It's breaking my heart but...

[dawne577]

Having researched other cruise lines(what was I thinking) I found that I can take my hoard of 14 on a 7 day in August, 2005 for about the same price I've already booked my 4 day with Disney. I only have 3 that are under 20 and feel that the experience overall will be better suited on Princess(Caribbean) or Carnival(Miracle).
Anyone who has cruised either of the two lines please comment on the advantages/disadvantages. Also, my youngest grandson has severe exema and salt water causes his skin to burn. Even though I've read that the kids clubs on Carnival are great what about the pools!!! I was so surprised to read that Carnival uses salt water in there pools. Did anyone notice the salt water or is it so minimal that it was hardly noticable?

 

[aprilgail2]

Some people like Carnival but I found it to be like a giant frat party..I have never been around so many drunk people in my life. I much prefer Disney but for the amount of people you have going I can understand making the change. The pools when we went were saltwater and it was VERY noticable...I was shocked when I jumped intehre...I had not expected that!

 

[lookingforward]

I am not sure about the pools but I recommend the Voyager class ships on RCCL. I have not sailed on Carnival but I have not heard great things about it. My sister has taken Princess and really enjoyed it.

 

[CSX2]

Are you getting comparable rooms on the other line. When we were comparing we noticed that the rooms were considerably smaller on the other ships for comprable (well, DCL was still on the high side) prices.

 

[NJ Cruisers]

The rooms are definitely bigger on DCL. I've cruised on many other lines (Carnival, Celebrity, NCL, RCCL, and some I can't remember). What a pleasure the to have a room you can turn around in. But I wouldn't pick DCL for the room size because we are only in the room to shower/change and to sleep.

We've cruised Carnival about 3 or 4 times and never had the Frat Party situation, but we always did the 7-day cruise. I've heard (not experienced) that that shorter cruises attract the younger, drunker crowds. We actually love Carnival and the prices are SOOOO much better than DCL.

Every cruise is what you make it. I have enjoyed every single one (20+). The next is DCL in November. I AM READY TO CRUISE.

Diane

 

[giandave23]

The pools on the Magic Cruise Ship is NOT salt water - it is a fresh water pool. As an adult, I would rather take a 4 day cruise on Disney, than be on a ship that is like a frat party. I out grew that many year ago.

Take Care!

 

[Minnie&Mickey]

To those of you that didn't like Carnival, were you on one of their newer ships? Also, did you travel on Carnival within the last 5 or fewer years? The reason I ask is that I have some really good friends that just sailed on the Miracle in March. They absolutely loved it. They are not party people by any means and said that the boat was very classy and they never saw anyone drunk or out of control. Their ages were 15, 45, and 71. From what I understand, Carnival has really changed within the last 5 years or so, and they are trying to be a more respected (for lack of a better word) cruiseline than they were in the past.

We are also seriously considering the Miracle for our family for 2005. We can do a 7 day on the Miracle (the same type of accomodation - 2 balcony staterooms) for our family of 4 for only $1000 more than our 3 night on Disney cost us two weeks ago. And since we aren't willing to fly to California to cruise, Disney isn't going to be an option for us for next summer.

 

[bakmmo]

I have cruised Royal Carribbean, HOlland America, Carnival and Disney. By far the best food is Holland America. The best service and largest room is Disney and the best for kids is a cross between Carnival and Disney ( I did not go on a RCCL with the rock climbing wall)
Do not give up the change to experience Disney it was memorable.
Carnival is not a frat party. I have been on 3 Carnvial ships in the last 3 years and loved it. Food is adequate nad have always had good service not memorable except that we were with 76 of our closest friends. We are waiting to go on Carnival again in August and shortly after in April on Disney again.!!!

