Die-hard Disney fan cruises the Breeze on 11/8/14 and LOVES it or HATES it???

[edinboro cruiser]

Enjoying your review! I sailed Disney and Carnival last year! The price points were vastly different. I would love to move to FL so we can take advantage of the FL resident rates. Maybe some day!

 

 

Fl resident rates aren't always available or great. Comes in handy for last minute sailings. We usually get better rates from military or past guest. We took our first Disney cruise 12 years ago and have been doing Carnival ever since. Doing the Breeze for the second time this January for the bloggers cruise. We also have the Disney Fantasy booked for next summer for our 25th anniversary. I can't wait to get back on a Disney ship since we had such a great trip our first time

 

 

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[loveysbydesign]

The ride up in the sky ride only takes a few minutes and the view is simply amazing!

Once we got up there my daughter Becca said to me, doesn't it look like Neverland?

 

On the way up!

 

 

 

Friendly worker for at the top of the ride!

 

Edited December 5, 2014 by loveysbydesign

[loveysbydesign]

We made it! The pictures can not do it justice

 

 

 

 

 

 

Edited December 5, 2014 by loveysbydesign

[edinboro cruiser]

My wife and I love going up there when we visit St. Thomas. We do the bird show and get a bushwhacker.

 

 

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[loveysbydesign]

Going up!

 

http://vidmg.photobucket.com/albums/v65/loveysbydesign/11-2014%20Carnival%20breeze%20cruise/stthomasskyridetotop%20shortened_zpsspnzubvo.mp4

[loveysbydesign]

Wanted to share the only pic.'s we bought on the Breeze. I would have bought more but at $19 each it can get expensive!

 

 

 

Edited December 5, 2014 by loveysbydesign

[loveysbydesign]

We had gotten on the Sky Ride around 10:25.

So up at the top they have restrooms, a bar/restaurant and a few tiny shops/booths. I thought the stuff was expensive so we decided to stop in the other shops near the ship. We like to buy a Christmas ornament at each new place we vacation and my youngest son wanted to find a hat with sea turtles on it.

I also just wanted to look around a bit. So we took some pics. and then headed back down as it was almost 11:00 and we had to do some shopping, get back to the ship, grab lunch and then change into our swimsuits. At this point I was wishing I had booked the 1:30 excursion time instead of the 12:30 one so we wouldn't feel so rushed, but oh well!

 

 

 

We headed over the the shopping area and I ended up getting some Larimar earrings and my daughter got a ring. We went from one shop to another trying to find a darn hat with sea turtles on it. You'd think since Turtle Cove is nearby they'd have some. Finally in the 5th store we looked at we found one! Ryan was happy! My oldest son also got a hat and we found a really neat sea turtle ornament that was handmade from wood. Finally we headed back to the ship!

 

 

 

 

That last pic. was snapped at 11:39!! Yikes we did not have much time as our excursion started at 12:30!

We had planned to eat lunch and then get changed, of course forgetting that lunch doesn't really start til 12:00 noon. If I had known that when I booked the excursion I def. would have booked the 1:30 time. Oh well, we went and snagged burgers, some fresh fruit and pizza and then hurried off to our cabins! I was praying we'd make it back off the ship in time!

Edited December 5, 2014 by loveysbydesign

[S.C.]

Great review love all the pics!

[Ms. Fun Bunch]

Enjoying your review!

[heatherbelle]

Enjoying your review thanks for sharing.

 

My first cruise was with DCL and then we tried the Carnival Sunshine In The Med. I was dreading it,having heard of "party ships". I imagined Butlins at sea (American will have to google Butlins) but I really enjoyed it, so much so the following year we sailed on the Breeze and cancelled the Disney Fanatasy. For the money Carnival wins every time. Disney is lovely but far too expensive and Other than the food offerings Carnival does a very good job in comparison to Disney, lots more going on for adults and my DS loves the Carnival clubs just as much as DCL.

[bdink921]

Awesome review!! Our first cruise was on Disney Wonder and we were so nervous to try Carnival. We LOVED our Carnival Glory cruise. Glad to see you enjoyed the Breeze. We're looking forward to our next cruise on the Pride for spring break.

 

To answer the OP, we found it least expensive to either book DCL the day the fares are released or (which is what we did for Wonder) take the kid out of school and cruise at non-peak time with a special reduced fare.

