Sigh...should have gone with Disney

[bubbasmom99]

I totally understand what you're saying. We sailed a 7 day Mexican Riviera on the RCCL Mariner of the Seas last May. It was a FINE cruise. It was more than adequate and for the majority of people, it was a great deal for $$ paid... My family had a good time. It just WASN'T Disney. And it's JUST me. And I am okay with that.

We were able to snag a cabin on the 2 day cruise to nowhere out of LA in January and from the moment we stepped on board, I couldn't stop smiling. It felt like we were HOME.

I need a little extra pixie dust in my life

 

[carmie3377]

Oh no, I'm starting to second guess myself now. We currently have 2 DCL cruises booked - a 7 nt Western next March for our birthdays and a dummy cruise. However, we are seriously considering changing the 7 nt to the Carnival Magic that will make her home in Galveston. We could sail in a Cove Balcony cheaper than our DCL OV plus we wouldn't have airfare as we only live 45 mins away. Due to finances next spring (we'll be relocating in the summer) it just makes better sense to skip Disney and head over to Carnival. But from the sounds of this threads, I will be miserable. I love Disney, everything about it. I know we could skip our WDW trip this winter to make DCL happen next spring, but I haven't been to WDW since Dec 2009 and having major withdrawals

When we went on our PC cruise, there was another line cruising the PC at the same time and it was about 1/4 cheaper for a balcony vs what we were paying for inside. But I couldn't force myself as I figured I'd end up seeing the Wonder at some time during port and would probably jump ship. The first night as we were at the nightly show, I had tears in my eyes as I was so happy to be there. I don't think I'd have that warm feeling on another cruise line. But even though I had those emotions on the Wonder, thinking about everything going on next spring keeps the Carnival Magic in my mind.

I wish Disney would hurry up and release where the Magic was heading after the Fantasy arrives. If I knew she was heading to Galveston, I would hold off on any cruise next spring and wait for the Disney Magic. Even though we'll be relocating, we'll still be within driving distance (4 hours) to Galveston. I have time though and that is good. If Galveston isn't announced as a home port, don't know what decision I'll eventually make. Perhaps putting off a cruise until after we get moved, settled, and it makes more sense financially to do Disney, even if that means putting it off a year.

 

[everafter1]

I get it totally. My husband and I did an RCCL cruise for our honeymoon almost 6 years ago and it was really nice... But DCL is just special. This year, we weren't sure how our vacation time was going to pan out and I said we could always look at other cruise lines, my huband (who it not the Disney fan, I am) said, "Um... I think we'll miss DCL if we do another cruise line."

 

[lovethedream]

Oh no, I'm starting to second guess myself now. We currently have 2 DCL cruises booked - a 7 nt Western next March for our birthdays and a dummy cruise. However, we are seriously considering changing the 7 nt to the Carnival Magic that will make her home in Galveston. We could sail in a Cove Balcony cheaper than our DCL OV plus we wouldn't have airfare as we only live 45 mins away. Due to finances next spring (we'll be relocating in the summer) it just makes better sense to skip Disney and head over to Carnival. But from the sounds of this threads, I will be miserable. I love Disney, everything about it. I know we could skip our WDW trip this winter to make DCL happen next spring, but I haven't been to WDW since Dec 2009 and having major withdrawals

When we went on our PC cruise, there was another line cruising the PC at the same time and it was about 1/4 cheaper for a balcony vs what we were paying for inside. But I couldn't force myself as I figured I'd end up seeing the Wonder at some time during port and would probably jump ship. The first night as we were at the nightly show, I had tears in my eyes as I was so happy to be there. I don't think I'd have that warm feeling on another cruise line. But even though I had those emotions on the Wonder, thinking about everything going on next spring keeps the Carnival Magic in my mind.

I wish Disney would hurry up and release where the Magic was heading after the Fantasy arrives. If I knew she was heading to Galveston, I would hold off on any cruise next spring and wait for the Disney Magic. Even though we'll be relocating, we'll still be within driving distance (4 hours) to Galveston. I have time though and that is good. If Galveston isn't announced as a home port, don't know what decision I'll eventually make. Perhaps putting off a cruise until after we get moved, settled, and it makes more sense financially to do Disney, even if that means putting it off a year.

