DCL or Carnival

[jrm11697]

I am stuck between Carnival Liberty and Disney Wonder. They both go to WC from Miami over NYE. Wonder is for 6 nights, Liberty for 7.

Is Disney worth the extra money?

Here is each ship's itinerary:

LIBERTY- Cozumel, Belize, Isla Roatan, Grand Cayman.

WONDER- Key West, Cozumel, Grand Cayman.


Slightly different places but same geographical region

Also, what is the weather usually like in those places?

 

[TXDCLfan]

I am stuck between Carnival Liberty and Disney Wonder. They both go to WC from Miami over NYE. Wonder is for 6 nights, Liberty for 7.

Is Disney worth the extra money?

Here is each ship's itinerary:

LIBERTY- Cozumel, Belize, Isla Roatan, Grand Cayman.

WONDER- Key West, Cozumel, Grand Cayman.


Slightly different places but same geographical region

Also, what is the weather usually like in those places?

I would do Carnival much better ports We have been on the Liberty and she is a great ship

 

[jrm11697]

After looking at itinerary for Carnival, its 1 sea day, then 4 port days, then 1 more sea day. will i be too exhausted? i have heard WC can be port intensive sometimes.

The only thing bad about DCL is that its soo much more expensive. a inside Wonder room = the cost of a balcony on carnival!!!

 

[justmestace]

Those ports are awesome!!!!! Definitely the Carnival. I've done a few Carnival cruises and really enjoyed them. Never have had any of the bad experiences that some people report. Going on the Carnival Magic out of Galveston in May....Jamaica, Cozumel and Grand Cayman.

You can sleep when you get home.....make the best of those ports!!

 

[Mamiamjo]

Well, you get an extra day, an extra port and can have a balcony for the same price? What is the make up of your travel group? Adults only? I'd say Carnival. With kids, I'd consider Disney, but it really depends on the group, their age, what they like to do etc. even with kids, Carnival may be your best choice ( or not)

 

[floridacruiser14]

Just went on Carnval Liberty for the 3rd time in December on the same itinerary you are showing. It was the worst trip we have had and we have been on Disney Wonder 7 times and never had a bad experience. If it was me, I would choose DCL over Carnival any day.

 

[aan1701]

Remember this board my be just a little biased to DCL. That said, I would go on just about any other cruise line if I felt the itinerary is something I would like, well except Carnival. I'd rather be at home choping off my arms than ever cruise with them again.

 

[jrm11697]

Just went on Carnval Liberty for the 3rd time in December on the same itinerary you are showing. It was the worst trip we have had and we have been on Disney Wonder 7 times and never had a bad experience. If it was me, I would choose DCL over Carnival any day.

What was bad about your Carnival cruise?

 

[D-Dreamer]

Just went on Carnval Liberty for the 3rd time in December on the same itinerary you are showing. It was the worst trip we have had and we have been on Disney Wonder 7 times and never had a bad experience. If it was me, I would choose DCL over Carnival any day.

I am a big believer in DCL - I love it. We have always had a fantastic experience on DCL and have our fourth cruise coming up with them in March. I have been curious about Carnival. Floridacruiser14, what made your Carnival trip so awful?

 

[D-Dreamer]

Remember this board my be just a little biased to DCL. That said, I would go on just about any other cruise line if I felt the itinerary is something I would like, well except Carnival. I'd rather be at home choping off my arms than ever cruise with them again.

Aan1701, could you tell us why you would rather chop off a body part rather than cruise on Carnival? I have never been on Carnival, but have a co-worker that seems to enjoy their cruises, but then again, she has never experienced DCL.

 

[floridacruiser14]

The food in the main dining room was unedible, if it hadn't been for the Deli and Guys Burger Joint on the Lido deck we would have gone hungry. We had a guest services issue and even though we closing in on being Platinum with them, they had no desire to help us. The ports were good except for Roatan unless you want to go to a small beach area owned by Carnival. Carnival is not Disney but this was even below Carnival standards and everyone on the ship was complaining.

 

[jrm11697]

I LOVE Disney. They really know how to treat you and your family and you get "a bang for your buck." Heard the exact same thing with Carnival. The only negative thing about Disney is that its soo much more $. If it wasn't i would go with them more.

