Sept 17 2005 Magic - am i alone on the ship?

[sweetsue]

I have not done Carnival but I have done RCL and Princess and I like all three ships better than the Magic I've done it now. I have to go hide....

Alright everyone - it's time for an INTERVENTION. Jen is living in a fantasy world where other cruise lines can live up to DISNEY! Come on people - we have GOT TO HELP HER! I mean really - where else could you get ? On Carnival?

Okay, seriously though... I've been on Carnival and on RCL. Both were B.C. As in before Christina. Carnival was great for . RCL had good food and was "fancier". Disney is BY FAR the best for kids. And the most FUN! I can see heading over to another cruise line if your kids hit that un-magical age of 12 (as in pre-teen, ready to hate everything, starting to think friends are cool, but still mostly love Mom and Dad stage). Or are older and wouldn't be caught dead enjoying a DISNEY cruise or a DISNEY movie!

Jen - I admire you for admitting you didn't like it and want to change! I guess it would depend on what you are looking for and why. What do you think could have been done better? What didn't you like? Does another cruise line cover that? What about the stuff you did like. Does the new cruise line have that too? How much of the disappointment was due to the cruise line - and how much was due to the stress of a changing itinerary?

For what I need - a bit of adult time, good family time and a safe environment for Christina, Disney is the best. So..... for the foreseeable future the Sweet Sue family contingent is booking DCL all the way! I wish you luck in your new cruise - but nothing will compare to the FLIP FLOPPIN' CASTAWAYS!

And Deege - as Emily said, our cruise DOES go to Barbados!!!! If you can stand being on a cruise ship for 11 nights, going to 5 ports + Castaway Cay and spending 4 luxiourious days at sea..... JOIN US!

Sweet Sue

 

[jennat]

Well said, Sue. I have been on the Magic twice, actually, so it wasn't the itinerary change. I really think, once you have done one of the Mega ships, you are ruined. They are so large and offer so much. I agree with you, Disney offers things that the others don't (changing dining rooms, the staterooms) and the shows/talent are phenomenal. Castaway Cay in definately the nicest private island I have ever been to. That is why I Trisha and I chose the Magic. Also, for kids, it is certainly more magical. I just really don't like the top deck (where you spend all your time) at all. I am not trying to be difficult and argue the merits of the other cruise lines, I was just trying to say, if you are ready for a change, or wondering if you could ever live up to what you have experienced through Disney, there are some great boats out there.
I also agree that I have never had a cruise experience as great as the one that you all have given me. This will be remembered as the best cruise!

 

[PrincessLKMiller]

I have been on Princess, Carnival twice and now Disney once. If I was going without the kids I would probably choose a cruise line other than Disney...but with the kids (older than 3 and younger than teenager) I think it would be most likey be Disney...unless we were cruising with another child not potty trained and ...I would definately choose a cruise line other than Disney. I was not very hip to the idea that DS(1) was only allowed in the one Mickey Ear. That really ticked me off on the first day! I had it out with Guest Services about that. They really need to make that known to family's cruising with children that are most likely not potty trained.

 

[getoutthere]

Hello all-
I am just popping in to back Jen up. I enjoyed DCL but will probably not do it again. I much prefer the Voyager class ships from RCI and as for cruising with the kids.....I think I will wait to take them on a cruise again until they are older and can have a little freedom. I also prefer a change in itinerary than what DCL offers. I need to see new and exciting places and you can't get that with only 2 ships. However, as Jen said, Castaway Cay was definatly the best of the private islands I have been to. And the shows were wonderful. You guys made the cruise fun for me. Disney did nothing wrong, it just wasn't our cup of tea.

Hope all are doing well and getting geared up for Holloween. Steve and I leave in a month for a couple of days of relaxation (read: NO KIDS!) in Palm Beach, FL. and I can't wait. I hope we have good weather.

Hey Jen- Mariner of the Seas is doing eastern in October next year. Looking good to me, how 'bout you?

 

[missyoh8]

O.K. first let me say I know no other, I have only had it one way DCL! However, we stay with DCL because our kids are comfortable and I feel like they do have the freedom that Trisha was talking about. We have considered others but for next time we will continue to sail with Disney. We don't really look for much...........the service is great and the kids are taken care of, to us that is a great vacation for all.

