Disney VS Carnival

[lovethedream]

The RCI do not price the same way. The price is the same from the beginning and is only reduced as the cruise gets closer and rooms are available.

That has not been my experience with DCL, CCL or RCCL. As a matter of fact, CCL gives you better "early booking" rates. The prices did not seem to go up but you did start to loose out on the early booking rates. I kept an eye out on our last Carnival cruise in case the price dropped so I could call and see if I could get it lowered. Never happened.

 

[lovethedream]

And as I've posted before, I think each cruiser needs to choose what line works for them. IMO, there is no "best" or "better" line, just different cruise lines. They all have their loyal fans and can vie for their own niche of the market. Why does this always have to be a competition about who is best? Can't you accept that others may have opinions that differ from yours and that their opinions are also valid? It is okay for anyone, whether they are a child, teen, young adult or older adult to prefer any particular line, including DCL.

I tended to give credence to your posts for quite a while, but anymore, it's becoming more difficult as the bias shines through and after the personal attacks in other threads, I had to stop giving them credence altogether.

Well said. I tend to get lost in old posts on these boards from time to time, but what you said says it all. Find what you like and go with it. If that be RCCL, CCL or whatever cruise line you like. Go out, enjoy and have a great time. When we went on our recent Carnival cruise, we did put our DCL experience behind us and tried to enjoy the CCL cruise for what it was. For the most part we did. We did not spend time comparing things to DCL, or RCCL for that matter. We did have issues, like sailing on one of the coldest days of the year on a ship with no heat, but hey, that is cruising the way it was, and overall it was an enjoyable experience.

 

[5lilfish]

I think you should state that the activities are not what you'd like. I couldn't argue with a statement like that. However, some adults find lots of activities they enjoy on DCL. And I agree that there are not a lot of port-day activities, but don't most cruisers do things at the port. The port itself is the activity. If you don't like the ports, don't book that cruise line IMO.

That would have been a better way to state it, but I don't think Edd wants to state it in a better way. That wouldn't stir the pot.

I have found more things to do for adults on DCL than on RCI. I think RCI doesn't want to put too many activities int he evening. They want the adults spending money int he bars and in the casino. On DCL, we like to do the evening trivia activities. We like going to Cove Cafe. DH has done beer tasting and other tasting events....and he likes the sport's bar. We are not nightclub people, but it looks like plenty of adults are having a good time in there. We enjoy the adult comedy acts. We like going in the adult hot tub. We like to go see a movie (sometimes more adult like National Treasure and sometimes with the kids like Toy Story 3). We like to take a walk around the outside deck. We also are very happy that there are family options at night (unlike RCI/CCL)....we enjoy, as a family...karaoke, trivia, family disco, game shows etc..and of course, a family friendly broadway-style show.


...and just to agree with you about how people have different ideas of fun. We rarely book a cruise based off of ports. We usually book the ship we want and are willing to go anywhere.

Jess

 

[5lilfish]

And I don't understand why you keep saying that I have said Disney is a bad product. I have stated I don't think it is as good as the RCI or Carnival, but I didn't say it was bad. The ship is a nice leisurely cruise in which there is not much to do for adults and a lot of kids running around. There are times I would just like to lay around the pool and not do anything.

I really don't think the larger cruise ships are copying DCL when they put characters aboard. It is their attempt to involve the kids aboard the ship with more activities and things to do. RCI, Carnival and NCL are innovative like that. Of course, you being a Disney fanatic would come back with the statement you made. More than likely dreamworks went to Royal Caribbean in an effort to market their characters.

The RCI do not price the same way. The price is the same from the beginning and is only reduced as the cruise gets closer and rooms are available.

Of course they coping DCL. They are doing it because DCL is successful. Do you think they'd be adding characters if people on DCL didn't like having characters onboard? They are attempting to appeal to the same audience that DCl appeals to.


Jess

 

[NancyIL]

The RCI do not price the same way. The price is the same from the beginning and is only reduced as the cruise gets closer and rooms are available.

Edd - popular RCI cruises do increase in price. I have been looking at an April 2012 cruise on Radiance of the Seas from Honolulu to Vancouver since late last summer. I was tempted to book the cruise in the fall, but wanted to wait until I was onboard an RCI ship in December. I did book a Next Cruise, but without a specific date. In the mean time, the price of an inside cabin on Radiance has increased $600 pp since I started paying attention to the price. I finally booked an OV cabin on Feb. 13, and I could kick myself for not booking it sooner! By yesterday afternoon, the price of our cabin had gone up another $70 pp!