We recently sailed the Ecstasy out of Galveston. We actually liked that cruise more than our RCCL Freedom cruise. Our two DCL cruises were still number one in our book.

Funny, but during our RCCL Freedom cruise, I found myself scanning the horizon looking out for the two DCL ships (the new ones were still a gleam in DCL's eye at the time of that cruise). I was hoping to bump into at least one of them somewhere. We could see other Carnival ships, but never spotted the DCL's. Maybe that is a good thing as I would have been tempted to swim over.

In the end, we put our DCL experience behind us and enjoyed the Ecstasy cruise for what it was.

 

[JessicasMom]

Our first Disney cruise was the 14-day EBTA last year, although we had cruised on other lines previously. The difference was obvious, especially in cabin size. We sailed RCL's Voyager of the Seas out of Galveston this past January; we were visiting our daughter in Austin and didn't want to add airfare for 5 people to another departure point. VoS is a beautiful ship and the cruise was absolutely wonderful (esp. for my mother and niece...first for both). Servers were excellent, loved the My-Time dining, food was generally very good, shows were enjoyable, room steward was exceptional.....BUT, it wasn't Disney. No personalized welcome aboard, no rotational dining, no door decorations or gift swaps, no signed pillowcases, etc. Not saying we didn't have an amazing cruise anyway...it was just "different".

Unless you've experienced the Disney difference (which really isn't quantifiable), it's impossible to understand. My DH swore he wouldn't compare this last sailing to DCL; however, I lost count of how many times he said "If this was the Magic....." Our next cruise is the WBTA, and we're already ridiculously excited, based on last year's trip. Of course, we'll sail on another line in the future if the price and itinerary are right (probably not on Carnival again, though) but our standards are higher now that we've done DCL.

 

[lovethedream]

Our first Disney cruise was the 14-day EBTA last year, although we had cruised on other lines previously. The difference was obvious, especially in cabin size. We sailed RCL's Voyager of the Seas out of Galveston this past January; we were visiting our daughter in Austin and didn't want to add airfare for 5 people to another departure point. VoS is a beautiful ship and the cruise was absolutely wonderful (esp. for my mother and niece...first for both). Servers were excellent, loved the My-Time dining, food was generally very good, shows were enjoyable, room steward was exceptional.....BUT, it wasn't Disney. No personalized welcome aboard, no rotational dining, no door decorations or gift swaps, no signed pillowcases, etc. Not saying we didn't have an amazing cruise anyway...it was just "different".

There is something special about how DCL welcomes you aboard. I think it helps to set the tone for the cruise. That is one thing I really did miss when we sailed on RCCL and Carnival.

 

[Silly Little Pixie]

For March break this year I had originally booked us on the Wonder out of LA, but was talked out of it by my local travel agent (not my wonderful Dreams agent whom I should have listened to) and some of our friends. They insisted that the Carnival Splendor was a beautiful ship and that the kids club with Carnival is second to none.

On day 4 we saw the Wonder in Cabo as we tendered back and we heaved a family <sigh>...we would have done anything to be able to switch ships.

I am finding it very hard to explain to my extended and friends, because as I said the Splendor was very nice in almost every aspect...but it lacked something, the best word I can come up with is "soul". None of them have ever done a Disney cruise which makes it even harder to make my point. They think I'm nuts.

Thanks for posting that. My DH's boss is a die-hard fan of the Carnival- especially the Splendor- and told us the same thing when we booked the Wonder ("again? really again on Disney??") for spring break. He loves DCL as much as the kids and I do, and it's really hard to explain the "soul" that we feel while onboard a Disney ship. It's HOME for us.

So I guess we can just point her to this thread the next time she brings up how much we can save by going on the Splendor?

 

[JessicasMom]

There is something special about how DCL welcomes you aboard. I think it helps to set the tone for the cruise. That is one thing I really did miss when we sailed on RCCL and Carnival.

Absolutely. Now we're trying to decide how we'd like to be introduced this year, since it will be our (adult) DD's first Disney cruise and she hasn't experienced that little perk. Trying to come up with something clever and memorable!

