CARNIVAL VS DCL: The discussion and comparison thread!

[mevelandry]

It took a few days but our FCC transferred over to the new cruise and we don't owe FP until March 2022! I won't put any more money towards the cruise until then as a just in case! We also got our $700 per cabin OBC. DS is excited because we will try the steakhouse for the first time.

We love the steakhouse.

By the way, I’m sure you already knew but if you book the steakhouse on the first night of the sailing, you get a free bottle of wine (or 50% a more expensive bottle).

 

[trvlgirlmq]

Omg that's some OBC! You could steakhouse more than once! Happy to hear it was pretty painless!

We are using a bunch towards gratuities! Since this is our big Europe trip any cash savings is good. We have 3 teens going so they are also excited about the coffee bar!

 

[mevelandry]

Carnival just made public the new "rules" regarding sailings. Correct me if I get this wrong:

-Mandatory covid tests (5 to 1 day prior to the cruise) and at the terminal.

-You have to subject yourself to health screenings whenever they ask.

-Excursions only (booked through Carnival)

-Masks everywhere indoor except the dining table and inside cabins.

-Masks everywhere outdoors where you can't keep six feets apart (I'm guessing verandahs are fine).

-Masks for everyone over 2 year old.

Did I forget something?

https://www.carnival.com/Legal/covid-19-legal-notices/policies-and-procedures

 

[trvlgirlmq]

@mevelandry I think (hope) this is only until the end of October when the CDC requirements expire. I will not sail if these are the conditions. I’ll be especially upset if I moved all of our money to a new cruise and then we can’t sail.

 

[bcwife76]

Carnival just made public the new "rules" regarding sailings. Correct me if I get this wrong:

-Mandatory covid tests (5 to 1 day prior to the cruise) and at the terminal.

-You have to subject yourself to health screenings whenever they ask.

-Excursions only (booked through Carnival)

-Masks everywhere indoor except the dining table and inside cabins.

-Masks everywhere outdoors where you can't keep six feets apart (I'm guessing verandahs are fine).

-Masks for everyone over 2 year old.

Did I forget something?

https://www.carnival.com/Legal/covid-19-legal-notices/policies-and-procedures

Tests without symptoms (so tests for travel) are not free in Canada, correct? So right there that is a big NOPE from me. I'm not adding $1200 for Covid tests before we even leave Canada

 

[AquaDame]

Tests without symptoms (so tests for travel) are not free in Canada, correct? So right there that is a big NOPE from me. I'm not adding $1200 for Covid tests before we even leave Canada

Good heavens is that what it costs? I was exposed a few months ago and was able log in and sign up the same day to get tested for free through my insurance.

 

[bcwife76]

Good heavens is that what it costs? I was exposed a few months ago and was able log in and sign up the same day to get tested for free through my insurance.

If you have symptoms then the test is free (covered by provincial health plan). But if you need one just for the heck of it (travel) I have heard here in BC they can cost anywhere from $150-$300 a person. For a family of four that is not a cost I would like to add to my trip.

 

[mevelandry]

Tests without symptoms (so tests for travel) are not free in Canada, correct? So right there that is a big NOPE from me. I'm not adding $1200 for Covid tests before we even leave Canada

In my area, you can go test even if you don’t have symptoms. The problem is that a negative test can take up to 7 days for the result (I think they reduced that time a little bit at 3 days or so...) but that part is a bit of an inconvenient for us. Not sure how much it cost if we go for a private test.

And we haven’t talked about the mandatory quarantine yet.

 

[mevelandry]

@mevelandry I think (hope) this is only until the end of October when the CDC requirements expire. I will not sail if these are the conditions. I’ll be especially upset if I moved all of our money to a new cruise and then we can’t sail.

I’m fine with all the requirements but I worry about the covid test part. I’m not sure I can get results on time for the cruise.

 

[hdrolfe]

The covid test is the difficult part for us (assuming Canada removes it's travel restrictions). It also makes it impossible to B2B since you'd need a negative test done at some point mid way through your first cruise. I hope that by November things are looking better. But I have to PIF by September so don't really have that long to wait before I have to make a decision.

 

[belle032]

I think I'd be fine with everything except for "masks outside where you can't be 6 feet apart." I don't want to wear a mask outside on a lounger or sitting by the pool. It's where we spend most of our time. I'd be fine putting one one to get up to use the restroom, grab a drink at the bar, run to get food, etc., but other than that I don't think they are completely necessary. It's wide open space and there is always a breeze (or crazy wind!) Will the chairs just be spaced 6 feet apart in general? I'd need more clarification on this!

