Maybe Some Other Time...

[KSDisneyDad]

I am in the same boat, driving all the way down to FLL. I will have a year and a half to monitor flights for me and my 5yr old son so that we can get the best price. Evan loves DCL but I think he will enjoy seeing the Dream Work Characters on RCCL Mega Ships. I have done some price comparisons and actually most of Disney’s Magic sailings are more expensive than the Oasis. I hope that RCCL will consider moving the Oasis or the ALLURE of the Seas to Port Canaveral? I hope that RCCL realizes that many families are willing to jump DCL to try another cruise line that is comparable and less expensive. For me I will continue to sail Disney but I can’t help but want to sail on the BIGGEST Ships in the world and they belong to RCCL which is a great cruise line! I heard that the Oasis will be on the Discovery Channel
(I think) on Oct 24th I think the show will be called extreme cruise ships. I will have to let my son see this ship so that I can get him syked up for the Allure of the seas 2012, because whenever I show him another ship from another cruise line he says mommy that’s not Mickey’s Ship

What dates did you compare? Disney can often be less than the Oasis if you book far enough in advance. We've priced it out 3 separate times (summer 2010, spring 2011 and summer 2012) and each time, Disney was less expensive than the Oasis.

 

[DW2010]

Have you priced out the Oasis?

I priced it for the same exact date as the Disney Fantasy. It's also nearly the same itinerary (St. Maarten & St. Thomas). The only difference is that the Fantasy visits Castaway Cay and the Oasis visits Nassau (yuck!!). The Oasis was actually $1,100 MORE than Disney!!

To the OP: I've never cruised another line, but I'm sure you'll have a great time. Perhaps sometime you can do a shorter cruise on Disney. We've done 4, 7 and 15 nights. We love the longer cruises, but if shorter is all we could do, we'd do them as they are great.

We can't really consider the Oasis because of it being in Fort Lauderdale. We'll be making the 5 hour drive to PC to board. Right now we have a reservation for a 5 night double dip 1/3/12 on the Dream . Very excited but am just worried about weather. Dh and I went on a honeymoon cruise to the Eastern Caribbean in December 2005 and the weather was awesome. Should I expect the same for CC?

 

[NancyIL]

I think DCL prices will start coming down. This thread is evidence that the supply and demand is shifting a little. The OP is a Disney fan but has made a choice concerning budget. I'm sure the OP is not alone.

btw, to the OP, hope you have a good time on your cruise! Let us know how it was.

Curtis and family have never cruised on Disney, and had the Dream booked for 2011. Curtis - I think you have given up too soon! DON'T cancel the Dream...yet!

 

[ILoveDisney&Cruising]

Prior to DCL, we sailed twice on Carnival.

For us, Carnival was too much of a "party boat". LOTS of 20-somethings drinking & partying.

Plus, we skipped the evening shows 1/2 of the time, due to their very "NON family friendly", risque nature. Think Vegas showgirls and the like. Our tablemates said they left in the middle of a show one evening because their daughter asked "why don't those people have any clothes on?"

I haven't really price shopped, so can't comment on that, but for us, we much prefer the family-friendliness of DCL, and not having to shield our little ones (or teens!) eyes.

 

[kaseyC]

Isn't one of the reasons DCL cost more is the rooms are much bigger?

When I was comparing prices it was hard to ignore how much is was to upgrade to something even close in size.

With 5 of us, size does matter. lol

With the Magic and Wonder that was true. No longer with the Dream and Fantasy, the cabins are smaller and about the same as the other mass market cruise lines.