This little group was great though. It made our trip so much longer than 7 days. Heck, it felt like 7 months!

Does anyone know a great place to stay in D.C.? We are going next month and the hotels are so flippin expensive!

Have a great weekend.

Missy

 

[PrincessLKMiller]

I normally stay with my aunt when I go to the DC area...but I do know that the Tyson's Corner area is really nice and not too far outside of DC. I could get the name of some of the hotels in that area if you are interested. There is a very nice mall there. That are is also where DS(15) stayed when he went on their 9th grade trip to DC.

 

[deege24]

It's strange that I can agree with everyones opinion. But personally I have cruised two other cruise lines (Royal Caribbean & Carnival) and I perfer Carnival then Disney and so on. Carnivals cost will probably attract me more than Disneys magic, but having a 5 year old I will without a doubt do Disney again. The thing that impressed me most about Disney that I haven't seen on any other cruise lines is the cleaning of the hands before entering food areas, that alone made up my mind that I would do Disney again. But as someone mentioned earlier,,,, the 2 intineraries just isn't enough. But my week on the Disney Magic was the best 7 days I have spent anywhere so far for the year of 2005.

Well if you've cruised one , you've cruised them all ,,,,NOT

David-aka-Deege

 

[missyoh8]

Thanks Lisa..........I think we are going to try and stay right in the heart of it and rely on public transportation. We try and take our kids to one "city" a year and they love the idea of the subway! I am just thinking that there has to be a clean, inexpensive hotel that is close to a metro stop! I just can't seem to find it. All said and done we will probably end up at the Embassy Suites Crystal City. I suppose once you add in the free breakfast (and all the fruit, etc. that I will take back to our room lol) it is only twice what it is worth!

I agree with you guys about the ports not varying enough with DCL. We have done Mexico twice now and that was one time too many for us! We will do Eastern next year and then we will have done them all. I would love to see Puerto Rico so we will probably try another line.

Have a great week,
Missy

 

[donaldsgal]

Hi friends,

Life is busy here. I still don't notifications that people have posted, so I started sending them to the Yahoo account. I do get them there, but I check that account less.

Things here are good. Working, going to class, living up the incredible single life here in --- oh wait, that's right, the only single people in this town are the widows and widowers who live in their own apartment buildings. So scratch that. I guess it's just "living up the... life."

Just wanted to pop in and say hello. Hope all are doing well!

 

[jennat]

Hey Jenny, Good to hear from you.

Hey Deege, I have a question for you. How come you were all about people singing for your son for his birthday and when you finally started talking with us and we became your friends you forgot to have us do it? I just remembered that.

Beautiful day here. 75 degrees and sunny. I love the fall! It is always freezing on halloween so we must be on borrowed time. I will enjoy it while it lasts.

 

[TeaforWendy]

as well as Crystal City, try Alexandria. There are some hotels in Old Town right by the "King Street" metro stop. Also, every year the metro expands and there are more and more stops in Virginia and Maryland. It is the BEST metro. You will have a blast. It's my favorite US city, by far. I lived there when I was a cub lawyer. Also, the Loewes L'enfant plaza hotel sometimes runs specials, esp on the weekends (b/c it's a b-ness hotel) and its location is the best! The metro is in the basement and it's right on the mall. I try to stay there when I'm in DC for b'ness b/c of its location (I"m in DC quite a bit b/c I lobby for my company). Old Town Alexandria is wonderful. YOu can rent bikes and ride down to Mount Vernon. I don't know how long you will be there and there is soo darn much to see, but if you can, DON'T forget the ZOO. People tend to skip it in favor of all the Smithsonians (which I love), but...the zoo in DC is phenomenal. Air & Space is still my favorite smithsonian. When will you be there? I"ll see if I can get you any special passes to anything. Let me know... I'm excited for you. I can't wait to take P, but she's still a little young for it...

Hi everybody! TTFN, W.

 

[deege24]

Hello Jen, it's not that I didn't want everyone to sing happy birthday, but I had 2 reasons or excuses for not doing it, first I got so caught up in the cruise itself that I kind of forgot about the singing, but I think the main reason was that my friends that I was travelling with has a 5 year old daughter and her birthday had passed about 2 months ago and I didnt want her to feel left out. So we just did a little happy birthday in the cabin,, my wife, son and myself. I paid dearly for it though about 150.00 in toys while on ship. Thanks for asking though.

