We chose the dark side - Carnival VS Disney

[mevelandry]

Yes, High Tea on sea days is the norm on Carnival. You'll have to look for it in the newsletter to know when it happens but it is such a delight.

Is it extra cost? How much?

 

[FLpixie]

Is it extra cost? How much?

No extra cost. It's just one of the regular activities. Varieties of tea and a tram of lovely desserts and little sandwiches. I never miss High Tea when I sail Carnival.

 

[mevelandry]

No extra cost. It's just one of the regular activities. Varieties of tea and a tram of lovely desserts and little sandwiches. I never miss High Tea when I sail Carnival.

I just died and gone to heaven.

 

[scgustafson]

Just to clarify for those not use to DCL. The use of a fold out bunk is used there on Disney too. The couch is turned into one bed (but note it isn't folded out -the cushions come off and there's bedding on it, but it's still the length and width of the couch- that was a surprise our first cruise) and the 4th "bed" is a pullout from the ceiling with a little ladder in front or side that abuts the couch bed. If you have a family room with a 5th bed that's a Murphy that pulls out of the wall in front of the veranda.

With the exception of multi-bedroom suites cruise staterooms will only have traditional beds for 2 people.

One quick correction on the DCL couch beds, it is not converted to a bed by removing the cushions, but rather by folding the couch back to the couch seat, and the made bed (on a mattress) is there built into the couch back (a seat belt is used to hold it all together, which is unbuckled and tucked away).

 

[trvlgirlmq]

I've been following this thread with interest. We have only cruised Carnival with number 6 booked on Vista to Europe this summer. We've been on Dream and Breeze x2 and a couple of the smallest Fantasy Class ships (not our cup of tea). We always have 4 in a room and I think they are quite spacious (store luggage under the beds!). Here is a balcony on Breeze:

An Oceanview on Elation:

 

[trvlgirlmq]

Most food is included with the exception of JiJi Asian Kitchen, Cucina del Capitano (dinner only, lunch is included), the steakhouse, chef table and the Seuss breakfast. If you are on a ship with Guy's Burgers and Blue Iguana you are lucky! So good. The high tea is on all ships so check your Fun Times on the sea days. The Water Works and Sport Square on the newer ships are tons of fun.

We love Disney and are planning on a return to WDW next year but there is no way I would ever pay the ridiculous pricing for a Disney cruise. Our balcony for 4 on a 10 night Europe cruise including prepaid gratuities is only $4544. I, personally, like that there is stuff for all ages to do on a Carnival cruise. We go to the family comedy together and spend time at the pool. My kids are old enough to go about alone now so they play mini golf and use the ropes course while Grandma and I play trivia. The food is good to better than good (love bitter n blanc, not the warm chocolate melting cake so much).

You won't know if you like it until you give it a try. If you have never been on a Carnival cruise then please don't speak about what you obviously don't know.

 

[TXDCLfan]

This thread has me more interested in trying Carnival now. I read some trip reports yesterday and one actually said the ship smelled like marijuana the entire time, but I didn't see that in other reports. So, hopefully, it's not the norm.

I am calling BS on this one....some one was just trying to stir up trouble

 

[TXDCLfan]

There are a few people on here including myself that are giving Carnival a try. Beware though theres lots of Carnival bashers on these board. There are also some people on these boards that have given them a very positive review. Enjoy your cruise.

Some of which have NEVER even cruised on Carnival

 

[PrincessShmoo]

I am calling BS on this one....some one was just trying to stir up trouble

Not entirely. Our cruise on Carnival, I can report that that distinctive smell was certainly in the passageway every time we left our room. But not noticeable in the "entire ship".

 

[Love2Cruz]

I (still) have the following questions:

1) Once you booked excursions, how and when do you get to know the time you have to meet the groups?

2) Do you receive anything for the cruise? (Booklet? Luggage tags? Lanyards?) When do you receive it?

3) Is there a specific time where you have to leave the cruiseship on disembarkation day?

Thanks in advance!

1. The excursion info with departure time and meeting place will be left in your state room the night before by your room steward.
2. You don't receive anything in the mail...everything is printable from the website after you do your online check in, including luggage tags, easy peasy.
3. They assign you a number that they leave with you the night before disembarkation....After you leave your cabin, the morning of, you're encouraged to either wait on Lido, on the Promenade Deck or the Show lounge......you go down to the Atrium and right onto the gangway when they call your number and walk off the ship. It's organized and efficient.

Also, the in addition to Tea Time on sea days, they have Seaday Brunch in the Dining room that has some very unique and delicious offerings...a must try. They also do a Breakfast with Dr. Suess one of the cruise days, so be on the lookout for it for the kiddos. You are going to have a blast!

 

[Love2Cruz]

And I have never smelled weed on the ship...lol...that is funny, not to say it didn't happen....but it's so funny how some of the bashers try to label Carnival....like the wealthy don't do drugs..lol

I've always found them to be very friendly, family oriented, fun cruises.

