CARNIVAL VS DCL: The discussion and comparison thread!

[mevelandry]

I think I’m the only person on the planet that doesn’t like the Chocolate Melting Cake, I’ll try it again and ask for it well done in June. My favorite Carnival dessert is the Bitter n Blanc, I go nuts for that. I think they only have it on 8 night and longer cruises though.

This one sounds good too.

 

[mevelandry]

I have a crockpot version I make at home (small crock), made mistake of telling my son that the cruise will have it as a option every night in dining room along with unlimited ice cream...he’s 13 and eats everything in sight and skinny as a rail. I’ll gain cruise weight and not eat dessert every night and he’ll eat 3 desserts a night and gain no weight. I’ve also been craving a Guy’s burger...

The deal I did with myself on the last cruise (because I was fresh out of a diet) was that I would only eat half a Guy's Burger... I did.

But I did eat a whole Melting chocolate cake. LOL

I celebrated my 40 year old birthday on that cruise. I gain weight more easily than when I was young. I tought I could count on climbing the stairs and go to the gym but with my FIL and MIL (seniors, in bad shape) we took the elevator almost every single time. And I gained 3 pounds. Boooh!!!

 

[Lynne G]

Thank you for this thread. While I've cruised with my DH a very long time ago with Royal, and as a family (kids now are 17 and 21) we've sailed 3 times on DCL, with the first, me and the kids, when they were 12 and 15, on a last minute decent priced Fantasy, then the next year, just my DH and I on the Dream, and this January, went on a military discounted DCL Magic with my oldest kid. But, even with military discounts, and last minute pricing, DCL is getting to expensive for us. For January 2020, we are doing a Western on Carnival. For what I paid for an extended veranda, was almost half of what DCL wanted. So, while the kids are not happy about the decor on the ship, and unhappy about the western ports, I am excited, and hoping the gulf water is warmer than the Atlantic we did this January.

So, if any one has info on Cozumel, Belize, Rotan, and Grand Cayman ports, I'd be appreciate. I've been looking at tours online, but not sure which ones yet.

And, it will be the first time we tender, and first time on Carnival, for 7 nights.

 

[mevelandry]

Thank you for this thread. While I've cruised with my DH a very long time ago with Royal, and as a family (kids now are 17 and 21) we've sailed 3 times on DCL, with the first, me and the kids, when they were 12 and 15, on a last minute decent priced Fantasy, then the next year, just my DH and I on the Dream, and this January, went on a military discounted DCL Magic with my oldest kid. But, even with military discounts, and last minute pricing, DCL is getting to expensive for us. For January 2020, we are doing a Western on Carnival. For what I paid for an extended veranda, was almost half of what DCL wanted. So, while the kids are not happy about the decor on the ship, and unhappy about the western ports, I am excited, and hoping the gulf water is warmer than the Atlantic we did this January.

So, if any one has info on Cozumel, Belize, Rotan, and Grand Cayman ports, I'd be appreciate. I've been looking at tours online, but not sure which ones yet.

And, it will be the first time we tender, and first time on Carnival, for 7 nights.

Welcome! Which ship are you sailing on?

For Grand Cayman, I'd definitely recommend the Royal Palms Beach Club. It's just a 4$/pp cab ride away. You can rent a cabana on the beach for 125$ USD... it's just a tent with a table with lounger chairs really but it gives you some shade, is very well situated, and guarantees your entrance at the Beach Club. But if you want to save money, you can also just pay the 2$ entrance fee and rent chairs (10$ each) and umbrellas (15$ each)! The place is very clean and the food they sell is pretty good. There's a nice pool and the beach is amazing.

And you simply can't get bored in Cozumel. There's way too many excursions options.

 

[Lynne G]

Welcome! Which ship are you sailing on?

For Grand Cayman, I'd definitely recommend the Royal Palms Beach Club. It's just a 4$/pp cab ride away. You can rent a cabana on the beach for 125$ USD... it's just a tent with a table with lounger chairs really but it gives you some shade, is very well situated, and guarantees your entrance at the Beach Club. But if you want to save money, you can also just pay the 2$ entrance fee and rent chairs (10$ each) and umbrellas (15$ each)! The place is very clean and the food they sell is pretty good. There's a nice pool and the beach is amazing.

