For those considering another cruise line...

[rbork]

For those considering another cruise line...
Let's face it there are alot of choices and frankly many less expensive than DCL.
I've been on Regency, Cunard, NCL, DCL and recently tried Carnival for the first time.
Docked in Port Canaveral I stepped out onto our Carnival balcony and immediately had DCL envy. I threw my arms forward and yelled "Disney please save me!"
DCL has hands down the nicest cabins in the industry. A beautiful, clean, tasteful and fun ship and staff. I can't wait to go back and try one of the new ships but will need to save for quite a while for our family of 4 which now includes teenagers.
We tried Carnival recently because of a departure port and price. We boarded a dirty, odorous, dark, ship. No one welcomed us or went out of their way for us. Getting a drink at dinner was like pulling teeth. I could go on but don't want to bore you with the details. Just saying you get what you pay for and this is why I will return to DCL. More expensive but a very nice experience for a family.

 

[Sunny37]

We've been on Carnival 10 times and every cruise we've had with them has been great! We live close to Mobile and New Orleans, so I guess we've just wanted the convenience of being able to drive to a close port. Now, I will admit (as a Disney lover) that when we did take a Carnival cruise out of PC, and the DCL ship was in port, I was envious!

June will be our 2nd time to cruise Disney and I can't wait--but that doesn't mean I won't be going back to Carnival...finally reached platinum status with them and I enjoy the perks!

 

[DeeCee735]

We did Carnival once, we'll never do it again. "Sub-standard" is a nice way to describe it.

 

[KSDisneyDad]

Thanks for your quick overview. This is my fear even though I've read lots of reviews to the contrary and I'm sure we'll hear from some of them on this thread.

I've not compared DCL prices to Carnival. I am not opposed to trying other cruise lines and understand that many others thoroughly enjoy them. My DW tried another line and prefers DCL over it hands down.

I consistently compare our prices on DCL to the newer RCCL ships as they seem like good alternatives. However, each time I have found that DCL is usually close to the RCCL price and even less than RCCL for the dates that we can go (when our kids are out of school). I have yet to find two cabins for a 7-night Eastern during the summer on one of the new RCCL ships for less than the $5,000 we're paying for the Fantasy for 5 people in two cabins (outside/inside combo).

I know that we can save quite a bit by trying another line such as CCL, but I think I'd end up like you. At what price difference is it worth it to try another line? I know if varies for each family, but for us, we don't cruise that often and want to know that the whole family will enjoy the cruise. We take advantage of on-board booking benefits which makes it difficult to want to be adventerous and pay more or about the same for another cruise line when we've had consistently good experiences on DCL.

 

[mdsoccermom]

I went on the Carnival Dream out of Port Canaveral and had a great time. It was a fantastic experience. Our cabin felt much larger than what e had on DCL (it was more the design than anything). Our service and food was fantastic. It was a clean ship with tons to do. The water park ont he ship put DCLs slide to shame.

Oh, and my balcony on the 7 night cruise was almost $2,000 less than an oceanview for a 4 night on DCL.

 

[disneyholic family]

my dream is to do a Transatlantic voyage on Cunard...

i don't know how the rooms compare to disney, but i've read the service is second to none...

 

[mrsklamc]

I'll admit i've only been on 2 cruises but my dcl cabin was in horrible shape compared to my Holland America one.

 

[Mickeyhugger]

We tried Carnival recently because of a departure port and price. We boarded a dirty, odorous, dark, ship. No one welcomed us or went out of their way for us. Getting a drink at dinner was like pulling teeth.

Sorry you had a bad experience on Carnival. That might have just been the luck of the draw with one cruise. Our family has sailed Carnival many times and have had wonderful service as well as excellent food. Of course though, it wasn't Disney, and yes, one does get what they pay for. Ironically, your experience on Carnival sounds like our experience on RCCL, so it can happen any time on any cruise line.

 

[dursin]

We did Carnival once, we'll never do it again. "Sub-standard" is a nice way to describe it.

Same here. Carnival even gave us a 15% discount on a future cruise to give them a chance. Not sure I would waste my money again unless perhaps they were offering 50% off.

 

[rbork]

"Thanks for your quick overview. This is my fear even though I've read lots of reviews to the contrary and I'm sure we'll hear from some of them on this thread. "

I know lot of people who like CCL and perhaps on another ship from a different port, I might have had a different experience. I am just giving fair warning that in my experience - I got what I paid for, or maybe less.
Afterall I'm back on the dis.

I went with no expectations and did enjoy our time traveling with 3 other families. However the ship, staff and service was no where near the other ships on other lines I've tried.

 

[Sunny37]

We did Carnival once, we'll never do it again. "Sub-standard" is a nice way to describe it.

