Bye Bye Disney and Hello Carnival

[Kae]

I've cruised on Royal Caribbean, Carnival, and Princess. Not once was the pool closed due to someone throwing up in it (actually, not once was the pool closed full stop - unlike DCL where it was closed a few times owing to "biological contamination".

Nor did I see anyone falling down drunk on any cruise (with any cruise line).

Don't let comments like that keep you from cruising another line. I find cruise critic to be a good source for less biased reviews (frequent posters on a Disney board are often going to think that Disney are always best).

I have to agree with this we were on 5 day the Oct 9th sailing on the Inspiration out out Tampa. Which is know as a party boat, did not have any run ins with any drunk people. but we have also never had any problems at Epcot during the F & W Fest, which is reported around here alot.

Kae

 

[mrsklamc]

I agree about Disney bias. Folks on the cruise board say they cruise DCL for the service but our service was much better on HAL.

 

[mamalle]

I have to say when we cruise again- it will not be on DCL unless there is one awesome Fla resident rate.. Mine want to try RCCL- wow those ships look awesome

 

[Mad4Mickey]

I have cruised on the Ecstasy 3 times and I can tell you WE LOVE IT ! We Scuba in Cozumel every time so I have no idea about the beach excursions.
A tip for Progresso is if you are getting off the ship to do a little shopping make sure you book the spa for later because other then the pier there is not a dang thing there LOL
Our friends went to Merida and said although the bus ride was bad to get there it was fun nice. We have always just stayed on the ship for most of that port and enjoyed the discounted Spa services .
Do the couples massage if you can that was fun and my Dh and I really enjoyed having a massage everyday together .

 

[momofrrr]

You will have a great time. WE did the Conquest summer before last and had a blast! Our kids were 16, 12 and 20 at the time and they all loved it as well. We truly enjoyed our table mates and our wait staff. They were so with it. By the second night our table already had our drinks on it when we got there. They took such good care of us. We had the 16 and 20 year old with us in the room (the 12yo bunked with aunt and uncle) and it was a little crowded but remember that the 16 yo is a girl so she had everything under the sun with her. There was plenty of room for us, it was just putting the luggage somewhere that was a problem but then again, we were not in the room that much so it was not that big of a deal. Carnival is probably not the most luxurious of cruise lines but it is certainly not shabby. Go and have a great time!

 

[eduk8r26]

We went on a family cruise this summer on Carnival Elation. Had a blast, but it will always be remembered as the cruise where a man strangled his wife!

 

[kellermomof3]

I saw this thread today and I've talked DH into going on a cruise . I've been pricing the one out of Galveston for $619 a person (Ecstasy) 7/19. I think I'll wait and see if it goes down any. With kids we'll have a party of 5 so we'll have to get two rooms.

So Excited!!!

 

[SnowWhite607]

If you are looking for a nice beach in Cozumel Chankanaab is delightful. I think its about $15/person, but they have hammocks, chairs, nice sand, pools, swim areas, snorkeling, bars, etc. My friend and I did the dolphin swim (amazing!) and our fiances enjoyed beers at the bar while they waited for us. We all enjoyed a nice break in the hammocks and the fact that we weren't hassled at all while we were there

Been there previously and I would have to totally agree! We'll be going back when we cruise again in June.

 

[mrsmom]

We took our four kids on a carnival cruise for thanksgiving last year, we had to balcony rooms and the kids loved itthey made lots of friends. we went to disney this past April but they are asking to go on a cruise again in June. So we are getting ready to book it.

 

[kellermomof3]

So if we want to cruise in July.....when is the best time to book? When do the "good deals" come out? And who do you book through??

Thanks

 

[PrincessasMommy]

I prefer it hands down over all else, it is an amazing experience!
We have taken our 4 daughters and we all LOVE LOVE LOVE it!!!!
We have done Royal Caribean Freedom of the Seas twice - East & West and a Disney 4 day Bahamas Cruise in Jan of 2009 which was INCREDIBLE - nothing like a bunch of little girls being stopped by Snow White to chat in hallways, Mickey & I shared an elevator for a little alone time, Captain Jack had a chat with my teenage daughter - AMAZING moments - but big $$$$. I will do Carnival/Royal Carribean next time for sure - shows, food, atmosphere - awesome!!!! Have fun!!!!

 

[JamesMom]

So if we want to cruise in July.....when is the best time to book? When do the "good deals" come out? And who do you book through??

Thanks

Hi fellow Keller, TX resident! OP, here.