Good night all, and have a nice week. And if I have any football fans out there could you please send me some picks for Sunday coming (week 7) because I have been -ucking(s) big time so far.
And as the saying goes,,, May you all live to be one hundred,,, and me one hundred minus a day,, so i'll never have to know that nice people like you'll have passed away.

Nite all.

 

[missyoh8]

as well as Crystal City, try Alexandria. There are some hotels in Old Town right by the "King Street" metro stop. Also, every year the metro expands and there are more and more stops in Virginia and Maryland. It is the BEST metro. You will have a blast. It's my favorite US city, by far. I lived there when I was a cub lawyer. Also, the Loewes L'enfant plaza hotel sometimes runs specials, esp on the weekends (b/c it's a b-ness hotel) and its location is the best! The metro is in the basement and it's right on the mall. I try to stay there when I'm in DC for b'ness b/c of its location (I"m in DC quite a bit b/c I lobby for my company). Old Town Alexandria is wonderful. YOu can rent bikes and ride down to Mount Vernon. I don't know how long you will be there and there is soo darn much to see, but if you can, DON'T forget the ZOO. People tend to skip it in favor of all the Smithsonians (which I love), but...the zoo in DC is phenomenal. Air & Space is still my favorite smithsonian. When will you be there? I"ll see if I can get you any special passes to anything. Let me know... I'm excited for you. I can't wait to take P, but she's still a little young for it...

Hi everybody! TTFN, W.

Thanks for the info Wendy. We are only going for 3 days so we will get in as much as we can. The kids have never been so there is a lot to touch on. Space Museum a must---my favorite too!

We are flying out after school on 11/9 and coming home late on 11/12 (evening flight). We love all things free and/or that we can get passes to. Thanks for the offer!

I will do a little research tonight. I think I can get the Embassy Suites- Crystal City for 191 a night, which is not bad considering some of the other rates. The problem with a non-suite hotel is that we have 3 kids.


Thanks again,
Missy

 

[Trisha's_DH_Steve]

Hello all,

Thought I would post instead of just reading your posts or swinging on a post or sitting on a post or dancing around a post, sure are alot of things you can do with a post...

As far as cruising on Disney again I am not sure about that, although as Missy put it the kids are taken care of and that made for a wonderful day at port for us without the kids. This also might have been better had the kids enjoyed the kids club more than they did, which would have allowed us more time at the adult pool. Like Trisha said, if the kids would have been older where we could have let them go off and do there own things, that would have been nice.

I also did not like the upper decks very much, especially the family pool, unless you like swiming in a hole.

I know that it sounds like I am complaining, but I can do that because I still had a great time because it is only what you yourself make of it, and if you had a bad time it is your on #$*& fault.

Everyone have a wonderful day

 

[Maryoh8]

I have cruised now on Disney twice and Carnival once. We paid a little more for Disney, but cruised during Hurricane season verses spring break on Carnival. So, my range of cruise comparison is small.



My kids loved the Carnival kids club and begged to go everyday. The counselors were great, the facility wonderful and the activities were awesome. But, they seem to like the Disney clubs better.



The pools on Carnival were horrible. They were very crowded and not very well supervised. They were also salt water, which is a real drag for a kid (or adult).



You couldn’t take your own alcohol on board like you can on Disney, which is a big savings if you enjoy beverages. You couldn’t even take your own pop or water. Pop was not free either. And…the drinks of the day were HEAVILY pushed everyday. Also, our tablemates drank excessively. One night, the dad came to dinner slurring his words and passed out by the time dessert came (early seating, too). The party atmosphere was more prevalent on Carnival. And, I would NOT let my girls roam around the ship alone! I enjoy cocktails, as the photos reveal, but this was pretty excessive.



My husband and I think the meals on Carnival were MUCH BETTER than Disney. I know this may seem sacrilegious, but I don’t think Disney’s food is all that. The table service on Carnival was better as well.



