It's breaking my heart but...

[gamom]

FYI, Royal Caribbean has a brand new Voyager class ship that sails out of Port Canaveral; Mariner of the Seas. It was just launched in November of 2003.

 

[tstobb]

We were booked on the Magic for September but switched to RCCL's Mariner. The cost difference (family of 5 in 2 staterooms) was significant (about $1500) and we were still able to book higher category staterooms on the Mariner. We've cruised Disney 3 times (will be 4 after this July!) but wanted to check out the other lines to see if the cost difference was worth it. That phone call to cancel DCL was a very difficult decision and hard to make but we'll let you know in September if it was worth it.

 

[my3kids]

Go on the other cruise. You will have a wonderful time. I've been on Disney and Princess. Disney was great, but so was Princess. I am sailing next on Holland America. The cost difference is enormous. My room on HAL, the equivilent of a category 6 on Disney, is costing LESS than a category 12 on the Magic for the same week.

I have also read so much about the change in Carnival. The food is supposed to be really good, the new ships much nicer and no neon, the rooms very attractive and large. I have not convinced my husband that they have changed though, so I haven't been on one. I have always read incredible reviews of the Carnival Kids program, including some side by side comparisons to Disney in which Carnival seems to win. I used to be very leary of this line, but it truly seems to have changed its atmosphere.

On Princess, they used to only have a kid's counselor if there were enough kids on board. I'm sure it has probably changed, and during the summer that wouldn't matter anyway. The food was great!

If you are doing a 7 night on any line, you are likely to encounter families and a nice atmosphere. It is the 3 day cruise to nowheres that are likely more of a fraternity party.

 

[Minnie&Mickey]

Originally posted by my3kids
I have also read so much about the change in Carnival. The food is supposed to be really good, the new ships much nicer and no neon, the rooms very attractive and large. I have not convinced my husband that they have changed though, so I haven't been on one.

If I can convince my 76 year old mother, you can convince your husband! My mother sailed on one of the shorter Carnival cruises many years ago and said "Never again!" Well, this afternoon, she and I are heading to the TA to put money down on a 7 night on the Miracle. I have a friend that went on this ship recently and she said it was incredible. The food was delicious, the service was awesome, and the boat was beautiful...no frat party atmosphere at all. I'll give you my review after we sail!

 

[samnick]

Just to comment, We've been on Disney twice and Carnival Sensation once (last year). While we did enjoy Carnival, we agreed the food wasn't as good as DCL and Camp Carnival was a fraction of the size of DCL. They also have limited hours they are open during the day. We also felt DCL had more to do on board. Oh, one more thing, DCL has Carnival beat by a mile for disembarkation, alot more organized. Just our opinion

 

[oceanmarina]

I know what you mean about the price difference. I'll give you an example, we paid 1200.per person for a 4 night cruise on the Wonder. We paid 1100. PP for a 7 night cruise on Celebrity and 900.00 PP for a 7 night cruise on carnival. We are sailing on Disney next Sat., & i'll be sure to post wheather I thought it was worth the extra $$.

Here's what I can tell you about Celebrity, TOP NOTCH! We live in NYC and often eat at "fancy" Manhattan restaurants & were very impressed by the food, service, an impressive cruise. We sailed on Carnival a month later (on the Paradise, built in 98) and were pleasantly surprised by the great food & very good service. Yes, Celebrity was a little better, but we would sail on Carnival again.

The Carnival pool was nice, crowded (most cruise pools are on sea days), I enjoyed the amazing water slide. I'm honestly not too sure about salt or fresh water.


6/03 - Celebrity Horizon ~ Bermuda
7/03 - Carnival Paradise ~ West. Carrib.
7/04 - Disney Wonder ~ Bahamas
7/04 - RCCL Explorer of the Seas ~ West. Carrib.
8/04 - NCL Pride of Aloha ~ Hawaii
2/05 - Golden Princess ~ Southern. Carrib.

 

[Moosysmom]

I was on the 5 day Carnival Sensation in Feb of this year.
Don't know about the pools, I'm not a pool person, but it was definitely a party atmosphere in their on deck activities on sea days. Also, beware of the topless deck on the top, I was suprised when I went wandering one day.
I went with a large group of people for a private party but I did think it still had the fun ship party atmosphere. I was not as happy about the food, as I was on Disney and even the Celebrity cruise I took years ago.
I think Disney had more activities (art of entertaining, etc) than I found on Carnival. The other thing that I found different was no sail away party. There were only about 25 to maybe 30 people out front when we sailed away.
I am sailing again because the group is getting together again next year this time on the Inspiration but I really much prefer Disney, altho if there is not another ship out west it will be Princess or RCCL in 2007 to Alaska.

 

[CPM]

Originally posted by samnick
Just to comment, We've been on Disney twice and Carnival Sensation once (last year). While we did enjoy Carnival, we agreed the food wasn't as good as DCL and Camp Carnival was a fraction of the size of DCL. They also have limited hours they are open during the day. We also felt DCL had more to do on board. Oh, one more thing, DCL has Carnival beat by a mile for disembarkation, alot more organized. Just our opinion

The Sensation was built in 1993, one of Carnival's older, smaller shps. You will find a huge difference in the newer ships.

 

[kcsc1291]

I have a friend who is a cruise travel agent, and I believe that she told me that the only other cruise line that has fresh water in the pools in Princess. But I would check that to be sure.

 

[CPM]

Okay speaking of the *Fun ships*. My sister called me from Key West today. We sent them on a four night cruise on the Fascination for their first anniversary.
She was bummed because she said everyone on the ship was in bed by 10:00! LOL
I told her she better make some friends today or else the day at sea tomorrow will be very broing!