Dream vs. Dream

[FirstTimeDC]

We are doing Disney Dream this year and Carnival Dream this year! Can't wait to compare the two! I KNOW which one I will like better...still fun to compare.

 

[mesaboy2]

We are doing Disney Dream this year and Carnival Dream this year! Can't wait to compare the two! I KNOW which one I will like better...still fun to compare.

If the Carnival Dream is anything like the Carnival Sensation, then it's no contest. I found myself looking down on the Sensation while in Nassau, and in more ways than one.

P.S. I'm such a Disney snob.

 

[tweidner]

I am positive that there will be no comparison. We just got off the Disney Dream last week, it was fabulous. Carnival is not even in the ballpark.

 

[FirstTimeDC]

I'm becoming a Disney snob. : )

With Carnival Dream being new and Disney Dream being new - maybe Carnival will be able to keep up (a little). : )

The price was waaaay better on Carnival, that's for sure.

Big family trip....Carnival was more economical for everyone.

We'll have fun on both ships...just different fun.

 

[3smithboys]

I'm becoming a Disney snob. : )

With Carnival Dream being new and Disney Dream being new - maybe Carnival will be able to keep up (a little). : )

The price was waaaay better on Carnival, that's for sure.

Big family trip....Carnival was more economical for everyone.

We'll have fun on both ships...just different fun.

We are in the same "boat" so to speak... we are going on the Disney Dream next month (DH and I have already been on it just to two of us.) and we are just about to book the Carnival Dream for next August for a big family trip. The rest of the family want a casino, so they won't do Disney. I have spoken to multiple families who have gone on Carnival Dream and have loved it. I am very partial to Disney and am afraid that we will spend a lot of time comparing, but I am going to make a real effort not to do that... I want to enjoy myself and if I spend all of my time thinking this or that would have been better on Disney all I will do is ruin my vacation!

 

[DVC California]

I am very partial to Disney and am afraid that we will spend a lot of time comparing, but I am going to make a real effort not to do that... I want to enjoy myself and if I spend all of my time thinking this or that would have been better on Disney all I will do is ruin my vacation!

There's nothing wrong with comparing cruiselines or ships...that's human nature. However, don't focus on what you are missing as much as what is new and different with Carnival.

When I sailed on the Disney Dream last month, I didn't think "Why doesn't Disney have indoor ice skating, or a rock climbing wall, or a champagne fountain, or ice sculptures, or a teppanyaki grill, etc.

So when you sail on the Carnival Dream, try not to lament about not having an AquaDuck or a real movie theater, or free soda. Think of it as Apples and Oranges, each good for its own merits.

Our family has sailed all the major lines (Disney, Carnival, RCCL, NCL, Princess, etc) and have always had a great time on each ship.

My two cents, Steve

PS - Only exception...Feel free to miss Castaway Cay, the single best private island/beach day of any cruiseline.

 

[lovedvc]

We sailed on the Carnival Dream last year and will sail on the Disney Dream this August. We have cruised with Disney in the past and also with Carnival in the past. The Carnival Dream does not compare to a Disney Cruise. Although it is a beautiful ship the service is not as good as Disney and the food does not compare either. Palo definately is better than the specialty restaurant on the Carnival Dream. But please don't think you won't have a fantastic time. I'm not saying we didn't enjoy our trip I am just saying in my opinion one is better than the other. We had a wonderful time and you will too.

 

[DVC California]

The Carnival Dream does not compare to a Disney Cruise. Although it is a beautiful ship the service is not as good as Disney and the food does not compare either.

We did not enjoy the food on the Disney Dream. I think they are still going through a growing stage with new staff and it showed during service.

That being said, past cruises on the Magic and Wonder were exceptional and I would agree that food aboard those ships are better than Carnival.

 

[3smithboys]

There's nothing wrong with comparing cruiselines or ships...that's human nature. However, don't focus on what you are missing as much as what is new and different with Carnival.

When I sailed on the Disney Dream last month, I didn't think "Why doesn't Disney have indoor ice skating, or a rock climbing wall, or a champagne fountain, or ice sculptures, or a teppanyaki grill, etc.

So when you sail on the Carnival Dream, try not to lament about not having an AquaDuck or a real movie theater, or free soda. Think of it as Apples and Oranges, each good for its own merits.

Our family has sailed all the major lines (Disney, Carnival, RCCL, NCL, Princess, etc) and have always had a great time on each ship.

My two cents, Steve

PS - Only exception...Feel free to miss Castaway Cay, the single best private island/beach day of any cruiseline.

Thanks! We will miss CC for sure! We do love it there.... but we won't miss Nassau! I am excited to go on a 7 day cruise and see some different places. We are going back to Cozumel, which means we get to go back to Nachi again...a blissful day to be sure. The other 3 stops are new to us, so we are looking forward to that.

I will take your advice and focus on the positives, and I'm sure we will have a great time.