Holland America 1976
Royal Carribbean Song of America 1990
Carnival Paradise 4/2001
Carnival Imaginatin 8/2002
Carnival Paradise 4/2003
Carnival Glory 8/21/04
Disney Magic 4/23/05

 

[AmyJ of Ca]

I'm pretty sure that Princess has fresh water pools also. We sailed on Princess a few years back and we were happy with it. Probably would still be going on them but they don't have the option of a "Flounders" type care on Princess ships. It wasn't a frat party at all and we didn't feel too young being in our early 30's on board. It was a nice mix of ages. What ever line you choose it sure beats a week at home cooking dinner and cleaning!!! Have fun. Amy

 

[SandraLee]

dawne577 . . . My eyes popped out when I read your message about your GDS with excema. My DD5 has very bad (severe) excema and cannot go in the salt water. I thought I had it under control on our last Western 7-day cruise and took her in the water at Stingray City. What a mistake. The salt was burning her skin. For me, I'm sticking with fresh-water pools for a little while longer. I'd love to hear of a kid-friendly ship with fresh water pools other than Disney. But, if the others in your group are older, I have heard that RCL is a good choice. I would stick with the Radiance-class ships -- they are newer and wonderful.

My DD loved the fresh water pools on the ship. She still talks about the 'clean' water pools. She can't stand the 'dirty' pool (ocean). funny. I have considered other cruise lines, but the salt issue is a big one for me. I am hoping she grows out of this soon -- or I can get a better handle on it to comfortably get her in the salt water.

And, really, I hear so many people talk about the rock climbing wall on the RCL lines.... I have been on a rock climbing wall before, and it just didn't do it for me. I don't go on a cruise to watch ice skating or climb rock walls. We LOVED the nightly, kid-friendly entertaining shows on the Magic. That is what I think I will miss if I go to another ship. I never hear anything about the stage-quality shows on other lines. They all seemed geared toward adults -- not kids.

Good luck. I really understand the excema problem. I have been through so many lotions and creams I think my prescription plan will explode!

 

[Carol36]

My first cruise was on the Carnival Glory last August. It was an all girls trip- my Sis, Mom, and her sis. We had a blast. Maybe, taking a 7-day cruise with Carnival does make a difference. It was pretty classy to me.

My second cruise was on the May 23, 2004 Wonder! This time, I was with my DH and 4DC! We has a wonderful time. I really cannot say that I was treated any better on Disney than Carnival! There is just something about Disney that is sooo magical....

My third cruise will be an all girls one, with the same girls, but on RCCL Mariner of the Seas. I think that we will have a great time again.

My fourth cruise is planned for 12-17-05 on Disney Magic! I am sooo excited about that! It's a surprise for the children!shhhhh!

My whole point is that I think you can have fun on any one of these, but Disney is well worth the extra $$$$ and peace of mind if you need fresh water swimming! I say go for it!

Carol

 

[CPM]

I've cruised both Disney & Carnival. I have never been in a Frat party situation on Carnival. Maybe the shorter older ships are like that but the newer ones are beautful. My service on Carnival was actually better then on DCL. I would certainly take a 7 day over a 4 day for the same price!
Camp Carnival isn't as extensive for the kids but is very fun for them.
There is also more to do on the big new Canival ships like the Miracle then on DCL.
The cabins are about 185 SF with a lot of storage space.
You should visit www.cruisecritic.com for many Canival Miracle reviews. This site may be a bit bias towards DCL

I have also heard many good things about Princess, but not sure how kid friendly they are.

 

[mmouse37]

Carnival has definately changed over the years but unfortunately their "fun ship party" history has followed them which is a shame because their new ships are really beautiful. My parents who are in their 70's are about to leave on their 5th Carnival cruise in as many years...they only sail the new ships and have never encountered "frat party" atmosphere....they would never stand for it....so we just booked the Carnival Legend out of NYC next summer for about 25 of us.

MJ

 

[BriarRosie]

I've cruised on Carnival many times, the first being in 1990 and the last being in 1997.

In 1990, the "frat party" atmosphere was there. By 1997, it was not. In fact, I was cruising with two friends, and because one of them was under 21 (she was 20), she would not have been able to book the cruise unless staying with someone 25 years old or older. (I was 26 at the time, so it worked fine.)

I'm sure they make exceptions when a couple of 21 year old newlyweds wants to cruise, but I believe Carnival changed their policy to prevent the Spring Break college kids' "frat party".

