My DCL and Carnival comparison

[sabrecmc]

We have sailed on RC but, for us, it comes down to this:

If it wasn't Disney we wouldn't sail. We'd probably go to WDW.

Ha! That's so us, lol. I know, I know...other cruise lines can be great, too, and cheaper, but If it isn't DCL, I'd just rather be at WDW!

My parents actually invited me on a "free" cruise on Carnival with them out of Mobile or Jacksonville, but I'm seriously debating whether it is worth it...(hee).

That being said, I do appreciate the OP's comparison, which was very fair to both lines. That's something that's hard to find in most reviews around here! Seems they are bashing DCL or blinded by DCL love (like me!).

 

[templed]

Lol... one thing that stood out on CCL... the entertainment was very cheesy IMO.

At one point for a "Gala Mardi Gras" party.... the entertainment just danced in place and whipped beads at the crowd...

Not what I call ... "entertaining".

lol

 

[justmestace]

I think I look at cruising differently than a lot of people do. I see it more as a floating hotel, an easy way to get to see a lot of different places in the world. If I'm entertained onboard, that's a plus...but not a necessity....and as long as I can find something edible, that's a plus...but I'm not a "foodie" so I don't need to be impressed with fancy meals.

I haven't been on any cruise line where my basic needs weren't met. The crew always seems friendly to me, the ships are clean and well cared for.
I'm lucky enough to not have had any really "bad" experiences on any ship......so if I can save a thousand or two, I'll cruise another line. If it's reasonable to go on a Disney cruise, I'll do that. It just depends.

 

[WicketsMom]

I have cruised three Carnival ships and didn't have a bad experience on any of them. Even on the Disney ship, I doubt that I will have even one coke/soda so that's not an issue for us. The price difference between the two is big, but I wanted my son to experience the Disney activities and character interactions so we're doing a 3-day Dream cruise this fall.

Honestly, we're more suited to land-based trips, because when I'm somewhere tropical I want to spend most of my time in or under the water so it's hard to sit on a ship and see the water but not be able to get in it! He was a little leary of the Kids' Club on Carnival, but he had just turned two and "that big horn scared me" (the horn blew just as we were walking past it when we first arrived) and their mascot is a character that looks like the smokestack. He's been to several other resorts since then and had great times doing the kids' activities so we are really looking forward to this trip!

 

[TitanBrett]

I just read a great trip report about the Oasis of the Seas (I realize that aint DCL or CC), but every restautrant they mentioned cost extra. It seemed to really add up.

It only adds up if you go to them, its no different than Palo and Remy. Oasis/Allure have a MDR and buffet that are free just like DCL, they also have:


150 Central Park-Gourmet Cuisine
Giovanni's Table-Italian
Chops Grille-Steakhouse
Seafood Shack-Seafood
Johnny Rockets-Burgers
Izumi-Sushi, Asian


Those restaurants all have varying upcharges, there is also the donut shop, pizzeria, Starbucks, Park Cafe, Solarium bistro, et al.


Oasis/Allure dining options really blow every other ship away, so many choices for free and for an extra charge.

 

[templed]

It only adds up if you go to them, its no different than Palo and Remy. Oasis/Allure have a MDR and buffet that are free just like DCL, they also have:


150 Central Park-Gourmet Cuisine
Giovanni's Table-Italian
Chops Grille-Steakhouse
Seafood Shack-Seafood
Johnny Rockets-Burgers
Izumi-Sushi, Asian


Those restaurants all have varying upcharges, there is also the donut shop, pizzeria, Starbucks, Park Cafe, Solarium bistro, et al.


Oasis/Allure dining options really blow every other ship away, so many choices for free and for an extra charge.

My friends parents just took a trip on Oasis and just RAVED about it... coming from them, it says a lot as they are avid cruisers...

 

[bobbiwoz]

Thanks for your thoughts on Carnival and DCL, OP! We were on the Carnival Legand earlier this month, and that ship's theme was very tacky imo, but it didn't keep me from having a great time.

I never went to the adult comedy shows, but thoroughly enjoyed 3 out of the 4 family comedy shows we attended. One thing that I very much liked on the Legend was the cooking demonstration, with tastings, that the chef put on. If DCL does that, I never knew, and will definitely do that if offered on my next DCL cruises.

Also, didn't particularly enjoy the main "extravaganza" shows on this Carnival, just not my taste. With DCuz, I enjoyed many trivia contests. Does Disney have non-Disney trivia games?

 

[toontoy]

I enjoyed your review. I think you hit it on the nose with price and value. Its funny when my wife tells me we should just cruise Disney all the time, if only she looked at how much it is compared to the others. I book the vacations and always look for value. Disney does deliver for us but our first and only carnival cruise, so far, was with a premium balcony for less than our 11B.

When you look at things we spent alot of time on it as we don't drink or gamble and had lots of fun playing games and sitting relaxing on the balcony for the sea days. When looking at it, if we had a Balcony on Disney I wouldn't be able to tell you what the ship was like.