I bought through Carnival and got the 'early saver' rate and got to pick my cabin. The catch with this rate is the deposit ($200 pp) is nonrefundable BUT is transferable to another sailing. The summer rates seemed to be higher. When i booked a couple of months ago, memorial day week would have been $400 more than the first week in May we booked. check out Vacations2go dot com for rates but i found they were the same as the carnival site. good luck!

 

[christa112]

We have been thinking about a cruise for our next vacation too. It is definately a scary thing for us not to go to WDW because we know what to expect.

We are hoping for a July or Aug Disney Cruise in 2011. We have the DVC so I can us our points to go.

My worst fear is the "Boat Bug". I am envisioning everyone vomitting. UGH!!!

I have also heard about people having a tough time adjusting to the movement and feeling dizzy. DH gets motion sickness, so I don't want him to feel sick the entire time either.

 

[aidensmom73]

Has anyone used cruisevacationoutlet.com?

 

[kellermomof3]

Hi fellow Keller, TX resident! OP, here.

I bought through Carnival and got the 'early saver' rate and got to pick my cabin. The catch with this rate is the deposit ($200 pp) is nonrefundable BUT is transferable to another sailing. The summer rates seemed to be higher. When i booked a couple of months ago, memorial day week would have been $400 more than the first week in May we booked. check out Vacations2go dot com for rates but i found they were the same as the carnival site. good luck!

Thanks! I looked at Carnival, but I may check through AAA.

Between Football camps, Select Baseball, and Comp dance we only have a three week window in July to do anything! I just want to lay on a beach with a drink in my hand

 

[DL55]

We have been thinking about a cruise for our next vacation too. It is definately a scary thing for us not to go to WDW because we know what to expect.

We are hoping for a July or Aug Disney Cruise in 2011. We have the DVC so I can us our points to go.

My worst fear is the "Boat Bug". I am envisioning everyone vomitting. UGH!!!

I have also heard about people having a tough time adjusting to the movement and feeling dizzy. DH gets motion sickness, so I don't want him to feel sick the entire time either.

A Disney cruise is still Disney so you won't feel as different as a cruise on another line.
As far a Noro virus, it's brought on by the passengers. It is far more common on land. The usual precautions apply (wash your hands )
The ships don't move too much. Buy motion sickness meds, bands or ginger before the trip. Take them before he feels ill.

 

[DisneyMomma81]

I'm sure you'll have a great time! We went on a weekend cruise out of San Diego earlier this month ~ we cruised Carnival (Elation), I've been on 2 Royal Carribean cruises before. We had a great time. It was my mom's C~mas gift to me & my siblings - my mom & gma shared a balcony room, my 2 single brothers shared a room, my sister & her 2 DSs were in a room - her DH *D stands for dumb, decided not to come ~ couldn't miss work (*whatever he sells shoes, running shoes ~ he's a marathoner, ran the Boston Marathon this past April), so my mom lost all that $$ noone mentioned putting that $$ towards a future booking ~ perhaps cause it was paid in full??) and my kids and I were in a room. We actually switched rooms with my sister *our rooms had just 2 rooms in between us* ~ our original room had a Q bed, her room which became ours had 4 bunks - so we each had our own bed with 1 extra (top bunk that just stayed flipped up). We ended up taking the train from San Diego to Anaheim after our cruise and visited DLR for 2 days last week!

We booked through Carnival's website using the Fun or Early Save price.

 

[solfan68]

Greetings cruisers ! Anyone sailed on Carnival out of Baltimore ? I'll be getting some additional vacation time this coming year and we're thinking about cruising for the first time. I see where they sail out of the Baltimore port which might be tons easier than traveling all the way to Florida to hop on a boat(we're up here in the northeast).

So... thoughts ? TIA

 

[Lollipop's Mom]

Count me in as someone who recently cancelled our big DCL vacation and budgeted down. We are opting for a week in Disneyland instead. I had won 3 nights free hotel from a Hojo contest and we are using that. I can do the week in disneyland area for less than the cost of the DCL cruise.
While I LOVE to cruise and LOVE dcl, its just too pricey this time around for us (not to mention we can fly to LA in 2 hours and a lot cheaper than we can to Orlando).

We did a carnival cruise about 4 years ago - it was on the Paradise for 4 nights and it went to Catalina Island and Ensenada. I wasn't overly thrilled, but later found out that cruise was really a weekend cruise aimed at locals who wanted a 4 day party. I think as long as you stick to a longer cruise on a bigger ship, you are going to get more family oriented stuff.

Have fun!

 

[Dsnymouse]

JamesMom - Thanks for posting this! I also live in the DFW area and have toyed with a Carnival cruise. Can't beat it going out of Galveston and no airfare. Which ship was renovated? Report back and let us know how you like it. Have fun!