I want to add about the pools: It's like swimming in the ocean.
That's how salty they are.

 

[Hunter'sMama]

Although I have never been on a Carnival Cruise and cannot confirm whether their pools are salt water or not, I have cruised to Bermuda on Celebrity Cruiseline and they do have salt water pools. I am the type of person who can't stand to have salt water on my lips and therefore choose not to get wet above my neck. As the previous reply states, salt water pools are exactly like swimming in the ocean! With that said, how often will your group use the pools? In my past cruising experience, I haven't spent too much time in the onboard pools. This may be a result of the salt water pools but we probably won't use the Disney pools in September because my son will have just turned 2 and isn't fully potty trained yet. Maybe you should sit down with your group and write a list of what amenities are most important to everyone and factor in the price of each cruise you are looking at.

I am currently in the process of planning a family cruise for 16 in August of 2006 and we have definitely decided on Disney. We've chosen a 7-day as my parents are Vacation Club Members and we spend a lot of time in Disney World. Fortunately for us, price isn't a deciding factor and myself and 3 sisters each have at least one child under the age of 4 so there was no question as to which cruiseline we would use.

Good luck in your decision-making and remember that the planning should be fun too!

 

[DMS_cruisers04]

but these two comments struck me as funny!

I want to add about the pools: It's like swimming in the ocean.

As the previous reply states, salt water pools are exactly like swimming in the ocean!

Obviously it's because they use ocean water, it's just not filtered or clorinated like on Disney. Like I said, I'm just in one of those moods today.

 

[Hunter'sMama]

Obviously they use ocean water - my intention on stating the fact that it's like swimming in the ocean is to answer the question about whether or not you notice the salt water. Yes-I noticed the salt water!

 

[dawne577]

Thanks to all for your info. Since we are going in August I assume we would be using the pools often plus my grandchildren must be related to Nemo - they love to swim !!! That means my only option because of the salt water pools on Carnival is the Caribbean Princess because they also have fresh water pools. Unfortunately there staterooms are smaller so I may have to rethink the room configurations.
We took my oldest DD and the grandchildren on a Disney cruise in March, 2004 and were so amazed at the whole experience that I decided I wanted to share it with the whole family - just my luck that Disney decided to go out west next summer. But that just gives me an exuse to rebook a Disney cruise for my little darlings and Grandma and Grandpa. Somehow I knew I could come out ahead in this situation.

 

[JonJehrio]

I will be taking my 4th Disney Cruise in October and have never Cruised with anyone else. What Cruise line you choose for your vacation is entirely up to you. I personally would rather spend a little more and Cruise the Disney ship. Growing up, Walt Disney was a big part of my life. We had toy's, my parents read Disney stories to us, we saw the movies, and visited the parks on several occasions. Growing up in the Northeast, some of the fondest memories of my childhood involve vacations to Disney. Recently after a Disney Cruise we went to Universal Studio's to check out Islands of Adventure. The rides were amazing, however, it became obvious after about 20 minutes that the staff at Universal is completely different than the staff at Disney. I believe people are what makes places like that successful. The Disney "cast members" make Disney a place you want to keep going back time after time, and this goes for the Cruise as well. The staff at Universal just seemed like they were all at the end of their work shift's and wanted to get home. No one there seemed to care that we were spending our hard earned $$ at their park. There is a Disney Difference, and any business that put's as much effort into making it's guests have an "excellant" time as Disney does, will continue to get my business until I am shown otherwise. Choose wisely, and I hope you have a great time on your cruise, whichever Line you choose.

 

[CPM]

Originally posted by JonJehrio
IThere is a Disney Difference, and any business that put's as much effort into making it's guests have an "excellant" time as Disney does, will continue to get my business until I am shown otherwise. Choose wisely, and I hope you have a great time on your cruise, whichever Line you choose.

I like a Disney cruise but........
It's more then a *little* difference in price and the other cruiselines IME have much better service, especially ones like HAL, CC and PCL. They also offer much more to do on thier ships. The nice thing about DCL is that their rooms are larger then some cruise ships and geared towards families.