We chose the dark side - Carnival VS Disney

[Ofinn]

So if it leaves let's say Hong Kong and goes to let's say Shanghai and you do an day excursion, a visa is not necessary? I would fly in at least one day before and probably stay in HK or wherever it departs from, so that would mean I would have to get one, correct?

This is the way I understood it. I havent found a lot of cruises leaving from Hong Kong most leave from Singapore which also does not require a Visa. There are huge gaps in Ovations schedule. Im not sure why. I also read Carnival was moving one to China in 2017, but maybe thats been postponed. Also the Norwegoan Joy should start sailing from there next year... allegedly . I think it will be at least 2018 before I find a cruise that works for us.

 

[Love2Cruz]

This is the way I understood it. I havent found a lot of cruises leaving from Hong Kong most leave from Singapore which also does not require a Visa. There are huge gaps in Ovations schedule. Im not sure why. I also read Carnival was moving one to China in 2017, but maybe thats been postponed. Also the Norwegoan Joy should start sailing from there next year... allegedly . I think it will be at least 2018 before I find a cruise that works for us.

I did a quick google search and it has a $140 fee for a Chinese visa.......so for two of us it would be about $300..Carnival did intend to put the Legend in China, and I heard that has been postponed. I think NCL's Joy is only opened to Chinese residents. Rumor is MSC will put a larger ship in China...they have the Lirica there now but it's not open to US passengers. Right now, the only ships available to US passengers are RCCL, Celebrity and Princess..and probably HOlland....I didn't look. Celebrity had nice itineraries..but I'm not ready to sail for at least 3 more years to China...so by then the Visa requirements might be more friendly...at least I hope so.

Sorry for the hijack OP!

 

[Ofinn]

Yes we did kind of hijack this thread. We need a thread for "DCL cruisers booking or discussing other cruise lines". It seems like a lot of DCL cruisers are "jumping ship" so to speak, but still love DCL and will still cruise on them when the price is right. I should start posting on cruise critic, but I really love the disboards.

I booked my Australia cruise Jan 2018. I've never booked a cruise more than 3 months out mainly because DCL prices are too high without my discount. It's really strange for me to book a cruise 18 months out and get what I would consider a good price for that market. 4,600 for 4 people, verandah, 8 night cruise. I do not like spending more than 5k on a cruise by the time you add up everything else it gets quite expensive. Geez just my dog cost 600+ to board for 2 weeks.
RCCL is running a good sale right now. NCL was much higher. It's strange for NCL to be higher than Royal that's why I'm assuming this is a good price for an Australian cruise. Most of the cruises in Jan 2017 are sold out... so waiting it out doesn't seem like a good idea. No idea what's up for next year. Hopefully I can sneak in a DCL cruise. I'll be keeping an eye on those Baltic cruises next year... hoping they don't sell if not maybe Alaska on the Carnival Legend.

 

[phinz]

Yes we did kind of hijack this thread.

Yeah. I was kind of wondering why you didn't get the "We deleted your off topic post" message I got when I strayed from the topic at hand in another thread. I guess somebody must have whined about my post.

 

[Ofinn]

Yeah. I was kind of wondering why you didn't get the "We deleted your off topic post" message I got when I strayed from the topic at hand in another thread. I guess somebody must have whined about my post.

90% of the threads go off topic. They are welcome to delete any post I make. I really don't care.
My 12 year old hasn't Rick Rolled me in months...I miss it.

 

[mevelandry]

Yeah. I was kind of wondering why you didn't get the "We deleted your off topic post" message I got when I strayed from the topic at hand in another thread. I guess somebody must have whined about my post.

I'm afraid I don't understand what you are refering to.

 

[Love2Cruz]

I should start posting on cruise critic, but I really love the disboards.

.

Post on both... I do. Use the same sn except this one was taken on CC so I added the year I joined. My SN there is Love2Cruz2015. I like to sail other lines, but I will still sail Disney when the price is right, as you said. I think even after my DD gets older I will sail Disney as I like their product....Just as I will continue to drive up to WDW whenever I get the chance.