Carnival’s rooms were much smaller and no split bath. The nighttime activities for adults were terrible. The shows were raunchy and we don’t really gamble, so the casino wasn’t used.



And then there is Castaway Cay…



Overall, Disney has my vote. We just booked in Jan of 2007!

 

[ksumom]

Just dropping in to say hi!!

I'm glad you're all debating different cruise ships, I'd thought of cruising another one as well... Although like Mary we're not into the raunchy shows, party atmosphere or gambling too much. I also liked that my older kids could roam the ship with out the fear of much going wrong.

Are there any other cruise lines that have similar style shows without salt water pools??

Disney was my first, so I know no other way of cruising!! I would like to cruise for less, but if that means raunchy shows, salt water pool, smoke filled boat with drunks roaming the ship... no thanks, I'll take Disney!! Please fill me in..

 

[jennat]

The following is a cruise comparison so if that doesn't interest you (most of you, I'm sure) then skip it. It is only my opinion and I fully realize that your mileage may and probably does vary.

Susan,
My favorite cruise line by far is RCL. They do have salt water pools (Princess has fresh water pools). For me, if the pool has a splash over zone (like the adult pool on Disney), I hardly, actually get in the water. I enjoy just sitting or laying in the 2 inch deep water. I have never done Carnival and don't have the desire to, honestly. I know that they are the most popular cruise ship in the world and my parents love them, but my vision of them is almost exactly what Mary described. RCL - the ships are so large (obviously not all of them) but even the small ones feel larger than the Disney one to me (for instance that long narrow walkway down deck three from the atruim to Parrots Cay....what is that all about?)
RCL: The Voyager class ships are so wide they have two pools, side by side with a ton of deck space around them. Pools on ships are always crowded, but somehow it seems better. They also have an adults only pool. It is done in some kind of jungle/tropical/greek theme and has padded chaise loungers and I have never had a problem getting a chair. They have a huge sports deck which includes roller blading, basketball, minature golf (9 holes) and the rock wall. There is also a bar/balcony you can sit on to enjoy watching everyone. There is a bar/area up in the stach that is entirely windows you can go to to sit and watch everything going on on the pool deck ( and point out people in bikinis that made a bad choice ). This is one of my favorite areas on the ship. They have Johnny Rockets for a burger and shake. This is all upstairs on the top decks, along with the buffet and the hamburger/hotdog stand. There is a mall down the middle four stories high and a football length long (four lanes wide) that has different stores/restraunts coming off of it. There is the Pig and Whistle Pub, like a British Pub, usually has karioke going on. There is the Promenade Cafe with sandwiches, pizza, coffee and ice cream ($ 4 ice cream), there is free soft serve, stores, etc. The dining room is three stories with a $1 million dollar chandaleer (sp), there is the main theater and then an all occasion room for other shows, etc. They have the typical entertainment, minus characters of course.....Broadway type shows (not as good as Disney), Newly wed show, a scavanger hunt (which is great and hilarious), an ice show (incredible) and always other shows in the all occasion room going on. They have an ice skating rink. The kids club is the biggest there is, with the exception of Disney. Small kids pool with a slide, etc. There are so many places to go and so much to do all the time. I felt like on Disney there weren't a lot of options on destinations, if that makes any sense.
Princess...Caribbean Princess....Totally different from the Voyager in that it didn't have the cavernous spaces. It has an AFT pool and bar. You can sit and watch the world go by....This is where the kids clubs are and the kids pool is upstairs and lame and windy. The family pools are great. An adults only pool that is a lap pool (the water moves and you swim and try to maintain your position, an activites pool (hairy legs contest, band, etc) and a pool with a huge movie screen (awesome!) over it (I think the Magic is getting this). The pools are spacious and fit any mood at any time. A lot of variety. We just sat at the movie pool and watched movies all day and napped. Now that's what I am talking about. (Big, ET, those type of movies). They have a paddle tennis court (which my husband wasn't that thrilled about. They have open dining (you go when you want and eat with who you want, and eat where you want). I don't love this feature but I know a lot of folks do. Once again, on this ship you feel like there is always options on where to go and what to do.
I felt like there were a ton of kids on the Magic (DUH!) and people went to bed a lot earlier (double DUH) so the energy on the ship went way down. The other ships have plenty of kids but they aren't everywhere and soooo young. Disney caters to this and they do it well but I prefer a more even mix.
I have only taken my kids with us on Disney so I may sing a different tune later. I know that kids and families needs must be met so the other cruise lines have to step up to the plate and offer good programs.
Disney does almost everything they do great. The talent of the cast was phonomenal (sp where is spell check when you need it?), the island is fantastic (although both RCL and Princess have private islands and they are not far behind, just not as colorful), the staterooms are grand (once again, although, my stateroom on Princess had a balcony that was 10' x 8'). I think the service really depends on who you get. The food is average at best on all the ships (my opinion). I thought the food on Princess was awful but others don't agree. I agree the sales for drinks can get really pushy (esp on our Princess cruise but that was a weird cruise, with hurricane Jeanne and all)
I think the ship (Magic) is mostly what I don't like (although it is beautiful).
We don't gamble much either but they do have casinos on both ships.
Anyway, For what it is worth, that is my opinion on those two ships. I can't remember much before them. Hope it helps. Also, I haven't seen any raunchy shows. They may have adults only comedy or something but otherwise tasteful.
Sorry to everyone else. Hope all is well.