 

[taaren]

Haven't experience the Disney magic of DCL yet as our first cruise is this fall which we are very excited about. Planning on our second cruise to see CC in late 2012 on DCL too.
However, I don't think we'll restrict ourselves to DCL after that. Been on a few other cruise lines - can't even remember what the name of the line I took in Europe 10 years ago was, but it didn't matter since my fare was $300 for a week of going to several Greek islands - last minute booking with no single supplement to boot! Few years later went on Carnival with some friends who just wanted to get away for a weekend to Mexico and it was okay for the price, good to spend quality time with my friends. Didn't notice the boat much.
The virtues of DCL seem to be the ships and Castaway Cay, so if I want a cruise where my son will be entertained I'm going to look for a DCL itinerary with a lot of sea days. DH kept saying "Don't book a cruise where you don't want to go" and I said "Its Disney, its not about the ports, its about the boat." but we managed to find something for both of us, so Repo cruise, here we come!
When DS gets a older, I'd like him to see more of the world, specifically I'd like to do one of the Greece/Turkey/Egypt tours several cruise lines were offering before all the political instability took effect. Those itineraries are more about the ports than they are the boat since you mainly just sleep on the boat and want to experience the local food, etc, and I wouldn't have any expectations about the service or clubs.
Now if Disney offered one of those cruises many years down the road I'd be happy as a clam, but in the meantime, I'll just plan on doing a cruise with no soul sometimes and appreciating the destination instead of looking for unparalleled service and magic. Hopefully we won't get so pampered by Disney that we'll regret going with any other line. Thanks for sharing your experience OP!

 

[jack2009]

My wife and I just booked our first cruise ever with DCL on the Fantasy for July 2012. I mentioned it to co-workers and one of them said why Disney? RCL is so much cheaper and just as good as DCL. And my reply was that when I go to Disney World with the kids, Disney makes everyone in my family shine and smile. And Disney is that only place that has been able to do that in my opinion.

 

[Inkmahm]

I understand what the OP is saying. We just did a week at WDW followed by 2 nights at Universal. We stayed at the Royal Pacific hotel to get the front of the line perk. While we had 3 day tickets, we used only 2 of them. The third day when we checked out, we went back to Epcot rather than one of the Universal parks. As we drove in the Disney entrance, both DH and I had the same feeling of being "home." We are definitely Disney people and NOT Universal people. Harry Potter was great, but not great enough to get me away from Disney again.

 

[MonorailPilotMulan]

I know exactly how you feel. I have only done one DCL cruise and two cruises with other lines, the most recent being Carnival. We went to every event that seemed even remotely entertaining and still ended up spend a few hours a day play board games in the stateroom, which sadly became the highlight of the trip. I'm sorry but if your activities are so boring that I would rather spend time in my stateroom playing board games, your cruise ship sucks (for lack of a better term). To make up for it, we are booked on the Dream in September and again in May 2012 for our Castaway Cay wedding

 

[LuvEeyore]

I have to say I agree with all of the PP, its DCL for me. It is nice when you come aboard when there are the wipes, cookies and cocoa or a drink. When you are late getting back from the pool to dress for dinner, come in to dress and leave the wet suit in the sink...when you get back from dinner and the show, your suit has been rinsed and is hanging in the shower on the line.

You meet your room steward when they bring in the sharps container and fridge for insullin. In a few minutes, a all hands platter and a bowl of fresh fruit are delevered with crackers. Each day the fruit was replenished. I was stunned when room service came and said the room steward ordered it for us. The room steward said when I thanked him that he knew with excursions and activities we might need snacks available since the food and activities might be slightly different and different times than we were used too.

Everyone said hello. They asked. The ice bucket was always full. When I asked about my room stewards family, the told me. He had a young child and I asked about the child...next time he came by when Mom and I were in the room, he brought a picture of his newborn.

Some of these things are the reasons that we all love DCL!!

 

[Happy99]

I am afraid of having this exact feeling when we cruise on the Carnival Dream... We love the Disney Magic - it feels like home when we board. THere are CM's that recognize us, stop and say hi, make sure that we are OK, and all is well... I know that no one will be able to duplicate that feeling... I keep telling myself that I shouldn't and can't compare, but there is a little part of my heart that is aching... I am hoping that we have a good vacation and enjoy the time as a fmaily (and don't waste time comparing apples to oranges...)

