Carnival Fan Tours Disney Magic

[CruiseFever]

Having cruised on Carnival and Princess several times I was anxious to see how the Disney Magic stacked up. I'd heard various reports and read a number of reviews in the past. The impressions I went into this with included:

 

• Great cruise for little kids, forget it for the adults
  
• Decent sized cabins, nicely appointed
  
• Great cruise for little kids, forget it for the adults
  
• Expensive, not a good cruise value
  
• Great cruise for little kids, forget it for the adults
  
• Just two ships, limited itineraries
  
• Great cruise for little kids, forget it for the adults
  

First, let me blow away the notion that Disney Cruise Lines (DCL) target kids as their primary passenger.

 

It's just not so

 

Let's start with the pools. There are three for guest access, one for the crew.

 

A childrens pool, aft, filled with filtered and desalinized sea water (not like the pool back home but close) that features a nice slide for age four and up. There's no smoking here as there is no smoking in all of the family areas and the staterooms (that's right, all staterooms are non smoking) and the area is about as kid proof and safe as one could be. This area features the 24/7 drink station with free soda and a snack bar

 

The Family pool, midship features pizza open until late evening (sorry, not 24 hours) two whirlpools and is located next to a nicely equipped arcade. To be sure junior does not run up the shipboard account too much, DCL staff suggests freezing the charge capability of their "Key to the World", Disney's version of the plastic shipboard credit card. Arcade cards can be purchased there though in $5, $10 and $20 increments by anyone (mom and dad) with an active Key.

 

All the way forward is the adult pool, 18 and over only which has full bar service and a smoking area as well as more adult-only whirlpools and access to the basketball court nearby (up stairs) as well as a nicely equipped spa. The ship's adequate (nothing to write home about but serviceable) exercise room has a really cool feature. Utilizing the treadmill you not only look out at the ocean, you look down on the actual operating bridge. The forward location makes it a quiet area where adults are able to escape the kids.

 

This theme of having the ability to escape from the kids is repeated in several places around the ship.

 

I was surprised.

 

I had this notion that this was going to be a week long family bonding sessioin complete with singalongs, good wholesome shenanigans and the like.

 

Ok so those things are part of it, but then there's Palo, the adult only restaurant located all the way forward on deck 10. Open for Brunch, high tea and Dinner you'll find no kids here either. This open-air Iron chef-like kitchened venue has marvelous views of the sea, much like the observation capability of Skywalkers on Princess or the secret decks above the bridge on most Carnival ships. You'll pay a modest $15 upcharge to be there but it seems the price would be well worth it.

 

There's also an adults-only bar and cigar bar (yes cigar bar) located just off an open deck that's nicely laid out, quiet and an oasis of tranquility.

 

No, there is no casino on board. Instead, DCL took that space and turned it over to the childrens program creating, as you might guess, a very nice program divided into six groups for the 900 to 1000 kids on each sailing:

 

1. Infants, 2 months up to age 3 (not potty trained) complete with hourly ($6) baby sitting as needed. Ships staff advises parents of kids this age to run to this area to make reservations upon boarding as space is limited
   
2. Ages 3-4- Activities start as early as 7:30am and this group, as all the others, can stay here all day, having lunch and dinner with their friends if they want to or if mom and dad want time alone.
   
3. Ages 5-7- Starting n the Oceaneer Club and Lab (they make Flubber here)this age group, like others, moves around the ship and doesn't stay in the same place all day
   
4. Ages 8-9 marks a decided difference in the programming where the kids get involved with such activities a Pinata Party, Scavenger Hunt, and one on one time with the Captain
   
5. Ages 10-12 kick the difficulty level of other groups up a knotch or two and introduce big kid stuff like line dancing, pictionary and dodgeball.
   
6. Age 13-17 has one of the best deals on the ship in "The Stack" a teen only hang out on Deck 11, midship. Here they have thier own bar that has soft drinks and smoothes. lots of big screen tv's and Internet Cafe stations, and a healthy amount of supervision
   

In fact, all DCL childrens program personnel are college graduates, trained and specializing in their age group.