And you simply can't get bored in Cozumel. There's way too many excursions options.

Thanks for the info. The Legend, from Tampa. I'll admit, the decor is loud.

 

[hdrolfe]

Thank you for this thread. While I've cruised with my DH a very long time ago with Royal, and as a family (kids now are 17 and 21) we've sailed 3 times on DCL, with the first, me and the kids, when they were 12 and 15, on a last minute decent priced Fantasy, then the next year, just my DH and I on the Dream, and this January, went on a military discounted DCL Magic with my oldest kid. But, even with military discounts, and last minute pricing, DCL is getting to expensive for us. For January 2020, we are doing a Western on Carnival. For what I paid for an extended veranda, was almost half of what DCL wanted. So, while the kids are not happy about the decor on the ship, and unhappy about the western ports, I am excited, and hoping the gulf water is warmer than the Atlantic we did this January.

So, if any one has info on Cozumel, Belize, Rotan, and Grand Cayman ports, I'd be appreciate. I've been looking at tours online, but not sure which ones yet.

And, it will be the first time we tender, and first time on Carnival, for 7 nights.

For tendering you have two choices to speed things up (make it easier to get off the ship), you can get Faster to the Fun (which has other benefits as well, one per cabin is needed) or you can book your excursion through Carnival. Since you have two tender ports, I'd recommend FTTF but if it's not available it's not the end of the world, I did not have it when I went to Belize and was still able to be in the first tender off the ship by getting to the meeting spot early.

Cozumel - so many great places to go, beaches, I'm sure you can find a great spot depending on how active you want to be.
Belize - cave tubing is a popular option, as well as zip lining. They will offer an excursion through the ship or you can go with a private vendor. We did cave tubing and it was ok, I think we'd have preferred one of the beaches. Oh, there is also a swim with sharks excursion if you like snorkeling
Roatan - there is a free beach near the ship, walk off and down the path and voila! You can spend money there to get a shade or take the chair lift, we did the chair lift and my kiddo enjoyed it (he was 8).
Grand Cayman - sting rays. We did a private excursion there and swam with the sting rays, went snorkeling and then to a beach, lunch included. It was amazing. My son (he was 7 then) says it is his favourite port. I believe Carnival offers this excursion as well. If you have already done the sting ray thing, then I'd suggest 7-mile beach or an AI.

Which ship will you be on? Some are better than others, I'm guessing Conquest based on your itinerary and Jan 2020. It is an older ship but there is a water slide, a nice serenity area for adults, the good food options like Guys Burgers and Blue Iguana. And it's not too big so even tendering shouldn't be a big deal. There is also mini golf which is fun.

Ha I was wrong! Legend... hmm... I'm not as familiar with it. I believe it has a water park area at the back with a few water slides though, and should still have Guys and Blue Iguana. I am sure you will have fun!

 

[trvlgirlmq]

I can't believe I am saying this but I think we are canceling our Legend Med cruise for next year and trying RCCL! The kids weren't going to come with us because they just wanted a relaxing beach vacation. We talked about a compromise or what we could do that would make everyone happy. They said they were burned out on Carnival but got excited about the big Royal ships with rock walls and ice skating. I believe a few days at WDW or Universal were also mentioned. So, it's back to the drawing board to see what we can do to make everyone happy.

 

[Lynne G]

Thank you so much, hdrolfe. Yep, Legend. I think they have 2 slides on the back of the ship, with kids water play area. I'll see if my kids want to do those slides or not. And yep, we love snorkeling, me and my younger one would do the zip lines, I doubt my older one would want to do so. My younger one's summer job is helping kids go on a zip line. So, looking at maybe doing it private, on Roatan. Swim with sharks or rays sounds right up our alley too. I'll compare from ship versus buy on my own. I bought on my own, when I went on our 7 day DCL, and worked out fine, on St. Martin. Was much cheaper, and only my family and a couple, from a different ship, were in the tour we booked.

