Disney verses Carnival

[greatdanemom]

Thanks for taking the time to post your extensive review and comparisons. I especially enjoyed seeing your pictures! I guess it's back to Disney for you. Good thing you live in Florida so you can take advantage of the great discounts. We "out of towners" envy you. :D

 

Next time you want a break from DCL you may want to try cruising Mariner of the Seas out of PC. We've done both the Wonder and Mariner and found them to be pretty comparable as far as food, service, condition, etc. MOS might be a better fit for you as a second choice to Disney. Just a suggestion...

 

Again, thanks for taking the time to share your experiences.

 

Cheryl

[Cruisin' Ron VA]

What Carnival ship was this? Or did I miss it?:confused:

[greatdanemom]

What Carnival ship was this? Or did I miss it?:confused:

 

Glory

[mom x4,grandma x4]

Cheryl,

 

I have heard the Mariner is a great ship, perhaps we will get to try it in a couple of years. Our vacation time is all booked up with Disney cruises through 08.

 

We both love to try new things and we are usually pleasantly surprized when we do, this time was just the acception to the rule.

But we are still open minded about trying other lines in the future.

 

mom x4,grandma x4

[firefly333]

Cheryl,

 

I have heard the Mariner is a great ship, perhaps we will get to try it in a couple of years. Our vacation time is all booked up with Disney cruises through 08.

 

We both love to try new things and we are usually pleasantly surprized when we do, this time was just the acception to the rule.

But we are still open minded about trying other lines in the future.

 

mom x4,grandma x4

 

The Mariner is leaving for Calif in 2009. So you dont have too much longer to book it.

 

rumors abound!!! Everything up to and including a mega genesis ship replacing it.

[Host Mick]

Thanks a lot for that trip report. I feel like I was on the cruise with you.

[Host Mick]

That Fun Ship Freddy is creepy. He looks like a hammerhead shark. I'm going to have nightmares now.

[mom x4,grandma x4]

That Fun Ship Freddy is creepy. He looks like a hammerhead shark. I'm going to have nightmares now.

 

 

I agree, most of the time they were looking for people to do a picture with him. No lines to have a photo with him.

 

At the 4th of July deck party they were trying to sell hats that looked like the funnel head he has, for people to wear at the party. They were big and bulky looking, made of a felt like material. I didnt ask the price.

Plus none of us saw even one funship Freddie hat on anybody.

 

He did go to the kids clubs and dance with the kids. I saw him through the windows, the kids looked like they wernt sure about him for awhile but finally joined in the dance.

 

 

 

Mariner to California, thats ok, we are originally from Oregon and will be heading back there in around 5 years, so I can catch it then if not before. Although a bigger mega ship does make a person curious to want to take it.

 

We are just so spoiled by Disney that it is hard to use a whole weeks vacation and then be disappointed again when we know we could of been having an awesome on Disney.

 

You just dont realize how much Disney spoils and pampers their guests until you do a different line.

 

mom x4,grandma x4

[metrowon]

Hello?

[viciouslysh]

Amazing review. I love Carnival but I cannot compare yet. I sail the Wonder on the 17th.

[GrannyJ]

I've been on Carnival, Royal Caribbean, Cunard and the defunct Premier Cruise Lines and, last week, a Disney Wonder Cruise. I'll give it to Disney for the friendliness of their cm's and the cleanliness of the ship. We took the Disney cruise because that's what the person paying for everything wanted and I'm not about to look a gift horse in the mouth. Also, we had a 2 1/2 year old along and her mother wanted her to see all the characters. Unfortunately, the toddler wanted very little to do with the characters and most pictures show her either crying, hiding her face or looking very suspicious. The noise in the dining rooms was incredible, not making for an enjoyable meal. Food was good, but not inspired. Our waiter, assistant waiter and the maitre d' were wonderful. Luckily one night we were able to eat in Palo's, where it was quiet and the food was great. I didn't think there was much to do for adults on the Wonder. The nightclubs, what I did see of them, were empty and not much was going on. The Pirate party was fun, but as it started at 9:45 p.m., a lot of the kids were tired and peevish. I'm not much of a gambler, so I didn't really miss a casino.

 

For an adult cruise, I'll take Carnival or Royal Caribbean over Disney. I think you get a lot more for your money on those lines. For families, Disney has the slight edge.

[looking2cruise]

I have been reading your posts and it sounds like you have been satisfied with DCL. I am looking to take a Western 7 night in June of 2009. I have several questions to pick your brain about. Can I begin picking?

Thanks,

Kerrie

 

P/S this is my very first post and I'm not even sure if I did it right

[mom x4,grandma x4]

I have been reading your posts and it sounds like you have been satisfied with DCL. I am looking to take a Western 7 night in June of 2009. I have several questions to pick your brain about. Can I begin picking?

Thanks,

Kerrie

 

P/S this is my very first post and I'm not even sure if I did it right

 

 

You did it perfect;)

please post all the questions you can think of.