 

[nenner1]

I am in the same boat, driving all the way down to FLL. I will have a year and a half to monitor flights for me and my 5yr old son so that we can get the best price. Evan loves DCL but I think he will enjoy seeing the Dream Work Characters on RCCL Mega Ships. I have done some price comparisons and actually most of Disney’s Magic sailings are more expensive than the Oasis. I hope that RCCL will consider moving the Oasis or the ALLURE of the Seas to Port Canaveral? I hope that RCCL realizes that many families are willing to jump DCL to try another cruise line that is comparable and less expensive. For me I will continue to sail Disney but I can’t help but want to sail on the BIGGEST Ships in the world and they belong to RCCL which is a great cruise line! I heard that the Oasis will be on the Discovery Channel
(I think) on Oct 24th I think the show will be called extreme cruise ships. I will have to let my son see this ship so that I can get him syked up for the Allure of the seas 2012, because whenever I show him another ship from another cruise line he says mommy that’s not Mickey’s Ship

Oasis and Allure are staying in Port Everglades for the time being. They spent many millions to upgrade that terminal there to make it big enough for the large crowds that those ships hold.

RCCL prices on Freedom and Oasis class are extremely similar to Disney's. We only cruise off season (Sept/Oct/Jan) but our Allure 9/18/11 cruise booked earlier this year is cheaper than our Halloween Magic cruise booked 2 years out. Both are for 5 ppl 2 adults, 3 kids, one balcony (cat 6 Magic, Cat D2 Allure) and one inside (Cat 11 Magic, Cat L Allure). Allure was just around $4800. Very reasonable. (LOL to us).

Also Freedom class and up will have Dreamworks characters, events and shows starting next year. I know, it's not Mickey but...

 

[Disneynut25]

There are THOUSANDS of people that cruise with Carnival everyday who absolutely love that cruise line. You should take a look at other cruise message boards and read some of the trip reports from people with small children. Some actually LOVE cruising with Carnival. They rave about the service, food, rooms, towel animals, ect just like you see posted on this message board. Do what's best for your family. I have cruise and RCL and DCL (I have never been on Carnival) and both lines excel at different things. I'll tell you this, you know how you always read people saying how when they are on a DCL ship and pull up next to a Carnival or RCL ship and always feel sorry for the people on the other ship. They say things like most of the people on the other ships wish that they were on a DCL ship. Well when I cruised with RCL on my honeymoon we were docked next to a DCL ship and all you could here from the people around us (including myself) was how you couldn't pay them to get on one of the Disney ships with all those screaming kids running around. My point is "to each his own". What works best for your family might not be someone elses cup of tea. Remember that you are posting on a Disney message board. Do your research to see what is best for you and your family.

 

[KingRichard]

There are THOUSANDS of people that cruise with Carnival everyday who absolutely love that cruise line. You should take a look at other cruise message boards and read some of the trip reports from people with small children. Some actually LOVE cruising with Carnival. They rave about the service, food, rooms, towel animals, ect just like you see posted on this message board. Do what's best for your family. I have cruise and RCL and DCL (I have never been on Carnival) and both lines excel at different things. I'll tell you this, you know how you always read people saying how when they are on a DCL ship and pull up next to a Carnival or RCL ship and always feel sorry for the people on the other ship. They say things like most of the people on the other ships wish that they were on a DCL ship. Well when I cruised with RCL on my honeymoon we were docked next to a DCL ship and all you could here from the people around us (including myself) was how you couldn't pay them to get on one of the Disney ships with all those screaming kids running around. My point is "to each his own". What works best for your family might not be someone elses cup of tea. Remember that you are posting on a Disney message board. Do your research to see what is best for you and your family.

All those screaming kids running around?

At first I thought you were talking about all the college students getting drunk and seasick for the first time.

 

[NancyIL]

There are THOUSANDS of people that cruise with Carnival everyday who absolutely love that cruise line. You should take a look at other cruise message boards and read some of the trip reports from people with small children. Some actually LOVE cruising with Carnival. They rave about the service, food, rooms, towel animals, ect just like you see posted on this message board. Do what's best for your family. I have cruise and RCL and DCL (I have never been on Carnival) and both lines excel at different things. I'll tell you this, you know how you always read people saying how when they are on a DCL ship and pull up next to a Carnival or RCL ship and always feel sorry for the people on the other ship. They say things like most of the people on the other ships wish that they were on a DCL ship. Well when I cruised with RCL on my honeymoon we were docked next to a DCL ship and all you could here from the people around us (including myself) was how you couldn't pay them to get on one of the Disney ships with all those screaming kids running around. My point is "to each his own". What works best for your family might not be someone elses cup of tea. Remember that you are posting on a Disney message board. Do your research to see what is best for you and your family.

