Back from disney Magic Western 01/23/2010

[MassDisLovers]

bemery 1963 ~ thank you for your very honest opinion of your trip. Sometimes people on these boards are so PRO DISNEY that they can't see any other ways to cruise. We love to cruise. We love Disney. But we've also had excellent cruises on RCI and Carnival (including the Liberty). There are positives and negatives on every trip - you just have to roll with it.

 

[WiscBill]

I guess I griped too much in my comments. I want to emphasise the cruise was a nice trip. It is just that I had just as nice a time on other trips along with better food.

I think you were very honest and pointed out several items that other people have also noted. It's important for people who did not have an experience that met their expectations to post. Just a few comments, since you said this was your first real trip on DCL.

1) Until the new menus were put in place last year, there was always an option for what was called lighter fare, which were simply prepared steak, chicken or fish (which was not always salmon). There were many people who shared your opinion about the more heavily sauced and seasoned food when those went away. In fact, on our three cruises, I ordered from that simpler fare menu on more than one occasion. Strangely, if our recent experience on the Wonder is any indication, you can get meals like that in the buffet (topsiders or beach blanket) which serve casual dining in the evening. Perhaps, DCL is listening and will restore it in the near future. Also, you can usually get your server to bring you a meal from one of the other rotational restaurants (unless its a theme night), which broadens the selections you have.
2) The "powdered eggs" at breakfast are almost certainly not "powdered" but the liquid commercial mixes. In either Lumieres or at the buffet, you can have them crack eggs and prepare them anyway you want, but you have to know to ask or go to the omelet station in the buffet. I have had the eggs benedict at Lumiere's and they are definitely freshly poached eggs.
3) Although it is not on the Navigator, you can go to the buffet for your departure day breakfast up till about 8:00 am. However, there is no omelet station that day, so you it would not have helped with your request for fresh eggs.
4) I have also experience the beverage situation you described with the server getting huffy because you didn't ask the assistant server (who could not be found). Not sure what to do about that except to note it on the comment card.
5) Small point: The Big Red Boat never stopped at Castaway Cay, which didn't exist until the Disney Cruise Line was started.

Please come back in the fall and tell us how your B2B on Carnival went.

 

[bemery1963]

I think you were very honest and pointed out several items that other people have also noted. It's important for people who did not have an experience that met their expectations to post. Just a few comments, since you said this was your first real trip on DCL.

1) Until the new menus were put in place last year, there was always an option for what was called lighter fare, which were simply prepared steak, chicken or fish (which was not always salmon). There were many people who shared your opinion about the more heavily sauced and seasoned food when those went away. In fact, on our three cruises, I ordered from that simpler fare menu on more than one occasion. Strangely, if our recent experience on the Wonder is any indication, you can get meals like that in the buffet (topsiders or beach blanket) which serve casual dining in the evening. Perhaps, DCL is listening and will restore it in the near future. Also, you can usually get your server to bring you a meal from one of the other rotational restaurants (unless its a theme night), which broadens the selections you have.
2) The "powdered eggs" at breakfast are almost certainly not "powdered" but the liquid commercial mixes. In either Lumieres or at the buffet, you can have them crack eggs and prepare them anyway you want, but you have to know to ask or go to the omelet station in the buffet. I have had the eggs benedict at Lumiere's and they are definitely freshly poached eggs.
3) Although it is not on the Navigator, you can go to the buffet for your departure day breakfast up till about 8:00 am. However, there is no omelet station that day, so you it would not have helped with your request for fresh eggs.
4) I have also experience the beverage situation you described with the server getting huffy because you didn't ask the assistant server (who could not be found). Not sure what to do about that except to note it on the comment card.
5) Small point: The Big Red Boat never stopped at Castaway Cay, which didn't exist until the Disney Cruise Line was started.

Please come back in the fall and tell us how your B2B on Carnival went.

Thanks for your comments they will be helpful to future cruisers. Especially the Topsider being open on departure day.

I wasn't sure if Disney bought the Big Red Boat Island or not. Now I know.

