2 Carnival Cruises, 1st Disney

[rwpeterson]

Hello! We booked our first Disney cruise, the 10/25/2003 cruise to the Western Caribbean. We've been on 2 Carnival Cruises but this time we're taking the kids (DDs 9 & 7) so we thought we'd try Disney since we didn't find Carnival to have a family atmosphere. I've ordered the video but it hasn't arrived yet.

Can someone who's been on Carnival tell me what will be different with the Disney cruise? Is Disney dining more formal? Do you need reservations for the shows or do you just find a seat at show time? Do the kids really want to stay in the kids programs from morning to night?

In another thread someone mentioned they could see their reservation on a website. What website is that? DCL?

 

[prymsu]

dining and dress codes are really about the same...

you will find the debarkation a much smoother process...

you don't need ressies for the shows, however you do for the SPA and Palos if you plan on using these services.

You have to get refillable mugs - there are no soda cards.

drink specials are pretty similar.

pools are fresh water not salt.

You can book your shore excursions ahead 60 days.

My son personally didn't like the kids clubs. I think it was because he was used to smaller groups on carnival, but that is only one kid's opinion...

service and food to me were very close.

When you board the ship, there will be a CM who will ask for your family name, and then he will announce it over a loud speaker.

that is what i can think of for right now...

 

[lsmac]

Sue answered most of it. I just want to add:
No casino on DCL.
Smoking not nearly as bad ( I hate smoke and Carnival seemed to have A LOT of it!)
Embarkation and debarkation are a breeze with DCL (although we did NOT get announced like everyone raves about)
Our son (10 you at the time) did not care for the children's program and would usually be playing basketball or in the arcade. Whereas on Carnival you couldn't get him out of the children's area!
Regardless of the differences, you will have a great time on Disney and so will your kids! Enjoy!

Lisa

 

[tecdavidt]

Ditto on everything but our 10 yr old daughter loved the kids clubs. We had cruised DCL first then Carnival and she did not like Carnival, she was bored. This coming March will be her 6th cruise and only one was on Carnival. We still cruise Carnival but not with kids. Kathy

 

[kackie]

We did Disney, then tried Carnival. I will let DS 8 tell you his opinion.....

While on the Carnival Cruise:
"Its nice to be with you and daddy, but its not a disney cruise."
"I dont want to hurt your feelings, but its kinda boring."
"We had way more fun in the kids club on the Disney cruise."
"Why are the pools always closed on the Carnival ship? Don't they want the kids to have fun?"
"Don't they have the Disney channel? What mom,no movie theater"

Kackie

 

[gometros]

Our only carnival cruise was in 1996, si I may be a little out of date, but two things I noticed right away on DCL was that on Carnival, I always felt like someone's hand was in their pocket. It seemed sometimes that there were more drink servers on deck than guests. Also, not nearly as much food on DCL as Carnival (which is a good thing). DCL has a midnight dessert buffet and hoer d'ouvres at night in the club area and around the Promenade lounge, but you don't get that feeling of always eating, which is why some people hate cruises.

Another thing is the rooms. While it's not fair to compare the outside stateroom we had on Carnival with the deluxe outside stateroom with veranda we had on DCL, the DCL rooms were bigger and they felt more like a Disney hotel room then a cruise ship stateroom.