We chose the dark side - Carnival VS Disney

[darnheather]

I guess it just depends how that space is used. Sometimes a small/well organized room can feel bigger than a "bigger room".

My take on the subject is: we won't spend much time in the room anyway...

But many cruise lines limit rooms to 2 occupants therefor I must book a larger stateroom automatically. All DCL allow at least 3 people. I agree we didn't spend much time in our room but getting ready for dinner was difficult.

 

[mevelandry]

But many cruise lines limit rooms to 2 occupants therefor I must book a larger stateroom automatically. All DCL allow at least 3 people. I agree we didn't spend much time in our room but getting ready for dinner was difficult.

Not sure why Carnival wouldn't allow 3 people in the same room... ?

 

[Tonka's Skipper]

I still question Carnival and their operations and safety standards. To many serious an not so serious accidents and causalities. We would not sail them across a bay. However that is your choice.

I would suggest if you do end up on carnival, pick one of the new ships. After the last few years, the various international regulators have jumped on them and made them straight up their act.

I hope a you have a good cruise.


AKK

 

[hmwinter85]

I've heard mixed reviews about it (about it being warm, flat, etc.) Is it true?

I was told that there is no "self-serve" stations and that someone is serving you?

I've only gotten the soda/pop package once and I wouldn't get it again. Yes most of the time the pop was warm and flat. At most of the bars they only have pop in cans so they open a can and pour you a glass. If there is already a can open they will use that first. And it's poured warm over ice which makes it flat. When we were on the Glory the Red Frog Rum bar at the pool deck had a soda gun and the pop from that was great, like normal fountain pop.

There is no self serve for pop or soda. There is a self serve station in the buffet area that has ice tea, lemon aid and water during the day (juices in the morning). This is free and is usually what we drank for non-alcoholic beverages. I'm not an ice tea drinker so I can't tell you how good it is. I thought the lemonaid was a little strong but once a little ice melts in it it's good.

 

[darnheather]

Not sure why Carnival wouldn't allow 3 people in the same room... ?

Because there is only one bed (or two twin beds). There is no couch or fold out bed.

 

[tidefan]

Not sure why Carnival wouldn't allow 3 people in the same room... ?

We sailed 3 in a room on Carnival Sunshine last year and will be doing so again on Carnival Fantasy in December.

You can definitely get 4 in a room. I believe in some of the ships that you can get 5 in a room...

 

[Club Disney Chandler]

Any recent feedback on Glory? I know they have Guy Fieri's. Looking at a Cayman-Cozumel-Belize-Mahogany Bay 7 night.

Here is a great Glory review from 1 year ago, you'll love it

http://boards.cruisecritic.com/showthread.php?t=2206471

And here is one in progress from a couple weeks ago

http://boards.cruisecritic.com/showthread.php?t=2336941

 

[scgustafson]

I would be one of those Carnival bashers based my experience on a 7-night Western Caribbean cruise on Inspiration in July of 2001 with my wife. This was our second cruise, and at the time our last based on this trip, but first on Carnival. First cruise was a 7-night on SS Independence of American Hawaii Cruises for our honeymoon in July of 1998, which was an incredible trip and fantastic way to see most of the islands to figure which you would want to go back. At these points, we were unaware of DCL, so none of those Disney expectations figured into our Carnival or AHC expectations. I won't bore you with details, but it was a ship overrun with unwatched kids, to the point the ship had to divert to helovac one who split his head open around the pool late at night; nickling and diming you to death on everything; excursions, which we booked through the ship, that seem run by less than reputable operators, including one to Dunn's River Falls where the bus had no A/C and the windows didn't open, on which a girl threw up on the bus going and the bus sat uncleaned for 3-hours in the sun making for an unbearable return to the ship; noisy cabins from the actions of others surrounding, as well as the ship's systems; disinterested and inattentive servers and crew; and an overall lack of quality entertainment if you did not want to go the casino. When issues were brought up to the ship's customer service, they essentially said there was nothing they could do about anything, including refunding our puke-filled excursion. I know at the time, Carnival was billed as the "Fun Ships", but our experience was far from fun. Following this trip, my wife vowed to never go on another cruise. Fourteen years later, our then 8-year old daughter had learned of Disney Cruises and managed to convince my wife and I to try one, so we went on a 4-night Bahamas cruise on Disney Dream. Althought catering to families, we never experienced the child run amok issues of Carnival nor the "budget" excursion operators; and the only issue we ran into was resolved quickly by Guest Services. The customer service of DCL exceeded our expectations and convinced us that we are cruise people as long as it was on DCL, and here we are 6 completed cruises with 3 more booked.
Like all thing in life, though, your mileage may vary and you may have had the time of your life on Carnival and not on DCL. To each their own.

 

[Club Disney Chandler]

I hope you'll share your experience here. I'm really interested in the Vista, especially the Family Harbor area.

