We chose the dark side - Carnival VS Disney

[RedSox68]

Only 8 days before our vacation. It's going to be the longest week ever!

We leave Sunday HA HA -- but may be sailing into a hurricane

 

[mevelandry]

We leave Sunday HA HA -- but may be sailing into a hurricane

It doesn't look like you're gonna be close from Matthew (Bermuda, I'm so jealous! And the Breakaway is a beauty)

 

[RedSox68]

It doesn't look like you're gonna be close from Matthew (Bermuda, I'm so jealous! And the Breakaway is a beauty)

Thanks. Any tips about the Breakaway. We have never been a ship that large with that many people! Our stateroom is on deck 10! Is the buffet hard to maneuver with so many people?

 

[mevelandry]

Thanks. Any tips about the Breakaway. We have never been a ship that large with that many people! Our stateroom is on deck 10! Is the buffet hard to maneuver with so many people?

I'm also interested in infos about the Breakaway since I'm very interested in a Bermuda cruise (just not sure if I should go with Carnival, NCL or RCCL).

 

[jahber]

DD#2 booked her first cruise yesterday, for herself and SoIL#2. They are going on Carnival in January (I can't remember where exactly...I'll have to ask her). Just the two of them; their LO gets to spend a week with us, getting spoiled rotten. (She wanted a Disney cruise, but they agreed to wait until LO is older...he's only 6months...and to go as a family.)
They've been separated since June, when SoIL went to training for his new job in the military, and they were all supposed to go to Japan for 3 years in January...but DD was denied due to concerns over her mental health...so she and LO are staying in the states with us, and SoIL is going to Japan for just a year by himself. Sad situation, but...

Back to what I wanted to post about..
Any advice that I can share with them about cruising, both in general and on Carnival?
How much should they budget for drinks, extra meals? Is there anything on board that they should definitely do or avoid?

Two words: Guy's Burgers (assuming their ship has the 2.0 upgrades). They are free and are the best Burgers at sea.
Also, naan at Tandoori (the Indian quick serve).

 

[RedSox68]

I'm also interested in infos about the Breakaway since I'm very interested in a Bermuda cruise (just not sure if I should go with Carnival, NCL or RCCL).

The only reason we chose NCL (after saying never again) is because they stayed three days. Then months after booking they changed the last day departure time to shorten that last day, but still more than RCCL and Carnival were offering. However, if we go back, I would not do NCL again just because of all the hoopla this year with extra fees and no non-alcoholic beverages being brought onboard, etc. Hopefully the drama is over and we can just cruise now that we know how they run LOL

 

[RedSox68]

Two words: Guy's Burgers (assuming their ship has the 2.0 upgrades). They are free and are the best Burgers at sea.
Also, naan at Tandoori (the Indian quick serve).

Guy's Burgers are AMAZING. And the Blue Iguana (also free) is well worth a stop by.

Found out the NCL Breakaway has a complimentary Noodle Bar and a complimentary Irish Pub that also serves English breakfasts. A nice change from the buffet. They did have a Cake Boss bakery, but now it just says bakery, so I'm thinking that might be gone.

 

[PrincessTrisha]

The only reason we chose NCL (after saying never again) is because they stayed three days. Then months after booking they changed the last day departure time to shorten that last day, but still more than RCCL and Carnival were offering. However, if we go back, I would not do NCL again just because of all the hoopla this year with extra fees and no non-alcoholic beverages being brought onboard, etc. Hopefully the drama is over and we can just cruise now that we know how they run LOL

Celebrity also stays 3 days. It's not the most family oriented cruise line but they do have kids clubs. It's great for adults because they have their drink package included in their packages. The Summit does their Bermuda cruises and it's a nice, smallish ship with a great coffee shop, a great adult solarium with a thalassotherapy pool, and overall their food is pretty good. They are light on the day time activities but with 3 days in Bermuda, it's less of an issue.

 

[RedSox68]

Celebrity also stays 3 days. It's not the most family oriented cruise line but they do have kids clubs. It's great for adults because they have their drink package included in their packages. The Summit does their Bermuda cruises and it's a nice, smallish ship with a great coffee shop, a great adult solarium with a thalassotherapy pool, and overall their food is pretty good. They are light on the day time activities but with 3 days in Bermuda, it's less of an issue.

Thanks. We were looking for cruises that left out of NYC or NJ and I don't think Celebrity does for that itinerary. But we will keep them in mind for future.

 

[PrincessTrisha]

Thanks. We were looking for cruises that left out of NYC or NJ and I don't think Celebrity does for that itinerary. But we will keep them in mind for future.

Yes - The Celebrity Summit sails out of Bayonne NJ from May - August doing the Bermuda run. Same port that RCCL uses. I've done that cruise twice on the Summit.

Celebrity isn't my favourite line because their accessible cabins for 3 on their S class ships don't have a good third bed (its like a camping mattress on the floor) but their M class ships are nice. And I love, love, love their drink packages and Café Al Bacio.

 

[RedSox68]

Yes - The Celebrity Summit sails out of Bayonne NJ from May - August doing the Bermuda run. Same port that RCCL uses. I've done that cruise twice on the Summit.

Celebrity isn't my favourite line because their accessible cabins for 3 on their S class ships don't have a good third bed (its like a camping mattress on the floor) but their M class ships are nice. And I love, love, love their drink packages and Café Al Bacio.

Ah, that's why I didn't see it come up for an October sailing. But I will look into it if we sail May to August. I like any itinerary where we don't have to fly

 

[darwinsrule]

Thanks. Any tips about the Breakaway. We have never been a ship that large with that many people! Our stateroom is on deck 10! Is the buffet hard to maneuver with so many people?