 

[hdrolfe]

Thank you so much, hdrolfe. Yep, Legend. I think they have 2 slides on the back of the ship, with kids water play area. I'll see if my kids want to do those slides or not. And yep, we love snorkeling, me and my younger one would do the zip lines, I doubt my older one would want to do so. My younger one's summer job is helping kids go on a zip line. So, looking at maybe doing it private, on Roatan. Swim with sharks or rays sounds right up our alley too. I'll compare from ship versus buy on my own. I bought on my own, when I went on our 7 day DCL, and worked out fine, on St. Martin. Was much cheaper, and only my family and a couple, from a different ship, were in the tour we booked.

In Roatan, you can do the zipline at the beach, I'm not sure of the cost but basically you don't really leave the cruise compound area. Get driven up a hill and end up ziplining down to the beach. Then hang out there. Not as exciting as Belize, but still fun. In Belize the company we went with had a combo tour that was cave tubing and zipline, we were all on the same bus so perhaps if some of you want to do both and some not you could make that work? The cave tubing was interesting, just kiddo's tube was too big for him so he kept sliding down into it and had a hard time seeing. The hike was nice to get to the start of the river, but it was too long. I think if we had been doing both it would have moved along faster. It was a nice time, but one and done for us. I'm sure you can find lots to do. I generally prefer the Weestern itins because there are so many options at all the stops, you never have to repeat what you did the previous visit!

 

[mevelandry]

I can't believe I am saying this but I think we are canceling our Legend Med cruise for next year and trying RCCL! The kids weren't going to come with us because they just wanted a relaxing beach vacation. We talked about a compromise or what we could do that would make everyone happy. They said they were burned out on Carnival but got excited about the big Royal ships with rock walls and ice skating. I believe a few days at WDW or Universal were also mentioned. So, it's back to the drawing board to see what we can do to make everyone happy.

Cool! Let us know which one you pick.

Can't wait to see all DCL/CCL/RCCL compare/differ... It's also nice to have so many choices.

 

[mevelandry]

Thank you so much, hdrolfe. Yep, Legend. I think they have 2 slides on the back of the ship, with kids water play area. I'll see if my kids want to do those slides or not. And yep, we love snorkeling, me and my younger one would do the zip lines, I doubt my older one would want to do so. My younger one's summer job is helping kids go on a zip line. So, looking at maybe doing it private, on Roatan. Swim with sharks or rays sounds right up our alley too. I'll compare from ship versus buy on my own. I bought on my own, when I went on our 7 day DCL, and worked out fine, on St. Martin. Was much cheaper, and only my family and a couple, from a different ship, were in the tour we booked.

One thing I can say about old Carnival ships. They don't always look good on pictures (Farcus designs) but they usually look at least a little bit better "in person". You kids might end up liking it after all.

 

[we"reofftoneverland]

So now I'm gonna try the Melting chocolate cake recipe at home and try it with all kinds of ice cream.

I also have to try the Chocolate Soufflé from Palo at some point.

I need to do a cruise themed party ASAP.

I make this recipe at home all the time at the kids' request. It comes out just like on the ship! I keep thinking they will tire of it but they still order it pretty much every time they go to the dining room on Carnival.

 

[we"reofftoneverland]

My almost 17 year old and I love the designs on the old ccl ships. He says they are vintage. Lol. But he listens to guardians era music. I told him that music is pre farcus design for the most part. As far as he's concerned it's all cool because it's from when I "grew up." Apparantly I grew up in the 1970s, 80s and 90s.

 

[we"reofftoneverland]

The deal I did with myself on the last cruise (because I was fresh out of a diet) was that I would only eat half a Guy's Burger... I did.

But I did eat a whole Melting chocolate cake. LOL

I celebrated my 40 year old birthday on that cruise. I gain weight more easily than when I was young. I tought I could count on climbing the stairs and go to the gym but with my FIL and MIL (seniors, in bad shape) we took the elevator almost every single time. And I gained 3 pounds. Boooh!!!

Happy 40!