If you post them on the forum page instead of here you will get several responses instead of just me if you want.

I am more than happy to answer any questions, I am kind of a chatter box in case you havnt noticed:D

 

Kathy

[mom x4,grandma x4]

sorry the photos are all gone now but I wrote this quite awhile back and have removed the photos from photo bucket since then.

someone just posted here and brought it back tp page one again.

 

kathy

[darleen1421]

Photos are all protected by password. Not able to view any. Then the rest halfway through are just red x's. No photos.

[cruisinbuddy]

Funny, for me, except for the sail away parties on Disney I liked the CCL Liberty better.

[BeyondKen]

I'd love to see your photos Granny but when I click on them it says:

 

This album is private. Please login.

[mom x4,grandma x4]

I'd love to see your photos Granny but when I click on them it says:

 

This album is private. Please login.

 

My photos arnt there anymore.

I wrote this review last july so about a month ago I removed the photos from my album to add ones from my November cruise.

This review was back a few pages but someone read it and responded so it then popped up on page 1 again and so more people have stated reading it again. So I cant help about the photos now.

 

somewhere, probably page 4 or 5 by now is a November 24 crusie review with lots of photos of a Disney cruise, if your interested in that.

sorry , if the photos were still down loaded there I would be happy to share them,

 

mom x4,grandma x4

[wonderfullife]

I think that Disney is just too much more expensive to be comparable although their product is pretty good. Our waiter was not good but that was his personality in relation to the EXCELLENT Asst. Waiter we had. Our last Carnival trip on Liberty last Sept was not a good experience. We were actually bored which I thought was impossible. The crew was not very friendly and it was terribly smokey on the ship. I think it was just the mix of people on that sailing so we are probably going to give them another try this year.

 

For reference sake, we have been on:

 

1 Disney

2 Carnival

4 RCI

 

 

Aleece

[MrPete]

Two things have struck me so far.

 

There were garbage/trash can on the lido deck on the Wonder, but they were always unusable, as they were always overflowing, never seeming to be emptied. I wrote Disney a letter when I returned. It was disgusting.

 

Hand sanitizers do nothing on virus'. And the noro outbreaks seem to be in the colder months.

 

And a third just stuck me. How TIGHT the eating area is on the Wonder. Thank goodness I were not claustophobic.

 

I have more reading to do.

[kinggartk]

I appreciate youre review...I am glad you didn't just come out an bash Carnival...you stated both the Postive and Negative. Seemed to be enough Negative to convince you to stay with Disney...

 

In all fairness though...you are comparing Carnival to Disney....I mean, Not very much can Match Disney when it comes to Vacationing...It is like comparing Olive Garden to McDonalds. Not a fair comarison. I have never been on a Disney cruise ( Can't afford 75% higher cruise fares ), but would love to take one. I have been to the WDW resort 3 times though.

 

I love McDonalds and I love Carnival...I just would not try to compare them to Olive Garden and Disney. Just not fair to McDonalds and Carnival.

 

I feel Carnival is a Great Value for the Buck, and I hope to take many more Carnival Cruises in the Future. When I get a little richer...I will maybe start taking some Disney cruises. If money is not a factor in your decision, my guess is that Disney would be the best choice hands down.

[halos]

Well, I don't have any young children any more but look forward to having grandchildren one day and getting them addicted to cruising. :)

To be honest, Disney would have to exceed CCL by a whole hell of a lot in every area in order for me to pay those prices for it. If it has only a slight edge then in no way is it worth it. If I want to see the Disney Characters, I'll just go to Disney World.

[teanbean16]

I agree. I would prefer to spend the extra money on a Disneyworld vacation.:) :)

[MC-AZ-07]

You said somewhere in your review you just didn't feel welcome on the Carnival cruise. That's exactly how I felt on my Dec. Princess cruise. I'm paying about 50% more for my Disney cruise in 2008 because I'm not okay with feeling unwelcome in accommodations that are impossible to change once underway.

 

I'm glad I read your review. I feel better about my decision to try DCL, despite just getting off a mediocre cruise.

[poncho1973]

Since this topic has risen from the dead... I wanted to make a few comments.

 

1. I really appreciated that, despite your bias, you seemed really fair and balanced. Obviously, your opinions are YOUR opinions, but I think Carnival was described fairly.

 

2. The person who mentioned McDonalds vs Olive Garden is pretty much spot-on from what I've seen and heard.

 

3. Your excursion experiences were very helpful.

 

4. My friend (said friend has been on at least 2 cruises a year since the late 80's) emailed me this:

 

"Carnival is the Wal-Mart of cruising. You know, there are a lot of folks that can only afford to shop there and it meets all of their needs. They get the best value they can afford and there are a ton of Wal-Marts on this planet, so it is obviously the best solution for millions of people. Some of us just want more than they can provide, so we don't cruise with Wal-Mart."