CARNIVAL VS DCL: The discussion and comparison thread!

[cmph]

Just like DCL, twin size sofa bed and twin size upper Pullman above. BTW, on some of the ships they have connecting rooms that are insides fir the kids connected to verandas for adults. We've been doing connecting rooms since our kids were 10 and 11, just leave connecting door open all night. Love having 2 bathrooms.

When I was a teenager, we only ever stayed in one inside, in the two pull-downs and two lower twins situation. I recently learned that my dad booked it to a bar for a nightly gin and tonic when my mom, my sister, and I got ready for dinner. Can't say I blame him! It was tight! I don't really remember thinking those beds were too short for me, and I'm 5'10", but the types of beds are totally different now on various lines. we never had a couch-bed, that's for sure, much less the space to have a couch that turned into a bed, back when we sailed on Carnival, etc. in the 90s! Even with two rooms, my kids are different genders, so the older they get, the need for 2 separate beds will remain. The 11yo can barely tolerate sharing a bed with the 8yo right now, LOL!

 

[Krissynae]

We rode the Victory on August 2016. It was me, My mom and 2 y/o son.. We had the queen bed made into 2 twins and had a trundle bed brought in for Gavin because we thought he would roll of the couch.. he still rolled off the trundle but far less of a fall. We had a blast. My mother brought everything under the sun. we loved the pizza from the pizza pirate when it was hand made to order. OMG was that yummy and my son keeps asking for it.. We were in 8361. Gavin enjoyed the play place until the last night but i think he was over not being in routine. I was sad the kids pool was never filled so he never got to use it. glad you got to enjoy your cruise.

 

[Club Disney Chandler]

When I was a teenager, we only ever stayed in one inside, in the two pull-downs and two lower twins situation. I recently learned that my dad booked it to a bar for a nightly gin and tonic when my mom, my sister, and I got ready for dinner. Can't say I blame him! It was tight! I don't really remember thinking those beds were too short for me, and I'm 5'10", but the types of beds are totally different now on various lines. we never had a couch-bed, that's for sure, much less the space to have a couch that turned into a bed, back when we sailed on Carnival, etc. in the 90s! Even with two rooms, my kids are different genders, so the older they get, the need for 2 separate beds will remain. The 11yo can barely tolerate sharing a bed with the 8yo right now, LOL!

Unlike Disney, Carnival's regular bed separates into 2 twins, we have a boy and girl too, they love the Carnival set up.

 

[mevelandry]

Well my friends...

We liked our experience with Carnival so much that we decided to cancel our Key West-Cozumel 2017 with RCCL (please note that we haven't tried RCCL yet and don't know what we are missing) And do the KW-C on the Carnival Paradise instead! (And we saved about 400$ CAN...Which covers our excursions!!!)

Since we haven't tried Fun 2.0 yet, we can't miss it.

I've seen pictures and videos of the Paradise. It has a bit more of the "classic" look than "Vegas" look, IMHO. I love what I have seen so far.

For 1$/pp /per day more than inside cabin, I've got two small portholes. Super cute!

 

[cmph]

Well my friends...

We liked our experience with Carnival so much that we decided to cancel our Key West-Cozumel 2017 with RCCL (please note that we haben't tried RCCL yet and don't know what we are missing) And do the KW-C on the Carnival Paradise instead!

I'm glad you enjoyed your trip, so much so that you re-booked Carnival! Thanks for posting all of the information and details!

 

[Love2Cruz]

Her transatlantic is in 5 days, then she will make her way to her home port in Miami. We will be on her for 14 glorious nights starting 6/3/17!

And I'll be boarding her after you on June 25th for the second time.

 

[mevelandry]

Stop it, you guys are all making me jealous! I'd cruise 4 times a year if I could afford it!

 

[deanimal]

Those pictures bring back so many memories! My first "grown up" trip was back in November 2001, right after I graduated from college, a seven day Western Caribbean on the Carnival Victory. I'd never done anything fancier than camping with my family or maybe an occasional stay in a budget hotel and I was like a little country mouse wandering around that ship with my mouth wide open. It looks like they've updated it quite a bit since then. I may have to check her our sometime!

 

[mevelandry]

Those pictures bring back so many memories! My first "grown up" trip was back in November 2001, right after I graduated from college, a seven day Western Caribbean on the Carnival Victory. I'd never done anything fancier than camping with my family or maybe an occasional stay in a budget hotel and I was like a little country mouse wandering around that ship with my mouth wide open. It looks like they've updated it quite a bit since then. I may have to check her our sometime!