 

So yes, Disney does kids like nobody else but Disney does adults pretty darn well too. I can say without hessitation that an adult who does not like kids could sail on this ship and have a fabulous cruise. Adults with kids can sail on this ship and have a fabulous cruise with or without the kids. More importantly, kids can sail on this ship and have a fabulous cruise even with mom and dad along.

 

Indeed, the whole family, regardless of its composition, gets welcomed aboard as their names are announced to cheering crew who escort them to a luncheon venue.

 

Cabins are roped off and won't be available until 1:30PM but our guide snuck us in for a peek while crew was in the final stages of preparing them.

 

We started with the Roy and Walt Disney suites, the best on board. Located one starboard and one port, midship on deck 8, these can sleep up to 8 and feature all the trappings that the top of the line accomodations should have.

 

On DCL, cabin categories run counter to other lines with 1 being the highest category and 12 being the lowest.

 

Categories 1, 2 and 3 are suite categories, concierge level, and come with a priority embarkation lounge on the first day where conceirge level guests take care of reservations for the week and relax while waiting for staterooms to open up, go to lunch or the rest of their party.

 

Category 4, the Deluxe Family Stateroom with Verandah, sleeps five. Two on convertible queen, one on a sofabed, one on a Muphy bed out of the wall and one on an upper out of the cieling. One unique feature of this cabin category is the split bathroom where the shower and tub were in one part and the toilet and sink in another. Remembering trying to get everyone ready for dinner the last time the four in our family stayed in the same cabin, I appreciated the versatility of this arrangement.

 

Categories 5 and 6 are similar but some take 3 or 4 guests and some have the split bathroom and some do not

 

Category 7, the Deluxe Stateroom with Navigator Verandah was of special interest to be because the price is considerably less than categories 4,5 and 6. The only difference really is on the Verandah where instead of a completely open area this one is closed off with the view being through a port hole shaped opening. This looks like a great choice if privacy is of concern as there is no way anyone could look down on or around partitions into this area.

 

Categories 8 and 9 are outside cabins with a picture window. Laid out similar to the other cabins minus the verandah, some sleep 3 and some 4

 

Category 10 inside cabins offer the same layout as outside categories 8 and 9 but without the window

 

Categories 11 and 12 inside cabins are worth spending a little more time considering than on some other lines. At a standard 184 square feet they're comparable but the layout is unique, offering a privacy divider and a single convertible sofa to 3 or 4 guests.

 

My preconceived notion of "decent cabins, nicely appointed" was somewhat pale in comparison to the real thing. These are really nice cabins. The top end cabins are about what you might expect, perhaps not quite a roomy feeling as those on Princess or Carnival but very nice. Not ultra nice but decidedly the nicest on the ship.

 

Where DCL has excelled and stands out is in the size of the "standard" midrange balcony (verandah) cabin which come in at between 214 and 304 square feet. They've put a lot of thought into who will be using these cabins and it shows.

 

This is the Disney version of cruising. Think of everything you know about Disney, their innovation, imagination and creativity as a company since before the classic Wonderful World Of Disney television programs and apply it to the cruise business.

 

Behold a unique experience.

 

Lets back this up to embarkation for a minute.

 

From the time you get first glance of the cruise terminal at Port Canaveral you know this is going to be something something special. Inside, the mind of Disney runs wild setting the stage for the magical cruise experience that's about to begin.

 

Simply put, this is the very nicest cruise termina I have ever seen or heard of.

 

But why wouldn't it be?

 

Disney has been moving crowds of people around their parks efficiently for decades. They know how to do crowds and it's a welcome addition to our precruise experience.

 

Entering the terminal you'll walk on a terazzo floor that you might notice is a huge map, about the size of a football field, of the Caribbean Sea, complete with named islands. Looking up the Art Deco influence takes off with waves that roll down the sides of the room and tie the whole place together, directing your attention to a big opening with, you guessed it, mouse ears that is where you'll board the ship.

 

Concierge level guests are treated to a shorter line and easier embarkation process. Really. These level guests as well as those who might be on combination theme park/cruise packages, get priority boarding. There's even a VIP lounge/wedding chapel off to the side.