 

[Love2Cruz]

This is the way I understood it. I havent found a lot of cruises leaving from Hong Kong most leave from Singapore which also does not require a Visa. There are huge gaps in Ovations schedule. Im not sure why. I also read Carnival was moving one to China in 2017, but maybe thats been postponed. Also the Norwegoan Joy should start sailing from there next year... allegedly . I think it will be at least 2018 before I find a cruise that works for us.

This would be my dream itinerary. Offered March. 2018...I am looking at 2019.

 

[Ofinn]

This would be my dream itinerary. Offered Sept. 2018...I am looking at 2019.

View attachment 186350

Yeah that is nice. You know I've never really checked out Celebrity. I'll have to that it. 2018 would work for me. NCl has some nice itinerary's, but on a older ship the Star.

 

[Love2Cruz]

Yeah that is nice. You know I've never really checked out Celebrity. I'll have to that it. 2018 would work for me. NCl has some nice itinerary's, but on a older ship the Star.

I meant March 2018. Let's do it...I'm so tempted!! I went through the motions for booking and it will only let me book with an "ALL In" rate...which is, included gratuities, 150 obc per person, drink package and unlimited internet...3200 pp for a veranda.
I haven't researched the Millenium and never cruised Celebrity, but they really do have great itineraries for Asia. They have another itinerary that goes to Dubai and India too as well as a southern asia itin that goes to singapore, phillipines, vietnam, thailand..etc....

My only problem is how do I accrue enough Paid Leave....hmmmm

 

[Club Disney Chandler]

I meant March 2018. Let's do it...I'm so tempted!! I went through the motions for booking and it will only let me book with an "ALL In" rate...which is, included gratuities, 150 obc per person, drink package and unlimited internet...3200 pp for a veranda.
I haven't researched the Millenium and never cruised Celebrity, but they really do have great itineraries for Asia. They have another itinerary that goes to Dubai and India too as well as a southern asia itin that goes to singapore, phillipines, vietnam, thailand..etc....

My only problem is how do I accrue enough Paid Leave....hmmmm

Let me know if you all do the Dubai itinerary, I'd be all over that one!

 

[Love2Cruz]

Let me know if you all do the Dubai itinerary, I'd be all over that one!

Yes, I like that one too, but mainly because of the India ports, one of the stops is Goa, which is a sea town once under Portuguese rule and is supposedly beautiful...a friend of mine is from there. It might be cool to see Dubai and Burj Khalifa.

I don't see Carnival having these types of ports as they play it safe (more so than DCL) with itineraries. But MSC also has a Dubai/India itinerary that is very well priced.

 

[Dug720]

I'd guess there will be lots of interest in visiting Tonga after last night's opening ceremonies.

 

[Love2Cruz]

I also found an 11 day on NCL Jewel (newer than Celebrity MIllenium and refurbed) for about 50% less and also includes specialty dining and drink package. I actually like this itineray better as it has more stops in Japan. Also March 2018.

 

[Ofinn]

I also found an 11 day on NCL Jewel (newer than Celebrity MIllenium and refurbed) for about 50% less and also includes specialty dining and drink package. I actually like this itineray better as it has more stops in Japan. Also March 2018.

View attachment 186479

Flying into Hong Kong and out Tokyo. Ok that works perfectly for me. I can't fly into Singapore where most of the cruises are out of. I'll be brave and check the price.

6,177 free drinks and specialty dining. That's doable. I wonder how full the flights are that time of year. We never travel during Spring break. Do people fly to Hong Kong and Tokyo for Spring Break??? Hmm something I'll have to research. I came close to booking Australia, but got home late from work and missed the deadline for the 50% reduced deposit. Maybe I haven't made up my mind yet. This is a nice itinerary.

 

[Love2Cruz]

Flying into Hong Kong and out Tokyo. Ok that works perfectly for me. I can't fly into Singapore where most of the cruises are out of. I'll be brave and check the price.

6,177 free drinks and specialty dining. That's doable. I wonder how full the flights are that time of year. We never travel during Spring break. Do people fly to Hong Kong and Tokyo for Spring Break??? Hmm something I'll have to research. I came close to booking Australia, but got home late from work and missed the deadline for the 50% reduced deposit. Maybe I haven't made up my mind yet. This is a nice itinerary.