 

[FirstTimeDC]

We have cruised RCCL, Carnival, NCL and Disney. All are fun .. just different. I have no doubt we'll have fun on both. I'm a little nervous about my girls. My DH and I know what to expect with Carnival. I'm afraid they will think it's going to be like Disney and when it comes to kids and the way Disney goes all out for them...no comparison. We took DD on a Carnival Cruise when she was 1 1/2. Obviously, she doesn't remember it. We didn't do kids clubs ... other than to take her in to play one day. I know this is a disboard...and all kids are different.....but will there be enough at Camp Carnival to keep my girls happy....again, they are used to the Disney clubs....and LOVE them! Thanks!

 

[NancyIL]

If the Carnival Dream is anything like the Carnival Sensation, then it's no contest. I found myself looking down on the Sensation while in Nassau, and in more ways than one.

P.S. I'm such a Disney snob.

There's a lot of that "snobbery" on the DIS, and it's not very attractive.

 

[tamis]

I haven't been on the Disney Dream yet, but my family cruised on the Carnival Dream last January and had a great time. The staterooms were really nice, modern & cozy. My younger kids enjoyed the Kids Club and came home with oodles of crafts and various projects they made there, and the water park with multiple water slides was a complete hit. While we were on board they were filming Alvin and the Chipmunks Chipwrecked which added an extra layer of magic for all of us that week. It's true that Disney and Carnival are different in many ways, but both lines offer a wonderful vacation experience. I think you'll have a great time on both ships.

 

[FirstTimeDC]

Oh, don't get me wrong, I'm not really a "snob". I just really enjoy Disney.

 

[NancyIL]

Oh, don't get me wrong, I'm not really a "snob". I just really enjoy Disney.

My comment was directed at the person I quoted.

 

[woody73]

. . . my family cruised on the Carnival Dream last January and had a great time. The staterooms were really nice, modern & cozy.

Glad to hear it. We have yet to cruise on Carnival, even though we are Carnival shareholders.

Woody

 

[Rogillio]

There's a lot of that "snobbery" on the DIS, and it's not very attractive.

Do you to say that people on a Disney board are strongly biased towards Disney?! LOL I don't know if there are Carnival boards for Carnival cruises to swap ideas and such but I'm guessing they might be biased towards Carnival.

If a snob is someone who believes that DCL is inherently superior to other cruise lines for any one of a variety of reasons, then color me snobbish. Having grown up with Disney as kid and seeing my kids grow up with Disney I believe Disney is in fact inherently superior. No other cruise line can give me a Disney experience, period. If that is 'not very attractive' I'm sorry. I just never felt the need to hike my love for Disney....and certainly not on a Disney cruise board.

 

[FirstTimeDC]

Carnival cruises are nice & always fun...just different than Disney. I have no doubt that we will have a great time....I'm just concerned with how my little ones will be in "camp". If they were older they would understand it's going to be different, etc.

 

[NancyIL]

Do you to say that people on a Disney board are strongly biased towards Disney?! LOL I don't know if there are Carnival boards for Carnival cruises to swap ideas and such but I'm guessing they might be biased towards Carnival.

If a snob is someone who believes that DCL is inherently superior to other cruise lines for any one of a variety of reasons, then color me snobbish. Having grown up with Disney as kid and seeing my kids grow up with Disney I believe Disney is in fact inherently superior. No other cruise line can give me a Disney experience, period. If that is 'not very attractive' I'm sorry. I just never felt the need to hike my love for Disney....and certainly not on a Disney cruise board.

There's nothing wrong with preferring DCL to other cruise lines. However, one doesn't need to trash another cruise line with a comment about "looking down on the Sensation... in more ways than one."

My experience is that DCL's service is NOT "inheritantly superior" to that of other cruise lines. Based on 2 of my 3 Disney cruises with mediocre dining room servers, I would say that I have had better service on RCI, HAL, Princess, and Celebrity than on DCL in the dining room.

 

[woody73]

My experience is that DCL's service is NOT "inheritantly superior" to that of other cruise lines.

Sadly, I had a similar experience on my latest Disney cruise (2010 WBTA). Service was mediocre, as there were lots of new hires and trainees. Management said DCL was gearing up for the launch of the Dream.

Woody

 

[bobbiwoz]

Wow, I don't think I would go on a cruise in which I am expecting disappointment. That's what it sounds like to me, but still, does Carnival have the better itinerary? Price? There must be a reason that you are going on the Carnival.

We like cruising, and have a 3 night RCCL cruise in September, very basic, but I think that Coco Cay is as nice as Castaway Cay, it's just the 2 of us, we have anytime dining, and I can't wait. We have a 7 night Carnival Cruise in January becuase of the price and DH and I want to go to Roatan and Belize and friends are joining us. Then we have the DCCL with the DGC in August. We have different expectations for each cruise we go on, and so far we're very happy with all of the lines!

Bobbi