 

[PrincessShmoo]

And I have never smelled weed on the ship...lol...that is funny, not to say it didn't happen....but it's so funny how some of the bashers try to label Carnival....like the wealthy don't do drugs..lol

I've always found them to be very friendly, family oriented, fun cruises.

I wasn't saying that to bash Carnival. Just saying that it's possible that such activity was going on. I really don't have anything against Carnival (I did cruise once with them), but they aren't particularly high on my "must repeat" list. They are there, though.

 

[mevelandry]

And I have never smelled weed on the ship...lol...that is funny, not to say it didn't happen....but it's so funny how some of the bashers try to label Carnival....like the wealthy don't do drugs..lol

And/Or get super drunk.

We met the most annoying passenger on our first cruise with DCL, on departure day, he was already drunk before the firedrill and made a scene because they could not light up his cigar. "I paid 4000$ for that cruise and I can't even smoke my cigar!?!?!? I'm done with Disney Cruise Line!!!" He made sure the whole deck would hear it.

 

[mevelandry]

1. The excursion info with departure time and meeting place will be left in your state room the night before by your room steward.
2. You don't receive anything in the mail...everything is printable from the website after you do your online check in, including luggage tags, easy peasy.
3. They assign you a number that they leave with you the night before disembarkation....After you leave your cabin, the morning of, you're encouraged to either wait on Lido, on the Promenade Deck or the Show lounge......you go down to the Atrium and right onto the gangway when they call your number and walk off the ship. It's organized and efficient.

Also, the in addition to Tea Time on sea days, they have Seaday Brunch in the Dining room that has some very unique and delicious offerings...a must try. They also do a Breakfast with Dr. Suess one of the cruise days, so be on the lookout for it for the kiddos. You are going to have a blast!

Thank you!!

Our flight is late. Hopefully we get to leave late.

 

[mevelandry]

I wasn't saying that to bash Carnival. Just saying that it's possible that such activity was going on. I really don't have anything against Carnival (I did cruise once with them), but they aren't particularly high on my "must repeat" list. They are there, though.

This could happen on DCL too.

 

[mevelandry]

Update: the assignments for the excursions appeared in my cruise manager:


Family Beach Escape Mon, Oct 10, 2016
8:30 AM - 1:00

Seaworld Explorer Tue, Oct 11, 2016
12:15 PM - 2:15 PM

 

[Ofinn]

Some of which have NEVER even cruised on Carnival

They may have cruised on a Carnival owned line and didn't even realize it. Doesn't Carnival own Princess, Holland and some of the high end lines. I think I read the make up about 49% of the cruise market.

 

[PrincessShmoo]

They may have cruised on a Carnival owned line and didn't even realize it. Doesn't Carnival own Princess, Holland and some of the high end lines. I think I read the make up about 49% of the cruise market.

Well, Carnival Cruise Lines (as well as Princess, Holland America, Costa, fathom, P&O, Cunard, Seabourn, and AIDA) are under the full executive control of Carnival Corporation.

Carnival Cruise lines doesn't own any other lines. Each line is a separate entity, just under one umbrella.

 

[Tonka's Skipper]

Frankly Carnival Inc. owns various lines and the accident, fire and deaths far exceeds thier % of ships. Not to mention on the Costa Concordia , has 32 deaths, and 3 office executives, the Master, a deck Officer and the helmsman have been convicted of criminal actions.

Everyone in the Maritime industry is rolling thier eyes in disgust that the higher ups are blaming the poor helmsman, who by the records I have seen and heard , followed orders

This is not bastering, this is raising questions, very serious questions on the Carnival Inc operations.

The international and US authorities have forced Carnival to make many additions and improvements. However I question why this was required in the first place.

Everyone is free to sail any line they wish. My family and friends would not sail across a bay on Carnival.

AKK

 

[Love2Cruz]

Frankly Carnival Inc. owns various lines and the accident, fire and deaths far exceeds thier % of ships. Not to mention on the Costa Concordia , has 32 deaths, and 3 office executives, the Master, a deck Officer and the helmsman have been convicted of criminal actions.

Everyone in the Maritime industry is rolling thier eyes in disgust that the higher ups are blaming the poor helmsman, who by the records I have seen and heard , followed orders

This is not bastering, this is raising questions, very serious questions on the Carnival Inc operations.

The international and US authorities have forced Carnival to make many additions and improvements. However I question why this was required in the first place.

Everyone is free to sail any line they wish. My family and friends would not sail across a bay on Carnival.

AKK

That "captain" is serving time in Italy. He's a disgrace to the maritime industry and to Italians. He's pretty much the most hated man in Italy. I listened to the Italian coast guard call mandating him to return to his ship to assist in the evacuation and he refused. Blaming Carnival for the act of one loser Captain is pretty ridiculous imo.