BTW...the drink package does add additional service charges...(NCL likes to sneak those in) I changed my two free perks to specialty dining and shore excursion credit and it worked out to less.
I did a test flight search for March 2017 and for us, from Florida on a "multiple destination" closed loop from Miami to Hong Kong and return from Tokyo to Miami was about 1300pp...so I have to budget another 3k for flights and then there are the excursions and Visas..so it will be a fairly expensive trip. I will keep checking for flights at around 90 days out and see if there is a drop and can plan ahead for next year. We can't get flights until 8 months out I think. I would probably cancel my CCL cruise on the Magic for NYE and save the Paid Leave days too....but I think this itinerary would be worth it.

 

[Ofinn]

BTW...the drink package does add additional service charges...(NCL likes to sneak those in) I changed my two free perks to specialty dining and shore excursion credit and it worked out to less.
I did a test flight search for March 2017 and for us, from Florida on a "multiple destination" closed loop from Miami to Hong Kong and return from Tokyo to Miami was about 1300pp...so I have to budget another 3k for flights and then there are the excursions and Visas..so it will be a fairly expensive trip. I will keep checking for flights at around 90 days out and see if there is a drop and can plan ahead for next year. We can't get flights until 8 months out I think. I would probably cancel my CCL cruise on the Magic for NYE and save the Paid Leave days too....but I think this itinerary would be worth it.

On our Baltic cruise I did the free drinks and the kids sail free. They don't offer the kids sail free on the Asian cruises. I'll be cutting down to one cruise a year unless I can find a cheap Caribbean cruise on carnival to tide me over. Even though we don't pay for flights. The cost for four people, hotels and touring in the ports really adds up when you start going to these exotic locations. I would have never done 2 European cruises in one year but the prices on the Vista were too incredible to pass up. It's a buzz kill pricing out other cruises after the Vista European pricing. I can't wait to see they have planned for the Horizon. Maybe I'll get two overseas trips again in 2018.

Thanks for finding that itinerary...I think. LOL Now I'm going to have a harder time making up my mind between Australia and Asia. FYI the deposits on NCL are really low. I paid 250.00 to reserve our Baltic cruise. RCCL deposits are huge 1,800 for the Australia cruise. I'm waiting for the next 50% off deposit sale if I decide to book.

 

[Love2Cruz]

Yes NCL does have fairly low deposits...my issue with going in 2018 is that my parents want to take all of us "kids" on a cruise in June the same year...I'm not sure I can finagle all this time off so close together, that's why I think 2019 will work better for me. But now that I see these Eastern Asian itineraries are getting popular I'm fairly certain I'll have much to choose from. I still think Carnival will put a ship out in Asia and I would feel comfortable going with a company I know in such a foreign place. I would also feel good going with MSC...as I have sailed them as well. That would be my preference...but I will go on another line if they offer an itinerary I like.
When I priced DCL Fantasy for Spring Break, for a veranda..we're talking 5k for two people for 7 days to the Carib. I can spend close to that amount in Asia...Yeah, I won't have to spend 30 hours flying..but the cultural experience would be worth it. I would also spend at least two days pre cruise in the departing city to rest up after such a long flight.

Decisions..decisions...

 

[Ofinn]

I was surprised to see that Carnival is in Australia you have to book it on the Carnival Au site, but Americans can book it. I read an article that said they were moving 2 ships to China 2017. The Miracle and I can't remember the other one. The Spirit is over in Australia. It's an older ship I think I'd rather cruise on RCCL. People on here complain about DCL's prices in Europe combined with the airfare, but like you said you can book another cruise line and even with airfare you come out less than cruising on the Fantasy in the Summer.

 

[mevelandry]

Yes we did kind of hijack this thread. We need a thread for "DCL cruisers booking or discussing other cruise lines". It seems like a lot of DCL cruisers are "jumping ship" so to speak, but still love DCL and will still cruise on them when the price is right. I should start posting on cruise critic, but I really love the disboards.

I think we could use more than a thread: a whole category. There's another one for RCCL (which is a bit quiet) but none for Carnival, Norwegian, Holland, Celebrity, etc... One for each would probably be too much but one for "jumping ship" would be nice. Is there any way to ask for a moderator to create one?

Since we don't have one (yet), I don't mind the hijacking.