Tammy, Can you recommend a nice hotel (not expensive) by the beach for my parents. They are just spending one night there and are going to dinner with another couple so they don't need the Ritz but I would like it on the beach. Any thoughts?

Cold here today. A perfect day to hole up and read a book. Okay, everyday is a perfect day for that...but ALAS!
Take care everyone!

 

[Maryoh8]

Thanks for your post. I have also heard that RCl is awesome but the couple I know did not take their kids. I would think as my kids get older, some of the activites on this line would be better than Disney.


The show on Carnival I was referring to was a dance show. We wanted to spy on our daughter who was taken there by the kids club (I think she was 7). The costumes were leather bikinis and the dancing was really seductive and kinky (chains and whips!). I didn't even want my husband there let alone a 7 year old girl. It was a bad assumption on my part that the kids club would only take the kids to a family friendly show.

 

[jennat]

I think it was a good assumption on your part. Bad judgement on their part.

Funny story, On the voyager there was this lady in a thong bathing suit with her fat butt hanging out and two tatoos on each cheek. Needless to say she got some looks. Flash forward to the Newlywed game show. They pick people from the audience on who does the most outragous (in a good clean way) thing....silliest, most willing to look stupid, etc. Well, Mrs trailer park gets up with her scary husband/boyfriend and starts doing crude spanking moves. The announcer says, Hey, this is Royal Caribbean not Carnival and everyone cheers. Kindof shut them down.....Now if we could just cover them up!

 

[sweetsue]

Jen,

Thanks for the comparisons between the cruise lines! I started thinking about why we didn't find the pool deck too small and I realized what is was - we spent a lot more time elsewhere - especially in our room. In past cruises (inside stateroom on Carnival, small porthole room in RCL) I wouldn't have wanted to be in my stateroom. On this cruise with the balcony, there was nothing like hanging out watching the sea go by... I only took Christina to the pool twice - the first day when we had our meet and again on the first sea day. She gets up so early for school, that we were at the pool by 7:30am. We swam for about two hours and it was not crowded at all. So....my experience with the pools was completely different!

It sounds like RCL will be a better ship for older kids. When they don't really care about characters anymore. Christina absolutely loved the club but Tyler (11) didn't really like it at all. Tyler loves sports, so he would have been better off on RCL.

And in other news.... it's hurricane time again. Wilma is making her way over to our neck of the woods. Why? I'm going on a Disney vacation to MK and Epcot. Figures. I feel like I have a hurricane bulls-eye on my vacations. We leave tomorrow after school, and the hurricane is supposed to arrive on Saturday. We were supposed to go to Typhoon Lagoon on Saturday. Get it - Typhoon - hurricane? ARGH!!!!! It's almost prophetic. This is one that no matter what track it goes on, I'm going to be impacted. If it stays on track or a little south, my house gets nailed. If it heads further north, WDW gets it (and me too). What's a girl to do?

Good to hear from everyone!

Sweet Sue

Oh well, guess I better pull out the , put up the hurricane shutters and that my house is still in one piece when I get back!