 

[mevelandry]

I think I'd be fine with everything except for "masks outside where you can't be 6 feet apart." I don't want to wear a mask outside on a lounger or sitting by the pool. It's where we spend most of our time. I'd be fine putting one one to get up to use the restroom, grab a drink at the bar, run to get food, etc., but other than that I don't think they are completely necessary. It's wide open space and there is always a breeze (or crazy wind!) Will the chairs just be spaced 6 feet apart in general? I'd need more clarification on this!

My experience of cruising is that I don’t remember being able to be 6ft away from other at the pool... Except once in a while at the aft pool.

That being said, at lower guests capacity and with reservations, I think they might be able to ensure that chairs are distanced enough for guests to be able to remove their masks outside.

 

[Club Disney Chandler]

Tests without symptoms (so tests for travel) are not free in Canada, correct? So right there that is a big NOPE from me. I'm not adding $1200 for Covid tests before we even leave Canada

I get tested every week in Arizona and pay absolutely nothing, don’t even have to run it through insurance. I own a restaurant so I just want to make sure I’m not bringing it into the building. I get tested every Thursday afternoon and have my results Friday evening. Just got my most recent negative test results about an hour ago.
We are losing hope that our June cruise will happen . Will still probably go to Orlando and hit WDW for a week or so.

 

[AquaDame]

I get tested every week in Arizona and pay absolutely nothing, don’t even have to run it through insurance. I own a restaurant so I just want to make sure I’m not bringing it into the building. I get tested every Thursday afternoon and have my results Friday evening. Just got my most recent negative test results about an hour ago.
We are losing hope that our June cruise will happen . Will still probably go to Orlando and hit WDW for a week or so.

Looks like the Families First Coronavirus Response Act is what makes this free and easily accessible in the US, if anyone is wondering like I was. Maybe cruise lines will have a nominal charge for a rapid test for those who can't bring results with them..?

 

[mevelandry]

Looks like the Families First Coronavirus Response Act is what makes this free and easily accessible in the US, if anyone is wondering like I was. Maybe cruise lines will have a nominal charge for a rapid test for those who can't bring results with them..?

I wish they did but the website said that you could be sent away if you got to the terminal without one. Hopefully, they will change their mind, or offer one at the cruise terminal...

**********

As of now, my husband and in-laws said that they are not sure they wanna cruise under these conditions and decided to suspend all payments until we approach PIF day, see what both countries (Canada and USA) look like and the conditions to travel (none of us want to take two extra weeks of vacation to quarantine) and make a decision. There is a strong possibility that this trip might turn into a land trip, or be cancelled and replaced with a Canadian land trip.

 

[mevelandry]

A girl has to entertain herself...

 

[alieila]

We love the steakhouse.

By the way, I’m sure you already knew but if you book the steakhouse on the first night of the sailing, you get a free bottle of wine (or 50% a more expensive bottle).

I've learned that hint! Will be doing that on our first cruise with Carnival, if it ever happens!

 

[DCLMP]

I get tested every week in Arizona and pay absolutely nothing, don’t even have to run it through insurance. I own a restaurant so I just want to make sure I’m not bringing it into the building. I get tested every Thursday afternoon and have my results Friday evening. Just got my most recent negative test results about an hour ago.
We are losing hope that our June cruise will happen . Will still probably go to Orlando and hit WDW for a week or so.

When I cancelled our European cruise last Summer I splurged on a one bedroom Villa at Riviera. I don't know how you do normally do WDW, but there are ways to make it as relaxing a cruise vacation

 

[belle032]

Waiting on some sort of cancellation/announcement for our Alaskan sailing, but in other news, we'll officially be at WDW from 3/28-4/3! Yay something to look forward to!

I can only hope the most stressful thing about the whole trip will be trying to get a boarding group for Rise of the Resistance.

 

[DCLMP]

Waiting on some sort of cancellation/announcement for our Alaskan sailing, but in other news, we'll officially be at WDW from 3/28-4/3! Yay something to look forward to!

I can only hope the most stressful thing about the whole trip will be trying to get a boarding group for Rise of the Resistance.

Make sure your phone has the correct time down to the millisecond. I set the timer on my iPad so I would know when to hit the join button on my phone. I was afraid I’d start day dreaming or get distracted. It was probably the most stressful thing about our last trip.