Mickeyhugger
DIS Veteran
- Joined
- Sep 6, 2003
We finally did it. Sailed on a cruise other than DCL.
I'll try to be brief, as I know there are many other comparisons on these boards, and hope some of my info is helpful to anyone still wondering if they should try Carnival.
We did the 7-day Eastern Caribbean. Similar itinerary to DCL, but no CC
. It did include a half-day in Nassau. (Which I loved, as I love to shop, and this was another hidden treasure.) Our stateroom (window, no balcony) was great. I think it actually had MORE storage space. The rooms also included bathrobes (two) and had a 1250 watt blow-dryer already conveniently plugged in an outlet in a drawer. The mini-refrigerator was actually a refrigerator! If we ever sail Carnival again, we won't need to bring our own toothpaste, disposable razors, body wash and dental floss. These are included with the other amenities (shampoo, conditioner and body lotion.) The room also has a full-length mirror (did DCL? can't remember.) The corridors are wider too.
As for the food.. we thought the pizza (24-hour in fact!) was MUCH better than Disney's! Many days I didn't even try the lunch buffet because I was so hooked on their pizza. They had 4 or 5 varieties as well. DH spent almost every lunch at the seafood buffet (deck 10) indulging in the fried oysters and chips. (I helped him out with that too!) The lunch buffets each day also included an oriental buffet and a deli. The ice cream station on deck 9 had ice cream AND frozen yogurt. (Did not, however, have the chocolate syrup, m&m's, and other toppings as Disney does. There were also no cookies.
We thought the food in the dining rooms was SUPERB. The chateaubriand w/bearnnaise was our favorite. Also, the Glory had more midnight buffets. (Not that we ate at any. We were too full. 
) The dinner seatings were 5:45 and 8:00 in the platinum dining room, and 6:00 and 8:30 in the golden.
Lobby and promenade level had great shops. Clothes for women were available for purchase for formal night! The prices are actually reasonable too. Not more than what one would pay in a department store. What a great 'fall-back' when the unfathomable happens (airlines losing luggage.) They also had tux-rentals for men. The lines for photos didn't seem as long either. We usually had no more than two families ahead of us. (Had late dinner seating.) We also LOVED Carnival's formal night! For those of you who love to dress up, this is really the place to be, as almost everyone does. It might have been because it was spring break, and there were tons of teenagers in formals. It really added to the fun and ambiance.
I can't comment on Camp Carnival, as DD did not go.
Now, for the 'down' side. The layout of the ship was very confusing. We spoke with other families who'd done other CCL's, and they said that the other ships are better designed. The Glory had 'split' levels. For example, to get from 3 aft to 3 fwd, you had to venture up to level 5 midship, and go back down. (You'd have to be there to see!) There was an overpowering sewage smell towards the back of the ship. (I'd have hated having a room in that area.) It was even worse when we debarked in St. Maarten. The employees are not as knowledgeable either. I think the cross-utilization on DCL must be much better. Whenever we ask a DCL CM a question, they get help right away if they don't know (which they usually do!). Forget it on this ship. If they didn't know, it stopped there. They WERE nice, but very uninformed. (I know too, the language barrier is part of it.) Saving the very worst for last, the check-in and debarkation process is an absolute nightmare! And for those of you who complain about having to rise early on DCL for clearing immigration in St. Thomas, stop now! It took 2 1/2 hours (yes, you read that right) on Carnival. We were late arriving, (docked at 10 am) and did not set foot off the ship until 12:40. They do 'random floors,' so you sit in your stateroom wondering if your floor will be called next. (You know how DCL informs everyone well in advance to go to the Walt Disney theatre for immigration?) No one knows where to go until the ship docks. (When we asked the night before, an employee told us they 'don't know where immigration will be conducted, as it changes with every cruise.'
) Once you DO learn where it is, you go through two lines before you clear. So, arriving at 10, waiting for our floor to be called, trying to figure how to get to midship level 5, (split-levels, remember) enduring two lines to clear, and then being advised to be back at 5:30 ship time, not St. Thomas time, makes or made for a very short day in St. Thomas. (St. Thomas closes all of their in-town shops at 5, so even though we finally got off at 12:40, it was actually 1:40 St. Thomas time, which gave us 3 hours and 20 minutes to go to Megan's bay, and shop.) That experience alone was enough to make me never want to sail Carnival again. (At that time, anyway, LOL!) There's too much more to remember now, and I'll answer any questions.
Overall, despite the negative experiences listed above, we still had a GREAT time. The first day and a half, I was moping because I kept wanting to be on DCL (I almost cried when I saw the DCL CM's at the airport. Even DH said, "I want to go get on that Disney bus.") Also, I was in the wrong place at the wrong time. We heard the DCL horn before they left. It was awful! I thought I was going to lose it. My lip began to quiver and my eyes glassed over. However, once we began sailing we all really began enjoying ourselves. I very soon accepted that no other cruise line (IMHO) will ever top DCL. There's no comparison. But I agree now with others who have posted that one can still enjoy other cruises as well, if DCL is too expensive. (This was 2000.00 less for our family of three!) I can definitely see how Canival is a great family cruise for people with teenagers. There seemed to be more to do. (Others may think differently. I don't have a teenager yet.) Yes, I'd do Carnival again, but we still prefer DCL.
