DCL vs others

[disneyorbust]

We would like to take a 4 day cruise next June after a week in WDW. I am presently getting quotes on the DCL since that is our first choice. My DH sees about $1,000 difference between DCL and say RC or Carnival and is starting to rethink our decision. My question is - has anyone done other cruise lines and what besides the "Disney factor" makes it that much better? FYI - I have 2 teenage girls if that makes any difference.

 

[SCOTTOHIOCPA]

Just my opinion, but having taken 2 Carnival trips without kids and 1 Disney with a 6 ds and 11 dd, I would save the money and take the Carnival trip.

IF my kids were less than 13 years old, the Disney trip would still be worth the premium since they could go to the Oceaneers clubs, but once my kids are too old to go there, I would not be willing to pay the extra.

We did think the Disney trip was better in nearly all respects - the food was better, service better, embarkation process better, etc., but for a $1,000 difference, I could live with second best. Just my opinion, I'm sure others will think the extra is worth it.

 

[kcashner]

One thing that you need to consider is that all staterooms are not created equal. Check the square footage on the web sites. For instance, you have to get a "Junior Suite" on Royal Carribean to be the same size as a normal (cat 5-10) room on Disney.

We did 2 other cruises before DCL existed. We have since sailed on the Magic 10 times, and have 2 more booked. DD was 7 on our first DCL cruise, and 13 on our most recent. She doesn't want to sail anything else! She really loved THE STACK on her recent birthday cruise.

We find everything about DCL to be better--the cabins, the cleanliness of the ship, the service, the food, Castaway Cay, etc. We're just hoping for more new and expanded ports, etc......

 

[Horace Horsecollar]

If anyone in your family is sensitive to the toxins in cigarette smoke, keep in mind that the other cruise lines do not have any non-smoking staterooms. On Disney, all staterooms are non-smoking.

 

[Zandy595]

DH and I went on Carnival in '95 (pre DS). I didn't really like it. The cabin was very small and very plain compared to DCL. Haven't been on the Magic yet, but the Wonder was just so much nicer. And of course, you can't beat that Disney magic.

 

[tvguy]

Horace Horsecollar, not sure it's true that no other line has a no smoking policy in cabins. HAL's Amsterdam had on when we went to Alaska with them in 2002. But this is something that does seem to change. One line did have an entirely smoke free ship, but I think they stopped that this year.
I'm a Californian, and was shocked how many smokers I saw in Orlando. And when I cross the state line into Georgia, I was shocked that smoking was still allowed in restaurants, and in grocery stores.

 

[Horace Horsecollar]

Originally posted by tvguy
Horace Horsecollar, not sure it's true that no other line has a no smoking policy in cabins. HAL's Amsterdam had on when we went to Alaska with them in 2002.

About a year ago, I called Royal Caribbean*, Celebrity, Princess, Holland America (HAL), Norwegian, and Carnival. They all told me that they allow smoking in every stateroom, but that they do a great job cleaning between guests.

* Royal Caribbean told me that they have a few staterooms in which nobody has ever smoked, which can be booked by people who have a medical need.

If I was given misinformation about a cruise line, please tell me! I want two connecting staterooms on an Alaska cruise. Do I have to wait for Disney to build a ship for Alaska? Or can any other cruise line really guarantee two connecting staterooms that have not had anyone smoking in them for the past few months?

Note: I don't hate smokers. I don't think all ships should be smoke free. I just think smoking should be limited to designating smoking staterooms and other designated smoking areas where my family and I won't suffer the consequences of the toxins in smoke.

Originally posted by tvguy
But this is something that does seem to change. One line did have an entirely smoke free ship, but I think they stopped that this year.

That's the Carnival Paradise. It's still 100% smoke free this summer. The irony is that Carnival will allow smoking on that ship beginning this this fall -- after her home port changes from Miami to Long Beach in "smoke free" California.

 

[GenieDana]

The other lines can clean those cabins of tobacco toxins so well because everything is made of plastic (isn't it nice to think of your stateroom as a large ashtray?).

The cabins on DCL have some real wood and fabrics.

If you are a sensitive non-smoker, it's a big gamble to sail another line.

 

[Horace Horsecollar]

Originally posted by GenieDana
If you are a sensitive non-smoker, it's a big gamble to sail another line.

That's what I was afraid of. I don't know why other lines don't designate around 75% of their guest rooms as non-smoking, as hotels do -- or don't have 100% non-smoking rooms, as Disney Cruise Line has.

 

[alexandrew]

IMO Carnival is in every way inferior to DCL...On the other hand, RCCL's Voyager class ships, particularly Mariner and Navigator, are definitely comparable to DCL...