Hmmmm, none of our cruises on CCL have been "sub-standard" in our opinion--been on RCCL, NCL, Disney too and have yet to have a bad cruise!

Sorry yours was not a good experience...

 

[dursin]

Hmmmm, none of our cruises on CCL have been "sub-standard" in our opinion--been on RCCL, NCL, Disney too and have yet to have a bad cruise!

Sorry yours was not a good experience...

I wonder if the difference is in the ship/length of cruise. We did a 4 night on one of the older Fantasy class ships and thought the whole experience was very substandard compared to DCL with the possible exception of the food which was good. Perhaps one of the newer ships would compare more favorably.

 

[sabrecmc]

I see a lot of these comparison threads, and I appreciate all the different perspectives and reports. I've just come to the conclusion that some people are cruise people and some people are Disney cruise people. I know I'm the latter. The Disney part is essential to my family's cruise experience. I don't mind paying more for it. But, most people probably aren't that set on the Disney part as they are on the cruise part, and that's totally fine. If I even begin to think of another line, I just remember my daughter's face telling me about how Pluto came to her pajama party and all thoughts of going with some other ship go out the window.

 

[disneyholic family]

I wonder if the difference is in the ship/length of cruise. We did a 4 night on one of the older Fantasy class ships and thought the whole experience was very substandard compared to DCL with the possible exception of the food which was good. Perhaps one of the newer ships would compare more favorably.

expectations also make a difference...

i have friends who went on a cruise with a local cruise company....the size of the ships are about the size of a DCL lifeboat....my friends had zero expectations...
it turned out they were thrilled with it....
the tiny little stateroom didn't matter to them and the lack of pretty much anything in terms of public areas....
but the food was good and plentiful.....
they had very low expectations and came back saying it was the best vacation they'd ever had

 

[mhsjax]

I have asked my DB and DSIl about Carnival because they are cruise junkies and can pretty much afford almost any cruise they want. They said they would do Carnival again, they enjoyed it.

DH also spoke with a friend last night, they are very well traveled to very expensive places and can choose to go anywhere they want, and they do. She said they have cruised Carnival several times and enjoyed it.

So, some say that only those that can't afford DCL should cruise Carnival, ( i know that wasn't done her) but it is usually implied most times. Anyway, those that I have asked can and do afford most anything within reason and they have enjoyed Carnival and I do respect these people's opinions, because I know them very well. To people I don't know, I will listen but really not take much consideration of their opinion. I think any cruise has its good and bad points and good and bad cruises. Heck, our first DCL cruise was horrible, our other 2 were great.

I hope to enjoy our Carnival cruise this summer, and I will be very happy to finally have my own comparison between the 2 lines.

 

[karajeboo]

When I lived in Jacksonville Florida I could said Carnival out of Jax for $149pp for a 3 night cruise, inside cabin. We so wanted to try that for our first cruise because I know that after my DCL in March, I will be spoiled to other cruise lines!

 

[mousejunkie98]

I've cruised DCL, NCL and Carnival, and the only cruise I hated was the Carnival one. We sailed on the Legend, and it was tacky, tacky, tacky! The bathroom was horrible, the service was only "okay" and I vowed never to do it again!

I will admit that DCL is my favorite and I will cruise with them again (and again and again ) but I did enjoy my NCL cruise and I'd do them again as well. My grandmother is an avid cruiser who does 1-3 cruises per year, and Carnival is the only line she refuses to sail.

That being said, I have a client who absolutely loves Carnival, and goes often. So to each his own

 

[keishashadow]

We've been on Carnival 10 times and every cruise we've had with them has been great! We live close to Mobile and New Orleans, so I guess we've just wanted the convenience of being able to drive to a close port. Now, I will admit (as a Disney lover) that when we did take a Carnival cruise out of PC, and the DCL ship was in port, I was envious!

June will be our 2nd time to cruise Disney and I can't wait--but that doesn't mean I won't be going back to Carnival...finally reached platinum status with them and I enjoy the perks!

Carnival wins for the better ports & that's what's typically prime for us on longer sailings. We know what we're getting & can typically book 2 balcony cruises for cost of inside of DCL for comparable nights/times. It's a tradeoff

DCL works well for us for 3 - 5 nights trips.

 

[stevenpensacola]

oh gosh...how many times has this been discussed?

There's no right answer...

If you want to cruise Disney, cruise Disney.

If you like Carnival, Great...cruise Carnival.

It's not a contest.

Make your choice and live with it. You don't have to justify your cruise choices to anyone.

No matter which cruise line you choose, I wish you smooth seas and a great cruise.

 

[binab]

We have cruise multiple times on both Carnival and RCCL. We've found them to be very enjoyable and very comparable in most ways. Quite frankly, I'm not expecting DCL to be much different and that is not a bad thing...