Which cruise line do you like after DCL?

[Dug720]

Gotta admit - after some less than stellar onboard experiences on the Jewel of the Seas, I was about to cross RCCL off my list, but a PHONE CALL in response to an email I sent (where I only said the ship name and date of the cruise - did not include my reservation number OR phone number - so the girl had to do a little research to find it) with my "glows and grows" - as well as her telling me that when I book another to please contact her and she'll make sure that my gluten-free need is sent to the ship (she said my TA had not mentioned it (NOT the TA I use for Disney things...and everything else now), though the TA assured me she had) as well as if I had any other concerns to please reach out... I'm not fully ready to cross it off the list yet. Only the smaller ones like Radiance Class though...no Behemoth of the Seas for me.

 

[mevelandry]

They were by the big gingerbread house in the atrium. Think that was on the Fantasy. Don't remember having them on the Magic.

I was on the Dream during our Merrytime cruise. That gingerbread house smelled so good!

 

[gatordoc]

We sailed with Carnival, NCL, and Princess prior to coming to Disney, and are now Platinum with Disney and wouldn't return to any of those. I'm happy to read positive things about Celebrity, though - will be trying them for the first time next month. Although we're probably in their target demographic (middle aged couple without kids) I'm worried that we won't have as much fun as we always do on Disney cruises. We don't really drink and aren't really nightclub/dancing people, which seem to be a major part of the Celebrity experience. But we've heard especially good things about the food, and the itinerary is awesome and not one we could get from Disney.

 

[Club Disney Chandler]

Love Royal more than DCL. Not that Disney is bad or anything (far from it), just not the “right” cruise line for myself or my family.

Thank you so much for the way you phrased your response, not condescending at all and was very well put. That’s what I’ve tried to say to people as well. I love DCL and Carnival both, but in different ways. I don’t believe it has to be one or the other at all times. I hope you enjoy all your future cruises.

 

[KashasMom]

The Magic and Wonder have far less cavernous atriums than the Dream class ships, which could be the reason they don't do the full sized gingerbread house.

They had a very big one last year on the Magic. Very familiar with that small atrium though - have been stepped on many times there! SO crowded during the Very Merrytime cruises.

 

[MickeyD]

We sailed with Carnival, NCL, and Princess prior to coming to Disney, and are now Platinum with Disney and wouldn't return to any of those. I'm happy to read positive things about Celebrity, though - will be trying them for the first time next month. Although we're probably in their target demographic (middle aged couple without kids) I'm worried that we won't have as much fun as we always do on Disney cruises. We don't really drink and aren't really nightclub/dancing people, which seem to be a major part of the Celebrity experience. But we've heard especially good things about the food, and the itinerary is awesome and not one we could get from Disney.

Your cruising style sounds a lot like ours, and same demographic. We have cruised Celebrity and did find it more "stuffy" than DCL, however that was before they changed their formal nights to "cruise chic," and banned smoking in the casinos! Those were the two items we found the most irritating. I would say that we found ourselves bored more often on Celebrity than we do on DCL or RCCL or Princess. I think you will enjoy it enough, especially if the itinerary is good. Would love to hear what ship and itin you are doing and a mini trip report when you get back.

 

[NCConch]

The only other cruise I have been on was the Dolphin IV (Dolphin Cruise line) back in 1990 with college friends. We thought we were living large. Looking back after four trips on the Dream, it was a rust bucket.

 

[starvenger]

My first cruise was in the 90s on a ship called the Atlas. Didn’t go on another one (Princess) until 2006/7. But looking back that first cruise seems like a completely different era in cruising. Can’t imagine going back to that.

 

[Dug720]

My first cruise was in the 90s on a ship called the Atlas. Didn’t go on another one (Princess) until 2006/7. But looking back that first cruise seems like a completely different era in cruising. Can’t imagine going back to that.

Our first was on the Emerald Seas in 1982! The 4 of us (my parents, me at age 11 and my sister at age 6) stayed in a Porthole Cabin - literally a port hole...the small, small kind. There were twin beds on either side of the cabin with a bunk over each. No combining the beds for my parents. In spite of them having a "Kids Sail Free" promotion, I think my sister, myself, and the girl at our table who was in between our ages were the only 3 kids on the ship. We were treated like little princesses though. One night at dinner, the cruise director came over to the table with a list of movies they had on board and asked which we would like to see, and the next day they opened the "theater" (pretty much a cabin with movie-theater-style chairs in it!) and showed it (I think we picked Six Weeks - about a terminally ill girl) just for us complete with popcorn and soda. The pool was a square that makes Disney's look large - and you had to climb about 3 feet down the ladder just to hit water...and it was only open when the ship was docked!

But we had a wonderful time and still talk about things from it. And we always remind my dad not to leave his socks on the bed - he did that after changing for dinner the first night, and when we got back to our cabin, only his bed had not been turned down because the dirty socks were on there!

 

[gatordoc]

Your cruising style sounds a lot like ours, and same demographic. We have cruised Celebrity and did find it more "stuffy" than DCL, however that was before they changed their formal nights to "cruise chic," and banned smoking in the casinos! Those were the two items we found the most irritating. I would say that we found ourselves bored more often on Celebrity than we do on DCL or RCCL or Princess. I think you will enjoy it enough, especially if the itinerary is good. Would love to hear what ship and itin you are doing and a mini trip report when you get back.

