Is Disney worth $1600 extra versus Carnival

[sbnuggie]

Howdy,

 

My wife and I just received an email from a friend about the Disney cruise sale where kids sail free to the mexican riviera so we priced it out for our family of 5 for January 23 2011. We would be getting a 5 person family balcony room, (disney cat 4a?) for about $3900.

 

This seemed like a good deal considering that to cruise with disney if we had to pay for kids would be around $6k. Our only experience with cruising has been with Carnival and we love Carnival, although not a fan of the conquest class ships a topic for another thread. Anywho, we call our PVP to get a quote for Carnivals 7 night mex riviera cruise departign 1/23/11 on the splendor, due to family size we would go with a connecting oceanview cabin like we just had on our conquest cruise and the quote was $2325.

 

Is Disney worth the extra $1600, we go to Disneyland all the time since its a 6 hour drive away, but is the Disney Cruise THAT much better? My gut says no, what say you......

[okgirl]

It wouldn't be for me because I've heard that many of the fun "character" events cost extra. But the biggest downer for me would be no casino.

[combatboots2jimmychoos]

Do you have to fly to both ships? If I'm looking at cost- I like to drive vs fly due to the cost of flights per person added on vs paying for parking (or paying for a hotel that has free parking).

 

I think it also depends on what you like to do- I heard Disney doesn't have a casino on ship........

[MrPete]

Is that $1600 extra for 5? Disney cruising IS extra special. We've done it twice, and truly enjoyed it (except for the food).

 

We knew it was going to be "more", and glad we did it.

 

However, the Mexican Riviera? Not my favorite destination. And no Castaway Cay.

[MikeM]

No.

[smeck]

Assuming your kids are younger a Disney cruise is like none other. Disney characters everywhere you turn and the shows are the best on the seas. The downer no Castaway Cay which is no doubt the best private island owned by a cruiseline. The question you have to answer, is it worth the extra money for the Disney Experience, I say do it once you won't regret it. If you have any questions don't hesitate to ask.

[bones774]

We've done Disney(and RCL and Princess) and I am looking forward to Doing CCL, so i'm not knocking anyone. A discounted Disney cruise is a very good deal, at least once you should do a Disney cruise if you have kids and a good deal. There are many things on the cruise that are beyond other cruise lines yet very subtle. Is a Mercedes worth more than a Buick? You may not see it, it's just a car, but there is quite a difference. Staterooms are beautiful, ship is beautiful, the shows are absolute Broadway quality and worth the price alone, drinks are included(non-alcohol) and it goes on and on. Would you say "well i've been to Six Flags so what's different about Disney". Go to Disney boards and start reading.

 

Yup, missing Castaway Cay is a big downer.

[Nunu]

It is, yes.

[rednose83]

How old are your children?

 

I wouldn't do it. It's $1600 more plus you lose another room and bathroom.

[ChampionCruiser]

I say yes. We loved our cruise on Disney. Like someone said before, it really is "special", from the ship itself to things like rotational dining (which we loved). Still, we loved our Carnival cruise too.

 

I would still go for it though.

[pinbot_67]

Our kids absolutely loved the Disney cruise. If the primary purpose of the cruise is for the kids, then Disney may be the way to go. However...

 

The kids also very much enjoyed Carnival. Im not sure at their ages (7 & 5) they really cared one way or the other, but I sure did. I much prefer Carnival. Carnival's food blew Disney out of the water.

[janabm81]

That's a tough one...it really depends on how old your kids are and whether or not they'll enjoy the experience and cherish for years to come.

[MexiFinn]

Well I LOVE the Disney cruise and have only sailed on them. I'm sailing my first non-Disney cruise this November so by then I'll have a good opinion.

 

I'm a Disney geek though plus I get the cruise cheaper when I sail with my friend who works at Disney.

[CruiseinNJ]

Not worth it to me. Double the space on Carnival for less $? The decision is a no-brainer. I think I have the only child who hated the disney cruise (at 4 years old) and absolutely LOVES Carnival!

[sbnuggie]

yea I guess I should've put kids ages, we have 8 yr old twin girls and a 5yr old boy. Trouble is they go to Disneyland every year, either with us or their Auntie because the drive is so short. For a cruise out of LA/Long Beach we would drive to save airfare. I suggested to my wife to take the $1600 savings, goto Disneyland for a few days then hop on the Carnival Boat, almost the same right...?

 

True Disney is a nice experience, but my kids LOVED Camp Carnival, I see what people say about Buick and mercedes and that is a good analogy I think. Although I buy a car for practical needs and not for "show" so to speak, thats who we are.

 

And to the poster asking about price difference, the $1600 is the total cruise price difference for all of us.

 

Off to the Disney board for some reading.....thx all

[Traveler353]

Not to me.

[tinlizzy]

Yes, Disney is better than a Carnival cruise and that is from my perspective, as a cruising adult. Service, buffets, room size and decor are all better than Carnival IMO. You won't have much longer before the "magic" fades and your kids don't want to do anything Disney.

 

I agree that no Castaway Cay is a downer though.

[ManyMore]

I love Carnival but I did love the Disney cruise and I didn' even sail with kids. I always say I can cruise twice for the money of Disney but I am sure glad I did it and would again if I could afford it.

[Tiffany1203]

I think its one of those things (if you have kids) you should do at least once. Im currently booked on the new ship that isnt even out yet and am very excited however, it hurts to have such a HIGH balance left to pay. :eek:

[zeppsstteerr]

I'll just throw this out for what's it's worth.

 

I'm a 45yr old male, one daughter (12yr). We've cruised Disney 3 times and have booked the Dream for April 2011.

 

I absolutely love Disney and when my daughter outgrows it, I will gladly go on a Disney cruise myself.

 

Food, Entertainment and Cabins are top notch in my book. I'm a soda drinker and think the free soda is HUGE. I've sailed only on the Magic but the Wonder is the same according to a friend, very clean, the staff is extra nice and the way they do the dining is superb! (rotating you through 3 different venues throughout the cruise)

 

Am I a Disney "fanboy", you bet I am!

[Rob_Jen]

IMO - YES. My kids were 5 and 2 last fall and we went on the Magic. Probably the best overall cruise we have been on. We have also been on RCCL and CCL. Without the kids I would not spend the extra money.

 

We are waiting for the Disney Fantasy that comes out in 2012 to go back (We like the 7 day cruises better).

[Relayer]

Our very first two cruises were on Disney and we enjoyed them immensely even as adults without children. Just what you would expect from anything carrying the Disney brand. I am sure that you will enjoy especially with your family.

 

Food and service are superb and you never know when you will run into a Disney character. We ran into Pinocchio late one evening on the Lido deck. I took a picture of him with my DW. It remains a favorite and holds a place of honor in the living room.

 

Cruising with Disney is more expensive and we are totally hooked on balcony staterooms. CCL wins hands down with pricing. We can almost take two CCL cruises for the price of one Disney balcony cruise. And...we have never had anything but a great experience with Carnival.

 

If you can do it! You and your family will always have great memories.

[SkyMaster]

Nope!

[DavyB]

I think it depends on the ages of your kids. I went with a group with kids aging from 2-14. The kids over 7 preferred other cruise lines. Personally, I've been on rccl, ccl, and the other ccl and although I had a great time, Disney was my least favorite.

[nrdsb4]

If Castaway Cay was part of the equation, I would not hesitate to say YES, at least this one time. Without it, I'd say just go with your gut.

 

I do think it is a fantastic cruise experience for the young children. Heck, I had a great time also!