They are currently renovating the cabins as well. Ours wasn't updated but those who are updated look very good! It's a good ship with a great crew. Love her.

 

[mevelandry]

I just added a "Fire Drill", "Financial gestion" and a "transportation" section on the original post.

 

[Dug720]

I just added a "Fire Drill", "Financial gestion" and a "transportation" section on the original post.

Just FYI, regarding MUSTER Drill, DCL's are not always inside. It depends on where your station is. There ARE stations on deck.

 

[mevelandry]

Just FYI, regarding MUSTER Drill, DCL's are not always inside. It depends on where your station is. There ARE stations on deck.

Really? I guess I have been lucky. I'll add it on the review. Thank you.

 

[Dug720]

Really? I guess I have been lucky. I'll add it on the review. Thank you.

Yep. I've had both. We were even *gasp* outside on our first when we were in Concierge. (Clearly I have no issue with being outside.)

 

[mevelandry]

I added your info to the first post (and gave you credit for the info).

I'm glad to confirm (if I didn't already, I'm writing on too many boards and threads LOL) that we enjoyed our experience with Carnival so much that we replaced our previous plans of a 2017 cruise with RCCL (that we were going to try for the first time) with another cruise with Carnival on the Paradise for a Key West-Cozumel 5 nights cruise.

Also, this time we have chosen to try the specialty dining event called The Chef's Table, which is apparently similar to Remy, except that you get a visit of the galley before the entrées.

 

[mevelandry]

Oh, and I updated the price for Remy who went from 75$/pp when we last tried it, to 95$/pp.

 

[Love2Cruz]

Really? I guess I have been lucky. I'll add it on the review. Thank you.

Both my DCL musterdrills were outdoors.

 

[mevelandry]

Update: Apparently, the Carnival Victory's next dry dock will be happening 1/04/18 - 1/25/18.

 

[dawngee]

omg, we were on the victory last august 18-20 and if I know anything I will NEVER go on a Carnival cruise again. The adult pool was packed. Is it healthy for that many people to be in a pool at one time. One of our group had a food allergy and we could not get a straight answer about whether there was "potato starch/flour" in the food. the smoking on the ship in the casino area, awful and the room and ship needed something beyond an overhaul. at 3a they did a loudspeaker call looking for someone, the next night they did another loudspeaker call at 3a. I will stop but trust me, I could go on. Worst experience EVER!

 

[godde8ss]

I added your info to the first post (and gave you credit for the info).

I'm glad to confirm (if I didn't already, I'm writing on too many boards and threads LOL) that we enjoyed our experience with Carnival so much that we replaced our previous plans of a 2017 cruise with RCCL (that we were going to try for the first time) with another cruise with Carnival on the Paradise for a Key West-Cozumel 5 nights cruise.

Also, this time we have chosen to try the specialty dining event called The Chef's Table, which is apparently similar to Remy, except that you get a visit of the galley before the entrées.

I'm sad to hear this, as I think you would like RCCL WAY more than Carnival. Growing up in FLorida, I've cruised ALOT. We always consider Carnival line to be the booze cruise, cheap getaway thing. (haven't tried 2.0 but i'm scared to because of past experience). RCCL has always had nicer ships, better service, better food than carnival. I say give it try and find out what you are missing. I'm waiting for my kids to get older so we can go on a family RCCL cruise.

 

[mevelandry]

omg, we were on the victory last august 18-20 and if I know anything I will NEVER go on a Carnival cruise again. The adult pool was packed. Is it healthy for that many people to be in a pool at one time. One of our group had a food allergy and we could not get a straight answer about whether there was "potato starch/flour" in the food. the smoking on the ship in the casino area, awful and the room and ship needed something beyond an overhaul. at 3a they did a loudspeaker call looking for someone, the next night they did another loudspeaker call at 3a. I will stop but trust me, I could go on. Worst experience EVER!

Yeah... 3 days during summer and spring break = booze cruise I was told.

I've done 4 nights in October. It was very quiet. We had the adult pool for just the two of us at least once a day. That never happened on a DCL cruise where we can usually only swim early morning on Nassau day.

I spent an hour or two in the casino once and the smell wasn't that bad.

My husband is allergic to coconut but I guess it's a bit easier to avoid...