I for sure will, but I have teens so we didn't book family harbor and I don't think they'll let me in to check it out but will try to at least peek in.

I can hardly wait to step into the Havana Cabana area and the Serenity adults area. I'm really excited about this ship. If truth be told, I'm more excited about the ship than the Mediterranean ports. I kept telling my wife that the cruise is so port intensive we won't get to experience the ship. That's when we decided to book the 8 night southern Caribbean for 6/3/17, well that and the cost of the Fantasy being almost double for an eastern Caribbean.

 

[TestingH2O]

That's when we decided to book the 8 night southern Caribbean

That is the exact itinerary I've been eyeing!

 

[darnheather]

We sailed 3 in a room on Carnival Sunshine last year and will be doing so again on Carnival Fantasy in December.

You can definitely get 4 in a room. I believe in some of the ships that you can get 5 in a room...

Sorry I was looking at RC and another one. Apparently Carnival does allow for 3.

 

[PrincessShmoo]

I have a question: We don't have a car (no licenses either) and we usually take the DCL shuttle to PC.

We booked the shuttle "Airport-PC/PC/Airport".

We would like to arrive one or two days in advance, though.

Is it possible to take the shuttles if we stay at a airport hotel (or somewhere else!) prior to the cruise?

Thanks in advance!

This question seems to have slipped by.

You can take DCL transfers from MCO. You just have to get yourself back to the airport to catch them.

 

[Lunarias]

So far only cruised carnival, really looking forward to our first Disney Cruise, but carnival was a blast! I have only been on week long cruises, so not short party trips. And my first trip was to Alaska, on the Miracle, and I think that spoiled me, it's hard to go to cruising Mexico or the carribean after watching all that beautiful scenery up in Alaska. But that may just be me I'm sure you will have a lovely time. The spirt class ships have two top pools (well 3 but one is in the back for serenity) but this means one main pool is loud and one is quieter if that is what you are looking for. Hope you have a great time

 

[darnheather]

So far only cruised carnival, really looking forward to our first Disney Cruise, but carnival was a blast! I have only been on week long cruises, so not short party trips. And my first trip was to Alaska, on the Miracle, and I think that spoiled me, it's hard to go to cruising Mexico or the carribean after watching all that beautiful scenery up in Alaska. But that may just be me I'm sure you will have a lovely time. The spirt class ships have two top pools (well 3 but one is in the back for serenity) but this means one main pool is loud and one is quieter if that is what you are looking for. Hope you have a great time

Do you have children? Do you gamble and/or drink? These are important questions for my decisions.

 

[scgustafson]

I would be one of those Carnival bashers based my experience on a 7-night Western Caribbean cruise on Inspiration in July of 2001 with my wife. This was our second cruise, and at the time our last based on this trip, but first on Carnival. First cruise was a 7-night on SS Independence of American Hawaii Cruises for our honeymoon in July of 1998, which was an incredible trip and fantastic way to see most of the islands to figure which you would want to go back. At these points, we were unaware of DCL, so none of those Disney expectations figured into our Carnival or AHC expectations. I won't bore you with details, but it was a ship overrun with unwatched kids, to the point the ship had to divert to helovac one who split his head open around the pool late at night; nickling and diming you to death on everything; excursions, which we booked through the ship, that seem run by less than reputable operators, including one to Dunn's River Falls where the bus had no A/C and the windows didn't open, on which a girl threw up on the bus going and the bus sat uncleaned for 3-hours in the sun making for an unbearable return to the ship; noisy cabins from the actions of others surrounding, as well as the ship's systems; disinterested and inattentive servers and crew; and an overall lack of quality entertainment if you did not want to go the casino. When issues were brought up to the ship's customer service, they essentially said there was nothing they could do about anything, including refunding our puke-filled excursion. I know at the time, Carnival was billed as the "Fun Ships", but our experience was far from fun. Following this trip, my wife vowed to never go on another cruise. Fourteen years later, our then 8-year old daughter had learned of Disney Cruises and managed to convince my wife and I to try one, so we went on a 4-night Bahamas cruise on Disney Dream. Althought catering to families, we never experienced the child run amok issues of Carnival nor the "budget" excursion operators; and the only issue we ran into was resolved quickly by Guest Services. The customer service of DCL exceeded our expectations and convinced us that we are cruise people as long as it was on DCL, and here we are 6 completed cruises with 3 more booked.
Like all thing in life, though, your mileage may vary and you may have had the time of your life on Carnival and not on DCL. To each their own.