 

[we"reofftoneverland]

On our shuttle ride back from the port last week, the people on the shuttle that were on Carnival called it the "Walmart" of cruising. 'nuff said?

Carnival is definitely nicer than Walmart.

 

[mevelandry]

Happy 40!

Thank you!

 

[Lynne G]

I don’t think any cruise line is cheap. And sad to hear some want to label some lines as perceived like a lower cost retail place. I don’t find Walmart that cheap on some things either.

And just because having lots of money or not, everyone decides what amount of money they choose to use on vacation/holiday, and should not be shamed for doing so.

With that, my kids are old enough, that if mom is willing to pay the way, they happily come. For me, presents are usually family vacations. We all enjoy making memories that the kids and I will have, before they go out on their own, and have their own families. Besides, it is enjoyable now, that all can drink outside the US, and all of us can stay in the adult section if we choose. And I look forward to fun. And I have a funny feeling, we will fly into MCO, and visit a park or two before sailing. This January, we did that, and drove the rental back and forth from Miami.

Which reminds me, anyone familiar with parking at Tampa? I visited there once, when I overshot going to BGT. (yeah, I was was off) After that, I memorized the turn off the highway. And I am also happy to go under the bridge going out of Tampa.

 

[BrookeMQ]

Carnival and other lines like Royal have so many ships. Some old/small. Some new with lots of new amenities. Some in the middle. It can be a different experience on each ship. When we travel with the kids we pick a newer ship with more thing for them to do. When we travel by ourselves the ship doesn't matter to me as much. I still get good service and the food options are mostly the same. But its a different type of vacation. Disney only has 4 ships. As they get more the older ships will same like less of an experience to some.

 

[BrookeMQ]

We just got back from our trip on the carnival magic. I will post some of our trip later.

 

[BrookeMQ]

Thank you for this thread. While I've cruised with my DH a very long time ago with Royal, and as a family (kids now are 17 and 21) we've sailed 3 times on DCL, with the first, me and the kids, when they were 12 and 15, on a last minute decent priced Fantasy, then the next year, just my DH and I on the Dream, and this January, went on a military discounted DCL Magic with my oldest kid. But, even with military discounts, and last minute pricing, DCL is getting to expensive for us. For January 2020, we are doing a Western on Carnival. For what I paid for an extended veranda, was almost half of what DCL wanted. So, while the kids are not happy about the decor on the ship, and unhappy about the western ports, I am excited, and hoping the gulf water is warmer than the Atlantic we did this January.

So, if any one has info on Cozumel, Belize, Rotan, and Grand Cayman ports, I'd be appreciate. I've been looking at tours online, but not sure which ones yet.

And, it will be the first time we tender, and first time on Carnival, for 7 nights.

We just did the Carnival magic with that exact itinerary. I am working on a review currently on a different message board. I can work on doing one here too. We had already done those island so I really researched and tried to find good/ new things to do on each island. I can tell you ahead of time what we did and then post more info later.

Grand Cayman -- we got here at 7am so an early day. Tendering is not hard. They give you a time to head to the coffee shop and get your tickets. It was 6:30 for us. We got group one after getting there around 6:30. They call like 1-3 anyways so we didn't wait long. We did not have an excursion or faster to the fun. We walked to Eden Rock and snorkeled. Then took a cab to the end of 7 mile beach called Cemetery beach. On other trips we went to the turtle farm.

Belize -- we did a mayan ruin tour thru carnival. Its too far to use an outside company. We really enjoyed it. Last trip we went to Goffs Caye. A small island in the middle of the ocean.

Roatan-- we hired a private driver and went to hold sloths, monkeys and birds. Then dropped of school supplies to local children. Then headed to West Bay beach for incredible snorkeling.

Cozumel -- we have been here many times. We have done Tulum Ruins, chichen itza ruins, and chankanaab park. The last few times we went to Paradise beach. they have inflatables in the ocean and a nice pool, good food and drink and inexpensive. This trip we got a private boat and did Fishing with Pedro. He took us deep sea fishing, snorkeling, and then to an awesome beach called El Cielo where there are some friendly sting rays.

I will post a review and some pictures this week.