Last December I dropped off my Avis rental car in Cape Canaveral and took their shuttle to the port for my Disney cruise. The driver was commenting on the 3 ships in port: Carnival, RCI, and DCL. He referred to Disney as "daycare on the water"! You're right - not everyone looks longingly at a Disney ship.

 

[orlandothebeagle]

Funny, we are going with rcl, my parents keep wishing they were going with disney again cause EVERYBODY on the ship tells them disney is the best, I kept saying, yes but, on rcl everybody on there will tell you rcl is the best.

 

[Disneynut25]

All those screaming kids running around?

At first I thought you were talking about all the college students getting drunk and seasick for the first time.

No, I was talking about the annoying tweens playing elevator tag while their parents toasted the town in Palo, or the 2 year old sreaming his head off during dinner because mommie and daddy kept him running all day with Mickey and didnt take time to let little Timmy take a nap that day, no actually I was talking about the group of drunken 20 something year olds making out in the Quiet Cove Pool, no it was the drunken guy throwing up on himself sitting in a pool of his own urine while his wife and daughter looked around Key West for him.....

LIKE I SAID.... to each his own....The screaming kids running around is the perception that someone might have who had never cruised with DCL. I had the same perception before I cruised with DCL. After I took my first DCL cruise, not so much. The ship was not over run with screaming kids but it most certainly had it's fair share. On the other hand all the examples of bad behavior that I posted above were very true. You find drunks on all ships, INCLUDING Disney. I really felt sorry the woman looking for her husband only to find him sitting in a corner a few yards away from the ship. I was embarrassed for him and her.

 

[GraffFam]

All I'm going to say is, You get what you pay for!!! Try to enjoy your carnival cruise, and I will definitely enjoy my DISNEY CRUISE.

 

[orlandothebeagle]

No, I was talking about the annoying tweens playing elevator tag while their parents toasted the town in Palo, or the 2 year old sreaming his head off during dinner because mommie and daddy kept him running all day with Mickey and didnt take time to let little Timmy take a nap that day, no actually I was talking about the group of drunken 20 something year olds making out in the Quiet Cove Pool, no it was the drunken guy throwing up on him self sitting in a pool of his own urine while his wife and daughter looked around Key West for him.....

LIKE I SAID.... to each his own....The screaming kids running around is the perception that someone might have who had never cruised with DCL. I had the same perception before I cruised with DCL. After I took my first DCL cruise, not so much. The ship was not over run with screaming kids but it most certainly had it's fair share. On the other hand all the examples of bad behavior that I posted above were very true. You find drunks on all ships. INCLUDING Disney. I really felt sorry the woman looking for her husband only to find him sitting in a corner a few yards away from the ship. I was embarrassed for him and her.

Making out? not sure I know exactly what you mean by that
I hope its not what I think....
Thankfully after 3 cruises Ive never seen anyhthing like that on a disney ship.
In fact, I dont think I ever seen anybody drunk.tipsy maybe but not so drunk that you would notice.

 

[orlandothebeagle]

All I'm going to say is, You get what you pay for!!! Try to enjoy your carnival cruise, and I will definitely enjoy my DISNEY CRUISE.

We had a carnival ship docked next to us, I have to say it didnt look good, but looks can be decieving. We also had the indy of the seas docked next to us. KAWOOOL cant wait to try it.
I enjoy any time away with family and no work no matter where or when, I work away from home doing nights and weekends so anywhere is good
It has to be pretty miserable before I dont enjoy something.

