Love Disney, BUT... RC vs Carnival

[Bbethparsons]

My family and I would love to sail Disney again; however, we have done it 3 times, both itineraries. We feel like been there done that. Nothing ever changed on the boat. Our kids were bored.

We are cruising in 15 days on Sovereign of Sea (Hubby and I alone), can't beat price, plus we will finally be alone. Plus, we know 2 other families that have cruised recently and said they liked it as well as Disney, but the rooms are smaller, but with it only being me and hubby, how much room can we need on our honeymoon, long over due after 13 years. (4 days of heaven, plus an extra night!) Some people ask, why do you want to be alone with husband...well, I love my husband and can't wait for ALONE!!!!

Well, anyone the reason I am writing...

We are considering the Navigator out of Miami in October, because we have friends going; however, Carnival has the Glory out of Pt. Canaveral this summer and we are considering it.

For all you cruisers that have cruised RC and Carnival, which one do you prefer. The only thing that RC has that is appealing is ice rink and rock climbing, but how much of that can you do. What about food.

 

[Hygiene99]

HAVE not Done either but we would Choose RCL over the other....
still deciding if we r going to go on RCCl brand New ship witch has its first trip out of Boston this summer ..... threee and a 4 day cruises.. to Canada.... but to be on the brand new ship



peter

 

[Gillian]

Originally posted by Bbethparsons
Some people ask, why do you want to be alone with husband...

You're kidding, right? People have asked you that? Why would you want to take a few days alone, without the kids? And have some peace? And enjoy adult activites?

I love my kid, but I love him more when I haven't seen him for a while!

I haven't sailed Carnival. RCCL suits our style, but we haven't sailed their newer ships (yet!). I don't think you could go wrong with the Navigator!

Have you checked cruisecritic.com's boards for opinions?

 

[MarkRG]

Considering I just spent a week at ports mingling with people from both lines, I can give you a good answer.

If you want something comparable to Disney, RCCL.

If you want the twentysomething party ship, Carnival. And that was with the Pride in two ports.

 

[disny4ever]

younger folks in their twenties.........taking our 2 boys on a last time family vacation on RCCL. Will they have any problems finding similar aged travelers? Any one ??

 

[Bbethparsons]

Thanks Mark that answers my question~ Beth

 

[mac_tlc]

We have sailed teh Magic twice and the Explorer & Navigoator. All great, depends on what you are looking for. Price can also be a factor. I just completed a side-by-side comparison of DCL vs RCCL's Voyager-class.

www.new-horizons-travel.com

Sailing the Magic again on 11/8, hope to do the Mariner soon .

mac_tlc

P.S. Any more on the rumor of the Voyager of the Seas coming to NY in 2004?

 

[KellyC]

I haven't been on Royal Caribbean, but have been on 6 Carnival cruises and 1 Disney. I haven't really experienced the "party" atmosphere that Carnival are so infamous for. Maybe it is because I try to always go on the new ships. I think the older ships or the shorter cruises are cheaper and attract more of a party crowd. The last Carnival cruise I was on was in Sept 2002 and it was on the Pride. The Pride is a very beautiful ship, and the decor is very classy and elegant. It is still more "done up" than the Disney ship, but I wouldn't consider it to be glitzy or gaudy, just themed more. I think that most families would fit in and they do have kids programs, but there were definately many more kids on Disney. If you choose Carnival I would recommend that you choose the Pride, or its sister ship, The Spirit. There is also the Legend, but I'm not sure if it is sailing yet. Good luck!

 

[KellyC]

I just went back to your original post and noticed that you were considering the Glory. I believe that the Glory is also one of the sister ships to the Pride and I know that it is a new ship so it should be nice.

 

[tstobb]

Originally posted by Bbethparsons
We are considering the Navigator out of Miami in October, because we have friends going; however, Carnival has the Glory out of Pt. Canaveral this summer and we are considering it.

This winter (November/December), RCCL will begin sailings of the Mariner of the Seas (a brand new Voyager class ship) out of Port Canaveral.

 

[Bev J]

Go for the Navigator, we have sailed with RCI many times, great cruises and very compariable with DCL. Very good kids programs and so many activities that will keep your whole family happy.
Plus October vs. summer. October would be less busy and you can get a better price, also less kids that time of year.

AS far as ages of other passangers, all ages will be found on RCL, they would not spend so much on all the fun activities if everyone was older and not using the available stuff-rock climbing, golf, inline skating, ice skating.

Go to www.cruisecritic.com and read reviews and comments on all the cruiselines the RCI boards are very busy.

 

[DVC California]

Originally posted by KellyC

...I believe that the Glory is also one of the sister ships to the Pride ...

The new Carnival Glory is actually a sister ship to the Conquest which sails out of New Orleans/Galveston. At 110,000 tons, it is one of the largest ships in Carniavls fleet and will be taking over the itinerary and berth fom the Pride.

Not to get left behind in the Port Canaveral market, RCCL will also be sending their newest behemoth, the Mariner of the Seas. The Mariner is a Voyager class ship (138,000 tons!) and will be doing eastern/western sailings beginning in November 2003. The Voyager class ships are the ones that have the Ice Skating rink, Rock Climbing wall, and Johnny Rockets burgers.

We have sailed all three lines and have to give the nod to Carnival. We really had a blast on our last two cruises with them (Victory and Paradise) and have the Glory booked for this summer.

The only RCCL ship we've been on was the Monarch about 5 years ago, out of San Juan. That was fun but the food was so-so (we could tell they were recycling leftovers in the buffet lines). That being said, we're excited to give them another chance, especially on the Mariner, next year.

Beth - I know what you mean about DCL burnout (Sorry Barb! ), but even our kids got bored with Animator's Palette the 3rd time aound. The best thing DCL has in it's favor is Cataway Cay, which is unparalled in quality and cleaniness, compared with the other cruiseline's "private islands".

HTH, Steve

 

[prymsu]

I agree with Kelly. I have been on several Carnival cruises, and have never encountered that party crowd. I have been on the Pride and it is a wonderful ship.

My husband doesn't want to do DCL again until they change the shows. He likes going to the shows when we are on a cruise, and he is just not into seeing the same shows over and over. Hopefully they will change the shows sometime in the future.