[GatorMomInNC]

Awesome review!! Our first cruise was on Disney Wonder and we were so nervous to try Carnival. We LOVED our Carnival Glory cruise. Glad to see you enjoyed the Breeze. We're looking forward to our next cruise on the Pride for spring break.

 

To answer the OP, we found it least expensive to either book DCL the day the fares are released or (which is what we did for Wonder) take the kid out of school and cruise at non-peak time with a special reduced fare.

 

Ideally, you would book the first day for a non peak cruise ;)

 

We've cruised 5x on DCL and the most we've paid was on the Fantasy the first year it was out. I think we paid around $3200 for a magic porthole (inside) for 4 ppl, 7 nights. That was probably $6-700 more than we would have paid on Carnival, but my kids wanted to do a MP and love Disney (as do i), so I felt it was worth it. My favorite cruises by far have been the 14 night cruises, where prices can be $75 pp/pn for a balcony and MUCH cheaper for an inside or window.

 

I like CCL and feel it is a good value for the price, but DCL, for me, has a special Magical quality and the Magic and the Wonder feel like "home".

[lifeisgoodPat]

"To answer the OP, we found it least expensive to either book DCL the day the fares are released or (which is what we did for Wonder) take the kid out of school and cruise at non-peak time with a special reduced fare."

__________________

Could you tell me how to know when the 1st day the fares are released???

[loveysbydesign]

"To answer the OP, we found it least expensive to either book DCL the day the fares are released or (which is what we did for Wonder) take the kid out of school and cruise at non-peak time with a special reduced fare."

__________________

Could you tell me how to know when the 1st day the fares are released???

MY Ta would always give us the heads up, now I just handle it myself since by checking on the ta website or on disboards.com forums

Edited December 6, 2014 by loveysbydesign

[dadof2boys]

Really enjoying the review.

[Relayer]

Enjoying your review immensley. Sailng on the Breeze for the 3rd time in 35 long days.

 

Our first two cruises were with Disney way back in 2004 and '05. Set the tone for our vacation life. The only thing we have done for vacation since is...cruise!

 

We loved our Disney experience and we were with an adult only group. Had an awesome time and there is nothing quite like watching children interact with the Disney charaters. Adults too! Our all time fav cruise pic is my DW with Pinnochio who we ran into late one night.

 

Disney had the upper hand on the sail away party and the Pirate of the Caribbean deck party is still the best cruise deck event we have attended.

 

Would love to sail Disnay again but cabin for cabin and considering the iteneraries they cannot compete with CCL with whom we have never had less than a great experience.

[rmh661983]

Loving the pictures. I might have to try this ship next time. It looks like a lot of fun!

[loveysbydesign]

Thankfully I had packed our KYSS bag with our towels and sunblock in the morning before we went on the Skyride. By the time we got back to our cabins to change it was almost 12:15 and we had to be off and find our excursion group by 12:30.

We changed as fast as we could, I grabbed my cameras out of my purse (or so I thought), hubby grabbed the KYSS bag and off we went!

We had our lanyards on and I figured we'd have plenty of time, little did I know there would be a long line to get off the ship! When we had gotten off earlier in the day the line moved fast, this time there was some kind of hold up. We finally got off the ship at exactly 12:30 and they directed us to our excursion group down the pier.

Once we got to Amy (our guide from the Castaway Girl catamaran) we started walking and met up with the rest of our group further down in the shade. We ended up only have 12 people on our excursion!!! Woo-hoo, we'd have lots of room to spread out and lots of free rum punch ;)

 

Due to the construction going on at the pier the walk to the catamaran was longer than it usually is, she explained to us. We didn't mind as we were bubbling with excitement (esp. me!) and just put on sunblock while we walked and chatted with her. It was however a very long, difficult walk for the one person in our group who needed to use a cane to walk. They ended up getting her a taxi for the way back after the excursion. It took us about 10 minutes to walk to the catamaran.

 

So we get to the catamaran and meet the crew! Amy, Samantha, Karl, Greg and Jordan, 5 crew for just the 12 of us! I was so excited that we did not have to worry about overcrowding on our excursion. Amy said they actually take up to 80 people sometimes!