Haven't done Breakaway, but have done her sister Getaway twice. Honestly my favourite buffet all out of the ships we have done, and have Escape booked for next summer. We find it better than Cabana's. Love the fact that is it open in the evening, and would hit it nightly for a snack before going to bed. Or snacks. Tons of seating. It never took more than a couple of minutes to find a seat. It is buffet food, but there is enough selection that you will find something to eat. And Bermuda is a must do. Went in 2012. Still trying to find the right deal and time to go again.

 

[Ofinn]

Guy's Burgers are AMAZING. And the Blue Iguana (also free) is well worth a stop by.

Found out the NCL Breakaway has a complimentary Noodle Bar and a complimentary Irish Pub that also serves English breakfasts. A nice change from the buffet. They did have a Cake Boss bakery, but now it just says bakery, so I'm thinking that might be gone.

Let us know what you thought of NCL. They have some nice itinerarys. I guess I'll find out shortly if DCL is worth it or not. Dcl will be releasing 2018 cruises soon. Im curious to see the prices and peoples reactions.

 

[ldo]

OT- but re. NCL, we did NCL Epic in the Med. If you can get past the weird bathroom (which they nixed in future ships), it is a very good choice. So, I would think other newer NCL would be good, as well. MDR food was good, better than RCCL, IMHO. Entertainment very different from other cruiselines, which was a good variation for us. Big bowl slide awesome. Balconies about the same price as OV on other lines (no OV on Epic). Downside was less oceaview vistas, felt more like a nice floating hotel (fine for us in Europe), poor use of poolside movie screen, crowded buffet at breakfast with everyone trying to get off the ship, and crowded pool deck on sea day--difficult to move around.
But for the bang for the buck, we would do Epic again (and are considered for next spring break when it returns to Port Canaveral). Elaine

 

[Ofinn]

OT- but re. NCL, we did NCL Epic in the Med. If you can get past the weird bathroom (which they nixed in future ships), it is a very good choice. So, I would think other newer NCL would be good, as well. MDR food was good, better than RCCL, IMHO. Entertainment very different from other cruiselines, which was a good variation for us. Big bowl slide awesome. Balconies about the same price as OV on other lines (no OV on Epic). Downside was less oceaview vistas, felt more like a nice floating hotel (fine for us in Europe), poor use of poolside movie screen, crowded buffet at breakfast with everyone trying to get off the ship, and crowded pool deck on sea day--difficult to move around.
But for the bang for the buck, we would do Epic again (and are considered for next spring break when it returns to Port Canaveral). Elaine

This is good to know. I'm suffering from DCL burnout at the moment. I guess it was bound to happen after 13 cruises in less than 5 years. I really won't know until we try the Vista if we'll venture out to other cruiselines. A lot of it depends on how my kids like it. In 6 years they'll both be busy in college. I'm ok sticking with DCL for another 6 years, but there will be a lot less cruising at these prices. They're excited to try a new ship, and I have a feeling they'll want to try other new ships.

The NCL ship that interests me is the Escape. I've been looking at some of their Fall cruises next year. We are booked on DCL's WBTA, but after 2 long vacations to Europe this year I'm not sure I want to do something so involved again next year. I also have another cruise booked on the Carnival Vista next Spring of course that is pending on how we like this cruise. We shall see. I appreciate the reviews of other cruise lines. Don't feel like you can only talk about Carnival on this thread. We tried to get an "other cruise line" section, but the mods wouldn't do it.

 

[ldo]

please let us know how you like the Vista (from the point of view of a DCL patron). We are considered it for next year. Elaine

 

[Club Disney Chandler]

please let us know how you like the Vista (from the point of view of a DCL patron). We are considered it for next year. Elaine

In case you haven't seen this, here's a link to my review of the Vista: http://www.disboards.com/threads/thoughts-on-the-new-carnival-vista.3521334/#post-55988256

 

[Ofinn]

please let us know how you like the Vista (from the point of view of a DCL patron). We are considered it for next year. Elaine

I will do that. Despite the great itinerary, I think the best thing to come out of this cruise would be us liking another ship. I know people on these boards that sacrifice a lot(mostly money, but also variety) to vacation only with Disney. Some of them for decades. I don't want to be one of those people. I have been the last 4 years because of the kids, but I don't want to be that person going forward. My kids are getting older so I feel it's time to move on. Saving money doesn't hurt either.

 

[jendeli]

Here are my 2 cents.

We love Disney but decided to give Carnival a try because it is what our budget allowed at the time. Her are my likes/dislikes with Carnival.


Dislikes
The ship was older and not as well cared for and dated (Paradise)
When you come aboard there is a bar playing hip hop music and already drunk people sitting around it. Which is fine, but doesn't give off the family vacation vibe.
The buffet food was not great.
I did not feel comfortable with my older kids checking themselves in and out of tween/teen club because it was right next to the casino/bars.
The hot tubs were cold. (Not sure why)

Likes
The main dinning room food was good
The nightlife was better.
My younger kids enjoyed kids club because it was a smaller more intamate group /area. They made friends and played with toys and games.
We enjoyed the newlywed games and adult activities.
We could afford excursions because the price was half of DCL

All of that being said, we haven't booked another carnival since. Maybe in the future, but for now DCL has us wrapped around their finger.

 

[mevelandry]

Update: At this point, with Hurricane Matthew threathening to (basically) destroy the Bahamas within the next days, (and maybe hit Florida!) we don't know if:

A) We'll be able to actually fly to Florida.

B) Go to the Bahamas or to the originally planned port of calls (Lord knows in what kind of shape they'll be after the hurricane).

We are currently calling it "our surprise 5th anniversary vacation" because at this point, we have no idea what is going to happen...

So we are watching the news and praying for those on the path of the hurricane.