As for the server incident it just occured to me that maybe Dwight's liesurely stroll around the dining room was his atempt to find the assistant server. Perhaps I judged too harshly?

 

[bemery1963]

I too enjoyed reading it, brought back all of our memories from the exact cruise date. The only thing I agree with is how expensive the food in Grand Cayman was. After our DCL Grand Cayman Island excursion (which was to be 2 hours and somehow ended up being 4) we were starving! We met a family member who lives in GC and ended up at Breezes for 1 soup, 2 appetizers, 1 kids meal, 1 sandwich and 4 margaritas. The bill was about $140, of course we also made the mistake of over tipping because we didn't realize the tip was already included. Thank you for taking the time to write your opinions.

On the subject of other cruise lines though, things seemed to have changed. I was a travel agent for 20+ years and Carnival was always considered the very bottom of the "cruise class ladder".

I would have to agree with you that Carnival ships are much tackier than the Disney ships are. The service provided on the Disney ship was a step better than Carnival. Our servers could actually speak english very well. The server's on the last few Carnival Cruises we were on were not as fluent. However for the $1000 + difference in price I can become color blind and learn how to read body language real fast.

 

[bemery1963]

I just want to thank you for the tip about breakfast, I could not tolerate powdered tasting eggs, microwave bacon and Mcd's hash browns, it sounds silly, but they really give me indigestion...the real thing does not affect me that way at all...happy to know we can ask...hope they won't be too offended if we ask for real breakfast!

Thanks!
Tara

Maybe if enough people ask for a real breakfast they will start making them for everyone.

 

[disneyhand]

We just got back from 7 night western cruise on Disney Magic.

I have spent the last two months reviewing cruise discounts on a different websites looking for cheap cruises. On January 14, 2010 I saw that we could book a gty cat 12 for 3 for $2195.00 on the January 23 sailing. The last 7 day cruise we took was a western on Carnival in October which I paid $904 for 3 people.

I really debated taking this cruise because I am a cheap person and knew I could get a different cruise line cruise with almost the same itenerary for about $1200.00. But we really love Disney. We have been DVC members since 1994 and have been going to Disney world two or three times a year ever since. I thought I probably would not get a much better price on a Disney cruise in the near future so I booked it.

To save money we decided to drive to Cape Canaveral instead of flying. Since we live in Wisconsin it is about a 20 hour drive if you drive an average of 10 miles per hour over the speed limit.

We left at 4:00 pm on Thursday and drove to Mufreesboro TN where we spent the night at Days Inn. The room was clean and adequate for sleeping but we definitiely did not like the breakfast they supplied. We ended up getting breakfast at Waffle house.

We left Murfreesboro TN about 10:00 am and arrived at Cape Canaveral Residence Inn about 8:30 pm. We had a one bedroom suite which was very nice. The pool was about three times the size of pools that I have seen at most Residence Inns and they had an outdoor bar. So we bought some drinks and ordered Chinese food for delivery. I can't remember the name of the company we ordered from we got the menu from the front desk. Just note that if you do order from them there portions are enough to feed two people. We had a lot of leftover food.

I just read the entire thread and think you tried to be very honest in your opinion
I do wonder though when you're comparing the cost between October from a different cruise line and Disney in January if that is apples to apples or apples to oranges? We cruised Disney in Sept. 06 and October 08 in the past because it is a more affordable time then January. Just wondering...

 

[momofsamandeden]

Thank you for that review. It did answer some questions I have regarding food. I saw the menus posted somewhere else online and cringed with the truly picky eaters in my family.
What is funny about this review is that my dh wants to do the Liberty November cruise instead of Disney this year and wait until the kids are 7, 4 and 2 to do Disney so that the oldest can remember more of it. His view is we can do a Disney/Universal park option in November and do the Liberty by driving to Miami and still save money rather than doing just a Disney 7 day. However we have five of us so that is always a factor when it comes to money. As I was reading your review you seemed to be like me. I am more excited about a bargain and really think about even the littlest things like store brand vs. name brand. Carnival is store brand meaning they have great beds, decent food and an overall good kids program while Disney is the name brand more expensive ship look, fantastic kids program and they do try to accommodate those who ask.
So if the price is right we will sail them this year. Otherwise we are going to wait for the Dream and sail Disney next year.
BTW the Liberty is one of Carnivals better looking ships. I think the designer they use was sick during that plan

 

[bemery1963]

I just read the entire thread and think you tried to be very honest in your opinion
I do wonder though when you're comparing the cost between October from a different cruise line and Disney in January if that is apples to apples or apples to oranges? We cruised Disney in Sept. 06 and October 08 in the past because it is a more affordable time then January. Just wondering...