The Carnival Dream is a beautiful ship. I was lucky enough to have taken a tour of it when it was docked in NY. My TA had a few of us go on with her to tour it.

The Splendor that the OP when on is a completely different class of ship and much older. With Carnival their newer ships are always fine. Stay away from the older ships.

We have been on only two Carnival cruises and I can say that the atmosphere and overall feeling is different but it is supposed to be. I find that the food on Carnival has been good on our two sailings. Not a line I would go on all the time but if they have a great itinerary then I wouldn't hesitate, again as long as it is a new ship

 

[CelticPrncss]

After several cruises on the Magic DCL feels like home. I can't imagine seeing one of the ships and knowing that we were going to be boarding another line.

I so agree, the Magic feels like home, and as my DH says no other cruise lines or other parks have the same values, management standards or the corporate culture of a Disney ship or park.

 

[CADisneyMom]

I have only been on DCL but my parents have been on many other cruise lines. I took them on the 2-day cruise to nowhere just so they could see what I like so much about DCL. My mom said she's never seen me happier then when I was on that ship. My dad FINALLY understood what I liked about it so much, he thoroughly enjoyed the shows and kept saying how professional they were. He wasn't really thrilled about the food, but then again he's a meat and potatoes kinda guy and doesn't really like to try new things. I would like to try RCCL sometime just because it looks really cool but then I'd be afraid that I couldn't see everything and do everything on it because it is so big.

 

[nubs57106]

My DW and I are totally excited for our first cruise with DCL. Our situation is different in that we have never done Disney, we have however sailed with carnival. Our sailing with carnival was great, but with nothing to compare it to. Food was great, shows were awesome to us, we sailed without our children, this time we will sail with our 3 DS's. I was excited to learn that Disney has no casinos on board, and that the kids clubs are as I've heard amazing. All in all we are super excited to sail with Disney. We are 47 days away from our 4 days on the Dream, and then 5 days at the World, I am more than confident that the positive things I read on these boards is what I will experience and more!

 

[KarlaG4Kids]

You are all really getting me excited. We have cruised NCL and Princess and enjoyed them, but we have saved DCL for a trip when we could be joined by our kids and grandkids. That trip is only 39 1/2 days away now! I am so excited I can hardly sleep now, let alone the week before we leave. I hope I'm not expecting too much, but I truly believe we will come off of the Dream spoiled! I really expect that magic to be there. You have all convinced me that I won't be disappointed. It probably helps that I am a Disney nut and I'm pretty easy to please when I'm on vacation!

 

[SpeedyDisney]

In May 2008 we were on the Carnival Imagination and docking at Nassau. This was only our second cruise. The first being in 1992 on the RCL Viking Serenade. I was watching them dock the ship when I first saw her already in port. A beautiful ship that, exactly as I had heard, conjured up the glorious luxury liners of the past. There, in her beautiful black, white, yellow and red glory was the Disney Wonder.

Although I took more pictures of the Wonder than I did the rest of my stay in Nassau, I cannot definately tell you if Disney is better...yet. I'll let you know as we sail on the Dream on June 7, 2011.

I recalled this story with my wife when she reminded me that this time we will be the ones on the Disney ship looking out at the "Carnies".

David

 

[NancyIL]

I understand what the OP is saying. We just did a week at WDW followed by 2 nights at Universal. We stayed at the Royal Pacific hotel to get the front of the line perk. While we had 3 day tickets, we used only 2 of them. The third day when we checked out, we went back to Epcot rather than one of the Universal parks. As we drove in the Disney entrance, both DH and I had the same feeling of being "home." We are definitely Disney people and NOT Universal people. Harry Potter was great, but not great enough to get me away from Disney again.

There's no doubt that only Disney can "Do Disney." I visited Universal for 2 days in late February, sailed on the Disney Dream for 4 nights, then spent 6 days at WDW. I enjoyed Universal Studios and IOA, but I LOVED WDW.

While I feel the same as you about Disney theme parks, I don't have that kind of feeling about Disney cruises. It's nice to cruise with DCL on an occasional basis, and I'll sail on the Fantasy in Dec. 2012. However, between now and then, I also have cruises booked on Princess, HAL, RCI, and Celebrity. I have sailed with those cruise lines before, and fully expect to have great cruises on them in the future.