I'll try to be brief, as I know there are many other comparisons on these boards, and hope some of my info is helpful to anyone still wondering if they should try Carnival.
We did the 7-day Eastern Caribbean. Similar itinerary to DCL, but no CC
. It did include a half-day in Nassau. (Which I loved, as I love to shop, and this was another hidden treasure.) Our stateroom (window, no balcony) was great. I think it actually had MORE storage space. The rooms also included bathrobes (two) and had a 1250 watt blow-dryer already conveniently plugged in an outlet in a drawer. The mini-refrigerator was actually a refrigerator! If we ever sail Carnival again, we won't need to bring our own toothpaste, disposable razors, body wash and dental floss. These are included with the other amenities (shampoo, conditioner and body lotion.) The room also has a full-length mirror (did DCL? can't remember.) The corridors are wider too.As for the food.. we thought the pizza (24-hour in fact!) was MUCH better than Disney's! Many days I didn't even try the lunch buffet because I was so hooked on their pizza. They had 4 or 5 varieties as well. DH spent almost every lunch at the seafood buffet (deck 10) indulging in the fried oysters and chips. (I helped him out with that too!) The lunch buffets each day also included an oriental buffet and a deli. The ice cream station on deck 9 had ice cream AND frozen yogurt. (Did not, however, have the chocolate syrup, m&m's, and other toppings as Disney does. There were also no cookies.
We thought the food in the dining rooms was SUPERB. The chateaubriand w/bearnnaise was our favorite. Also, the Glory had more midnight buffets. (Not that we ate at any. We were too full. ) The dinner seatings were 5:45 and 8:00 in the platinum dining room, and 6:00 and 8:30 in the golden. Lobby and promenade level had great shops. Clothes for women were available for purchase for formal night! The prices are actually reasonable too. Not more than what one would pay in a department store. What a great 'fall-back' when the unfathomable happens (airlines losing luggage.) They also had tux-rentals for men. The lines for photos didn't seem as long either. We usually had no more than two families ahead of us. (Had late dinner seating.) We also LOVED Carnival's formal night! For those of you who love to dress up, this is really the place to be, as almost everyone does. It might have been because it was spring break, and there were tons of teenagers in formals. It really added to the fun and ambiance.
I can't comment on Camp Carnival, as DD did not go.Now, for the 'down' side. The layout of the ship was very confusing. We spoke with other families who'd done other CCL's, and they said that the other ships are better designed. The Glory had 'split' levels. For example, to get from 3 aft to 3 fwd, you had to venture up to level 5 midship, and go back down. (You'd have to be there to see!) There was an overpowering sewage smell towards the back of the ship. (I'd have hated having a room in that area.) It was even worse when we debarked in St. Maarten. The employees are not as knowledgeable either. I think the cross-utilization on DCL must be much better. Whenever we ask a DCL CM a question, they get help right away if they don't know (which they usually do!). Forget it on this ship. If they didn't know, it stopped there. They WERE nice, but very uninformed. (I know too, the language barrier is part of it.) Saving the very worst for last, the check-in and debarkation process is an absolute nightmare! And for those of you who complain about having to rise early on DCL for clearing immigration in St. Thomas, stop now! It took 2 1/2 hours (yes, you read that right) on Carnival. We were late arriving, (docked at 10 am) and did not set foot off the ship until 12:40. They do 'random floors,' so you sit in your stateroom wondering if your floor will be called next. (You know how DCL informs everyone well in advance to go to the Walt Disney theatre for immigration?) No one knows where to go until the ship docks. (When we asked the night before, an employee told us they 'don't know where immigration will be conducted, as it changes with every cruise.'
) Once you DO learn where it is, you go through two lines before you clear. So, arriving at 10, waiting for our floor to be called, trying to figure how to get to midship level 5, (split-levels, remember) enduring two lines to clear, and then being advised to be back at 5:30 ship time, not St. Thomas time, makes or made for a very short day in St. Thomas. (St. Thomas closes all of their in-town shops at 5, so even though we finally got off at 12:40, it was actually 1:40 St. Thomas time, which gave us 3 hours and 20 minutes to go to Megan's bay, and shop.) That experience alone was enough to make me never want to sail Carnival again. (At that time, anyway, LOL!) There's too much more to remember now, and I'll answer any questions.Overall, despite the negative experiences listed above, we still had a GREAT time. The first day and a half, I was moping because I kept wanting to be on DCL (I almost cried when I saw the DCL CM's at the airport. Even DH said, "I want to go get on that Disney bus.") Also, I was in the wrong place at the wrong time. We heard the DCL horn before they left. It was awful! I thought I was going to lose it. My lip began to quiver and my eyes glassed over. However, once we began sailing we all really began enjoying ourselves. I very soon accepted that no other cruise line (IMHO) will ever top DCL. There's no comparison. But I agree now with others who have posted that one can still enjoy other cruises as well, if DCL is too expensive. (This was 2000.00 less for our family of three!) I can definitely see how Canival is a great family cruise for people with teenagers. There seemed to be more to do. (Others may think differently. I don't have a teenager yet.) Yes, I'd do Carnival again, but we still prefer DCL.
I listen to the horn all day on my computer! 
she decided to go wth DCL 
! I would never go on another cruise line
