CARNIVAL VS DCL: The discussion and comparison thread!

[mevelandry]

I read that Horgan (premier here in BC) has some meetings scheduled with the Alaska delegates so I'm assuming technical stops are on the agenda. Whether or not that actually happens remains to be seen. The port of Victoria is freaking OUT about this bill.

Freaking out in a good way or a bad way?

 

[bcwife76]

Freaking out in a good way or a bad way?

A bad way. They think this sets a dangerous prescedence (sp?) going forward and opens the door to bypassing Victoria permanently in future years. Since this has an expiry date I think the are freaking out unnecessarily. Port of Vancouver is like "sigh, ok whatever, see ya in 2022."

 

[mevelandry]

A bad way. They think this sets a dangerous prescedence (sp?) going forward and opens the door to bypassing Victoria permanently in future years. Since this has an expiry date I think the are freaking out unnecessarily. Port of Vancouver is like "sigh, ok whatever, see ya in 2022."

Yeah, I hope it's exceptional and temporary as well.

 

[Dug720]

A bad way. They think this sets a dangerous prescedence (sp?) going forward and opens the door to bypassing Victoria permanently in future years. Since this has an expiry date I think the are freaking out unnecessarily. Port of Vancouver is like "sigh, ok whatever, see ya in 2022."

I could see that. Vancouver is an embarkation/debarkation port. Victoria is a "stop for a few hours to meet the requirement" stop - and honestly the one cruise I was on that went there I got off for like 30 minutes and got back on. Not my jam and no desire to go back to Victoria.

 

[belle032]

A bad way. They think this sets a dangerous prescedence (sp?) going forward and opens the door to bypassing Victoria permanently in future years. Since this has an expiry date I think the are freaking out unnecessarily. Port of Vancouver is like "sigh, ok whatever, see ya in 2022."

I could understand the frustration that this has the potential to set a precedent for cruise ships skipping all kinds of stop in the future if they chose to. I hope that being an emergency, temporary order will ease that fear and it won't be the new normal. I would have been happy to stop in Victoria or wherever else - I'm always up for visiting a port I've never been to before. That way we know for future cruises where we'd like to revisit!

 

[bcwife76]

I could see that. Vancouver is an embarkation/debarkation port. Victoria is a "stop for a few hours to meet the requirement" stop - and honestly the one cruise I was on that went there I got off for like 30 minutes and got back on. Not my jam and no desire to go back to Victoria.

That's a other problem with the Seattle vs Vancouver cruises. Cruises from Seattle usually just have a few hours (and mainly at night) to stop in Victoria where cruises to and from Vancy might use Victoria still as an actual port (like DCL does). If you get a decent amount of time in port then you can actually explore the area. If it's just a few hours, why bother getting off.

 

[Dug720]

That's a other problem with the Seattle vs Vancouver cruises. Cruises from Seattle usually just have a few hours (and mainly at night) to stop in Victoria where cruises to and from Vancy might use Victoria still as an actual port (like DCL does). If you get a decent amount of time in port then you can actually explore the area. If it's just a few hours, why bother getting off.

Honestly even with a whole day there? I'm staying on board. Gardens bore me to death and that's about the only thing to do there - at least from offered port adventures I saw.

 

[bcwife76]

Honestly even with a whole day there? I'm staying on board. Gardens bore me to death and that's about the only thing to do there - at least from offered port adventures I saw.

I can't argue with that I was dragged around Butchart when I was around 11?? Oh my goodness, soooo bored. Whenever we are on the island (which is very rare) we usually just putter around downtown for a walk and explore all the little shops. The inner harbour area is lovely (on a sunny day). I'd actually like to do Butchart again as my husband hasn't been but I'm pretty sure our kids would kill us

 

[mevelandry]

I could see that. Vancouver is an embarkation/debarkation port. Victoria is a "stop for a few hours to meet the requirement" stop - and honestly the one cruise I was on that went there I got off for like 30 minutes and got back on. Not my jam and no desire to go back to Victoria.

Maybe I’m partial because I am Canadian but Victoria is considered a gem ...

They have nice excursions (gardens —granted, gardens aren’t for everyone—, whale watch, etc.) ... I hear they have nice tea rooms as well.

Most people I know loved it. I definitely hope cruise lines will keep that stop in the future.

If I had to go there, I’d definitely go for a whale watch excursion.

 

[AquaDame]

I'm partial to it as well. My parents honeymooned there and we went up for the weekend a bunch when I was a kid. They at least used to have a Madame Tussaud's and a little aquarium as well but I admit we haven't been in awhile. Then there was the bug museum, the miniature museum, loads of pubs, carriage rides and as you said high tea and whale watching or riding the little harbor taxi boats, and I think float planes? It's a pretty chill stop though to be sure.

