision on it. I have (9 times) and I like it.

 

I am refuting the person who I quoted who stated "Here's what DCL offers that other cruise lines don't:" which is blatantly false. Whether Disney does these things better or not is subjective and neither your view nor my view is factual in basis.

Edited December 26, 2016 by Computer Nerd

[Computer Nerd]

I just checked Disneyland ticket prices for the heck of it. $95 a day. :eek:

 

Disney World is $113. :(

[Computer Nerd]

So I priced out two cruises for NEXT Spring Break-2018.

 

3 night Wonder-which just got a make over- $1600+ for OV cabin

8 night CCL Conquest in a 4J cabin (OV-at the most FWD part of the deck) $1500+

 

Hmmmmm????:eek: Yeah, I think I'll be sailing Conquest again. (or Glory, 7 night for the same 4J cabin, same price)

 

But some folks here will argue that Disney is sooooo good that losing 5 nights of a cruise would be worth it. LOL ;)

[Computer Nerd]

Frozen drinks are $6-$8 a pop, which is sort of in line with CCL's special drink of the day, but way cheaper than RCCL's drink prices.

 

I'm not arguing for one or the other btw, as I enjoy both lines along with MSC. They both have their strong points. Haven't tried any other line, yet.

 

Here's what I don't understand. You say Castaway Cay beats all other private islands that I mentioned and yet you've never stepped foot on any one of them. Just how the heck do you even have the ability to think, much less claim that??? :eek:

[SCAnthony]

I think we will stick to Carnival and RC. I just wanted to see if there was something I was missing when comparing the prices. I know a lot of people will pay extra just for the Disney name....I'd bet good money that all else being equal, if Disney Cruises changed their name to something not Disney related, they'd be out of business in a short time

 

 

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[llachance]

13 on Disney 6 on Carnival - leaving on the Breeze on the 8th of January and the Wonder in November of next year. Both have their pluses and minus'....and to be sure I have sailed Cunard, RCCL, Princess and NCL so I have sailed across the fleet. I find the service on Disney a step up from Carnival not that either are bad, just different and that's ok. It is about how you want to spend your vacation dollars. In March I am spending 2 weeks on a Halong Bay river cruise which compares in price to Disney - I expect that the service will be top notch but certainly not a trip then many will want to take. We choose where we want to spend our vacation money - everyone else should too. I find that most trips are what you make of it - and BTW I too think Castaway Cay is one of the best private islands - mostly because you walk on and off the ship :)

[Love2Cruz2015]

Here's what I don't understand. You say Castaway Cay beats all other private islands that I mentioned and yet you've never stepped foot on any one of them. Just how the heck do you even have the ability to think, much less claim that??? :eek:

 

I have been to Coco Cay when RCCL used them, before Labadee, and though you are correct that I have not been to the other's you have listed, I have seen many photos and read many reviews.....Hopefully one of my CCL cruises with stop at HMC, as I heard it was beautiful....we shall see how it compares to CC.

[Computer Nerd]

I have been to Coco Cay when RCCL used them, before Labadee, and though you are correct that I have not been to the other's you have listed, I have seen many photos and read many reviews.....Hopefully one of my CCL cruises with stop at HMC, as I heard it was beautiful....we shall see how it compares to CC.

 

Photos and reviews never do a location justice. Actually going there will tell you whether it's a good place for you or not.

[Club Disney Chandler]

Photos and reviews never do a location justice. Actually going there will tell you whether it's a good place for you or not.

 

 

When is the last time you cruised Disney? What didn't you like about it?

 

 

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[LMaxwell]

I just booked a 7 day MSC Divina for 3 in a basic interior for $1100 with taxes. MSC gives us black card status so we get 2 bottles of champagne, 2 nights at specialty restaurants, some free use of thermal spa, free photo, etc...

 

Disney for the same week with no perks was $5800 for a 7 day in an interior for 3.

 

Sorry, I can't see Disney being $4.7K better. I could cruise 5 weeks on MSC for 1 week on Disney. Ports are largely similar. Or I can cruise 1 week on MSC and fund 80+% of my Roth IRA for the year.

 

Wanted to book a couples weekend away after T-Giving next year.

 

Carnival Victory came to $621 with all taxes; then subtract $100 from American Express; so $521.

 

Disney, same dates, over $1500 for same dates/same cabin category. And since they don't go from Miami I'd have to burn a day of PTO (I work near Miami so I can go straight to work on debarkation; unique situation doesn't apply to most).

 

For a fast weekend getaway to the Bahamas is Disney worth 3X the cost? Is it $1000 better for a blur of a weekend? Is a 3 day Disney cruise for 2 people worth $400 MORE than a 7 day MSC cruise for 3 people? I can't convince myself the answer is yes.

 

I have not been on Disney, so I can't knock the product, but I've had good cruises on MANY mainstream cruise lines and they are more similar than different when it comes to food, cabins, staffing, etc. My wife loves Disney World and has a season pass. I don't have a season pass and go 1X or 2X a year. We can plan very frugal trips to Disney that don't break the bank. A Disney cruise is a bank breaker.

 

Just a sample here; over 22 months we will have taken 5 family (3 people) cruises for 28 nights at sea across multiple mainstream lines. We will have visited 8 unique ports, including Bermuda ( though some ports repeat). We have had a combination of interior, oceanview, and balcony rooms. The total with taxes for all 5 trips comes to $6300. One of them even included unlimited alcohol package. About what one week on a Disney ship to 3 ports would cost; maybe in an Oceanview if lucky, and no extra perks or specialty dining. Dead on at $75 per person, per day on average.

 

If I was grossing $150K a year I'd go on Disney just to experience it and notch it on the belt; but not because I'd actually believe it to be 4X-5X better than other mainstream lines for similar itineraries.

Edited December 27, 2016 by LMaxwell