Its all about the right frame of mind.

 

[floydfamily4]

We made this mistake last February to join some friends. I would have to say that the ship itself was beautiful. The service SUCKED!!!! They nickeled and dimed us to death. The amount we saved on the front sure got sucked into the paying to get off the ship. They add your gratuties right onto to your ship board credit. They charge for the kids club after 9:00, which when you have late seating meant every night for our daughter to have fun with other kids rather than hang with us at dinner. They also charge for craft/fun things to do in the kids club. The drinks were very watered down and when asked for more an additional shot in the drink, the cost was $15 per drink!! I can say we will never cruise with them again.

I did not find this to be true. The kids club was open until almost 11p at no extra charge. My kids came home with a t-shirt, puppet, and canvas bag at no extra cost. I found the service completely acceptable. I don't drink much but bought the 4 drink card and the 1 drink I had I literally had it all day because it was so strong! I am sure DCL is fabulous but I think the other cruise lines don't get a fair review sometimes. JMO.

 

[Page4]

It's funny how we compare cruise lines and have strong opinions of what's best. I actually used to look down on cruising until recently. I considered it the mini-van of vacations...if that makes any sense. I still do a little bit but, I have little kids now and hiking through the hills of Jamaica just won't fit the bill any more. Opinions change as life changes...at least it does for me.

 

[Otimon]

Don't give up your Dream, Curtis.

We are 3 adults who will take our 16th Disney cruise next March on the Dream. One would assume kids run amuck on the Disney but that's not the case at all!

Give it a chance and you just may find yourself booking another Disney. Their private island, Castaway Cay, is in a class by itself. No other cruise line's private island compares to it.

Best wishes,

Linda

 

[NancyIL]

It's funny how we compare cruise lines and have strong opinions of what's best. I actually used to look down on cruising until recently. I considered it the mini-van of vacations...if that makes any sense. I still do a little bit but, I have little kids now and hiking through the hills of Jamaica just won't fit the bill any more. Opinions change as life changes...at least it does for me.

Rather than looking down on cruising, it used to be something that only the retired and/or wealthy did! Cruising is a great way to get a taste of a number of destinations - especially when they are located in multiple countries. Other places are better visited on a land trip, or at least a combination of land + sea. Sometimes I think I have gotten too caught up in travel via cruise ship, and need to slow down a bit and take more land trips.

Getting back to Curtis's post...I haven't cruised on Carnival, but he and his family have. I'm sure they'll have a great time on whatever ship they choose.

 

[BealsRwe]

We have cruised on DCL a lot, and we have cruised on the Carnival Fascination. The good thing is if you don't have a lot of experience with cruising, Carnival Fascination will probably be fine. I was not a fan of all the smoking (one entire side of the ship). We enjoyed ourselves, but knew it was a bargain cruise when we booked it. The food was ok-but I prefer our local bar & grill as the selection onboard was not huge. We got an incredible deal. The rooms were adequate, although I love the split bath we get on DCL. The 80's show was fun. We didn't spend much time in the casino, and the drinks were more expensive than with DCL. We did each take 1 bottle of wine on (all Carnival would allow), but happy I can take on whatever I want with DCL. All in all, we will pay the extra to cruise with DCL, unless we are taking a bonus cruise for the year, then I book cheap, and know that going in so I lower my expectations.

 

[toontoy]

Our family has sailed almost as many Carnival cruises as we've sailed Disney. Disney is our all time favorite, but Carnival is a close second. The Conquest class ships are the way to sail. The prices are great too if DCL is out of your price range for your sail dates. We thought the food in the main dining room was a little better than DCL's (though Palo is a little better than the Carnival steakhouses.) I think you will still have a great time!

we are on a conquest cruise in january out of galveston. Any hints you would like to share. I have been on both disney ships and rccl once. I am wondering about it as my wife is a bit leary but for the price it was great, 600 for a balcony for the week of the 16th, was very great.