Ricka47 is right ...
... more or less about some of the food. I feel the topsiders buffett is not too hot... but at the same time it is not too bad either. And the presentation in the main dining venues is a slight cut over some other lines. We recently returned from the CArnival Spirit (8 nites, San Diego to Mexico) and had a decent time. Disney was better. And we sort of compared the dishes against Disney. And in side by side comparisons it is interesting how many items are actually similar... while it is just as interesting to see the preserntation differences in side by side photos.
So, aside fromn that - in brief - we liked the DCL entertainment by FAR, and the service at all levels was significantly better. Cabin layout/condition/ship layout and condition were also nominally better. IE, we were the 1st passengers on the Spirit after a dry dock... and we had new furniture on our veranda plus new carpeting in their tiny kids' club... but aside from that the elevators were clearly worn and that was annoying in such a public focal point. Carnival planners are fools to be saving on elevator condition given their frequent use. And there were other smaller lapses here and there on the Spirit that we would have NEVER found on the DCL Magic (we have not sailed the Wonder yet). And, the front desk staff were definately LESS professional or patron oriented than DCL. The Carnival staff almost seemed like they were disinterested and ineffectual considering the plights of folks ahead and behind us in line. And my questions were met without care or satisfaction. And just to put it into perspective... (I kno... I'm getting longer in my posting now)... I was suspicious that a gold watch might have dissappeared from my cabin - and I admitted it might be in my bags. It was an $8,000 watch and the desk staff were not very sensitive to my queries and referred me to land side customer service. AND I had read on that the better business bureau noted the land side customer service ratings for CCL were abysmal... as well as their record of resolving issues. Compare that against NCL who also has an abysmal front end land record for customer service BUT a good record for resolving problems!
So... I was not too enthuisiastic. On the upside I found my watch in my baggage.... so there was no loss... but the conduct of the front desk left me sour and expectant of nothing from CCL. If this were DCL I KNOW they would have acted otherwise. IE... on our 1st DCL cruise we were debarking and at the gangway I paused to ask the CM for a comment card. The staffer was immediately concerned and walked me over to the front desk. And they exchanged very very concerned glances and were really concerned. As they handed me a replacement comment card they asked which cabin I was in and recorded it and I paused and asked politely WHY they were so concerned. The CMs paused in silence and exchanged glances and then one of them said they were concerned that maybe the cabin steward had not left a comment card to avoid commentary because comment cards are viewed very very seriously and it is expected that every cabin have a comment card available.
SO... I must say they would NOT have told me and they might have investigated our cabin styeward if I had not paused to ask. I in turn explained that this was my first cruise after sailing (at the time) about a dozen other cruises... and I was SO IMPRESSED that just before leaving I wanted to write some commentary in PRAISE of everything that I had encountered. At that point the CMs at the front desk looked visibly relieved and were all smiling hugely. Big difference in their attituides.
BTW... at the end of that 1st DCL cruise we were SO impressed with the condition of the Magic... and then as we were leaving we discovered the ship was going into dry dock for refurbishment. They were laying down plywood over the marble floors and work crews and materials were piled up on the dock. We were awefully imipressed they were actually going to find something to refurbish given the beautiful condition of the ship as it was!
So back to the comparison... overall... the only advantage of the Carnival Spirit was that it was cheaper for our family of four and delivered 8 nights instead of 7; and a veranda instead of a window.
SO... I hope this helps a little.
TTFN
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