 

[Edd]

Let's look at it this way. Disney chose a certain criteria for their cruise line. They were very popular at first and still are, somewhat. However over the years they haven't expanded the market and so their passengers have not supported that venture enough where they can expand the venture like RCI, CCL and NCL have. Disney is a money hungry corporation and if something is not possible they will dump it in a New York mic-second. The cruise line is not high on the Disney venture for making profit. Also there are several smaller cruise lines out there that are building a following with their new ships.

The DCL ships are getting old. The average life of a cruise ship is 15-20 years before it becomes irreplaceable. I have a feeling Disney will scrap the Wonder and Magic before they sell it because they built such distinctive looks into it, anyone who buys it will use its past to make money.

I personally think DCL is failing in its competition against the other lines.

Nancy,

I booked the Freedom for next December and the price hasn't changed. It stayed the same between my two Freedom cruises last year. I checked it frequently because the Crown and Anchor says if you find your category prices goes down you can get a credit for it. It never went down or up. I don't really know how they work. What I passed on is what the agent aboard the Freedom told me when I booked the next cruise. They will tell you anything to sell another cruise.

 

[5lilfish]

Let's look at it this way. Disney chose a certain criteria for their cruise line. They were very popular at first and still are, somewhat. However over the years they haven't expanded the market and so their passengers have not supported that venture enough where they can expand the venture like RCI, CCL and NCL have. Disney is a money hungry corporation and if something is not possible they will dump it in a New York mic-second. The cruise line is not high on the Disney venture for making profit. Also there are several smaller cruise lines out there that are building a following with their new ships.

The DCL ships are getting old. The average life of a cruise ship is 15-20 years before it becomes irreplaceable. I have a feeling Disney will scrap the Wonder and Magic before they sell it because they built such distinctive looks into it, anyone who buys it will use its past to make money.

I personally think DCL is failing in its competition against the other lines.

Who would use a 'somewhat successful' ship that 'failed against its competition' to try and make money?! LMBO!!! You're quite the business man. I'm sure this is obvious, but I' disagree with your assessment.

Jess

 

[lbuher]

Let's look at it this way. Disney chose a certain criteria for their cruise line. They were very popular at first and still are, somewhat. However over the years they haven't expanded the market and so their passengers have not supported that venture enough where they can expand the venture like RCI, CCL and NCL have. Disney is a money hungry corporation and if something is not possible they will dump it in a New York mic-second. The cruise line is not high on the Disney venture for making profit. Also there are several smaller cruise lines out there that are building a following with their new ships.

The DCL ships are getting old. The average life of a cruise ship is 15-20 years before it becomes irreplaceable. I have a feeling Disney will scrap the Wonder and Magic before they sell it because they built such distinctive looks into it, anyone who buys it will use its past to make money.

I personally think DCL is failing in its competition against the other lines.

Nancy,

I booked the Freedom for next December and the price hasn't changed. It stayed the same between my two Freedom cruises last year. I checked it frequently because the Crown and Anchor says if you find your category prices goes down you can get a credit for it. It never went down or up. I don't really know how they work. What I passed on is what the agent aboard the Freedom told me when I booked the next cruise. They will tell you anything to sell another cruise.

Edd,

An inherent problem with your repeated posts in threads that compare DCL against other lines is this.... anytime someone says something negative about Royal Caribbean or Carnival - in THEIR experience - you tell them that they are DEAD WRONG, that they couldn't possibly have experienced what they are saying they experienced, and you very often accuse them (sometimes in an almost personal attack) of going on "hear-say" and not facts. HOWEVER, you yourself have the tendency to state your opinion AS FACT, when it's simply your opinion and perspective. Or, as in the case above, you state something AS FACT when indeed it was just hear-say.

As has been pointed out already in this thread, the more you post, the more credibility you lose - especially for those of us who have been around long enough to see the pattern.

 

[Edd]

Why don't you pick out some post where you say I said someone was dead wrong when it comes to other posts. I would love to see it and maybe I will eat my words. Maybe you can point out some of these threads. I would appreciate it.

 

[NancyIL]

Nancy,

I booked the Freedom for next December and the price hasn't changed. It stayed the same between my two Freedom cruises last year. I checked it frequently because the Crown and Anchor says if you find your category prices goes down you can get a credit for it. It never went down or up. I don't really know how they work. What I passed on is what the agent aboard the Freedom told me when I booked the next cruise. They will tell you anything to sell another cruise.

I think Freedom's price doesn't vary a lot because it alternates the same eastern/western Caribbean itineraries all year.

I changed the Nov. 2011 booking I had on Freedom to the April 2012 Radiance cruise. That is a repositioning cruise that sails once in the fall and in the spring - beginning this September. I also prefer RCI's Radiance and Vision-class ships to the Voyager-class ships (and larger).