Also, does anyone else think that if DCL was bigger they would not be as expensive???

 

[aan1701]

Aan1701, could you tell us why you would rather chop off a body part rather than cruise on Carnival? I have never been on Carnival, but have a co-worker that seems to enjoy their cruises, but then again, she has never experienced DCL.

The two I took with them the staff was overly rude. They made us feal like unwanted house guests. The food that was included was barely edible, the extra charge food was just ok. The Nickle and Dimeing was absolulty insane. I am not kidding when I say I'd rather do anything else, including chop off parts of my body, than ever sail with them again.

 

[krispykreme97]

I've been to Roatan on Carnival and it was the best port ever! We did a zip line excursion and then rode the sky thing over to the beach. I say if your going to stay on the ship go Disney but if your going to see the ports carnival is the way to go. It felt good to me being able to afford a balcony on carnival that I can only "Dream" about on Disney!

 

[NancyIL]

Funny - two posters said the food on Carnival was unedible or barely edible, whereas others (elsewhere) have said it was better than DCL's! Unless just about everyone says the food on XYZ ship is awful - I don't give much weight to the food reviews.

 

[NancyIL]

Just went on Carnval Liberty for the 3rd time in December on the same itinerary you are showing. It was the worst trip we have had and we have been on Disney Wonder 7 times and never had a bad experience. If it was me, I would choose DCL over Carnival any day.

Are you saying it was your THIRD cruise on the same Carnival ship? If so - it couldn't have been that awful the first two cruises for you to return a third time.

 

[mickey2000]

Just went on Carnval Liberty for the 3rd time in December on the same itinerary you are showing. It was the worst trip we have had and we have been on Disney Wonder 7 times and never had a bad experience. If it was me, I would choose DCL over Carnival any day.

I am 3 X

 

[Mickeyhugger]

Disney is my ultimate favorite cruise line. That said, our family enjoys Carnival too. I would cruise with them at least once, then decide for yourself. Yes, their prices are great, and food is subjective. We, for the most part, LOVE the food on Carnival (some ships were better than others.) And even though we think Disney has the upper hand when it comes to customer service, we still have had wonderful service with Carnival. Carnival has enabled us to cruise more, but we still always have a future cruise booked of Disney. Give them a try!

 

[jrm11697]

Disney is my ultimate favorite cruise line. That said, our family enjoys Carnival too. I would cruise with them at least once, then decide for yourself. Yes, their prices are great, and food is subjective. We, for the most part, LOVE the food on Carnival (some ships were better than others.) And even though we think Disney has the upper hand when it comes to customer service, we still have had wonderful service with Carnival. Carnival has enabled us to cruise more, but we still always have a future cruise booked of Disney. Give them a try!

We really like both lines. But this is for the kids. So we will let them decide. They looked at both and said each was "awesome". but they said they are not sure yet. They are going to talk with their cousins who will go with us. We told them either one will be fine with us. Its up to them. They have worked hard at school. They deserve something like this. And mom and dad work hard too so we also need it.

 

[justmestace]

Food is so subjective. EVERYONE has different tastes, so it's impossible to say whose food is better.
Personally, I thought the food in the main dining rooms on the 2 Carnival cruises I've been on, were WAY better than Disney's....especially the Dream. And there are a LOT more choices in the main dining rooms on Carnival....also better buffet, and more choices of place to eat, and not just the ones you pay extra for.

Have never understood why people say they were "nickeled and dimed" either. Granted, there isn't a "free" soda fountain on Carnival, but I'd gladly pay extra for my soda with all the money I saved by not doing the more expensive Disney cruise. Same thing with alcohol...I don't know too many people who drink so much that the savings wouldn't buy them a weeks' worth of drinks.
We've had GREAT service, and the ships have been clean.

To me, the idea of a cruise is a convenient way to get to see a lot of different places, without having to stay in a different hotel/room every night, and knowing that I'll be fed well, too.
The ports are more important.

When my kids were younger, DCL was a good choice, and also cheaper then than it is now....but we all got tired of going to the same places over and over again. It's nice that they're finally doing something different, but they pretty much lost me when their prices went through the roof.