In blocking out this trip from my memory, I forgot that the second to last night, before our last sea day, the ship had a mechanical casualty and lost one of the two props. They at first tried to run on the damaged shaft, but the vibration was so bad that the entire ship shuddered. This meant that they had to run on only one prop (the retired-Naval Officer in me wants to say screw, but not sure if everyone would know what I am talking about), which reduced our transit speed causing us to get in 12-hours late to New Orleans (homeport). During this time, the ship's crew did everything they could to avoid answering questions about the shudder, then noticeable slowing of the ship, or any issues with the ship. It was only in the afternoon of the last day, did they let the passengers know what was wrong and that there was a delay in getting into port. The ship's customer service would only work with those who booked their air through Carnival to reschedule flights. The rest of us had to pay ship-to-shore phone rates to rebook our flights. The whole handling of this situation was a major customer-relations failure, and even post-cruise, there was no form of apology, let alone acknowledgement, from Carnival.

 

[mevelandry]

Yes, we are sailing with Carnival and we are sailing Carnival Victor

I've only gotten the soda/pop package once and I wouldn't get it again. Yes most of the time the pop was warm and flat. At most of the bars they only have pop in cans so they open a can and pour you a glass. If there is already a can open they will use that first. And it's poured warm over ice which makes it flat. When we were on the Glory the Red Frog Rum bar at the pool deck had a soda gun and the pop from that was great, like normal fountain pop.

There is no self serve for pop or soda. There is a self serve station in the buffet area that has ice tea, lemon aid and water during the day (juices in the morning). This is free and is usually what we drank for non-alcoholic beverages. I'm not an ice tea drinker so I can't tell you how good it is. I thought the lemonaid was a little strong but once a little ice melts in it it's good.

Thank you. I wasn't sure I wanted the package anyway. I just bought soda to get delivered to the room instead!

 

[mevelandry]

I would be one of those Carnival bashers based my experience on a 7-night Western Caribbean cruise on Inspiration in July of 2001 with my wife. This was our second cruise, and at the time our last based on this trip, but first on Carnival. First cruise was a 7-night on SS Independence of American Hawaii Cruises for our honeymoon in July of 1998, which was an incredible trip and fantastic way to see most of the islands to figure which you would want to go back. At these points, we were unaware of DCL, so none of those Disney expectations figured into our Carnival or AHC expectations. I won't bore you with details, but it was a ship overrun with unwatched kids, to the point the ship had to divert to helovac one who split his head open around the pool late at night; nickling and diming you to death on everything; excursions, which we booked through the ship, that seem run by less than reputable operators, including one to Dunn's River Falls where the bus had no A/C and the windows didn't open, on which a girl threw up on the bus going and the bus sat uncleaned for 3-hours in the sun making for an unbearable return to the ship; noisy cabins from the actions of others surrounding, as well as the ship's systems; disinterested and inattentive servers and crew; and an overall lack of quality entertainment if you did not want to go the casino. When issues were brought up to the ship's customer service, they essentially said there was nothing they could do about anything, including refunding our puke-filled excursion. I know at the time, Carnival was billed as the "Fun Ships", but our experience was far from fun. Following this trip, my wife vowed to never go on another cruise. Fourteen years later, our then 8-year old daughter had learned of Disney Cruises and managed to convince my wife and I to try one, so we went on a 4-night Bahamas cruise on Disney Dream. Althought catering to families, we never experienced the child run amok issues of Carnival nor the "budget" excursion operators; and the only issue we ran into was resolved quickly by Guest Services. The customer service of DCL exceeded our expectations and convinced us that we are cruise people as long as it was on DCL, and here we are 6 completed cruises with 3 more booked.
Like all thing in life, though, your mileage may vary and you may have had the time of your life on Carnival and not on DCL. To each their own.

I love DCL and plan to go back. But we had a credit with Carnival and decided to give it a try.

We are not going on Carnival expecting DCL. I've taken short cruises (1-3h) on super cheap boats. One of them was only a deck with 5$ plastic patio chairs, the other was a whale watch so rocky that the very unclean toilet was full of vomit by the end of the trip. Believe it or not, I managed to have a good time. I watched many videos of Carnival cruises, I don't know if they are only showing the good sides but so far I'm confident that we'll have a good time.

 

[Lunarias]

Do you have children? Do you gamble and/or drink? These are important questions for my decisions.

We are young adults with no children, but have traveled with children on one trip and they seemed to enjoy the kids club. We dont gamble really, mostly avoid the casino and the smokers honestly. and we do drink casually, a drink on the balcony and a wine with dinner, that kind of thing, we are not big binge drinkers, personally.

 

[mevelandry]

This question seems to have slipped by.

You can take DCL transfers from MCO. You just have to get yourself back to the airport to catch them.

You mean Carnival?

We booked an airport hotel... That will be the best option. Thanks!

 

[mevelandry]

New questions:

1) What are the things we should avoid?

Ex: I read many times that the shows (with the exception of Comedy club) were terrible.


2) I booked excursions for Freeport and Nassau but they never gave us an appointment time. When/where will I get the info?


Thanks in advance!