 

[lbuher]

Why don't you pick out some post where you say I said someone was dead wrong when it comes to other posts. I would love to see it and maybe I will eat my words. Maybe you can point out some of these threads. I would appreciate it.

You will have to excuse me for a little while I go pick up my kids, and then get homework and supper done. Perhaps this evening I will have a few hours to go back and search all the "DCL versus" other cruise line threads that you have posted on to provide you numerous links. I don't believe I'm the only one who would say that it's a definite pattern and that it has definitely happened (you did it to me several months ago, so I AM speaking from personal experience).

But if you want proof, I will provide it. You will just have to give me some time because it will literally take me hours to find and give you all the links.

 

[5lilfish]

Why don't you pick out some post where you say I said someone was dead wrong when it comes to other posts. I would love to see it and maybe I will eat my words. Maybe you can point out some of these threads. I would appreciate it.

Real quick before I attempt to feed all 5 kids and then get 3 kids to 3 different sports.... I can think of you stating that RCI built approx 20 ships in the last 10 yrs. RCI built 14. You said DCL was only somewhat successful and failing among its competition (both not true) and then said some company would want to buy the Magic/Wonder to capitalize on its past....how can you capitalize off an unsuccessful ship? You say things like there is nothing to do for older kids and/or adults...despite the fact that people list off the activities they enjoy. You say there are towels on the pool deck on RCI that do not require a deposit...so far we have found that completely untrue. You say, "I love seeing "I heard somewhere" bit. That just makes a statement so uncredible that nothing else posted by the poster seems valid."...and yet, that is what you do all the time. You say, "You know I have said plenty of good things about the DCL. More good things than I have said bad." I think just about anyone would call that a lie. Hearsay.."DCL is not that ship as teens gets bored fast and the teen club is not that much to do, but to hang..." How many teens have you cruised DCL with? Just to contradict yourself, you say, "I don't think I ever said teens would not like DCL." Yes...you did.

Out of time....

Jess

 

[lovethedream]

Why don't you pick out some post where you say I said someone was dead wrong when it comes to other posts. I would love to see it and maybe I will eat my words. Maybe you can point out some of these threads. I would appreciate it.

Do suspicious t-shirt sales ring a bell. If I remember correctly, you labeled my posts suspicious because I mentioned buying t-shirts on the upper rear deck of the Freedom. Not only is the t-shirt sale listed in the cruise compass, but I also found out later you had not even sailed on the Freedom up to that point.

 

[Edd]

Don't ring a bell. I sailed on the Freedom December, 2009 and 2010. I figure the poster was knocking me for bad mouthing someone recently. I remember some discussions about you not eating in the Freedom dining rooms and than going back the last night and tipping your waiter.

Stillfish,

If you will check the thread I said Carnival and RCI had built approximately 20 new ships since the DCL Wonder. I went back and looks like the Carnival had built 14 and the RCI had built 16 since 1999. I may have missed a few counting up the number of ships built, but 20 would suffice for both lines. That doesn't go along with me knocking someone, of which I am accused of.

I have cruised the Monarch and the Freedom 6 or 7 times and have always picked up free towels not deposit towels on the pool deck. Where have I used the phrase "I heard somewhere." I usually reveal my sources. "I love seeing" I don't know why you would bring that up. If you dispute the statement "I have said more things good about the DCL than I said bad than please go back and count them up. You statement is incredible, you don't know whether I said more bad things than I said good. You are assuming and you know what that means. I have been in contact with more teens than than most. Yes, teens do not enjoy the DCL as much as they do the other ships. I think I quoted the number of teens I have talked to about their cruise on DCL on another thread. I usually talk to them, in person, before and after their cruises. I can rememer a few telling me the cruise was not even fun for them anymore, looking forward to a cruise on a different ship.

Doesn't telling and imply mean two two things. If that is the case than imply can be interpreted different ways by different people. I can't help how you interpret what I write. . So when am I calling someone dead wrong and who was that someone

Ibuher - I am certainy not going back to every link you displayed because I have a feeling there is nothing on those links. The first link I said maybe adults would want to try another cruise, being helpful expressing my opinion about what there is for adults to do on the DCL. I did not bad mouth anyone on that link. I said I would answer to anything printed on this thread.

 

[lbuher]

Why don't you pick out some post where you say I said someone was dead wrong when it comes to other posts. I would love to see it and maybe I will eat my words. Maybe you can point out some of these threads. I would appreciate it.