 

[brewcrew]

I want to go to Victoria once. I am a garden person and would love to see Butchart Gardens someday. I’m excited that it’s looking good for Alaska sailings and I do hope that everyone who goes this year has a wonderful time!!!

 

[StarSeven7]

My husband and I spent a long weekend in Victoria maybe 12-13 years ago and we loved it, and we were a young couple in our mid-20s at the time! There's a lot to do there besides Butchart Gardens, although we did do that and it was spectacular! We were lucky enough to stay at the Fairmont Empress (I was a travel agent at the time so I got deeply discounted rates at Fairmonts) which is a beautiful hotel right on the inner harbor. We went to a little fishing village with cute shops and restaurants and seals come right up to the docks so we had a lot of fun watching them. We did a cruise around the inner harbor, we walked through Chinatown, we toured a historical mansion, we went zip-lining outside of the city, we explored local parks. We didn't do whale-watching from Victoria as we had done that from Vancouver the year before but it would be a great location for it. I would love to go back there someday!

 

[Club Disney Chandler]

Maybe I’m partial because I am Canadian but Victoria is considered a gem ...

They have nice excursions (gardens —granted, gardens aren’t for everyone—, whale watch, etc.) ... I hear they have nice tea rooms as well.

Most people I know loved it. I definitely hope cruise lines will keep that stop in the future.

If I had to go there, I’d definitely go for a whale watch excursion.

Victoria is amazing! We’ve stopped there twice and I absolutely fell in love. I love Vancouver too though, 2 of the prettiest cities I’ve been in and amazing people, so nice!

 

[Club Disney Chandler]

Well........I did it! We’re canceling our second week on Mardi Gras for 2022 and doing Disney Wish instead. We’ll be on Mardi Gras from Saturday-Saturday, then spend 2 nights in PC and do a four night Wish cruise from Monday-Friday. We’re pretty excited!

As of today, we have 39 days until we’re supposed to be boarding Carnival Vista, please continue to cross fingers, pray, send good vibes, etc that we get to sail. The cruise group I’m part of over on that other social media site is going crazy with excitement, it’s so much fun! Cruising with a bunch of Texans is gonna be awesome!

 

[mevelandry]

Well........I did it! We’re canceling our second week on Mardi Gras for 2022 and doing Disney Wish instead. We’ll be on Mardi Gras from Saturday-Saturday, then spend 2 nights in PC and do a four night Wish cruise from Monday-Friday. We’re pretty excited!

As of today, we have 39 days until we’re supposed to be boarding Carnival Vista, please continue to cross fingers, pray, send good vibes, etc that we get to sail. The cruise group I’m part of over on that other social media site is going crazy with excitement, it’s so much fun! Cruising with a bunch of Texans is gonna be awesome!

Two new ships back to back. It doesn't get any better than that.

 

[mevelandry]

CARNIVAL COVID-19 GUEST PROTOCOLS
https://www.carnival.com/legal/covi...abAfjmloQhARBNEqj1INClc9aXUKJ4AnBADvfA20MEZsI

 

[hdrolfe]

Interesting and quite different from RCL's plans. Looks like masks required, but vaccines aren't? And of course the "cruise line only" excursions, no booking on your own.

I'm starting to get worried about my December cruises, I'm not keen on the Carnival restrictions and then RCL requires my son to be vaccinated because he'll be 12, but only turns 12 four days before the RCL cruise starts. I hope it will all work out. I am anxious to see test cruises get started on RCL, and hopefully Carnival as well.

 

[mevelandry]

Interesting and quite different from RCL's plans. Looks like masks required, but vaccines aren't? And of course the "cruise line only" excursions, no booking on your own.

I'm starting to get worried about my December cruises, I'm not keen on the Carnival restrictions and then RCL requires my son to be vaccinated because he'll be 12, but only turns 12 four days before the RCL cruise starts. I hope it will all work out. I am anxious to see test cruises get started on RCL, and hopefully Carnival as well.

Vaccines are required at least for Alaska this summer.

p.s. That cat on your profile picture is so cute!

 

[hdrolfe]

Vaccines are required at least for Alaska this summer.

p.s. That cat on your profile picture is so cute!

Thank you (my new kitten, Olaf!)

I did read that about Alaska, but the rest are different, I wonder how it will all play out between all the cruiselines. I know Carnival has more families so understand that, but thought they would require them for adults at least.

 

[mevelandry]

Mardi Gras is set to arrive in Port Canaveral on June 4. I can't wait for cruises to restart and see the first vlogs...

I noticed that all restaurants are not available for booking yet. So far, I booked the Teppanyaki and I am waiting for Jiji Asian Kitchen and possibly Cucina Del Capitano to be available as well.

For those who haven't tried dinner at Jiji... I highly recommend (if you enjoy asian food).