 

Other passengers are not left standing long though as 20-some stations open to process them (one member of each party) on to the ship and issue their "Keys to the World" which clearly mark "NA" (No Alcohol) for those under 21 , their cabin number and assignment in the dining room.

 

The whole dining room experience is pure Disney genius too.

 

There are three main dining rooms. Each passenger is assigned a table and wait staff.

 

What's different here to begin with is that not the guests, but the dining rooms change every night on a rotation. You'll dine with the same other pasengers and be served by the same wait staff but in a different room each night.

 

My favorite of the rooms is the Animators Palate.

 

In this room, upon entering, everything ( and I mean EVERYTHING) is black and white. As the meal progresses and color is added into the room through the introduction of the various courses the walls, lighting and everything else start to gain color too. Finally in the end you'll look around and realize that the dining room staff is all gone but then they burst into the room in full color for singing and dancing, Disney Style.

 

The other dining rooms include Parrot Cay with a Caribbean theme and Lumieres with a more traditional theme located right off the lobby on deck 3

 

Traditional cruise themes are still on this ship but with a Disney twist. Decks are simply numbered, not named for ease of all family members. There's still a lifeboat drill, shore excursion talks and a daily shipboard newsleter, this one called the Navigator which outlines the days activities.

 

Put it all together and this cruise line stacks up very nicely to others. Compared directly to Carnival and Princess, this is a line with similarities that any cruise ship sailing the ocean would share in common.

 

Where the value here comes from is in the Disney touch that makes it special. To some that might not be enough. Comparing similar 7 day Caribbean itineraries you can find less expensive sailings on both Princess and Carnival. You'll find just as much elegance on Princess and a close enough second place on kids programs on Carnival.

 

What is different here is that Disney has looked at cruising as entertainment.

 

All of it

 

From the state of the art cruise terminal that processes people with ease but yet sets the stage for a magical cruise experience by taking you back to the huge open train terminals of a half century ago to a navigators clock on the table in the least expensive cabin on board, the attention to detail is nothing short of remarkable.

 

If you appreciate that, this is a cruise line for you. If you're looking for a bargain, go elsewhere.

 

Disney is selling the magic and does not miss one opportunity to create a unique experience as only they can

 

And that, my friends, is saying quite a lot if you consider that not once, not one single time, have I mentioned The Mouse.

 

The Mouse is there, in everything from the huge ears you walk through to get on to the ship to the arms that tell where the elevator is. But they have not relied on The Mouse to carry the experience.

 

These people know how to cruise and do it well.

 

I highly recommend this cruise line.

[MelissaS]

Wow! Thanks for that wonderful review. I am a huge Disney fan, so I think I would really enjoy the experience, even though I do not have children. Now being able to afford it is a separate matter completely!

 

Melissa

[MrPete]

Chris,

 

Thanks for the walk down memory lane. I feel I was on the ship again!

[INCHARGE]

Thanks for the memories! :) I absolutely loved this ship. Don't forget the "first-run" movies in the movie theater. We saw Pirates of the Carribean, and it showed on the ship on the same week it came out in the theaters. I was concerned if there would be enough for me to do, since I went with my grandson and daughter. There was plenty to do the whole week. I am a Carnival woman, but I loved the DCL cruise also. I loved the "When you wish upon a star" horn.

[OJulie67]

WOW!! THAT was one great review. Actually, we sailed the Wonder last year, and DH and I were dissappointed with the lack of entertainment for adults (lack of a casino was a big downer for us)

HOWEVER, after reading your review, you made me re think next years cruise...we may try the magic this time around!! Casino or not, it was a beautiful ship and the kids club was beyond heaven for my kids!;) Thanks again for the walk down "memory lane!"

[Cotton]

Hey Chris!:) You should come around more often, we miss you. I see you finally made the move to Orlando - loving it, I bet.

 

My sister and I were booked on a Disney cruise a few years ago, and she backed out, so we cancelled. (That was before I learned 'the joy of solo cruising'.) I was all for it, but she was SO afraid it would be all kiddie stuff. Hah. Can't wait to tell her. Thx.