Thanks for the info. We'll be doing a 9-night to Key West and the ABC islands on the Equinox. For some reason, although Disney does port in each of the ABC islands, they don't do all three on the same cruise, and those are some of my wife's favorite places in the Caribbean to snorkel. We're also a little worried about being bored during the day on sea days, but I'm planning on bringing several books, and we have a veranda cabin if I can't find any good quiet places to sit and read. Different that what we'd do on a Disney cruise, but still will be a nice vacation. Will definitely post a report when we return.

 

[cruiser21]

My first cruise was in 1995. It was a 4 day cruise with some college friends. It was on Carnival and I'm pretty sure we were the only ones on the ship under the age of 70. I don't know when Carnival got the reputation as a party cruise, but I can say that cruise was anything but. The things I remember was everyone dressed up every night, ice sculptures, real flaming baked Alaska, midnight buffets with chocolate fountains, and dessert buffets at 4pm everyday. It seemed like the food was a lot higher quality then on cruise ships these days, but the ship was a lot smaller with a lot less people.

 

[KashasMom]

My first cruise was in 1995. It was a 4 day cruise with some college friends. It was on Carnival and I'm pretty sure we were the only ones on the ship under the age of 70. I don't know when Carnival got the reputation as a party cruise, but I can say that cruise was anything but. The things I remember was everyone dressed up every night, ice sculptures, real flaming baked Alaska, midnight buffets with chocolate fountains, and dessert buffets at 4pm everyday. It seemed like the food was a lot higher quality then on cruise ships these days, but the ship was a lot smaller with a lot less people.

I remember all of that! We sailed as a very young family on the Carnival Holiday and Carnival Jubilee when they were each about a year old. The food in the MDR was delicious. I remember a lot of lobster and yes, that baked Alaska (and the parade that went along with it). Portions were big and you literally could have as much as you wanted. And oh, those chocolate buffets!! Yum!

Looking back it seems the whole experience was "nicer" - and even calmer, if that makes sense. At the time since I had to dress "nice" for work, I didn't mind doing that on a cruise. Today most everybody seems to want to dress down, including me. Honestly I don't remember the people around on the ship - whether they were old or young. We were excited to be visiting new places. I don't think those ships were the "destination" the way some are today.

 

[cgolf]

I do remember on our first DCL cruise them having a dessert buffet one night very late (11 or midnight) in Lumieres. I think we only saw it happen once, they must have discontinued it?

 

[mevelandry]

I remember all of that! We sailed as a very young family on the Carnival Holiday and Carnival Jubilee when they were each about a year old. The food in the MDR was delicious. I remember a lot of lobster and yes, that baked Alaska (and the parade that went along with it). Portions were big and you literally could have as much as you wanted. And oh, those chocolate buffets!! Yum!

Looking back it seems the whole experience was "nicer" - and even calmer, if that makes sense. At the time since I had to dress "nice" for work, I didn't mind doing that on a cruise. Today most everybody seems to want to dress down, including me. Honestly I don't remember the people around on the ship - whether they were old or young. We were excited to be visiting new places. I don't think those ships were the "destination" the way some are today.

The Baked Alaska parade is back. I've had Baked Alaska on my last two Carnival cruises!

Same. I don't get as excited as I used to when it comes to wearing gowns... Plus, I used to be able to run in high heels and now, it seems like my feet can only tolerate running shoes (for any other type of shoes, I need orthesis. Bleh). Also, my ears seems to reject any jewelry that is not made of expensive metals.

My thirties have been rough on me (when it comes to being comfortable with chic clothing). As I am about to get 40, I don't think it's going to get better. I'm expecting to be wearing moo moos only by the time I get to 45! LOL

 

[MickeyD]

Thanks for the info. We'll be doing a 9-night to Key West and the ABC islands on the Equinox. For some reason, although Disney does port in each of the ABC islands, they don't do all three on the same cruise, and those are some of my wife's favorite places in the Caribbean to snorkel. We're also a little worried about being bored during the day on sea days, but I'm planning on bringing several books, and we have a veranda cabin if I can't find any good quiet places to sit and read. Different that what we'd do on a Disney cruise, but still will be a nice vacation. Will definitely post a report when we return.

You are welcome. That is a great itinerary! And the ship I want to try! Let me know if the rumors are true and Celebrity did away with the glass blowing demonstrations at sea. If so, that is a big bummer because that is one of the things we wanted to see.

 

[FSU Girl]

I've had great experiences on Princess and plan to sail on Norwegian for an upcoming Alaskan cruise. I had an absolute horrible experience on Royal that made me almost never want to cruise again. I went on Disney after and haven't really wanted to go on any other cruise line since.

 

[PrincessTrisha]

Thanks for the info. We'll be doing a 9-night to Key West and the ABC islands on the Equinox. For some reason, although Disney does port in each of the ABC islands, they don't do all three on the same cruise, and those are some of my wife's favorite places in the Caribbean to snorkel. We're also a little worried about being bored during the day on sea days, but I'm planning on bringing several books, and we have a veranda cabin if I can't find any good quiet places to sit and read. Different that what we'd do on a Disney cruise, but still will be a nice vacation. Will definitely post a report when we return.

Two words -

Café Bacio.

Phenomenal on Celebrity - specialty coffee/tea drinks (and some alcoholic beverages as well) and then pastries, cookies, cakes, pies, tarts, mousse, etc. served throughout the day. The drinks have a charge (though if you have a drink package, they are covered); the treats are all included in your cruise fare. Certainly one of our favourite places to hang on our Celebrity cruises. Big comfortable chairs, a nice coffee house feel, great service and incredible treats.

 

[we"reofftoneverland]

Two words: Camp Ocean.