Edited December 7, 2014 by loveysbydesign

[jenseib]

catching back up. I am loving the review. The pictures in St. Thomas are just gorgeous!!!

I love your Daughters reference that it looks like Neverland.....it does!

 

I am also chuckling at peoples thoughts on DCL. I think for every cruise you really need to research the ship/line or have a helpful TA to give you info or you will lack a lot of needed knowledge. (though I think personal research really helps even if you have a great TA).I have found that for all lines.

I have looked at sailing this ship or the CCL Dream. It just hasn't fit in anywhere yet for us. Plus DCL calls to me everytime. :p

It really is good to hear how much another Disney lover likes this ship though.

[loveysbydesign]

So we board the catamaran and I go to get my camera out to take some pics. I realize as I pull it out that it is not my camera! I had grabbed my hubby's instead. :( He had put his in my purse the night before at dinner and I reached in before we rushed off the ship and just grabbed one, forgetting he had put his in there. I was so bummed as I had really been looking forward to using mine for the excursion. Oh well!

Mine is newer and takes much better pics. His takes so long in between shots and the pictures just do not turn out as nice, the colors are less vibrant and crisp.(usually)

I figured I'd just use his anyway and thankfully they turned out to be not that bad.

 

Since there were so few people on our excursion it was like we had our own private tour!!!

 

 

 

 

 

 

Then we were off!!!!

Edited December 7, 2014 by loveysbydesign

[dadof2boys]

I notice a theme of being concerned with crowds, sold out ships, and excursions. I am the same EXACT way! I drive my wife crazy. She's so calm and go with the flow. That is NOT me.

[Earl Colby Pottinger]

I am also chuckling at peoples thoughts on DCL. I think for every cruise you really need to research the ship/line or have a helpful TA to give you info or you will lack a lot of needed knowledge.

 

Well aside from the costs, I am finding out all sorts of positive things about the Disney cruises that I never knew before.

 

I am loving this thread!

[SenatorsFan]

Our very first cruise in 2006 was on the Disney Wonder and that 4-day cruise got us hooked on cruising!:) I will probably never sail Disney again, not so much for the cost, but because we've all moved on. At the time it was perfect for us as my boys were 13 and 8. The oldest enjoyed the freedom of the teen club and the youngest was still interested in going to the character breakfast with me. My husband bemoaned the lack of a casino, but we were pleasantly surprised by the nightlife and enjoyed dinner at Palo, just the 2 of us. Now, we mainly cruise Carnival and Breeze is my favourite ship. I'm enjoying your review and pictures, too. Sounds like you all had a good time.

Heather

[edinboro cruiser]

Our very first cruise in 2006 was on the Disney Wonder and that 4-day cruise got us hooked on cruising!:) I will probably never sail Disney again, not so much for the cost, but because we've all moved on. At the time it was perfect for us as my boys were 13 and 8. The oldest enjoyed the freedom of the teen club and the youngest was still interested in going to the character breakfast with me. My husband bemoaned the lack of a casino, but we were pleasantly surprised by the nightlife and enjoyed dinner at Palo, just the 2 of us. Now, we mainly cruise Carnival and Breeze is my favourite ship. I'm enjoying your review and pictures, too. Sounds like you all had a good time.

 

Heather

 

 

Our first cruise was also on the Wonder but it was in 02. Have done numerous Carnival cruises since than and we are going in the Breeze again next month for the Bloggers cruise. The Breeze is also our favorite ship. We loved the Disney cruise but didn't think we would go back again due to the cost. Our 25th anniversary is coming up and we are cruising to Hawaii with Carnival. However it's four months after. In the meantime we booked a 7 day trip on the Disney Fantasy that leaves the day of our anniversary. Can't wait to get back on a Disney ship and this time it is without our son. We are going kid free and don't care. Who knows one day the circumstances just might find you back in Disney

 

 

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[cruise_mojo]

is there a definitive verdict in yet?:confused:

 

do you love or hate carnival?:o

 

has carnival added your personal distinction to the collective?:eek:

 

:cool::cool::cool:

 

The good thing is, it seems you guys are having a large time, and this cruise with Disney and royal has given you a great cross-section of family oriented cruises and entertainment options. That leaves great promise for you not to turn into a complete cruise snob!

 

of course its really hard to earn, then turn down all the neato perks you get with senority with one line or the other......