[ratherBcruizin']

Enjoyed reading your review of DCL. We would love to try this line and take our DD, but the prices, WOW! I'm not sure if we'll ever be able to afford it compared with other vacations be it cruises or land based. We'll see...

[CruisingAgain]

EXCELLENT review - right on the money!!! The mention of Palo makes my mouth water - we did the brunch and it was wonderful. We've cruised on the Disney Magic twice and are going again in November. I'll be sending your review to my parents who are joining us on Disney for the first time.

 

But first we're going on Carnival in 2 weeks. Can't wait. We enjoy every cruise, every cruise line and every vacation. We choose Carnival because it's my parent's favorite and because of the price. Always a great deal!!

 

Disney is just something special - for those with kids and those who are hooked on Disney. But if you hate the mouse and don't have kids it's not worth the money.

[ladycaveat]

Chris, what a fantastic review. I have no small children and no grandchildren (yet) but after reading your review . . . doesn't sound like it matters. Will definately check into Disney for my next cruise . . . :p

[Sox_Fan]

Thanks for the great review! We're booked on the Wonder in September - this time with the kids (both pre-schoolers) and grandma & grandpa. We thought Disney would be perfect for this group, and based on your review, I think we made the right choice. I'm even more excited about it after reading what an experienced cruiser had to say. Thanks Again! :)

[GottaLuvCruising]

Thank you for a wonderful review! I used to work for Disney Cruise Line (have sailed both ships) and read the review out of pure curiosity. You did an excellent job of presenting the experience and your opinions very closely mirrored my own.

 

My one question is regarding the split bath in categories 5 & 6. I understood that all staterooms categories 10 & above are outfitted with the (absolutely marvelous) split bath. Are you sure certain your statement is correct?

[CruiseFever]

Thank you for a wonderful review! I used to work for Disney Cruise Line (have sailed both ships) and read the review out of pure curiosity. You did an excellent job of presenting the experience and your opinions very closely mirrored my own.

 

My one question is regarding the split bath in categories 5 & 6. I understood that all staterooms categories 10 & above are outfitted with the (absolutely marvelous) split bath. Are you sure certain your statement is correct?

 

That's what the guide told me. She was very descriptive about categories 1,2 3, and 4. I asked "So 5 and 6 are all about the location on the ship? " and she said "Or the number of people they sleep and that arrangement and if it's a split bath or not"

 

I'll call them and find out though because I'm with you, those split baths are wonderful! What a timesaver when it's time to get ready to go someplace!

[kjunea]

Chris,

 

Thanks for a wonderful review. As a former Castmember for Disney, I always wanted to take a cruise on one of the ships! I never got the chance and I don't think there is a chance in Arizona that I'll get there with my husband and son (that problem with no Casino rears its ugly head -- that and the fact that hubby isn't crazy about Mice, one in particular!) :eek:

 

I'll keep my fingers crossed that someday.......

 

June

[TheGenie]

Chris,

 

All statrooms CAT-10 and above have the split baths - of course CAT-3 - CAT-1 suites the bathrooms are nicer.

 

If you are now a Florida Resident, sail during those specials. The rate is usually 50% less than going rate for out-of-state passengers, so you can cruise for less (even Carnival).

[uwbadger]

Thank you for the great review! We are taking the Magic in August when she does the Mexican Riviera cruises. Our daughter has always wanted to take a Disney cruise and we figured that since it is going to be on the West Coast it will save us airfare, plus what she would insist would be the mandatory stay in DisneyWorld!

[NickGlover]

My wife and I went on the Disney Wonder 4-night last year and loved it. One thing you didn't mention is that the Disney theme is toned down on the ship. The ship is designed to be more like an older, elegant cruise ship like the Queen Elizabeth or Queen Mary. There is not a lot of neon and plastic like Carnival. The Disney theme is presented by the characters that make appearances and by the shows, mainly. I did miss the casino, but there was also much less cigarette smoke on board. The spa area is very nice. We had an inside cabin and found it to be excellent. I would rate its design and accomadations much higher than Carnival. I also thought the food was a little better than Carnival. We also saw Pirates of the C in the theatre and one thing to mentin is like everything Disney, the theatre was state of the art with an incredible sound system. The shows were more geared to families, but the last show, I think Disney Dreams, was very good, and featured "top hits" from different Disney movies and some excellent lighting effects.