Actually the prices that I compared for my November cruise were for the same dates on Disney. Remember my November cruise is over Thanksgiving. So rates would be higher that two week time period for both cruises then they would be for a two week time period in October. Last October we sailed on a 7 day Western on the Liberty for 3 people for $954. I think Carnival rates for the January cruise would have been around $1200.00. Sorry for the confusion.

 

[bemery1963]

Thank you for that review. It did answer some questions I have regarding food. I saw the menus posted somewhere else online and cringed with the truly picky eaters in my family.
What is funny about this review is that my dh wants to do the Liberty November cruise instead of Disney this year and wait until the kids are 7, 4 and 2 to do Disney so that the oldest can remember more of it. His view is we can do a Disney/Universal park option in November and do the Liberty by driving to Miami and still save money rather than doing just a Disney 7 day. However we have five of us so that is always a factor when it comes to money. As I was reading your review you seemed to be like me. I am more excited about a bargain and really think about even the littlest things like store brand vs. name brand. Carnival is store brand meaning they have great beds, decent food and an overall good kids program while Disney is the name brand more expensive ship look, fantastic kids program and they do try to accommodate those who ask.
So if the price is right we will sail them this year. Otherwise we are going to wait for the Dream and sail Disney next year.
BTW the Liberty is one of Carnivals better looking ships. I think the designer they use was sick during that plan

Your husband's plan is what we have done for the last several years. We drive to Miami, cruise then drive to Disney world and stay at our DVC condo for a week. We drive to Florida, saves on hotel and car rental costs. He is disabled so we do not have to worry about paying for parking at the Port of Miami.

I don't know if Carnival still does it, but when our youngest was 4 and under, Carnival would bring a toddler bed in the room for her so we could sleep 5 in an inside cabin. However when she got older, they said only 4 in an inside cabin. So I don't know if they changed their policy or if they still do it for families with younger children. I do not have any experience with Disney's policy on this. Maybe someone else knows.

 

[mmouse37]

Hi....I am going to move this to the Cruise Trip Reports board. People will still be able to find it and post to it.

Thanks!!

MJ

 

[NancyIL]

Thank you for that review. It did answer some questions I have regarding food. I saw the menus posted somewhere else online and cringed with the truly picky eaters in my family.
What is funny about this review is that my dh wants to do the Liberty November cruise instead of Disney this year and wait until the kids are 7, 4 and 2 to do Disney so that the oldest can remember more of it. His view is we can do a Disney/Universal park option in November and do the Liberty by driving to Miami and still save money rather than doing just a Disney 7 day. However we have five of us so that is always a factor when it comes to money. As I was reading your review you seemed to be like me. I am more excited about a bargain and really think about even the littlest things like store brand vs. name brand. Carnival is store brand meaning they have great beds, decent food and an overall good kids program while Disney is the name brand more expensive ship look, fantastic kids program and they do try to accommodate those who ask.
So if the price is right we will sail them this year. Otherwise we are going to wait for the Dream and sail Disney next year.
BTW the Liberty is one of Carnivals better looking ships. I think the designer they use was sick during that plan

I thought I'd post a link to Cruise Critic's review of Carnival Liberty: http://www.cruisecritic.com/reviews/review_page2.cfm?ShipID=360

 

[bemery1963]

I thought I'd post a link to Cruise Critic's review of Carnival Liberty: http://www.cruisecritic.com/reviews/review_page2.cfm?ShipID=360

Thanks for posting the link. We are pretty excited about our B2B.