Disney does a great job with all the programming and entertainment, and this with the other added pluses is why it costs more, I just wish it was less so I could cruise more.

I did find a crazy deal with Disney for new years though out of Miami, its the same price as our 8 night out of galveston in May we were looking at.

My only thought would be to have promo's for those without kids as kids sail free doesn't give me any discounts, lol.

 

[TitanBrett]

We were on the Carnival Legand earlier this month, and that ship's theme was very tacky imo, b

OMG, the Urns! How could thousands of urns ever have been approved as a design. Its almost comical.

 

[Dallas_Lady]

I think I look at cruising differently than a lot of people do. I see it more as a floating hotel, an easy way to get to see a lot of different places in the world. If I'm entertained onboard, that's a plus...but not a necessity....and as long as I can find something edible, that's a plus...but I'm not a "foodie" so I don't need to be impressed with fancy meals.

I think I agree with you (even though we haven't cruised yet!) We are doing this Disney cruise for the experience and for the kids. But when they are older I want to do some Alaska, European and more port extensive Caribbean cruises. When that happens we will essentially use the ship as a hotel so we can see the world. I won't care so much about pools, kid clubs, shows, etc.

 

[sissy_ib]

Thanks for your thoughts on Carnival and DCL, OP! We were on the Carnival Legand earlier this month, and that ship's theme was very tacky imo, but it didn't keep me from having a great time.

I never went to the adult comedy shows, but thoroughly enjoyed 3 out of the 4 family comedy shows we attended. One thing that I very much liked on the Legend was the cooking demonstration, with tastings, that the chef put on. If DCL does that, I never knew, and will definitely do that if offered on my next DCL cruises.

Also, didn't particularly enjoy the main "extravaganza" shows on this Carnival, just not my taste. With DCuz, I enjoyed many trivia contests. Does Disney have non-Disney trivia games?

They do have a few cooking demonstrations on the 7 night and longer DCL cruises.

 

[bobbiwoz]

They do have a few cooking demonstrations on the 7 night and longer DCL cruises.

Thank you! Another reason to hope for a WBTA on the Magic next fall?

 

[MinnesotaMouseketeers]

Excellent review

I love reviews that bring out both the pluses and minuses of each vacation. To me it has much more value than the 'I hated everything about my vacation' review.

 

[justmestace]

I think I agree with you (even though we haven't cruised yet!) We are doing this Disney cruise for the experience and for the kids. But when they are older I want to do some Alaska, European and more port extensive Caribbean cruises. When that happens we will essentially use the ship as a hotel so we can see the world. I won't care so much about pools, kid clubs, shows, etc.

We never took our kids on other cruise lines when they were littler. We really felt that Disney was the best option. But then, the economy was better, and it didn't hurt our wallet so badly as it would now.
I think our first non-DCL cruise was when the kids were 12 & 15.

I wanted to add, though, that my kids didn't like the Clubs at all. They much preferred meeting a few kids their own ages on the first day (at the Clubs) and then going off and doing their own thing.
Once my son hit the age of 12 or so, he really has liked the "other" cruise lines better, because he loves to play the trivia games and such, and they have more of those on the other lines than DCL does.

 

[justmestace]

They do have a few cooking demonstrations on the 7 night and longer DCL cruises.

If it's the same cooking "demonstration" that we attended on one of our longer (10, 11 or 15 night) DCL cruises, it wasn't so much a demonstration, as it was a comedy show with chefs.

 

[sissy_ib]

If it's the same cooking "demonstration" that we attended on one of our longer (10, 11 or 15 night) DCL cruises, it wasn't so much a demonstration, as it was a comedy show with chefs.

I have not done them but "The Art of Entertaining" series is what I am referring to. There were four different demonstrations on out 7 night. The appetizer, main course, dessert and napkin folding.

 

[Kaleigh]

Excellent comparison. I agree wholeheartedly; while Disney is amazing, the price is not entirely justified comparatively.

 

[Wadekind]

I did find a crazy deal with Disney for new years though out of Miami, its the same price as our 8 night out of Galveston in May we were looking at.

I saw this and got excited but I cant find any 8 night cruises out of Miami I only see 5 nights are you sure this is the same deal as Galveston? I would pick 8 nights over 5 any day.

 

[toontoy]

"Quote:
Originally Posted by toontoy

I did find a crazy deal with Disney for new years though out of Miami, its the same price as our 8 night out of Galveston in May we were looking at.
I saw this and got excited but I cant find any 8 night cruises out of Miami I only see 5 nights are you sure this is the same deal as Galveston? I would pick 8 nights over 5 any day."


Sorry the new years cruise is a 6 night.

We are staying a few nights ahead to see Miami and the everglades and things. It took a bit of time to decide between 6 and 8 nights for the same price but I though with New years it was a no brainer and it has one less sea day for my wife.