 

Debarkation from Disney rules the industry. You eat breakfast witrh your carryons, get up, wipe your mouth, and walk off the ship. Carnival and others please take note (I think they are). Being announced by name with applause was a nice touch when boarding. We thought the ship was beautiful and even an inside cabin was excellent.

[sandylmc]

We've done a 4-day Magic cruise (when it was a one-ship cruiseline) and a 3-day Wonder -- honeymoon and 5-year anniversary respectively. I barely remember seeing a child. And so easy to be romantic. Of course, we adore Disney as well (got married in Epcot), but Palo was fantastic, I loved the spa (they had a lady's night that included a massage, facial and champagne with choc. covered strawberries in the steam room!).

 

Can't forget the adult beach on Castaway Cay either! A magnificent narrow stretch of beach on the far end of the island with a bar at the entrance. There's even a shuttle to take you there and back if you're too lazy to walk! I've not been to the private islands of any other cruiselines -- I don't even know who has them -- but it was paradise. We're thinking of sailing again in 2006 on the DCL cruise that goes to Castaway Cay twice!

 

But for now, I'm trying my hand at Carnival!

[momwith2boys]

Chris,

 

Thanks for the walk down memory lane. I feel I was on the ship again!

 

 

Ditto! I never once felt like I was missing out on anything for adults. My kids loved it, I loved it, my parents loved it. Disney does it........and they do it right. Hands down.

 

Michelle

[gonna go cruising]

I am glad to see this post was allowed to stay on this forum. Its a shame some were so ugly about it on the Princess Board. I guess Carnival fans can appreciate an objective view.

 

Thanks guys.

[swiss]

Chris,

Great job on giving us your impressions of the ship. What you did not get to experience is the actual cruise which is awesome. My children were treated so special by the cruise staff! This has been our favorite cruise of anyone that we have ever taken, (RCCL, Carnival or Princess). Disney has the best private island, Castaway Cays, of any cruiseline.

 

Thanks for bringing back good memories!

[KnATL]

I'm just glad to hear from Chris!!!!

Please stop by again, soon!!

[MrPete]

My 6 year old has been on 4 cruises....2 Disney, and 2 Carnival.

 

After reading this, I asked her which cruise she liked better, as we are sailing Carnival again in 2 weeks.

 

She promptly stated : All of them!"

 

Smart girl! ;)

[CruisingAgain]

My 5 year old son had sailed on both the Disney Magic and Carnival Victory when we went for our 3rd cruise - on the Magic again. In Port Canaveral he saw the "boat with the big fin" and got all excited. When we told him we were going on Mickey's boat instead he was VERY disappointed. With a very said face he said "someone else is going on the boat with the big fin today". Of course he had a great time on the Disney cruise and he'll have a great time on the Carnival Pride next week. Just like his parents - he loves cruising!!

 

Diane

[E. Lee DeGolyer 3rd]

Good review, and it concurrs with my own experience on the Disney Magic. I took my cousin and her two young children on a week-long eastern Caribbean cruise on the Disney Magic a couple of years ago, and we all had a marvellous time. We had the category three suite and it worked out very well for us.

 

Yes, the Disney Magic is a marvellous place to take children, but pre-baby adults and empty-nesters can also have a fine, adult experience sans the annoying ping-ping-jingle-jingle of shipboard casinos.

[Buckeyefan]

Having sailed on both cruise lines I feel that I can also offer my opinion. I enjoyed the carnival experience but felt that they could take some ideas from Disney and use them especially debarkation. What a chore it was on Carnival Glory.

 

 

Personally it comes down to money. I feel you get great value with Carnival but I have to say that I felt pampered on Disney even with an IS cabin.

 

Kathleen