OK, here is a just a start on threads that I found in the last few months. It has been pointed out - repeatedly by a number of fellow posters - that anytime someone posts an experience that differs from your own, you tell them that they are WRONG, and you imply (and not even subtly, I might add) that YOUR opinion and experience are the only ones that could possibly be right. I can't even begin to count the number of threads on this topic that I've seen you post on, and everyone is kind and civil and helpful (even if they - YIKES - have something negative to say about DCL and something positive to say about other cruise lines!) until you show up. And often...the thread gets closed - but not until you show up.

You also either seem to have an uncanny knack of conveniently forgetting things that you have said before, or you genuinely have an extremely poor memory.

So.... while I am not quoting specific posts, here is a small sampling of the threads that you requested proof of. If you are genuinely interested in eating your words, you will have to spend a little time actually going back and reading your posts within these threads. I couldn't just quote your posts without the context of the surrounding posts within the thread. And again... this isn't all of them... this is just all the time I am willing to spend on it.


http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=2617571&highlight=edd

http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=2629785&highlight=edd

http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=2629990&highlight=edd

http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=2643692&highlight=edd

http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=2634634&highlight=edd

http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=2541945&highlight=edd

http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=2553541&highlight=edd

http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=2558803&highlight=edd

http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=2595222&highlight=edd

http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=2614557&highlight=edd

http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=2410509&highlight=edd

 

[Rogillio]

Why don't you pick out some post where you say I said someone was dead wrong when it comes to other posts. I would love to see it and maybe I will eat my words. Maybe you can point out some of these threads. I would appreciate it.

Your post:

"Edd
Mouseketeer
Join Date: May 2006
Location: Orlando, Florida
Posts: 3,703

You are completely wrong in that statement. The demographics of all ships is just about equal. You are Disney snobbish in that statement. Although Disney advertises for families, other cruise lines bases have more middle income families than DCL will ever see."




OK, you said I was completely wrong instead of dead wrong. Yet you offered nothing but your opinion to refute my claim. I didn't even respond to this as I don't anyone believe demographics of all ships is equal. Like my Italian grandmother use to tell me, "Mangia!" ;-)

 

[jilljill]

Let's not put down other poster's posts when they are stating their own experiences and opinions.

 

[Mickeyhugger]

Why don't you pick out some post where you say I said someone was dead wrong when it comes to other posts. I would love to see it and maybe I will eat my words. Maybe you can point out some of these threads. I would appreciate it.

I hope that you are really hungry

 

[lbuher]

"Let's not put down other poster's posts when they are stating their own experiences and opinions."

This is EXACTLY what we are TRYING to get Edd to stop doing!! To stop putting other people down and ridiculing their opinions/perspectives/experiences!!

 

[Mickeyhugger]

Let's look at it this way. Disney chose a certain criteria for their cruise line. They were very popular at first and still are, somewhat. However over the years they haven't expanded the market and so their passengers have not supported that venture enough where they can expand the venture like RCI, CCL and NCL have. Disney is a money hungry corporation and if something is not possible they will dump it in a New York mic-second. The cruise line is not high on the Disney venture for making profit. Also there are several smaller cruise lines out there that are building a following with their new ships.

The DCL ships are getting old. The average life of a cruise ship is 15-20 years before it becomes irreplaceable. I have a feeling Disney will scrap the Wonder and Magic before they sell it because they built such distinctive looks into it, anyone who buys it will use its past to make money.

I personally think DCL is failing in its competition against the other lines.

Nancy,

I booked the Freedom for next December and the price hasn't changed. It stayed the same between my two Freedom cruises last year. I checked it frequently because the Crown and Anchor says if you find your category prices goes down you can get a credit for it. It never went down or up. I don't really know how they work. What I passed on is what the agent aboard the Freedom told me when I booked the next cruise. They will tell you anything to sell another cruise.

Heidi: While current statistics peg the average life expectancy of a North American human at 78, how long can a new cruise ship expect to survive?

AE: A passenger ship's design life is normally 30 years. It's the age used as the basis for the design and production of all major elements, including the steel structure and machinery. To keep everything running smoothly for three decades or so, the shipyard gives the owner (the cruise line) a maintenance schedule to follow, like the service recommendations from a car dealer. So no one forgets when a tune-up is due, ships have in-built computer-based maintenance programs that automatically generate work orders for everything from replacing cabin coat hooks to reconditioning propeller bearings. For cosmetic maintenance issues, from removing rust to painting steel, it's up to the owner's own policies and standards. Any issues related to safety are subject to regulatory requirements and inspections from the country where the ship is registered (often tax-friendly places like the Bahamas, Liberia and Panama), from classification societies (like the DNV) and from governments of the various ports visited.

Read more: http://www.frommers.com/articles/4397.html#ixzz1E4Qy6rAz

Edd I did your research for you the above is from frommers web site

Rob